My Column: Big Ten Recommendations A Positive Step For The Conference

An article composed for BTPowerhouse of SBNation looking at the impact of the Big Ten conference's new recommendations for the NCAA.

My Column: Big Ten Recommendations A Positive Step For The Conference. http://t.co/0jwnt4fMsN
— Thomas Beindit (@tbeindit) October 2, 2014

Paying College Athletes: Fantasy And Reality

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit

In recent weeks, the biggest story on the college landscape has been the issue of student athlete compensation.  Whether it's through scholarships, sponsorships, autographs, or just gifts, everything has been on the table.  The NCAA has held firm with the concept that student athletes should be considered "amateurs" and receive nothing more than academic scholarships and expense benefits such as housing, and equipment.  The media has argued that players deserve at least a share of what has become a multi-billion dollar industry (Yes, that's billion with a b as Heisenberg himself would say).  The debate has raged back and forth and nobody seems to be able to reach an agreement.

The biggest part of this failure has been the fundamental problems with the system, the culture clash, and the general ignorance towards the topic.  Many claim to have a deep understanding of the issue that they are discussing, but college athletics and the NCAA rulebook are incredibly complicated and to be honest, I don't even think I understand everything fully.  Regardless, there are still some glaring flaws in many of the mainstream arguments that have been pushed around in recent weeks and I want to take a brief look at some of them.  

The first thing I want to address is the basic concept of the NCAA model.  The college athletic system has fundamental flaws.  There's simply no denying this and I'm not even talking about the concept of paying players yet.  The NCAA system is designed to live under the concepts of "amateurism" and that all sports are created equal.  Some college sports may still have a good degree of amateurism, but it's hard to argue that players like Trey Burke resemble anything of an amateur.  His name would trend worldwide during games, he has made the University of Michigan millions of dollars, and he was consistently featured throughout the media.  The only reason he was considered an "amateur" was because he didn't actually receive a salary.  We don't need to discuss that he's probably a more well known basketball player than half the NBA, but according to the NCAA, he's an "amateur".

The second argument is even more absurd.  At some point, college athletics will have to recognize that the sports are not equal.  I understand there are many issues in saying some sports are more important than others, but this leads into an important discussion that I'll touch on later.  Aside from a few select sports, there are really only four sports that make athletic departments money (football, basketball, ice hockey, baseball).  Every college sport requires an investment from the athletic department in the form of scholarships, equipment, coaching salaries, facilities, and other costs.  The fact is that outside of these few select sports, the remaining sports lose money with few exceptions.  In the grand scheme of things, it means that the "major" sports fund the other sports.  This will be important for later.

2014 QB Shelby Spence Visit Reaction

Photo Credit: 247Sports

Yesterday was the last home game of the 2012 season for the Michigan Wolverines and as always, they had a pretty big list of recruits.  One of the players on hand was a 2014 QB out of De La Salle Institute in Chicago, Illinois.  Shelby is 6'1" and just shy of 200 pounds.  He's somewhat of an under the radar guy, but he does have interest from big programs such as Notre Dame, Duke, Illinois, and Michigan.  I was able to catch up with Shelby today to talk to him about his first visit to Michigan for the Iowa game yesterday.



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Hokes Mad Magicians:  How was your first Big House experience?
Shelby:  I came away very impressed with Michigan.  They had a true family atmosphere, great facilities, and the fans were amazing.


Hokes Mad Magicians:  What's the biggest factor in your recruitment? Early playing time, academics such as a specific major? 
Shelby:  Ultimately, I am looking for a place where I will feel comfortable.  I'm also looking for a strong mix between academics and football.

Hot Topics: Should The B1G Add Maryland And Rutgers?

On a regular basis, our writers will break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and express their personal opinions regarding the issue. Topics cover everything from major athletic department decisions to team apparel. Writers have their own opinions and readers and their views may not necessarily represent Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity.  Readers are welcome to comment below or contact our writers via Twitter with their own thoughts.

What Happens If Michigan Strikes Out On The "Big 3?"

