TVH Weekly: Jack Tabb, Roderick Ryles, Darian Cooper and More
As we get closer and closer to signing day, Michigan nabbed two quality commitments this week in instate LB Desmond Morgan and Maryland DB Blake Countess. Michigan is currently at 13 commitments, which leaves anywhere between 5-7 more spots open. A few updates from this week, and a look at what could happen going forward:
Roderick Ryles
6'1", 185 lbs.
Safety
Orlando, Florida
I'm sure everyone has noticed that Roderick has an outstanding set of dreadlocks, always key in recruiting. Ryles was committed to Arkansas, but recently decommitted/had his offer pulled from the Razorbacks. He has opened up his recruitment, and Michigan will be part of the process.
I'm not with Arkansas anymore, so it's back open with everybody. I'm definitely interested in Michigan. I just talked to Coach Smith on Thursday (10/9).
Dr. Phillips just lost in the state championship game so Roderick will be focusing on recruiting going forward. He hasn't set up his visit date yet, but is looking to do that soon.
Darian Cooper
6'1", 275 lbs.
Defensive Tackle
Hyattsville, Maryland
I'm not sure where it originated, but there was a rumor that Michigan was out of it for Darian Cooper. That's not entirely true. This was somewhat discussed in this thread earlier, and this is what Darian had to say about it.
Tony Dews came out on Thursday, and we talked about some things. I asked him about the coaching situation and he said that we'll know on January 1st. They're not out of it yet, I'm just concerned with what's going on with them because I had a friend go through that too.
While Michigan isn't out of it for Cooper, they are slightly behind the likes of Penn State, Georgia Tech, Iowa, and Michigan State. We won't know if Michigan is back in it until we know the fate of the coaching staff.
[Ed.: That's quite a statement from Dews, if second-hand. Not even a "we'll be back." Everybody limbo.]
Jack Tabb
6'4", 230 lbs.
Tight End
Red Bank, New Jersey
Jack Tabb and recently offered Glenville prospect Frank Clark are the main tight ends on Michigan's board these days. Tabb has decided that he's ready to announce his decision after visiting Michigan, Arkansas, Iowa, and North Carolina.
I'm announcing either Wednesday or Thursday, I'll find out tomorrow. I'll have hats for Arkansas, Michigan, North Carolina, Rutgers, and Iowa.
The coaching situation at Michigan has also been in Tabb's mind recently. He really liked his visit to Ann Arbor, but I wouldn't get your hopes up with him.
Extra:
- Commit Demetrius Hart told reporters last night that he will officially visit Florida, and still plans on enrolling early wherever he decides to go. If Rich Rodriguez stays, then I think Dee will too. If Rich Rod goes, then so will Hart.
- Instate DB Raymon Taylor was offered by Michigan this week. He's a lifelong Michigan fan, and barring anything out of the ordinary there's a good chance he'll be a part of this class. Taylor is a Rivals four star who was committed to Indiana before their coaching change; the other sites have him a generic three-star.
- The Army All American game will be played on January 8th, and Michigan fans will have reason to watch. Michigan commits DB Blake Countess and RB Demetrius Hart will be in the game. The two prospects announcing their decisions during the game to keep an eye on are FL S Wayne Lyons and NC ATH Kris Frost.
- There's a dead period that starts today that will run through January 3rd. The next big recruiting visit weekend will be that following weekend of the 7th. We'll have more as it gets closer, but so far WR Devin Lucien, TE Frank Clark, DB Sheldon Royster, DB Dallas Crawford, and DE Deion Barnes are scheduled to be there.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:16 AM ^
Any updates on Devin Lucien? I'd really like to see him with wings
December 20th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
Raymon Taylor will also have his official visit on Jan. 7th.
"I go to the official visit on January 7th," Taylor said. "I am going to sit down with the coaches some more, get a great understanding and check out everything before I make any decision. I'm going to be watching their [bowl] game and talk to everyone to see if that is a good spot for me."
December 20th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
can't come soon enough. Closure with the controversy and hopefully momentum from a Bowl Victory! Can't wait!
December 20th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
Any news on Lyons? Haven't seen any new info on him for a few days..
December 20th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
M is very much in it. The coaching decision will be big. Blake Countess is trying to talk Lyons into coming to M. Lyons is very big on academics.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
True story, check out his final five...
Michigan, Stanford...UCLA, Nebraska....and Florida. It should be noted that Northwestern and Vanderbilt were two schools that factored heavily into his recruitment for a while.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
Seeing as how Michigan and Stanford are in lyons' final five, that would seem to indicate that if a coaching change were to happen in Ann Arbor, it won't affect Michigan's standing at all.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^
He doesn't like donkeys (Jacka**). Harbaugh is not coming here no matter how much you want him to.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
What does this mean?
December 20th, 2010 at 3:43 PM ^
He was considering Stanford too.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
If everyone stays committed, M is going to have a heck of a lot of CBs in this class. That may be a position for which you can't have too many guys.
