LB depth and Willingham*

Is that Eastern or Mountain?

Well:

The Denver Post is reporting four-star linebacker Leilon Willingham is signing with UCF. #osfb

Hopefully this is a "jump the gun" report a la Barnett yesterday.  We'll see when it's official at 10AM EST (yes, it's EST).

EDIT:  Rivals is now reporting it.  Eff.

over on rivals, the word is that

1. he was a silent commit to us,

2. then had a great time at ucf and verballed,

3. then scout reported that he signed the loi yesterday,

4. then his parents refused to sign the loi to ucf, speculating they want him to stay home at colorado,

5. then scout removed the designation,

6. and rivals is speculating that michigan may be the compromise.

We need him.  He could make an immediate impact.

Will him to come here!

Willingham picked UCF per tweet from Denver Post prep sports editor Ryan Casey (announcement was at 7am Mountain time--9am Eastern):

Leilon Willingham to Central Florida. #dppreps

Note that Casey is reporting this from Mullen.

telling

That's just unreal. Never underestimate the power of having high school friends that are more decisive than you.

Honestly I'm not worried at all. If you look at his measurables he's not exactly a big kid. This defense could use some size and depth (particularly up front with the front four). Willingham doesn't provide any of that. A much more important recruit was Barnett who allow us the luxury of shifting Frank Clark over to LB if the coaches deem it necessary. In finall analysis the Willingham announcement "ain't no thing" one way or the other...

I hate to say it but even I might be persuaded by UCF is I was visiting CU with 10+ inches of snow and Ann Arbor with 10+ inches of snow.

I Hoke we don't lose a recruit to UCF. (it's kind of embarassing)

What's up with the media not letting kids announce their school. What happened to 10 Am? It would have been a solid pick up to break the top 20 on rivals and maybe top 25 on scout

He announced at his school this morning, per the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-recruiting-leil...

Just sign the LOI and send it to whomever you want to play for Leilon.  Get it over with !!!!  Yesterday was enough for me !

US News  National University Rankings*:

U of M:  #29

UCF: #179

(OSU and MSU #56 and #79 respectively)

*I understand all the caveats on the rankings.

OLB John Willingham from UM (1985-1987).  I was wrong.

Well more room for RJS and Ross.

We won't miss Willingham. He'd have been a good one, don't me wrong ,but we are set at LB

WLB - Gordon,M.Jones,Furman,A.Poole,Hawthorne

MLB Demmens Bell Morgan

SLB Fitzgerald Bell K.Jones Clark

That's 12 LBs with only one of them graduating next year. We'll most likely add one of the local guys if not 2 next year as well. I'm not worried about the size issue as far as Willingham either. Guys like Mouton and Bell came in as 205 lb safeties as well and were quickly up to 245 or so. It's not going to be hard to put weight on guys like Jones and Clark especially.