I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

The recruiting services are split on the #1 overall prospect in the 2014 class; Rivals and 247 give VA DE Da'Shawn Hand top honors, while LA RB Leonard Fournette earns that distinction on Scout and ESPN. Michigan is among the top contenders for Hand, of course, and Fournette is a lock to stay in the SEC, either at LSU or Alabama. Unless...

LSU and Alabama are the teams to beat for five-star New Orleans-St. Augustine running back Leonard Fournette. 

Except Fournette says it isn't so.

"That's not accurate," Fournette said Thursday, insisting he doesn't yet have any favorites among a list of offers so long he's stopped counting.

Well, then. The article by al.com's Mike Herndon names two other schools Fournette has visited—Florida State and Texas—as well as a certain program he's strongly considering for an official visit; yes, Michigan:

"You could say that (top prospects) pay attention to where other guys go," Fournette told Rivals.com. "I like Michigan. School-wise, they're more focused on grades than football. That's what I like about them. I think Jabrill made a good choice."

This is not happening. I refuse to believe this is happening. I will refuse to believe it even if Fournette makes it to campus, and will cease disbelief if—and only if—Fournette's name is signed in ink on a LOI faxed directly to Schembechler Hall in February. At that point, I'll still consider the whole thing a cruel hoax until Fournette actually suits up in a Michigan uniform.

[watches highlight tape again]
[counts plays before Fournette is tackled]
[loses count]
[repeat]

Apologies in advance for him committing to LSU and all of us feeling sad.

[Hit THE JUMP for the latest round of underclassmen #JPTTA, updates on several top 2014 targets, and more.]

SOMEBODY #JPTTA, PLEASE

Last week saw 2015 OL Jon Runyan Jr. pick up his dream Michigan offer and say flat-out that a Wolverine commitment is a near-certainty. Runyan could commit at any time, and should be a Michigan lock even if he extends his decision timeline.

After camping at Michigan last week, 2016 IL OL Erik Swenson appears to be in the same boat, telling ESPN's Chantel Jennings that Michigan... well, they're in good standing ($):

“If I had to commit right now, it would definitely be Michigan,” Swenson said.

As a rising sophomore offensive tackle, Swenson knows he wants to wait another year before making a commitment anywhere, just because he’s so young. But at this point, for him, the Wolverines are out front.

Swenson had previously been accompanied on his visits to Ann Arbor by his father; this time, Erik and Swen (yes, Erik's father goes by Swen Swenson) were joined by Erik's mother, who gave the critical Mom Stamp of Approval. Swenson may very well wait a year to make his commitment; it'd be a shocker if he didn't end up at Michigan.

Michigan's other 2016 offer, GA TE/DE Issac Nauta, was also on campus last week, and prospects are also quite promising in regards to his recruitment, per 247's Steve Lorenz ($):

"I haven't set any lists or done anything like that. I have a lot of other places I want to check out," he said. "However, Michigan is the best visit I've been on so far. I have family here. I have connections with the coaching staff and getting to meet them and get the Michigan experience from them first hand was a great way to get things going with them."

At 6'5", 240 pounds as a rising sophomore, Nauta boasts a who's-who list of offers and has already visited or camped at Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, and Tennessee. He told Lorenz that he'll visit for either the Notre Dame or Ohio State game this fall. Nauta also has a strong Michigan connection for a Georgia prospect: his uncle, who was with him on the visit, played for Greg Mattison at Western Michigan, and Isaac himself grew up in the Great Lakes State.

If these offered underclassmen don't pledge to Michigan soon, an as-of-now unoffered one might beat them to the punch. 2015 GA OL Chuma Edoga is an early Top247 prospect who camped at Michigan last week; he told Steve Lorenz that he should find out about an offer this week, and if it comes his recruitment may not last long ($):

If the offer does come, Edoga has been consistent about where Michigan would stand.

"They would be my top school, by far," he said. "I'll be disappointed if they don't offer, and they might fall a bit if that doesn't happen yet, but I'll still be highly interested and will want an offer. I really enjoyed the trip here; everything was great."

At 6'4", 265, Edoga likely projects to the interior of the line. Unless the coaches saw something they didn't like at camp, I'd imagine the only reason he wouldn't receive an offer would be concerns about space in the 2015 class.

