deommodore lenoir

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71

Friday Recruitin' Divides 300 Pound Baby
Brian •

Maybe we can split him in half

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wingspaaaaaaaan

AJC reporter Jeff Sentell appeared on the DawgNation podcast (DawgNation appears to be an AJC silo for Georgia athletics content) to talk recruiting, and naturally struck on GA DT Aubrey Solomon. Sentell talked to both Solomon and mom and came away saying that "from listening to [Solomon's] mother, that's 100% committed right there" and that he would be "stunned if Aubrey Solomon went anywhere but the University of Michigan." Sentell further reports that Solomon ducked out of the visit for a moment, claiming he had to go to the bathroom, so he could call his mom and get her blessing to pull the trigger. That's the opposite of a high-pressure pitch that might backfire as time goes by.

So of course the Georgia 247 site is reporting that Solomon will visit Georgia in July. This isn't as bad as it sounds: the visit was planned in advance of the sudden turn in Solomon's recruitment. It's common for guys to follow through on their word when coaches ask them to. I wouldn't be worried about that visit; any subsequent ones would be game on.

FWIW, that article contains a number of positive quotes about Georgia from Solomon's mother that were gathered before the trip to Ann Arbor. While I don't doubt Georgia is at least some threat the article gives off a bit of a whiff of saving face amongst subscribers—Sentell appears to have the latest, and he's considerably more neutral than a team site.

Give 'em the clamps, Holmes

CA CB Deommodore "Clamp Clampington" Lenoir hasn't drawn much mention around these parts since he first popped up on the radar, but Brandon Brown catches up with him and discovers he is planning an official, ideally when CA CB Darnay Holmes comes in. That would be all right. Argh Dave Brandon, part MCMXI:

"I really wanted to go to Michigan against Michigan State or Ohio State but those are both away."

Nebraska and Oregon are the other officials he's certain of. [UPDATE: Lenoir committed to Oregon yesterday. Nevermind.]

Speaking of Holmes, it looks like David Long's presence in Ann Arbor means at least a little something:

Holmes also has three officials he knows he'll take: Nebraska, OSU, and Michigan. The date for the M visit is also up in the air; he'll go to Columbus for the Game. UCLA's also involved  heavily.

I see that eyebrow, but don't scoff at the Cornhuskers. Nebraska is doing some work in California this year. They've got two commits from Holmes's teammates, both four stars.

Hello Harley?

On Wednesday I mentioned that Steve Lorenz had fired off a crystal ball for FL WR Mike Harley to Michigan. Yesterday Brandon Brown interviewed Harley, who says Michigan is his #1 and he will be pulling the trigger "either this weekend or next weekend," which gives other schools vanishingly little time to catch up.

Despite our KJ Hamler-related garment-rending, Harley looks like a solid pickup should he follow through. His stock is on the rise after an excellent Five Star Challenge…

…and whatever spurred 247 to put him on the ol' rankings rocket:

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Blue is 247, green the composite. (That line is also an excellent demonstration of the usual pattern for recruits: get ranked, drop slowly as more dudes get slotted in front of you, big change only when you get re-evaluated.)

Baylor recruits released

Per Texas sources, Baylor's released five of the seven players who wanted out. The main guys of interest to Michigan fans in the aftermath of the Devery Hamilton are the two offensive linemen; Barking Carnival believes that TX OL Patrick Hudson will head to Texas and that TX OL JP Urquidez is a possibility "depending on mutual interest and swiftly tightening [scholarship] numbers." Urquidez is a 6'6" tackle and composite four-star who Michigan did have some early contact with. Longshot, obviously.

Quick hits

AL OL Toryque Bateman named Michigan and Tennessee leaders. He'll announce a top eight shortly, one that presumably includes those two schools. CA OL Chuck Filiaga has no top list but definitely wants to visit. Moving to Texas this fall so distance probably not much of a factor.

