Unsigned players from Michigan

Submitted by TK on December 17th, 2021 at 9:58 AM

Interestingly, there are still 7 of the top 20 players from the state of Michigan who are not signed.

One is Michael Williams who is a 4* LB with listed offers from UM, MSU and others. I’m guessing there has to be a story there why he isn’t being pursued anymore. Another is Tayshawn Trent, who decommited from UM earlier this year. Rumored to be a grades issue. Also several Belleville kids on the list, it appears none of them have signed yet. Doesn’t mean much for Michigan as we probably aren’t looking at any of them, but it’s interesting nonetheless. Having lost Alexander you might think we would look to replace him and Williams has an offer and is highly rated, but I haven’t heard him mentioned at all and I think we are probably not pursuing any other LBs at this point. 

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JonnyHintz

December 17th, 2021 at 12:58 PM ^

There are players declaring for the draft and transferring out of programs that could open spots for them to get new offers. New coaching staff’s are in place at multiple schools and doing evaluations and could offer. Hell, many teams have had longterm commits flip at the last second and could be in the market for a replacement. 

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matt1114

December 17th, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^

I don't think we go after any other LBs. Rolder and Spurlock are great options, and I've seen that Keon Sabb could end up there too. I think some of the guys left in the state of Michigan are probably on the radar of the staff, but more of a class filler if there's spots left after the portal targets and whoever else the staff has as the top targets. 

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TK

December 17th, 2021 at 10:29 AM ^

Agreed, I could’ve phrased that differently. I think we are good with the two linebackers that we got. I’m a little curious about what the situation with Williams is because he has some really good offers. But I don’t hear either of the two in-state schools pushing for him.

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starrmander

December 17th, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^

I believe the "Devin Bush" rule only applies to off-field positions in the program. You take a kid's coach and put him as an on-field position coach like Ron Bellamy is and the rule doesn't apply. 

The rule was created after Michigan signed Devin Bush and gave his dad an off-field analyst position.

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Qmatic

December 17th, 2021 at 10:11 AM ^

Tay never planned to sign in the early signing period after the disappointing parting of ways from UM. He is working on to get to where he needs to commit elsewhere. At the rate he’s going he should be good to be accepted at a D1 school. We are all really hoping he doesn’t have to go the JUCO route

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Dunder

December 17th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^

On the one hand, I suppose for many players they get greater clarity about the depth chart and general situation of any schools they are considering. On the other hand, if your a lower rated recruit the schools are now comparing you to what is in the portal as well as other recruits. 

Makes me realize how important Courtney Morgan's position is. 

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Seth

December 17th, 2021 at 1:08 PM ^

Michael Williams got an "offer" a couple of years ago but he was hurt and didn't really progress. I didn't realize any sites still had him or Jordan Cannon as 4-stars. They were guys who popped earlier in their careers, but they've been off our radar for quite some time.

We got the story on Trent: During COVID he fell behind on coursework and the school did not have the kind of support system for this. That put his transcript in a bad spot. He also fell in the rankings, else Michigan State would have swooped in here I think. Small possibility he takes some remedial classes and gets a second shot.

I don't know what's up with the Belleville guys but none of them signed LOIs. It's possible Caldwell is ahead of the curve in knowing that recruits don't have to sign them really, but his caliber of players this year makes me think it's less their side and more to do with he does too good of a job advocating for them. I tried hinting with Alexander that he probably wouldn't have been a take if he wasn't a Go Blue guy from Belleville. Rowser, an early M commit, transferred to IMG and once people saw him there his rankings dipped and his quality of offers dropped. He moved back home and that was played as his decision, but I get the sense Arkansas wasn't all that serious about him either. Jeremiah Caldwell is still out there, but Michigan filled up in the secondary and I think Caldwell was a deep backup option for them.

I don't think Michigan is going to sign anyone else from Michigan this cycle. We'll see if there's another round of coaching poaching but for now it seems they will get Oluwatimi to transfer from UVA, and spend the next few months trying to win back Conerly and Henry to finish the class.

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Magnus

December 17th, 2021 at 1:10 PM ^

Michael Williams was always sort of an odd fit, because he's a tweener. Is he an ILB, OLB, or DE? I always thought he would end up at DE, and it seems like that's where he finally settled in. But yes, he had a serious knee injury, which made some teams back off on him to see how well he recovered. He still wears a big knee brace. Personally, I still think he's an FBS recruit, but I probably wouldn't pursue him if I were Michigan. I just don't see where he would fit that well. 

Trent has academic issues.

Most Belleville kids did not sign on early signing day, except for some kids going to lower level schools. That's pretty obviously coming on the advice of their head coach. Aaron Alexander, Myles Rowser, Jeremiah Caldwell, Christian Rapley, etc.

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Bo Harbaugh

December 17th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^

As long as there is open, transparent communication between UM and the recruits, their families and their HS coaches, I will be proud of how UM handles recruiting.

It's terrible if a kid loses scholarship opportunities due to injuries or even academics (if due to Covid or other external contributing factors), but it's also the unfortunate reality of competitive CFB.

As long as we don't go full scumbag like Urban Meyer (make promises we can't keep, bs about coaches on the staff, call kids pussies or f*gs for not commiting), and maintain integrity in the process, I think we are doing well by the HS prospects.  There is, of course, always room to improve in the process, but it seems like we are recruiting well and with a level of integrity in what is often a very dirty arena.

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