Wednesday Recruitin' Looks Kinda Like T-Pain
Remember, all-time updates can be found on the 2011 Michigan Football Recruiting Board. If you have any recruiting tips or questions, you can e-mail them to me at [email protected] or tweet @varsityblue. For game updates on Wolverine commits, check out the F riday Night Lights series.
Dallas Crawford Goes Blue
As covered on Friday, FL CB Dallas Crawford is the newest member of the Michigan Class of 2011. Also when he's wearing a ridiculous hat, you can throw some 8-bit sunglasses on him and he looks like T-Pain (gif credit to chunkums). Local paper coverage of his commitment:
The 5-foot-10, 186-pound Crawford called Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez around 9:30 Friday morning to deliver the news. “He said he was happy, he was ecstatic,” Crawford said. “He said it made his day.”
You can see his full season stats in detail in yesterday's Friday Night Lights post.
MGoUser SWFlaBlue has a son at South Fort Myers, and gave a bit of info about Dallas:
This kid is a tremendous leader and high character student in addition to being a flat phenomenal athlete. He never takes plays off and rarely leaves the field. On defense, his burst and quickness to the ball is outstanding. He breaks on the ball really well and can absolutely bring the wood, too.
There's a bit more there, including an interesting comparison to his teammate Sammy Watkins.
Speaking of Watkins, might Crawford's commitment help convince Sammy to commit to the Wolverines? It certainly can't hurt, and he would be an enormous bonus to the commitment of a highly-rated (yet still underrated) defensive back. Watkins says academics will be the main factor, and considering Michigan is by far the best school in his top three (Clemson and MIami are the other two), coming to school with his teammate and friend could be what takes Rich Rodriguez and co. over the top.
Sammy plans to announce a commitment at the Army All-American Game in January.
Rankings redux
Rivals updated their rankings, and Michigan recruits were affected like so:
- Dee Hart remains a 6.0 4-star, but he is now the top 4-star on that site. Rivals ranking guru Barry Every says Hart is "the best running back I saw this year..." then proceeds to put four RBs ahead of Demetrius. The dude is breaking records against the best competition in the country, so I'd say he's earned that fifth star, but whatever.
- Chris Rock, Greg Brown, and Tony Posada are predictable fallers, all dropping from 5.7, with Rock going to 5.6 and the others to 5.5.
- Everyone else remains static, including Jack Miller, who is criminally underrated at 5.5. Questions about what position he'll be playing at the next level may limit his rankings, but there's no way dude is less than a 4-star, either as a defensive end or offensive lineman.
A few Michigan targets also saw their rankings change, but I'll leave the breakdown to those who are committed.
Upcoming Visits
With the last home game of the year comes the last in-season visit weekend (except for bowl(!) practices), and The Wolverines will yet again welcome just a few recruits to the Big House:
- NC TE Jack Tabb will take his official as long as it doesn't interfere with his high school playoff game. Since his high school season has ended, he'll be in town.
- Tom also says NC LB Kris Frost is likely to visit, but the remainder of visits will likely be unofficials.
- IL OL Chris Bryant and his junior teammate Jordan Diamond might be in the house.
For this week's full list, check out Tom's updated diary. After a week off for Thanksgiving and the game at Ohio State, Michigan's coaches will have two consecutive weekends with plenty of visitors. December 3:
- FL S Wayne Lyons announced his final three visits on Twitter, including to Michigan on 12/3.
- MD CB Blake Countess will be in Ann Arbor on the third.
Further into the future:
- CA WR Devin Lucien is talking with Michigan's coaches about a possible visit and offer ($, info in header).
-
NJ Slot Miles Shuler's on-again/off-again relationship with Michigan appears to be on-again, as he's trying to set up a December visit to Ann Arbor:
Shuler visited Northwestern in late October and is trying to schedule visits to Michigan and Rutgers sometime in December, [Long Branch HS Coach Dan] George said.
He's visiting Stanford for the weekend of the 3rd, so maybe a Big Chill visit is in the works. - The Dr. Philips contingent won't visit until after their season.
