The Opening Updates: Michigan Commits

The Opening, Nike's questionably named elite camp, is now under way out in Beaverton, Oregon—the location is not helping matters, Nike. Brandon Peters has already been out there for a few days due to the Elite11 quarterback camp, which runs in conjunction with The Opening, and he's now joined by Michael Onwenu and a slew of Michigan targets.

Peters has consistently been mentioned by recruiting analysts as being among the top on-field performers at the Elite11. That didn't change on Tuesday, when he was one of just three quarterbacks to hit all six throws in the 7-on-7 drive-the-field drill, which earned him the #3 top performer spot from 247's Barton Simmons:

3. Brandon Peters (Michigan commit) 
Stats: 6 for 6, 2 TDs 
Quietly, Peters continues to be one of the most consistent performers in this Elite 11 group. There was never a doubt on any of his throws, he spun it well and put it on the money for every throw. Rarely do you see Peters throw a wobbler or skip a football.

After being left off the initial Elite11 list from the camp counselors, Peters snuck into a tie for 11th after Tuesday; when they updated the list today, Peters was omitted.

Onwenu, meanwhile, impressed both onlookers and those running the camp yesterday. 247's Brian Perroni ranked Onwenu fourth among offensive linemen after a strong performance in the OL/DL one-on-ones:

The 6-foot-3, 365-pound Michigan commit is stronger as a run blocker on tape but he was pretty much impossible for the defensive tackles to move on Wednesday. He had the entire offensive jumping up and down when he threw a defender to the ground like a rag doll.

The camp agreed with the recruiting analysts, selecting Onwenu as one of the "Final 5" offensive linemen who get to face off in a best of the best one-on-one session with the top five D-linemen, which included five-star M target Rashan Gary.

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

The Opening: Everyone Else Updates

With huge events like The Opening, recruits often give interviews to multiple outlets. In the case of Rashan Gary, that can lead to a lot of contradictory quotes. The good news is multiple reporters mention that Michigan and Auburn are seemingly out in front for Gary, though he's staying mum regarding favorites. The bad news is it's impossible to decipher where he's planning to take visits the rest of the summer. I want to believe this:

I'm also hearing Gary and the NJ/Pa group will likely visit #Michigan for the BBQ in July @TimS_Wolverine @rivalsmike

— Adam Friedman (@RivalsFriedman) July 7, 2015

It's hard to do so, unfortunately, since Gary told TomVH he'd be making a swing through SEC country ($):

"Next weekend I have Georgia and the weekend after that LSU," he said. "Also hitting Alabama, Ole Miss and Auburn again."

While Georgia and LSU seem set—Gary told Sam Webb he'd visit those schools, too—those others perhaps not so much; here's what Gary told Adam Friedman ($):

"I've been talking to Clemson, Baylor, Florida State, Alabama and USC," Gary said. "I'm trying to get out there."

There were rumors that Gary would be visiting Ole Miss, Auburn and Alabama in mid-July, but he says that isn't happening.

"I'm just getting back into my football team," he said. "We're building that bond so we can go win a state championship. That's the goal and that's what I'm focused on."

We'll see, I guess?

Four-star PA TE Naseir Upshur, who might as well be a member of the New Jersey contingent, has Michigan in his top two as his planned August 8th decision date approaches:

TE Nas Upshur says he still has his top 8 but Michigan and Florida State are at the top pic.twitter.com/1XDdLX51CY

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) July 7, 2015

Upshur visited Michigan last month and will take a trip to Florida State next week, and he might also visit Alabama after that. His decision timeframe is less certain. He told TomVH he might make a decision in August ($). He told 247's Steve Wiltfong that he may pump the brakes after talking to his parents:

Upshur, who less than two weeks ago said he was going to commit on August 8th, is not 100% sure he is going to stick to that timeline, although he still may.

"I talked with my parents after I got back from Michigan and they think I am going too fast with things," he said. "So I am thinking about slowing it down. Michigan had the edge after the visit but I want to see some other schools."

Either way, Michigan looks to be in very good shape right now, though we'll see what develops after the visit to Tallahassee.

Top-100 CA ATH Lamar Jackson still has his eye on Michigan; he told Scout that Michigan is in his top seven, and he plans to make it up to Ann Arbor sooner or later ($):

“If I don’t make it this summer -- I want to make it this summer -- if I don’t I’ll take an official visit,” Jackson said. “Michigan is up there and I’m pretty sure they’ll be top five, for sure.

“Just cause (Jim) Harbaugh and the coaching staff, I get good vibes from them and they want me to play, they like my skill, technique and stuff like that. I feel I’d fit good in the scheme playing corner. It’s Harbaugh, so, I’m going to give it a shot.”