NV DT Greg Rogers is planning a summer unofficial and potential official visit this fall. Lorenz isn't enthused about M's chances with him.

On the other hand, Lorenz moved UT DT Jay Tufele up on 247's listing of Michigan's prospect as he is "far and away" the DT Michigan would most like to pair with Solomon. An OSU/M battle could be on the way; Michigan has a Polynesian edge in that case.

MI S Jaylen Kelly-Powell on Jourdan Lewis:

"He's a great player, a phenomenal person," Kelly-Powell said of Lewis. "He's humble, he's a great person just to be around. ... I watch him a lot and try to be just like him, try to be as good as him."

Kelly-Powell remains the lockiest lock on the board.

OH DE James Hudson reports back from his visit over the weekend, telling Brice Marich it was a "ten of ten". Hudson also provided some clarity on what spot Michigan is recruiting him for:

"I fit right into their defense because of my size. It means a lot (hearing about early playing time) and I feel like I could be a dominant 3-tech for them. They do a lot of the things that I do at my high school.”

Hudson's already 280 so that makes sense. If Hudson is a DT prospect for Michigan then you can fit a guy like CA DE DJ Johnson in the class relatively easily.

A Rivals reporter caught up with TX LB Baron Browning after his trips to Michigan and Notre Dame last weekend. Browning doesn't tip his hand at all, but making those trips with his brother and former Harbaugh player Barry can't hurt. Baron on Barry on Harbaugh:

“…he said ‘One thing I will say about Coach Harbaugh is that he is going to get the best out of you. He said that Harbaugh is really competitive. … He said that Coach Tolbert would definitely have me right and ready to compete."

A second planned unofficial to OSU next month is off. No indication where he's leaning or even where he might visit officially. Dude is one of the mystery recruits of the cycle.

Josh Henschke reports from Michigan's NorCal camp, which appears to be one of the more loaded camps they've had. CA DT Popo Aumave, CA DE DJ Johnson, CA TE Josh Falo and CA OL Aaron Banks all say they will take visits; CA RB Najee Harris also attended and worked out.

Johnson told Rivals that Michigan is "around his top schools" in part because Michigan will let him wear #1. I can get behind a DE with 1 on his jersey. Aumave says he'll officially visit M, USC, and probably Oregon.

So here's this guy

Also in dramatic smokebomb recruit entrances: GA LB Dennis Bell tells Maize and Blue News that he was on the verge of committing to Michigan:

Working at the U-M’s Shine Time Camp this week, he impressed the coaching staff enough to receive a scholarship offer from the Maize and Blue on Thursday. That was significant for Bell, who originally planned on committing the instant the offer came through, describing Michigan as his dream school. Ultimately though, cooler heads pulled him back from making the early decision.

“I was going to announce it today on Twitter, but then my coach was like ‘don’t do it yet,’” Bell said of his plan to commit. “He said wait until later in the summer. I think it will probably be the week before we go back to school.”

Bell, a former teammate of Elysee Mbem-Bosse, is a two-star only ranked by two sites and only has Georgia State and Miami (Not That Miami) offers per 247. His composite ranking is around 1700.

I'm dubious that this is actually a thing. Michigan appears to be "offering" people for PR purposes. For example, there was recently a farcical exchange between various sites about an offer to NC QB Jackson Gibbs, who is 1) a 2017 QB and 2) the grandson of Joe Gibbs. Gibbs reported an offer; various reporters said this was not a thing; Rivals got quotes that insisted it was a full offer, not a PWO; Rivals then clarified that this offer was not in fact committable. Soooooo… yeah. The destruction of the English language for marketing purposes continues apace.

Anyway, I don't expect anything to come out of either recruitment.

Okay then

Happy trails to CA OL Wyatt Davis, who announces today. Nobody expects it to be Michigan; OSU appears to be it.

