GBMWolverine: Mailbag Question -- Michigan Football Recruiting -- Three Linebackers can Michigan afford not to take Ross

Posted at 6:00am — 5/1/2011

GBMWolverine: Mailbag Question — Michigan Football Recruiting — Three Linebackers can Michigan afford not to take Ross

Hey guys,

Thanks again for answering my question or at least I hope you do.

With having three linebacker commits already where does that leave a recruit like James Ross from Orchard Lake, Michigan (St. Mary’s Prep), or Ifeadi Odenigbo from Centerville, Ohio (Centerville High School) as a potential commit?

Does Michigan really take four linebackers with the 2011 linebacker recruiting class UM had last year as well?

Where do you see all the linebacker recruits from the 2011 and 2012 classes playing and where do you see these two remaining recruits, who I assume are still on Michigan’s recruiting board, fitting in?

If Michigan passes on either player will that hurt recruiting in Ohio or Michigan? It seems like Coach Brady Hoke, along with his entire staff, has built a great relationship with the high school coaches in a short time at Michigan.

Thanks,

Glen H.

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GBMWolverine Response:

To date, you can count the number of questions we have declined to answer on the fingers of one hand and take a few fingers away. Now at times we may not know the answer to a question and likely will e-mail people after attempting to find something out. At times we hesitate answering on the board because our sources may prefer to keep information confidential.

Now on to some questions many Michigan fans are contemplating. Any time you can get a stud, a potential difference maker, at any position it is our position you take the recruit.

At this point we would not take another linebacker unless the recruit is a top 150-type player.

We would definitely take a player like Odenigbo because we think he could grow into one heck of rush defensive end (Craig Roh position).

Ross we would also take because he plays for a school that regularly develops top talent and he can flat out play.

The thing about linebackers is they help your football team win games in multiple ways, including special teams.

Great linebacker play is truly the heart and soul of any great defense and having great linebacker play can cover up, or at last minimize, other problems.

It is possible that Michigan may have some of last year’s linebackers end up playing other positions.

Desmond Morgan could easily play fullback and Frank Clark is big enough to possibly grow into a tight end, or even work on his speed and athletic ability and be a large wide receiver/slot receiver.

That is a great thing about recruiting high school linebackers, they are generally among the top athletes on high school teams and can play multiple positions.

Here is how we see them as of today:

Antione Poole: Mike or Will linebacker.
Kellen Jones: Mike or Will linebacker.
Desmond Morgan: Mike or Sam linebacker. Fullback on offense.
Frank Clark: Sam linebacker. Tight End on offense.
Joe Bolden: All 3 linebackers.
Kaleb Ringer: Mike or Will linebacker.
Jenkins-Stone: All 3 linebackers.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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