Thoughts on 2025 high school an portal classes

[grover]

There was some chatter over the last few months that we would have a small high school recruiting class. I see the opposite. My guess when this all shakes out is 27-28 commits.

We're at 17 now. We still have 2+ WRs, 3+ DL, 3+ DB to go. That's 25 or more right there already. Maybe a kid or two currently verballed to us flips (perhaps with a little encouragement from our staff). Even still, we have at least a handful of +1s right now that we'd take regardless of who's already committed, and this staff won't stop recruiting those guys until LOIs are in. And that's before senior season assessments and before the inevitable implosion of some other teams' classes when coaches get fired or hired away.

On the other hand, I don't see us dipping into the portal outside of a few spots. Do we need anyone on offense except a QB? Do we need anyone on defense except a couple DBs (maybe) and a DT (maybe)? I expect we'll be opportunistic and grab a "best available" if the right transfer shakes loose. But I can't see us taking more than 5 guys unless we lose some current players we really don't want to lose who transfer out for whatever reason.

 

[dukebeeasy305]

There was some chatter over the last few months that we would have a small high school recruiting class. I see the opposite. My guess when this all shakes out is 27-28 commits.

We're at 17 now. We still have 2+ WRs, 3+ DL, 3+ DB to go. That's 25 or more right there already. Maybe a kid or two currently verballed to us flips (perhaps with a little encouragement from our staff). Even still, we have at least a handful of +1s right now that we'd take regardless of who's already committed, and this staff won't stop recruiting those guys until LOIs are in. And that's before senior season assessments and before the inevitable implosion of some other teams' classes when coaches get fired or hired away.

On the other hand, I don't see us dipping into the portal outside of a few spots. Do we need anyone on offense except a QB? Do we need anyone on defense except a couple DBs (maybe) and a DT (maybe)? I expect we'll be opportunistic and grab a "best available" if the right transfer shakes loose. But I can't see us taking more than 5 guys unless we lose some current players we really don't want to lose who transfer out for whatever reason.

As it currentky stands. We will need starting caliber CB, S, possibly DT possibly QB, and another big WR in the portal. We have recruited and stacked talent at all other positions with the best of them.

 

[MiGonzCane]

There was some chatter over the last few months that we would have a small high school recruiting class. I see the opposite. My guess when this all shakes out is 27-28 commits.

We're at 17 now. We still have 2+ WRs, 3+ DL, 3+ DB to go. That's 25 or more right there already. Maybe a kid or two currently verballed to us flips (perhaps with a little encouragement from our staff). Even still, we have at least a handful of +1s right now that we'd take regardless of who's already committed, and this staff won't stop recruiting those guys until LOIs are in. And that's before senior season assessments and before the inevitable implosion of some other teams' classes when coaches get fired or hired away.

On the other hand, I don't see us dipping into the portal outside of a few spots. Do we need anyone on offense except a QB? Do we need anyone on defense except a couple DBs (maybe) and a DT (maybe)? I expect we'll be opportunistic and grab a "best available" if the right transfer shakes loose. But I can't see us taking more than 5 guys unless we lose some current players we really don't want to lose who transfer out for whatever reason.

I expect at least 23 HS kids.

 

[cway313]

As it currentky stands. We will need starting caliber CB, S, possibly DT possibly QB, and another big WR in the portal. We have recruited and stacked talent at all other positions with the best of them.

1 QB need
2 WR would be ideal but at least 1
1 TE if Arroyo has a monster year
1 IOL
1 DT if these sophomores can't break the rotation this year.
2 CB

 

[supacane]

Depends on alot of things. Who decide to leave, who isnt progressing etc. Probably mainly gonna be high end portal additions like Cam Ward. Cant predict how it goes.

 

[COCane4Life]

You must plan for turnover on the roster every year. Taking 24-25 HS kids is the floor every year.

 

[WeBallinBoyz]

There was some chatter over the last few months that we would have a small high school recruiting class. I see the opposite. My guess when this all shakes out is 27-28 commits.

We're at 17 now. We still have 2+ WRs, 3+ DL, 3+ DB to go. That's 25 or more right there already. Maybe a kid or two currently verballed to us flips (perhaps with a little encouragement from our staff). Even still, we have at least a handful of +1s right now that we'd take regardless of who's already committed, and this staff won't stop recruiting those guys until LOIs are in. And that's before senior season assessments and before the inevitable implosion of some other teams' classes when coaches get fired or hired away.

