CROOTAGEDDON: Signing Day Primer
Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (far right) on his recent visit.
This post will be updated as new info comes in.
6 PM TUESDAY UPDATE: Added Shelton Johnson to the board.
7 PM TUESDAY UPDATE: Added Keith Washington to the board.
10 PM TUESDAY UPDATE: Added Karan Higdon to the board.
National Signing Day is tomorrow and the action gets started early for Michigan, as tight end target Chris Clark is slated to announce at 8:30 am ET. Here's eveything you need to know heading into the biggest day on the recruiting calendar.
The Current Class
Michigan currently sits at nine commits, headlined by in-state ATH Brian Cole—who's expected to end up at receiver, though he could also play safety—and New Mexico QB Zach Gentry, a recent flip from Texas. The list should hit ten by tomorrow; as you probably gathered yesterday, three-star Brother Rice WR Grant Perry, who was offered this week and decommitted from Northwestern last night, is expected to commit... well, any moment now.
The Board
The current list of propsects with offers and legitimate Michigan interest is down to eight prospects, including Perry. Here's the rest of the board, with their announcement time (if they've scheduled one) and my best guess at M's chances:
FL CB Jarius Adams (Rutgers commit) — 3-star, #125 CB, #1388 Overall (247 Composite)
Adams is a Rutgers commit who took an official to Michigan last weekend, and he's down to those two schools. He's actually expected to announce his destination sometime today, and it appears he'll stick with his current commitment.
CT TE Chris Clark — 4-star, #2 TE, #85 Overall
The one-time Michigan commit (and, previously, UNC commit) will choose between Michigan and UCLA at 8:30 am on ESPNU/WatchESPN. While Clark has been arguably the new staff's top target, insiders from both sides believe he's leaning towards UCLA. Of course, Clark's recruitment has been tough to predict all along, so we'll just have to wait and see.
TN WR Van Jefferson (Ole Miss commit) — 4-star, #11 WR, #108 Overall
Jefferson's recruitment is hard to pin down, as well. He committed to Ole Miss on January 25th, got a Michigan offer three days later, and took an official visit to Ann Arbor last weekend. Rumors swirled of a possible flip when he left campus, but a recent report from 247's Barton Simmons indicates he's expected to stick with the Rebels, albeit while leaving open the possibility that he'll change his mind.
CA CB Iman Marshall — 5-star, #1 CB, #4 Overall
The pipe dream. Marshall has long been expected to end up at USC and that hasn't changed despite a solid official visit to Michigan a couple weeks ago. Florida State is also a factor; after visiting FSU, M, and LSU, Marshall cancelled a planned official to Oregon. He's announcing his decision on ESPNU/WatchESPN at 4 pm ET.
GA LB Roquan Smith — 4-star, #5 OLB, #47 Overall
While there was a fair amount of optimism after Smith's official visit in January, spurred by his strong bond with DJ Durkin, that's all but vanished in recent days. Steve Lorenz reports that Smith is expected to choose between in-state Georgia and (of course) UCLA, with the Bruins the surprise favorite to land him ($). He'll announce at 11 am ET on ESPNU/WatchESPN.
MI RB Mike Weber (Ohio State commit) — 4-star, #9 RB, #78 Overall
The Cass Tech star has totally shut down communication with the media in recent weeks, and it doesn't seem like insiders on either side have a clear idea of what he's going to do. Since Weber sat down with Jim Harbaugh last week there's been increasing optimism from Michigan's end, however, and in the last day or so that's leaked over to the Ohio State side of things. We'll see.
NY ATH Tyrone Wheatley Jr. — 4-star, #12 TE, #312 Overall
Wheatley is another prospect who's gone quiet with the press, but an out-of-the-blue trip to Ann Arbor last week provided a great deal of hope that he'll join his father at Michigan. According to Lorenz, the team with the best chance of stealing Wheatley away from Michigan is, in fact, UCLA, who's come on strong of late ($). He's expected to announce around 3:15 pm ET tomorrow.
LATE ADDITIONS: FL DE Shelton Johnson — 3-star, #20 SDE, #364 Overall
Late Tuesday afternoon, 247's Clint Brewster reported that two sources are telling him Michigan has a legitimate shot with Johnson, who visited in January. Johnson is also considering Florida State (the presumed favorite) and Miami. He's high school teammates with Markel Bush, who could be in line for a late offer.