Alright so by now you all know that Michigan is hard after the "big 3" in WR Laquon Treadwell, RB Derrick Green, and Safety Leon McQuay III.  I'm going to give a breakdown on where I think we stand with each of these guys and a recruit that I think could be a viable option and very suitable replacement for each individual.

Let's start with Leon McQuay III.  The highly coveted five-star safety out of Florida made his official visit to Michigan last weekend for the Northwestern game.  While Leon is usually very quiet, I did see some interviews that he did after his visit and it looks like he had a great time.  Obviously, the game atmosphere was huge, but if you don't know, a major factor in Leon's recruitment is the school's music program.  Michigan has a very good one and he was able to hang out with two of Michigan's current players Jack Kennedy and Joe Reynolds.  Many of the Michigan fans know them as JDK and Rey.  They are both great musicians and even have a song that plays in the stadium before games.  I think this is a huge help with Leon because he can see that he will be able to make music and the school as well as the football program will support him and help him get his name out there.  But let's not forget Michigan is battling USC, Oregon and Vanderbilt.  It will be a very tight race, but I believe Michigan will be in the conversation at the Under Armour Game on January 4th where Leon makes his decision.

Team 134 Adds WR Da'Mario Jones

With the pending drama and what most people seem as a certain decommitment from Cornerback Gareon Conley and the uncertainty out of Laquon Treadwell, the Michigan coaches went out and offered Senior WR Da'Mario Jones out of Westland, MI and he committed on the spot.  Most of the experts seemed to think that he was the definite back up plan for Treadwell.   Jones is 6'2" 190 pounds and is a 3* on ESPN.  He has shown a lot of interest in Michigan and while he was committed to Central Michigan University, he still seemed to have interest in Michigan. 

His family loves Michigan and it's clear that he does also.  I think it's a big pick up for the Wolverines and I don't believe scholarship spots will be an issue because most people think Conley will decommit.  I'm hearing from Sam Webb that the coaches are still recruiting Treadwell and that they will still recruit Conley if he does decide to go take visits   I think the difference between him and David Dawson are that he is going about it the right way and not behind the coaches backs. 

More Drama With The 2013 Class?

Well as I'm sitting here in southern Maryland weathering hurricane Sandy, I figured I would talk about what seems to be an impending storm in recruiting for the 2013 class for Michigan.  I won't speak much about it, but there is some more drama with David Dawson.  If you haven't heard by now (you must live under a rock), but Michigan and Dawson decided to part ways a short time ago.  It seemed to be that Florida was in the driver's seat, but now that's not the case, or at least according to Dawson. 

Mr. Dawson has recently named a top-3 of Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.  What many disgruntled Michigan fans see as a slap in the face, it seems Dawson seems to favor schools in the B1G.  Given his family situation, it seems fitting that he wants to stay close to home.  I believe the ribbing from a few "bad apples" in the Michigan fan base has kind of left a salt in his mouth and I believe he may be sticking it to the Michigan fans.  We will see how it plays out, but looks like he could be lining up for one of Michigan's bitter rivals.  He has said he is taking visits and look for him to make a decision at the All-American game, if not sooner.

Denzel Ward Becomes Commit #2 For 2014

Yesterday, before the game even started, Michigan fans received some great news as big time Offensive Tackle Denzel Ward from the 2014 class pledged his commitment to Michigan. This kid is 6'9" and 300 pounds. He's just an absolute monster and what many are calling a huge pick up for the Wolverines. Denzel made his first trip to Ann Arbor last weekend for the Illinois game and came away very impressed and with a scholarship offer from the coaches. I had a good feeling about him because he struck a very good bond with 2013 Commit Logan Tuley-Tillman. Sam Webb alluded to it this week that a commitment this weekend was certain and he was right. There's not a ton of coverage on Ward yet, but what scouts have said is that he is very raw and has a ton of upside. He joins Michael Ferns in this class and Michael is one of the top linebackers in the state of Ohio so with the addition of Denzel, Team 135 is off to a great start.

