Tuesday Recruitin' Graduates (Really) Early Comment Count

Ace

The Foolproof Way To Avoid Senioritis

WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Michigan has its first official signee of the 2014 class. Impossible, you say? Not if you're Michael Ferns, who can sign because he graduated from high school in three years, according to WRTF.com. Ferns is finishing his senior season of football at St. Clairsville while taking classes at Ohio University-Eastern and will enroll at Michigan next semester—the normal time for early enrollees to hit campus.

Other recruits planning to enroll early include Wilton Speight, Bryan Mone, Drake Harris, Mason Cole, and the ECA duo of Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson.

Froholdt, Weber To Visit This Weekend

The M Block's Eric Rutter caught up with 2015 DL Hjalte Froholdt, who's playing his junior season in a semi-pro league in Denmark; he's been able to come back across the Atlantic for visits, however, and after visiting Arkansas last week he'll be in attendance at the Big House this weekend—it'll be a big one, as he's getting close to a decision:

Froholdt has already announced a final top group of Arkansas, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State and intends to choose from those schools soon- as in within the next couple months, although an official date has not been set.  Froholdt visited Arkansas on Saturday to watch the Razorbacks host South Carolina for a 52-7 beating.  Michigan will get the next crack at impressing Froholdt as he will be in Ann Arbor on October 19 to watch the Wolverines host the Indiana Hoosiers.

Head on over to the original post to read Froholdt's comments about his relationship with Greg Mattison, his primary recruiter. SPOILER: He likes Greg Mattison. Michigan is very much in the hunt to land Froholdt and an impressive visit experience this weekend could put them in the driver's seat.

2015 Cass Tech RB Mike Weber talked to The Wolverine's Branden Hunter about his relationship with Michigan and upcoming visit ($):

"His commitment really didn't affect me at all," Weber said of [Damien] Harris' pledge. "I grew up liking Michigan, and I'm not scared of competition, so if that college is the best fit for me, that's were I'm going.



"I talk to Michigan a lot," Weber said. "I'm supposed to go to their next home game I believe, and coach Singletary wished me luck before the game. Michigan always shows love."

Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Tennessee are also mentioned as teams showing serious interest in Weber. The issue with his recruitment may not be one of interest as much as it is space in the class; with Harris already committed, I'd be surprised if Michigan takes two running backs unless more spots open up, and by that point they may have a hard time catching up to schools that have the room to tell Weber they can take him at any time.

[Hit THE JUMP for the latest 2015 offer and the weekly commit stat wrapup.]

Tanner Muse Offered

Also per The M Block, Michigan's latest 2015 offer is to NC OLB Tanner Muse, who said that he "feels very blessed to be offered by such a prestigious school." Muse is listed at 6'3", 207 lbs., with a probably FAKE 4.32 40 time on 247, though he looks like he's got plenty of speed in his highlights (above); he's a composite four-star who's being recruited by some other schools as a safety and already holds offers from Clemson, NC State, UNC, Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Virginia. He told Rutter that he's looking to visit Michigan either for the Nebraska or Ohio State game.

Receivers Stand Out In Last Weekend's HS Action

It was a good weekend to be a receiver committed to Michigan (if you played, at least—East Lake and George Campbell had the week off and Drake Harris has yet to suit up this season due to a hamstring injury).

Moe Ways led Detroit Country Day to their fourth straight win—after starting the season 0-3—with four catches for 113 yards and two TDs in a 42-7 beatdown of Flushing. Meanwhile, Freddy Canteen tallied five catches for 139 yards and two scores of his own as Eastern Christian Academy defeated Ohio powerhouse St. Ignatius, 32-29, thanks to a David Sills TD pass with just ten seconds remaining. Fellow commit Brandon Watson added an interception at his own goal line in the first half to help the Honey Badgers to victory.

In a battle of unbeatens, Madison Southern fell 21-18 to Pulaski County, but it certainly wasn't the fault of Damien Harris, who had two scores from 50+ yards and put up his usual ridiculous stat line:

The Michigan recruit scored both Eagles touchdowns and, unofficially, finished with 257 yards on 35 carries.

