Walker Decommits From Ohio State

Five-star NJ RB Kareem Walker had maintained his commitment to Ohio State even in the wake of a reportedly great official visit to Michigan a few weeks back. That is no longer the case.

I've decided to decommit pic.twitter.com/T6HZ77p4Bg

— AlightyReem (@_KareemWalker) November 4, 2015

According to TomVH, it's "not likely" Walker will take a visit back to Ohio State. This puts Michigan squarely in the driver's seat in Walker's recruitment, and the Crystal Ball picks are coming in heavy for the Wolverines, including from Guys In The Know like Lorenz and Wiltfong ($). Even though Walker plans to take more visits, this shouldn't take too long to play out; he plans to enroll early at the school of his choice.

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

The Fall Of Athens?

Daaaaamn, AJC over here killing Richt with the Nixonian photo selection https://t.co/eHF0hoESAZ pic.twitter.com/NXKIAr0SOw

— HALLRAISER (@edsbs) November 4, 2015

Georgia's program is in a state of turmoil after a 27-3 thumping by Florida last weekend dropped them to 5-3 (3-3 SEC). The AJC reports changes are probably on the way [emphasis mine]:

To be clear, change is coming at Georgia. It might not be today or even this week, but it’s coming. And we’re not talking about just the quarterback position or the offensive line.

Georgia’s issues at the moment are chiefly with the offense, but it goes beyond that. There is general dysfunction and dissension not only within the team but also within the football staff.

Richt has been issued a directive to fix it, according to several people familiar with the situation. His ability to do that over these final four weeks of the season — as the Bulldogs play Kentucky on Saturday and Auburn, Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech after that — will determine not only the futures of some of the coaches on his staff, but Richt’s as well.

This could have a significant effect on Michigan's recruitment of five-star GA TE Isaac Nauta, who already held the Wolverines in very high regard after his recent official visit. Jay Harbaugh fired off a strange, cryptic tweet yesterday; it turned out to be a not-so-subtle allusion to a fire-emoji Michigan edit sent to Nauta, who approved. Rivals' Rob Cassity told Tim Sullivan that Michigan had "closed the gap" on Georgia to make it a very close race ($); I'm pretty sure that discussion came before the AJC bomb dropped.

Turmoil in Athens could also help Michigan's efforts to land five-star GA ATH Mecole Hardman Jr., who will take an official for The Game. Even if Richt holds onto his job, the uncertainty alone may be enough to shift these recruitments in Michigan's favor.

Daniels Taking Official This Weekend

Four-star TX DT Chris Daniels is set to take an official visit this weekend for the Rutgers game with his mother and grandmother in tow, per 247's Steve Wiltfong ($):

"Well I know they're going to have a relentless effect on the field, I mean they're Wolverines," Daniels said of what he looks forward to seeing. "But also to see if I really have a connection with not only the coaches but the players also, & if I can see myself living there for four maybe three years."

With Michigan in good shape with Rashan Gary, leading outright for Jordan Elliott, and getting Daniels on an official this weekend, the outlook for DT recruitiing is quite good.

Commit Updates: ESPN300 Updated

Tim Sullivan discussed the preferred walk-on pickup of PA QB Michael Shuster with regional analyst Adam Friedman ($):

"As a quarterback, there are some things that he's pretty raw with: his footwork, his throwing motion is pretty raw. But he certainly sees the field and can make some quick decisions. He's got a big, strong arm, that's for sure, but there are some other things he needs to work out technically as a quarterback. Somebody that Michigan is going to benefit from having on their roster."

Friedman added that Shuster could contribute if Michigan is "in a tough situation," which is about all you can ask from a walk-on.

ESPN updated their top 300 for the class of 2016 and both Brandon Peters (up to #92 from #152 overall) and Michael Onwenu (#174 from #255) made big moves up the board. Other movement for M commits was minor. The full rundown is posted at Touch The Banner.

TomVH confirms that both Kingston Davis and David Reese will take official visits to Nebraska this weekend.

Etc.

Michigan offered three-star 2016 S/OLB Khaleke Hudson this week, per Wiltfong. West Virginia and Penn State are the two schools with Crystal Ball picks in for him right now.

Four-star CO WDE Carlo Kemp was reportedly set to make a decision this week, but Rivals analyst Blair Angulo posted on The Fort that Kemp is still wrestling with the decision between Michigan and Notre Dame and a decision may not come until next week ($).

Michigan, unsurprisingly, made the top eight for four-star TX ILB Dontavious Jackson.

Quinn Nordin is the recipient of this season's most aggressive Michigan edit, at least that I've seen.