Wednesday Recruitin' Is Big Chillin'
Remember, all-time updates can be found on the 2011 Michigan Football Recruiting Board. If you have any recruiting tips or questions, you can e-mail them to me at [email protected] or tweet @varsityblue. For game updates on Wolverine commits, check out the F riday Night Lights series.
(Five) Star Search!
The Gainesville Sun's Ed Aschoff gives the latest on a few prospects of mutual interest for the Wolverines and Gators. First, FL DT Tim Jernigan (at right):
Michigan, FSU, LSU and Alabama are all ahead of Florida... For now, the chances of him ending up at Florida seem to be slipping away more and more. This could all change if Florida turns around its season, so this one is not over.
...and also FL WR Sammy Watkins (recent Army All-American Bowl selection):
His favorites remain Clemson, Michigan and Miami. I think Clemson has the advantage in this one.
Both are mostly maintaining the status quo from the past couple weeks. Grant Redhead, high school coach of FL CB Dallas Crawford and Watkins, tells Tom that Michigan has a solid lead for Crawford, and that Michigan's finish to the season may have an impact on Watkins's feelings on the maize and blue. The two will set up their official to Ann Arbor soon (both of their previous visits have been unofficials). Jernigan was officially selected to the Army All-American Bowl. At his press conference, Jernigan talked a bit of recruiting:
"I grew up watching all of them," Jernigan said. "They kind of present some unique situations as far as depth-wise and great academic schools, especially Michigan, great academic school. Those are the things that really stood out to me... It is nice up there. I got time to hang out with Coach Rod and I got a chance to hang out with Denard and got to meet some of the guys around the program. Real good people, my type of people, small town guys."
That sounds downright glowing about Ann Arbor, but there are a few visits left before Timmy makes up his mind.
Rivals has rehashed their Top 100, and FL RB Commit Demetrius Hart has moved up to #17, the top 4-star on their list. Given his stats against some of the best competition in the country, there's nothing dude can do to get 5-star status except grow.
Visits
DC RB Malcolm Crockett visited Michigan for the Illinois game, as his coach tells Tom. He projects to either side of the ball at the next level, but Michigan is looking at him as a downhill-type runner and complement to Demetrius Hart. Crockett is a teammate of 2012 DC DT Eddie Goldman, whom Scout has already pegged as a 5-star for next year.
NJ TE Jack Tabb plans to visit Michigan for the Wisconsin game in a couple weeks as long as his high school playoff schedule doesn't interfere.
IL OL Chris Bryant has been out with a knee injury this season, but was expected to return to the lineup last weekend. He'll visit both Arizona and Michigan (Big Chill) early in December ($, info in header). A bit more on his junior teammate Robert Gregory below.
AZ OL Cyrus Hobbi is regularly hearing from Rich Rodriguez. Last week, Tom told us he's planning to set up an official to Ann Arbor.
LA DT Mickey Johnson is still considering a visit to Michigan ($, info in header).
PA DE Deion Barnes will take all 5 of his official visits, even if he falls in love with one of the schools he sees early. He looks at former teammate Je'Ron Stokes (now a Michigan sophomore) as one of his inspirations, a positive sign for the Wolverines.
With his senior season over, MI LB Desmond Morgan will now focus on recruiting ($, info in header). He tells Tom that he may officially visit Michigan for the Big Chill hockey game, and with no inside information, I wouldn't be surprised if he made a decision around that time.
Michigan has "turned up the heat" ($, info in header) on MD CB Blake Countess. According to Tom, that "heat" comes in the form of an official offer. Mike Farrell of Rivals said last week that the Wolverines may lead for Countess, a consensus 4-star prospect. Countess is setting up a visit with Michigan's coaches, possibly for The Big Chill.
Etc.
NC QB Marquise Williams is solidifying his pledge to North Carolina "as of right now", but he's still taking more visits.
MI WR DeAnthony Arnett was the infamous "mystery visitor" to Ann Arbor last weekend, and he seemed to enjoy the wide-open passing game ($, info in header). Coming off the heels of his trip to Michigan, he'll be making a decision tonight... but had some fun throwing fans for a loop last night.
Arnett has consistently stated that he's a Michigan fan, but that he had worries about not getting the ball in the Wolverines' offense. With that fear out of the way, Michigan may be a factor in his decision, but conventional wisdom has him picking Tennessee.
Happy Trails, MD Ath Darius Jennings, who has narrowed his list to 6 non-Michigan schools.
...In Walkon News
MI FB/LB Joey Kerridge "has future plans set" ($, info in header). His Scout profile now lists high interest in Michigan and no offers, so we can safely assume he plans to be a preferred walkon at Michigan.
2012
FL QB Bennie Coney (at right), who holds a Michigan offer but was dismissed from his high school team, talks to a couple publications about his future. He say's he'll return to Plant City for his senior season, and has nothing but good things to say about his high school coach, and vice versa:
“Me and my coach, we’re good,” Coney said. “My coach is cool. We talk every day. We’ve still got our relationship...”