AL CB Keith Washington (Cal commit) — 3-star, #76 ATH, #954 Overall
This is a suprising name to add to the board, as Washington initially rebuffed Michigan and never visited campus, but I'm told he'll choose between M and Cal at 8:30 am ET.
FL RB Karan Higdon (Iowa commit) — 3-star, #40 RB, #478 Overall
Higdon will choose between Michigan and Iowa at 8 am ET, according to Hawkeyes247's Andrew Kulha, despite previously announcing that he'd reaffirmed his commitment to the Hawkeyes after taking an official visit to Ann Arbor last weekend.
Last-Minute Offers?
Michigan has at least five open spots left in the class (assuming Perry takes a spot), and it doesn't look very likely that they'll get five players from the above group, so there's a decent chance we'll see a late offer or two go out, Dennis Norfleet-style. While the very nature of these offers make them pretty tough to predict, two names come to mind as potential candidates.
Unranked FL CB Markel Bush took an official visit a couple weeks ago; if Michigan misses out on Adams and Marshall, as expected, he could fill a need at corner. Bush doesn't hold any offers and would likely jump at the opportunity.
Cass Tech three-star LB/FB Michael Oliver, a Central Michigan commit, has come up as a potential late offer, and he could fill a need at either linebacker or fullback.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
from the start. It is damn near impossible for Harbaugh, or anyone else for that matter, to create relationships in 30 days that match those which have been developing for several years. JH will get what he can this year to move things forward, and make the 2016 class his first of many hallmark efforts. He's also blessed with a ton of young talent coming back thanks to Hoke's previous recruiting work, so being slightly off the mark in 2015 is not catastrophic.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^
So what phone call did Jay Harbaugh over hear that had him giddy on Twitter? I'm looking forward to signing day it seems we still have a chance with a few of these guys. The last time I watched a presser for a kids selection it was DaShawn Hand. Let us hope tomorrow isn't full of moments like that. This is a small class anyway but a decent one even with just the nine. Add Harbaugh to that number and this has been a good recruiting year.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^
I will be excited to get the 2015 class over with and see what a full calander year of Harbaugh and friends recruiting can do! This looks like even with a few positive surprises, this class will be thinner on talent than a Michigan class would desire.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^
Apparently according to twitter, Van Jefferson just decomitted from Ole Miss...
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
I am Croot?
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
What about FL ATH Ryan Davis? I know he was always considered a long shot and a lean to UF but he does hold an offer right?
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^
Let's hope Harbaugh continues to get hte most out of lower-rated recruits, cuz it's looks like that's all we got.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^
if both Clark and Wheatley Jr. committed to UCLA. I don't want to believe that that will happen.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:20 PM ^
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February 3rd, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^
Check the recruiting classes since Mora got there and even the Neuheisel era ones before the wheels fell off, this really isn't that unusual that UCLA is able to pull in national talent without shenanigan's. They've especially shifted to a national strategy to counter the fact that SC has most of the Southern California kids on lockdown, I'd expect to see them competing for a lot more recruits in the future as both schools need to go national and both tend to need to recruit solid academic kids.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
I mean really, who in Seattle and Ann Arbor would be against this idea?
February 3rd, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^
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February 3rd, 2015 at 4:06 PM ^
The idea that UCLA is a more attractive destination than Michigan for any given football player is absolutely attrocious. We need to start winning, NOW!
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
Clark, Weber, Kirkland and Roseboro committed.
February 3rd, 2015 at 6:33 PM ^
Ummm. ... I question their "logic".
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 5:06 PM ^
Whoever commits are going to be in the one of the best of situations. What's not to like. Of course get ready for some humble pie. I mean going from high school to a pro environment with the staff that is assembled in A.A. I would like to think that the guy's are going to receive some great development.
February 3rd, 2015 at 7:22 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 7:58 PM ^
Sure seems like it. When asked about UCLA, he was much more insightful and seemed to insert himself into the future TE role on the team. His thoughts on Michigan had much less excitement.
Maybe I'm being an pessimist here but I think his last visit to UCLA sealed the deal.
