TomVH: Weekly Update: Stefan McClure, Leilon Willingham, Frank Clark and More
This weekend was a huge success for Michigan, not only with the three commitments from K Matt Wile, DB Raymon Taylor, and DE Keith Heitzman, but with the other visitors as well. Here's what some of them had to say.
Stefan McClure
5'11", 170 lbs.
Defensive Back
Vista, California
The interest from McClure came from his relationship with Brady Hoke at San Diego State. Now that Hoke was at a bigger program like Michigan, McClure was interested.
It was a great time. We met with all the coaches, saw the stadium, and hung out with the players. My host was Denard Robinson, which was pretty cool. He's like a celebrity there. Walking through the Big House was pretty cool, too.
Michigan's new defensive coordinator, Greg Mattison, has only been on campus for one weekend, but he's already polished off his recruiting tricks.
I talked with the defensive coordinator quite a bit. We talked scheme, and he knows his x's and o's. It was pretty cool to be able to talk with him. I also talked to coach Hoke about the school, tradition, and the opportunity to play early there.
Stefan has said he will decide and announce sometime this week. I would imagine distance might be a factor with him, and I wouldn't get too excited. While I think he had a good time, it's hard to pull kids out of California. I would guess he'll stay home and go with someone like Cal.
Leilon Willingham
6'2", 240 lbs
Linebacker
Denver, Colorado
Willingham is a four star that had been committed to Texas A&M, and decided recently to take a trip out to Michigan. Coincidentally, or not so coincidentally, he took a recent visit to Colorado the same weekend as current Michigan commit Kellen Jones. Kellen had an opportunity to tell Leilon why he chose Michigan, and what he liked about it. This weekend he got to see it for himself.
We got a chance to talk to all the coaches, and it was pretty cool to sit down with the defensive coordinator. Ray Lewis is my idol, so that was like a dream. They were just telling me how they would use me up there, ether inside or outside. I really liked it up there. I mean, the Big House speaks for itself, everything was great. We hung out with all the other recruits, and everybody was just having a good time.
Willingham does have one more visit scheduled to UCF, and says that he will announce on signing day.
The (Michigan) coaches know I'm going out to Central Florida, so that's fine. I'm decommitted from Texas A&M, too, so I'm not with them anymore.
However, don't be surprised if he decides to "come public" with his choice earlier than that. This visit put Michigan in the driver's seat, and then some.
Frank Clark
6'2", 210 lbs.
Linebacker
Cleveland, Ohio
Although he's from Glenville, Clark has always maintained that Michigan is high on his list. Before this visit Michigan was in his top three with MSU and UNC. I spoke to him briefly after his visit, and Michigan has definitely helped themselves with Clark.
He described the visit as, "excellent" and said that he will be announcing his decision on Friday the 28th. Clark is in the same category as Willingham right now. He will make his choice public soon, but Michigan has put themselves in the driver's seat with this visit.
What's Next?
- OL Chris Bryant is announcing on Friday. Likely between Michigan, Arizona, and Pitt. I like Michigan's chances.
- TE/LB Frank Clark is announcing Friday. Between Michigan, UNC, and MSU. I like Michigan's chances.
- LB Leilon Willingham may announce this week, but could wait until signing day. I like Michigan's chances.
- 4 Star TE Chris Barnett is visiting this weekend, the 28th.
- 4 Star DB Floyd Raven may visit Alabama this weekend instead of Michigan. We'll see what happens.
- RB Thomas Rawls may visit this weekend, and is announcing on the 31st. If he's qualified, I like Michigan's chances.
- DB Blake Countess may come back up for an unofficial visit to meet the new DC, and potentially the new DB coach if they have one in place.
Extra:
- OL commit Tony Posada was in Ann Arbor this weekend, and the visit reassured him of his commitment to Michigan. Nothing to worry about there.
- DT Darian Cooper just got done with an official to Iowa. He tweeted that Michigan's new DC Greg Mattison promptly called him, and said he was, "very interesting." That could be something to watch if they go after him hard.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
...round out exceedingly well. Much better than the early significant pessismism.
Of course, nothing will stop the bitching and moaning until Michigan beats MSU. Wait, that won't be enough. Nothing will stop the bitching and moaning until Michigan beats OSU. Wait, that won't be enough. Nothing will stop the bitching and moaning until Michigan wins the Big Ten. Wait, that won't be enough. Nothing will stip the bitching and moaning until Michigan wins the Rose Bowl. Wait, that won't be enough. Nothing will stop the bitching and moaning until Michigan gets to the BCSNCG. Wait, that won't be enough. Nothing will stop the bitching and moaning until Michigan wins the BCSNCG. Wait, that won't be enough.
Nothing will stop the bitching and moaning.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
I wish I could give you more then one point
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^
Michigan: Where expectations are usually in conflict with reality.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
This applies to soooo many things in life!
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:41 PM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:06 PM ^
This post is to bitch about the fact that you're bitching about the fact that we bitch about everything.
No one should be happy until UM football surpasses Coach Wooden's streak. No, not good enough... not until we surpass the Lady Huskies streak. Wait...
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^
Is that directly from the Maslow Hierarchy of Football?
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
Pick any school, especially in the SEC, and it's the same thing. Most fans are irrational by nature, when it comes to teams they support. If you think this is bad, then you have never met a Kentucky basketball fan.