His coach has been in contact with college coaches to explain what happened and it’s doubtful that even a school like Notre Dame would view the incident as an infraction that would cause them to drop Coney from its radar. Coney is still interested in the Irish and, although they haven’t offered, they lead along with Florida State.
Since his coach is willing to vouch for him to college coaches, there's a chance Michigan may still be interested.
I brought up IL QB Robert Gregory last week, but in case you needed confirmation he's a good fit for Michigan... yeah, he is. ESPNChicago has him #3 in their Player of the Year rankings.
Mike Dyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Michigan is recruiting OH WR Dewayne Stanford.
OH OL Ryan Anderson visited Michigan a few weeks back ($, info in header).
In visit mini-news, I saw MI DT Dan O'Brien in the house with his dad at Friday's basketball exhibition against Saginaw Valley. His older brother, Patrick, hoops it up for the Cardinals.
OH LB Mason Monheim has visited Michigan already this fall, and is getting interest from a number of other Big Ten schools, including future member Nebraska. Orrville's defensive coordinator, Jason Haley, talks a bit about his game:
"Mason's right there with any we've had," Haley said. "He just has a knack for reading keys, and then getting from Point A to Point B. A lot of it is instincts, and watching film. He gets his read, then gets to the ball and makes plays... Across the board in college, you're not seeing that 6-3, 245-pound linebacker as often -- they're all looking for that hybrid guy who can run. Mason fits that mold."
At 6-1 210, Monheim could be a future bandit/spur type, or a guy who grows into a full-size linebacker.
Michigan is showing interest in NJ LB Jazzmar Clax, a lock for the all-name first team whether he ends up in Ann Arbor or not.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
Thanks for the update Tim. One question: Is there anyone other than Arnett that is expecting to make a decision in the next couple weeks or so? Just curious.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
I am so ready for a Hello! post. It's been way too long. Could you make this happen please?
November 10th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
This is how pay-for-play scandals get started.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
Great Job as always Tim. Question: With the Cam Newton/Auburn alligations starting to pile up, does this have an, and what kind of, effect on where Kris Frost decides to attend?
November 10th, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
Gregory wouldn't even have to adjust to the team name:
Gregory threw for 299 yards and five touchdowns, and rushed for 139 and two as the Wolverines overcame five touchdowns by Schaumburg's Shepard Little (3 rushing, 2 kickoff returns) and 450 yards of offense by quarterback Mark Iannotti to earn a quarterfinal home game against the Lake Zurich next weekend.
Also, both that stat-line and the opposing team's offense sound familiar.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^
Crockett is described as a "downhill runner type to complement Dee Hart." Sounds like Stephen Hopkins' job to me. Let's use that scholly on someone for defense.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
So that's not okay?
November 10th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^
Some people don't think it's ok, but if his team isn't concerned about it, it's really just their business. That's my take at least.
Oh, did you mean something else?
November 10th, 2010 at 10:46 AM ^
How much scrambling are you going to have to do for a Hello! post when Cheatam Norrils gets an offer and commits to Michigan? Probably a lot. But, you got some killer video of him on Saturday, so there is that.
Tim. As always, great work.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
On the kicker that was suppose to be in attendance at the Illinois game? I think I heard he was a ... Boise State commit, but I wasn't sure if we moved in to the running with him at all?
November 10th, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^
Man, with all the recruits we need for D, plus OL, plus the handful of skill position players, and leaving room for any 5 stars that want to come our way...... I'm gonna be so pissed if we spend a schollie on a kicker. I mean why can't Gibbons just get his shit together? Having 2 scholarship kickers is functionally limiting ourselves to 84 scholarships. It's so unnecessary.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Have you seen our kicking game this year?! You can use the "why can't player X just get his shit together?" for any position, yet we recruit multiple players at other positions.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
I haven't seen any updates on him since the visit.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
any chance you have any news concerning the visit by the Dr. Phillips crew?
November 10th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^
Chris Gallon has mentioned that he'd be visiting Ann Arbor soon with Dee, so maybe they'll make it into town for the Wisconsin game. It's tough for them to make it into town on Saturdays for noon games though, so the visit may have to wait until after the season (maybe for the hockey game?).
November 10th, 2010 at 1:46 PM ^
but does that mean that HaHa and Patti wont be on the visit with Gallon and Dee? I know its been reported that HaHa is solid with 'Bama, but I was still hopeful he'd make the trip.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
there is a lack of safeties in this which is concerning. (not to take anything away from Tim's excellent article, thank you)
there is info on two CB's, but no safeties. with Big Play Ray as our starting safety right now, and no positive news regarding Karlos Williams, HaHa, Avery Walls, Wayne Lyons... well, shucks, color me concerned about the future of this position.
I suppose Woolfolk could move back to a safety spot next year, but....
We need to be bringing in safety recruits like whoa...
and I agree about Crockett, we've got a stud down-hiller in Hopkins, lets focus on D!!!!
