CROOTAGEDDON: Signing Day Primer
Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (far right) on his recent visit.
This post will be updated as new info comes in.
6 PM TUESDAY UPDATE: Added Shelton Johnson to the board.
7 PM TUESDAY UPDATE: Added Keith Washington to the board.
10 PM TUESDAY UPDATE: Added Karan Higdon to the board.
National Signing Day is tomorrow and the action gets started early for Michigan, as tight end target Chris Clark is slated to announce at 8:30 am ET. Here's eveything you need to know heading into the biggest day on the recruiting calendar.
The Current Class
Michigan currently sits at nine commits, headlined by in-state ATH Brian Cole—who's expected to end up at receiver, though he could also play safety—and New Mexico QB Zach Gentry, a recent flip from Texas. The list should hit ten by tomorrow; as you probably gathered yesterday, three-star Brother Rice WR Grant Perry, who was offered this week and decommitted from Northwestern last night, is expected to commit... well, any moment now.
The Board
The current list of propsects with offers and legitimate Michigan interest is down to eight prospects, including Perry. Here's the rest of the board, with their announcement time (if they've scheduled one) and my best guess at M's chances:
FL CB Jarius Adams (Rutgers commit) — 3-star, #125 CB, #1388 Overall (247 Composite)
Adams is a Rutgers commit who took an official to Michigan last weekend, and he's down to those two schools. He's actually expected to announce his destination sometime today, and it appears he'll stick with his current commitment.
CT TE Chris Clark — 4-star, #2 TE, #85 Overall
The one-time Michigan commit (and, previously, UNC commit) will choose between Michigan and UCLA at 8:30 am on ESPNU/WatchESPN. While Clark has been arguably the new staff's top target, insiders from both sides believe he's leaning towards UCLA. Of course, Clark's recruitment has been tough to predict all along, so we'll just have to wait and see.
TN WR Van Jefferson (Ole Miss commit) — 4-star, #11 WR, #108 Overall
Jefferson's recruitment is hard to pin down, as well. He committed to Ole Miss on January 25th, got a Michigan offer three days later, and took an official visit to Ann Arbor last weekend. Rumors swirled of a possible flip when he left campus, but a recent report from 247's Barton Simmons indicates he's expected to stick with the Rebels, albeit while leaving open the possibility that he'll change his mind.
CA CB Iman Marshall — 5-star, #1 CB, #4 Overall
The pipe dream. Marshall has long been expected to end up at USC and that hasn't changed despite a solid official visit to Michigan a couple weeks ago. Florida State is also a factor; after visiting FSU, M, and LSU, Marshall cancelled a planned official to Oregon. He's announcing his decision on ESPNU/WatchESPN at 4 pm ET.
GA LB Roquan Smith — 4-star, #5 OLB, #47 Overall
While there was a fair amount of optimism after Smith's official visit in January, spurred by his strong bond with DJ Durkin, that's all but vanished in recent days. Steve Lorenz reports that Smith is expected to choose between in-state Georgia and (of course) UCLA, with the Bruins the surprise favorite to land him ($). He'll announce at 11 am ET on ESPNU/WatchESPN.
MI RB Mike Weber (Ohio State commit) — 4-star, #9 RB, #78 Overall
The Cass Tech star has totally shut down communication with the media in recent weeks, and it doesn't seem like insiders on either side have a clear idea of what he's going to do. Since Weber sat down with Jim Harbaugh last week there's been increasing optimism from Michigan's end, however, and in the last day or so that's leaked over to the Ohio State side of things. We'll see.
NY ATH Tyrone Wheatley Jr. — 4-star, #12 TE, #312 Overall
Wheatley is another prospect who's gone quiet with the press, but an out-of-the-blue trip to Ann Arbor last week provided a great deal of hope that he'll join his father at Michigan. According to Lorenz, the team with the best chance of stealing Wheatley away from Michigan is, in fact, UCLA, who's come on strong of late ($). He's expected to announce around 3:15 pm ET tomorrow.
LATE ADDITIONS: FL DE Shelton Johnson — 3-star, #20 SDE, #364 Overall
Late Tuesday afternoon, 247's Clint Brewster reported that two sources are telling him Michigan has a legitimate shot with Johnson, who visited in January. Johnson is also considering Florida State (the presumed favorite) and Miami. He's high school teammates with Markel Bush, who could be in line for a late offer.
AL CB Keith Washington (Cal commit) — 3-star, #76 ATH, #954 Overall
This is a suprising name to add to the board, as Washington initially rebuffed Michigan and never visited campus, but I'm told he'll choose between M and Cal at 8:30 am ET.
FL RB Karan Higdon (Iowa commit) — 3-star, #40 RB, #478 Overall
Higdon will choose between Michigan and Iowa at 8 am ET, according to Hawkeyes247's Andrew Kulha, despite previously announcing that he'd reaffirmed his commitment to the Hawkeyes after taking an official visit to Ann Arbor last weekend.
Last-Minute Offers?
Michigan has at least five open spots left in the class (assuming Perry takes a spot), and it doesn't look very likely that they'll get five players from the above group, so there's a decent chance we'll see a late offer or two go out, Dennis Norfleet-style. While the very nature of these offers make them pretty tough to predict, two names come to mind as potential candidates.
Unranked FL CB Markel Bush took an official visit a couple weeks ago; if Michigan misses out on Adams and Marshall, as expected, he could fill a need at corner. Bush doesn't hold any offers and would likely jump at the opportunity.