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
I like what I hear about McClure and Willingham and hope we can pull in those 2 defenders. Raven is also an exciting prospect and it would make me feel much better about the future of the defense if we bring in these 3 big D prospects to round out the class.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
?????
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:15 PM ^
I like what McClure had to say in those quotes. From my reading TomVH is trying to temper the expectations of all us crazy fans acting like he's a sure thing. I like what McClure had to say and I like that he got hosted by Denard and talked scheme with Mattison.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
As always thanks Tom!
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
Great Stuff, Tom. Thanks for your efforts. Sounds like we have good chances with most of these guys.
Are there any visit scheduled for next weekend?
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^
Chris Barnett, maybe Darian Cooper (probably not), maybe Thomas Rawls, maybe Floyd Raven, maybe Antonio Poole, maybe Brandon Alexander, Keith Heitzman. It's very unclear at the moment
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
Thanks, DG. Would love to get Darian Cooper here. In my opinion, given our current commits, getting a DT should be priority number 1.
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^
we lose our only proven (and a stud too) DT after next season. Need to beef up the int line recruits.
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^
Heitzman is a solid commit.
edit: sorry, thought you were talking about silent commits, not next weekend's visitors.
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^
I don't know why you even felt it necessary to say that. What does that have to do with anything?
But anyway, I find it laughable when anybody considers a guy who just decommitted from another program a "solid commit." As far as I'm concerned, Justice Hayes and Keith Heitzman are soft commits. Yeah, I expect them to end up at Michigan, but they've proven that they can change their minds.
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
Whatever the case, I was just clarifying that Heitzman has already publicly committed and is not a "silent commit" (I have no idea what the status of his commitment is). After I re-read the post, I realized he was listing who could possibly visit next weekend and it had nothing to do with who was a silent commit. Take it easy there...
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^
I think we might get an official from Cooper... as mentioned above he tweeted that Mattison was a "very interesting" guy... maybe our staff tried touching him?
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
Thanks for the update.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
Between this and Sam Webb's most recent article on Scout, my expectations of our chances with Clark and Willingham went from very good to verry verry good.
Tom, Sam said we have some silent commits. Have you heard anything of the likes (wink)?
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
Rawls is odds are a silent commit. I think Bryant is as good as blue as well. Im kinda worried about Fischer though, not sure what that kid is thinknig.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
I agree with Rawls and Bryant. I still like our odds with Fischer.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
Silents are Willingham and Clark.......
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
I don't know what you're source is, but I hope you're right. It would be great to have another highly ranked linebacker in this class and to get a recruit from Glenville.
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^
I also believe Clark and Willingham are silent commits. My source is TomVH. His choice of 'make his decision public soon' and 'Michigan in the driver's seat, and then some' are like giant neon flashing lights that spell out SILENT COMMIT as far as hints from TomVH go.
I really like the addition of these two (hopefully)! I'll wait in cautious optimism until their announcements....
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
I guess he is alluding to them as going public
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^
Great news!! Thanks Tom.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^
Thanks Tom for satisfying all the addicts, me included. As always, dont know what we'd do without you.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:21 PM ^
Probably lots of drinking and drug abuse until the season starts.
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^
Not much else to do in the dead of winter.
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
In the dead of winter too. :-)
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:41 PM ^
addicts and satisfaction
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^
Great to hear we're doing well with big time recruits. Has Hoke or Mattison contacted any of the high rated recruits that were thinking of us under RR? Jernigan, Hobbi, Frost, Zettle, Curtis Grant? I realize the ship has sailed for a few of them, but they all had major interest in Michigan at one point. and it's not over until they're signed.
Are we recruiting Raven for CB or S? He's a pretty damn good size.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
What Hoke & co. are doing now makes me optimistic for the future of Michigan recruiting.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
I love the fact that they are recruiting the hell out of Michigan and Ohio. With Hoke being out west, Mattison on the east coast, and Borges from all over, I look forward to the future of Michigan recruiting.
Recruiting Michigan hard hurts MSU more than anything. And i LOVE that.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
HOKEAMANIA IS RUNNING WILD!!!
Seriously though, this recruiting class is quickly turning from doom to excitement.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
I know you have been very busy this weekend, but what is the deal with Antonio Poole's offer with Willingham and Clark in the mix? Did they give him a conditional offer if either of those two aforementioned recruits don't commit?
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
....that is all.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
Great work Tom like always.
The coaching staff has done an amazing job in only weeks, which has me really excited to see what they can put together with a full year of recruiting.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:19 PM ^
Any outlook on a QB in this class?
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
Thanks Tom. Looks like we're attracting some solid defensive recruits.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:21 PM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:24 PM ^
Is Darian Cooper the only DT prospect we have a chance with at this point? (note: I realize Cooper is a long shot at this point)
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
Regarding Barnett, coaches have to be able to sell opportunity for playing time. With only 2 TEs on the roster and both being upperclassmen Barnett's looking at guaranteed early playing time. Arkansas already has another TE commit plus 4 returning TEs on the roster.
Barnett would be a huge land, not only for position need, but his offer list was pretty impressive including USC, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Miami, etc.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:34 PM ^
Nice update. The DC hire was huge for this team, and I expect a couple of kids to switch to UM in the future as the phone lines heat up. Won't be a great class on paper, but a top-30 one would be fine with me.
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