Thursday Recruitin' Enters Dead Period Comment Count

Ace

Today's recruiting roundup covers Leon McQuay III's timeline, the sixth O-lineman possibility, and more.

McQuay: Delay?

Before I get into today's (rather scant) recruiting news: the NCAA recruiting dead period began on Monday and extends through January 3rd, which means coaches can't meet with recruits in-person and can only call them once a week. As a result, unless something major breaks, this will be the last recruiting roundup until after the bowl game.

Sam Webb updates us on Leon McQuay III's recruitment at the Detroit News, and McQuay's father says Michigan could be the talented defensive back's eventual destination:

"I wouldn't be surprised if he chose Michigan," his father said. "The defensive coordinator basically sat us down and walked us through how he is going to be used. If that actually holds true, he is going to be lining up in different spots. He is expected to make plays. He has been labeled a playmaker. That's a lot of expectations, but Mattison has been doing it for a while so I'm pretty sure he can look at somebody and tell exactly what he is going to get out of them."

With coaching shakeups on defense at both USC and FSU, it looks like McQuay's recruitment will come down to Michigan and Vanderbilt, where head coach James Franklin is personally recruiting him. While McQuay had long maintained he'll make a decision at the Under Armour All-American Game, a tweet from his father yesterday indicated that may no longer be the case:

With McQuay waiting to see who USC hires at defensive coordinator—and getting to know new FSU DC Jeremy Pruitt, formerly Alabama's secondary coach—the delay makes sense.

[For the rest of the recruiting roundup, hit THE JUMP.]

Six Linemen: Probably Happening

CA OL Cameron Hunt is down to three schools—Cal (where he's currently committed), Michigan, and Oregon—with plans to visit Ann Arbor on January 11th, according to Scout's Greg Biggins ($). He also clears up any doubt that the Wolverines are pursuing a sixth O-line commit:

“I’m going to visit Michigan the weekend after the Under Armour game (Jan 11). I know David Dawson re-committed but the OL coach said they want to take six now. He’s a good guy, I’ve talked with him a few times but I still haven’t talked with Coach Hoke.”

There are conflicting reports about whether OH CB Reon Dawson, a current Illinois commit, will take his official to Michigan on January 11th or the 18th—Tremendous has the most recent update and says it's the former. Either way, Dawson will make his way to campus soon and is a likely candidate to fill one of the final few spots.

Tremendous also clears up the rumor that VA RB Derrick Green is down to two schools, Michigan and Tennessee—not true, according to Green.

Etc.

Michigan offered 2014 Ohio State basketball commit Jae'Sean Tate for football—he already held a basketball offer—per Sam Webb. Tate's a highly-regarded hoops prospect and already chose OSU over Michigan for his main sport, so this seems unlikely to work. Worth a shot, though.

Tate's high school teammate, Michigan commit Taco Charlton, told Sam Webb he's "up to 260-plus [pounds]" ($). Yes, the headline is "Taco Adds Beef" because of course.

2014 WI DE Conor Sheehy told Tremendous that he's contacted Greg Mattison and is contemplating a visit to Michigan. Sheehy chose Wisconsin over Michigan prior to Bret Bielema's departure.

247 has a thorough rundown of the Midwest prospects to watch in the 2014 class.

After the commitments of David Dawson and Delano Hill, Michigan retakes the top spot on Scout's 2013 team recruiting rankings.

Comments

LSA Aught One

December 20th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^

Has Dan Samuelson re-committed to Nebraska?  He was struggling with the decision earlier in the week and I hadn't heard anything new since.  Is the 6th OL a first-come, first-served spot or would the coaches hold out for Hunt?

profitgoblue

December 20th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^

I find recruiting news to be very exciting up until this point in the year.  At this point, the scholarships become scarce but there are still several bigtime talents on the board and we're all waiting anxiously to hear their decisions.  It never fails that each year I fall in love with one and he ends up breaking my heart.  No reason to list the past recruits that fall into this category, but I think everyone knows who they are (*cough* Dee Hart *cough*).  That said, this year feels different.  Our class filled out so nicely so early that the next two recruiting months just feel like icing on the cake.  Thanks coaching staff!

 

Daniel

December 20th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^

he would be such a great player to get, especially with where the program's at right now.  I'm not disparaging our current set of WR's and the recruits who are coming in, but LT is the most complete player. He can catch the ball, speed past defenders, cause serious size mismatches, and actually block. 

It's unfortunate that we're mostly out of the running for him.

 

(Ed: Not that this is news to anyone...)

jdon

December 20th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^

USC has 13 of the top 100 players on Scout.  Damn.  With 5 or 6 five star players.  that shit cray!

 

Thanks for the updates Ace.  I have been pretty critical lately of some of the components of this blog but ultimately you guys do a tremendous job.

 

jdon

 

eamus_caeruli (not verified)

December 20th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^

I thought Georgia was on high moral ground with respect to oversigning recruits.  I guess that was so last past past years ago.  I will try to keep up.  

I feel like things will shape up this year, maybe nothing earth shattering, but solid.  2014 I am predicting a much slower cycle.  Gut feeling...

User -not THAT user

December 20th, 2012 at 1:46 PM ^

to just about every rule.  They actually don't oversign; they legitimately have the turnover that allows them to sign big classes like that because the guys they sign are either ready for the NFL in less than four years' time or else they're kicked off the team for disciplinary reasons.

Ironically, this is seen as one of the reasons Mark Richt doesn't win more often with the number of skilled players he signs; there just aren't enough core guys on campus for the time it takes to develop a truly cohesive unit.  They ended up what, five yards away from beating Alabama for the chance to play for the MNC with the players they have this year, and that same team lost by four touchdowns to er, South Carolina earlier in the season to bump them out of the BCS altogether.  But this year's UGA team will send a bunch of guys to the NFL.

mzdmv

December 20th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^

Not Michigan related but just a general recruiting question...

How the hell can Texas A&M have 34 commits and Georgia have 30?

I understand early enrollees and backdating and all that, but can that really allow a school to take an extra 8 players? I understand Georgia a bit more because of NFL talent and disciplinary stuff, but A&M?

Or do half of those players suffer "medical hardships" and quit football?

lhglrkwg

December 20th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^

Hopefull adding Skipper doesn't lead Fox to go elsewhere. Seems like it's been widely rumored that he would be unhappy with a 6th OL. I'm not a scouting guru, but I'd rather have Fox than Skipper at this point so it'd be a shame if we basically traded Colorado OL

OneFootIn

December 21st, 2012 at 9:31 AM ^

Is mutton chops like that. I will spend all holiday break trying to grown a pale facsimile of that splendid facial hair. He has Wolverine written all over him.