Monday Recruitin' Lives The Dream Comment Count

Ace

Bring Me All The Defensive Backs

It's the week for highly touted senior cornerbacks to discuss Michigan, apparently.

247's Ryan Bartow reports four-star DC CB Marcus Lewis still has the Wolverines in the lead, followed by Miami (YTM) and Oregon ($). Lewis will take official visits to all three of those schools in December or January, and he's still considering a handful of programs for his final two officials.

Five-star CA CB Iman Marshall confirmed his list of five official visit recipients (in no particular order): Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida State, LSU, and Oklahoma. Remember that isn't the same as a top five; Marshall is seriously considering UCLA and USC, as well, but doesn't need to use up official visits to see those nearby campuses.

The Wolverine's Brandon Brown caught up with four-star Virginia Tech commit Mook Reynolds, who's been in close contact with Roy Manning and will officially visit Ann Arbor for the Penn State game ($):

"They are a tremendous school that produces big time corners," [Reynolds] explained. "It's just a legacy of Michigan football, the program. A lot of historic things have happened within that program. I wouldn't want to pass up a chance to be a part of that."

...

"I plan to come up and take an official visit the night we play Penn State," Reynolds outlined. "That's the only time that I really know that I'll be in Michigan. That's the only official visit I'll take that I know of."

In addition to VT, Ole Miss is also under consideration. Reynolds told Brown that if he decides to change his commitment, "it'll be a surprise" that comes on Signing Day. I'm sure the Hokie coaches are happy to hear that.

While this is messing with the system, I'll also include Gerry Hamilton's tweet regarding four-star 2015 OT William Sweet:

#nice

[Hit THE JUMP for a look at new preferred walk-on commit Jack Dunaway, news on a potential early enrollee, NIGEL WARRIOR, hoops recruiting updates, and more.]

Hello: Jack Dunaway

Word came out on Saturday that Michigan had picked up a preferred walk-on commitment from 2015 Birmingham Brother Rice DE Jack Dunaway, high school teammate of Alex Malzone and the son of former standout U-M tight end Craig Dunaway. As it turns out, however, the decision came a while ago, per 247's Steve Lorenz:

"I actually told the coaches last Thursday," Dunaway said. "I knew it was going to be Michigan all along. My dream growing up was to play for Michigan in any way I could. My dad wanted me to camp and visit other schools to see if there was a better fit for me, but I never got the same feeling I did at Michigan. It's where I wanted to be all along."

Dunaway, per the embedded junior highlights above, recorded 15 sacks among his 67 tackles in Brother Rice's state title run in 2013. At 6'3", 212 pounds, it's unsurprising that Dunaway is unranked on the recruiting services; Scout's Allen Trieu caught him at May's Elite Big Man Camp and came away impressed with his pass-rushing ability ($):

Dunaway is quick off the ball and also has good pass rush technique. He's a tweener size wise, but knows how to play the game as evidenced by his success as a junior.

Dunaway also "made plays in the backfield and batted some passes down" in Birmingham BR's victory earlier this season over their Chicago Brother Rice counterparts, per Trieu ($). Dunaway could eventually grow into a weakside DE or, if Michigan shifts back to an under front, potentially move to strongside linebacker. Either way, he's a welcome addition to the class, and he may not be the last 2015 Brother Rice prospect to end up at Michigan—three-star receiver Grant Perry is under consideration for either a late offer or a preferred walk-on spot.

Commit Updates: Weber Enrolling Early?

In addition to the tweet above, Mike Weber told Steve Lorenz that he's in position academically to enroll early at Michigan, with the only question being whether or not he wants to cut short his high school experience—he's spoken with Brady Hoke about the possibility. Chris Clark, Brian Cole, Alex Malzone, and Darian Roseboro are the four 2015 commits currently planning to enroll early.

In decidedly less positive news, Cole is facing an automatic one-game suspension after he was ejected from Saginaw Heritage's game against Midland Dow following two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties over the weekend. He'd already sat out the first quarter of that game for unspecified disciplinary reasons.

2016 Updates: NIGEL WARRIOR

Four-star 2016 IN LB Noah Burks is hearing from Michigan, and based on what he told 247's Steve Wiltfong, the Wolverines would be in very strong position if they come through with an offer ($):

“Purdue wants me to come down, Iowa, N.C. State recently started talking to me, Michigan so that’s really awesome to me because they’re one of my dream schools. I really want to go down to every single school and see what it’s like.”

Burks doesn't yet hold an offer, but interest in him is picking up quickly after a strong start to his junior season.

Meanwhile, THIS IS IMPORTANT...

...and this is even more important:

DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME, STEVE.

Hoops Stuff: Dozier Sets In-Home Visits, Brunson To Nova

Via UMHoops, the #25 overall prospect in the 2015 class, South Carolina shooting guard PJ Dozier, will take an official visit to Michigan on September 26th, and he'll also host an in-home visit from the coaches on Wednesday. Dozier, Michigan's top remaining target in the class, will also take officials to Louisville, Georgetown, North Carolina, and South Carolina. While Dozier doesn't yet hold an offer, it's assumed he'll receive one when he gets on campus, as is the usual process with John Beilein.

Michigan ended their pursuit of five-star 2015 point guard Jalen Brunson when they added transfer Duncan Robinson, and if you were worried this would come back to bit them, the chances of that happening have decreased dramatically:

The Only Colors surveys the damage; Tom Izzo hasn't had much luck going after top-tier prospects over the last few years.

Comments

J.Madrox

September 15th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^

I briefly got really worried that Brunson changed his mind and decided to go to MSU. Glad the actual paragraph had it correct.

Also these recruiting updates make me more and more want to avoid any coaching turnover. Recruiting is going so well, I realize all that matters is results on the field, but I would love to keep this great recruting going and finally pair it up with results on the field. So many top players still considering Michigan, lets just win some games and get them in the fold going forward, that would be nice.

Sam1863

September 15th, 2014 at 6:13 PM ^

Welcome, Mr. Dunaway. Over the next few seasons, it'll be nice to see those familiar names on the backs of the jerseys: Dunaway ... Wangler ... Runyan ...

How about "Wheatley" next?

Space Coyote

September 15th, 2014 at 6:28 PM ^

Apparently his two misconduct penalties were because of language. He didn't hit someone violently or take a cheap shot. He let his language get the best of him (something I'm happy wasn't a point of emphasis when I was a player, though now as an adult I believe it to be appropriate).

Piston Blue

September 15th, 2014 at 8:46 PM ^

Cole was suspended in the first quarter for calling a play that the coach did not, I believe. At least that's what I was told at the game (I go to dow). Also, dow absolutely destroyed them without him on the field.