dekel crowdus

RE-ORIENTATION

I do this for my own purposes when mounting this horse but you guys probably want to know this stuff too: Michigan has 23 commits in this class. The current roster has:

• ~Four open slots. (We are expecting Quintel Kent to take a medical.)
• Nine scholarship seniors.
• Several potential early entries (DPJ, Collins, Black, Ruiz, maaaybe one of Dwumfour/Paye/Uche/Thomas)
• One highly likely grad transfer (Quinn Nordin, assuming he doens't win his job back from Moody).

So that's about 17 slots. Injury and playing time will undoubtedly open up a fair few by next summer, and Michigan is still poking around for a few more guys. Those gentlemen are

A wide receiver. We're getting within sight of waiting-too-long territory with AZ WR Brenden Rice, who has seemingly been on the verge of a commitment for a month now. The last check-in was extremely positive for Michigan and Rice did mention that he might wait a couple weeks into the season before pulling the trigger. Rice would be the burly jump-ball complement to AJ Henning, the slot, and Roman Wilson, the blazer.

Speaking of burly jump-ball guys, Michigan has gotten back involved with in-state Funchess-alike Maliq Carr. Carr will visit for the MTSU game; Purdue took over momentum on the crystal ball. This may be an artifact of Josh Gattis prioritizing guys like Wilson and Henning over jump ball dudes, but Carr's worth a swing IMO.

A cornerback. CA CB Darion Green-Warren and FL CB Henry Gray are the main targets. Most of the crystal balls for Green-Warren are for USC, but USC's recruiting is a stunning disaster right now and whatever they're not doing for everyone else they may additionally not be doing for Green-Warren. It's been all quiet on the Western front there. Green-Warren said Michigan was recruiting him "hardest" about a month ago but did not make it in for a planned BBQ stop; Webb reports he's scheduled his official for the OSU game.

Gray just told 247 he was planning visits to Oregon, Michigan, and Florida. I feel better about Michigan's chances since he says that M plays a lot of man coverage like he does in high school and therefore Michigan "correlates." A month ago he was saying Michigan led and that he was going to commit after his Oregon visit at the end of July, but now he seems to be taking his recruitment out longer. That's often not a great sign for the supposed leader.

[After THE JUMP: moves up, weight up, cuts down]