Correct. They have weeded out the many dozens if not hundreds of DB prospects they evaluated and have focused on those who show some interest and potential to come and who fit all our criteria, including fit for our system and culture, academics, potential for development, etc. This is really the end of a long process that started out when Richt first got here. You know they are already evaluating kids as far out as 2020 and 2021 because they are offering that far out. Most of the evaluative and narrowing work on the 2018 DBs was probably completed many months ago.
Yea....just like they focused on Jobe for two years.... Jeff Thomas for less than two months... lol....recruiting is a scramble all the way to signing day....you gotta keep pushing to get the best of the best .....it's what these coaches get paid to do....the top programs go hard til it's over....many surprises and battles happen down the stretch...one battle lost could put them in position to
win another...
Who's to say that they did not have Thomas on their board long before that? The recruiting and evaluation starts several years before they sign. That does not mean that new prospects don't come into the picture late. I think there were concerns about Thomas as far as grades for some time. Also, UM was recruiting some other kids (including one or two out-of-state kids until near the end). When those kids seemed to be going elsewhere maybe they looked down their board and focused on Thomas. Or maybe he did burst onto the scene very late. I do know the process starts long before signing day, years before. You don't know that they were not aware of Thomas long before the last two months when he seemed to be a target. It IS a scramble, and I'm not saying that new prospects don't emerge very late, but the coaches are not as desperate at DB as they might have been in prior years and they might decide to try to get some of the last remaining prospects without lowering their standards and just taking anybody because they need some bodies. That's apparently how we ended up with some of the kids we have now who have done very little.
By your logic, it means we are wasting our time by trying to lock up kids as early as possible. We are giving out offers and taking commitnments for 2020 and 2021. Are we wasting our time in doing so? I don't think so. Obviously, not all the kids will stay committed.
As far as Jobe, I think there is something else going on and I don't think it's because he prefers Bama over UM. I think it's family and money-related. I think the coaches know that and believe, based on all their dealings with Jobe over the last several years that he really wants to be at UM. I don't think he's going where he really wants to be and I think the UM coaches know that.
I feel that the only two remaining blue chips we might get are Samuel and Campbell. I don't know if we have a realistic chance with Surtain. I would suspect not. I would be very happy if we could get Samuel and Campbell but I consider Samuel kind of a reach given that he goes against the prevailing wisdom that you want taller CBs these days. I know the kid is supposed to be a baller and a tenacious cover corner but I wonder if he can cover some of the taller receivers out there. I have a suspicion that the people on this board love Samuel more than the coaches do, although he is definitely a take if they can get him.
I definitely hope we get Samuel but I'd prefer somebody taller who can play CB like Campbell if it's either-or. I just love having somebody like Samuel on the team since everybody says he's got that dog in him. I hope we can get both.
