Thursday Recruitin' Names Favorite Saints
Game on in-state
Top247 DE Aidan Hutchinson bs Devontae Dobbs at Best of the Midwest: https://t.co/eweO54j4S4 #Michigan pic.twitter.com/9LGLFCAY48
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) February 20, 2017
Hutchinson vs 5* 2019 MI OL Devontae Dobbs
Michigan of course picked up a commitment from MI DE Aidan Hutchinson a couple days ago. I was chatting off air with Sam Webb today and we settled on Ryan Van Bergen with a bit more edge rush as a comparable for Hutchinson, FWIW. As a bonus, Harbaugh story:
Harbaugh paid a visit to Divine Child last month and was greeted by school pastor James Bilot.
“The priest meets him when he walked in and Harbaugh said, ‘Give me your top three,’” Hutchinson said, laughing. “The priest didn’t know what he was talking about. ‘Give me your top three saints. You’ve got to have a top three!’ My son’s school was like, ‘Whaaat?’”
I hope Harbaugh has a board on which he has his top saints ranked that he regularly rearranges. Tough day for St. Francis of Assisi, but St. Thomas More is really picking it up lately, etc.
Hutchinson, the #4 player in Michigan per the composite, is a legacy widely expected to end up in Ann Arbor; the rest of the instate crop is far less locked in to any particular school. Of the top ten in state, two are committed to ND already and #8 Jason Whittaker is headed to Northwestern; aside from Hutchinson everyone else is open.
That includes Traverse City West OL Ryan Hayes, who just picked up a Michigan offer and plans a visit next month. Trieu describes him as "Jake Fisher 2.0," referring to the instate lineman who decommitted from Michigan after Rich Rodriguez was fired and went on to have a successful career at Oregon. Fisher was a second round draft pick a couple years back. Per Trieu, Greg Frey recruited both Fisher and Hayes's older brother Connor, who ended up at Pitt. The younger Hayes is up to the #2 player in the state after a significant bump from 24/7.
#1, OL Marquan McCall, was widely regarded a Michigan lean but recently Lorenz said he might not be as high on Michigan's board as that would imply and there might not be room for him in a tight class. #5, OL Tyrone Sampson, is a legit four star but there is one complicating factor. Trieu:
Strong, great balance and base and technically very sound. True center and a potentially elite one.
Michigan took #1 C Cesar Ruiz last year. One or the other could play guard but if Sampson believes his best spot is C Michigan is not likely to be the destination. They haven't offered yet in any case.
File under crootin
GA OL Jalil Irvin, who was briefly a commit, took an unofficial to Ann Arbor and returned saying very positive things:
“I love Michigan after today,” Irvin, a former Michigan commit, said. “Just the campus, coaches, academics, and everything.”
Meanwhile, IN OL Emil Ekiyor, who is currently a commit, has visited multiple schools recently. A trip to Indiana is decidedly unthreatening:
"My main priority right now is Michigan. I'll look at other schools, but I'm pretty focused on them."
Going down to Tallahassee is considerably more alarming, especially considering his recent trip there was his second. That it's part of a southern swing through Georgia, Alabama, and the Noles is... not better, but not worse. Ekiyor, FWIW:
"Just exploring, making sure I am making the right decision," Ekiyor said. "But I am locked into Michigan right now. Nothing has changed with that. I'm just looking."
"I'm locked in ... I'm just looking" is a hefty slab of grade A crootin for you right there. Ekiyor decommit DEFCON is currently at 3, and will move up to 2 if he camps at FSU, like he told 24/7 he was "thinking about."
On the other hand, 4* GA LB Otis Reese seems totally solid. He's planning an April unofficial and Lorenz reports that Michigan has not let their pursuit flag despite the fact he is committed.
Large class complaints will be minimal this year
Per Lorenz, Michigan is currently done(!) at DE and LB with one guy at each spot (Hutchinson and GA LB Otis Reese), and there's some circumstantial evidence to back that up from 4* CA DE Jeremiah Martin, a weakside type:
“(I’m) not really (hearing from them),” said Martin. It just same with some other offers like offered then don't really communicate. I mean mail that's about it.”
Martin still wants to visit but feels like the interest is more on his end than theirs at the moment.
That seems a bit shortsighted to me since there's always attrition even when you don't want there to be attrition (see: Asiasi, Devin). But the depth chart is pretty stocked at both spots now, which was emphatically not the case a year ago.
Anyway: any class with just two guys at DE/LB is going to be pretty small. Especially if they're not going to push for FL DE Nik Bonnito as a result, as Lorenz asserts.
