MSU Visitors: 2018 Prospects

The Michigan State game represents the first of two huge recruiting weekends for the football program, which loaded up on visitors for the two rivalry games. Using the visitor lists from 247, TMI, and The Wolverine, let's start with the 2018 prospects who will be on campus.

OFFICIAL VISITORS

• The most notable official visitor is three-star FL WR Shocky Jacques-Louis, a Tennessee commit who had Michigan in his top group before dropping for the Vols. With UT off to a rough start and the Wolverines looking for a wideout in the class, Jacques-Louis could be on flip watch.
• Four-star GA CB Chris Smith looks like a tough pull; he's been a Georgia commit since May. That said, this will be the second time he's been to Ann Arbor, and he told Rivals's Chad Simmons he's been in frequent contact with the coaching staff.
• As Steve Lorenz notes, Michigan is a longshot for all three California prospects taking official visits this weekend. Five-star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and four-star defensive backs Julius Irvin and Bryan Addison will all take their trips without any family in tow, which tends to be a bad sign for out-of-region prospects.
• Four commits will take their officials: German and Gemon Green, Cam McGrone, and newest pledge Kevin Doyle.

UNOFFICIAL VISITORS

• Four-star Oak Park OG Marquan McCall, a Kentucky commit, will be in attendance. Michigan didn't push for McCall before his initial commitment, but it's possible they'll try to make a move now that Emil Ekiyor is a serious threat to leave the class.
• Commits Aiden Hutchinson, Jalen Mayfield, and Christian Turner are expected to take unofficials this weekend, likely to help serve as recruiters themselves.

I wouldn't expect too much immediate movement among 2018 prospects after this weekend unless M makes a big spash with Jacques-Louis. There's plenty of intrigue among the underclassman visitors, though, so make sure to hit...

[THE JUMP]

MSU Visitors: Underclassmen

This won't be an exhaustive list, especially since a number of local prospects will be at the game, but there will be quite a bit of talent on campus from the 2019 and 2020 classes.

• Five-star Belleville OT/DT Devontae Dobbs will be there. Michigan continues to have work to do but getting him to a game is a start.
• Michigan's outlook is much better for top-100 East Kentwood OT Logan Brown, who Lorenz calls the most intriguing visitor of the weekend. Wisconsin made a strong early push for Brown and are still in the mix, but Michigan seems to be gaining a lot of steam.
• Four-star GA OT Harry Miller is one of a few Southern prospects coming up on his own dime, and given he's high school teammates with Christian Turner, he may be the one Michigan has the best chance at landing. Four-star GA TE Ryland Goede and four-star FL SDE Jaquaze Sorrels, a Florida commit, will also be on campus.
• TMI lists four-star Detroit King S Marvin Grant as a visitor. He's expected to join the class eventually.
• It wouldn't surprise to see a few new offers go out this weekend. Four-star Cass Tech RB Jaren Mangham is perhaps the most likely of the 2019s. Michigan could also get a head start on 2020; Oak Park CB Enzo Jennings, Oak Park OL Justin Rogers, and Detroit King WR Rashawn Williams are talented sophomores who should get offers sooner or later.

At the very least, we should see Michigan continue to build a strong in-state base, and they could put themselves in excellent position with the out-of-region guys too—it's always a good sign when those prospects pay their way to campus.

2018 Updates: I Post Film You Shouldn't Watch Again

Sam Webb made his way to Raleigh to watch four-star DT Alim McNeill and get an update on his recruitment; that in and of itself is probably a good sign for Michigan's chances, as Sam isn't likely to hit the road for a recruit they don't have a good shot at landing. McNeill lined up at linebacker and running back because he's an athletic anomaly. His coach said Michigan is very much in the mix:

“He went to the Florida State vs. Alabama game and it was a big game,” said Kolstad. “He said, ‘coach, I want to play in a game like that.’ He wants to go somewhere where the game is going to be a big game and it means something. I mean Michigan’s there. They are the no. 1 defense in the nation and really do it right. He’s looking at all possibilities and Michigan is definitely in the works.”

McNeill plans to visit Michigan in late November for the clash with Ohio State.

Michigan is also in the thick of things with four-star MO DT Michael Thompson, who told TMI's Josh Newkirk he's looking at taking an official for the Ohio State game:

“I just want to see how campus life is outside of sports,” Thompson said. “What goes outside the football part of Michigan. I haven’t seen the whole Michigan campus too."

In no particular order, Thompson says his top-five schools include: Michigan, Ohio State, Missouri, LSU and Alabama. He says he has “plans but no promises “ to see all five schools before his commitment is announced.

Thompson plans to take his recruitment all the way to Signing Day.

Shifting out a spot on the D-line, four-star MO WDE Ronnie Perkins told 247's Steve Wiltfong he's scheduled his Michigan official for December 8th. While Perkins hasn't gotten much mention around here, Michigan appears to be in good position with him; he told Newkirk he likes the way Don Brown approaches defense:

Michigan has also made a strong impression with what they are doing on the field too, says Perkins, who pointed out the similarities between his high school team and U-M’s aggressive style of defense.

“Yeah, it’s crazy because we play the same type of style of defense here, our front seven is crazy,” Perkins said. “And we’re reloading, so it’s crazy. I wouldn’t have a problem transitioning over (at Michigan), because we play that same type of physical tough defense here.”

Perkins was looking at taking his official for the Ohio State game but it might conflict with his state playoffs. While it'd be great to get him on campus for a game, it's clear he's going the extra mile to check out the program.

On the other side of the ball, Jim Harbaugh made his way to Georgia over the bye week to visit three-star OT Jalen Goss, who Newkirk reports will take an official for the Ohio State game. Michigan has made a big impression on him:

Goss says he hasn’t officially put out his top-five, but if he did, Michigan would make the cut.

“They are already in it,” Goss said. “I like them. I like their game they play good. Just something about (Michigan) makes me want to put them in my top-five. I can’t wait to get up there to see the school. They say it’s a beautiful school, a nice school.”

Auburn, Tennessee, and UNC are the three other schools slated to receive officials.

Steve Lorenz reports Michigan reached out to three-star GA TE Tommy Tremble, a Georgia legacy with Notre Dame leading his Crystal Ball, and they're working on getting him up for a visit.

Etc.

Sam also caught up with 2019 five-star RB Quavaris Crouch on his trip to North Carolina, and while Crouch wouldn't say Michigan leads, he did drop this enticing quote:

“It was the best visit I’ve had so far,” said Crouch. “I got to spend time with the players and collaborate with them. It let me know how it would be in the life of a college student athlete. So that was the best experience for me, just showing me the day to day things that they do. It really helped me out a lot to see a true picture of a college football player.”

Crouch's recruitment will be a national battle. So far, so good.

Michigan made the top five for 2018 GA ATH Michael Barrett along with Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, and LSU. He's being recruited as a running back and plans to take an official for the Ohio State game.