The Blue Board

Last 3 classes:

1 5 star

17 4-stars

9 2-stars

MSU really hasn't taken a ton of 2-stars in recent years. MSU does take a lot of 3-stars, with a fair # of highly ranked guys, especially considering our perceived recruiting shortfalls.

This year, we have 1 4-star and 4 3-stars according to 247, and 5 3-stars according to TOS. Are they elite prospects? No, though O'Connor and McGowan are pretty well respected talents. Are they 2-star MAC left-overs? Absolutely not. Can you win consistently with this type of recruiting? I think so, as long as the coaches are good.

MSU doesn't have to outrecruit UM to hang with them. MSU just needs to stay in the overall ballpark. Unless Hoke and Co bring in 15+ 4-stars every class, I'm confident in MSU's 4-6 4 stars/class (average, last 3 years), along with a lot of 3-star guys. I don't consider those guys "reaches" or prospects that should have a hard time playing in the Big 10.

I'm also not expecting MSU to measure up to the Bama's, Oklahoma's, and LSU's of the world until MSU recruits at that level. But Michigan? For the time being, MSU has the talent to handle the boys in blue.

Keep Hope alive!

These next few years are vital to MSU. Michigan is wounded and if MSU ever has a chance to turn the tide of recruiting it is now. If Michigan recovers this year (and I think they will) then the recruiting will continue to the point where Michigan is recruiting on the level of Bama, Oklaoma, and LSU. You said it yourself, MSU can't compete against a team with talent like that, 67-31-5 kind of talent.

MIchigan is recruiting well, but you guys are not on Bama, LSU, OK, FSU's level. That takes multiple 5-stars, and double digit 4-stars in a class. Right now MSU has as many 5-stars on its roster (1, Will Gholston) as UM does (1, Will Campbell).

I've said that MSU needs 4-6 4-star guys per class; whatever makes up 25% of that year's class should be that high-end HS talent. MSU isn't ready to hit that 8+ 4-star/years level, we need to have a few more winning seasons to get there. That 4-6 4-star range will let MSU win 7+ games/year and build a reputation of playing winning football.

Teams that haven't been powers since Nixon are going to have to walk before they can run. MSU has graduated from crawling to walking. We'll see over the next 2-3 seasons whether we're ready to jog.

Michigan has historically been at that level, hence the 67-31-5. That is why this year and the next couple are absolutely crucial to MSU. If they fall back and Michigan rises back up (which they will), then MSU is back to being an also ran.

Edit: Meeechigan explained the importance of Michigan reastablishing the pecking order in Michigan very well. If MSU is playing second fiddle in their home state, then you know that with national recruits they are even less than that.

Diamond is visiting MSU this week as well, as is Dennis Norfleet. Oh, and now Hoke has offered Radcliff, the RB out of FL that MSU offered weeks ago. Should be fun to see how these shake out.

Let's have another fun list-game. Name your Top 10 players in the Big 10, regardless of position.

As this list is for the whole year, I've omitted the OSU players who are suspended for the first 5 games. Because multiple proven players for tOSU could be suspended, including 4/7 of their projected front 7, I have a hard time putting many of them on the list. Kind of weird, but I don't feel any WR is truly a top 10 player in the conference. The best are probably Roundtree (Mich), Toon (Wisky), Cunningham (MSU), Posey (tOSU and probably the best, but not listed for suspension reasons), McNutt (Iowa), Doss (IU), Ebert (Northwestern).

1. Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
2. James White, RB, Wisconsin
3. LaVonte David, LB, Nebraska
4. Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern
5. Mike Brewster, C, tOSU
6. Dennard Robinson, QB, Michigan
7. Mike Mauti, LB, PSU
8. Jerel Worthy, DT, MSU
9. Kirk Cousins, QB, MSU
10. Edwin Baker, RB, MSU

I know the last 3 make me sound like a homer, but all 3 will contend for all league honors at their positions. Let's get this rolling.

I see Norfleet as a utility player; KR/PR/ 3rd down take a swing pass the distance type.

MSU does need a between-the-tackles guy in this class, which is why we offered Radcliff and Mahone (I think Mahone goes to PSU though).

Looks like he's blowing up; Georgia and Miami(Fl) also offered. Edit: I'm talking about Radcliff.

In terms of Norfleet, he's a 4-star prospect as ranked by this site. I'm not going to use his commitment as the basis for predicting 4 straight conf. titles, but if MSU ends up with 2-3 in-state 4-stars, it would certainly blunt the notion that Hoke has turned the whole state blue in a few months.

I would love to have O'Brien but at the expense of Ondre and Shittu...I guess they will wait and see. NT is huge this class. I'd hate to lose out on all 3 of them. If MSU can get O'Brien and JJ that would be just as good as Pipkens and Shittu.

Mike Martin gets a homer Nod at the DT postion

Oh my god, the arrogance is f'ing unbelievable. Give me your FACTS that Michigan will rise back up.

Yea, I was asked to move this in from the other thread, because the Seminole fan hijacked it. I saw your response in there.

I really think Martin is a notch below Worthy for now, though I want to see him play back in the 4-3. MM is really a 3-tech guy rather than a NT.

I think Molk and Brewster are both great Cs, but hey, it's my list so forgive me if I leave a Wolverine off of it

I believe Cousins should be on there; as a 5th year SR with 2 full years starting behind him, he's the best pocket-passer in the league.

I don't think there's a true stud DB aside from maybe Dennard from Neb and Hyde for Iowa, but Hyde's moving to S, so who knows what effect that'll have. No stud DEs in the league after we lost a bunch in Kerrigan, Watt, Clayborn and Heyward.