Thursday Recruitin' Drinks Milkshake, Becomes Engineer
Jabrill Peppers Is Fast, Part Whatever
Oh, just Jabrill Peppers fielding a kickoff at the 0:21 mark, hauling down the far sideline—I like that sideline—and reaching the end zone at the 0:32 mark despite high-stepping the final few yards. 96 yards. 11 seconds. In full pads.
He's okay, I guess.
Weekend Visitors
This weekend marks the time when just about every 2014 commit will take their official visit to Ann Arbor, including Peppers, who'll presumably have a nice chat with Brady Hoke about taking other visits—if he hasn't already been talked out of them by the coaches and his family, who've reportedly expressed their desire for Peppers to stick to his commitment.
According to multiple outlets, one uncommitted 2014 prospect will also take his official this weekend: three-star TX RB Vic Enwere, a current Cal commit. Enwere committed to Cal without ever visiting Berkeley—he's slated to visit there in January, and otherwise has no officials set up, so this is looks to be a two-team battle that could go either way. Enwere is now the only feasible target at running back to hold an offer, as CO ATH Kalen Ballage made a surprise commitment to Arizona State this week; he'd been expected to pledge to either Boise State or Michigan State.
The other visitor to keep an eye on is 2015 commit Shaun Crawford, who's recently stated an interest in visiting Ohio State. He's maintained all along that he's "100% committed" to Michigan, so hopefully a quick discussion about Hoke's job security—like Peppers, Crawford cited rumors about a potential coaching change as reason to look around—will dispel any desire to visit the Buckeyes.
[Hit THE JUMP for the latest on Malik McDowell, Tim Settle, a couple of four-star 2015 tackles, and more.]
McDowell Takes, Sets Visits
Michigan's top remaining 2014 target, four-star Southfield DL Malik McDowell, took his first official visit last weekend to Alabama; he left with the Tide firmly in the mix and set the remainder of his official visits, per Josh Helmholdt ($):
"[The Tide] are a strong contender," McDowell said.
The three official visits McDowell will take in January will be to Florida State (Jan. 17), LSU (Jan. 24) and Ohio State (Jan. 31). He also may take unofficial visits to the two in-state contenders on his list - Michigan and Michigan State. But first, the nation's No. 33 ranked prospect will take an official visit to Florida this upcoming weekend.
The strong confidence that McDowell will end up at Michigan has obviously waned a bit now that he's taking all of his officials; that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to end up elsewhere, however. Sam Webb and Steve Lorenz have both posted message board threads recently expressing their belief that McDowell will end up at Michigan, and 247's Steve Wiltfong hints at the same in his latest post ($):
A source close to the situation confirmed Michigan is still in the “forefront,” for Southfield (Mich.) High Top50 defensive lineman Malik McDowell, however, the U.S. Army All-American is taking his official visits to be sure, and to see where he gets the best feel.
Michigan has to wait out four more visits to powerhouse schools, so a whole lot can change; for now, however, I still think the Wolverines have the best chance at landing McDowell.
2015 Updates
Five-star 2015 VA DT Tim Settle got his coveted Michigan offer last week, and despite having a who's-who list of suitors it sounds like the Wolverines will be very strong contenders for his services—he's already planning his next trip to Ann Arbor, per Steve Lorenz ($):
"My favorite part was the participation and enthusiasm of the crowd during the game," he said. "The atmosphere there was unbelievable. I know they struggled a bit on the field this year but they're going to be fine. I liked the food a lot too. We ate at Quickie Burger and that really hit the spot for me. That might be the first place I go when I come back up again."
That visit is likely to come in the spring sometime, probably during April but perhaps a bit later.
"My dad and I are going to do a lot of traveling around that time of the year," Settle said. "I have a lot of schools I need to see and that I want him to see. Michigan is going to be one of them as well. I want my dad to see Michigan. I loved it there the first time and I'd like him to see it as well."
This time, somebody please take the kid to Blimpy Bur--awww hamburgers.
The M Block's Eric Rutter caught up with 2015 four-star VA OT Matthew Burrell, who hasn't heard much from the coaches lately; if Michigan's interest picks back up, however, he'll be listening:
Despite the miscommunications so far, Burrell would be very interested in Michigan should they decide to pursue him. "I'm not going to say I'm waiting on it," said Burrell. "But it would be pretty cool to have it. I appreciate everybody's offers, but Michigan is a school that has a tradition that is one of its own. You don't have a program out there with the fans and alumni that is so strong."
He's gone so far as to tell Notre Dame's coaches that Michigan's win over them—which he was in attendance for—is what sticks out to him in his recruiting process. Burrell is a highly-regarded prospect with a great list of offers and obvious interest, but with Michigan taking a very small class—and focusing on PA OT Sterling Jenkins as their top tackle priority—it appears he'll have to wait for an offer.
That's not to say it won't come, however, as Darrell Funk dropped by to see another 2015 tackle prospect, NJ OT Grant Newsome, and told the consensus four-star that Michigan is "very interested," per Sam Webb ($). Newsome has also expressed interest; if he visits Ann Arbor, an offer could be on the way, and that could signal a new wave of offensive tackle offers to ensure that the Wolverines don't get left in the lurch if Jenkins goes elsewhere.
Etc.