USC is the favorite there.

Four-star TX ILB Dontavious Jackson is still in the process of figuring out top schools and visits, but given what he told TomVH it sounds like Michigan will be in it until the end ($):

“I’m great at adapting, so weather isn’t going to affect me, and distance won’t either. I’m just looking for the best opportunity,” he said. “Michigan is on the up with the great, new coaching staff. Of course, Michigan also just switched over to Nike, and I love Nike.”

Four-star AZ DE Connor Murphy—the recruit Harbaugh babysat while recruiting his brother to Stanford—plans to visit Michigan "around the beginning of football season," per Steve Lorenz, and he has a lot of good things to say about Harbaugh:

"The Michigan visit will be an unofficial," he said. "Harbaugh is my guy. He's my brother's guy. Our family loves him. I want to go out there and see the community and see what I like about the place. I talked to him a couple weeks ago and he asked me what it was going to take to get me to come to Michigan. Over at Stanford he recruited tough guys and he's starting to do the same at Michigan. That's been his message; he wants to recruit the biggest, toughest, meanest guys. He wants guys like me there; I feel like that's my mentality."

Michigan appears to be gaining some steam here.

Sam Webb caught up with four-star FL LB Devin Bush Jr., who plans to make a commitment early in the school year, and M has a lot going in its favor ($):

“Coach Durkin, that’s my guy,” said Bush.  “That’s my right hand man.  We talk daily.  He’s almost like becoming a father figure for me outside of the house.”

If that relationship was enough a lure, the recent commitments of his teammates and good friends Devin Gil and Josh Metellus have definitely added to the Wolverines’ appeal.

“It actually messed me up a little bit.  I thought I was in the right track, all the right schools in mind and the next thing you know they committed.  I’m like, aw man.  Who wouldn’t want to play with their boys from high school, grew up with them.  It’s huge.”

Auburn, Georgia, and Florida State, where his father played, are also in the mix.

Quickly: Four-star MD OG Terrance Davis still has Michigan out in front ($). Four-star Florida State TE commit Isaac Nauta is "definitely" going to take an official to Ann Arbor ($).

More 2016 Updates

Michigan is in the top seven for five-star CA LB Caleb Kelly. While that list is unordered, I've seen message board word that Kelly said Oklahoma leads with Michigan and Stanford rounding out his top three, but I can't find the quote; that would fit the general consensus on Kelly's recruitment.

Top-100 OT Landon Dickerson will take an official visit for the Oregon State game, and Michigan's interest sounds quite strong, per Rivals' Adam Friedman ($):

"I've been talking to Michigan and building a better relationship with the coaches up there," he said. "The more I talk with them, the more I become interested in Michigan. The education piece is awesome. They have a great engineering school. That's what has really caught my interest. I won't really be able to just take a day off and drive to visit them so I'd like to take an official visit up there and spend as much time as I can.

"I know they have four offensive linemen committed already and that was kind of a concern for me," he said. "When I talked to coach Drevno he said that, if they do get a fifth offensive lineman, they would always be able to make a spot for me if I wanted to go there.

Before people start freaking out about spots in the class, there's a long way to go here; Virginia Tech and Tennessee were Dickerson's early leaders, he recently visited Auburn and will take an official there, and he's got an upcoming visit to Florida State.

About that fifth O-line spot: four-star PA OG Johncarlo Valentin could very well be the guy to fill it, per Friedman ($):

"Michigan is hot," said Valentin. "I couldn't make it up on the last trip but that could have sealed the deal for Michigan. I'm still high on Michigan. I need to get up there with my family and if they like it that will probably be it for me. I'm still open to other schools until then."

Virginia Tech and Temple are the other schools pursuing him the hardest.

The top-ranked kicker in the country, Rockford's Quinn Nordin, will announce his decision tomorrow, per Rivals' Josh Helmholdt ($). While Michigan initially looked to be the destination, there's a good chance he picks Penn State tomorrow; the presence of Andrew David may have played a factor there, as could Michigan's dwindling number of spots in the class. Four-star CA OLB Camilo Eifler is choosing a school later today; it will not be Michigan despite their presence in his top six. Happy trails to him.

Etc.

Gotham's reckoning is upon us.

21 mph elevation mask @WINNERCIRCLECOS where animals are made 〽️ vid cred @SLUSHEE14 pic.twitter.com/XOgUUCEYzJ

— Victor viramontes (@Vicious_Vic10) July 8, 2015

In other news, four-star 2017 CB Jamyest Williams has Michigan outside of his top ten schools, though he still has them among five programs still under consideration anyway.