Thursday Recruitin' Is Compelling And Rich
McDowell Watch: Day Somethingorother
Let's go to Sam Webb, live on the scene ($):
"He talked with (Hoke) late last night," McDowell's father reported. "(Michigan's in-home) is for tomorrow. We (i.e. both parents and Malik) are going to Ohio State this weekend. Florida State is making it in tomorrow also."
Malik McDowell released a top four of Michigan, Michigan State, Florida State, and Ohio State—in no particular order—earlier this week. FSU and OSU seem like longshots—the 'Noles because of distance, the Buckeyes because it's tough to get a read on where they stand, though that could easily change after his official visit this weekend.
The in-home visit from Michigan is a huge one; the general consensus is that his parents are very much in Michigan's corner, but Malik is more enamored with Michigan State. With in-homes this week from U-M, FSU, and potentially MSU, plus a final official to OSU this weekend, McDowell is on track for his planned Signing Day announcement. The biggest question at this point: how much influence will his parents have on his decision? That could very well determine if he ends up a Wolverine. The mood is tense.
Also, it's pretty clear at this point that McDowell is the only 2014 prospect left on Michigan's radar. Michigan backed off in their recruitments of running backs Jeff Jones and Marlon Mack, who flipped his commitment from UCLA to USF yesterday, while the latest Rivals update on soft Arizona State commit Kalen Ballage—who some thought Michigan would continue to pursue as an athlete—contains no mention of the Wolverines ($).
[Hit THE JUMP for the most recent spate of underclassmen offers, updates on a couple key 2015 targets, and more.]
2015 Tight Ends A Priority
Brandon posted last night on two recent 2015 tight end offer recipients, MO four-star Hale Hentges and CT three-star Chris Clark; Hentges called the offer "very exciting" while Clark—who attends the same high school, Avon Old Farms, as former Michigan RB Michael Cox—tweeted his was a dream come true. Clark's offer list far outstrips his early ratings and his interest appears to be quite high; Hentges seems like he'll be a tougher pull. Many more details on both can be found in Brandon's article.
It's clear that landing at least one tight end prospect in 2015 is a priority, as Michigan coaches also recently checked in on Clarkston (MI) TE Cole Chewins and California prospect Tyler Petite ($). Both are currently unranked and hold just one offer each—Central Michigan for Chewins, Arizona State for Petite—but are fielding increased interest of late.
More Underclassmen Offers
The coaches have hit the states of Texas and Florida hard in the last week, throwing out a bevy of offers, and the list continues to grow by the day. The Wolverines offered 2015 four-star TX DT Du'Vonta Lampkin—a current, and firm, Oklahoma commit—according to Steve Lorenz ($). Offers to a pair of 2015 Florida prospects, four-star WR Devante Peete and three-star CB Rashard Causey, are so fresh and so clean that accompanying articles haven't been written at the time of this posting.
Eric Rutter covers a new 2016 offer to Miami (FL) DE Joseph Jackson and a long-overlooked 2016 offer to PA RB Miles Sanders in a post at Maize n Brew:
Avoiding the brutally cold weather that Ann Arbor is experiencing, Wolverines defensive coordinator Greg Mattison traveled to Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida to personally extend an offer to sophomore defensive end Joseph Jackson. Anchoring the strong-side of the Raiders defensive front, Jackson is an imposing force at 6'6" and 240 lbs. who doubles as an equally-competent pass catcher at tight end. This versatility and potential has made Jackson a name to watch in the Miami area, as the sophomore sensation already has offers from Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Pittsburgh and UCF in addition to his newly-acquired Michigan offer as well.
UPDATE: I've been informed by someone in the know (oooooooooh) that Sanders does not hold a Michigan offer, contrary to Rutter's report. Blockquote updated accordingly.
Etc.
Brandon posted a remarkably thorough rundown of 2015 recruits and their recent contact with Michigan. Maize n Brew update on 2015 DE target Darian Roseboro. Quick Big House Report update on 2015 LB target Justin Hilliard.
Recently-offered 2015 QB Jarrett Stidham won't quite come out and say it, but it appears Texas Tech is his clear leader at this point, per 247's Landon Wright ($).
MLive's Nick Baumgardner on Chase Winovich's transition from childhood Ohio State fan to Michigan commit:
Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes made an offer, and he nearly pulled the trigger.