"Oh, man, I haven't seen anything like it," Pulaski quarterback Riley Hall said of Harris. "He's a truck, and he'll do big things at Michigan."

Harris just needed some more help.

"I know with everybody it's 'the Madison Southern of Damien Harris,'" Coach Jon Clark said. "But here's the deal: we've got 11 guys on the field. Up until tonight, 11 guys were doing their job. Tonight we didn't have 11 guys doing their job on offense."

Wilton Speight completed 14 of 28 passes for 270 yards and two scores and added a one-yard rushing touchdown in a 28-7 win over St. Mary's Ryken.

Despite playing with a broken wrist, Noah Furbush continues to pile up tackles, tallying 12—including seven solo tackles and three TFLs—in Kenton's 48-2 blowout of Elida.

Jabrill Peppers didn't have to do a whole lot in Paramus Catholic's 56-6 domination of St. Mark's of Delaware, catching three passes for 53 yards and adding five tackles (one TFL) before sitting with the rest of the starters for most of the game. PC is slated to play live on ESPN2 on Friday against Don Bosco Prep, so you can bet he'll get more action this weekend.

Other stat lines from The M Block: Tyree Kinnel had five tackles and a forced fumble for Huber Heights Wayne, while Malik McDowell (I know, I know, not a commit) tallied three TFLs among his ten total tackles; the latter line is all the more impressive considering Lawrence Marshall sat out the game with an injury and McDowell himself was limited in Southfield's 14-7 win over Rochester Adams.

Etc.

Jabrill Peppers is featured in the new First and 17 as he and Da'Shawn Hand talk about dealing with the attention of being a highly-sought recruit starting at around the 4:50 mark.

Our own Brandon Brown posted a quick update with blue-chip 2015 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Comments

Toasted Yosties

October 15th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^

a little more optimistic.  I can't wait to see these receivers on the field as well as Jabrill Peppers play whatever position(s) he ends up at.  When these guys arrive, we'll have a matured O-line opening things up for them and our running corp.  Can't wait.

Magnus

October 15th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^

I like the Muse kid. He's athletic and just a good all-around football player. I'd like to see him at SAM, but he's another kid that could potentially play in the middle.

Magnus

October 15th, 2013 at 11:01 AM ^

Thanks.

I do think Michigan will be able to run somewhat effectively against Indiana. They're allowing 4.6 yards/carry, and they're not particularly big up front. (That is, of course, assuming that Michigan's offensive line is healthy on Saturday, but I do expect Lewan to play.)

I would say it's 40/60 immaturity versus poor coaching. But the poor coaching, in my opinion, is probably more on Borges than Funk. I think Borges's play calling in the run game has been mostly poor, and the quarterback doesn't seem to have much freedom to check out of run plays (to run bubbles, hitches, etc.) against a stacked box. I also think Michigan has to pick a blocking scheme, whether it's zone or gap blocking. They're trying to be good at too many different things (outside zone, inside zone, iso, power, etc.).

At least from what I've seen, the very good rushing teams are good at one thing. Denver Broncos with Terrell Davis? Zone. Oregon and West Virginia? Zone read. Georgia Tech? Triple option. Alabama? Inside zone.

Jack of all trades, master of none...

Space Coyote

October 15th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^

I would find it hard to believe that Michigan would take any less than two RBs in the 2015 class, regardless of numbers. With both Green and Smith playing this year, no RBs in the 2014 class, that leaves only the possibility of Shallman being in the same 2 year window of eligibility. That's simply not enough bodies at that position.

alum96

October 15th, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^

Yes small 2015 class but with Rawls and Fitz gone by the time 2015 rolls around and Hayes barely playing, with Drake Johnson being a wildcard you essentially will have 2 juniors in Smith and Green, Drake Johnson as a wildcard, and a true freshman and then not much else.  If there is not 2 in 2015 there needs to be 2 in 2016.

uofmdds96

October 15th, 2013 at 10:53 AM ^

the dreams of tomorrow.... I cannot wait for the future to get here.  My hopes are high.  Wait, here comes the future now.   Hi, future, now you are the present.  Ugh.  I cannot wait for the future to get here..... Endless loop.  Please let some of these kids develop.