McDowell Watch: Day Somethingorother

Let's go to Sam Webb, live on the scene ($):

"He talked with (Hoke) late last night," McDowell's father reported. "(Michigan's in-home) is for tomorrow. We (i.e. both parents and Malik) are going to Ohio State this weekend. Florida State is making it in tomorrow also."

Malik McDowell released a top four of Michigan, Michigan State, Florida State, and Ohio State—in no particular order—earlier this week. FSU and OSU seem like longshots—the 'Noles because of distance, the Buckeyes because it's tough to get a read on where they stand, though that could easily change after his official visit this weekend.

The in-home visit from Michigan is a huge one; the general consensus is that his parents are very much in Michigan's corner, but Malik is more enamored with Michigan State. With in-homes this week from U-M, FSU, and potentially MSU, plus a final official to OSU this weekend, McDowell is on track for his planned Signing Day announcement. The biggest question at this point: how much influence will his parents have on his decision? That could very well determine if he ends up a Wolverine. The mood is tense.

Also, it's pretty clear at this point that McDowell is the only 2014 prospect left on Michigan's radar. Michigan backed off in their recruitments of running backs Jeff Jones and Marlon Mack, who flipped his commitment from UCLA to USF yesterday, while the latest Rivals update on soft Arizona State commit Kalen Ballage—who some thought Michigan would continue to pursue as an athlete—contains no mention of the Wolverines ($).

[Hit THE JUMP for the most recent spate of underclassmen offers, updates on a couple key 2015 targets, and more.]

2015 Tight Ends A Priority

Brandon posted last night on two recent 2015 tight end offer recipients, MO four-star Hale Hentges and CT three-star Chris Clark; Hentges called the offer "very exciting" while Clark—who attends the same high school, Avon Old Farms, as former Michigan RB Michael Cox—tweeted his was a dream come true. Clark's offer list far outstrips his early ratings and his interest appears to be quite high; Hentges seems like he'll be a tougher pull. Many more details on both can be found in Brandon's article.

It's clear that landing at least one tight end prospect in 2015 is a priority, as Michigan coaches also recently checked in on Clarkston (MI) TE Cole Chewins and California prospect Tyler Petite ($). Both are currently unranked and hold just one offer each—Central Michigan for Chewins, Arizona State for Petite—but are fielding increased interest of late.

More Underclassmen Offers

The coaches have hit the states of Texas and Florida hard in the last week, throwing out a bevy of offers, and the list continues to grow by the day. The Wolverines offered 2015 four-star TX DT Du'Vonta Lampkin—a current, and firm, Oklahoma commit—according to Steve Lorenz ($). Offers to a pair of 2015 Florida prospects, four-star WR Devante Peete and three-star CB Rashard Causey, are so fresh and so clean that accompanying articles haven't been written at the time of this posting.

Eric Rutter covers a new 2016 offer to Miami (FL) DE Joseph Jackson and a long-overlooked 2016 offer to PA RB Miles Sanders in a post at Maize n Brew:

Avoiding the brutally cold weather that Ann Arbor is experiencing, Wolverines defensive coordinator Greg Mattison traveled to Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida to personally extend an offer to sophomore defensive end Joseph Jackson.  Anchoring the strong-side of the Raiders defensive front, Jackson is an imposing force at 6'6" and 240 lbs. who doubles as an equally-competent pass catcher at tight end.  This versatility and potential has made Jackson a name to watch in the Miami area, as the sophomore sensation already has offers from Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Pittsburgh and UCF in addition to his newly-acquired Michigan offer as well.

UPDATE: I've been informed by someone in the know (oooooooooh) that Sanders does not hold a Michigan offer, contrary to Rutter's report. Blockquote updated accordingly.

Etc.

Brandon posted a remarkably thorough rundown of 2015 recruits and their recent contact with Michigan. Maize n Brew update on 2015 DE target Darian Roseboro. Quick Big House Report update on 2015 LB target Justin Hilliard.

Recently-offered 2015 QB Jarrett Stidham won't quite come out and say it, but it appears Texas Tech is his clear leader at this point, per 247's Landon Wright ($).

MLive's Nick Baumgardner on Chase Winovich's transition from childhood Ohio State fan to Michigan commit:

Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes made an offer, and he nearly pulled the trigger.

"I was very close to committing to them on the spot," he said. "Fortunately, I didn't."

Subsequent quotes about Brady Hoke's realness in comparison to other (unnamed) coaches are enjoyable rivalry fodder.

EDSBS' Run Home Jack (aka @celebrityhottub) nails the recruiting edition of This Week In Graphs:

The whole thing is well worth your time.