Wednesday Recruitin' (Special Thursday Edition)
Despite the fact that Michigan is only waiting on a couple more guys, recruiting will probably still be a little hectic for the next 7 days. Bear with us, and I'll have details on Signing Day coverage later this week.
Recruiting Boards of Note:
Jibreel Black Goes Blue
As reported on this here e-blog Sunday, OH DE/DT Jibreel Black has committed to Michigan (after decommitting from Cincinnati, after decommitting from Indiana). Black is a 3.67-star player according to the average of the three main recruiting site, and he will probably end up playing the Brandon Graham position—strongside defensive end—at Michigan. Black's senior highlights:
For more on Black, including another highlight video, visit the Hello: Jibreel Black post. Also, brace yourself for 4-5 years of "Black and Blue" puns.
Goodbye?
One of the items giving hope to Michigan fans in the recruitment of FL S Demar Dorsey was the rumor that Florida had threatened to pull his offer if he continued taking visits to other schools. He did indeed continue taking visits, including one to Michigan last week, and another to Florida State over the weekend, and has reportedly switched his commitment to the 'Noles.
With so little time left in the 2010 recruiting cycle (Signing Day is 1 week from today), I'll leave him on the board for now, and we'll see whether the Florida State commitment has indeed happened, and if Michigan's coaches can convince him to suit up as a Wolverine with his cousin, Denard Robinson (who does things like this).
As for TX RB Tony Drake, he's been out of the class for a couple weeks now, and he recently switched his commitment to Colorado State ($, info in header). It's a shame it didn't work out with Michigan, because he seems like a pretty good player. Best of luck to Tony in Fort Collins. I've officially removed him from the recruiting board.
The Ohio tandem of DT Terry Talbott and CB Terrence Talbott has come into question lately as Terry visited North Carolina last weekend. They are still expected to sign with Michigan in the class of 2010, as they want to attend the same school.
The Final Few
Aside from backup options (Is FL CB Tre Boston an option or Joe McKnight's little bro, LA CB Jonathan McKnight? Probably no on both) and maaaybe a surprise blue-chip, CA S Sean Parker and FL S/CB Rashad Knight are the last two men standing as realistic possibilities. Parker received an in-home visit from Rich Rodriguez Monday, after taking his final visit to Washington over the weekend. He's shut down his talking to the media and will announce on Signing Day (10 AM, ESPN).
Knight recently narrowed his list to Rutgers and Michigan ($, info in header). Speculation was that he committed to Rutgers yesterday, but MGoBlog's own TomVH talked to Knight, who says that isn't the case. Optimism has waned since Knight's Michigan visit. Knight now seems like a tossup.
All-Starrin'
Note: more on current commits after Signing Day. There simply isn't enough space to cover all the info with time winding down).
The North-South Ohio All-Star Game has revealed its rosters, and there are a few guys of note:
Courtney Avery, DB, 5-10, 170, Lexington, Michigan
Antonio Kinard, LB, 6-3, 220, Young. Liberty, Michigan
Jake Ryan, LB, 6-3, 225, Clev. St. Ignatius, Michigan
Terrance Talbott, DB, 5-10, 175, Huber Hgts. Wayne, Michigan
Terry Talbott, DL, 6-4, 265, Huber Hgts. Wayne, Michigan
Carey Spear, K, 5-11, 175, Mayfield, Michigan
Wait, who is that last guy? Rivals lists Carey Spear as a 2-star kicker from Highland Heights, holding offers from Ball State, Miami (NTM) and Air Force. False alarm though, as he's accepted a scholarship offer from Vanderbilt over a preferred wakon offer from the Wolverines (H/T Big House Blog).
In other All-Star games, the Big 33 Ohio-Pennsylvania game has selected PA CB Commit Cullen Christian on the Pennsylvania side, and the Ohio roster hasn't been announced yet (either that, or I just can't find it anywhere).
Etc.:
Adam Rittenberg runs down Big Ten recruiting. Tom Lemming likes the athletes in Michigan's class. Michigan will bring in a number of preferred walkon candidates this weekend, to get them to join the Wolverines. PA DE Jordan Paskorz gets profiled by AnnArbor.com.
[editor jump-in]
A little more on Lemming's opinion of Michigan's class. His top 100 is more Scout than Rivals in its optimism:
9. Devin Gardner
42. Marvin Robinson
50. (Hypothetically) Sean Parker
92. Cullen Christian
[/editor jump-out]
Coming Soon
News from the future: a look to the 2011 class. We'll be jumping in with both feet as soon as the 2010 class signs. There should be another Michigan Junior Day coming up in February.
FL WR Chris Gallon has been hearing from Michigan. He is transferring to Dr. Phillips High School from Oviedo, and the Wolverines would like to add him as another piece in a package deal including RB Demetrius Hart and S Hasean Clinton-Dix. Michigan is the leader for Hart, and has offered Clinton-Dix, though Alabama and Florida State lead. Be forewarned though, as Nick Saban is on the trail in Orlando.
