Wednesday Recruitin' Didn't Hear No Bell
Yesterday I was driving home and a deer leapt a gosh dang guard rail and bounded across the road and I hadn’t been that surprised since, well, you know. So Saturday night got ugly in a hurry. Not only did Michigan hockey lose to Minnesota at home in a game they desperately needed to get points out of, but they lost on an even-strength goal with under two minutes to play. That same night, OK S Daxton Hill dropped the Thanos Snap of recruit tweets, flipping his seemingly rock-solid commitment from Michigan to Alabama. Judging by the texts I got and twitter and message boards and every other available piece of evidence, this went over poorly.
If you were surprised, you weren’t alone. According to 247’s Steve Lorenz, not only was Michigan’s staff caught off guard, Alabama’s staff was surprised to learn of the flip. Michigan visited Hill at home last Wednesday. Alabama visited Hill’s home the next day, but no crystal balls were flipped. Lorenz says that the Alabama staff felt better about flipping FL S and current Ohio State commit Jordan Battle and thought that, if anything, they might get an unofficial visit from Hill. The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb reiterated that Michigan’s staff found out when the public did and, though they wanted him to sign during the early signing period and he had apparently let them know he wanted to wait until February, there were no red flags presaging a decomitment.
The main point of Webb’s post centers around a quote from Hill’s father Webb obtained when he visited the family this fall. The family said they liked that Michigan was about winning all areas of life and not just winning at any cost, and Webb points out that Alabama was Alabama when Hill committed to Michigan, which was coming off a loss to Notre Dame that had people down for weeks. Webb went on to say that he feels Hill isn’t done grappling with whatever might have shifted his hierarchy of decision factors; when a poster on their message board asked if this wasn’t over, Webb responded with a clip from Rocky V of Mickey as a Force ghost or something that ends with Rocky yelling ‘Yo, Tommy! I didn’t hear no bell.” Now Lorenz checks in with a notes post in which he says he was also able to confirm that there's some optimism on Michigan's end that this recruitment may not be over. With Hill's decision horizon apparently extended two months, that makes some sense.
[After THE JUMP: Ann Arbor in December is a hot vacation destination]
2019 Update:
OH DE and Michigan’s top remaining target Zach Harrison has a decision date. He’s set to announce his school of choice via twitter and then fax in his LOI on December 19th. This seems encouraging for someone who would want to pull a prospect version of the Colts leaving Baltimore, but it’s not safe to assume anything considering the report from Sam Webb that the loss to Ohio State impacted his thinking. The Wolverine’s Chris Balas reports that some people they’d spoken with who assumed he was going to Michigan now think he’ll end up at Ohio State.
The nearest decision, though, is that of IL OL Trevor Keegan, who will announce whether he has chosen Michigan, Georgia, or Penn State on Friday at 7:30. Keegan officially visited Michigan in October and wrapped his officials with a trip to Happy Valley last weekend, but Penn State won’t necessarily have the last word here; Lorenz reports that Michigan coaches Ed Warinner and Sherrone Moore visited Keegan’s home Tuesday night. 247’s Steve Wiltfong spoke with Keegan’s father and got some information about what he likes about each of his three finalists, and in that article Keegan’s father added that he didn’t expect any coaches to be visiting their house this week. That obviously has not turned out to be true for the prospect ranked #163 in the composite, who has been at the top of Michigan’s OL board for some time.
While we’re talking about offensive linemen, Michigan hosted the plurality of their already-committed linemen this weekend, along with one Tennessee commit: FL OL Chris Akporoghene. I originally thought this might be Keegan insurance but Akporoghene is listed at 6’4” and 290 pounds, placing him in guard territory; Tennessee’s 247 site notes that’s where the Vols plan to use him. Then again 247 has the IMG product, #841 in the composite, listed as a tackle. I’ve seen nothing written about Akporoghene since his visit, so there’s probably not much brewing here.
There does appear to be something brewing with CT WR Cornelius Johnson. He officially visited Penn State last weekend and will officially visit Michigan this weekend, his last visit before his newly-decided decision date of December 19 (he was originally going to wait until February, according to Steve Wiltfong). Johnson was hosted by former Michigan target and still-my-favorite-nickname winner, Speedy Eaglet himself, KJ Hamler. The composite four-star announced five finalists when announcing his decision date: Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Stanford. The CBs are all over the place for Johnson, with the two most recent, one from Wiltfong and a day later one from Tom Loy, cast cloudy and in favor or Michigan, respectively. The Loy one is especially interesting because Johnson officially visited Notre Dame earlier in the season, and two of Johnson’s early CBs are ND. With the tide apparently shifting here, Michigan has an excellent chance to close this weekend.
