Recruits visiting this weekend
Not much has been made of the recruiting weekend Michigan has been having this weekend, but a few important guys for Michigan's future were visiting. Along with 2020 QB Dan Villari, who was discussed on the board last week (LINK), there are some solid in-state 2021 and 2022 recruits who are strongly considering Michigan. That includes Oak Park lineman Rayshaun Benny, who's currently a top-200 guy in the 247 Composite.
December 15th, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
Got any more of them defensive tackles?
December 15th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
Yeah, but his name is a secret.
December 15th, 2019 at 1:50 PM ^
Magnus at Touch The Banner has pretty regular updates on recruiting and who is visiting each weekend.
December 15th, 2019 at 3:30 PM ^
The Magnus that posted this thread ain't bad either.
December 15th, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
Who is this Magnus you speak of?
December 15th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
And women!
Don’t forget them ladies, y’all.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:43 PM ^
Homer Stokes, soivent of the Little Man
December 15th, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^
I thought we were frozen out from Oak Park guys? Don't they all go to Stoops at UK?
December 15th, 2019 at 2:30 PM ^
Not at all, but Justin Rogers is going to Kentucky. Oak Park puts out a good amount of quality players, and they end up in various locations (Enzo Jennings to PSU, John Kelly at Tennessee, Dwan Mathis to Georgia, etc.).
December 15th, 2019 at 3:19 PM ^
Marquan McCall also from Oak Park ‘18 ended up at UK too. A now 365 lb DT - exactly the kind of player we need, just like Rogers.
December 15th, 2019 at 6:17 PM ^
Do the players From Oak Park pan out in college or are their stats inflated because they are bigger, older high school kids playing against below average competition?
December 15th, 2019 at 7:32 PM ^
John Kelly made it to the NFL after playing running back at Tennessee. He honestly didn't do much in college (778 yards on 4.1 YPC in his last year), but going to the NFL is pretty good.
Marquan McCall has 24 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack in two years at Kentucky.
I haven't seen anything to suggest we're missing out on much that we're not getting from elsewhere. There's been a lot of talk about Rogers, but he wanted to be a tackle and he's like 6'2" or 6'3". I'm not sure he has the most realistic expectations.
I do think Enzo Jennings is a nice, physical defensive back.
December 15th, 2019 at 2:09 PM ^
I've read some rumblings about Jordan Morant maybe heading to Rutgers, anyone hear anything on this? Considering hes our 5th highest recruit and an area of need, it wouldn't be ideal.
December 15th, 2019 at 2:20 PM ^
I've heard nothing about Rutgers. He recently officially visited TAMU and USC (Cali). Last word, was that he is signing on Wednesday. The fact that he is taking a trip to Michigan on his own dime (his official was over the summer), is probably a good sign.
December 15th, 2019 at 2:38 PM ^
Meaningless +1 based on muscle memory.
December 15th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
Vito Campanile is his head coach at Bergen Catholic. There have been rumblings that Vito (and Anthony) Campanile could end up taking a job at Rutgers. *If* that happens then I think there might be possibility.
Otherwise, nobody really expects Morant to end up at Rutgers.
December 15th, 2019 at 2:47 PM ^
Wait, there’s a Vito, Nunzio, and Tony? That family is as Jersey as it gets.
December 15th, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
And he’s signing Wednesday, so Rutgers has 3 days to unite the Campaniles for this to happen. Morant is coming to Michigan.
December 15th, 2019 at 4:37 PM ^
But what if Vito says in a muffled voice with Italian accent, “Morant, I’m gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse.” What then??
December 15th, 2019 at 2:59 PM ^
How many OL do you think that Michigan is going to take next cycle? They've had huge classes the past 2 years but it seems that this year the state of Michigan is really strong on OL, not to mention all the big names we are on out of state as well. In addition to having El Hadi as a commit, we seem to be in really good position with Raheem Anderson, Rocco Spindler (who really should become a DT considering our need), David Davidkov, Rayshaun Benny, Cullen Montgomery, Caleb Tiernan, Drew Kendall, Greg Crippen, and Noah Josey. Also in okay positions with Garrett Dellinger, Landon Tengwall, Eli Sutton, and Tristan Leigh.
I would love for the staff to be picky about who they have commit, but even the 3 star folks seem to have high upside
December 15th, 2019 at 3:10 PM ^
Spindler's father was a beast. Even with a bad knee, too. I hope his kid plays DT.
