2010: A Michigan Odyssey

Ryan Jelley beat me to the punch, but I’d still like to offer my two cents on Michigan’s upcoming recruiting class. 

The wide variety of opinions that form the basis of the information on Rivals.com and Scout.com are what gives those sites credibility, so why not have multiple voices on here?

Notes:

• Information on scholarship offers and player heights and weights comes from Varsity Blue and Scout.

• My projected star ratings are purely speculative and based on what I’ve read and heard so far.

• Projected needs are ranked from Low to Moderate to High.

Anyway, down to the business at hand.  As anyone who follows college football recruiting will tell you, it never ends.  If coaches are not visiting prospects at their homes or hosting them on official visits, they are breaking down game tape and constantly revising their “wish lists.”

With a full year of establishing new contacts, forging relationships with high school coaches, and evaluating hundreds (maybe thousands) of players, Rich Rodriguez and his staff are firmly in command of the recruiting situation at Michigan.

After reading Ryan’s aforementioned article, I had to disagree with one point.  He stated that Michigan’s 2010 class would probably be small, made up of 16 to 18 players.

After examining the depth chart, I see four scholarships currently open.  With 13 players graduating after this upcoming season, the number becomes 17.  Since three players from the 2008 class (Hill, McGuffie, Witherspoon) transferred, it would allow for three of this year’s early enrollees to be counted towards last year’s class.  The rough total of open scholarships for 2010 then comes to 20, and that could increase if there is any attrition.

With that out of the way, let’s get on to the fun stuff: fawning over 17- and 18-year-old young men with prodigious athletic talent.

Quarterback
Need: Moderate (1-2)

Even with the signings of Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson, there is still room to improve the depth of this position.

This past year, we all saw how difficult it was to sign multiple QBs, so for 2010, one commitment would be ideal, and two would be amazing.

Targets:
Devin Gardner (6-4, 195 - Inkster, MI - 4*)
Robert Bolden (6-3, 190 - Orchard Lake, MI - 4*)
Christian Green (6-2, 190 - Tampa, FL - 4*)
Cornelius Jones (6-3, 185 - Spartanburg, SC - 3*)

Gardner is target numero uno.  He and 2009 commitment WR Cameron Gordon took Inkster to this past year’s state championship game.  It may be a two-horse (Michigan and Ohio State) race for his services.

Bolden is said to be faster than Gardner, but not as shifty and elusive.  Christian Green is the cousin of former Michigan LB Sam Sword, a member of the 1997 National Championship team. 

Another possible target may be Malik Stokes, the younger brother of 2009 commitment WR Je’Ron Stokes.

Running Back

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