Wednesday Recruitin' Awaits the Season
Summer recruiting has wound down with the arrival of fall camp, especially for teams with a commit list as close to full as Michigan's. There's still information to go around, but unofficial/official visits (starting with the Western Michigan game) should see the return of action.
Recruiting Action
IA WR Amara Darboh (pictured at right) will be visiting Ann Arbor for the Western Michigan game, after a strong visit a couple weeks ago.
CA WR Jordan Payton will be in attendance for the Notre Dame game.
IL OL Jordan Diamond is in no hurry to commit, so it's possible that Michigan's class fills up before he wants to commit. There's only one spot available along the offensive line, and WA OLs Josh Garnett and Zach Banner are planning early-season visits. Garnett is trying to arrange his Michigan visit for the Notre Dame game, the same as Banner.
For all the talk of those other linemen, don't forget about PA OL Adam Bisnowaty, who is still considering Michigan. He's the other primary option for that final OL spot in the 2012 crop.
Saginaw fluff on expatriate MO DT Commit Ondre Pipkins, who grew up in the area:
In the end, it was one of those Saginaw High connections that helped cement Ondre Pipkins’ commitment to Michigan. [Roy] Manning, the former Saginaw High star who played at Michigan before a three-year NFL career, is back in Ann Arbor as a first-year graduate assistant on Hoke’s staff.
Manning is friends with Ondre's dad Al, who still lives in Saginaw.
Pipkins's commitment left MI DT Danny O'Brien wondering where he stands with the Wolverines. He planned to call Michigan's coaches on Monday, but no word on how it went.
IL CB Anthony Standifer is solid in his commitment, in case you were worried about his status.
Lists!
ESPN Rise has released their All-Midwest team, and though I'm more apt to ignore a squad with three(!!!) first-team QBs, it's kind to Michigan, so linky, here we go. Commits in bold; other targets in regular.
First Team
- OH RB (OSU Commit) Bri'onte Dunn
- OH WR Dwayne Stanford
- OH OL Commit Kyle Kalis
- IL OL Jordan Diamond
- OH DE Adolphus Washington
- MI LB Commit Royce Jenkins-Stone
- MI LB Commit James Ross
- OH S Bam Bradley
- MI CB Commit Terry Richardson
- IL CB Commit Anthony Standifer
Second Team
- OH WR Monty Madaris
- MI DT Danny O'Brien
- MI DE Commit Mario Ojemudia
- OH DE/DT Commit Chris Wormley
- OH LB Commit Joe Bolden
- OH S Commit Jarrod Wilson
Elsewhere in "ultimately meaningless lists," Scout's new midwest state rankings are out, with six of Michigan's top ten committed to the Wolverines, but only three from Ohio's cream of the crop.
Happy Trails
Happy Trails, MA CB Armani Reeves, who picked Penn State. That brings Michigan's DB hotboard back down to one uncommitted prospect, NJ CB Yuri Wright.
A couple DBs that had Michigan interest or offers a while back are off the board. DC CB Kenny Crawley and TX S LaDarrell McNeil both committed to Tennessee on Monday.
2013
With the 2012 class mostly complete, it's no surprise that focus shifts more heavily to rising juniors.
MI OL Cameron Dillard may receive a Michigan offer after sending coaches early-season junior film.
MI OL Steven Elmer has set up a few visits this fall, including two to Notre Dame (and one to Michigan for the Notre Dame contest). It seems like the Irish are going to be one of the strongest contenders for his services.
Tom talked with MD DT/DE Henry Poggi following a visit to Ann Arbor last week:
I've taken a few visits down south and decided to go to Ann Arbor before camp starts for us... I would say Michigan is up there, I really like the people down there and the education they have.I would rather not prolong my commitment. I don't know the exact date, but I'd like to take a couple official visits. If I know before I can take visits then I would just commit, I don't really have to take the officials.
