Extensive Recruiting Updates from Sam Webb on WTKA 1/9/17

This might be lengthy, so we will see how it goes. I'm going to link the first Michigan Insider segment only as he pretty much discusses recruiting for the first 2.5 hours of his show along with the coaching changes.  Most of this information comes from segment 1 and segments 4-7.

Those of you who have been dying to hear what Sam had to say on Najee's recruitment, I believe it is in the last half of segment 5.

Aubrey Solomon 5* DT

Brian discussed a lot of this on the "Monday Recruitin'" post, but I will go into further detail here. There was discussion as to how Michigan possibly could have made up ground right after Solomon's video was posted since it was a dead period, and Sam cleared that up. Basically Aubrey asked his Mom the day the video was posted for Jim Harbaugh's phone number and in turn contacted him and for sure Chris Partridge to apologize for what went public. His mom also talked to other coaches including Devin Bush Sr., who she referred to Sam as "her dawg." Aubrey clearly had remorse after all the hooplah, and it sounds like this was more a result of peer pressure (being around Georgia recruits) than anything else.

As Brian mentions, Aubrey's Mom now clearly (both directly to Sam and also behind the scenes to other individuals as Sam states he talked to "lots of people") favors Michigan - This again was the major hurdle to clear before and after the "letter" was sent which publicly was claimed as the reason for his initial decommitment. While Sam is not ready to believe that Aubrey will be heading to Ann Arbor, it is clear that Michigan is still in this thing, especially if you combine the other evidence that Brian mentions in his post. But just for clarity, I will quote him as saying "I can't say and won't say that's enough[for Michigan to secure his commitment]."

I am going to also put this quote here because I feel like this maybe puts this general thought about tweeting at recruits like Aubrey into a much deeper context. Let's just say he has a "gut feeling" about what the coaching staff feels about these tweets to Aubrey...

"My gut tells me it's not a help. My gut tells me they hope it stops with Michigan fans and going after him. That's what my gut tells me, Ira [WTKA co-host]. Strong gut feeling. They're like, 'Dammit, please stop doing this.' My gut tells me they think they have a helluva shot. A helluva shot... As much as you can affect in your favor, you try to [regarding not negatively tweeting Aubrey and their desire for Michigan fans to leave him alone]."

So there you go. If any of you have been tweeting at Aubrey Solomon in a negative fashion, Jim Harbaugh is mad at you. And we all want Jim Harbaugh to like us, so stop forever negatively tweeting recruits.

Austin Jackson 5* OL

Sounds like he's probably going to take an official visit as there has been renewed mutual interest, but it is not set in stone. And even if he does, Michigan is clearly not the favorite to land him. That does give them a "puncher's chance." One other note on him is that he does not believe he's a guy that would be able to contribute as a Freshman because of his lack of size.

Paris Ford 4* S

Struck up a "rapport" with Jaylen Kelly-Powell and seems receptive to the idea of visiting Michigan again. "Think it's something that will be explored." No visit is set, so we will see if that official visit gets rescheduled. One side note, Sam loves him as a prospect and says the guy "can ball."

Willie Gay 4.5/Future 5*? LB

To go along with what Brian said in his recruiting post, Sam believes the LSU chatter was legit and probably had to do with the fact that LSU lost a LB commit (which was where the chatter started with Gay) and also the fact that Michigan had secured Singleton and Anthony. Definitely doesn't see this thing as over as he knows Michigan will pursue him (and has already been in contact with him) with the notion that he could start immediately.

I will also add this for you as hype as to the kind of Player Sam sees in him. He compared him (once again) to Jaylon Smith in that he could be dominant at multiple positions. Could play Safety, Linebacker, etc. Here's the piece that made me a bit giddy... "IF Jabrill comes back AND Michigan gets Willie Gay, I think Jabrill is playing safety. I don't think Jabrill Peppers is your SAM next year." In other words, he sees Gay as Jabrill's replacement regardless as to whether or not Jabrill comes back. This would allow Jabrill to play his natural Safety position that he's pegged at in the NFL, which he's publicly stated as is desired position. Both are "ifs" at this point, Jabrill even moreso, but there's that. Combine that with what Brian mentioned in his post, and this is probably the guy I want in this class the most right after Solomon - at least as far as guys Michigan has the best shot with.

Sam also mentioned some words on some of Michigan's other OL targets like Toryque Bateman, Mekhi Becton and Kai-Leon Herbert (committed), but nothing really that we haven't heard before. Toryque has an academic hurdle (public), Kai-Leon wants to play with his teammate Tedarrell Slaton (who is trending towards Florida), and Becton is a Signing Day decision (will there be room?).

Sorry for the long post. The Aubrey stuff stuck out to me the most, so I wanted to be pretty thorough with that.

Link to the 1st segment.

I highly recommend listening to the first 2.5 hours or so. Very informative, if not only for the recruiting stuff but also the coaching transition discussion. But again, the recruiting stuff is all buried within segments 1 & 4 (mostly regarding Aubrey) and also segments 5-7.

Have a good week.