Thursday Recruitin' Enters Dead Period

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:

New drama L3 may not be able to announce at under armour game because of indecision of school choice.

— Leon McQuay Jr. (@Quaydiddy2206) December 19, 2012

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.