sheldon day

Previously: Notre Dame Offense

The defense as a whole isn't terrifying, but SWEET JEBUS SHELDON DAY COVERING A WHEEL ROUTE OUT OF THE BACKFIELD CERTAINLY IS.

Ah, so, Brian has already posted the game preview because our schedule got weird this week. It's Notre Dame week, so I guess weird is the norm. Usually these will go up on Thursdays because that makes far more sense.

Anyway, Notre Dame pummelled Rice on the scoreboard, 48-17, and mostly limited the Owl offense outside of a couple big plays, including one that came in garbage time. There do appear to be significant holes in the Irish defense, however, and Michigan is better equipped to take advantage than Rice. On to the breakdown...

Personnel: Seth has made some tweaks to the diagram. He did his best to make it readable on this page, but there's enough packed in there that I suggest you click on the image to embiggen:

Dangermen and top-100 recruits have been properly identified; right now, Notre Dame has more of the latter than the former.

Base Set? 4-3 under. As Brian noted, the Irish stuck with their base personnel for the most part against Rice's spread, with OLB James Onwualu—a converted WR who played safety in the spring—often lined up over the slot. Sometimes they'd have one of their DEs play from a two-point stance. Here are both of those things in one screenshot:

Onwualu is over the slot to the near side.

ND did play some three-man fronts, usually on third-and-long, and also shifted to what Brian dubbed a "30 slide" in the UFR when Rice overloaded one side.

[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the breakdown, including... breakdowns.]

Since this week in Michigan recruiting revolves around the BBQ at the Big House, Wednesday Recruitin' will follow suit. Since I don't want to shortchange new commit Sione Houma (or the visit of IA WR Amara Darboh), expect full coverage in next week's update.

The Commits

Since there's unlikely to be a lot of action surrounding these guys (duh, they're already committed), a simple list will suffice:

• MI TE Devin Funchess. He plans to bring along his teammate, WR Aaron Burbridge (see below).
• OH OL Caleb Stacey
• OH OL Kyle Kalis. He's solid in his Michigan commitment.
• MI OL Ben Braden
• MI DE Matt Godin
• OH DE Tom Strobel
• MI DE/LB Mario Ojemudia. Speaking of Mario, he looked impressive at the Rivals Elite Big Man Camp, as highlights just appeared on Youtube:
  I'm not sure how many (if any) of the guys he was facing are D-1 or BCS prospects - though I'm guessing not many - but he dominated most every rep shown. Ojemudia is a watchlist member for the Butkus Award.
• OH LB Joe Bolden. He's a on the watchlist for the high school Butkus Award, along with...
• OH LB Kaleb Ringer, and also...
• MI LB Royce Jenkins-Stone, and...
• MI LB James Ross. Five Michigan commits means a whole 10% of the watchlist is headed to Ann Arbor.
• OH S Allen Gant
• MI CB Terry Richardson. We should know after this visit if Michigan's coaches are OK with him taking trips to other schools.
• IL CB Anthony Standifer. Attending, and bringing his 2013 teammate LaQuon Treadwell.
• 2013 MI QB Shane Morris. Shane, as you may have heard (or even seen) impressed at the Gridiron Kings 7on7 tournament in Florida last weekend. He came in for some fluff from ESPN.
  

  "I have a strong arm," Morris said. "I have an accurate arm as well. I can move in the pocket although I am more of a pro-style quarterback that can run a little bit, too. I bring leadership to Michigan and I want to be the best we can be and bring championships to Michigan."

  Morris is also active on the recruiting front. He is working social media and other outlets hard. "I am already working my tail off for [the] 2012 class," Morris said. "I am trying to get the top players in [the] nation to help us win championships. I am hitting up kids every day on Facebook, linemen all across [the] nation. I am looking for the best players and people to come to Michigan."

  I'm sure video will surface soon enough, as the event itself appeared on ESPNU.

As you may note, that's the majority of Michigan's 2012 commits (plus a bonus from the 2013 class). The only committed players not confirmed to make it are:

• UT FB Sione Houma
• OH TE AJ Williams. "Not sure" if he's coming.
• TN OL Blake Bars
• CA OL Erik Magnuson
• OH DE Pharaoh Brown
• OH S Jarrod Wilson
• 2012/13 KY S Jeremy Clark. He will try to make it up.