December 15th, 2019 at 8:03 PM ^
I remember watching Spindler in the NFL draft in like 1990. I'm pretty sure they did a special focus on him because he was supposed to go in the first round, but had a knee injury. They kept flashing to him not getting drafted and then the Lions took him in the 3rd. People were excited about this guy they didn't know before the draft started because he was supposed to be a first rounder and we picked up Andre Ware in the first. I was disappointed we picked up Andre Ware because I like Rodney Pete who we drafted with Barry.
December 15th, 2019 at 4:41 PM ^
To you point, perhaps some of our surplus of O-linemen will move to DT. Many wanted Onwenu there the last 2 season. He projects to each side of the line in the NFL.
December 15th, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
I don’t see that happening. Onwenu was a standout DL player in high school too. I don’t think that was the case for any of our commits last year or this year for that matter
December 15th, 2019 at 7:35 PM ^
Yeah, if any of our current linemen flip to defense, I think they will just be bodies. Jack Stewart, Nolan Rumler, etc. are offensive linemen all the way.
December 15th, 2019 at 7:39 PM ^
In 2 years, 2 of these guys couldn't learn to play DT? Bodies are just what we may need!
December 15th, 2019 at 8:19 PM ^
It's not about whether they can learn the position. It's whether they're capable. You can't just throw big boys at any position and expect them to be successful. There are certain traits that are necessary.
December 15th, 2019 at 7:41 PM ^
It's really hard to say. You never know who's going to transfer, who's going to leave for the NFL, etc.
We took a lot in the way of numbers, which means there's going to be a lot of attrition. Does Spanellis stick around next year? And if he does, does that mean a transfer from Honigford or Filiaga? What about if Ruiz sticks around for another year, and one of Rumler/Carpenter ends up as the #3 center?
I will say that Michigan has a lot of good options in the 2021 class. I would take Spindler on either side of the ball. And I do think Raheem Anderson will probably come in at center. I think Dellinger and Tengwall are headed elsewhere.
I could be wrong, but I don't see Benny or Montgomery ending up at Michigan.
December 15th, 2019 at 8:06 PM ^
Dillinger seems headed to ND. Solid score if Spindler and Raheem choose UM.
Very disappointing if Tengwall chooses PSU - another top recruit that UM not only misses but loses to a division rival. I think the Theo Johnson loss could be a big factor in games between the two over the next 3 years.
December 15th, 2019 at 6:08 PM ^
2021 started well with JJ and El-Hadi - elite players at key positions. This staff (especially Partridge, Jay, Moore, Gattis, Campanile) seems like a very strong recruiting group. They didn’t pull a great class for 2020 with the latter two having limited time in role, so 2021 should be the litmus test.
December 15th, 2019 at 6:22 PM ^
JJ’s film looks pretty average for a 5-star recruit. Harbaugh needs to recruit 2022 QB Quinn Ewers out of Texas. The kid will probably end up at OSU but it’s worth a shot
December 15th, 2019 at 11:16 PM ^
Quinn looks less than average to me with those skinny arms and strange throwing motion. Is he your cousin?
December 15th, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
Not a great class? 13 - 4 star kids? Jury is still out, but this class doesn't look bad!
December 15th, 2019 at 6:32 PM ^
Now compare this class to the elite schools.
December 15th, 2019 at 6:37 PM ^
How many team are considered elite? 3 or 4? The other 127 being irrelevant?
December 15th, 2019 at 7:01 PM ^
Yeah, not a great class. A very solid class and excited about numerous guys like Corum, McGregor, Henning, Moten, Wilson and Persi.
Losing JD put a hole at QB, no top DTs, and no outside CBs (Green-Warren will help). Missing on Gentry and Johnson this month hurt the top end.
December 15th, 2019 at 8:58 PM ^
I really like this class. Lots of speed at skill positions with Henning, Wilson and Corum. The defense picked up some great DEs, some that can move inside, and tons of guys to fill spots at LB, Viper and safety. Lots of players to fit the system. If they can add one more CB before signing day that’d be great plus another OL and hopefully a late QB. I really like this class.
December 15th, 2019 at 9:23 PM ^
The core issue is the widening gap with OSU. They landed exceptional talent at many of the key matchup spots (WR, OT, CB, DT). They’ve landed 4, 2, 2, 14 and 4 over the last 5 classes, plus pulling Fields. UM cannot afford to lose top recruits to UVA and PSU if we want to match OSU at key positions.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
Michigan offers 300 or so prospects every year and can take roughly 25. Michigan is going to miss on 11 out of 12 prospects they offer.