henry gray

A similar note as the recent basketball crootin post: I'm taking these posts over for the time being and am still in the process of catching up on target boards and needs and the like. Also, my tabs app crashed the first time I tried to put this together, so I'm missing some stuff from before the last few days. Not making this easier: much of the recent action is with the 2021 class, and it's gonna take me a little longer to get up to speed with that group. I appreciate your bearing with me.

Commit Updates: RJ Moten is an Athlete

While RJ Moten is probably going to wind up at safety or VIPER, one can learn a few things by watching him on the other side of the ball:

#Michigan 2020 DB commit RJ Moten has some wheels. He runs for the 42 yard TD for Delran. @SamWebb77 @TremendousUM @BriceMarich @JoshHenschke @BrianDohn247 @rjmoten_ pic.twitter.com/mPAhXSF64P

— Josh Newkirk (@JoshNewkirk7) September 13, 2019

Invisible jetpack: check.

The Wolverine's new hire, EJ Holland, has hit the ground running. He provided updated scouting reports on each of Michigan's linebacker commits; he's highest on Kalel Mullings, but the Cornell Wheeler writeup caught my eye:

If you are looking for an old school thumper, look no further than West Bloomfield’s (Mich.) Cornell Wheeler. At 6-foot, 230 pounds, Wheeler is built like a true inside linebacker. While he’s a bit undersized, he fills gaps quickly and is a violent hitter.

If he's got some mobility in coverage, that profile sounds familiar.

High school stats are often hard to contextualize, but it's easier when you play against the best program in the country. Blake Corum posted 252 scrimmage yards and a score in St. Frances's 34-18 loss to national #1 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei; he's now inside the Top247 and may continue to move up.

MGoFish's Harry Hillman posted lengthy scouting reports on two of Michigan's more under-the-radar commits, OT Jeffrey Persi and DL Aaron Lewis. He's quite high on both, comparing Persi to Taylor Lewan and Lewis to Chris Wormley.

One bit of recruiting news among the 2020 commits: Jordan Morant took an official visit to Texas A&M, but heading into the trip there wasn't much concern on Michigan's end. Sam Webb posted a previously unpublished quote from Morant's coach—Anthony Campanile's brother, Vito—in which he said Morant would take a visit to A&M because of a long-standing relationship with DC Mike Elko. There's been nothing from the A&M end since the trip; it doesn't seem like Morant had his recruitment change dramatically.

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

*tumbleweed*

Michigan's 2020 class is almost done. High school football players are in fall camp and nobody's taking visits. Things are slow.

Roman Wilson is not:

Catch and run by ‘20 St. Louis WR and Michigan commit Roman Wilson (@Trilllroman) from ‘20 QB Jayden de Laura (@jayden_delaura) vs Kapolei. #808FBClips pic.twitter.com/QTuymgyY9j

— 808 FB Recruits (@808FBRecruits) August 16, 2019

FL CB Henry Gray did confirm that his top three are Michigan, Oregon, and Florida a few days ago. Gray on Michigan:

ON MICHIGAN:

"I really like Michigan and they wanna let me play corner. They run the same scheme we play at my high school, so it fits my playing style."

ON HIS MOST RECENT MICHIGAN VISIT:

"It was sometime in June and i liked it. There was a lot of hospitality there and the players I met were all cool. I liked the campus. "

He's scheduled to announce at the All-America game. The other major secondary target, CA CB Darion Green-Warren, has set up visits to PSU and Michigan this fall; Nebraska is the other team that drew mention in Adam Gorney's recent article. USC is still the heavy crystal ball favorite, but whether they can maintain that in the aftermath of Clay Helton's inevitable firing is the question.

NJ S commit RJ Moten released a junior highlight reel, which is almost all offense. He plays RB, slot, and sometimes QB:

He's fast, and not particularly slippery on offense. Safety makes sense. He does make a number of good catches, so here's hoping his ball skills translate to D.

[After the JUMP: the least bold crystal ball of all time]

2020

VA TE Matthew Hibner committed to Michigan after visiting last week, and the services are starting to catch up with content on a guy who was a three-star whose name was just beginning to find its way into articles prior to said visit; he barely had his offer a week before committing. Rivals posted one-on-one highlights of Hibner from their 3 Stripe Camp in D.C. and he looks long and strong, and there’s a particularly fun catch at 00:16. The Wolverine’s Brandon Brown wrote a piece about the impact of Hibner’s commitment and in it noted that Hibner has put on almost 40 pounds since the end of last season without losing his speed, which is clear in the highlight tape linked above and presages a likely ratings riser as this season progresses. In a separate piece, Brown compares Hibner to Jake Butt at similar stages in their playing career because of their frame, athleticism, and tenacity.

HI WR Roman Wilson is not yet committed, but he would be if his father got to make the call. The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb asked Wilson’s dad for his top five schools and Wilson did not mince words.

“Well, I like Michigan, probably at no. 5,” Mr. Wilson said. “Then probably the University of Michigan at no. 4. Then that school in Ann Arbor is a close no. 2. And I would have to put that Harbaugh team at no 1. I really like what he’s doing up there (Laughter).”

Wilson’s father said he was sold by the time they hit the cafeteria. His mother said she likes Michigan along with Cal and UCLA, the other schools thought to be serious contenders for Wilson. She did say that she was impressed by the strength and conditioning staff, as they allayed concerns she had about how past coaching has impacted Wilson’s speed. (Makes sense when your son is Hawaii’s reigning state champ in the 100-meter dash at 10.68 seconds.) For his part, Wilson said Michigan’s resources were on par with Cal or UCLA, but Michigan had more space and therefore more things. Weather could understandably be an issue for a kid from Hawaii who’s strongly considering California schools and Michigan, but Wilson doesn’t mind the cold.

“And I’ve been in snow before. It ain’t that bad. You just gotta throw in some extra clothes.”

One guy who apparently won’t need to pack a coat is NC DE Kedrick Bingley-Jones. Per 247’s Steve Lorenz, Bingley-Jones wanted to reschedule his official visit to Michigan last weekend but visited Florida, and now it seems that recruitment is done after he was a priority for a hot minute.

A fair amount of news broke this weekend regarding prospects Michigan has been recruiting for a long time but who had been flying under the radar a bit. Steve Lorenz CB’d MA ATH Eamonn Dennis to Michigan, joining Brian Dohn and Sam Webb. Lorenz writes that Dennis’ recruitment is similar to fellow east-coaster Mike Sainristil in that he’s a bigger target for the staff than has been publicized. Dennis, who told 247’s Brian Dohn he was told by Josh Gattis that he would be used in the backfield and in the slot as an “all-purpose back type of player,” is scheduled to be on campus this weekend. He also told Dohn that Michigan is his leader, he has no return visits set to the other two schools in his top-three (Syracuse and Duke), and he would like to commit before the season. Writing, meet wall. Wall, writing.

[After THE JUMP: hush-hush visits, crystal balls, and JJ McCarthy's construction project]