While one recruitment draws to a close, another is just beginning in the case of OH RB Kay’Ron Adams. Lorenz reports that Michigan has gotten in contact with the three-star twice in the past week, and he believes the interest is legitimate. You may remember that Michigan recently lost the commitment of TN RB Eric Gray, a move that seemed to be months in the making. Michigan is looking to add a second RB to the class, and Adams appears to be a leading candidate. He’s currently committed to Rutgers, so the “always take Rutgers running back decommits” rule should hold despite having to flip him. (For background, see Barkely, Saquan.) Iowa also is interested in Adams, which just adds to the pile of evidence that he would be a good pickup. Adams’ national rank has surged in tandem with the boost in interest, as he has moved up 282 spots in the composite to #879 in the last week and a half.
There's one last item that bears mention from Lorenz's most recent notes post, and it involved two linebackers. There's reason to believe Michigan is in good position certainly with GA LB Kalen DeLoach's family, though there's some question about whether he himself prefers Michigan or Florida State, where he's currently committed. You also may remember FL LB Anthony Solomon's name popping up seemingly out of nowhere as a flip candidate before falling off the radar again. Lorenz says that there's a good chance he ends up at Michigan, with the Temple head coaching search having a big impact on this one; at the time of publishing, it seems that Miami DC Manny Diaz will get the job, which should boost Michigan's odds.
Kind Of Both Classes Update:
Michigan added a grayshirt commitment from OH ATH (but probably S) Caden Kolesar. Here’s WolverinesWire’s Isaiah Hole with some grayshirt details:
As a grayshirt, Kolesar will not enroll in classes (or at least won’t as part of the football team in official capacity) until the Winter 2020 semester, and his scholarship will count in the 2020 class, even though he’s a 2019 prospect coming out of high school.
Kolesar is teammates with current 2019 commit WR Quintel Kent, with whom he just won a DI state title. He’s a bit on the smallish side at 5’9.5” but has a very good verified 4.18 second shuttle time from last May. He had interest from a couple of MAC schools and Army, but he opted to follow a dream and continue a legacy; his dad is John Kolesar and his grandfather is Bill Kolesar.
2020 Update:
Alabama may have flipped Michigan’ highest-rated recruit with shocking, almost accidental, ease, but it looks like Michigan will get a chance to poach one of their highly regarded commits. AL DL Jayson Jones tweeted that he’s planning to officially visit Michigan, Nebraska, and Florida. The #41 player in the nation is, as Lorenz writes, not often brought up when discussing Michigan’s defensive line recruiting, so it’s a pretty big surprise that he’s deciding to visit. It sort of looks like he just wants to get some free travel in, as he was on twitter last night trying to get guys to commit to Alabama. He also quote-tweeted *cough*bama*cough* in response to a tweet about things being great in Gainesville after announcing the day before that he would take an official to Florida, so yeah, seeming pretty free travel-y. We shall see.
Things said by MI WR Rashawn Williams at the recent Rising Stars 250 showcase provide decidedly more optimism from the Michigan perspective than in the case of Jones. Williams, who impressed early this season while being scouted for Future Blue Originals, spoke with The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich and said he’d like to wrap up his recruitment by February or March. Though he mentioned dropping a top eight, it’s clear that Michigan and Ohio State will make the cut. He told Marich that he’s “kind of feeling” Michigan, and it helps that they already have a few players he’s comfortable around, including Ambry Thomas and 2020 commits MI CB Andre Seldon and MI LB Cornell Wheeler. It also didn’t bother Williams that Michigan lost receivers coach Jim McElwain, as he’s mostly been communicating with Harbaugh. FWIW, crystal balls were split 50/50 between Michigan and Ohio State when the article was published two days ago, but two Michigan CBs from SpartanTailgate’s Stephen Brooks and OMSpirit’s Derrel Hart have swung things.
Another prospect close with Seldon and Wheeler is MI DB Makari Paige. Safeties coach Chris Partridge has taken the lead with Paige, and he’s let Paige know that he’s their top safety target in the 2020 class; Ohio State has apparently done the same. Paige told TMI’s Marich that Wheeler is recruiting him, telling him he should stay home. Aside from a visit to Ann Arbor to watch practice this weekend, Paige doesn’t have any other trips planned. There doesn’t seem to be a timeline for his recruitment, but he talked to Marich about having a certain level of comfort not only in knowing players at Michigan, but knowing that his high school runs the same defense as Michigan. The four-star told The Wolverine’s Brandon Brown that Urban Meyer retiring doesn’t impact his thoughts on Ohio State, as his primary recruiters are still on staff and have been telling him things won’t change without Meyer. Michigan may hold a big crystal ball lead, but Paige’s offer list and quotes (he also told Brown he would like to take his officials and see schools further from home) make it appear that this recruitment could go on for quite some time.