The Wolverines extended an offer to WV RB Allan Wasonga. The Wolverines are his second offer, joining the Ohio RAWRCATZ of the MAC. As you can see in the picture to the right, Wasonga appears to be a very serious fellow.
Michigan has offered TX OL Garrett Greenlea.
The Wolverines join Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Baylor, Texas Tech, Houston and Duke in offering the two time all-district pick.
Greenlea looks like he'll be a big-time prospect (Oklahoma is reportedly soon to offer), so he might be a tough pull. Michigan is definitely in the market for some offensive linemen in this class, so top recruits are obviously the goal.
OH LB Trey DePriest, an mgoblog favorite, talks with Sam Webb about his recruitment in the Detroit News:
"I can't lie, I've been a fan of Michigan growing up, but that doesn't mean that they are my school of choice at this time," DePriest told Scout.com. "I'm going into this with open eyes. I want to go where I can play early and go to a school that has a winning tradition. I like to win. I'm going to treat them just like all the rest of the schools. I have to go through the process with eyes wide open. I'm just looking at everything. Another school might have something that Michigan doesn't."
"The main thing is if they've got what I want academically," he explained. "One of my coaches told me something and I got to thinking about it. Knock on wood, if I got hurt would it be somewhere that I'd want to stay for four years?"
Michigan certainly passes all those tests: Play early? Check. Winning tradition? Check. Good academics? Check. As long as Michigan can turn it around on the field in 2010, they'll have a great shot at Trey. Just for the record (since these Detroit News articles disappear behind a paywall), here were DePriest's testing numbers from the Under Armor Combine:
DePriest lived up to that billing at the recent Under Armour All American combine in Orlando, Fla. He measured in at 6 foot 2 and 225 pounds, vertical jumped 32 inches and did 28 reps of 185 pounds. In one-on-one drills, his 4.55 speed in the 40 and outstanding quickness allowed him to cover the nimblest of backs like a blanket.
He has been offered a position in the 2011 Under Armour Game, which he has already accepted. Caution, though: He hit up Ohio State's Junior Day a couple weeks ago instead of the Wolverines'.
DePriest's buddy, OH QB Braxton Miller, is considered a mortal lock to Ohio State, but even if he wasn't, it doesn't sound like the Wolverines have a great shot at him. Eleven Warriors caught up with Miller at a basketball tournament in Columbus, and the dual-threat expressed interest in a few schools, not including the one in Ann Arbor:
Assuming the Talbott brothers stick in Michigan's 2010 class, they'll give the Wolverines a familiar face to Miller, their high school teammate, which at least gives them a chance to land him.
In more bad QB recruiting news for the Class of 2011, we're quarterback-centric. NC QB Christian LeMay (pictured at right) has narrowed to a top 10, and the Wolverines ain't in it:
Stacey LeMay said his son's list of 10 potential college choices are: Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Miami, Mississippi State, Florida State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.
Note: All are in the Southeast except for Oklahoma. I'll leave him on the board for now (though downgrade to a nefarious Eduardo) since Rich Rodriguez was in his school this week, and teammate LB Kris Frost loves Michigan. He plans to decide and enroll early, so we should know very quickly if MIchigan's chance is indeed 0%.
I like the targets we have so far. Getting these guys that like us early are huge and I'm talking to you Mr. DePreist...
Since you were addressing him specifically, he's probably pretty pissed off right now, since you spelled his name wrong.
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2010/02/statistical-analysis-of-2010-...
Most years only the November games have crappy cold weather. Most September and October games are delightful in October! Highs in the 70s in September and 60s through most of October. We play 2 games in November. I'd take playing in 40s and 50 degree weather in November over playing in 90 degree weather and high humidity in the SEC in September! And if these warm weather recruits play well, they will get us into a BCS bowl game which is in a nice warm weather spot.
expect the best
Yeah, because the only place it gets cold is on the football field. When they're walking around campus from November to March, the weather is warm and sunny and gorgeous!
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2010/02/statistical-analysis-of-2010-...
Hopefully, Parker will commit on signing day. Knight will probably go with Rutgers...though if RR can work his recruiting magic, then may be we will have a chance. Dorsey looks to be a FSU lock.
Even if we lose out on all three we will still have a solid class that will add depth to the defense. Unlike last year on signing day, may be we'll be surprised by the last second additions!
expect the best
I think it's interesting and might only be a Southeastern US phenomenon. There are a good number of California kids that head out of state not only for the Midwest, but also for places like Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon and Washington to play. Come October these locales can get down right nippy, or nipply if you will.
Markusr2007
http://www.maizenbrew.com/
http://whencarcajousattack.blogspot.com/
Is Chris Gallon related to Jeremy Gallon in any way?