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Thursday Recruiting Is Adjacent To IMG
Brian •

A trip you may have heard something about is ongoing

Michigan is indeed spending a week at IMG's campus in Florida. They're not allowed to talk to the recruits since it's a quiet period, but there is much discussion of it anyway. Steve Wiltfong ran down Michigan's many targets at the school* this morning. Much of it is a recap, but of note is a new crystal ball in Michigan's favor for FL OL Cesar Ruiz. Ruiz is the nation's top center to many.

Wiltfong also reports that DC by way of IMG LB Jordan Anthony is "strongly considering" M. He's a new name to me, and a four star guy. LB Dylan Moses is still waiting on an offer as Michigan tries to get a signal it's worth their time; 2018 DT Taron Vincent projects to be a big timer and Michigan is up there for him.

Both Ruiz and Hainsey recently participated in a local Rivals camp, during which they impressed:

After Sullivan reported that both guys justified recent moves up the Rivals rankings with their performance; one or both could end up breaking into the top 100.

*[Wiltfong continues to say that Michigan's 2017 class will be "considerably smaller" than the 28 or 29 guys Michigan just recruited. I have no doubt he's relaying information from the Michigan staff, but even so I think they're going to get up there. Michigan has 17 scholarship seniors and that'll probably bump up to 19 by fall with Glasgow and Kenny Allen. A totally normal rate of attrition would see them get to 25.]

Spring game visitors start firming up plans

FL OL Robert Hainsey and Ruiz will be there, and FL CB Elvis Hines plans on joining them.

Also this gent:

Woods has offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, and VT in addition to Michigan.

Lorenz reports that CA CB Deommodre "Clamp Clampington" Lenoir will also visit and may decide before football season; Lenoir and FL CB Stanford Samuels appear to be Michigan's top two targets at corner.

CA OL Brett Neilon has set a visit for the spring game and has a top five of M, UCLA, Cal, Duke, and Washington. Allow me to take a brief break from this all-out saloon brawl with Washington mods to assert that M has a very good shot at winning a recruitment against that group.

The complicating factor: USC and Stanford have not offered but Neilon continues to mention them. His dad, brother, and two aunts all went to USC, so… yeah. Neilon noted to MGoFish that he was at a Michigan satellite camp a year ago.

PA S Collin Smith also plans on visiting; hasn't been a whole lot of chatter about him but he does have an offer.

Quick hits

  • FL CB CJ Cotman has a top five of M, OSU, Ole Miss, TCU, and Florida. Cotman was high on Michigan early. He's planning on a Signing Day decision.
  • OH TE Matt Dotson will visit next weekend. He sounds completely wide open.
  • AL LB Monty Rice fielded an offer recently and says he will visit; his top list is one that suggests this is an uphill battle: it's M, UGA, Auburn, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. He assured Rivals that Michigan will have a shot and the chances he visits M are "very high" whether in spring or for an official.
  • CA DE Jaelan Phillips is a top 100 guy who recently fielded an offer; interested, will visit, wide open, late decision, etc.
  • MA RB AJ Dillon has a visit set up for the 22nd. He's the grandson of a notable Notre Dame player and liked FSU growing up.
  • Florida leads for FL OL Kai-Leon Herbert.
  • TX DT Damion Daniels fielded an offer, is interested, etc. He said his interest was an "8 out of 10".
  • CA OL Wyatt Davis has no leaders and no list; he has tentative plans to visit M.
  • Ditto for CA WR Terrell Bynum
  • Ditto for GA DT Emanuel McNeal.

Happy Trails

Pioneer LB Antjuan Simmons committed to Ohio State rather out of nowhere; he'd just gotten down to 11-ish schools. Guess Michigan's delay in offering stuck in the ol' craw.

Etc.: FINE, I'll mention at 2019 player if he says Michigan is his leader, as FL DE Ge'Mon Eaford does Also he goes to Deerfield Beach. That helps the case for a mention. Touch The Banner scouts the in-state class.