As always with visits, this information is liable to change at any time.
Etc.
Rivals' Mike Farrell answers a mailbag question about Michigan's defensive recruiting. He's high on most of the defensive class (except Chris Rock), and thinks Michigan can finish strong now that Rich Rodriguez's job is secure.
Different sources can't agree about whether NC QB Marquise Williams will consider decommitting from North Carolina. The latest says yes.
AZ OL Cyrus Hobbi has committed to play in the Under Armour All-American game.
IL DT Mason Fuller hopes his senior film will net an offer from Michigan.
Michigan may have slipped into fourth place for FL DT Timmy Jernigan, though he tells Edward Aschoff that his top four remains even.
NC S Mark Bridges is starting to hear from Michigan:
“Michigan is starting to be heavily interested. That’s a school I’m really waiting on as well. Michigan has talked a lot about coming up on a visit.”
It's likely the Wolverines' interest is due to Bridges's teammate, NC LB Kris Frost.
Though he visited Ann Arbor for the Illinois game, CA K Matt Goudis has no intention of decommitting from Boise State ($, info in header).
2012
KY QB Zeke Pike has mostly shown interest in SEC programs, but Michigan's coaches will visit him in December.
ESPN fluff on Cass Tech juniors LB Royce Jenkins-Stone and CB Terry Richardson. Both are hearing from Michigan, and Jenkins-Stone claims an offer from the Wolverines, who lead for his services.
IL DT Tommy Schutt has added a Notre Dame offer to his list that includes Michigan and several other schools.
November 17th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
Really excited about Dallas Crawford, but why is he so underrated? I have a feeling he's going to step right in and be a huge impact for our defense. Also, we need dreads on defense again.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
I agree, he could be a potential 3 year starter. Plus he's got a cool name.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
Zeke Pike..big pro style QB. A little confused about us showing interest.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
Pike isn't a pro-style guy. He's a hefty dual-threat. A poor man's Cam Newton (no pun intended), if you will.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
Ahh, I see. Thanks.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
i see what you did there.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
He'd be an awesome pick-up for QB. Except it'd be hard to convince him to sit and wait behind Gardner. BTW, does anyone know if this kid will get a medical redshirt? If not, what a waste of an eligible year.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
Why are Tony Posada and Chris Rock predictable fallers? What makes you say Jack Miller should be at least a 4 star at either position?
November 17th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
Read the Friday Night Lights posts, including the videos I took of them.
Rock and Posada both struggled this year (with POsada missing a few games because of a knee injury).
Miller is good enough to be a 4-star prospect. Watch the video from both of his games I went to this year. He's a hell of a lineman.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
K thanks for the good work.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
Thanks for the work. Its interesting to hear these first-hand observations.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
Is there any chance that Miller gets a bumpm after playing in any all star games? Just wondering.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^
I don't think he'll be invited to many all-star games - maybe the Ohio North-South game, but that would probably be it. What I don't understand is why the recruiting services don't just wait until high school football seasons are over (I believe the playoffs in Florida and Texas end after the second week of December) before updating their rankings.
Either way, Miller's ranking to the recruiting services isn't a huge deal at this point, except for recruiting bragging rights, since Michigan fans are probably convinced, on the basis of the evidence, that he's a pretty good player, regardless of what the sites say.
November 17th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
I haven't seen much on Posada, but from what I've seen of him and Chris Rock...
...meh.
I'll say this for both of them: they've got solid frames.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
It is obvious that he was destined for The Woolfpack all along.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^
November 17th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^
High three, maybe low four? I've only seen them play a couple times in person, and I was focusing the majority of my attention on Hollowell, so I couldn't get a good read on them.
