TVH Weekly: Kickers, Decommits, New Offers

Submitted by TomVH on

A lot has changed since last week, some for good some for bad. I will try to keep you up to date the best I can, and here's a look at what we know so far. Remember if you ever have any recruiting tips or questions you can always email me at [email protected]. You can also follow me on Twitter to get more recruiting updates as they come through.

Decommits

We might as well start with the ugly bits and talk about the recent decommitments. K Matt Goudis recently took a visit to Miami and decided to commit to the Hurricanes. Al Golden has some weird obsession with Michigan recruits. He's pursuing Goudis, Dallas Crawford, Kellen Jones, and Kris Frost. 

DB Dallas Crawford officially decommitted from Michigan, and it's looking like it's over. Who Brady Hoke hires as his defensive coordinator could still make an impact on Crawford. We'll have to wait to see who the new DC is to know, but it's looking very grim.

OL Jake Fisher decommitted yesterday, and has decided to open everything up after visiting Michigan State this past weekend. He's saying everyone is even and could end up taking visits to Oregon, Florida, and Notre Dame. It's not looking good for Michigan to get him back.

Those three are officially decommited and a few more are on the fence. OL Tony Posada took a visit to Mississippi State this past weekend, and there's a rumor that he loved it. Posada is supposed to visit Michigan this coming weekend. We'll see how Tony feels after that. DB Blake Countess also took a visit to Penn State, but has been vocal about his love for Michigan so there may not be much to worry about there. LB Kellen Jones recently took a visit to Colorado and may end up taking a visit to Miami as well. We'll see if that materializes.

Kicker Replacements?

Now that Matt Goudis has decommitted, Michigan would still like to land a kicker in this class.

There were rumors of former high school kicker Derrick Mitchell potentially walking on at Michigan. I spoke with his father to see what the situation was, and he had this to say.

(Former Michigan kicker) Mike Gillette knew about Derrick and connected him with Coach Rodriguez. They said they needed a kicker and had a spot for him if he wanted it. The problem is that Derrick is in the minor leagues right now with the Phillies. He had a pretty good season last year, so I don't know if he wants to give that up just to be a kicker.

The strange part is that the Phillies would pay for part of Mitchell's tuition if he were to come to Michigan. He's getting paid 5th round money right now and is moving up to AA ball so it's not likely he'll come to Michigan this year. 

Matt Wile

Matt Wile

6'2", 210 lbs.

Kicker

San Diego, California


Wile received an offer from Michigan, which makes sense because he also had an offer from San Diego State. Wile was an Army All American, and would help fill the void Goudis' decommitment left. 

Connor Loftus could still an option since he already had a Michigan offer, but the recent offer to Wile probably means the new coaches want him instead. Michigan will have to compete with Air Force and Nebraska. Wile will be in Ann Arbor this weekend.

New Offers and New Contact

The new Michigan coaches have started to reach out to recruits and extend new offers as well. Besides WIle here's a look at some new recruits that Michigan is now targeting. There will be plenty more of these as the coaching staff fills out and we get closer to signing day.

  • DT Travarris Saulsberry (6'4", 252 lbs, Florida) - He's reporting he has an offer, but it's an odd offer because Saulsberry is committed to Tennessee, and has been since August. He told me he's 100% committed to the Vols and isn't considering Michigan.
  • DE Jordan Williams (6'4", 240 lbs, Florida) - Williams is a teammate of Saulsberry and also committed to Tennessee. He also told me he's 100% with the Vols.
  • DB Stefan McClure (5'11", 170 lbs, 4 Star, California) - McClure was just offered and plans on visiting Michigan this weekend. I spoke with McClure recently and I got the feel that he was genuinely open in his recruitment. If Michigan can impress him they'll have a shot.
  • OL Pat Flavin (6'7", 260 lbs, 3 Star, Illinois) - Flavin has not been offered yet, but he did receive a call on Sunday from Michigan's OL coach Darrell Funk. He missed the call initially but called Coach Funk back and was told the situation is fluid right now. No offer was extended, but Funk wanted an update on where he was at. Probably means the coaches are waiting to see who decommits, and stays committed.

January 21st Visits

This weekend will be the first visit weekend hosted by Brady Hoke and company. Here's a list of visitors so far. This list will continue to change:

  • TE/LB Frank Clark (6'2", 210 lbs, 3 Star, Ohio) The Glenville prospect has showed genuine interest in Michigan, and there is an even greater need for his services with the switch in offensive philosophy.
  • ATH Raymon Taylor (5'10", 165 lbs, 4 Star, Michigan) The former Indiana commit has always been a fan of Michigan. He does like the new Indiana staff, so we'll see what happens.
  • DB Stefan McClure (5'11", 170 lbs, 4 Star, California). As mentioned.
  • OL Tony Posada (6'6", 315 lbs, 3 Star, Florida) Fresh off a visit to Mississippi State, we'll see if he makes the trip.
  • K Matt Wile (6'2", 210 lbs, 2 Star, California) Just offered two days ago, will be visiting Ann Arbor.