Etc.:
Lorenz looks back at Michigan’s 2016 class. Andre Seldon watches lots of film. Giles Jackson senior highlights that are worth your 6.5 minutes.
December 12th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
I think its safe to say that us BPONE inflicted Mich fans will need to wait until signing day to unclench (please be early signees all).
December 12th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
Trying to unclench, but relying on a Rutgers commit as a backup for Eric Gray seems like bad planning. The staff had to now Eric was going to decommit for a while, and the best they could possibly land is a Rutger's Commit. Yeesh.
December 12th, 2018 at 6:37 PM ^
Saquan Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, and that pretty good IU freshman we’re all Rutgers admits. They may suck at keeping them but Rutgers has a pretty good track record with Rb recruits (at least the decommits ).
December 12th, 2018 at 6:41 PM ^
LOL. Barkley was the #112 ranked player in the country when he committed. You're comparing Barkley to Adams!? That is just ridiculous.
I'm not speaking of "Rutger Admits", I'm speaking of a kid who is committed to Rutgers. Furthermore, other than an Iowa offer, has a very mediocre offer list.
December 12th, 2018 at 11:35 PM ^
It will be nice when Michigan once again has a "game changing / game breaking" RB. Our backs for the last 10-15 years have been "capable" to perhaps "good". I just cannot wait to see a combination of a QB that can win games (I believe we actually have one and probably another in McCaffrey) and a RB that the defense actually has to game plan for.
December 12th, 2018 at 6:23 PM ^
Next week will be a great week x2 or maybe 3!
Cheers
December 12th, 2018 at 4:32 PM ^
It's Makari Paige, not Page.
December 12th, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
Fixed, thanks
December 12th, 2018 at 4:35 PM ^
Man, that 2016 recruiting class was nice. Way more fun than the retrospectives looking back at various RichRod/Hoke classes.
December 12th, 2018 at 6:25 PM ^
Some of Hoke's classes where quite solid. Problem was that under Hoke and RR the talent just never delivered.
December 13th, 2018 at 9:07 AM ^
The talent was there - it was the coaching and teaching that was never delivered.
December 12th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
I get if Dax Hill just decommitted, but he immediately flipped to Bama. He didn't seem like the kind of kid to just make snap decisions. Hope is a nice thing to have but I'd wager neither he nor Zach Harrison end up in Ann Arbor.
December 12th, 2018 at 5:52 PM ^
If the osu game impacted his thinking Harrison is going to osu
December 12th, 2018 at 6:10 PM ^
I feel like it might also give certain members of his inner circle some cover for pushing him to OSU. I've gotten a sense that he likes Michigan but it's tough being from nearby. I sort of doubt he comes to UM as it currently stands, but that is probably influenced a bit by the Hill flip seemingly out of nowhere.
December 12th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^
This is where I'm at too.. At least it looks like Don Brown is staying though, he's more important than any recruit, IMO.
December 13th, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
I am one to believe that one game shouldn't sway a players decision as to where he is gonna spend 4 years, but that loss was about the worst thing to happen to Michigan's recruiting in the 11th hour.
December 12th, 2018 at 8:12 PM ^
Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
December 12th, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
Thanks Andy!
December 13th, 2018 at 6:31 AM ^
It’s probably a snap decision considering neither the Michigan staff nor the Bama staff had any idea this was happening. It isn’t often a recruit not only doesn’t tell the school he was committed to he’s leaving, but doesn’t tell the school he is committing to that he’s going to do it.
It’s probably more than a coincidence that Harbaugh leaving and Brown leaving rumors had been floating around recently as well. Could have induced a snap decision
December 13th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
The Hill decommit was just weird. He had stated how important relationships with his fellow recruits and that winning wasn’t the only important thing to him. The whole flip makes little sense from what he was telling everyone when he committed.
December 13th, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^
Our classes are always going to disappoint so long as we keep getting smoked by OSU every year (a lot like the seasons do).
December 12th, 2018 at 4:52 PM ^
Today, someone gave a CB to Michigan for Dax Hill.
Are you saying there's a chance?
December 12th, 2018 at 4:53 PM ^
Any news on Crouch? Last I heard he was down to Clemson and Michigan. Is that still the case or is he another 5 star that is going to get away?
