ACE: Shaq Thompson Taking Official Visit to Michigan
I just chatted with five-star CA S Shaq Thompson on Twitter, and he confirmed to me that he'll be taking an official visit to Michigan. Thompson is the top safety in the country and the #12 player overall on Rivals, so this is obviously huge news. Still waiting to hear back from him about which weekend he's visiting (it's either Nebraska or OSU, obviously, and I'm guessing it's the latter), and I'll let you know when I find that out.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
Ace what do you think are the realistic shots of landing this guy are?
November 1st, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
I'd say it's still a longshot, but the chances are certainly a lot better now than they were a week ago. Really tough to pull big-time recruits from the West Coast, especially this late in the game, but hopefully he sits down with Mattison and goes over some Ed Reed highlights.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^
He's big enough that by the time he gets here he could be playing SS or WR. Have you heard what he wants to play yet?
November 1st, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
what incredible news. Great work Ace. Hopefully, he falls completely in love with the program. Getting him on campus is a great start. Now only if Yuri would join him on that visit.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:51 PM ^
OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!
November 1st, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^
On our team right? I hope not...
November 1st, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
Recruiting news...yes!
November 1st, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
November 1st, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
Sam Webb is usually pretty money with his info—and I haven't listened to his latest recruiting segment yet, so I think I missed him discussing Thompson—but I doubt Shaq would be using an official on anyone if he wasn't at least considering the school.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
Sam has implied that he has doubts that they will schedule him on a game weekend.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^
Ace -- any idea on whether the coaching staff prefers Thompson or Yuri Wright, or whether it'd just be a case of "whoever commits first gets the spot"?
November 1st, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
At this point I'd have to feel they would take both unless we only had one spot left. You don't turn away that kind of talent.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:59 PM ^
Man, that's a tough call. Probably too tough to call. It'd be a huge upset to get both in this class (though I'm sure the coaching staff would take that in a heartbeat), so I'll take the easy way out and say it would be whoever committed first.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^
Unless the coaching staff is looking at Wright as a safety instead of a cornerback, it shouldn't affect each other. Thompson is definitely a safety though.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:02 PM ^
If they get him on a visit with yuri wright and stefon diggs, there will be more defensive back talent in the stands than on the field. If they get one or two of those guys, we could be looking at one of the best defensive back classes of all time.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:05 PM ^
Diggs is most likely a WR, not a DB.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
...and is almost certainly going elsewhere.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^
What about, what he and Blake countess were talking about on twitter? Sounds like they wanna play together
November 1st, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
November 1st, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
Ace, any word about Sam Weeb stating we are in Diggs top 5? Just some rumors maybe?
November 1st, 2011 at 11:27 PM ^
Like I've said elsewhere in this thread, Sam Webb is plugged in and I trust what he says. I'm just trying not to get too excited about five-star recruits (I know, this thread is not exactly helping the situation) until there's something more concrete than a "maybe we're in his top five."
November 1st, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^
There is no maybe about it. He did the work in the classroom to the satisfaction of Hoke and Co. and they are recruiting him again. He has always been interested in Michigan. They just weren't recruiting him. Hopefully it isn't too late in the game to make up the time lost.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
Hm, hadn't seen that. Still think Diggs ends up elsewhere, but at least there's a connection there.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
Thank God I'm not the only one who can't decifer that schit!
Too funny!
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
One of the worst traits of Twitter is that it is slowly disintegrating the English language becaucse people have much more to say than what you can in 140 characters. I do think Twitter is a fantastic tool to get information, but there are certain things that bother me, that being number one.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
and the propensity for autocorrect to fuck up what you were typing.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:02 PM ^
November 1st, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^
I know it's probably a dream scenario, but a DB haul of Shaq Thompson, Yuri Wright, Terry Richardson, Jarrod Wilson, Allen Gant, and Anthony Standifer would be tremendous!
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
Don't forget Jeremy Clark the worlds tallest safety. Clark looks to be about 6'5'' to me
November 1st, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
Wow, this is awesome news! Getting 'em on campus is the most important step!
This guy is awesome and would be a huge pull. Do your work, Mattison.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
November 1st, 2011 at 11:16 PM ^
What is up with Jordan Payton's twitter account? Is he just having some fun with MICHIGAN fans tonight?
November 1st, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
Looks like it. I'd be pretty shocked if he spur-of-the-moment announced his choice at 8 pm (his time) on a Tuesday via Twitter. Guessing that little teaser is his hint that he'll be announcing soon.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
MOAR DEFENSIVE BACKS!!
November 1st, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
Sam Webb did a piece on GBW saying that Diggs is picked his grades up and put Michigan in his top 5, putting Michigan into a good position with him. The tweets between him and Countess are pretty interesting. Maybe things have changed this week Ace, do you know anything about his.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
As for Diggs, a zero chance with him is now nonzero. That doesn't mean we have a great chance, but we could get him on campus now...which would be a small victory.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:30 PM ^
This. For people talking about Diggs and potentially being in his top five, it means Michigan now has a shot, but until he gets on campus I wouldn't get too excited.
November 2nd, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
Think I will go with Webb on this one. His track record speaks for itself.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:27 PM ^
Oh-ma-gaw. Droooooooool.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:30 PM ^
yet inside I'm doing this
November 1st, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^
If good news comes out during the day, I do that on the outside until it starts creeping out my classmates.
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
turtleboy
Every time I see your avatar,I have to pause for a second.
That my friend is Michigan Football!
November 1st, 2011 at 11:34 PM ^
Alright, apologies if I didn't get to everyone's questions, but now that it's pretty clear Payton isn't making a sudden announcement, I'm off to bed. Gotta finish FFFF in the morning.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:40 PM ^
November 1st, 2011 at 11:51 PM ^
I can't wait to see what mattison does when he has the safeties he recruits in his system. Imagine a safety with Jordan's instincts and a blue chip athlete.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
True. After that imagine the same safety, but without every play getting past the linebackers.
I know, right? Please clean up after yourself.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
I dream I could be a fly in the future of the Fort Schembechler. The imagination of watching 1 on 1 drills with Devin and Shane throwing with receivers like Payton, Diggs, Darboh, Funchess, and Treadwell against Yuri Wright, Shaq Thompson, Terry, Standifer, Clark, Dymonte, Wilson, and Gant. While in the trenches Magnuson, Braden, Kalis, Stacey, Bars, and maybe Garnett versus Wormley, Godin, Pipkins, Strobel while the Michigan drill consists of Brionte and Rawls going against Royce, Bolden, Ross, Jake Ryan, Morgan, Mario .... I'm going to sleep good tonight.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
I just sharted! That is great news! I am off to Iowa in three more days. I am currently living in Nebraska and will be very happy if we beat those two. This news is icing on the cake.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:03 AM ^
Not going to get my hopes up for it. But if somehow Hoke could pull the magical, this would be a huge land! I would love to see him with the Maize and Blue