Pure speculation: Grad transfer Taysom Hill would be... pretty good.

Submitted by LSA Superstar on

No insider info at all.  But let me make the pitch:

Hill was a true senior this year, and injured himself in his first game.  He also suffered a season-ending injury the year prior, but was not eligible for a medical redshirt as the injury occurred in his fifth game (against USU, as I recall).  This will make him eligible for a medical redshirt this year.  He is set to graduate.

Our team is really well-positioned for next year in terms of experienced and depth.  We lose only Glasgow, Rudock, and the linebackers.  We have promising replacements lined up for all but Rudock, because whatever QB starts next would be nothing more than a lottery ticket at the most important position on the field.  Also:  look at MSU and OSU's depth charts by year.  If we had a very capable quarterback, we'd be in contention to win our division and the league.

Hill is an accomplished passer and exceptional runner.  He has tremendous injury problems, true, but it's not like the cupboard would be bare were he to go down again - we'd just be back where we started and turn to O'Korn, a RFr., or Morris (I guess).  And Hill wouldn't need to carry as much of the load here, especially on the ground, making him more likely to stay healthy.

Finally, we know (1) he committed to Harbaugh at one point, and (2) he stays in contact with him.

Thoughts?

gwkrlghl

September 20th, 2015 at 7:54 PM ^

No, but two consecutive season-ending injuries (meaning he likely has minimal shot at a pro career), plus he's getting his degree, and he's already married. It just looks like the logical conclusion for him will be to call it quits, enter the work force, and settle in with his family like many of us have done

charblue.

September 20th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^

interest in this possibility, why would it make sense for Harbaugh to recruit a bunch of young kids and promise them they could compete for a starting job, and possibly redshirt a kid now in his third year at qb, and then seek out another fifth year senior to take over the offense next season? How does that help build the kind of team and program he wants to build? 

I mean wouldn't it have made more sense for Ohio State to play Miller at quarterback this year instead of starting Jones and Barrett  in spite of their success last year? I mean that is what you are proposing Michigan should do, find a Miller to displace guys who have already put in more than a year of work competing and biding their time to get an opportunity to start at qb at Michigan? 

You only do that when you feel you are short at the position and need to improve the existing competition to find a capable starter. What would it say about the kids he's already recruited and now continues to recruit at the position? It would tell me, you don't think the guys available are good enough and can't get the job done. Maybe they can't now. But I think Harbaugh will make them all better and good enough to win down the road. 

I mean I'm sure Nick Saban wishes he had a fifth year senior running his offense. Maybe he should go after Hill after the season ends. There'd certainly be no culture shock in that move from BYU to Alabama. 

LSA Superstar

September 20th, 2015 at 8:31 PM ^

I don't think Harbaugh makes that promise, implicitly or explicitly. I think that's his philosophy: get the best players, then determine who, of those best, is best.

If you don't agree that Hill would be the best player of the group next year... Well I hope you're right!

getsome

September 20th, 2015 at 9:22 PM ^

harbaugh has demonstrated hell be creative in order to find the most talented 85 to compete for his squads and then hell play the most productive players.  if he honestly believed (a) hill would provide a significant upgrade at QB and (b) hill were interested in playing 5th year elsewhere, im sure hed pursue the kid.  

hes a competitive dude who understands the make or break type impact of talented and competent QBs.  its the most important position in sport and QBs influence football teams too much to ever take lightly.  

yeah, im sure harbaugh tells QB recruits they might be able to play early given the unproven depth chart, and while he believes in their ability and future as prospects, they still need to earn and keep the job by proving theyre best available option to help his team win games - and if harbaugh finds another available QB whos better fit to win games, he would not hesitate

ClassOf14

September 20th, 2015 at 6:19 PM ^

Sure it's plausible, but still extremely unlikely. Especially since he's said nothing about being unhappy at his current program or wanting to look around. Next year we should have more options, and they'll all have a year of Harbaugh's coaching under their belt. Have some faith.




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baorao

September 20th, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^

go with O'Korn or any of the the other half dozen QBs on scholarship right now. if only because they all have more than one year of eligibility should they turn out to be awesome or even better than serviceable

BlueMetal

September 20th, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^

After this year we should have quite a few options at QB that have spent an entire year under this system. I'm sure one of them will be capable . I don't think continually grabbing grad transfers is the answer.

LSA Superstar

September 20th, 2015 at 8:15 PM ^

You mean because of health concerns?

If not, look at his stats. Well be lucky if O'Korn is anywhere near the player he is.

If people don't like the idea of relying on another grad transfer, gambling with health, or just plain don't believe it's possible those are all valid criticisms. But the idea that he wouldn't be an upgrade if healthy is crazy.

DrMantisToboggan

September 21st, 2015 at 12:33 AM ^

No, just because JOK is better. The only full season we have to compare stats for both Hill and JOK is 2013. Here are the stats:

Hill: 53.9% comp, 2938 yds, 6.7 ypa, 1.36 TD:INT, 118.2 qb rating

JOK: 58.1% comp, 3117 yds, 7.0 ypa, 2.8 TD:INT, 133 qb rating

Thats on only 8 more pass attempts for JOK. Yeah Hill can run a little more, but O'Korn is still mobile and had positive rushing yards (almost 10 ypg) in 2013. 

But stats only go so far. JOK is more accurate than Hill, played his ass off this offseason and would have started if he were eligible. He would have a year learning the system that Hill would have to catch up on. And yes, his injury history is far less damning. 

I'm saying there is no situation, even at 100% health, that I would rather have Hill. John is going to win a good amount of games here in 16 and 17.

SWPro

September 21st, 2015 at 11:57 AM ^

Tysom Hill had 1240 more rushing yards and 9 more rushing TDs than O'Korn that season. Granted he carried the ball a lot more but still averaged 5.5 ypc to O'Korns 1.7.

 

If you want to make the arguement for O'Korn that's fine but to phrase as "Hill can run a little more" without providing the stats is misleading.

 

Hill coming to Michigan seems unlikely (as we have heard nothing about it) but I woudl rather have both guys on the roster competing for a spot if we have room for it.

justingoblue

September 20th, 2015 at 8:29 PM ^

Denard showed flashes in 2009, but he absolutely should have redshirted. Tate was plenty good enough to help that team reach its ceiling; there just wasn't a non-Denard backup option.

This alternate universe is also predicated on looking more like WVU or Arizona than the 2010 team did and retaining RR/Magee for the rest of his eligibility, of course.

Mr. Yost

September 20th, 2015 at 6:23 PM ^

And he REALLY wants to play next year...I don't see him playing football anymore.

Did he take a mission? Plus redshirt? He's probably older than Jay Harbaugh. It's probably time to move on - but that's his choice. In the end, doubt he's fit for Michigan. He's not even a great thrower from a traditional standpoint. O'Korn, Gentry and Vic can move around enough to give us a different look at the QB position.

TheFugitive

September 20th, 2015 at 6:28 PM ^

Is there documentation that he and Harbaugh stay in touch? Seems a little far fetched and against the rules to me.  

Seems like he'd be too far behind the other guys that have been on campus

Fnrmerse

September 20th, 2015 at 6:44 PM ^

1. Are we really in a position for a "big time player"?
2. Hill was in the Heismen talks earlier in the month. He is a "big time player"
3. Like LSA mentioned we would be stacked with Hill if he can learn the offence.
4. O'Korn, Morris and the rest of the QB field have no experience. This would inhibit our chances next year since QB is kind of important in football.

I like the idea of at leat looking into grabbing up an experienced transfer.




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