Artavis Scott Cornerback Possibility?

Under Brady Hoke, Michigan appears to be targeting prospects with positional flexibility; Alabama recruited Henry Poggi as a tight end, Wyatt Shallman is a tailback or a fullback or an H-back or maybe a strongside DE, Jourdan Lewis could play slot receiver, most defensive back recruits could play corner or safety, Jabrill Peppers could play anywhere and perhaps coach, etc.

Could one such player be FL WR Artavis Scott? Michigan's camp offer to MD WR Freddy Canteen raised some eyebrows among those, myself included, assuming the Wolverines would take just one more receiver; if Canteen—or K.J. Williams—commits, where does that leave Scott? Based on his performance in the IMG 7-on-7 championships, perhaps at cornerback, per ESPN's Derek Tyson ($):

4. Artavis Scott
Tarpon Springs (Fla.) East Lake | WR/DB | 5-11, 171

Scott made plays all over the field as a receiver and as a cornerback. Scott is well known for being one of the best receivers in the country, but he showcased his ability to play cornerback on the next level. He rarely had a ball thrown his way and when it was, he was always in position. Scott said after the event that several colleges are recruiting him as a cornerback.

I'd be surprised if any school recruiting Scott didn't at least try him on offense, because...

Scott played both ways for Team Tampa and was the top vertical threat for Chase Litton. When the Rivals100 prospect is focused, he is almost unstoppable in one-on-one situations. He has superb lateral quickness and yards-after-the catch ability. The explosive wideout scored multiple touchdowns to pace the offense.

...well, you read the above, presumably. If space becomes tight in the class, though, and the Wolverines miss on defensive backs Parrker Westphal and Adoree' Jackson, it's possible Scott could fill a need on defense or at least provide depth there should one arise.

Speaking of receivers, PA WR K.J. Williams still has Michigan and Syracuse as his top two, according to Scout's Brian Dohn ($). Depending on how the numbers shake out, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Wolverines end up with four receivers (and, barring The Fournette Impossibility, no running backs) in the class.

2014 Quick Hitters

Five-star CA ATH JuJu Smith has three official visits set up, per Scout's Brandon Huffman ($):

Smith is considering a handful of schools.

"Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Ole Miss, UCLA and Notre Dame are the main ones," said Smith.  "Washington also has been picking up their interest."

The five-star said he'll take all five official visits, with three already set up.

"I'm going to Alabama for the LSU game, Notre Dame for the USC game and Michigan for the Ohio State game," said Smith.  "I'll probably take unofficial visits to USC and UCLA."

Smith could play safety or wide receiver at the next level. Again, positional flexibility.

PA S Montae Nicholson has been very quiet about his recruitment but tells Steve Lorenz that "it would be a shame" if his track season prevented him from visiting for the BBQ ($). He's hoping to narrow his choices down to five by the end of the summer—I'd expect Michigan to make that cut. Nicholson also said he prefers to play safety but he's performed quite well at receiver on the camp circuit; again, positional flexibility.

MO LB Jimmie Swain named Michigan to his top five, joined by Michigan State, Oregon, Stanford, and TCU (in no order), per Scout's Randy Withers ($). One of Michigan's remaining linebacker targets went off the board this week with FL LB Darrion Owens pledging to Miami (YTM), so Swain should get plenty of attention from the coaches. Other linebacker targets include top-100 California prospect Dwight Williams and Ohio three-star Noah Furbush.

If you'd like more on Michigan's latest offers, The M Block has a double interview with Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson. Both have expressed interest in a return trip and have Michigan among their top schools.

Happy Trails

To 2014 OL Denzel Ward, former Michigan commit who unexpectedly moved to Florida, was dropped by the Wolverines, and now has made his pledge to... Purdue, naturally. The Boilermakers were the first school to offer Ward and he nearly committed there before his initial Wolverine pledge; with much better football programs comprising the rest of his top group, it's fair to wonder if other schools backed off because of his flighty behavior.

Etc.

Jabrill Peppers named H.S. Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year by NewJersey.com. The M Block talks to 2015 Trotwood-Madison CB Kei Beckham. Florida may find it difficult to pull in future Illinois-based prospects.