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Monday Recruitin' Says Hi Hi Hi
Brian •

Hello a third time, Mr. McCaffrey

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Ace's Hello post can be found here, and is ver' nice:

a big strong quarterback who has electric reset ability with his feet, meaning when he goes from one target to the next he wastes no time. He resets to number 2 better than most college quarterbacks. Dylan has a great smooth delivery.

He's a top 50 player to everyone except Rivals because of course; Rivals has him just outside their top 100.

McCaffrey told Sam Webb that it would take something "super traumatic" for McCaffrey to even consider a decommit. Hopefully Harbaugh doesn't broach the idea of practicing over spring break until after Signing Day. McCaffrey also has a #1 target as he dons his recruiter hat: yep, MI WR Donovan Peoples-Jones.

FWIW, Wiltfong lists a bunch of guys who may join McCaffrey in the 2017 class. I'm not sure where either of these reads comes from, but it's clear he's in contact with the coaching staff:

It’s going to be a small class for Michigan in 2017 after signing 29 in what turned out to be the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class this past cycle according to 2016. … Michigan may take just one receiver in 2017.

Unless there's unexpected attrition from the senior class Michigan should have 18 to give at a minimum, and then there are a number of potential fifth-year guys that could exit. With the NFL and playing time transfers I expect Michigan at least gets to 25.

And finally, McCaffrey's commitment gives us the chance to catch up with immaculately-coifed Denver sportswriter Neal Devlin, who we last encountered during Alex Kozan's vision quest.

Jungle beats, Kurt Taylor style

Let us observe a drill:

Man, Taylor is a compact little dude. Chance he gets compared to Vincent Smith: high.

Let's just glory in this enormous dude for a sec

I don't think his name will come up in connection with Michigan but this is too amazing to let slide:

Juan Harris, DT, West Union (Iowa) North Fayette
Juan Harris is an interesting guy. As we head into the spring of his junior year, he has already decommitted twice and had three different commitments, all involving the same school – Iowa. He's currently committed to the Hawkeyes and appears to be solid but all of that off-field drama distracts from the more important fact that this kid is a beast. At 6-4 and a weight that varies between 365 and 400 pounds, Harris has nimble athleticism and more mass than most offensive linemen can handle.

Somewhere in the fields of Iowa there is a 400-pound defensive tackle who has already committed to the Hawkeyes three times and recinded it twice.

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Nobody has to make America great again; it never ceased being great.

SIDE NOTE: Ace reminded me that Williams is the guy who we thought Mike Onwenu was being confused with when news first broke that Onwenu was playing at 370, because if anyone at SMSB was 370 it was Williams. Onwenu is still made of some superdense alloy.

More Wilson react

Sam Webb caught up with NY OL Isaiah Wilson after his unofficial. Wilson has backed off Michigan as his leader, at least publicly. Things still sound pretty good:

“They made great impressions.  Everything about them was genuine and inviting.  They’re all on a mission.  There is not any nonsense going on over there.  I was with Ahmir Mitchell, Kareem Walker, who I’ve played against, and Khalid Hill.”

A summer decision is a possibility if Wilson thinks he's seen enough. He doesn't have anything upcoming listed on his 247 profile yet, FWIW. He's already been a number of places.

Tufele top four

Defensive tackle is a huge need in 2017 and Michigan doesn't have a lot of top names on the board right now; one of them is UT DT Jay Tufele. Tufele told Oregon's 247 site that Michigan is in his top four along with Utah, USC, and Ole Miss(?!), though an Oregon offer could change that.

Unfortunately, he does not have a visit to Michigan on the docket; he does expect to take his recruitment close to Signing Day, giving Michigan an opportunity to impress on an official.

Baron back on the market

Five-star TX LB Baron Browning has decommitted from Baylor. He didn't offer Scout any sort of top list in the aftermath. He is scheduled to hit up a Texas junior day in the near future, FWIW; Michigan will continue to recruit the guy through Signing Day just because.

