Michigan Football: Signing Day — What To Expect, More
Michigan's 2018 Signing Day won't be as drama filled as some of those in the past due to the early Signing Period, but it won't be entirely uneventful.
The big one to watch ... four-star Otis Reese, who will announce at 10:00 at Lee County High School in Georgia.
Reese was teammates with Michigan sophomore-to-be Aubrey Solomon, who chose Michigan over Georgia a year ago. This one could go either way ... Rivals.com's Chad Simmons weighed in late Tuesday night with some interesting intel.
Five-star offensive lineman Nick Petit-Frere will also announce tomorrow in the 10:00 hour, also on ESPNU. Petit-Frere took official visits to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida and Alabama, and OSU is now the frontrunner.
Only three commits remain unsigned ...
Gray will sign at 7:30 a.m. and fax his letter of intent.
Bell will sign in a ceremony at his school at 3:00 central.
Barrett hasn't disclosed his plan, but he's expected to sign in the morning at his school.
Signing Day thoughts from TheWolverine.com staff:
1. Michigan is likely going to finish like 15-25 in the team rankings. What's it mean for the Wolverines?
Chris Balas: Not much in the grand scheme of things, other than they're not keeping up with the elite programs ... but who is? The rich get richer, and it's usually the 'by any means necessary' programs that are always going to be a step ahead and in contention for the National Title.
The hope, of course, is that head coach Jim Harbaugh will win at a high enough clip that kids will want to flock to Michigan ... between that and his NFL ties, ability to send kids to the League, U-M would be enticing. It will take a few big years to get there, and last year was a step backward.
This class isn't going to be a death knell, especially coming on the heels of two top-five classes. If they get the offensive line shored up, talent isn't going to be an issue ... and they're off to a great start in 2019.
Brandon Brown: Jim Harbaugh’s recruiting classes finished at No. 4 overall in 2016 and 2017 so finishing in the 15-25 range in 2018 obviously isn’t ideal but it’s not the end of the world. The class is smaller, and likely wasn’t going to be rated as highly from the jump, but that’s still not going to make fans feel any better about the final ranking when comparing this year’s class to the last two.
Austin Fox: The fact that Michigan finished outside the top 10 is not surprising at all, given the limited numbers it was working with. This was going to be a small class all along, and there’s obviously nothing the coaches could do about that.
Andrew Vailliencourt: Finishing outside the top 15 in recruiting rankings is not the end of the world. In a way it makes sense that the class would be a little less talked about because Michigan can’t offer very much immediate playing time that many recruits look for. Nearly the entire defense is returning, and so are a lot of pieces on offense. If anything, I’d be worried about the lack of offensive line recruiting. The recruiting ranking will be better next year, you’re going to have occasional years that aren’t as good — especially when you go 8-5.
2. There are two big targets remaining in Nick Petit-Frere and Otis Reese, and Michigan might miss out on both. Thoughts?
Chris Balas: Losing Petit-Frere to Ohio State, which was an afterthought for most of the process, would (will) be a blow. Michigan needs offensive linemen, period, and the Wolverines haven't addressed their needs well enough in this class ... or any of them, really.
The Wolverines are loaded at linebacker with young talent, but Reese is special. It would hurt, but again, wouldn't be a death knell. Next year's class, however, is going to be critical.
Just win, baby, and they'll come.
Brandon Brown: It’s pretty much a certainty that Michigan is going to miss out on Petit-Frere, which stings, but if it’s to Ohio State, it flat out sucks. For a while it looked like he’d end up at Alabama or Florida but if he signs with the Buckeyes it’s going to really throw some salt in the wound. The Michigan staff was involved with the five-star lineman for a while but never really had the inside track.
Otis Reese has been committed to Michigan for over a year and a half but might flip to Georgia later today. If that happens, just chalk NSD 2018 up as a monumental disappointment. The entire class is not lost but the actual date of Feb. 7, 2018 will be one that Michigan fans want to forget.
Austin Fox: Michigan missed out on almost all of its top targets in this class, and that trend will likely continue with Petit-Frere going elsewhere. Losing Reese would be especially disappointing when considering he’d been committed for so long, but this past season’s 8-5 record certainly didn’t help matters. A lack of star power at the top is perhaps the main reason this class is viewed as being somewhat subpar.
Andrew Vailliencourt:Michigan missing out on Otis Reese would be more disappointing than Petit-Frere, despite him fitting a bigger need. It never felt like U-M was getting Petit-Frere, whereas Reese should’ve been in the bag. Pair that with not being able to close on Jarrett Patterson and the possibility of coming in second for Rice transfer Calvin Anderson, and it really is a weak finish to the recruiting season.
3. How worried should Michigan fans be about the future?
Chris Balas: Not too worried just yet. Last year was Harbaugh's worst coaching job as a head coach at any of his stops, but it happens to just about every program not among the elite, and there's no reason to believe it will continue. It was probably an anomaly.
However, he needs to figure out the offensive line issues, and hold people accountable when it comes to fixing such things. This is a meritocracy, after all, and everyone needs to pull his weight.
And let's see some of that typical Harbaugh fire this year, Coach.
Brandon Brown: Going 8-5 on the field in 2017 wasn’t awesome and finishing somewhere in the teens or twenties on the recruiting trail isn’t great either but things could still turn out just fine for U-M. Fans are getting a bit restless with Harbaugh and some of his staff but it’s not time to head to the bomb shelter just yet.
Austin Fox: If you’re worried, just take a look at Michigan’s 2019 class so far — it includes a five-star defensive end, plus two more top-100 linemen — and you’ll quickly change your mind. This year’s class was an aberration, and isn’t likely to be a trend going forward. If the Wolverines finish with a recruiting class outside the top 15 once again next year, then it’s fair to be concerned.
Andrew Vailliencourt: I’d be worried about the state of the offensive line, or more specifically, the state of Michigan’s tackles. If Michigan in fact misses on Petit-Frere, Anderson and Patterson, that means someone on the roster or Jalen Mayfield, U-M’s lone offensive lineman in this class, will be starting at left and right tackle next season. That’s not ideal, and puts a lot of pressure on whatever current freshman is pushed into those roles (unless redshirt-junior right tackle Juwan Bushell-Beatty returns, but that comes with its downsides too).
4. How can Harbaugh right the ship after a bad year?
Chris Balas: By getting back to being Jim Harbaugh. He's got a sign in his office now, 'just coach the team.' He helped build momentum when he first arrived with a lot of pomp and circumstance, and it was necessary ... Signing of the Stars, Jordan Brand, etc. But stuff like that looks gimmicky if you're not winning.
The defense is in great shape. Harbaugh needs to be the first and last voice when it comes to the offense and get the most out of this group the way he did at his other stops.
Oh ... and he also needs to find an offensive tackle or two, pray that quarterback Shea Patterson is eligible.
Brandon Brown: If Harbaugh wins big in 2019, no one will remember the struggles in 2018. The 2019 recruiting class is already off to a great start and will continue trending that way if U-M can win some big games on the field next fall. Making a Big Ten Championship and being in the discussion for the College Football Playoff will cure all ills.
Austin Fox: Win — it’s that simple. An 8-5 season doesn’t appeal to many high schoolers. If the Wolverines have a solid season on the field in 2018, elite recruits will come flocking once again and this year’s recruiting “struggles” will be a distant memory.
Andrew Vailliencourt: Harbaugh can right the ship by winning, it’s really simple. Win the Big Ten and recruits will come. Make the playoff and recruits will come. Beat Ohio State and Michigan State and recruits will come. Infusing the staff with young talented recruiters like Al Washington and Sherrone Moore will also help, but winning cures all.
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