On the other hand, I don't see us dipping into the portal outside of a few spots. Do we need anyone on offense except a QB? Do we need anyone on defense except a couple DBs (maybe) and a DT (maybe)? I expect we'll be opportunistic and grab a "best available" if the right transfer shakes loose. But I can't see us taking more than 5 guys unless we lose some current players we really don't want to lose who transfer out for whatever reason.

Obviously we hope our high school classes aren’t mainly busts (see 2022, not blaming anyone in particular but you see how a horrible class can severely damage your roster) and can continue to show progress. Eventually they mature both physically and mentally to the point where they can take on larger roles and become impact guys.

The reason we’ve been dipping into the portal so much (despite a lot of people’s initial complaints on here regarding portal usage compared to the “studs” we landed in recruiting) are twofold - either they weren’t ready to contribute, or they aren’t as good as the coaches initially perceived. More than half our projected starting 22 is from the portal, which is a good thing in the short term imo because that means Mario wants to win NOW and can admit the guys he’s recruited aren’t good enough YET.

QB - Ward
RB - Martinez
WR - Sam Brown
C - Carpenter
DE - Mesidor
DT - Barrow
DT - Clark
LB - Kiko
LB - Alderman
Corner - DPJ
Corner - Dyoni Hill
S - Powell

Plus key rotation guys like Alston, Baron, Cook, etc.


College football is a results-oriented business - you either win enough games, or you don’t and get fired. Personally, you take talent wherever it helps us improve, and I don’t care what narrative other teams use to diminish our work.

Dropping bags is the biggest compliment we can receive, you can see how guys like Francis, Bain etc. are worth every penny.

In a perfect world, yeah you hit on every HS recruit. But honestly, I expect a couple guys to get dropped (especially if we have a good season like we all expect, and more blue chips want to jump in the boat). 22-24 sounds like a sweet spot and hopefully a relatively healthy portal class. We will be losing a lot of upperclassmen after 2024 and need some college-ready guys in case some of the 2023 kids that we think will be ready, aren’t…or just never reaches their potential.

 

[TriStarCane]

Planning for the portal is hard. It’s not like the NFL where you know when a contract is up. Probably don’t know who is even looking until like October/November

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

Obviously we hope our high school classes aren’t mainly busts (see 2022, not blaming anyone in particular but you see how a horrible class can severely damage your roster) and can continue to show progress. Eventually they mature both physically and mentally to the point where they can take on larger roles and become impact guys.

The reason we’ve been dipping into the portal so much (despite a lot of people’s initial complaints on here regarding portal usage compared to the “studs” we landed in recruiting) are twofold - either they weren’t ready to contribute, or they aren’t as good as the coaches initially perceived. More than half our projected starting 22 is from the portal, which is a good thing in the short term imo because that means Mario wants to win NOW and can admit the guys he’s recruited aren’t good enough YET.

QB - Ward
RB - Martinez
WR - Sam Brown
C - Carpenter
DE - Mesidor
DT - Barrow
DT - Clark
LB - Kiko
LB - Alderman
Corner - DPJ
Corner - Dyoni Hill
S - Powell

Plus key rotation guys like Alston, Baron, Cook, etc.


College football is a results-oriented business - you either win enough games, or you don’t and get fired. Personally, you take talent wherever it helps us improve, and I don’t care what narrative other teams use to diminish our work.

Dropping bags is the biggest compliment we can receive, you can see how guys like Francis, Bain etc. are worth every penny.

In a perfect world, yeah you hit on every HS recruit. But honestly, I expect a couple guys to get dropped (especially if we have a good season like we all expect, and more blue chips want to jump in the boat). 22-24 sounds like a sweet spot and hopefully a relatively healthy portal class. We will be losing a lot of upperclassmen after 2024 and need some college-ready guys in case some of the 2023 kids that we think will be ready, aren’t…or just never reaches their potential.

A lot of projection at this time, but the numbers initially discussed by some insiders seem a little low to me. I'm in the 22-24 camp for HS, understanding they are going to add portal commits in both windows.

That's just the nature of the beast in this era. Not allocating sufficient roster spots for some high-end portal talent is a mistake, and the better the roster gets the more that comes at the cost of HS recruits.

