Home Shutouts Of Ranked Teams: Good For Recruiting

Well, that was a pretty good weekend to host the nation's top-ranked prospect for an official visit. While five-star NJ DT Rashan Gary hasn't spoken with reporters yet, 247's Steve Lorenz is hearing some very positive news emerging from a source in the know ($):

Heard from what I'd call a solid source that the two schools Gary has been highest on throughout the process are the two schools that most have connected him with: Michigan and Auburn. We were also told today that those around him would prefer that he go to Michigan. That's not necessarily including Mom, who we're told legitimately wants him to make his own decision.

We'll see what he says on the record; it looks like Michigan has positioned themselves about as well as they could heading into Gary's next four officials. If you tune in to MGoRadio this evening (5-7 pm, 1050 WTKA), Steve will be on to talk about Gary's visit and more on recruiting.

And, just as I'm about to hit publish, 247's Steve Wiltfong publishes an article in which he caught with Gary's mother, who accompanied him on the visit ($):

“I think he came out of it with a great experience,” Coney said. “When we got back to the airport in Detroit everyone had on Michigan gear, and even when we landed in Newark, he saw all the people wearing Michigan gear, and everyone knew Rashan and he was a big deal in the airport and big deal on the plane, and I think he saw a Michigan degree does travel and it is substantial.”

Oh, and then Wiltfong put in a Crystal Ball selection for Michigan. Being good is good, as it turns out.

A topic that'll surely come up is last weekend's other uncommitted official visitor, four-star CO DE/OLB Carlo Kemp, whose quotes to 247's Steve Wiltfong were to say the least quite promising ($):

“Yeah honestly [Michigan's lead has grown],” he said. “I’ve fallen in love with anything Michigan and Maize and Blue. Just like I did when I was up there the first time I had another good experience.”

The hold up on a possible commitment?

“I just want to make sure I’m ready,” Kemp said. “I really want to go out and see Notre Dame again. I’m going out there in two weeks. After I see that I think I’ll have a better understanding of where I belong the next four years.”

Kemp would fill a huge need at the BUCK position, which Mario Ojemudia currently occupies; he'd have a good shot at seeing the field right away with only Lawrence Marshall set to return at the position in 2016.

Speaking of potential commitments, The Wolverine's Tim Sullivan caught up with 2017 GA RB Kurt Taylor, who compared last weekend's unofficial visit favorably with the Georgia-South Carolina game he took in the previous week—"The Michigan game was just... 'more.' It was more exciting, more fans, the atmosphere was better at Michigan, it was just 'more.'"—and hinted strongly that he'll be in the fold before too long ($):

"I'll make my decision after this year, after my junior year," he said. "I will definitely know where I want to go by then. After yesterday, I think I know already. It was a lot to like there."

That could be music to the ears of Michigan fans.

Finally, 2017 IN WR Mac Hippenhammer told TMI's Brice Marich his visit was "great" and noted Amara Darboh's catch was "nasty," which, agreed ($).

[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]

Commit Updates: Reverse Field

Not bad, Ahmir Mitchell. His performance and several others from Michigan's commits last weekend are recapped by Garrett Fishaw over at Maize n Brew. Dave and I took in the De La Salle-Orchard Lake St. Mary's game Friday night to see KJ Hamler and Josh Ross—Allen Stritzinger sat out with an injury—and I'll have video and scouting from that game posted tomorrow.

Chris Evans took in his first game at Michigan Stadium and it's safe to say he's solid in his commitment; per Lorenz, he worked in a little recruiting on the biggest target on campus ($):

One of the major storylines leading into the weekend was the appearance of the nation's top prospect in defensive end/tackle Rashan Gary. Evans got to talk to him for a bit.

"He didn't say a ton, but we were all having fun in the crowd during the game," he said. "When we all got to the locker room and saw all the food and spread out there, I told him we were going to have fun smashing all of this food for the next four years. He just looked at me and smiled."

Go straight for the gut—good strategy, Chris.

Ron Johnson took an official visit to Kentucky last weekend with the blessing of the coaching staff. Johnson told Scout's Brian Dohn he's "fully committed" to Michigan and took the trip solely because he'd never been to Kentucky and didn't know when else he'd be able to go; even on the visit he was keeping a close eye on the Wolverines ($):

Johnson had a stellar time at Kentucky, where he was hosted by former Montclair (N.J.) High defensive end and Wildcats freshman Joshua Allen, but he had his eye on Ann Arbor. Did he pay attention to the Wolverines' shutout win against BYU?

"Of course. Of course," he said. "The whole time. I’m a senior now and I’m going to play for them. I have to watch them. I love Michigan."

"I'm going to play for them," should alleviate any concerns.

Hoops Update: Two New Offers Out

Michigan hosted a couple basketball visitors who left holding scholarship offers. Four-star UT SF Brendan Bailey, a 2016 recruit who will end up in the class of 2018 after a two-year Mormon mission, added his offer while on his official visit, per Sam Webb.

Michigan also offered their first 2017 prospect. That honor went to four-star OH SG Jordan Poole, who told TMI's Brice Marich that the Wolverines are now right at the top of the list for him ($):

“I’m crazy interested (in Michigan) and I loved it there,” said Poole. “They’re tied for #1 right now with Illinois. They play with four guards and they like to shoot the ball. I like to shoot it too, so that would be great! I’m amped that they are going to Jordan next year too!”

Michigan should have a good shot at landing both new offer recipients.

Etc.

Michigan is still recruiting four-star AZ DE and former Jim Harbaugh Babysitter Experience member Connor Murphy, who told Lorenz he keeps in steady contact with teh coaching staff ($):

"I'm talking to Michigan once a week or so," Murphy said. "It's been mostly Jim Harbaugh, but I've talked to a few other members of the staff. They continue to tell me that they want a hard-working, blue collar type player like me to join them. Coach told me they want players that play a tough brand of ball."

While he hasn't set an official to Ann Arbor he still plans to take one. Meanwhile, about that "blue collar" stuff:

Following up from earlier, #Michigan target @CMurph_90 actually has a lunchpail @PFTCommenter pic.twitter.com/FPNbjkG1Vi

— Steve Lorenz (@TremendousUM) September 24, 2015

Michigan offered a couple underclassmen this week. Tim Sullivan reports an offer went out to 2017 PA S Collin Smith; Michigan is the first major offer for him. The coaches also offered a promising 2019(!) prospect in OH OL Nolan Rumler, per Steve Lorenz.