Wednesday Recruitin' Is Not Comin To Your Citaay Comment Count

Tim

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.

Visits Off, Visits On

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Though Tom devoted his weekly update to the extensive visitors list from Dr. Phillips, those players are no longer planning to attend the Illinois game this weekend. It sounds like a scheduling issue - making it into Ann Arbor by noon when you play a game the night before is tough - but Michigan had better start putting some wins together if recruiting is to continue.

Speaking of those non-visitors this weekend, Michigan's top recruit FL RB Demetrius Hart - gulp - might be reconsidering his commitment. [Ed-M: I had to guess this is the link he meant. Tim?] Pls win, team.

OH QB Cardale Jones might visit Ann Arbor on December 10th ($, info in header).

Michigan's coaches were trying to get IL OL Chris Bryant into town this weekend, but he's not sure if he'll be able to work out the scheduling with his game Friday night. Illinois is also on his list of favorites, so it could be a particularly interesting game if he makes it.

AZ OL Cyrus Hobbi, who has been quiet regarding Michigan lately, is still trying to work on a Michigan visit.

Though Michigan still leads, Michigan State is "closing the gap" in the recruitment of MI DE/OL Anthony Zettel. He has trimmed his list to Michigan, MSU, Penn State, Iowa, and USC, and will take his official visit to Ann Arbor for the Big Chill.

...And Here's The Kicker!

According to Sam Webb on the WTKA Recruiting Roundup this morning, CA K Matt Goudis will visit this weekend. He's currently a Boise State commit, unrated by Rivals and ESPN but the #5 kicker nationally to Scout.

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A tipster in Florida tells us that FL K Dan Grochowski is hearing from Michigan:

Michigan asked for film on FG from the ground (not a tee) and they provided that including a 60 yarder that was good (from a kicking camp). "Michigan is recruiting the right way", according to the brother, Michigan is not making promises or talking shit to Dan they are talking to coaches and have indicated that if the film looks good and Dan is interested an offer might be coming. One negative for Michigan is that they do not have a kicking coach. He also indicated that Dan DVR's EVERY MI game and watches the game during the week with his entire family.

A local fluff article fills in some details on Grochowski's abilities.

Since he's not coming to Michigan either way, allow me to link an article about MI K Kyle Brindza and be sad.

Other Updates

Rivals runs down a list of East Coast prospects, including a few of interest to Michigan. NC QB Marquise Williams:

Sources say that Virginia Tech has a slight lead over Michigan and North Carolina, with LSU trying to make a push and N.C. State hoping he takes his official in mid-November. As time passes, it seems less likely that Williams will stick with the Heels.

...and moving on to NC WR/LB Kris Frost:

If Michigan finishes strong, Frost is likely to end up in Ann Arbor. However, his other favorite is Auburn and it could end up playing for a national title... Frost will take an official to Ann Arbor in November and also take an official to Auburn.

Finally, VA LB Curtis Grant hasn't officially eliminated Michigan, and Rivals reports they're still in the mix, so it's notable that he's been selected to the Army All-American Bowl.

MI RB Thomas Rawls has been named the MVP of his league. That's unsurprising, as he's been smashing local records left and right.

Michigan and West Virginia still lead for FL Slot WR Prince Holloway, but he has added Florida and USF to his list ($, info in header). Those schools have the advantage of location over his top schools.

FL DT Tim Jernigan clarifies Florida's standing on his list to Ed Aschoff:

Thursday, Jernigan maintained that Florida is still a school outside of his favorite list, but hasn’t completely taken the Gators off his radar.

“Could things change? Of course, yes, it can change,” Jernigan told reporters following Columbia’s 25-11 loss to Jacksonville Ed White. “I still have three months and I still keep in contact with some of the coaches down there. It’s not like I blew them completely away, but I have my favorite four.”

With his high school season reaching an early end, Jernigan's decision timeframe has accelerated. Playing time will be his main consideration, which means Michigan should be ridiculously difficult to top. For the record, his coach says he "really enjoyed" his time in Ann Arbor, and the decision will come "down to the wire."

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Tom spoke with recent offeree MI LB Desmond Morgan about his recruitment. The moneyshot:

TOM: Since you're a Michigan fan a lot of people think that it would make sense to commit right away, and get it over with. Is that how you feel it will play out?

