This Week In Guarded Praise

A list of the three-star prospects who have the best chance to make the NFL is a little weird to post, if only because it could easily be reframed as "the three-star prospects who are maybe really four-star prospects." Anyway, Scout posted a list of five such players, and M commit AJ Dillon featured:

Big, physical running backs who can stay low between the tackles and move the pile could make a nice living in the NFL. Dillon is 6-foot-1, 239 pounds and he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds. Add in Dillion can catch the ball out of the backfield, and he has the understanding and size to be a pass blocker, and it would not be surprising to see him in the NFL for a while. Dillon is committed to Michigan. - Brian Dohn

Even after last week's rankings update, Dillon is Scout's #40 RB. There's an ESPN-level disconnect between that ranking, the above article, and Dillon's Scout evaluation:

Dillon is a rugged, tough, between-the-tackles runner who is difficult to bring down on first contact. He is thick and strong in the lower body, and tackles often bounce off of him. He has good vision and quick feet. He is able to make subtle moves and change direction in short space. He is best moving up the field and is a downhill runner. He secures the football well and he can break tackles. He does not have breakaway speed, but that does not matter. His ability to find the hole and get through it, and to run in traffic, stand out. -- Brian Dohn

I'm more confused than anything else, but also excited to see Dillon in a Michigan uniform.

[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]

DE Happenings: Echols Back On Market, Hudson Decision Soon

In a long expected move, four-star CA DE Hunter Echols backed off his commitment to UCLA, and in the aftermatch he told Sam Webb he has a few official visits in mind:

Said Echols, “Michigan, Notre Dame, Nebraska, USC… I really don’t know (them all), but I know Michigan, Nebraska and Notre Dame (will receive official visits).”

“For sure.”

Echols told Scout's Anna Hickey that Notre Dame is "probably" his top school right now; he backed off that stance a little in his subsequent discussion with Sam, saying his favorite schools are USC, Notre Dame, UCLA, and Michigan. While the Irish might have a slight lead, Michigan certainly has a shot here; Echols's father is a big Michigan fan.

Three-star OH SDE James Hudson tweeted yesterday that he's making a commitment "real soon." Unless he holds off for a little while, the popular opinion is he'll choose Michigan State. There's disagreement over whether Michigan would take him or not. Steve Lorenz posted on the 247 board that Michigan slow-played Hudson at their camp last month. Sam Webb, on the other hand, insists Michigan would take Hudson and says the staff is trying to connect with him and get him to the BBQ in August. Sam and Steve both have great sources and rarely disagree like this; we'll see if the picture clears up.

The Holloman Effect Strikes Again?

As you may remember, Michigan gained a commitment last December from Georgia wideout Jeremiah Holloman, who the staff identified as an elite talent before any other top programs. Holloman remained committed for only a couple months before the subsequent influx of offers from SEC powers made him (understandably) reconsider his early pledge to a school far from home. He's still considering Michigan, but it looks much more likely he'll land at an SEC school.

With the way Jim Harbaugh has recruited in the south, especially in identifying talent early through satellite camps, Holloman probably isn't the last to follow that pattern. That brings us to Otis Reese, the 2018 safety commit from Georgia. After earning an LSU offer at their camp last weekend, Reese told 247's Ryan Bartow he has the Tigers just behind Michigan at the top of his list—and, notably, he's still hoping for offers from Florida State and Georgia.

This isn't to say that Reese is out the door; far from it, as he still has Michigan on top. I think Harbaugh is taking the right strategy for recruiting in SEC country; M's best shot is to get in on top prospects early and hope their commitments stick. That does, however, mean sweating out these types of situations on a more frequent basis. As long as Harbaugh has a backup plan—and you can bet he does—then it's a risk worth taking.

M Hosts Long Beach Poly Brothers

There hasn't been much on the visit front lately as Michigan prepares for the BBQ, but there were a couple notable visitors on campus last weekend in three-star 2017 QB/ATH Nolan McDonald and his younger brother, four-star 2018 TE/WR Camren McDonald. The two have family in Dearborn, and while Nolan may not be a high priority in this class, Camren should be for 2018, and he told TMI's Brice Marich there's real interest:

After getting to visit and see what all the Wolverines have to offer, McDonald’s interest has significantly risen and will continue to do so if an offer comes. 

“(I’m) very interested,” said McDonald. “When they offer, they're going to be one of the top contenders.”

Michigan is in good shape early for 2018 tight ends; they made a big move for top-100 TX TE Mustapha Muhammad during his visit last month and should be a major player in his recruitment.

Etc.

Newly minted four-star IA WR Oliver Martin will visit for the BBQ, per 247's Steve Wiltfong. Martin is also looking to set up visits to MSU and ND.

MLive feature on 2018 commit GA OG Jalil Irvin, whose early commitment may be exempt from the Holloman Effect because he was born in Detroit and still has family in the state.