A couple of those guys are maybes who haven't firmly committed one way or the other yet. The rest likely have football two-a-days, other commitments, or no transportation.

Uncommitted 2012s

That brings us to the category where there may be a bit of action: uncommitted rising seniors.

• OH DE Chris Wormley. He's been maintaining Michigan as his leader and inching toward a decision lately. Might he finally be ready to make a move?
• MI WR Aaron Burbridge. Tom confirmed with commit Devin Funchess that Burbridge is joining him at the event.
• IN DT Sheldon Day. According to Sam Webb this morning, he'll be in attendance.
• MI DT Danny O'Brien
• MO DT Ondre Pipkins
• MO WR Jehu Chesson
• OH WR Monty Madaris
• OH RB Bri'Onte Dunn

There are also a maybe in this group:

• IL OL Jordan Diamond. He's one of the candidates for the final OL spot.

Aside from Wormley, defensive tackle seems to be the most likely position to pick up a new commit, though there's no indication yet that Pipkins or O'Brien is quite ready.

OH DE Adolphus Washington and WR Dwayne Stanford will be playing AAU hoops in Florida, and unable to make it. Last week, their coach told Tom that they probably won't be able to take any more visits until the season rolls around.

2013s

You can bet your ass that MI QB Shane Morris wants to convince a healthy group of juniors to join his class (along with 2012 greyshirt Jeremy Clark). A few prospects of interest:

• MI OL Steven Elmer. Morris's main competition for tops in state next year.
• MI RB/DL Wyatt Shallman. He was the subject of Sam Webb's most recent recruiting column in the Detroit News, and it sounds like Michigan is in strong position:
  

  "My parents are both crazy Michigan fans," Shallman reported. "It is like a dream come true for them. My mom cried (when Brady Hoke extended a scholarship offer back in May). She's loved Michigan for so long. My mom is crazy fanatical. She loves Bo (Schembechler). She loves everything about Michigan. On our outdoor fridge she has an 'Oh, how I hate Ohio State' sign. My dad went to one of the first Michigan camps back with Bo. His whole claim to fame at the camp was he ran a good route and made a one-handed catch. Bo came up to him and said, 'Good catch son!'"

  He also has existing relationships with a couple Michigan commits in Shane Morris and Matt Godin:

  "They are both (recruiting for Michigan) little bit, but not too hard because they are getting ready for the season, too."

  I wouldn't expect a commitment at the BBQ, as it's explicitly stated that Wyatt's parents want to ensure that he gets a chance to see what other colleges have to offer. On the other hand, if the visit blows him away, who knows? He seems to be taking an open approach to a decision.

• MI LB Jon Reschke
• IL WR LaQuon Treadwell. Tagging along with his teammate, 2012 CB Commit Anthony Standifer.

I would be stunned if any commitment-like substanced happened from any of these guys but Shallman, and even that would be unexpected.

2012 Offer/Recruiting Board lives here.

Visits Past

MI TE Devin Funchess was on campus, and he has a sister who attends Michigan.

MI OL Ben Braden was on campus Sunday, and received a Michigan offer.

IN DT Sheldon Day grew up a Michigan fan ($, info in header), and was on campus over the weekend. Day's highlight video:

WI LB Vince Biegel spoke with Tom about his Michigan visit last weekend:

He's going out to BYU in a few weeks and then he'll probably make his decision after taking in a few spring practices. After this visit Wisconsin is still the leader, but he said that he will definitely be back in Ann Arbor for a spring practice to see how the coaches coach.

Tom gets the feeling Wisconsin still leads, but the more times he hits campus, the better the Wolverines' chance to shake him free.

OH S Allen Gant didn't receive a Michigan offer when he was on campus last week. He plans to make it back to campus March 26th, but likely won't receive an offer until summer camp.

Visits Future

OH OL Caleb Stacey will visit Ann Arbor tomorrow.

MA LB Camren Williams will be here this weekend, along with his teammate, CB Armani Reeves, and a host of other prospects:

• OH TE AJ Williams (not yet set in stone).
• OH OL Kyle Dodson. He grew up a Buckeye fan, but is warming up to the Wolverines ($, info in header).
• OH DE Pharoah Brown.
• MI LB Royce Jenkins-Stone.

Tom will post an updated visitors list as the weekend grows nearer. For his part, Williams is interested in academics - particularly kinesiology - which is a huge boost to Michigan's chances. He wants to decide by June.

