Wednesday Recruitin' Comment Count

Tim

As always, you can see the 2010 Michigan Recruiting Board for all the updates.

Next week's recruiting update will take a step back and look at remaining needs in the class, and the likelihood that they get filled.

Welcome Will Hagerup

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As covered on Sunday, WI P Will Hagerup committed to Michigan during his official visit to Ann Arbor. Hagerup is the nation's #1 or #3 punter, depending on which service you trust. He'll fill the Space Emperor's role when Zoltan graduates following this year. For more information on, Check sunday's post.

In other puntin' news, AZ P Jordan Morgan (not that Jordan Morgan) was in the house for the Wolverines' victory over Indiana. With Michigan taking a commitment from Hagerup, however, Morgan is probably no longer on the radar except as a preferred walk-on.

Needs Moar DB Talent

CA CB Joshua Shaw has replaced an SEC team on his list with a Big Ten one ($, info in header). He's also scheduled a visit to aforementioned Big Ten school. Using our critical thinking skills, we can deduce that the Big Ten school is Michigan, which he had previously said was just on the outside of his top group.

Another big time corner has long been favoring the Wolverines, and things haven't changed for PA CB Cullen Christian. If Ohio State offers him, they'll move into his top 5, but the Michigan still holds the top spot. He'll likely visit for the Penn State game.

FL S Demar Dorsey is committed to Florida, but still considering Michigan. His pledge to the Gators is being "firmed up," so it's unclear whether there's enough of an opening to grab him.

Michigan was dropped a while back by SC CB John Fulton, but the Wolverines' good season has moved them back into his consciousness ($, info in header). Michigan is still on the hunt for elite DBs (if you've watched them play, you know why), and their pool of options is expanding.

Linebackers

Michigan is in strong position for VA LB Aramide Olaniyan, who visited for the Notre Dame game. There have been lots of articles to that effect, with no actual new information, so this should be the last one unless there's an actual update.

CT LB Khairi Fortt is announcing a decision on Monday. All conventional wisdom points toward Penn State, but Michigan is on his list of finalists. Still, I'd be shocked if he picked the maize-and-blue.

...and now for some video on MD LB Josh Furman, a more realistic option for Michigan:

There are a few more videos from this year, if you're interested. Don't forget, Furman may be deciding soon.

King's Travels and other Tales of Defensive Linemen

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The odd saga of NC DE/DT Gabe King continued last week, when he moved from North Carolina to Oregon. He had been declared ineligible to play his senior season in the state of North Carolina, and will be able to play at South Eugene High School in Oregon. I guess this lends credence to the conventional wisdom floating around that he's a lock to end up on the West Coast, no?

As miniscule as Michigan's chances were before the move, they've shrunk even more now. Look for King to end up at Oregon or Cal, barring a complete shocker. Considering he's "walking distance" from UO, they're likely the favorite.

As discussed in last week's update, MN DT Beau Allen has been offered. Michigan will have to fight a number of programs if they are to land him, including Notre Dame ad Stanford.

In other defensive tackle news, PA DT Sharrif Floyd is still considering Michigan, although he doesn't have plans to take an official visit:

“Those aren’t my final five,” Floyd said. “I wouldn’t even call them my top five. They are just the five I scheduled for my official visits. I’m also looking at Ohio State, Michigan, Boston College and West Virginia.”

So Michigan is in a murky Top 9-ish situation for Floyd. The 5 officials he has planned are Florida (two weeks ago), USC (last weekend), Penn State, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The chances of landing him aren't great, but they're (slightly) better than zero.

Miami DT commit Louis Nix is wavering, and is considering Michigan for an official visit. The Wolverines are in a second group behind the Hurricanes and Notre Dame, but if he does manage to make it to campus, Coach Rod and Co. have a chance.

The interior of the line apparently isn't the only place Michigan is still looking for help. They looked to the school of CB target Tony Grimes, and offered his teammate, FL DE Clarence Murphy ($, info in header). Surprise, surprise, that's rocketed the Wolverines near the top of his list ($, info in header). His other offers come from schools like Wisconsin, Maryland, and Florida International, so Michigan could put themselves in pretty good position.

For the future

The 2011 news has been slow in the past couple weeks, but FL RB Demetrius Hart is a kid who many expect to eventually pick Michigan. He went off in his high school game on Friday. The evidence of said performance begins about a minute into this poorly produced video. [Editor's note: OH SNAP.]

NY Ath Quentin Gause is hearing from Michigan, and it may not be a coincidence that the Wolverines are the first school he mentions. A commitment is a long way off, but Gause may be leaning Blue at this early stage. He plans to take a set of unofficial visits when his high school season ends.

Etc.

Michigan appears to be fading for OH TE Alex Smith. "Spartans winning with recruits," unfortunately for them not on field. I believe I forgot to mention this last week, but I removed CJ Olaniyan, who has committed to Penn State, as well as the similarly-committed NY DE Dominique Easley. Josh Helmholdt says most recruiting visitors will come to the Penn State or Ohio State games. I missed this a while back, but OH WR commit DJ Williamson had ankle surgery at the beginning of the month ($, info in header).

Comments

dakotapalm

September 30th, 2009 at 1:18 PM ^

It seems the lack of depth on the D-line will continue in this class. Are the experts as concerned about this as I am... not that you would know how concerned I am, but well, are you concerned?

Farnn

September 30th, 2009 at 1:29 PM ^

We have 3 DEs and 1 DT in this class already and are clearly trying to add another DT. I know some of the DE recruits may move to more hybrid positions, but I assume 1 or 2 will stay on the line. We also have Lalota who may be ready to play next year. May not be a lot of depth but I think the coaches are doing what they can with the recruits still available. Remember 3-9 last year is going to have a major impact on this years class. With a good season this year it will hopefully be easier to pick up some good DL recruits next year. Edit: And am I the only one who sees the recruiting board being really out of date? Looks like it hasn't been updated since 8/19 to me.

TorontoBlue

September 30th, 2009 at 1:30 PM ^

as thin as we are defensively now, and with traditional recruiting not being as productive as any of us would like it to be, any thoughts on looking at JUCO's or Canadians as "shortcut" fixes for the manpower shortage we're experiencing on D at this time?

Irish

September 30th, 2009 at 1:46 PM ^

The only thing I have heard on Olaniyan recently is his recent NCState offer who is now included in his Top 5? Not sure how many schools are on his short list, I think it was 5

NickUmich

October 1st, 2009 at 1:25 PM ^

...and my youngest brother is a senior there now. So, I know all about that Gabe King situation. South Eugene went something like 0-9 in football last year, so everyone went crazy when they heard that one of the top players in the country was coming to play for the team. They started chanting the kid's name at the end of the first game of the year...a game he wasn't even eligible to play in. The funny thing is that even without him eligible, South has started 3-0, destroying two of their opponents. And tomorrow, King is finally eligible to play. Now when I talk to my brother, he is like "state title baby!" HAHA Oh, and my brother is a pretty popular kid in school, and he assured me that he will be talking up Michigan to this kid "all day long!" He's a funny kid. Not sure if he is serious or not. But I wouldn't be surprised. That being said, Oregon is now pretty sure that they are gonna get him, but they may be reading too much into the move, or so said an article I read. Just wanted to give you all some local info.