Obligatory Faalele section
FL OL Daniel Faalele checked in at 6'8", 400 pounds at the Orlando Nike Camp. Apparently Mike Onwenu convinced them to get bigger scales at these things. This news was the impetus for that rarest of birds: a Good Tweet.
@TremendousUM Signing day ceremony 2018 pic.twitter.com/rnXcmAb5TJ
— Henry Stark (@HRussellStark) February 19, 2017
Extremely grudging 2019 stuff
MI OL Devontae Dobbs is an early five star on 24/7 and continues tracking that direction after an impressive Elite Big Man camp:
Belleville (Mich.) 2019 OT Devontae Dobbs showed why he's considered one of the best in his class: https://t.co/O7LpUQIzqN pic.twitter.com/jFIRz1mrdM
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) February 14, 2017
Trieu asserts that he's "a blue chipper without a doubt."
FL LB Anthony Solomon took an unofficial last week and returned saying Michigan was his new leader, displacing Alabama. Solomon is at St. Thomas Aquinas, which is now Harbaugh's favorite saint. STA sends a lot of guys to ND and various northern schools, so it's not out of the question Michigan hangs on. Solomon told Sam Webb that he's very close with Devin Bush—"their family and my family grew up together"—and that can't hurt.
Another recent visitor who Michigan leads for is KY DE Stephon Herron Jr, per Lorenz. Here is the default sentence about vague leaders two years out.
Etc.
Brice Marich reports that Michigan is keeping tabs on 3* MI OL Michael Furtney. 4* IL OL Verdis Brown was "super excited" to get a Michigan offer, has vague visit plan. 3* AL DT Timaje Porter very much wants a Michigan offer. Michigan offers GA ATH Quindarious Monday, and yes I just mentioned this because of the name.
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
The problem is that one guy often doesn't want to sit for four years behind the other guy. It's the same reason why sometimes when you get an elite QB, you have to settle for a lower-tier one for the next one or two classes.
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
The situation would be eased if Ruiz burns his redshirt, which seems quite possible to me. If Sampson does redshirt then there are 2 years between them. Spot appearances in 2019, more time in 2020 followed by 2 years as starter. That's what he would be looking at if he chose other top schools like Alabama or OSU.
He has to decide if he wants to play for a championship team with coaches who have proven they can send players to the NFL or get immediatemplaying time at an MSU type school.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^
I agree with the first part of your post, but I don't think the second part is so cut-and-dried. There could well be opportunities for him to play early AND play for a good coaching staff if the right offers (Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, etc.) start coming down the line.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:20 PM ^
"dried"?
February 23rd, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^
hey look at this guy, no grammar mistake will go unnoticed under his watch. thanks man
February 23rd, 2017 at 8:23 PM ^
... "cut and dried" is correct and has actually been far more ubiquitous over the last two centuries of English usage. Both expressions date back to the early 18th century, though "cut and dried" appears to be slightly older.
February 23rd, 2017 at 10:41 PM ^
Yes.
I'm glad we sussed this out.
February 24th, 2017 at 4:52 PM ^
Amirite!?
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^
First to spread the gospel in Scandinavia. Not afraid of playing in cold weather.
February 23rd, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^
the Gospel according to Mark ... Richt.
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^
highly doubt interest in McCall has waned given our needs on OL and fact that he and Ja'Raymond are super tight. I expect him and Ryan Hayes to be in this class sooner rather than later and Big Daniel Faalele to join eventually.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:47 PM ^
There's something going on with McCall that Magnus, Lorenz, et al keep dropping hints about but don't feel they can elaborate on at this time.
I'd take very seriously JH may feel Michigan doesn't have a spot for him based on those hints, at this juncture. Unfortunately...
Good thing it's still 50 weeks til NSD!
February 23rd, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^
I expect hin to end up in this class as well. I am not aware of what the others are dropping hints about but if there is no fire where that smoke is I expect him to be an eventual commit.
February 23rd, 2017 at 6:31 PM ^
I always want to take the best players in MI to keep them away from Sparty. I also think we would really regret not taking McCall as we played against him each year.
February 24th, 2017 at 2:37 AM ^
Agree 100%. McCall is the #3 guard in the country. Hayes is rated Quite high and he has only played TE. Both future studs and should be in class period. This class avg. may be higher than anyones, but doubt they are done at DE or LB but look to the five stars to fill those positions. When we start backing off relatively high four stars at any position that is a great sign. I trust that Mr. Harbaugh has a good feel for the recruits he is in on and the ones he wants. I also believe the staff will play it close to the vest and not give up to much. Verdis is a guy osu is after so taking him has a bonus. I believe Michigan has more athletic talent on ther team right know then they have ever and it will lead to a selective and highest star avg. ever in Michigan football history Imo.
