Virginia DT Corey Marshall Commitment Watch
DT Corey Marshall (Scout 4*, #18 DT, Rivals 4*, 5.8, #21 DT, #250 overall) and BBQ at the Big House attendee is expected to make a commitment announcement this afternoon. Speculation is that he's headed to Virginia Tech or Virginia with the Hokies in the lead. An announcement for Michigan would be quite a surprise.
But the biggest players taken off the board played for Dinwiddie High School. Generals QB Chris Hall is headed to Virginia Tech as a tight end, and teammate Corey Marshall, a defensive end, will make his decision today, with the Hokies looking like the favorite, but the Cavs still in the running.
At 6-2 and 239 pounds, [Marshall is] one of the state's top prospects. He also could join his teammate as the only two players from the Richmond area to commit to Virginia Tech thus far in the recruiting cycle.
"I don't even know where he's leaning," Dinwiddie coach Billy Mills said. "Tech's been his [favorite] team, but I don't think he's going to make a decision based on that."
Yeah, don't get your hopes up. The Chris Hall commitment to Va. Tech might have been the icing on the cake. He had already been leaning towards them. I would be surprised if he didn't choose them today.
...is likely to make a difference for Marshall's decision, but according to the first link, Hall will grayshirt and enroll in Jan 2012.
unimpressive overall from here on out (relative to our opponents) until we nail down a bowl game this coming season. Until we do, the national media, plus all the schools we recruit against, will be yammering about RR being on the hot seat. If we still haven't gotten to 6+ wins by the beginning of November, the media drumbeat of doom for RR will be thunderous.
Well, after November 1, 2009, RR secured 9 more commitments in the class of 2010.
So, by the time Michigan secures bowl eligibility, if he gets 2-3 more players to commit from now to November, there will be no difference than last year.
If we don't start putting up some W's RR won't be able to pull in the recruits he needs. With his syle of offense and the areas in which he recruits the heaviest (the South) he has some tough competition, especially when convincing them to come so far away from home.
I have no doubt that RR will be able to get players in here, but I guess my question (that I should have been clearer about) is really about the quality. I don't go crazy with fear when we sign guys who aren't ballyhooed, but there's no doubt that the top-echelon players tend to be very highly ranked. We can use a few of those, too.
Maybe you should quantify what you mean by quality. Last year, in our class of 27 (now 25), we had 2 guys in the Rivals250. This year, we've already matched that number, with only 5 commits, and all of our commits for this year would be in the top half of our 2010 class.
Considering guys like Zettel could commit any time, and top guys like Hart and Frost are more likely to be Blue than anything else, this year's class is likely to have more quality guys than last year, despite being smaller in total recruits.
I understand your concern, but it's just not backed up with the facts. All arrows point to this class being on par with, or potentially better than, the previous classes we've brought in, with RR and with Lloyd.
...Marshall announced his commitment to Virginia Tech.
Though he mentioned the girls were prettiest at the University of Virginia, and Michigan may have rolled out the red carpet during his campus visit, defensive end Corey Marshall announced his decision Tuesday to attend Virginia Tech.
Marshall, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound prospect from Dinwiddie High in Dinwiddie, chose Tech via an announcement on the Washington Post Live television show out of a final five list of schools that included U.Va., West Virginia, Tennessee and Michigan. He’s the second player from Dinwiddie High to commit to Tech in two days, joining tight end Chris Hall.
"I just think (Tech) had the best ability and the best chance for me to be successful," Marshall said on the TV show after he narrowed his choices to U.Va. and Tech. "The pedigree they have putting players in the league is just astounding. I think when it comes down to it, me being set the next four or five years in a solid place and a solid foundation is what it's all about. I'll go to a great team. I'll be under good leadership. I think I'll keep going from here, and the sky is the limit."
Off the board you go, young Mr. Marshall!