Thursday Recruitin' Plans Ahead
In-State Updates: Michigan Moving Up
While 2015 was a down year for prospects in the state of Michigan, 2016 boasts a solid crop of in-state recruits, and there's no question Jim Harbaugh has to work from behind for many of them; he's just getting to know players who've been recruited by the likes of Meyer and Dantonio for years, in some cases.
Visits over the last few days have spurred progress in that regard. In four-star Cass Tech OG/DT Michael Onwenu's case, so did a certain issue with a teammate, per Rivals' Josh Helmholdt ($):
"[My Ohio State interest] lowered a little after the (Mike Weber) incident," Onwenu said. "My position is they should have told him anyway. He had a bond with the coaches, and if I had a bond with a coach and was excited to play for that coach, that is something I should know."
Onwenu, who'd previously named the Buckeyes as his leader, now claims no favorites. He visited Michigan, which is one of a couple schools recruiting him for offense, last week.
Four-star Detroit King WR Donnie Corley also made it campus last week, and his father told Sam Webb that M is moving up his son's list ($):
Sam Webb: Before it seemed like Michigan was on the outside looking in. It seemed like Michigan was like fourth or fifth on his list. Do you think Michigan is more in the picture with him now?
Donnie Corley Sr.: “Yeah, most definitely. It was real impressive. We were real impressed with it.”
Three-star Farmington WR Desmond Fitzpatrick, who recently added a Michigan offer, was back on campus Tuesday for a practice and also plans to attend the Spring Game, according to Allen Trieu.
The father of four-star Plymouth OT Michael Jordan told Webb that the new staff is "very high" on his son, and he plans to camp at Michigan for a day this summer ($).
2017 Orchard Lake St. Mary's LB Josh Ross, younger brother of James Ross, told GBW's Kyle Bogenschutz that the new staff "definitely does" help Michigan's chances to land him ($). The coaches have re-affirmed Ross' offer from the previous staff.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Ahead of Schedule
It sure looks like Michigan is a safe bet to land three-star FL OLB Jonathan Jones, who pulled in an offer back around Signing Day. After pulling in a coveted offer from Georgia this week, Jones steered his discussion with Scout's Amy Campbell towards another school ($):
“I have a good school in mind, I’ve been researching it and talking to all the coaches. They feel real fired up about me, I feel real fired up about them. I’ve prayed about it, talked to my parents about it, so as the time comes down, I think I’ll keep feeling sure about it.”
It’s quite likely Jones is talking about Michigan. He continues to name Michigan as the frontrunner. He hasn’t visited the Wolverines program yet, and he’d love to get to Georgia, but he also plans to commit this spring.
Yesterday, Jones informed 247's Steve Lorenz that he'd already scheduled his official visit to Ann Arbor for the weekend of September 25th, when Michigan hosts BYU ($). With a spring decision planned, he could be in the fold long before he sets foot on campus.
New Offers
Michigan continues to pepper the 2016 class with offers and also get a jump on the elite prospects of the 2017 class, as well.
Three-star LA DE Willie Baker told Maize n Brew that it felt "amazing" to be offered by Michigan. If Baker's going to make it to campus, however, it'll most likely be in the fall in the form of an official visit.
Michigan became the highest-profile offer for unranked NC LB Jonathan Smith, who told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown that recent interest from other school caused him to scrap his top two ($):
The Blue Devils have already offered Smith and have done a good job with him. He recently named Duke and Georgia Tech as his top two schools but with so much new interest lately, he's backing off of that statement just a bit.
"I really don't have a top school or any sort of top group right now," he revealed. "I'm just still trying to see what schools are best for me. Some of this new attention has me slowing down a little bit."
Virginia also offered recently, and Smith visited Florida State last weekend.
The Wolverine reported four more offers out to the 2016 class:
- Four-star NC CB Marquill Osborne, who committed to Tennessee last September and doesn't appear to be wavering.
- Three-star AL ILB Erroll Thompson, who also added a Louisville offer this week.
- Three-star NC ATH Thaddeus Moss, a jumbo athlete (6'4", 240) who could play tight end or defensive end. He's the son of Randy Moss, and we're all one step closer to death's door.
- Three-star CA CB Lamar Jackson, who also added a recent UCLA offer after winning positional MVP honors at a Rivals camp in Las Vegas.
Michigan also offered a couple top 2017 targets. FL CB Stanford Samuels is poised to be a five-star; per 247, Michigan was his 27th verbal offer. PA ATH Paris Ford told Lorenz that "words can't explain" how he felt after Michigan offered; he's arguably the top Pennsylvania prospect in his class and already holds PSU and Pitt offers.
Etc.
Four-star FL WR Eli Stove, the #73 overall player on the 247 Composite, told Lorenz that he's planning to visit Michigan in March ($). He added that Auburn—the Crystal Ball favorite—and Michigan are the two schools recruiting him the hardest right now.
Four-star CA OLB Camilo Eifler told Scout's Brandon Huffman that he'll take an April tour through the Midwest that'll include trips to Northwestern and Michigan ($). Eifler noted Cal, UCLA, and Washington are the programs pursuing him the hardest.
Four-star FL CB Chauncey Gardner told 247's Ryan Bartow that he'd like to get an offer from Michigan ($). Ohio State, Miami (YTM), and Florida are currently standing out in his recruitment.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^
just for Being There. Sorry, that is the best that I could come up with on short notice.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
classic peter sellers reference. nice.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:08 PM ^
This is MGoBlog - that was a Jerzy Kosinski reference!!!!