What next for the 2014 class? Well Michigan, has made it clear they want to be deep on the offensive line. Look for the staff to take at least 3 more offensive linemen, if not 4.  Depth at the OL is important and I know Coach Hoke is a firm believer in that. The 2012 and 2013 classes were both very loaded and with this Denzel Ward commitment, that's a good start. A Top-50 player in the country, OL Mason Cole visited as well and Michigan sits very well with him. In my opinion, I think he's blue in the end, but it could be down the road.  It was a big time list of visitors and Cole's teammate, WR Artavis Scott, has Michigan high up there and these two could possibly be a package deal. 2014 DB Damon Webb was also on hand and he came away impressed. I think he's one of the coaches' top priorities for this class. He's a big time player and would be a huge get for Michigan.

Does Loss to ND Hurt Recruiting?

So coming off of the horrible loss to Notre Dame last night, I figured I'd share my opinion on whether or not I think the game hurt us in recruiting.  Right off the bat, I'm going to have to say no and I'll state my reasons why.  There were lots of recruits at the game with interest in both teams such as Damon Webb, a 2014 DB/WR out of Detroit Cass Tech.  However, most of the responses that we heard were in regards to recruits believing that could have an earlier impact at Michigan, which is definitely not a negative sign.

It was a great atmosphere, but a guy like Webb has visited Michigan the last two weeks for needless to say not very big games.  Michigan hasn't had a big game atmosphere at home yet and I believe that come October 20th when the Spartans come to town, it could be huge.  A vast majority of the 2013 commits have scheduled their official visits for this game along with big time 2013 target RB Derrick Green.  Michigan is  2-2 right now, which isn't the start that we had all hoped for, but let's face it, we did lose to Alabama who is I think far and above the best team in college football.  We gave away the game to the #11 team in the country so it's not like we have been upset in any means.

2013 QB Commit Shane Morris Out For Season?

Some startling news to Michigan fans today as the Detroit Free Press reported that 2013 QB Commit Shane Morris could possibly be out for the remainder of his Senior season with mononucleosis.  In his game this past weekend against Brother Rice, Shane had to come out at the half because he was too gassed. 

According to the Free Press article, he had been medically cleared to play because the mono had not yet reached his spleen.  Well, ESPN's Tom VanHaaren reported that Shane texted him to let him know he's in the hospital tonight for some routine observations.  It's unclear as of right now as to whether or not Shane will be playing football anymore in high school. Mono varies from case by case but, I did a bit of research and it could be cleared up in 3-4 weeks or 2-3 months.  It can include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and the rupture of spleen.  Not playing during his recovery could be very important.

This could possibly put a blow on Shane's improvement as a quarterback as nothing is more important to improving as a quarterback, or any player for that matter, than live game reps.  I think it's good that they decided to pull him because there's no sense of risking further injury, especially with something that could become serious.  I commend his coach and everyone around him for making the right call with this.  This summer was very active for Shane as he participated in the Nike Opening 2012 in Oregon as well as the Elite 11 Camp out in California.  I think that even if Shane isn't able to come back his senior year he can still work on his skills in the offseason.

Catching Up With Taco Charlton

There have been some pretty amazing players that have come through Ann Arbor.  A lot of those players had some pretty unique names.  Immediately I think of Mercury Hayes, Amani Toomer, Tim Biakabutuka, Ian Gold, Rob Swet, Ty Law, and remember Tripp Welbourne? That's right, two p's. Tripp.  Those are the names of players that are imbedded in my brain.  When I heard Keith Jackson say their names, they became unforgettable. We have had a Mercury, a Tripp and even an Elvis. We can now add Taco to the list.

Future Big Ten running backs and quarterbacks wont be too excited to see this guy on the Saturday menu.  At 6-6 and 250, Taco Charlton is already a physical specimen.  He has not had the benefit of a college weight room or the coaching from arguably the best DLine staff in the country. When it comes to his capabilities, the sky is the limit.  Charlton is an exceptional 2 sport athlete, also excelling in basketball. I got to talk to the Michigan commit Tuesday night shortly after his Pickerington Central Soccer team beat cross-town rivals Pickerington North. In what Charlton says will be the beginning of a trend between both schools that will extend over other sports, most importantly football:

Welcome Joel Wiscombe To Hoke's Mad Magicians!