Jenkins-Stone is a good fullback for his high school team (where I think he focuses most of his time) in addition to being a decent linebacker (where he'll likely play in college). He'll probably be the higher-rated of the two when all is said and done.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
CRAWFORD NEEDZ MOAR GRILLZ
November 17th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
Thanks for the goodwork. Crawford looks like an 80 year old man. Anyone see his pic in the freep? I thouhgt maybe that was his grandpa.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
Rivals is a business, and my perception over the years is that they tend to rate guys that have not committed or have no clear leader, so they can hype them up and make more $$$$$. There is no reason Hart should be a *4; You know it, I know it, Hart knows it, Rich Rod knows it and Rivals knows it. And as for Crawford.....the combination of skill and character, that dude will be all BigTen.
Take this to the bank: When it is all said and done, Kellen Jones (Rivals 4*) will be a better LB than Lawrence Thomas (Rivals 5*). You heard it here first. Fuck Rivals.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:00 PM ^
Jones is actually a 3* on Rivals, though from watching film on him, he deserves a fourth. He flies to the ball and can lay some punising hits on guys. He's a great athlete, though Rivals probably views him as being undersized. They tend to be in love with linebackers who are 6'4" or taller.
November 17th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^
WOW, I honestly did not even think to double check Jones rivals star rating. I guess I just assumed there was no way Rivals had him as anything other than a 4*.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
I think there is a very good chance that Thomas ends up playing WDE rather than LB in college.
Rember when Will Gholston actually believed the MSU staff's assurance that he would play LB? Ah, those crazy, innocent kids.
November 18th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
....on Thomas? I thought the general book on him was that he's a pretty natural, instictual LB?
MSU is not as poor for Big 10 DE sized people as we have been in the past, either. Thomas has a pretty good chance, if he's really all that at LB, to come in and take over Eric Gordon's vacated OLB spot as a true frosh. Nobody among the group of backup LBs has really distinguished themselves that I've seen except Max Bullough, who's the heir apparent in the middle.
November 17th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
There actually is a reason that Hart should be a 4-star.
A big part of Rivals' ratings is based on NFL potential. And 5'8" isn't exactly prototypical size for an NFL back.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
The need is greatest on defense, but with injuries to Persa, Arnaud and D. Robinson this year, I like tto see the added insurance at the QB position.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
I doubt we'll see him play QB unless there's an Angry Michigan Hating God Apocalypse at the position. Look at all the high school QBs we've recruited (Courtney Avery, for example) that don't see a lick of time at the position. As long as we continue successfully recruiting QBs, I don't think Dallas will play there.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
who play elsewhere next-level wise. Oftentimes in high school your QB is simply your best athlete/player. They're more talented than everyone and so they just do everything (QB). You see this a lot in baseball too. Many pro baseball players were pitchers in high school - who also hit .500. they were just their teams best player, so give them the ball every play.
At one point a few years ago I think the steelers had 5 former QBs on the field. Their real QB (cant remember if it was Rothlesberger or not) Ward, Randle El, another receiver, and the running back.
I'd be interested to see just how many NFL players were high school QBs
November 17th, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^
There's virtually no chance that he'll play QB at Michigan.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^
Seriously. Enough is enough. We're all excited to have him. He seems like a great prospect. Why bother whining and fretting about if he's a high 4 star or 5 star or even a 3 star on the recruiting sites?
If anything, it could serve as a motivation for him to prove he's better than these other guys. Root for him to have FEWER stars!
Terrance Robinson was rated higher than LaGarrete Blount and JaQuizz Rogers. The sites usually do a decent job, or at least as decent as one would expect, but they're not perfect. Who cares about the details, the fine tuning, the small adjustments. Once the guy is committed, it really doesn't matter what Rivals does.
November 17th, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^
I haven't heard much about him. Isn't he visiting in the near future?
November 17th, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^
Tim, why no mention of Tanner McEvoy vising on the 17th or Darius Patton visiting on the 10th of December?
November 17th, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
I didn't know he was visiting. Thanks for the link, I always like the quick and shifty guys.
November 17th, 2010 at 4:09 PM ^
Is Mason Fuller a backup plan if we don't get Jernigan, McReynolds or Cooper?
November 17th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
Excellent work as usual, but please refrain from starting sentences like this "AZ OL Cyrus Hobbi has committed to ..." I had a "Happy trails to Cyrus" flash at that one.
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