DESMOND: No, before the recruiting process started my dad and I said that we were going to take our time with everything, and just let it play out. We still want to stick to that game plan, and just see how it goes. .. We want to go up to Michigan, probably after my season, and meet with the coaches, see the facilities, and everything that Michigan has to offer. I want to make sure I feel comfortable with everything, and not just make a rash decision.

Although he isn't saying Michigan leads, it certainly sounds like that's the case. Depending on how things play out over the rest of the season, there's a good chance he ends up in maize and blue. Local fluff on the offer. Desmond led his team to an upset of Grand Haven in round 1 of the state playoffs.

Josh Helmholdt updates the recruitment of FL CB Dallas Crawford and his teammate WR Sammy Watkins in the Free Press.

Both players says they will be making their college selections independent of one another, but they are close friends who have taken several trips together. If one commits before the other, that school will likely become to team to beat for the remaining half of the pair.

That quote is particularly encouraging, given that Crawford has named Michigan his leader. The pair is planning a winter trip to Ann Arbor, their third visit this year.

Michigan still leads for LA CB Daren Kitchen, he tells Sam Webb ($, info in header). The possibility for an instant commitment from Kitchen may be why the staff is confident in waiting to offer him.

Happy Trails, OH LB Sean Duggan, who committed to Boston College.

2012

Local fluff on Austintown (OH) Fitch High School, which hosts a trio of Michigan targets in RB William Mahone, QB Demitrious Davis, and WR/DB Chris Davis. Tom also talked about Mahone in his weekly update.

Chicago Simeon is loaded with prospects this year, including a talented signal caller in 2012's Robert Gregory:

This season, Gregory has led Simeon to a 9-0 record by throwing 23 touchdown passes and rushing for 17 scores.

Among the schools showing interest in Gregory are Notre Dame, Northwestern, Iowa, Purdue, Michigan State and Arizona. For now Gregory prefers to focus on his junior football season rather than recruiting, but he did say he likes Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State.

Should Michigan land Bryant, they'll have a leg up on both Gregory and 2012 OL Jordan Diamond.

PA OL Tyler Alt was on hand to see Michigan fall at Penn State ($, info in header). Alt's dad e-mails us to inform that Tyler has been invited to the US Army Junior Combine.

IL DT Tommy Schutt holds a Michigan offer.

Comments

ish

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^

geez, is it just me or has the recruiting landscape turned significantly downward over the past two weeks.  i know why, obvs, but we really don't have that many prospects left on the board.

Wolverine0056

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^

I don't know, it looks about the same to me. One I think that may have lessened his interest is Zettel. I think there is a bigger chance that he goes elsewhere than to UM. I think we still have a pretty good chance with a few of these guys, even with us not looking too good the last few weeks. Who knows though, things could always change. 

His Dudeness

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^

Not trying to be a dick, but it is stuff like this that just builds and builds and builds and it just wears on people and starts to seem like fact. If you think about it all of this talk about coaches and instability and everything is all somebody having some feeling and publishing it. Branden has said nothing. Facts would point us that everything is fine and everybody will be retained and that our coaching staff is rock solid for next year. Maybe they will be fired before next season, but nobody knows that information. This is all a cloud of feelings and intuition. It doesn't help at all. You have every right in the world to your opinion and to write it here.

uminks

November 3rd, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^

If we do manage two more victories RR will continue to be on the hot seat next season. I'm not really sure what he will have to accomplish in 2011.  May be improving the win-loss record from 6-6 or 7-5 to 8-4. Or defeating MSU or OSU? Opposing coaches will be telling these recruits that  if RR survives this season he will only have another year at Michigan.  Losing games does not help to attract top talent here. We seem to be in a catch 22!

Erik_in_Dayton

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^

Sam Webb has said repeatedly that Michigan is being negatively recruited quite a lot with Zettel.  My impression is that Sam thinks that this has affected him...Many will guess that it's the self-proclaimed Lion of Integrity, Dantonio, doing the negative recruiting, but I think that PSU is a very good guess too.

NateVolk

November 3rd, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^

He's  a bright young man, he'll see through that junk. Anybody who saw Dantonio's laughable display in the media this week still trying to convince the world that he isn't coddling key players, but rather redeeming souls, knows the guy is a phoney. We know Rich isn't.

The more likely reality is our defense and it's apparent lack of improvement is causing some kids to hold back. Coupled with the fact that Rodriguez is not settled with his job status beyond 2010.