Extra:

  • WR Hakeem Flowers had a phone call scheduled with the new Michigan coaches on Sunday. He is announcing on the 23rd and it's down to Oregon, Michigan, and LSU. Michigan is still in great position with Flowers.
  • WR Devin Lucien is announcing on the 30th. Brady Hoke hasn't contacted him yet, so the interest is starting to fall.
  • WR/LB Kris Frost is still waiting to hear back from Auburn on whether his commitment will be honored. He's not graduating early anymore, so he might end up taking more visits. Miami is coming after him, but if the Michigan coaches get in contact with him and push they will still have a good chance.
  • OL Chris Bryant took an official visit to Pitt, where former Michigan coaches Calvin Magee, Tony Gibson, and Tony Dews are now coaching. He swung by Michigan on the way home to meet with Brady Hoke. The meeting lasted long enough to require Bryant and his dad to have to get a hotel for the night. I'll try to catch up with Bryant on Monday to talk about the visit. 

Comments

Blue in Yarmouth

January 17th, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^

If you don't know that there is a difference between someone whining about something and someone simply disagreeing with your viewpoint I guess I must be talking to a teenager.

I mean, you have always been one of my least favorite posters on here because your view changes as often as most people change their clothes, but your statement here really surprises me. If you polled most fans of UM and those who aren't fan but follow college football and ask them about the state of recruiting for UM right now how many do you think would say "it looks just fine at the moment'?

If by "fine" you mean in the last few weeks we have lost more than 8 recruits that were either committed to UM or had UM leading for them than yeah...we are looking damn good right now.

Also, you say 15 days like it is a long time...do you know anything about the recruiting process? Coaches have been courting these kids since they got in HS and we have 15 days to try and make something happen....

What I have provided as information is this post isn't "my reality" it is UM's reality and if you don't see that...that's your delusion.

jg2112

January 17th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^

If you polled most fans of UM and those who aren't fans but followed college football, you'd realize most of them know Michigan has 22 returning starters (including K/P), that Denard is awesome, and that they know National Signing Day is a little more than two weeks away and Hoke is going to complete the class.

Again, if you want to get all hot and lathered up about what has happened (the coach getting fired in early January), I get that.

If you want to get all hot and lathered up about what has not yet happened, which is National Signing Day, I don't get that.

I'm not a teenager, I'm 34. Thankfully, I realize that typing my disapproval about anything Michigan-related on a message board means nothing to the Michigan AD, the coaching staff or the players. And if you think I change "my view" a lot on this board, well, the only thing I care about is Michigan winning football games. I don't care how they get there, that's all I care about.

LSAClassOf2000

January 17th, 2011 at 8:06 AM ^

.....much of the mystery around a few of these recruits has much to do with the "national search" and resulting late hire, with maybe a smattering of uncertainty about Hoke. I think Brady Hoke needs to run up the bill on that new university-issued cell phone - oh, and run down to wireless world and get replacement batteries and spare chargers.

promzek

January 17th, 2011 at 8:40 AM ^

I think we all see the writing on the wall about the decommits and challenges Brady will have filling this class.  It may be a stupid question, but can't we somehow enlist the support of our excellent NFL ambassadors and influential alumni to help? 

Go Brady, Go Blue

Moofis Footbone

January 17th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^

I aske JC Shurburtt abotu Hakeem Flowers and he said the last he knew GT and LSU were the leaders.  Hurts because I've read that he was a Mich silent, allegedly. 

Bryant really liked the Pitt visit from a couple twitter sources. 

 

Frost was, supossedly, told they wouldn't take his committment.  He was down the pecking order in their LB recruits. 

Blue X2

January 17th, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^

Regardless of your opinion of the hiring of Brady Hoke, let's hope his genius in recruiting is in full flight right now.

He can win even more converts if he can save this class.  Go Brady Go!!

3rdGenerationBlue

January 17th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^

Positive Mental Attitude. Unless you are a mod with solid information pipe down with the negative comments. Let's root for the new coaches to pull in a full class of recruits that will be solid contributors for four years.

neoavatara

January 17th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^

As for Lucien, Hoke does have some relationship with him previously, I believe.   I still think if Hoke pushes hard for him, he is blue.  

Little surprised Flowers is still in the running, but good to hear.

Fisher is a big loss...Posada not so much, but still hurts.  The OL is Hoke's interest...I think he will focus on that hard these last two weeks. 

The big hits are on D, though.  I hate losing Crawford, but I think there are enough DBs left on the list, especially new guys showing interest, that they can replace him.  

Doesn't look like any DE/DL are going to switch, unless Hoke comes up with his own version of snake oil.

Too bad we don't have a little more time (Damn you, DB!), because another RB and QB would be great, but I just don't think there are enough minutes in the day. 

fatbastard

January 17th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^

should be priorities.  Both would fit very well going forward.  Probably better under Hoke's version of the spread than in the spread and shred under Rodriguez. 

