tyler vaughns

Offered: Mighty Mighty Boss T.

FIRE UP THE NOTY SIREN. Michigan has offered top-100 CA DT Boss Tagaloa, per 247's Steve Lorenz ($):

"It's really a surreal feeling to get the opportunity to play for [Harbaugh]," Tagaloa said. "When I got the offer, I guess I couldn't really put it into words how I felt. It's just been a really great blessing to have all of these opportunities. Not that long ago, I was watching Coach Harbaugh coach my favorite team and now I could possibly play for him in college. That's a really cool feeling."

Tagaloa is a longtime teammate of top TE target Devin Asiasi, who he says is "like a brother" to him; they plan to take their official visits together and could very well end up at the same school. Both plan to take most of their official visits after the season and commit on Signing Day, so this recruitment will play out over the long haul.

Because this is how Michigan operates now, that wasn't the end of offers going out to California prospects last week. Top-100 CB Trevon Sidney told GBW's Josh Newkirk he'd like to visit Ann Arbor this summer after adding an offer ($). He said USC, UCLA, Washington, and Notre Dame are the schools going after him the hardest.

Three-star CA WDE Bryson Young only had three offers heading into the week—Colorado State, Fresno State, and Oregon State—before Michigan jumped into the fray and made a major impression, per Sam Webb ($):

“I was not expecting Michigan to look at me.  They’re a great school and I never would have thought that they looked over here for players.  It was a complete shock.” ...

“(Talking to Harbaugh) was one of those (things) I’ll never forget.  That was amazing.  I did not expect that at all.  Talking to a coach from Michigan is fantastic enough, and talking to Harbaugh that was just unexpected.  I’ll never forget that.  That was great.”

Young said he's "definitely" considering Michigan now and he's looking to set up a visit. He may still be a tough pull from California—UCLA offered yesterday, and Young called USC his "dream school" while discussing the Michigan offer. The Trojans haven't offered yet, but if they do—which seems likely—they'll be the prohibitive favorite.

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Happy Trails, 2015

Roquan Smith signed his financial aid agreement—but not an LOI!—with Georgia today, ending his recruitment after that whole ordeal with UCLA and their now-departed defensive coordinator, who reportedly still tried to recruit Smith in an unofficial capacity after doing this:

Last Wednesday, Smith committed to UCLA over UGA in front of ESPN cameras. But he decided against turning in his NLI after reports surfaced later that day that Bruins defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich had accepted a job with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

Smith said Ulbrich had told him on the eve of signing day that he had “declined” the job offer from the Falcons, per UGASports. On Thursday, Ulbrich (now with the Falcons) declined comment to the AJC about Smith’s claim.

While Smith didn't end up at Michigan, it's great to see him spurn both UCLA and the LOI process. With Mike Weber sticking out his commitment to Ohio State, we can now close the books on the 2015 class.

Race For QB Spot?

Michigan offered two 2016 quarterback prospects this week, four-stars Brandon Peters and Dwayne Haskins. While Haskins looks like he'll be a difficult pull—a day after the offer, he named a handful of schools sticking out to him that didn't include Michigan($)—Peters looks like a serious candidate to commit. He told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown that the offer vaulted Michigan to the top of his list ($):

"I'm totally pumped," Peters said. "It would be an awesome experience to play under a coach like Jim Harbaugh. It's awesome. I definitely would put Michigan at the top now, to be honest with you." 

Per 247's Steve Wiltfong, Peters quickly locked in an unofficial visit for April 4th, Michigan's Spring Game.

With Michigan likely only taking one quarterback this cycle, the Peters news has left many asking where that would leave KJ Costello, the top QB target on the board for Michigan. In what may not be coincidence, Costello is looking to get on campus very soon, per Steve Lorenz:

"I am looking to visit in the next two weeks or so," Costello said. "It'd be my dad and I. I have been talking to the coaching staff all the time."

It looks like, one way or the other, Michigan should have a lot more clarity about their quarterback situation for 2016 in the near future.

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Two New Offers

The new (and still incomplete) coaching staff has hit the recruiting trail running, with a couple new offers to committed 2015 prospects going out this week.

TX WDE Charles Omenihu is a Texas commit whose three-star ranking belies an impressive offer list that also includes Florida, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, and TCU, among others. At 6'5", 232 pounds, he's got the frame to be a rush end in a DJ Durkin defense that'll utilize both three- and four-man fronts. After getting the call from Greg Mattison that he'd earned a Michigan offer, he talked to 247's Steve Lorenz ($):

"I talked to Coach Mattison and he told me I had a scholarship offer," Omenihu said. "Michigan is a program I wanted an offer from since I was a kid. They are a very prestigious school. Coach Harbaugh is a cool guy too. I know he has a plan for them and it's a plan I believe in."

While Omenihu has been firm in his commitment to the Longhorns, he said he'll "definitely" consider an official visit to Ann Arbor.

Michigan also offered three-star FL CB Damon Arnette, a South Carolina commit whose offer sheet—which includes Florida State, Louisville, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Wisconsin—doesn't necessarily line up with his ranking. At 6'2", 185, Arnette has great size for a corner, something he told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown was a big factor in Michigan offering him; he also talked about his visit schedule, which changed in the wake of the M offer ($):

"All of my visits I've set up are realistic places for me," Arnette stated. "I'm not going just to go. I was originally going to Louisville on the 16th, but I cut them off today for Michigan. My other visits will be to South Carolina and Ohio State. Those three will probably be it."

Brady Hoke's staff didn't recruit Arnette at all, so to jump into the mix this quickly is a good sign for M's chances. As you'll see, the weekend of the 16th—just after the current dead period ends—is shaping up to be a big visit weekend for Michigan.

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