Tuesday Recruitin' Goes The Extra Mile
Today's recruiting roundup revels in the wake of Derrick Green's commitment and has the latest updates on Denzel Ward, Henry Poggi, and more.
Hello: Derrick Green
In case the rock you live under still isn't wi-fi capable, I have good news: Derrick Green, the nation's top-ranked running back, committed to Michigan on Saturday. He gets the full "Hello" treatment here, and below is local news coverage featuring video of his announcement:
Green's remarkable physical transformation—he entered high school at 268 pounds—is recounted in Sam Webb's latest DetNews article, which also gives a look into Green's recruitment. Green calls Fred Jackson "a father figure," and Brady Hoke managed to have a huge impact before ever meeting him in person [emphasis mine]:
With those bonds fortified there was one important connection left to be made — the one with Hoke. Even in his absence Michigan's head coach managed to begin that process with a gesture that resonates with his prized recruit to this day.
Said [Green's mother, Fran] Knight, "When we went (on the March 18 visit), he wasn't there. His dad had just passed, but I was amazed how even though he was going through the situation with his father passing, he still took the time out to call Derrick and let him know that he really wanted him there, he really wanted to be there, (and) he was looking forward to meeting him. That spoke volumes to me about the type of person he was."
If you'd like to see more scouting on Green, the DetNews also has blurbs from several Scout analysts.
In other current commit news, 247 named David Dawson and Patrick Kugler to their All-American first team for the class of 2013. Kyle Bosch and Henry Poggi earned second-team nods.
Speaking of Poggi, multiple outlets have confirmed that he did visit Alabama last weekend, and the Tide are actively recruiting him. While the exact nature of the visit is unclear—some say it was a visit to a friend on the team while others say that he took an official, and the Poggis are staying quiet—the general sense from insiders is that he'll still end up at Michigan in the end.
Ward: Dropped
After a move to Florida—one that reportedly came as a surprise to the coaches—a parting of the ways between Michigan and 2014 commit Denzel Ward seemed inevitable. Today, it came to pass:
I am no longer a commit to the University of Michigan, I really appreciare the love from there but I just want to make the best decision.
— Denzel Ward (@DW75_) January 29, 2013
According to Sam Webb, the split was Michigan's call, and it's unlikely that they will continue recruiting Ward. So it goes.
Michigan Leads For Doles
In-state 2014 OL Tommy Doles was on campus again last weekend, this time to check out the academic side of things, and per GBW's Kyle Bogenshutz the trip cemented Michigan at the top of his list ($):
“It helped a lot,” said Doles. “I can say Michigan is the frontrunner now. I wasn’t ready to make a commitment or anything – I think I still want to see what the options are. I think I’m just not quite ready to make a decision yet, but Michigan is a good option at this point."
Doles may take his time and check out some other options, but at this point it's tough to see him winding up anywhere but Michigan.
Per multiple sources, including 247's Clint Brewster($), Michigan offered 2014 five-star GA DE Lorenzo Carter. Carter holds one of the most impressive offer sheets in the country—pulling a five-star deep out of SEC country is a tall task, so until further notice don't get expectations too high for him.
The Best Kind Of Touchdowns
January 29th, 2013 at 4:11 PM ^
what no Poggi update, I hear he is now Instagram friends with Saban. I need updates!
January 29th, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^
January 29th, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^
January 29th, 2013 at 4:19 PM ^
So neither Green nor Robert Nkemdiche made the 247 first or second team? say whaa?
January 29th, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^
Someone please get TomVH to interview Fangupo regarding his position on people his size in little coats.
January 29th, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^
January 29th, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^
Welcome to the board...
January 29th, 2013 at 7:52 PM ^
January 29th, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
They claim this was Scott Kennedy from Scout: Green has a "similar style to Ray Rice, in a bigger package"...
Fred Jackson is one tricky bastard, convincing them he is Scott Kennedy and all.
January 29th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
Ward just tweeted out that he still has his offer and that he was not dropped. May or not be worth an edit
January 29th, 2013 at 5:27 PM ^
January 29th, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^
but you can't put anything on the internet that isn't true...
January 29th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^
In principle, yes, but that's got to be the worst damage control ever.
January 29th, 2013 at 6:06 PM ^
I would take the big guy as a fullback. He's a lineman who has a little extraburst.
January 29th, 2013 at 6:26 PM ^
January 30th, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^
I think the big guy is Derrick Green pre-weight loss.
January 29th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
Anyone know if ][V][ was at all involved with tOSU new commit 4 star WR Corey Smith? He is a JUCO transfer from Grand Rapids. With our lack of "elite" WR in this class, seems like that would have been an option. But this is the first I'm hearing of the kid, so maybe I'm way off base.
January 29th, 2013 at 6:50 PM ^
He went to Jarrod Wilson's HS, IIRC, and he was a Tennessee commit who never qualified. Those aren't typically the types of kids we recruit, but OSU has in the past (Cardale Jones was the latest, I believe, and we all know how that turned out).
Corey Smith is a good WR, but I wouldn't say he's elite.
January 29th, 2013 at 7:07 PM ^
That's kind of what I figured, it seemed a little weird that a four star WR was in our own backyard and he slipped through the cracks. Thanks for the clarification. Thanks also for the reminder of Cardale "We ain't come to play school" Jones, brings a devious smirk to my face.
January 29th, 2013 at 8:14 PM ^
Michigan did recruit Cardale Jones.
January 29th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^
Hoke or RR?
January 29th, 2013 at 8:57 PM ^
Rodriguez.
January 29th, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^
No, Michigan was not involved.
January 29th, 2013 at 6:33 PM ^
][V][
January 29th, 2013 at 7:30 PM ^
January 29th, 2013 at 9:03 PM ^
I know I'm a bit late, but man that suit is awful, Derrick.
January 29th, 2013 at 9:34 PM ^
First thing he mentioned was getting Derrick Green. I think it's kind of a big deal with the staff.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
Urban's boyish good looks (I just threw up in my mouth a little) may make him popular with the soccer moms, but Brady's character makes him popular with the football moms. I'll take that every time. Keep up the good work, Coach.
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