 

[AtlAtty]

I really don’t understand why the sophomores we recruit can’t be expected to contribute at all.

WR for 2025-Joseph, Washington, Trader, Robinson, Horton and Carr. And yet WR is a need in the portal? Everyone of those guys is a big time recruit and all will have had 1+ years at UM by 2025.

TE for 2025-Williams, Lofton, Carver, and the 2 freshmen studs

DT for 2025, Horton, Blount, Jones, Scott-and yet we need a portal DT?

I understand why people are enamored with the portal, but you will know when UM has truly arrived when we develop all these top 300 recruits into starters and future pros.

The only position I believe we will need the portal for 2025 if QB, and I expect that to the last time UM needs a portal QB becasue bringing in talent like Nickel and Coleman ends that debate, IMO.

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

I really don’t understand why the sophomores we recruit can’t be expected to contribute at all.

WR for 2025-Joseph, Washington, Trader, Robinson, Horton and Carr. And yet WR is a need in the portal? Everyone of those guys is a big time recruit and all will have had 1+ years at UM by 2025.

TE for 2025-Williams, Lofton, Carver, and the 2 freshmen studs

DT for 2025, Horton, Blount, Jones, Scott-and yet we need a portal DT?

I understand why people are enamored with the portal, but you will know when UM has truly arrived when we develop all these top 300 recruits into starters and future pros.

The only position I believe we will need the portal for 2025 if QB, and I expect that to the last time UM needs a portal QB becasue bringing in talent like Nickel and Coleman ends that debate, IMO.

The bolded will, quite literally, never happen. I know this because it has literally never happened, for any team.

Injury, fit, character, growth, work ethic... no coach in the history of college football bats 100% (even with blue chips). You get even 2/3 of your HS blue chips as future pros and you're a coaching god.

 

[grover]

The bolded will, quite literally, never happen. I know this because it has literally never happened, for any team.

Injury, fit, character, growth, work ethic... no coach in the history of college football bats 100% (even with blue chips). You get even 2/3 of your HS blue chips as future pros and you're a coaching god.

Yeah, even Butch and Saban missed on a ton of guys. I'm speculating, but feel we are deep enough in most spots that we'll be able to replace most of our starters and busts with the remaining quality guys from HS recruiting who do develop.

Also, we've already washed through most of the pre-2024-class JAGs. I mean, it's definitely possible guys like Kinlser, Bobby Washington, Robert Stafford or Malik Bryant never amount to anything. But my hope/expectation is they're still on the team because coaches like what they saw, and think they'll eventually be ready to start.

I'm not against the portal at all, just feel we won't "need" it, and instead will use it for big game hunting more selectively going forward.

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

Yeah, even Butch and Saban missed on a ton of guys. I'm speculating, but feel we are deep enough in most spots that we'll be able to replace most of our starters and busts with the remaining quality guys from HS recruiting who do develop.

Also, we've already washed through most of the pre-2024-class JAGs. I mean, it's definitely possible guys like Kinlser, Bobby Washington, Robert Stafford or Malik Bryant never amount to anything. But my hope/expectation is they're still on the team because coaches like what they saw, and think they'll eventually be ready to start.

I'm not against the portal at all, just feel we won't "need" it, and instead will use it for big game hunting more selectively going forward.

Hope vs Expectation vs Reliance.

The more accountable you are to the performance of the players, the further to the right you will want to be. I sure hope a lot of those guys pan out, but if it was my livelihood on the line, I would not rely on any of them.

 

[grover]

Hope vs Expectation vs Reliance.

The more accountable you are to the performance of the players, the further to the right you will want to be. I sure hope a lot of those guys pan out, but if it was my livelihood on the line, I would not rely on any of them.

Oh I agree. At this moment, it's "partially informed speculation". We'll know a lot more to classify the returning roster into hope/expectation/reliance buckets at the end of the season as the portal ramps up.

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

Oh I agree. At this moment, it's "partially informed speculation". We'll know a lot more to classify the returning roster into hope/expectation/reliance buckets at the end of the season as the portal ramps up.

Absolutely. Like I said earlier, still early in this process. By mid-October we should have a better sense of it.

 

[SaiyaMan305]

Ideally it should be 25-27 High school recruits and 6-10 high end portal additions to account for portal outs and recruiting busts

For next year in the portal:
1 QB
1 WR
2 IOL

1 DT
1 DE
1 LB
2 DB