Cass Tech three-star LB/FB Michael Oliver, a Central Michigan commit, has come up as a potential late offer, and he could fill a need at either linebacker or fullback.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
8:30 Am is 5:30 in Los Angeles. That's really freaking early over by there. Just sayin'.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
Just looking for rays of sunshine in an otherwise bleak forecast.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
Is an odd time to tell a fan base your spending the next 3-4 years there. But this could be ESPN telling him his only time to do so is that early
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
Haha. Good one!
February 3rd, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^
Both those guys sleep in.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^
Clark lives in Connecticut, so I'm pretty sure the time choice is just Bristol-based ESPN looking for a high ranked local boy to kick off their coverage in studio.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:23 AM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^
In a small class, OL, DT/DE, WR, and QB are the most important because you don't want a yearly gap in these position groups because they typically take longer to develop and get up to speed in the college game. Luckily, we have three o-linemen, two QBs, one WR, and one d-end. Safety and TE are other positions that you typically don't see too many freshman getting playing time at and we're covered in those areas, too (assuming we get either Wheatley or Clark at TE -- one, if not both, will come).
It'd be nice to get a LB, CB, and RB in this class, but these are position groups that younger players can contribute at early in their career, so if Harbaugh can recruit 5 star studs in the 2016 class, I'm not too worried about a slip off in these areas (it's not like we'll be running out two freshman CBs at any point in the future and or 3 freshman LBs -- if one gets out there at each position group, it's not going to kill a season later on down the road like it would at offensive or defensive line, or at quarterback). And looking at RBs specifically, there were several freshman 1,000 yard rushers last year and in years prior to 2014, so if Weber doesn't come, it's not going to kill us.
February 3rd, 2015 at 7:00 PM ^
I like the way you think.
Because you told me what I want to hear.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
Don't get those hopes up too high. Not likely to be a stellar day.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
I am feeling the same way. I'm thinking tomorrow is going to be full of disappoint.
February 3rd, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:08 PM ^
Lewis loved UM. Not sure why Harbaugh didn't reciprocate since there is plenty of space in the class, especially for a consensus 4* CB.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
He had some issues with grades apparently.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
that I really wanted to hear Ace.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
Cole is a 4*? I was reading the local papers and they said he's #378 in Michigan.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
You live in East Lansing?
Cole is athletically one of the top kids in the entire nation - were talking Peppers type athletic ability. I do question a few things in regards to Cole, but this kid is borderline 5* IMO.
* Apologize, sarcasm actually just flew way over my head. So much negativity past few days it just blended in *
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
No worries, the Screamin' Eagles are masters of subtlety.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:11 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
Thanks for the well needed good news. Appreciated :) Hopefully its not a tactic for added suspense on his part.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
But it looks like that source is a kid, so I bothered not to post it. If you want to look, check out Gregg's twitter account.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^
tackle. 2 for one deal.
It appears he's going to Tennesse though.
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:10 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
Man that's bleak. Doesn't sound like any of them are likely to come.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
If I had to guess, I'd say Wheatley and Weber end up in the class, and I think there's a decent shot at Jefferson, too.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:20 PM ^
That exactly matches my hopes from reading your work the last few days. Not expectations, but hopes.
Can I start tweeting at you? You really belong at Michigan.
Oh wait...
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^
Well that makes me feel better
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^
maybe even get a wild card like Smith or even someone we haven't heard about yet? So they will probably have 1-3 unfilled spots. Are those spots likely to be filled by walkons or transfers? Or do these simply add on to the 2016 class? It has to be difficult with coaching changes because current players can't even relate to prospects what it's going to be like because the coaching staff is new to them too. Have a feeling next season the recruiting will be different.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
Chris Clark is one of those guys where if he was coming to Michigan, he probably woudn't have waited till signing day to announce. We've seen this "strong interest early - not commited (or decommited) but still interested - doesn't commit" situation with other top recruits in the past. Hope I'm wrong on this one.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:56 PM ^
We've seen that quite often with John B and the basketball team. We also saw it in the final stages of the Hoke era as well.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
Anyone else tired of kids pretending they don't know where they are going? Not saying there aren't a VERY few that legitimately aren't sure, but the vast, VAST majority of them know precisely where they are going.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
I think I'd rather be at work all day as opposed to seeing a bunch of 17-18 year olds put on UCLA hats.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
I don't think it is going to happen but it could be a shut out, at least on the top targets. Oh well, we move on. Still disappointing .
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
It won't be a shutout. Practically every recruiting analyst is saying we're getting at least a couple of the remaining targets.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
I think Grant Perry is set to commit in like 10-15 minutes...
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
Yeah, he seems a pretty sure thing after the tweets and his NW decommit. I'm thinking that we end up with Perry, Jefferson, and one of Wheatley/Weber (probably Wheatley)
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
I do not get it. Why are they such a big competitor?
I mean yeah... Hot ladies and it's California. Maybe I answered my own question.
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February 3rd, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
I think we get Jefferson, Perry (obviously), Wheatley Jr, and I still think Clark. By all indications he's looking for attention (not saying he shouldn't) and I don't think announcing UCLA at 5:30 am is quite the splash he'd be looking for. Not going to worry about Weber, I don't even know if he has made a decision yet.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
To me, the most important one is Marshall- we need D backs and he possibly could play right away. The second would be Smith and/or Wheatley.
I would say Clark, but if he wanted to be here I think he would have said so. Although these kids do like there five minutes of fame with the silly hat deals.
Hope JH has some players off the radar screen to fill this class up cause I am skeptical with these high profile guys.
Hope I am dead wrong and I am humming the Victors tomorrow afternoon.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
Perry just committed.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
Fuck.
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
What I learned from this is screw UCLA
February 3rd, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
Be prepared to be underwhelmed, but I wouldn't hold it against anyone on the staff. They worked their asses off in the limited amount of time they had to bring in recruits.
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