One comment I keep seeing is the players from warm states not wanting to come to Michigan to play in cold weather. I hope the Michigan recruiters are pointing out to the good ones that if they have NFL aspirations that playing in Green Bay in December is not a warm weather sport. Really want to prepare yourself for the next step, come and play where conditions will replicate what you will find there.
Does Kris Frost actually play LB for Butler, or is this simply a projected college position?
Michigan has 3 recruits left to fill out for the last spot. Unlikely that all of them will commit to Michigan. However, there's a decent chance that 2 of the 3 will commit to Michigan.
Knight: 50/50 shot between Michigan and Rutgers.
Parker: Michigan has a slight lead over U$C
Dorsey: 33% chance of landing him, considering U$C, FSU and Michigan. Not a FSU commit. If Dorsey visit U$C, consider it a good new as crazy as it sounds because FSU told him not to visit U$C. RR will be one of the last coach to do an inhome visit. Michigan has a decent chance of landing him because Dorsey's friends with the Pahokee boys, Marvin Robinson, DG and is a cousin of Denard Robinson.
scuttlebutt on depriest is that he is very enamored of alabama for the time being ...
Can you blame him? They just won a national championship, and it looks like they're only going to be bringing in one LB this year.
Next year's class is supposed to be very good for OL targets...
I'm not going to use the overused carnival term, but one of the most fun things about signing day is to see who signs that none of us had any idea was even interested. I have come to expect one surprise that comes "totally out of left field" each signing day, and am almost disappointed if it doesn't happen. Unfortunately, they are usually balanced by one surprise going the other way.
Anyway, I'm ready for a fun week.
http://midnightmaize.blogspot.com/
I don't think we have much of a chance...but Dorsey swears he has NOT committed to FSU. I still think he ends up there, but Rodriguez has a home visit this week with Dorsey (today?) so there is still an outside chance.
neoavatara.com/blog
One note Tim, Jibreel Black is also listed as playing for the South squad in the North-South game, but listed as a Cincinnati commit.
I'm looking for Rich Rod to convince Parker and Dorsey to ink with the maize and blue. Both of those guys, if indeed supremely talented, would be in the mix for starting safety spots. Rod has a good recent history of closing, and he may be able to convince these guys that they'll see the field next year.
It goes without saying, that ideally we wouldn't have 2+ true freshman in the mix for starting positions on defense. Though, factor in the loss of Warren and all the incompetence returning, and that's what we've got. I think we can pencil in Woolfolk and Turner (heaven help us if Turner can't go), and then it's wide open in the D backfield. It seems like a fair probability they'd take 2/3 of Christian, Parker, Dorsey over anything from last year's roster unless I'm missing someone (and, no, I'm not counting on Floyd)
You forgot about Emilien
Yeah, he looked like crap last year, but he was a young inexperienced guy playing earlier than he should have, if any secondary depth existed. While people like Emilien and Turner couldn't even get on the field, Williams was out there, learning from mistakes. With 2 more years of eligibility, its too early to write him off.
If we're going to make assumptions about the starting lineups in the fall, we should start with the experienced returning players, including Kovacs. Some true freshman probably will play in the secondary, given the limited depth, but with Woolfolk's ability to swing between CB and S, it could be at any position. Generally, CB is easier to play w/o experience than safety.
Totally. People are quick to write of Vlad Emilien. Yeah, he didn't get into the mix last year when our safeties were bad, but he was also a true freshman, coming off an injury. He was still very highly rated, and I think he'll have a leg up on all of the incoming safeties.
Plus, players like him are one in Emilien.
The wordplay, the flash, the Johnny Drama style of WolvinLA... Been a long time, man-- How are things in Tinseltown??
"I will fight, 'til I'm dead, with a Winged Helmet on my Head"
Not too bad. I actually drove by Sean Parker's high school today (I'm a medical rep and there is a hospital nearby) right about as class was letting out. The Lane Kiffin in me wanted to ask around to find Sean and buy him and his friends alcohol and cigarettes, but I decided against it. There was one kid running the stadium bleachers though, wouldn't be surprised if it was him.
Wish list for 2011:
Inside Linebackers
Big MFing Nose Tackle (or two)
4 Offensive linemen (2 tackles and 2 interior)
A running back to get really excited about (D. Hart qualifies)
With anyone outside of the above list, we should be VERY selective. We have depth at every other position, so we don't need to take guys unless we're thrilled about them.
Sadly, it seems next year is the second-straight underwhelming one for nose tackles (outside of Tim Jernigan, who is going to Florida).
Varsity Blue
This has to be the biggest target for 2011, wouldn't you say? Huge that he is a Michigan fan, but also huge that Miller is pretty much set on Ohio State. IMO...this is a must get for Michigan!
I saw this post for several minutes yesterday, then I clicked on one of the links, and when I hit the back button it had disappeared. True story.
And he piled upon the whale's white hump, the sum of all the rage and hate felt by his whole race. If his chest had been a cannon, he would have shot his heart upon it.