College Football Recruiting: Michigan Football Class Breakdown Under Brady Hoke
Brady Hoke is in as coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team, Rich Rodriguez is out and Denard Robinson is staying (breathe, everyone).
So now that we know "Shoelace" will be our quarterback, our attention must turn to Hoke's first recruiting class, and who will stay, who will go and what it all means.
Here's an Annarbor.com article explaining where the recruits stand.
And here's my analysis of four likely Wolverines.
Justice Hayes, RB: Video
1 of 10Not a big guy, but at 5'11", 180, he can put on some weight and at least have adequate size.
And even though he's small, he's not Vincent Smith, and he looks much faster and quicker than Smith on film. He's not going to be a 20 carries per game type of guy, but he's incredibly quick and elusive, and should contribute early on.
Hoke probably wouldn't have picked him for Borges' offense, but Hayes looks like a great running back to complement Denard.
He's a great addition to the team.
Justice Hayes, RB: Recruiting Sites
2 of 10
ESPN gives him a 79, citing his quickness, elusiveness and adequate size.
Rivals gives him four stars (No. 3 RB), but adds that he should be able to put on some weight with his frame and become a good-sized back.
Scout gives him four stars, too, but ranks him as just the No. 14 running back.
Kellen Jones, LB: Video
3 of 10Jones looks like an absolute beast on film. Obviously, most players look great on their highlight reels, but Jones' is something else.
His speed looks exceptional for a linebacker, and he has great instincts.
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Kellen Jones, LB: Recruiting Sites
4 of 10
ESPN gives him a 79 and a 3-star rating, Rivals gives him a 3-star rating and Scout lists him as a 4-star (No. 14 LB).
I think Scout has it right. This seems like a case of a player being underrated because of his size (210 lbs.)
But I think all that means is he might need a redshirt year, and don't be surprised if Jones becomes a star.
Blake Countess CB: Video
5 of 10I had to include a cornerback.
Countess is waiting to speak with Hoke before deciding if he'll stay a Wolverine.
On film, he looks like a guy without elite speed, size or strength, but a solid all-around athlete who should develop into a pretty good cornerback. Just not a great one.
Blake Countess, LB: Recruiting Sites
6 of 10
The sites seem to confirm my analysis, each giving him a 4-star rating (80 on ESPN).
They knock his size a bit, but no one doubts his ability to become an effective cornerback in a couple of years. They seem to think he needs to add size and likely redshirt.
I agree, because we all saw how tough life is for a freshman cornerback.
Greg Brown, CB: Video
7 of 10Brown is definitely coming to Ann Arbor, and he's a cornerback.
You can't see a whole lot of his coverage skills in this film, but it's clear he's a great tackler with good instincts and decent speed.
Greg Brown, CB: Recruiting Sites
8 of 10
Brown is a 3-star recruit all-around, and a 77 by ESPN.
ESPN seems to think he's a solid cover guy all-around, who plays bigger than his size. But his upside and speed are both questionable.
Class Breakdown
9 of 10
This is a solid group, as we've addressed the cornerback position fairly well. The lack of a real top guy and the loss of Dee Hart are concerning, but overall, it seems like the Hoke hiring won't hurt too much, and the class should be solid overall.
One unfortunate tidbit, though, is the possible decommitment of kicker Matt Goudis, who is visiting Miami. If he goes to "The U," we could be in trouble on special teams yet again.
What Do You Think?
10 of 10
What do you think of this year's recruiting class and the guys I highlighted?
Voice your opinion in the comments.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud
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