We here at Hoke's Mad Magicians are thrilled to announce that we have added Joel Wiscombe to our staff. He will be one of our football recruiting analysts and will bring us an interesting perspective on all things on the recruiting trail for Michigan.

Joel was born in 1975, attended UTEP, is married, and has 4 children, 1 girl and 3 boys.  He identifies himself as a lifelong Wolverines, despite living in Texas.  His father, who passed away a year ago, was borin in Pontiact to immigrant parents and played for Pontiac Sr High for a former Wolverine, Hercules Renda.  His grandfather worked in GM plants and he was raised as a Wolverine fan, growing up on the stories of Yost, Canham, Bennie O', and of course Old '98.  He grew up in the time of Bo, saw the Moeller and Carr years, and the '97 championship was his senior year of college.

His first favorite running back was Jaime Morris and his favorite Wolverine of all-time is Charles Woodson, not just because of his talent, but because he really experienced his success.  He refuses to wear red for the same reasons as Coach Hoke and balled at his first trip to the Big House.  He has even instructed his family to disperse his ashes there if/when he dies.

Some fun facts about Joel, he loves rock and alternative and especially Metallica.  He has a cousin in the Detroit area who plays in a band.  He also has a lot of family in the Detroit area.  So even though he may not live here, he has many connections.

Joel will be bringing great analysis and original content for our football recruiting.  We all know Michigan fans are passionate about football recruiting, so we expect everyone to enjoy Joel's future posts.  If you would like to read his first featured article for Hoke's Mad Magicians, click here.

If you'd like to follow Joel on Twitter, his username is joelwGoBlue.

Stay tuned for some great updates and Go Blue!

An Interview With 2013 RB Derrick Green

Two of the nation's top players were on stage when The Hermitage Panthers took on the Fork Union Military Academy Blue Devils in live action Saturday to a nation-wide TV audience courtesy of ESPNU.  Although the game showcased 2 of the top high school football players at their respective positions, Hermitage RB Derrick Green (Undecided) and FUMA's QB (Penn St. Verbal) Christian Hackenberg, it was quite the lopsided affair.  

The Panther defense would take care of Hackenberg early on, and according to Green, it was all part of the plan.  He told me, "It was a lot of preparation and a lot of film that did it. Our coaches got us ready." "The defense did a great job." "We knew if we got Hackenberg out of the pocket we could give him problems.." Problems indeed.  3rd and long was routine.  Hackenberg never had time to get set in the pocket, and he never found the endzone. It was over early.  38-0 Panthers.

The problems were not just on Offense for FUMA. On the Defensive side, the Blue Devils had to contend with new Varsity QB Niko Johnson and the renowned human "Truck with a Turbo" RB Derrick Green.  Green showed the country why he is ranked #6 in the ESPN150 and in some eyes the best "Back" in his class. With a slew of schools vying for his services, Michigan like the rest of his suitors, are hoping to hear those "sweet words".

This past Sunday night I got to chat with the Michigan Target and among other things; we talked about his big game in week 1, who he looks up to in the League, nicknames and where he stands in his college recruiting adventure.

Recapping 2012 Commit Jarrod Wilson

The last, but certainly not least of the defensive back commits in 2012 is Safety Jarrod Wilson out of Akron, OH.  Coach Hoke definitely did it again, nabbing great talent out of Ohio.  Jarrod was able to enroll early and he is arguably the best defensive back in this class.  In the initial depth chart, he is listed as the number 2 Free Safety and that says a lot about him.  He's got good size, measuring up around 6'2" and around 200 pounds.   Heavily recruited by pretty much all of the Big Ten and many others, Jarrod was a great get for Michigan.

Jarrod is another one of those taller guys that the coaching staff has seemed to express interest that they really want.  He's around 6'2" and he's got great height.  He's just under 200 pounds so look for him to add some weight especially playing safety.  Jarrod is a good solid tackler and has great cover skills.  He is one of those guys that closes well on the football and makes big plays constantly.  He definitely needs to get stronger and isn't a big sideline to sideline type of player, but he's a lot better when he's just in straight pursuit of the football.  Jarrod is versatile as he does do work in the return game and seems to make big plays when he touches the ball.  He's a playmaking Safety so he can play time on defense or get utilized in the return game, which is a big part of football.  His real knack in my opinion, is this weight. If he can bulk up and turn it on in the weight room, look for him to be big time here in the near future.