Don

January 17th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^

and in his subsequent statements that getting the right coach, however he defined it, was going to be top priority, regardless of the impact on recruiting. The decommits were an inevitable by-product of any coaching change, but the late decision just made the situation that much more difficult for Hoke. That was an acceptable cost to Brandon, for whatever reason. If BH is able to keep Miller, Posada, and Jones and persuade Frost to commit, that would be a significant recruiting achievement in the short period of time Hoke has.

I know Hoke would never characterize the situation like this, but essentially Brandon handed him a package of cheap Walmart hamburger well past the expiration date, and Hoke now has to turn it into a prime rib dinner at the Chop House. I'm not sure that all the Michigan love in the world can do that, and we might need to give BH a pass on this recruiting class before we judge him as a recruiting failure.

Phoenix86

January 17th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^

Agreed. He has two recruitment classes. Yet many Michigan followers tried to skewer him for that first class of players that some didn't even fit his system. Rich Rod had to do damage control in his first class; Hoke will have to do it now. But the true question is; will Hoke get the patience of the boosters and fan base that Rich Rod never received? I thought it was unjust, thus is why I decided to give the same treatment to Hoke; all is fair right?

Phoenix86

January 17th, 2011 at 2:30 PM ^

I am cheering for the team. That will never stop. Just because I don't like the head coach hire, just because I think Rich Rod was unjustly criticized his years here, doesn't mean I'm giving up on my team; nor did I ever say I was. The hiring of a mid tier coach to be the coach of Michigan is going to tank recruitment this year; he may rebound next year or he could start off slow like Rodriguez did. Time will tell. I just feel that those who hated Rich Rod and never gave him a chance are just all jumping up and down and partying because he was ousted and Hoke was put in. They didn't get annoyed by all the unjust criticism. There is no karmic synergy here.

bluenyc

January 17th, 2011 at 2:37 PM ^

I completely understand where you are coming from.  However, RR initially might not have been given a chance, but after that, RR had to take some responsiblity.  I hope you are better than those RR haters who never gave him a chance.  Comparing yourself to people below you is no way to make it out there.  Just some advice, take it FWIW.

Tim Waymen

January 17th, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^

Sorry if I've been out of the loop, but is Dee Hart really that set on Alabama? (Early enrollee?) I know a large part had to do with RR, but has he really just completely dropped UM? Any chance Hoke can lure him back?

True Blue in CO

January 17th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^

with or without RichRod at the helm.  That Gator Bowl loss and no contract extension to RichRod would have been used by opposing teams left and right.  Now maybe things would have been better if we made a coaching change after the OSU game.  We will never know and coach Hoke has done this before and will hopefully will make the best of it.

chatster

January 17th, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^

I understand that Michigan rarely accepts transfers for football, and I'm not sure how the new coaching staff would go about making offers to players at other schools (or whether the ramifications from attempted "raids" are not worth the risk), but with all the expected decommits from HS players coming so late in the recruiting process, are there any possibilities of getting transfers from players with remaining eligibility who might have performed well at academically strong FCS schools and could be available immediately without having to worry about qualifying for academics at UM?

For example, junior LB Tyler Holmes of UMass (Blacksburg, VA) was Phil Steele's FCS Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and already has played at The Big House (led UMass with 11 tackles and a TFL vs.UM); and among the Ivy League's better players this past season there are several who might provide depth at key positions or compete for starting jobs next season at Michigan, like Penn sophomores DL Brandon Copeland (All-Ivy First Team; Sykesville, MD) and RB Brandon Colavita (12 rushing touchdowns and 728 yards on 125 carries; average of 5.8 YPC was second-best single-season total in Penn history; All-Ivy Second Team; Sewell, NJ), and   Andrew Starks of Princeton (So., LB, Plainfield, IL, All-Ivy Honorable Mention); Josh Martin of Columbia (So., DL, Aurora, CO; All-Ivy Second Team); Alexander Norocea of Brown (Fr., PK, Hermosa Beach, CA; All-Ivy Second Team); Kyle Juszczyk of Harvard (So., H-Back, Medina, OH; All-Ivy Honorable Mention); and -- assuming that Tate Focier won't be able to return to Michigan -- Jeff Mathews of Cornell (Fr., QB, Camarillo, CA; Ivy League Rookie of the Year).









 

JD_UofM_90

January 17th, 2011 at 3:31 PM ^

Now that we are down a bunch of recruits and we have a new coach, what is the status of some of these potential guys we have talked about recruiting in the past? 

Darren Kitchen - CB

James Elliot - OL

Prince Holloway - WR / DB

kylebennett7127

January 18th, 2011 at 6:32 PM ^

This is brutal...He needs a huge signing day. Although I am really not sure why the guys who gew up michigan fans are now waivering. I feel like they should be even more secure. We need better backs , versatile qb and lots of defense, especially beef up front and linebackers with size. the rest we can work with...in recruiting and in our team now.

matt mich

January 20th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^

The last time I checked we got a top recruit kicker is a guy who a lot of Michigan fans hate, and he can't hit over a 40 yard field goal.  Lets hope Wile can actually make a decent field goal so we don't have to go for it every time we are inside the 50 and outside the 25.