November 10th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
I understand your concern about the safeties, but this is just a weekly update. I think we have heard from Tom and others that HaHa will likely stay with his commitment to Alabama. Avery Walls is more focused on his sick grandmother right now. As for Karlos and Lyons, I think they might be working on coming up. Also, we are looking at Ryles who is also trying to make it up. Not sure if Bryon Moore is still interested. I might have missed someone.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
We have 2 true freshman a FS (Vinopal and Johnson) and one at SS (Robinson). Theres also been conjecture that Cullen Christian (yet another freshman) is better suited for safety than CB. There's plenty of long-term depth at Safety. As long as Michigan lands a few DBs (at any position) in the class, it's not a major concern after the large haul in the '10 class.
More pressing concerns for this class are depth at DT, OL, and TE. This is where we're projected to be thin in the long-term view, due to holes in the recriting classes over the last 2 seasons.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
Thanks Tim.
As people have mentioned, Marquise looks like less of a possibility. Does that mean the coaches have refocused on Sousa and keeping him as a commitment? Any word on that front? Or has Cardale Jones become a new target.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
Factoid of the day - Robert Gregory's gaurdian LeAlan Jones just ran for U.S. Senate as a Green Party candidate (but only managed to get 3% of the vote). He's probably most famouse for making this - http://soundportraits.org/on-air/ghetto_life_101/ - at the age of 13. Really entertaining if you're into that sort of thing. There's even a reference to a toddler Gregory in there as he talks to his sister about being a teenage mother and raising a kid on her own.
EDIT - my bad, Gregory isn't the kid in the documentary. Still worth a listen IMO.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
I really like him as a back.
Any word on him coming in for an official visit?
November 10th, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^
Jazzmar Clax might be the greatest name I've ever heard.
I can just hear (read) it now from Brian: "Yackety Sax, Jazzmar Clax!"
November 10th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
That's 47 points in Scrabble... Before the bonuses.
November 10th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
There's only one 'z'; so, the other would be a blank tile worth nothing. Still, it's seven letters; so, you'd get the obligatory 50pt bonus. And if it were a triple word score touching the board perimeter... Whew. Of course, Jazzmar is excluded from consideration as a proper noun. /buzzkill
November 10th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^
would be more than offset by getting Jazzmar Clax.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^
At West Ottawa, reciever and backup QB (to UM offer Desmond Morgan) is Josh Wisbang. Sadly don't think he's DI material.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
Michigan is setting up for a nice recruiting class.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
Caught those Arnett videos...funny stuff, but I don't know if a 4-star recruit should be messing around that much, the school that finally gets him probably wants a little more committment.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
But I was thinking DeAnthony Thomas was going to give us a visit. Has anyone heard anything on him?
November 10th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
I would love to see Deanthony commit to BLUE tonight, always room for 4* WR and keeping in state talent like this here. I want to hear more news about Haha, Karlos Williams, Walls, Lyons interest in UM. Getting 1 or 2 of these guys would be huge. Jernigan, Drew and a couple DT's would be nice. I want would LOVE to see this recruiting class stacked with stud D talent.
Also, it looks like there is going to be a NCAA crack down on Auburn a la USC...This could help us considering they run a spread and recruit the same type of players as us (See Kris Frost).
A couple more wins and a miracle win at Thee Browneye U would really get these recruits fired up to come here!
November 10th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
During his show on WTKA yesterday, Sam Webb said that Kerridge is going to be a preferred walk-on at Michigan.
November 10th, 2010 at 5:28 PM ^
Yes. That information is in the post.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
but I think it would be prudent for RR—at least at this point in his Michigan career— to avoid recruiting kids who've been thrown off their HS teams, regardless of the reason. He really can't afford the negative PR that would come his way if he does.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
Um, but you don't know what the reason for him getting kicked off the team was. Lets not jump to conclusions just yet.
November 10th, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^
Still it is not a good sign when a player is kicked off the team. I do not know what happened, but I know that something happened. Thats enough to convince me to shift our focus elsewhere. RR can not afford to have another committed prospect not be admitted. We need to recruit sure fire kids who will be admitted. Avoid any and all red flags, which being kicked off your high school team is.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Hey Tim, thanks for the updates! Anything new on CB prospect DeAnthony Thomas?
Last we heard he was committed to USC, but was open to visiting other schools. Back in July, Michigan was one of the school he said he'd like to visit officially.
November 10th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
Whatever happened to Kris Frost? He used to be listed as close to committing to UM, but now his name seldom comes up. We really need linebackers -- this may be our #1 need -- so I would be disappointed to lose him.
November 10th, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
November 10th, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^
5 game winning streak, I guess you ar including a bowl game victory. Final record of 10-3 would be amazing.
November 10th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
Lack of 5-star recruits so far doesn't really worry me. Think Will Campbell, and think Florida Gators epic fail season right now.
But if I'm a big time defensive player, I'm thinking about contributing early in my career to a team with a national audience. UM is uniquely positioned to provide that right now. Most schools can only offer one or the other. It sounds like our coaches have been pimping that out. I won't be surprised if UM picks up a surprise 5-star defensive player soon
November 12th, 2010 at 8:34 AM ^
...Wayne Lyons:
wlyons21 Final three official visits: Stanford 11/25; Michigan 12/3; Nebraska 12/10. Then it's time to do final evaluations and make decision.
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