"I was very close to committing to them on the spot," he said. "Fortunately, I didn't."
Subsequent quotes about Brady Hoke's realness in comparison to other (unnamed) coaches are enjoyable rivalry fodder.
EDSBS' Run Home Jack (aka @celebrityhottub) nails the recruiting edition of This Week In Graphs:
The whole thing is well worth your time.
January 30th, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^
Who cares.
January 30th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
Great info. I feel better about Ohio State not getting McDowell since his parents are making the trip too.
January 30th, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^
If (I say IF) McDowell goes elsewhere, I hope no one in the fanbases makes a bunch of excuses and rationalizes. His recruitment is a BIG DEAL, and if he doesn't pick UM it's one of the bigger recruiting losses Michigan will have had in a while, including Hand, Campbell, Webb, etc.
The combination of all the things going in M's favor (location, family, having a teammate who is committed) and this being a position of need mean that not landing him would be a significant failure for Hoke and Mattison.
If he comes to Michigan - it's a huge get and we all can celebrate. Going to be an interesting signing day...If I had to guess, I'd say he commits to Michigan.
January 30th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
McDowell is a bigtime recruit right in our backyard at a position of high need. And losing out on Hand makes signing McDowell even more important. Will the world end if he goes elsewhere? No obviously. But, I agree that Hoke and Mattison need to pull out all the stops to close the deal here (within ethical, moral, and legal boundaries of course).
January 30th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^
If he doesn't come here there's a gamma-ray burst heading our way and all life will be wiped out in a matter of days.
January 30th, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
Ultimately it don't matter if he's from Ohio or Michigan or New Mexico -- IF you get him (or someone like him). This is different than, for example, losing Webb because there was time to recover from that. Here there is no plan B. The closest comparable in my memory is the Terrel Pryor recruitment.
In regard to geography - it's about more than being "from Michigan". He's a 30-minute drive from campus and a lifelong fan. If you want a kid like that, and you want him bad, and your head coach and ace defensive coordinator are experts at coaching that kid's position...
January 30th, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
Wolv you are right, who cares where they come from if they are good... I agree.
The point though is that we are recruiting a guy from a very advantageous position (location, childhood fav, supposedly talented coaches at his position, etc.) and to lose out at a recruit we wanted, regardless of stars, doesn't bode well for our coaches and their recruiting prowess... especially since the last two months have just been nut kick in the balls after nut kick in the balls...
jdon
January 30th, 2014 at 6:52 PM ^
Maybe it's just me, but I think we were actually fortunate in not landing Pryor. We got Denard the next class, and I'll take that outcome every day of the week.
January 30th, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^
I don't see it at all. It's insulting to McDowell and his family.
January 30th, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 6:29 PM ^
Perception matters.
January 30th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
But it's hard to enjoy too much when Hubbard and Berger were offered first (by Michigan at least) and chose OSU. Not to mention a bunch of DBs, some OL, etc.
January 30th, 2014 at 3:20 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^
it would be huge failure if the sun doesn't shine today, but I don't see it. It's big, it's yellow, in the solar system, and gravity keeps us in its orbit. Clouds and winter are just excuses
January 30th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
Has anyone heard anything about any concerns expressed by the folks we expect to sign commitments next Wednesday that are a result of the Gibbons situation? There is a lot of stuff on MLive that I do not even want to give the respect of a summary, but it is something I have wondered about. Does anyone have any insights?
January 30th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
is the idea that since Gibbons was expelled by the university and not the team a concern for some recruits/parents? As in like someone saying, "I don't want our son playing on a team that harbored a rapist"? That sound spretty farfetched and into the wild speculation realm.
January 30th, 2014 at 9:26 PM ^
..."I don't want our son going to a school that does that to a football player who was never even charged with an offense by the police"...?
January 30th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^
Do you realize that they are only kids? If you are a MICHIGAN fan you will do whatever you have to do for NORTHWESTERN!!!!!!!
January 30th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^
Who is Madame Tate Forcier and why is she reading tarot cards?
January 30th, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^
Clark—who attends the same high school, Avon Old Farms, as former Michigan RB Michael Cox—
You had Magnus at Mike Cox.