February 3rd, 2015 at 10:18 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 8:03 PM ^
sounds like any 17 year old that has multiple opportunities, all being great and cant make up his mind. he always seems to love which ever school or coach he happens to be talking about at the time. so how you could think you have any idea where he is going is impossible. but it is 50, 50 now so sombody that has no clue will be right.
February 3rd, 2015 at 11:59 PM ^
He's 19.
February 3rd, 2015 at 7:19 PM ^
If I am Clark and heading to UCLA, I am not annoucing at 8:30am EST. I would be annoucing maybe at 4:00 pm EST or 1:00 in LA
February 4th, 2015 at 12:03 AM ^
to conclusions.
Teenagers aren't known for their consideration of other people. Especially a distant fanbase. Not like they'll be upset to read about it in the AM anyway...
Also -- He probably has class and doesn't want to spend the entire day worried about how he does at his press conference. I'd do it in the morning too.
February 3rd, 2015 at 8:06 PM ^
What about DC corner Marcus Lewis? I remember hearing his name before and that he was planning on taking a visit, but I don't know if that ever materialized. He's supposed to announce tomorrow and his crystal ball barely favors UK over Michigan, although most of the Michigan stuff seems old.
February 3rd, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^
Couple feet of snow in Connecticut has to make UCLA look real good.
February 3rd, 2015 at 8:36 PM ^
February 4th, 2015 at 9:08 AM ^
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February 3rd, 2015 at 8:27 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 8:30 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 8:41 PM ^
I'm sure UCLA is telling these kids that they will all be part of a rebuilding project at Michigan and not have a chance for NC for years, while they are telling them that UCLA is right on the door step of a NC.
The only solution to getting the top kids in 2016 is to win! Harbaugh and his coaches are really going to have to coach up Hoke's kids to get 9 or 10 wins, including either MSU or OSU at home. Then you will see the top kids wanting to play here.
I'd be surprised if Harbaugh only gets one of the recruits listed above. We will probably get 3 of the 3 stars offered by smaller schools.February 3rd, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 9:57 PM ^
Iman Marshall has been busy on his twitter. A couple things of note he did yesterday, don't need a new thread for it.
As A Man Your word is everything....
Biggie retweeted
@iman_marshall8 this a big life choice .. U gotta live with the decision u make for 3-4years
Biggie retweeted
@iman_marshall8 The greatest day in your life is when you put on the winged helmet and hear the BIG HOUSE ROAR "IMAN"
“@Joshua_McMillon: My Boy @iman_marshall8 Gne Shock The World And Sign With Bama On Wednesday” maybe
That's pretty much everything football related from today and yesterday from him. Lot's of other stuff from him non-ball related.
I doubt bama is a serious contender, him retweeting the pro Michigan tweet could be a good sign!
There's a few days we are allowed to be overly optimistic and hope for the best, this is one of those days. Hopefully he goes BLUE!!
February 3rd, 2015 at 10:29 PM ^
crystal ball for Van Jefferson to Michigan.
February 3rd, 2015 at 10:43 PM ^
I sure hope we don't end up with no slots tomorrow when someone really good wants to sign up, i.e. Iman Marshall. If Van Jefferson, Jarius Adams, Tyrone Wheatley, Jr., Chris Clark, and Mike Weber all sign up, not to mention Karan Higdon, we'll be fresh out of space, won't we?
February 4th, 2015 at 1:54 AM ^
We don't have know exactly how many spots we have left but if Iman Marshall wants to commit and we are full, you take him and figure it out later. Probably means a previous walk-on doesn't get a scholly this year.. But you just don't pass on Marshall.
February 4th, 2015 at 2:03 AM ^
I think there will be more attrition. If not having enough scholarships at the end of the day is our biggest concern tomorrow I'd be out of my mind with excitement. I have to believe that when iMAN announces and he says Michigan or even has a chance of saying Michigan there will be a scholarship available.
February 3rd, 2015 at 11:19 PM ^
Are you hearing anything on Josh Alabi? Steve Lorenz just posted a VIP update on him on 247 and I'm not sure why.
February 3rd, 2015 at 11:50 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^
February 4th, 2015 at 6:56 PM ^
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