Recapping 2012 Commit Jeremy Clark

Ok, so Defensive Back wasn't a position of need THIS season, but it will be in the future and another guy that will go towards solidifying the Secondary is Safety Jeremy Clark out of Madisonville, KY.  Not the highest rated guy but the coaches have said they wanted taller and bigger defensive backs.  Well they certainly got that in Jeremy, as he checks in around 6'4" and just over 200 pounds.  The Big Ten is famous for having big play-making receivers that are very difficult to match up with, so the need for bigger guys in the secondary definitely makes sense.

Well first of all, let it be known that I'm a huge fan of tall defensive backs.  Too often teams that have these tall receivers give Michigan big fits (Marvin McNutt from Iowa) just to name one, but there are plenty more.  I'm not knocking the defensive backs we've had in the past or currently have because there are legends, but I think it's important to have taller guys in the secondary, if they have the abilities.  Jeremy certainly does.  He's not highly rated, but he is a great tackler and is solid in run support.  Because of his height it allows him to attack the football in the air because he doesn't have to jump as high as most guys because he's so tall.  He's not the heaviest guy as he's right around 200 pounds so putting on some weight will be key for him especially if he is to play Safety in college.  Jeremy is one of those raw guys with a lot of upside and he's got the physical tools to be a good one..  He needs to work a bit on his hip movement and his back pedal but other then that he's got great upside.  Also a big hitter and that's something nice to have especially in a Safety.

Recapping 2012 Commit Allen Gant

Another top DB commit in the 2012 class for Michigan is Allen Gant out of Sylvania, OH.  Allen checks in at 6'2" and around 220 pounds, so he has good height and weight.  Michigan is looking for taller defensive backs and Allen fits that mold.  Allen is what many would call a "Michigan Legacy" because his father Tony Gant played football for the late great Bo Schembechler.  Coach Hoke has done a great job getting top talent out of the state of Ohio and Allen Gant definitely fits that description.  Along with fellow commit Terry Richardson, Allen is one of those guys that could see some early playing time, if things go right.

Allen is another one of those mid-ranked guys, but he is one of the top defensive backs in the state of Ohio.  He's got good size which helps him in coverage and pretty decent speed.  He's another great "cover" corner and also a good tackler.  The Michigan coaches have been very vocal about wanting to get taller and bigger guys at defensive back and Allen is one of those.  He's fast and has the ability to go after the ball when it's in the air.  I like the fact that he's out of Ohio, Michigan has gotten very fortunate over the years when it comes to defensive backs out of Ohio (Charles Woodson) to name one in particular.  I like the fact that he's 6'2" which means he will match up very well against taller receivers and has good size which should help him out if he has to match up against Tight Ends.  I like Allen's game he's one of those guys that isn't afraid of contact and will support the run.  I'm one of those guys that likes physical defensive backs who are good tacklers and can cover.  Allen is a great player and will hone his skills at Michigan.

Recapping 2012 Commit Ben Braden

The last man up front we are recapping is Offensive Linemen Ben Braden hailing from Rockford, MI.  This kid is a load at 6'6" and around 320 pounds and he's nobody to mess with.  He is pretty versatile as well, splitting his time at offensive tackle and defensive end.  Not the highest ranked guy in the world, but one of those mid-level guys that with some great coaching can turn into a player that will carry the line, team, and program into the future.

First thing that jumps out at me about Ben is that he's a big kid.  He's over 6'5" tall and he's got long arms to go along with his 320 pounds.  Ben has good speed and quickness and does a great job getting into defenders. He's one of those kids with great athleticism and superior strength.  Ben might not play time at left tackle at Michigan in the future, but he could be a formidable right tackle for the team.  I would say that he's better in run-blocking, but is coming into his own as a pass blocker and will definitely improve as he gets more experience.  With his size and strength, it's hard to keep a kid like this on the sideline so he has the chance to play early depending on how good he does in fall camp and beyond.  Michigan isn't the deepest at offensive line, so anything is possible.  If Ben is able to improve his skills as a pass blocker, he could turn out to be one of the good ones and definitely has a legitimate shot at early playing time.