December 12th, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^
go with your gut.
December 12th, 2018 at 4:59 PM ^
He is going to Clemson
December 13th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
Any validity to that or are you just saying that as a Debby downer?
December 12th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^
Everything about this class points to it ending with the same sort of “wet fart” that 2018’s class did. 62-39 is an insane black mark on the program and almost too perfect a fit with the negative recruiting themes being used against the program I think.
December 13th, 2018 at 4:06 AM ^
The 62-39 was the jalapeno and menudo soup bubbling in the gut as we speak. Here we go again but this coming signing day wet fart may be memorable in terms of depth and aroma.
December 13th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
It’s like all the positive momentum just disintegrated with that loss. What an embarrassing day and I had a feeling that this one loss would hurt us so badly. Osu gets curb stomped by Purdue and it didn’t effect them whatsoever in recruiting. Couple it with the Harbaugh rumor train and it seems we can’t get over the hump.
December 12th, 2018 at 5:00 PM ^
After watching 30 seconds of the Giles Jackson video, I'll wait until he signs before finishing.
December 12th, 2018 at 7:23 PM ^
You lasted thirty seconds? Impressive...
in all seriousness that is some seriously badass highlight film. The speed, elusiveness, and acceleration are all very very good. He’s gonna be a fun one.
December 12th, 2018 at 9:01 PM ^
Let’s hope Pep and/or the next OC use him effectively.
December 12th, 2018 at 5:02 PM ^
Kay'Ron Adams looks like an underrated player. Would love to add him to the class. Great burst, balance, and vision. A little small, but 5-10/190 is hardly tiny. He's also getting it done against very good competition--almost 1,700 yards in the regular season at 7.3 YPC with 18 TDs in Ohio's top division. Added 191 receiving yards as well.
Kay'Ron, Go Blue!
December 13th, 2018 at 7:59 AM ^
Have you watched the clip of the little Kolesar's teammate-Castleberry? Chances are that he will come as a POW...and hopefully this happens...he is one dynamic back...2** be damned!
December 12th, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
We need Hill to have a “fuck Michigan” moment. It could work twice!
December 12th, 2018 at 5:51 PM ^
I’m confused how a supposedly solid recruit not wanting to sign early wasn’t a red flag when that was his original intent
December 12th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^
I didn’t get that either, seems to me that’s a giant flashing sign saying recruit a different safety, something about this is just weird.
Bama being Bama explains a lot for sure, but something is just weird here.
December 12th, 2018 at 7:40 PM ^
by this logic then bama should be worried as well because he is still saying he is going to be signing in February with his friends like he had planned to all along.
December 12th, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^
Because he wanted to sign with his high school teammates
December 13th, 2018 at 9:30 AM ^
5* Players have ZERO to gain by signing in the early period or signing an LOI at all. It binds them to the school, but does not bind the school to them. Nobody (except maybe Bama under the right circumstances) is squeezing him out of their class because he waits to sign until February, so why WOULDN'T he wait and see how coaching changes, early draft entries, bowl games, etc. play out before making a decision?
December 12th, 2018 at 8:41 PM ^
Why do we still cite Lorenz as a good source. He knows nothing
December 12th, 2018 at 9:37 PM ^
Hey Dax, we'll leave the light on for ya.
December 12th, 2018 at 9:50 PM ^
I see Sam now has a Buy One Get One subscription offer.
December 12th, 2018 at 10:29 PM ^
"Lorenz reports that Michigan has gotten in contact with the three-star twice in the past week, and he believes the interest is legitimate."
Somebody we know has just spontaneously combusted.
December 13th, 2018 at 2:47 AM ^
Bama surprised Hill flips his commit while they were going to make a run at flipping a current OSU commit....gotta love the double dong punch there.
December 13th, 2018 at 4:10 AM ^
All your dong punches are belong to us.
December 13th, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
Then that is it. He wanted to secure the S slot at Bama.
December 13th, 2018 at 9:32 AM ^
Buys him more time to make the decision. Sucks for us fans, but smart move by the kid. We're not turning him down just because he waits until February, and this keeps the door open for him at Bama.
December 13th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
It's highly unfortunate for all concerned, but another spot for this year's class has apparently opened with O'Maury Samuels' departure. Hard to believe there will be enough spots for all of the recruits.
December 13th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
Does anyone know if oversigning is still an issue? Seems like I can recall a story from a few years back that this was happening pretty routinely at Alabama. Has anyone heard if this is still occurring to the same degree?
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