I need a 30 for 30 on Jerry Glanville's recruiting escapades, STAT.
Rocky Top, amirite?
Here's how Top247 lineman Charles Mosley (@BigCharless) announced his commitment to the #Vols: pic.twitter.com/U5WXeimNOK
— Ryan Callahan (@RyanCallahan247) December 9, 2013
December 12th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^
Or other teams' coaches telling recruits that they know Hoke is gone. Meyer has a history of things like that dating back to Lloyd Carr. Peppers was hearing last spring that Hoke was going to leave for the NFL, now he's been hearing that Hoke may be fired. Someone is feeding him these rumors and I don't blame him for wanting to keep his options open.
December 12th, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^
THAT is where Peppers and other recruits like Crawford are hearing the rumors. Could they be reading this blog every day and getting some of the negative posts? Maybe. But I doubt it. It's the slimebags recruiting for other programs that are getting in these recruits' ears. There are programs out there that don't have the same ethical approach to recruiting that Michigan does. They'll tell recruits anything they want to hear and place doubts in their mind without lying technically. Just the way it is unfortunately.
December 12th, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 5:48 PM ^
Give this young man a little more credit. He is an elite athlete about to make a very important decision. You are a commenter on a message board. You will have absolutely no affect on his decision. Hoke has stated that anything less than conference championships are unnacceptable. He has not come close. Back to back 5 loss seasons are fueling speculation, and rightfully so. I would expect Jabril to look closely at the product on the field. An honest examination would produce doubts in anyone. When he weighs all factors, you will not be included. I hope he goes Blue. Excessive talent is Hokes only hope.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:05 PM ^
even if we're the leader for McDowell, it doesn't mean that it's more likely than not that he comes to Michigan. if there's a 15% chance that he goes to each of the other four schools, it's still more likely than not that he goes somewhere other than michigan.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:21 PM ^
I don't think thats quite how it works. I think people are saying that there is a 60% chance that he goes to michigan, 40% chance that he goes anywhere else, not strict percentages for each school.
December 12th, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^
It very well could be that Michigan being the favorite for McDowell is in the sense of a plurality, not a majority, as ish suggests. If I say Alabama is the pre-season "favorite" to win the 2015 title game, that doesn't mean I think Alabama has a greater than a 50% to win the title, just that they have a better chance than anyone else, which may mean they only have a 20% chance, followed by FSU at 15%. Otherwise, there would rarely be a "favorite" to win when more than a few teams are involved.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:07 PM ^
I'm glad Ballage didn't commit to Sparty.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:11 PM ^
Someone posted somewhere else that Jabrill is going to be a bust. How the hell can he know that?! He seemed very convinced, which is ridiculous. I'm not saying Peppers will be great, but I am saying it's impossible to know one way or another at this point. Let the kid play a season or two and THEN determine if he will be a bust.
December 12th, 2013 at 5:44 PM ^
Hoke gets 4 years minimum but Peppers only gets "a season or two". I think we should give him all 4 years before assigning labels.
December 12th, 2013 at 8:21 PM ^
and tries too hard, duh.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^
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December 12th, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
December 12th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
It's certainly possible, but so much has to happen before that's even feasible that I don't think it's worth a lot of discussion. The Saban-to-Texas rumors haven't exactly come from any reliable sources yet.
December 12th, 2013 at 5:49 PM ^
His frame and upside are undeniable, but I'd rather have someone with a better motor and plays with better leverage. Fwiw, I was impressed by Marshall. He'll be a good one.
I wouldn't be heartbroken if McDowell chose elsewhere.
December 12th, 2013 at 6:14 PM ^
Look, there's no doubt that Marshall is the better player now, and there's also no doubt that McDowell has the higher ceiling. It's good to take a combination of both groups of people.
Brandon Graham was a very raw, high celing type who totally worked out. Will Campbell was a guy somewhat in the middle. RJS is looking like a guy who was offered due to his high ceiling who isn't working out.
Marshall looks like another Clark or Ojemudia type player. Very likely that he's a solid contibutor, but unlikely he has NFL scouts drooling. McDowell could go either side of that, but since he could be the drooling guy, you take him.
December 12th, 2013 at 6:30 PM ^
Thats funny, your assessment is the complete opposite of every other scouting report I have read. In fact touchthebanner raved about Mcdowells hustle
December 12th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^
The Sills offer is kind of a surprise to me. He was offerend by Lane Kiffin in the 7th grade but his scouting reports are kind of meh. Needs to work on mechanics and arm strength 3 star QB. How much of this is because of ECA's limited on field play? Lets say Sill does commit whats the chance of offering another 2015 QB given some of the interest from other highly ranked QB's in the 2015 class
December 12th, 2013 at 6:46 PM ^
Honestly, probably pretty low. We've taken a QB in every class since 2013 and the 2015 class will already be small as it is. I imagine the coaches will take the one best QB they can get. If they fell that's Sills, then I bet it will be only Sills.
December 13th, 2013 at 12:25 PM ^
to you...." or something along those lines when congratulating the other player?
Maybe I am losing my mind.
December 13th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
I haven't watched that part of the video, but #28 is listed as KJ Gray, who is not a big-time recruit. Michigan did offer Jonathan Hilliman, who is #23, and has been in touch with Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is #21.
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