Poggi's offer list already includes the likes of Alabama and Ohio State, so building a favorable impression of Michigan early is a strong start with one of 2013's top prospects.
Keep an eye on IL DE Devante Lee ($, info in header). He's a teammate of IL OL Jordan Diamond (and former teammate of Wolverine freshman Chris Bryant).
Michigan is "turning up the heat" on MI DE/LB Luke MacLean.
Sam Webb's Detroit News column this week focuses on OH LB Ben Gedeon, primarily explaining why he's called "the freak":
"I was just always a little bit bigger than everybody, so my family called me that."
That's... not as interesting as I was expecting. Gedeon does a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball in high school, and Allen Trieu talks about his physical skills:
"He was excellent when we saw him in camp settings and his film verified what we had seen in shorts and T-shirts," Scout.com midwest regional manager Allen Trieu said. "He is a well built kid at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and moves very well at that size."
Gedeon says Michigan is currently atop his list, but he plans to evaluate all of his options before making a decision. He attended the BBQ at the Big House, where he connected with Michigan commits like James Ross and Kyle Kalis. He tells Tom that Michigan was his first offer - a big deal - and he'll try to visit campus for the Notre Dame game this fall.
GA CB Shaquille Wiggins is trying to visit Michigan for an early-season game.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^
I suspect Elmer will be Irish. 40 year mistake.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^
Wait, when did the news drop that Banner was trying to visit for ND too?? Did I miss something? That seems like a huge piece of news
August 17th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
August 17th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^
Is it possible that both Garnett and Banner would want to commit? Moreso, would it be possible to turn one of them down?
August 17th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
August 17th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
Given the number of elite O-linemen interested in Michigan, what does the staff do if, say, Garnett and Banner or Garnett and Diamond both want to commit? Seven OL in one class would be ridiculous, and slow playing a current OL commit doesn't exactly put the program in the best light. It's a tough call to make, but I guess that's what the coaches are paid to do.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
I think the staff is sticking to their plans for the most part. As we saw with the Shutt case, it doesn't matter how highly you are rated. The second OL might be like the second DL spot. If it is someone they really like they will take them.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
That's... not as interesting as I was expecting.
No mention of his habit of putting ketchup on a brat? Highly freakish, that.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^
googling "she's a freak" to find some cutesy funny image. it will be more interesting than you expected. (NSFW, stephen r kass)
August 17th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
I would have to think Reschke is much farther towards an offer than Maclean since he was at the BBQ. There is something different about Maclean's film that gives me some doubts. It looks like most tackles are really lacking any "oomph". A lot of grabbing and just falling down. Reschke's hits on the other hand show a really good explosion and pop. Reschke clearly plays against much better competion in his league. Looks like most of Macleans highlights are against one team (I think it is Hartland).
August 17th, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
I didnt see if Diamond showed up to the BBQ at the Big House, but I would imagine both him and Kalis would get along great... two smart kids that love to compete and do damage. Anyone know if he's talking to any of the 2012 recruits?
August 17th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
Nice to see Mr Pipkins made 2nd team all Southwest ..which is basically all of Texas
August 17th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
but were we in on any recruits that chose the football program formerly known as the U?
August 17th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
August 17th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
Why are Frank Epitropolous, Luke Roberts?, and Patrick Elflein? moving up the list so fast! I have not heard anything about them tearing up camps or 7 on 7s to warrant such an ascent. Caleb Stacey falls to 59 behind Jacoby Boren (who is supposedly closer to 6'1" 250 lbs)? What a joke. While I realize that they usually do a very good job of rating talent, this reeks of Duane Long from a mile away.
Besides that, 7 of their top 25 recruits isn't too shabby.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
Duane Long will tell you that osu is getting a steal with all of those players.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:27 AM ^
The story is behind a paywall, but Steve Wiltfong suggested on twitter that OSU leads for Adolphus Washington: http://twitter.com/#!/SWiltfong247/status/104001414891712512.
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