/ fifth grader
January 30th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^
Nothing else matters. Sign him NOW. Why is there no early signing period for a guy who knows Mike Cox?!?!?!!? This is a travesty!!!!!!!!!!!!1
January 30th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
FWIW - there have been 4 new "crystal balls" to OSU for McDowell in the past couple hours. Also, David Njoku, who many believed would commit to OSU on his visit this weekend, is no longer visiting and it appears he does not have a committable offer. Not sure if that has anything to do with McDowell but the timing is interesting nontheless.
January 30th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
4 Buckeye's changed thier prediction to McDowell right before his official visit. Sounds more like they are just trying to pad thier "correct" guesses. They know he isn't deciding until signing day, so just in case change now. If by some miracle he does committ during his official they look like they had a clue. Typical Buckeye move.
January 30th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
committed to UM while never taking an official visit here?
Sam Webb sounded surprisingly upbeat about McDowell this morning, and gave the strong impression he knows more about the situation than he could say on-air.
January 30th, 2014 at 4:58 PM ^
January 30th, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
Except for the fact that he used one on the MSU "recruit weekend" or whatever the hell they called it. At least, I think it's already happened, pretty sure that was the weekend of our bball game @ MSU. He was definitely at the game.
January 30th, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^
McDowell is only considering Michigan because of his mom and dad who want him to attend.
What are the chances Meyer gets his in-home and brings up the Gibbons story and slants it is "those great coaches your parents love were harboring a rapist." "They're not a family, they're liars."
I'm not saying he's going to OSU...but to me, that's enough for a kid to who doesn't have all the facts to say "SEE! I TOLD YOU SO" and head elsewhere.
I'm not sure why we stopped recruiting Jones. We could use a RB and IMO, McDowell isn't coming. Especially when Meyer gets a hold of him.
OSU has a sign in their practice facility about majors that completely skew Michigan football players, their majors, etc. If you all don't think he's going to be all over this story...you're kidding yourselves. It's Urban Meyer.
January 30th, 2014 at 6:47 PM ^
It is certainly possible. But I am trying to envision how the conversation goes - and would be received. It is not as if OSU has squeeky clean record. And it is well documented that negative recruiting can boomerang. Hoke seems to be universally loved by players and recruits. I don't think you are giving enough credit to the McDowell family.
January 31st, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
...if the parents want the kid to go to Michigan and the kid doesn't want to go...this is ammunition for the kid not to go and be able to say "told you so."
I'm not saying it pushing him to OSU...not at all. It could be WORSE for OSU. But I don't think it's good for Michigan.
January 31st, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
...if the parents want the kid to go to Michigan and the kid doesn't want to go...this is ammunition for the kid not to go and be able to say "told you so."
I'm not saying it pushing him to OSU...not at all. It could be WORSE for OSU. But I don't think it's good for Michigan.
January 30th, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
would we offer and then not follow up? I don't understand this development.
January 30th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^
He never took the ACT or SAT (not sure which one)
January 30th, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^
which means you might be offering a scholarship to a guy without being sure he'll qualify.
January 30th, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
He's taken them, he just hasn't gotten a high enough score to qualify. He gets two more chances.
January 30th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
He should go to MSU. We should then shut up, except for the coaches teaching the OL recruits how to beat the shit out of him. Maybe he doesn't think he can hack the academics, which is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Have a little confidence--it's not so much that it's warranted, it's that it's less stressful.
January 30th, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
No reason for that type of speculation, especially since McDowell's interest in MSU grew when they were in the midst of a Rose Bowl-winning season while Michigan lost the B-Dubs Bowl. There's a much simpler explanation than the one you're fishing for.
January 30th, 2014 at 6:55 PM ^
Nice unwarranted speculation you've got there. Ever hear of the parable of the fox and the grapes?
January 30th, 2014 at 7:23 PM ^
For some reason I wanted them to get ballege I just have this feeling he is gonna be a stud. Plus he seems to be really fast and can play a couple different positions if rb didn't work out.
January 30th, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
McDowell is doing what more kids should do, taking his time. Don't lay this on anything other than the fact that he wants to make a decision that's right for him. We have to face the fact that Staee has been very solid as of late and we're going to lose some of these recruits. I still believe we do/will win more recruiting battles but when/if we do lose this one try not to say anything that makes you look like you couldn't handle the academics.
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