Tuesday Recruitin' Means It In A Good Way Comment Count

Brian

Hello: Matt Brown

Matt-Brown-475x417

Michigan's added a late PWO to their 2017 class, Ohio LB/FB Matt Brown, who decided to forgo a Quinnipiac lacrosse scholarship to walk on at Michigan.

Brown's HUDL page lists him at 6'0", 220; he was the AP and USA Today's Ohio defensive player of the year. With Michigan's extensive linebacker haul in this class, adding 20 pounds and playing fullback is the clearest path to playing time for him... but that path is very clear, what with both scholarship fullbacks graduating this year and no clear heir apparent.

Gant, Babb make it to campus

OH LB Dallas Gant, currently the only 2018 linebacker Michigan is recruiting, made it up to Ann Arbor over the weekend and was duly impressed:

"Coach Harbaugh was a great guy," Gant said. "He took a lot of time out of his day to talk with my dad and I one on one and gave us an inside look of what the program is like and how he runs things. It was definitely impressive, and his track record speaks for itself."

More encouraging than the quote is Gant telling Steve Lorenz that he's planning on coming back up for Michigan's spring game next weekend. Back-to-back visits speak to a real interest even though he's just a short drive down US-23. Gant plans to commit on his birthday on May 16th, so this one is going to wrap up quickly. Lorenz thinks he's a "Michigan/ND type kid," FWIW, despite a current OSU lead on the crystal ball.

MO WR Kamyrn Babb also took in Ann Arbor, offering Wiltfong some fairly generic quotes about the trip. Lorenz asserts Michigan is a "serious contender" but that OSU still is the likely leader. News is better for NJ WR Jahan Dotson, who is probably an OSU/PSU/M battle with neither other school feeling very confident.

Also visiting in the recent past are GA CB Christopher Smith and OH DE Tyreke Smith. Christopher is a 3.5* guy who might be due for a rise given the schools that are after him. Georgia is the crystal ball favorite and Michigan has been hot on the trail as well. Tyreke has been a name on the fringe of the board who most people assume will go to OSU because he is from OH and has an OSU offer.

Visits in the near future

3.5* FL QB Joe Milton will be up for the spring game, which means Michigan will have both of their top QB recruits on campus simultaneously. Confidence is "tepid, but existent" per Lorenz.

Confidence is still running high with 4* GA CB Myles Sims, who had an extensive interview with Sam Webb and plans a second long-range unofficial for the spring game and a decision shortly thereafter. The shape of that recruitment is very positive for Michigan.

Also coming up next weekend: 4* TX TE Mustapha Muhammad, who Michigan and everyone else badly wants. Michigan had seemed to be fading for him as he concentrated on schools closer to home; a second unofficial is obviously a big step in the right direction.

4* WA ATH Tre'Shaun Harrison has somewhat less vague plans to get to Ann Arbor this summer, or possibly earlier. Wiltfong put in an early CB for Michigan a few weeks ago; Lorenz relates that the unofficial is not something he expected a few months ago and that this indicates a level of mutual interest.

Camps, camps, camps

Soft commit and IN OL Emil Ekiyor checked in as a very big dude at an Opening regional in Chicago:

An extremely powerful player at 6-foot-3, 339-pounds, Ekiyor projects at guard or center on the next level.

He posted the top SPARQ score amongst linemen, as you can see above. When Emil Ekiyor says he trusts you as far as he can throw you, he means it as a compliment.

A second name from that same camp is instate OL Tyrone Sampson Jr, who has not fielded Michigan interest to date because everyone projects him as a center and Michigan got a guy the recruiting industry believes is the best high school C prospect in a decade last year in Cesar Ruiz. Nonetheless Sampson might be a name of interest at some point:

Detroit (Mich.) East English Village Top247 offensive lineman Tyrone Sampson Jr.’s dominance on the camp circuit continued in the Windy City as the nation’s No. 2 center per 247Sports continues to have his way with interior defensive linemen. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Sampson is strong, has good feet and plays with that nasty streak on every snap.

Sampson's offer list does not match up with his recruiting hype so far, as they're in the UK-Minnesota-Syracuse-Virginia range. Michigan State's lack of interest is especially perplexing.

Finally, Wiltfong mentioned MI OL Jalen Mayfield in passing as the guy "with the most upside" amongst the OL and MI DE commit Aidan Hutchinson as a "unique frame, high upside" guy. 

Grudging 2019 section is maybe less grudging this time

GA DT Chris Hinton is a potential five star and a name that's been in the grudging 2019 section at least a few times; his brother Myles is a 2020 OL. Steve Wiltfong has put in early—very early in Myles's case—crystal balls for both to Michigan based on "buzz at Atlanta Nike".

MD WR DeMarcco Hellams will visit for the spring game. Yes he is a real person and not a Fast and the Furious character. FL LB Anthony Solomon plans a return visit and that is a sign Michigan has a strong early lead for him; he just came up a couple months ago. GA RB STEELE CHAMBERS is a recent offeree and it won't take long for him to arrive in AA: he's got a visit scheduled for the 17th

Etc.

4* FL ATH Houston Griffith, the son of BTN analyst Howard, is "very interested" in Michigan, vague visit plans, no top list, etc. At IMG.

5* TX S BJ Foster rides horses, wants to be a cowboy.