MI WR/TE Ron Thompson will visit Michigan this spring ($, info in header).

OH QB Austin Appleby talked to Tom last week:

"In a perfect world, [I will decide] by the end of June or early July. I am planning on attending a few camps and I don't know what doors may open. I know it will be by August 1st for sure."

Appleby will visit Michigan April 2nd.

IL DT Tommy Schutt will visit Michigan this spring.

MI OL Chase DeBack has been invited to Michigan's March 26th Junior Day. With a name like that, why oh why isn't he a defensive end or linebacker.

New Offers

Michigan has offered TN RB I'Tavius Mathers.

IA WR Amara Darboh has been on fire lately, picking up offers from the likes of Michigan. Michigan State, and Florida.

MN OL Jonah Pirsig has picked up a Michigan offer.

MO OL Evan Boehm has a Michigan offer.

Local fluff on FL OL Ty Darlington, who is aiming to be his class valedictorian. He is a recent Michigan offeree. He hails from the same high school as Jeremy Gallon.

UT DE Troy Hinds has picked up a Michigan offer.

Happy Trails

MD OL Mike Madaras, one of the Good Counsel contingent, has committed to Maryland. And he was willing to talk Michigan as recently as last week ($, info in header). We hardly knew ye. No word on whether that will affect the recruitments of Stefon Diggs (a newly-anointed five-star), Wes Brown, et al.

IL OL Dan Voltz committed to Wisconsin last night. He had been planning to visit Michigan this weekend, so that's a downer for the Wolverines.

TX DE Mario Edwards is a top national prospect who had some Michigan interest, but he has committed to Florida State.

UPDATES

CO QB Cyler Miles is getting interest (but no offer yet) from Michigan. If the Wolverines want a shot at the kid, they may have to offer pretty soon, because he plans to decide over the summer ($, info in header). If he doesn't get a couple of the offers he wants by then, he might extend the process longer.

Might a snub by Ohio State motivate OH QB Maty Mauk to become a Wolverine? KY QB Zeke Pike wants to decide by his senior season "or somewhere around there."

CA WR Bryce Treggs may be close to a Cal commitment. His father was a Golden Bear in the '90s. However, he plans to be at Notre Dame April 16th, so don't expect him to commit before then.

Michigan is showing the most interest in MI TE Matt Doneth:

Doneth also admitted that he lives in a firmly "Spartan household" but with Michigan showing him the most love recently, he would be willing to "Go Blue" if they offer.

The article mentions that he's most interested in Ivy League schools, so a scholarship offer from the next best thing might be hard to resist.

Michigan is in the top four for IN TE Pierre Aka ($, info in header).

FL OL Avery Young has been invited to the US Army All-American Game.

IL DT Vincent Valentine holds a Michigan offer, and will take his time with the recruiting process:

He wants to take some unofficial visits this spring and summer to get a feel for some of the schools he hasn't yet seen. "I'll probably take my officials after my football season so I can stayed focused on the season for us," he said. "I think I'll get my decision in by January or December."

There's still a long way to go in his recruitment, but he talks about his game as well:

"[coaches] were just saying they liked my tenacity, they liked my aggressiveness, they liked the way I get to the ball and my hustle," Valentine said....

"I just love to hit people, most of all," he said. "I love hustling to the ball, getting there and making plays for my team. If you're on the O-line, you don't really get that much shine. I love getting the shine by playing defensive tackle."

He's a likely 5-star player, but there's plenty of competition: Iowa signed his teammate, RB Rodney Coe, last month.

MI DT/DE Matt Godin might make a decision "any day" - or could extend the process ($, info in header).

PA DE Noah Spence is very interested in Michigan, but won't make a decision any time soon. He plans to visit Ann Arbor with his dad this summer.

Michigan is in the top 7 for GA DE Jarontay Jones, along with Florida, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. Per the linked message board post, Florida and Auburn are the top two.

IL LB Antonio Morrison is interested in Michigan.

Etc.

Last week's Sam Webb column breaks down the top talent in the state, March Madness-style. MI LB James Ross has a USC offer.  Rivals fluff on WA OL Zach Banner. NC OL Brock Stadnik will participate in the 2012 Under Armour Game. CA S Shaquille Thompson decommitted from Cal ($, info in header), so Michigan may get another shot at him before his Army Game announcement. NJ LB Kaiwan Lewis may be getting a Michigan offer soon.