recruiting roundup
2016 recruiting
2017 recruiting
naseir upshur
xavier kelly

Monday Recruitin' Jinxed It Comment Count

Ace

My Bad, Everyone

The roundtable that went up today featured a writeup on top-100 KS DE Xavier Kelly in which I mentioned Alabama and Michigan were reportedly the two schools standing out to him. I wrote my portion of that post last week. Over the weekend, Kelly visited Georgia for the second time. Michigan's standing isn't as strong in the aftermath, per 247's Kipp Adams ($):

While Kelly feels each of the schools in his top eight have their own unique advantages, he did name a few that are standing out right now.

"I think the three would be Clemson, Georgia, and maybe Michigan," Kelly said. "Alabama is up there too. Nothing is official though."

This could be reading too much into one word, but that "maybe" is ominous.

Dave's roundtable choice is looking much better. Four-star PA TE Naseir Upshur is focused on two schools, according to a source who passed info along to 247's Clint Brewster ($):

"Michigan or Florida State," the source told Wolverine247. "Alabama and Miami are really involved and could make a run but Michigan and Florida State have the best shot. I expect him to be at one of those two schools."

When it comes to FSU-related recruiting news, Brewster's going to get some solid intel; his father, former Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster, is the Noles' O-line coach and recruiting coordinator. In a potentially promising turn of events, Upshur wasn't able to make a previously scheduled visit to Tallahassee last weekend. He's scheduled to visit Ann Arbor for the BBQ on August 2nd with a decision date set for August 8th, though he's waffled a bit on that timeline in recent weeks. If Upshur sticks to that schedule, Michigan is in very good shape.

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

More 2016 Updates: Butler, Fuller, Fehoko

With an extended decision timeline, we'll see if Michigan has room if Tony Butler tries to commit in December.

While there hasn't been much to suggest Michigan will ultimately land four-star NJ CB Jordan Fuller, they're among the first schools mentioned when he discussed potential official visits with Scout's Brian Dohn:

"I’m looking at Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan," he told Scout. "Maybe Rutgers, maybe TCU. UCLA maybe. I’m still looking at things."

The Buckeyes hold a decided edge on Fuller's Crystal Ball.

Happy trails to four-star UT WR Simi Fehoko, who committed to Stanford over the weekend.

Early Leader For Tarik Black

247's Tom Loy spoke to a handful of prospects at the FBU Top Gun camp in Ohio last weekend. Among them was 2017 top-100 CT WR Tarik Black, who has Michigan out in front early... with a caveat:

“Michigan,” said Black. “They make me feel comfortable. They make me feel at home. They make me feel wanted. I loved it up there. It was a great environment. I just felt comfortable.”

The 6-3, 185-pounder has the Wolverines out front, but says he wants to hear more from Notre Dame, Clemson and Florida State. However, he did say that Ohio State is his dream offer.

“They’ve been my favorite team since I was in the 8th grade,” said Black. “Ted Ginn, he was my favorite player.”

I guess we can feel good about M's chances right up to the point when Ohio State extends an offer.

Etc.

It was a great week for NOTY candidates hitting the Twitter feed. First, CBSSports' Tom Fornelli stumbled upon Rowdy Frederick, a three-star guard from Oklahoma who's been touring Big 12 country with his co-star, Rowdy Frederick's Mullet:

When your name is that good, you don't need to get creative with the Twitter handle. And yet, Frederick's was only the second-best name to show up in recruiting headlines last week, because...

DICAPRIO BOOTLE. Catch him if you can.

I'll depart on that note.

Comments

Inuyesta

July 20th, 2015 at 2:10 PM ^

fwiw, Lorenz is being fairly adamant that Michigan's status hasn't changed too much with Kelly...we're in his top group, as we have been since the beginning.  I agree, Kelly's quote only looks like a majorly negative update if you previously believed Michigan was an unassailable leader, which wouldn't really have been a justified belief.

Quite frankly, I'd much rather recruit against Clemson and Georgia than Alabama, so I'm taking this as a definite positive.

Joined: 09/24/2011

MGoPoints: 742

alum96

July 20th, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^

You write that as if we are not recruiting against Bama ... we are.

Bama has a way of closing a lot of ground in a hurry.  They were nowhere in the picture for overall #2 recruit in May.  Then last week they had 57% crystal ball and dude decommited from A&M.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82515

lilpenny1316

July 20th, 2015 at 2:42 PM ^

It's still early IMO.  If we start out the gate strong, especially on defense, I think that changes the narrative.  If Durkin has us playing like those Florida defenses, those guys will pay more attention.  It's so hard to get these top guys to commit and stick without seeing the on field product.  

OTOH, we need Georgia and Oklahoma to lose some games.  It's hard to recruit if you're on the hot seat, which Richt always is on.  And another season without a conference title would not help Stoops.  Combine some losses with irrational, outspoken fans and we can benefit.  That's the nature of recruiting.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61836

MLaw06

July 20th, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^

At this point, I'm not even worried about recruiting anymore.  I just want to start off 4-0 with out-of-conference games, then beat MSU and/or OSU.  Also beat Rutgers and Penn State by 5 touchdowns.  If that happens, then everything will fall into place. 

Joined: 02/29/2012

MGoPoints: 6223

alum96

July 20th, 2015 at 3:54 PM ^

Kelly has had a weird recruitment.   Neb was his presumed leader and then he did not even list them in his top 8.  Seems like he is all over the place and with that many southern schools and their "influences" I consider him gone.

I don't think Butler will be in this class as he wants to wait til December now and I think UM will move onto other similar players.   He doesnt seem like a guy you hold a spot for for 6 months while a whole bunch of other similar players get snatched up.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82515

M-Dog

July 20th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^

He's like those dudes on "The Bachelor".

At first, they are just excited to have all the attention.  Then they get picky and start weeding out candidates that they were high on only a few weeks earlier.  Then they finally commit to someone who would have been out of their league only a few short months earlier.

Then they even de-commit from that when they find out that the entire nation knows who they are now and they're getting "offers" from all over the country. 

Now that they are famous, they're just looking for the biggest score that's out there.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257507

evenyoubrutus

July 20th, 2015 at 4:51 PM ^

That was an odd comment by Tarik Black. "OSU has been my favorite team since 8th grade... Ted Ginn was my favorite player." Wouldn't he have been about 7 years old when Ginn played?

Joined: 11/04/2008

MGoPoints: 178243

pojizegoge

July 22nd, 2015 at 9:06 AM ^

 
  at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail.

Joined: 07/22/2015

MGoPoints: 3