Top four for Samuels

FL CB Stanford Samuels III is at Flanagan, where Michigan picked up three players a year ago. He's got a top four consisting of M, Clemson, FSU, and Georgia. Going to be tough—Samuels, like Devin Bush Jr, is an FSU legacy—but they did get Bush.

The NTDP, for football

An extensive article on IMG Academy notes that they cannot offer scholarships to in-state players, so any FL guy you see on the roster is paying like 70k for the privilege. Meanwhile it doesn't seem like a year or two in Florida is having much impact on recruits' final destination:

Most believed Florida, Florida State and Miami would get inherent advantages in recruiting players from IMG, specifically the Seminoles. Former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, the 2000 Heisman Trophy winner, was IMG’s head coach in 2013 and 2014.

Three signing classes later, the same amount of IMG athletes (three) have signed with the Seminoles as Ohio State. That said, FSU and Miami are tied with the Buckeyes for the most IMG signees.

Just two other programs — LSU and Notre Dame — have signed more than one athlete from IMG in this three-year stretch. The Tigers reeled in receiver Davis and cornerback Smith, while the Irish got running back Tony Jones Jr. and safety Spence Perry.

Florida has signed no one from IMG Academy after defensive tackle Shavar Manuel, a Gators commitment, flipped to Florida State on national signing day last week.

That isn't much bias since a lot of the kids are close to Florida anyway. In this it's like hockey's NTDP, which has been in or near Ann Arbor for the duration of its existence but has mostly seen its kids go back to where they came from after they're done. By the time a lot of the IMG kids play a down for the school they'll be committed or en route to doing so.

Michigan offers underworld robot, also other new names

Silence_of_the_Clamps_screenshot

Deommodre Lenoir is not a fan of Zoidberg

  • CA CB Deommodre Lenoir is interviewed by Washington mods in a break between rounds. He's got a Michigan offer and tentatively plans a visit; he seems to be leaning towards leaving the state. Washington is a serious contender, and I'm not just saying that to forestall a duel. Apparently nicknamed, yes, "Clamp Clampington." Do want.
  • LA S Todd Harris picked up an offer. Normally offering a top 100 kid from Louisiana* would be an exercise in futility, but Harris told Lorenz that "there's just something different about Michigan" and would like to take a visit. He also says he wants to "compete for a starting job immediately," something Michigan can absolutely offer.
  • Michigan, along with MSU and Oregon, offered previously unknown MI OL Phil Paea, a guy with no articles at any recruiting site until just recently. At 6'4" Paea is probably destined to be a guard. Trieu says this one will be "tough" for Michigan, with Oregon a "dream school." Possible he's related to NFL DE Stephen Paea, who went to Oregon State, and is from a West Coast family.
  • This might not be a new offer but it's new to me: TX RB Eno Benjamin is planning a visit on March 8th. Benjamin is a top 100 guy to Scout and just outside of it on the composite. The visit is part of a Midwest swing through M, OSU, NW, Iowa, and… uh… Kansas?
  • Michigan is also moving up the list of FL RB Kyshaun Bryan. Bryan attended Heritage with new Michigan tight end Nick Eubanks; he's transferring to St Thomas Aquinas for his final year. He tells Lorenz that Eubanks is "honestly like a brother" and that he's setting up a spring visit. SEC schools are the competition. Bryan was also interviewed by Scout and seems to have a tentative top four of M, UF, FSU, and LSU, although Florida hasn't talked to him recently.

*[An aside on the LSU-football-might-not-exist thing: it's brinksmanship balderdash that will have zero impact on any recruit this cycle. LSU, the institution, has been strugglingfor abit now and it just does not matter to instate recruits. Meanwhilethe state goverment isn't going to let their flagship institution close for a semester.]

Etc.: Scout, er, scouts TX DT Marvin Wilson. Potential grad transfer QB Taysom Hill decides to stay at BYU(!). Happy trails, I suppose.

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Thursday Recruitin' Gets Bad Info
Ace •
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