4* TX TE Malcolm Epps has vague Michigan visit plans, mentions the cold.

Not quite happy trails but probably to IA DE John Waggoner, who was told by Greg Mattison that Michigan is looking for one more DE and that he'd have to wait for another spot to open up.

Comments

Maizen

April 4th, 2017 at 12:45 PM ^

Have a feeling the 2019 class for Michigan is going to be insane. Michigan is at or near the top for guys like Cain, Daniels, Dobbs, Thomas, Herron, Hinton, Brown, and Rumler.

God bless Harbaugh man.

DrMantisToboggan

April 4th, 2017 at 4:39 PM ^

I've been thinking this for a while, 2019 will make people forget about a small 2018 group (which shouldn't be a concern anyways with how special the 2016 and 2017 classes were). 

 

I really hope that our pursuit of Amon-Ra St. Brown is successful this cycle and that it parlays into success with his teammates OT Tommy Brown and JT Daniels next year. Obviously Daniels is the big fish there. 

Night_King

April 4th, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^

Very impressive, indeed. I think Onwenu runs around a 5.5 at 360, which is also pretty damn good considering the size. Assuming these guys only get faster throughout their college years before they hit the pros. Going to be great players if they perfect their crafts. You can't teach someone to grow to that size (if you want them to stay agile). 

maize-blue

April 4th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^

Brown seems like a response after Kingston Davis bailed. He looks like a pretty good bet for the FB position.

Hopefully they can hold on to Ekiyor but it's going to be a battle. 

I like DTR's throwing mechanics much better than Milton. Milton is a bigger dude and looks to be a pretty good athlete. He could make a good WR if QB doesn't work out.

DrMantisToboggan

April 4th, 2017 at 4:42 PM ^

Check this kid Jack Plummer out: http://www.hudl.com/profile/5436565/jack-plummer

Just a 3 star for now but he's going to pick up steam. I really like his film. Could be the next man up if we whiff on DTR and Milton. 6'5 and very athletic, throws extremely well on the move. His HS team is very bad and in Arizona, which probably explains his lower ranking.

Double-D

April 4th, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^

I would think if Sampson is the right guy it would not be a bad idea to take a Center this year. Especially if he can play guard and you don't have higher ranked guys in the interior.

Ruiz could likely be playing this year and could be a three and done. Put a RS on Sampson and you have your depth chart set at center.

Also a plus to lock down Michigan guys.

Strange to see him ranking so well on the camp circuit but not pulling in the offers.

Magnus

April 4th, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^

FWIW, I think Sampson looks like he's more limited to center than Ruiz. If both were to be starter-quality players, then a lineup would probably look better with Sampson at center and Ruiz at OG. I think Sampson is probably a guy who would redshirt (Ruiz is going to play), so there would be two years between them.

Double-D

April 4th, 2017 at 2:53 PM ^

Seems like it's always been easier to find a good guard and make him a good center than to just find a good high school center like Ruiz. Ruiz is going to be fun to watch.

I guess in Sampson's case it boils down to getting the best 4-5 knowing you need at least 2-3 tackles. How would you compare him to some of the other guys we are pursuing?

Skiptoomylou22

April 4th, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^

 

When Emil Ekiyor says he trusts you as far as he can throw you, he means it as a compliment.

That might be one of my favorite lines in all of journalistic history. Also nice to see that Ben Mason was recruited and being played at linebacker as you believe there is no heir apparent at FB. I have a feeling he'll be a good one on defense.

OrlandoMFan

April 4th, 2017 at 2:17 PM ^

Did some quick internet sleuthing, and Brown is 1 of 2 Maxpreps First Team All-American dudes (there are 30 of them) not on a D1 scholarship (other is a smallish RB from Utah). 27 of them are power 5. The other 3 first team LBs are Dylan Moses, Anthony Hines III, and Tadarian Moultry; all SEC commits. This might not mean anything, and maybe he just didnt have the measurables... but he is certainly in good company. 

Painter Smurf

April 4th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^

Brown is a nice walk-on pick-up.  He is easily good enough for a MAC or service academy spot.  Guessing he just favored lacrosse until someone at UM got in his ear. I have seen him play many times live - he has been a very instinctive and productive player against top Cleveland competition.  Has a legit shot of developing into a game-contributor, if he is able to put on some good weight.

war-dawg69

April 4th, 2017 at 2:56 PM ^

Ekiyor is not the first big time recruit that teams have come after. I do not understand the soft commit thing as all I have ever heard him say is he is solid to Michigan and just enjoying the recruiting process.

alum96

April 4th, 2017 at 3:25 PM ^

Insert generic "How is Notre Dame still in competition for all these kids with purple face, bad record, yada yada" comment here.

Well looking at the board this is certainly not going to be the OSU class of last year where it's small but 1/3rd 5 stars.  But hopefully there are more high 4*s in the end than what seems to be probable right now.

DrMantisToboggan

April 4th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^

Hopefully we can capitalize in St. Louis this year. Obviously Babb was covered above, but STL is also home to Michael Thompson and Ronnie Perkins, both very good DL prospects. They've all been sharing a nice AB edit of the "Big 3" from St. Louis on Twitter today. 

 

Filling out the DL haul with Thompson, Perkins, and Tyler Friday would be great.