The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/122487
football recruiting football recruiting U-M's Coaching Staff Is Content To Build 2014 Class Slowly T By Tim Sullivan he 2012 and 2013 Michigan recruiting classes were notable for a number of reasons — including lofty rankings, coming in at Nos. 7 and 5, respectively. They also stood out for how quickly they filled up. Although the 2012 class didn't receive its first commitment until March 24, nearly the entire group (20 of 25 signees) had pledged before the start of the season. The 2013 class was even more extreme. Fifteen of 27 eventual signees committed The Wolverines are willing to wait on commitments before the spring game, and from players such as Jabrill Peppers, a five-star 21 of them had made com- cornerback at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic who is not mitments by the time the sea- expected to announce his college choice until January son kicked off in the fall. 2014. photo courtesy Rivals.com Heading into mid-April, the 2014 class had taken a decid- When head coach Brady Hoke and edly different course. Not only did his staff arrived in 2011, there were a Michigan's class include just five number of glaring holes on the ros2014 prospects (defensive tackle ter. U-M needed to shore up the perBrady Pallante is committed as a sonnel immediately at offensive line, greyshirt, meaning he's a technically defensive line and linebacker. They member of the class of 2015), but it didn't have much time to respond in also doesn't seem like any uncom- the month before National Signing mitted prospects are close to making Day 2011, but went immediately to decisions. Unlike the last two classes, work on the 2012 class. The offensive line needed qualMichigan may enter the fall without ity depth fast, and the coaches enhalf of the group filled. The primary reason for the lei- sured they wouldn't be sweating surely pace is the numbers game. out any National Signing Day deci-