Recapping 2012 Commit James Ross

Here's my recap of another big time Linebacker in the 2012 class, James Ross out of Orchard Lake St. Mary's in Orchard Lake, MI.  James happens to be an Army All-American and checks in at 6'1" and around 215 pounds.  One of the top linebackers in the country, Coach Hoke and the staff made an emphasis of addressing the linebacker position and James is definitely part of that fold.  2012 was a linebacker haul for Michigan with four phenomenal commitments in Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone, and Kaleb Ringer.  James is right in the mix and is certainly in the argument for the best linebacker in the class.

James isn't the biggest guy, at only 215, but man can this dude lay the wood.  He has phenomenal quickness and reaction time.  He defends the run very well and has great instincts along with the fact that he has great cover skills and is such a physical defender.  James doesn't shy away from contact and has great discipline when it comes to gap responsibility.  He can get after the passer whether it's blitzing up the middle or coming off the edge as a type of speed rusher.  The only real knock on him, in my opinion, would be his weight at around 215 lbs. He could definitely use some bulking up in the weight room, which I can definitely see happening now that he's on campus.  Also, he's quick but it doesn't have great top speed.  This can hurt him at times in coverage.

Recapping 2012 Commit Chris Wormley

One of the recruits that got a lot of excitement for his commitment to Michigan's 2012 class was Chris Wormley.  He comes out of Whitmer High School in Toledo, Ohio and was just one piece of Brady Hoke's massive Ohio haul in the 2012 and 2013 classes.  Wormley was also slated for a role in the 2012 season as the likely backup to Craig Roh.  Of course, this plan went out the window when Wormley tore his ACL in fall camp and will now redshirt the 2012 season, but he was getting some consistent play before that happened, giving fans a lot to look forward to in the future.

Wormley has a large skillset that makes him a great pick-up for the Wolverines.  He has solid size and strength, standing at 6'4" and weighing 279 lbs according to the official website.  Some think he's even big enough to eventually move to the inside once he increases his strength a little more.  He is also cited as having a great motor and speed off the snap, which is exciting for a defensive end.  Ace from MGoBlog had some concerns that his "pad level" was significantly decreasing his production.  This and Wormley's general technique will take some improvement if he truly wants to make an impact as a strongside defensive end in the future.  He seems to be pretty good at getting off the blocks, but if he can come off the ball right, he could be simply running through opponents because of his speed and strength.

Recapping 2012 Commit Terry Richardson

Now we get into the guys that are helping bolster one of the more scrutinized parts of the Michigan defense in recent years, the secondary.  First of this group of commits is highly touted Defensive Back Terry Richardson out of Detroit Cass Tech.  Terry is an All-American and one of the top corners in the country and was a huge get for Michigan.  Michigan improved its secondary play in 2011 and should have a good 2012, but Richardson should be a player to secure it for the future.  Terry's 5'9" and 165 pounds so he's not the tallest guy in the world, but nonetheless he's got great cover skills.  Detroit Cass Tech is pretty much a Michigan pipeline and many of their players go onto play Division 1 football and many of them attend Michigan.  Cass Tech Michigan commits also includes Royce Jenkins-Stone and 2013 commits David Dawson and Jourdan Lewis.

Terry isn't the fastest guy on the field, but he rarely gets beat and has good recovery skills.  He can blanket receivers and is good in coverage.  He's only 5'9" so that worries me a bit as he will face taller receivers in college, but he has great leaping ability and is still has the skills necessary.  He will definitely put on some weight, which will help and he just has some outstanding raw talent.  In my opinion, I think he will be a nickel type guy on defense.  He can cover guys one-on-one but I believe with the guys Michigan has at corner I think he would be a 3rd or 4th guy.  This would be a good way to get him on the field in the near future.