I gotta believe Brandon gets the effect on recruiting and he would probably love to extend Rich, but there is the issue of this team doing something convincing. Right now all he has to go on is a very interesting offense with possible potential, abysmal defense, and less than a half dozen conference wins in 2.5 seasons.

Winning the next two and the offense showing dominance, then putting a scare into the last two teams with continued high productivity  will do the trick. Brandon knows the defense is limited and knows why. That can be addressed without total upheaval of the program.

But if this offense isn't going to start truly dominating our main competition, what's the point of all this?

Wolverine0056

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^

Thanks for the update Tim. It sounds like most of the recruits are still looking at us heavily. I am not to worried about Dee, yet, I think as long as we win and at least get to a bowl he is a Wolverine. Although, it also depends on if RR is here next year too.

TNWolverine

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^

Yeah its broken.  I cant get to it either.  Definitely not a good sign that he is already reconsidering his commitment.  Wow, its amazing what winning brings you, and how fast you can lose it all when you start to lose.  We really dont have a lot of prospects left on the board. 

Erik_in_Dayton

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^

Please do not boo at games.  Everytime you do this, it makes it slightly more likely that one of the recruits listed above goes off the board.  Also, Tinkerbell starts to die.   

TrppWlbrnID

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^

Michigan still leads for LA CB Daren Kitchen, he tells Sam Webb. The possibility for an instant commitment from Kitchen may be why the staff is confident in waiting to offer him.

 

seems to me that if the kid wants to commit, let him commit.

cjpops

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^

At least there is a possible kicker on the horizon.  Of course he's a BSU commit - who wouldn't want to play for Chris Petersen?

C'mon Blue, dig one out this Saturday.  We're due for some breaks to go our way.

Wolvmarine

November 3rd, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^

All this negative stuff changes a little bit if we beat both Illinois and Purdue.  The outlook will be better after that happens.  Recruits are nervous about the season just like we are.  They like Rich Rod and want to see him succeed. 

Yooper

November 3rd, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^

coach's future is once again on the table. I think the latter is more important than the former because it is difficult for our coaches to sell the notion that the future will be great when there is the possibility that they won't be part of that future.

maizenbluenc

November 3rd, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^

Or - maybe it is the other way around: will the future be great if they are still the coach? Particularly if you are a recuit being recruited for a defensive position. Sure there is a ton of opportunity to come in and play, but if your being recruited by one of the worst defenses in the country and declining, three years in a row ....

wiper

November 3rd, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^

from austintown fitch are legit. i don't need to see fake 40 times to see how quick they hit holes on the field.

also have a very good HC and coaching staff, unlike some of the other less polished recruits coming from this area lately. another couple years of being coached up and the weight room and they fit in perfectly.

ijohnb

November 3rd, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^

the Illinois game is really important.

In the words of a much maligned poster, this Saturday will be telling.  Only this time, that word is actually really applicable and need not be elaborated on.  This is a must win game, in a world where that description is used so often to define "would be nice to win" games, this is actually a must-win, in a lot of ways for a lot of people.  Very compelling.

In reply to by ijohnb

jracquest

November 3rd, 2010 at 2:09 PM ^

We prolly won't win it. Not to sound pessimissitic but illinois has a good defense and have lit up opponents on offense in the last couple games. Only realistic hope (after watching the psu game) is to win against Purdue.

WolvinLA2

November 3rd, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^

Yes, I agree he could be a good LB.  Mine was more in response to Brian's assertion that if Harbaugh came to UM he wouldn't have the FB and TE depth he needed, but Desmond Morgan would be a good guy to put at FB, especially with all the young LB's we'll have (Mike Jones, Bell, Furman, Robinson, Ryan, Kellen Jones, Kinard, maybe Cam Gordon, maybe another recruit).   

jracquest

November 3rd, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^

why can't we use both Tate and Robinson? Use Robinson as a slot, that way you have a the threat of throwing and running. Use both to their best abilities.

DreadedBackfield

November 3rd, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

If we can pull out wins against Illinois, Purdue, and somehow Wisconsin, I would think that we'll get Zettel, Frost, Walls, and Crawford. Hopefully that would pull HaHa and Sammy Watkins to come here too. Gotta stay optimistic!!!!

WolvinLA2

November 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^

Very optimistic.  That reminds me of when I took the LSAT and thinking, with a perfect score I'd  have a shot at Harvard.

I came about as close to a perfect score as we're going to get to winning our next 3 games.