The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1252590
JUNE/JULY 2020 THE WOLVERINE 5 GOOD, BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH Dear The Wolverine, It's nice to celebrate Michigan's "stellar draft class" for 2020 as in Austin Fox's piece. The article fails to address the real issue, however. If anyone is still wondering why Michigan football is no longer competitive against Ohio State, Alabama and other first-tier programs, they need look no further than the NFL Draft. According to the NCAA, since 2000 (not including 2020) OSU had a total of 131 players drafted, with 31 in the first round. Alabama had 118 and 31, respectively. Michigan had 83 and 14, respectively. In 2020, LSU had five first-round- ers, OSU three, Alabama four and Michigan one. Obviously, OSU and Alabama have had better players. There are probably many reasons for the difference, but one stands out to me: four- and five-star prospects are not looking for academics or the quality of a college degree. Most such top prospects probably don't expect to ever earn a degree. They are focused on the easiest and fastest route to an NFL contract. And who can blame them? With the pros- pect of multi-million dollar contracts, it is the natural thing to do. How can Michigan compete for these elite athletes against the com- petition of the Ohio States and Ala- bamas of the world? The attributes offered by Michigan, i.e., tradition, academic excellence, integrity, do not resonate with these young men. Michigan can't compete with the top-tier programs in the things that really matter to the top prospects. Sure, we get some. But not enough to be truly competitive. Maybe this will change, but I don't know how without sacrificing what we value most in Michigan athletics. I am sure no one is working harder that Jim Harbaugh and his staff to bring the best possible players to the program. In the meantime, we can savor the occasional victory over a top-tier team. Charles Freeland Indianapolis There are a handful of teams in college football that have separated themselves from the pack, like you have noted, Mr. Freeland. Everybody is chasing Ohio State and Alabama. In addition to the NFL Draft statistics you referenced, there's a similar gap in recruiting rankings with the same teams dominating. However, it hasn't always been those specific schools. In the seven years before Nick Saban took over at Alabama, the Crimson Tide went 48-40. LSU, which just tied the seven-round record with 14 NFL Draft picks, went through a six-year period from 2012-17 where they had only a pair of 10-win seasons and never finished higher than 13th in the Associated Press poll, before solidifying its spot among the elite the last two years. But even then, they were just 10-3 before this past season's unde- feated campaign. Clemson went 19-15 in Dabo Swinney's first 2.5 years at the helm and then had a four-year stretch with an average AP poll finish of 14 before breaking through with its incredible run the last five seasons that features just five losses and four CFP Championship Game appearances. The difference between those programs and Michigan is the Wolverines have ar- guably the most consistent program over the last two decades of college football standing directly in its way, Ohio State. U-M accomplishing what's needed to break into the sport's elite requires top- pling the giant to the south. That's not to say it's impossible; other programs have found ways to jump to the top level in today's game. Michigan just happens to have perhaps the tough- est route to doing it, which will require the perfect storm of recruiting, develop- ment and coaching. It's worth noting that Michigan's re- cruiting the last five years may not be on Alabama, LSU or Ohio State's level — but it is comparable to the relative newcomers to the nation's elite, Clemson and Oklahoma. Over the last five years, the average final Rivals.com recruiting class rank for those programs are as fol- lows: Clemson 9.4, Oklahoma 10.2 and Michigan 10.6. U-M had three top-10 classes during that span, with two in the top five, while the Tigers had four in the top 10 but only one in the top five, and the Sooners boasted three in the top 10 with a high of No. 5. The most noticeable difference between those programs during that time on the field, however, comes under center — breaking into the nation's elite requires the highest level of quarterback play. If Michigan finds the right one at the game's most important position, any- thing is possible. FROM OUR WEBSITE On the May 19 addition of Wake Forest transfer Chaundee Brown, a 6-5 wing who averaged 12.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last year as a junior … • Really a big pick up. Position of need and he has lots of experience. As good as you could hope for in the transfer market. bluex2 • My favorite part was seeing his free throw numbers. Someone whose game will lead to fouls hit- ting 84 percent. I'll take it. We've had too many guys we can't count on to be on the floor late or hit their free throws. thedude2403 • Nice recruiting win! He should help us a lot next season — assum- ing he gets his waiver. BlueSwede94 • Love that he's played in those hostile ACC arenas. The hostile places he plays in the Big Ten won't be anything new. Also, if he's imme- diately eligible we've finally got a rotation at the guard position. SouthpawBlue6 • Lots of hustle shown by Juwan Howard and his staff. With the fre- quency of transfers, this is a part of recruiting you need to "win" every year now. Well done. northvineinc • Looks as though the kid likes to drive the lane. He plays big and should fit in nicely with all the shooters we have waiting for out- lets. RyanRob03 • If you consider [former U-M re- cruiting target] Josh Christopher and Chaundee Brown as both one- and-dones, I would take the guy who has a proven track record of being productive against the very best competition. Welcome aboard, Mr. Brown. vtwinryder Join The Conversation! 60-Day Free Trial Use Code BLUE60