Thanks for the update, Tom.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^
Plus there is always the possibility of position changes. But I agree, DB itself is a position you can't have enough of.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^
My fantasy roster of 85 DBs disagrees. I fared poorly this year.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
At least a couple should find their way to safety
December 20th, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
They're all pretty small, though...Just to be clear, I wasn't pointing out the number of CBs as a bad thing. I just think it's interesting...OSU loads up on safeties b/c they figure that if nothing else they can use them on special teams. Maybe M is thinking along those lines.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
Tom, at this point do you see a kicker being part of the class?
December 20th, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
Oooooooooooo!
December 20th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
THE TOMMMMMMMM
December 20th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^
I made that.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
Does Anyone know if there is film from Roderick Ryles's senior season floating around? Thanks in advance.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^
Rodereick Ryles reminds me a lot of Cam Gordon when he was playing safety. Enough said.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^
Thanks for the update TomVH. Can't wait to see what happens with RR so that we can start seeing the outcome with these recruits, including Dee.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^
excited when he received his offer
December 20th, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
It all comes down to the coaches, doesn't it?
Too bad Tabb is announcing now...A few weeks ago I thought we had him, now not so much.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
"the coaching situation and he said that we'll know on January 1st"....ugh
December 20th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
it? For example, Alabama will be holding their practices at Dr. Phillips H.S. in preparation for their bowl - how do they police/enforce a ban on any contact? Or, does the dead period only refer to "official" correspondence/contact? I am just curious....
Thanks for all of the great updates!
December 20th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^
During the "dead period" recruits can contact the coaches, but the coaches can't contact them. I assume, since school is out, it wouldn't appear like Alabama was contacting the DP kids since they won't be in school unless they want to visit.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
December 20th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
December 20th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
There are a couple commits recruiting Darian Cooper, but the coaching situation outweighs that.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
good thing frank clark is coming for a visit b/c it doesn't sound like tabb will be part of this class.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
i hope we get frank clark, because after mike martin leaves, we are square out of grandfather names.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
Tom - just curious. They supposedly pulled the offer for Ryles and also are now not recruiting LaQuentin Smith? Have they experienced a resurgence in interest after this Sugar Bowl season? And do you think both of these players are looking elsewhere based on an Arkansas decision? I know we offered Smith back in the day. Will he be up if there for a Dr. Phillips visit.
Also - Dee Hart's comments:
Clinton-Dix said there was an 85-percent chance he and Hart could end up playing together. Hart upped the ante on that projection.
"Oh yeah, we're still hearing from Florida, Florida State and yeah, it's still 85 percent ... probably 90," Hart said.
December 20th, 2010 at 1:25 PM ^
I've gotten to the point where, while I pay attention to recruiting, I no longer freak out about individual players so I am not freaking out when I say this: Dee Hart will not come to UM regardless of whether RR is retained or not.
Based on what I have heard from Clinton-Dix, Hart and Sam Webb, I believe it is pretty clear that C-D and Hart will end up at Florida. Hopefully, I will be proven wrong.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
including both premium sites, expects Dee Hart to end up at UofM if Rodriguez is retained.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^
make it to practice on Saturday. I know there was a chance he was going to be there with Raymon. Anyone have an update?
December 20th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
When Coach Rodriguez says that he anticipates "two to four" early enrollees, who are the main possibilities? You've mentioned Dee Hart. And one question mark as we know is Desmond Morgan. I'm trying to figure out the other possibilities.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
Greg Brown.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
Kris Frost
December 20th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
Justice Hayes looked into it, but I'm not sure it's going to work out
December 20th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
the online directory to see who has enrolled? Oops, already did that. And though I didn't want to start a thread and have people walking off the ledge........I was able to find a majority of the players, but no Tate???
December 20th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
What did Darian Cooper mean when he said Tony Dews told him "we'll know on January 1st" re: the coaching situation? Am I trying to read too much into that quote?
December 20th, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^
The quote says exactly what it says. The coaches won't know their job status' until after January 1st. Probably Jan. 4 to be exact.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:32 PM ^
The alarming part for me was "on Jan 1" as if there was some ultimatum on the outcome of the game.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:06 PM ^
Now, that may be reading too much into it.
1) DB would be a hypocrite if he based his decision on one game.
2) I don't think we are reading the verbatium transcript of the conversation the recruit had with Coach Dews. Dews actual quote was probably, "we won't know anything until after Jan. 1st."
Hope I can talk you off the ledge a bit!
December 20th, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^
What does it mean when a recruit has his offer pulled? It it possible that the coaching staff lost interest or is their some kind of academic issue? I think I might be reading too much into it.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^
It can mean any number of things. It could mean that academic difficulties have caused the school to lose interest. It could mean that behavioral issues have caused the school to lose interest. It could mean that the coaches have decided the need at another position is more dire. It could mean that they have a better prospect who's ready/willing to commit. I'm sure there are others that I haven't mentioned, but anyway, it's kind of difficult to glean much from that fact itself.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
Just watched an interview of Dee Hart. HIs body language and responses say it all. He is going to Florida. His only interest in Michigan is like a guy getting a back-up date for the prom, until the girl he wants to take is available. He appears to be a "me" guy, not a team player. We will be better off without him.
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