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
Brian,
You may want to edit the first part to note he is committed now.
(Second paragraph after the Det News quote)
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^
I noticed that he is still only 16 and doesn't turn 17 until August - making him a full year younger than many of hte 2018 kids.
Just a feeling (I am biased having seen his dad play live - man that guy had a motor), but I think this kid is going to blow up into a star once he puts some muscle on his frame.
February 23rd, 2017 at 2:36 PM ^
No, he's still expected to end up in Ann Arbor. He isnt there yet and hasnt signed. While it would be a huge upset that he didnt end up in AA, he could still go elsewhere. Hence, he's expected to.
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
When my eyes glanced over "Anthony Solomon" at the bottom of the page I initially saw "Aubrey Solomon" and immediately wondered, "Oh no, what happened now?"
A little 'crootin PTSD.
February 23rd, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
February 24th, 2017 at 9:08 AM ^
We still had Rich Rod, we couldve had An, Au, and Anu.
Disclaimer: I realize thier careers dont overlap, and the spelling is different, but feel free to laugh anyways.
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:55 PM ^
Brian, thanks for the excellent update on future years, but shouldn't you finish 2017 first? Who are the grad transfers who will be joining the class?
February 23rd, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
More like St. Francis of Asiasi is having a bad day, eh???
I go now.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
...every day is a rough day when you have the stigmata.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
or so I learned during elementary school at Saint Thomas Aquinas. Yep, ST3 went to STA.
February 23rd, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
...in Saginaw? I spent a small stint of my childhood in Saginaw and went to STA for 1.5 years.
February 23rd, 2017 at 5:31 PM ^
our pastor when I was there was the chaplain for the spartan football team. He being Scottish and a spartan fan, we had the very unfortunate fate of being nicknamed the "Tartans." Our mascot was a bagpipe covered in tartan cloth. It was awful.
February 23rd, 2017 at 6:27 PM ^
Keeps saying that is why priests wear green vestments at mass during ordinary time. He was kind of quiet about it this past fall for some reason though. Wonder why? /s
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
"for those who leave Michigan, the stigma never leaves"
February 23rd, 2017 at 6:14 PM ^
Better than "for those who leave Michigan State, the scent never leaves"
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
just set him up at Blimpy's with a few of his namesake burgers (loaded with just about everything) and he's ours for the taking.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
St. Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes. That has to him some sort of advantage.
February 23rd, 2017 at 5:08 PM ^
Dude was a badass.Got shot full of arrows and lived.
February 23rd, 2017 at 8:36 PM ^
... The clubbing will get ya every time.
February 23rd, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
I'm not buying Michigan is done at DE and LB. Even Lorenz said in a later post they are still recruiting both those positions.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
Even if he wasn't catholic, that quote would still be 100% Harbaugh.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
"See me safe up: for in my coming down, I can shift for myself"
Gallows humor.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^
I just can't believe nobody made an "Archie Manning, Pat Swilling, and Drew Brees" joke yet.
Anyway I feel like any list like that is really a top-3-besides-the-Mother-of-God because she's a seven-star recruit.
February 23rd, 2017 at 2:29 PM ^
Who was the lineman the saints took with the pick the lions gave them for Swilling? Willie Roaf HOF, I think. That was Wayne for us
February 23rd, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^
I was so excited when we got Pat Swilling... then he was the lions version...
IIRC Swilling was good again after he left us.
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:41 PM ^
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^
+1, but how about "put on notice" rather than "warned"?
February 23rd, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
OK. Honest guess at a Harbaugh Top 3 Saints.
- St. James the Greater -- his saint name, and we know he wouldn't pick the younger because why would Harbaugh settle for Less?
- Venerable Solanus Casey--THE BEST PRAYERS IN MICHIGAN PRAY FOR MICHIGAN
- Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati--basically like the Italian Harbaugh 100 years ago.
February 23rd, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
To quote Father Sarducci, I think some of those miracles were just card tricks.
February 23rd, 2017 at 2:14 PM ^
2016/17 LB's
Devin Bush
Mbem-Bosse
Devin Gil
Josh Uche
Drew Singleton
Jordan Anthony
Josh Ross
2016/17 DE's
Rashan Gary
Ron Johnson
Carlo Kemp
CMH
Luiji Vilain
Kwity Paye
I guess I can kind of understand why they are only going after 1 of each position in 2018,
February 23rd, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^
February 23rd, 2017 at 4:42 PM ^
6'8" 400 elbows?
Yikes!
Looking forward to his career here.
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