February 26th, 2015 at 6:29 PM ^
Jerzy Kosinski arrived at UM as a Writer in Residence the same year tha Bo arrived.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
Good work, I bet only a few of us will know that name.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:57 PM ^
I like to watch.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:45 PM ^
Nice work. I was trying to think of a way of using that reference.
February 26th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^
TV! Also Chance left a message, if I can remember it....you go tell Raphael that I ain't takin no sh..t from no western union messanger. You tell that a...hole if he got somethin to tell me to get his azz here himself...
February 26th, 2015 at 9:54 PM ^
somebody was already watching
February 26th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 7:05 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
Randy Moss having a 17-year-old son makes me feel so incredibly old. Next thing you're going to tell me is that Lebron James has a kid who's already getting recruited to play basketball.
February 26th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^
Tyrone Wheatley, on the other hand... Yes, it was with TJ Jr. that I felt I'd crossed the border.
February 26th, 2015 at 7:32 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 3:13 PM ^
Gwendolyn Bush has been a huge hit with parents, according to Sam Webb. I know the Jordan kid's dad referenced this, and I think Webb mentioned another partent did as well. Not only for players on the roster, but for recruits, this looks like just a home run hire.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^
How does the Coaching Staff decide upon a "pecking order" of who they will accept commitments from, and who has to wait on higher rated prospects ?
Everyone can't come to Michigan, and you don't want to lose out on a five star future pro who will decide later, because you took a three star project early in the process. It must be a tough juggling act to sign the best roster you can, and do right by the kids involved.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:06 PM ^
I've always wondered how we manage this. The "committable" vs. "non-commitable" offer seems a bit SECish.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^
...I don't think that's something they have to worry about too much. Most of the early offers have gone out to high-level prospects being pursued by several top programs. Those aren't the guys who are going to commit early, for the most part. Most of the three-star-and-below prospects who've received offers have offer sheets suggesting they'll be rated higher at the end of the cycle.
It's early yet for Michigan to be offering the level of prospect who'd jump at an offer and potentially take a spot from a higher-rated guy. The staff, as best I can tell, manages this through the timing of their offers; we haven't heard anything about levels of committable offers yet.
February 26th, 2015 at 7:21 PM ^
I heard they offered/invited Tim Walton to camp at Michigan to potentially earn an offer. I think it is highly possible that other recruits are getting invited to camp at Michigan. For whatever reason that time there was miscommunication or misunderstanding and someone reported that he had an offer.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 3:14 PM ^
I'm getting less caught up in the stars with our new coaching staff. If they like the film, I think this staff sees talent they can develop even if it isn't obvious to the recruiting sites. I also went through 247's projected first rounders (I know, projected) and I'm amazed how many 3* and juco guys there are. I guess I'm just saying that I understand your concern, but try not to think of all 3* guys as projects.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:47 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 6:28 PM ^
5 stars and 300-350 4 stars each year. It varies according to the service. Shelton Johnson, for example, was #365 and 3* in the 247 composite rankings. There are about 2500 FBS scholarship players in each class.
Aside from that, some of those JuCos would have been ranked higher if they were expected to qualify out of HS.
February 26th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^
But not everybody wants to, plenty of these kids are gonna commit to other schools as well.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^
This staff definitely has a much more national reach. There are very few Ohio recruits in this summary especially compared to Hoke who it seemed offered almost every Ohio prospect.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:38 PM ^
or wrong way...but I really like the idea of hitting ohio hard. I would put ohio Division 1 up against any in the country. But no doubt Harbaugh is going after whoever he thinks is the best no matter where they are
February 26th, 2015 at 7:32 PM ^
Michigan has offered 4 of the top 10 recruits in Ohio. 2 OT and 2 TE.
I think it has to do with need as well. The coaches have thrown out offers to lots of secondary recruits early on. The 2016 crop of DB in Ohio looks weak with the highest rated DB coming in at #18 in the state.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^
March is going to be a big month for recruiting. Someone is going to get the Harbaugh 2016 class rolling. Lots of spring visits are in the works.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:44 PM ^
Wrong thread.
February 26th, 2015 at 3:33 PM ^
Negative. Perfect thread.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:53 PM ^
Hardaway!
February 26th, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^
I think a lot of the '16 recruits like the new direction of the program, but are waiting to see results this fall.
Hopefully our team can match the new buzz around the program and we will be that much more attractive to new recruits.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
plays out, just like every other year.
February 26th, 2015 at 3:37 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 5:17 PM ^
Reports that Stove runs at a high temperature, and is a bitch to clean.
February 26th, 2015 at 6:52 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 7:16 PM ^
February 26th, 2015 at 10:00 PM ^
if he can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. we should really grill him.....etc
February 26th, 2015 at 3:46 PM ^
I hope we get Michael Jordan.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:12 PM ^
Is he a DE? How many stars he has?
February 26th, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^
Corley especially, he's gonna be a player.
February 26th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
lives a long and prosperous life.
I have no ill will toward Weber, I wish him the best. But Onwenu is spot on.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:02 PM ^
that guy seems to get beaucoup yards in all Onwenu's film highlights or is it just he has a hole the size of Charlie Weiss's backside to run through all the time ?
February 26th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^
So which one is Michael Jordan (NTMJ)? The guy who played basketball or the future UofM commit?
February 26th, 2015 at 5:35 PM ^
That coach Hoke was so obsessed with recruiting Ohio and getting as many player's as possible that he might have been reacting to the numbers of a good job performance.
February 26th, 2015 at 7:32 PM ^
It Just kept making me pissed off to watch how good Weber played and considering how he is still going to our hated Rival even after they lied to his face.
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