Monday Recruitin' Acquires Large Catchy Type
Preferred Walk-On Hello: Simeon Smith
According to The Wolverine's Brandon Brown, Michigan has added an intriguing preferred walk-on for 2016 in 6'6", 208-pound Kalamazoo (MI) Loy Norrix WR Simeon Smith, who spurned at least one lower-division full ride to realize his dream of becoming a Wolverine ($):
Smith did visit Ferris State last week and was offered a full scholarship but he's in a good situation to be able to turn something like that down and attend Michigan.
"I have the Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship," Smith explained. "I can get free tuition to any school in the state of Michigan. I told the coaches at Michigan that I was interested before the Oregon State game and they said they were definitely keeping an eye on me. Then yesterday they offered me a preferred walk-on spot and I had to accept it."
Smith is exactly the type of prospect you like to see as a PWO; the film shows a prospect with lots of raw physical talent—with that frame he could end up as a jumbo outside receiver or a tight end. There's little question he'll be able to handle the academic load, as well:
While athletics played a role in Smith's decision to become a Wolverine, so did academics. Since transferring to Loy Norrix for his junior year, Smith has accumulated a 4.4 grade point average.
“I’ve heard they’re one of the best engineering schools in the country, and I’ve been taking AP calculus and AP physics to prepare to be an engineer,” Smith said. “When this opportunity popped up for me, I couldn’t turn it down.
“I get the education I’ve always desired in addition to getting to play football at a level most people dream about.”
Not a bad combination.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Gary's Three Easy Steps To Success
Five-star NJ DT Rashan Gary told Sam Webb that he's looking for three simple things in a school and Michigan looks to be in good shape given his criteria ($):
“It’s going to be how my mom feels at that college… (is she) comfortable,” said Gary. “It’s going to be food, academics and that’s about it.”
So what stands out about Auburn?
Said Gary, “Family environment, food, and just the defensive scheme that they have.”
And Michigan?
“Academics, family environment, and having my mom feel comfortable there,” he said.
Michigan checks off two of the three boxes there, and in other interviews Gary's mentioned enjoying the food on his last visit. Auburn remains the only other official visit scheduled for Gary. He mentioned some potential visit destinations to ESPN's Derek Tyson after Jim Harbaugh, among several other college coaches, took in the Paramus Catholic vs. IMG matchup last Friday ($):
“I’d say Ole Miss, Georgia, LSU, Clemson, Notre Dame and USC are all in the mix for the last visits,” Gary said. “I don’t have any leaders, I’m just trying to knock out my officials and from there I’ll know where I’m headed.”
It might take a bit for any of those schools to catch Michigan and Auburn. For now, Gary plans to announce his decision at the Under Armour game in January.
Webb also caught up with IMG five-star TE Isaac Nauta at the big game in Florida. Nauta had high praise for his recent Michigan visit and claimed he has no leaders at this time ($):
“No I wouldn’t say (Georgia is the favorite) at all,” Nauta replied. “People like to make their assumptions and whatnot but I don’t have a leader at this point. I decided I was going to figure it out after all five of my officials and I’ve had two very good officials so that just makes everything a lot harder.”
He'll choose his school at the Army All-American Game.
Corley, Hill Still In Play
TMI's Josh Newkirk spoke with Detroit King four-stars Donnie Corley and LaVert Hill after their narrow PSL title game win over Cass Tech at Ford Field on Friday, and both seem to be seriously entertaining the thought of going to Michigan. Hill isn't saying too much, but he's not turning the Wolverines away:
While Hill has maintained his commitment to PSU, he hasn’t told Michigan to back off his recruitment either.
“They are going to keep coming after me till I say ‘No,’ or something,” Hill said.
So when does Hill plan on saying yes or no to Michigan? Well, according to Hill, that's not his decsion alone to make.
“I got to talk to my momma,” Hill said on his upcoming decision to stay with Penn State or go elsewhere, with Michigan being an option. “I don’t know right now.”
Corley, meanwhile, admitted that someone very close to his recruitment is in Michigan's corner:
However, Corley did confirm some rumors that had been swirling around his recruitment. He was asked if his mother prefers Notre Dame, while his father would like him to attend Michigan?
Which he replied: "There is a little truth to it,” Corley said with a smile. “My mom, she is big on the education part of it. She knows football, but he’s big on the education part. She like’s Notre Dame. But my dad, he likes (U-M coach Jim) Harbaugh getting you ready for the NFL.”
Corley is graduating early, so Michigan will need to move quickly if they're going to overtake Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, but it's not out of the question.
More 2016 Updates: M Leads For Elliott
This is somewhat out of nowhere: top-50 TX DT Jordan Elliott, who's committed and decommitted from both Baylor and Houston, told 247's Taylor Hamm that the Wolverines lead heading into his official visit for the Rutgers game. Texas had been the presumed favorite. While it's obviously tough to put too much stock in this considering Elliott's recruitment thus far, he'd be an excellent addition to the class.
Speaking of which, top-100 LA ATH Shyheim Carter told Scout's Chad Simmons that Michigan is one of four schools standing out to him, and he's got a visit to Ann Arbor lined up:
No official visits to Alabama, Georgia or Ole Miss have been scheduled yet although each has a shot to get one of the five. The one Carter has set is with Michigan. November 7 is when he plans to see the Big House for the first time and that will be an official visit.
"I am really liking Michigan a lot right now. I grew up a big Charles Woodson fan, so I feel I could go there and have a chance to be the next one like him at Michigan. Coach [Jim] Harbaugh is a great coach too, so I like that about Michigan. I am ready to see what it is like up there."
Even though some of these big-time recruitments are unlikely to end in commitments, it's impressive that Harbaugh even has Michigan in the conversation at this early juncture in his tenure.
Etc.
Not bad:
Michigan recruit Kiante Enis had 358 yards on 14 carries in Winchester's 62-6 victory over Eastern. #ktfootball #tgd via @SportsKT
— The Gridiron Digest (@gridirondigest) October 24, 2015
Other, less ridiculous stat lines from Michigan commits last weekend can be found at Maize n Brew.
Happy trails to four-star Farmington Hills Harrison DE Khalid Kareem, who committed to Notre Dame over the weekend. Michigan never showed much interest after Kareem decommitted from Alabama.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^
6-6 + 208 = Chipotle time
October 26th, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^
October 26th, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^
I just looked up Jordan Elliott and have never seen a bigger rankings difference between sites. 247 has him as a borderline 5 star while Rivals has him as a generic 3 star. Scout and espn have him as a top 100 player though so it looks like Rivals is the outlier.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:23 PM ^
I really like Elliott.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^
I am thinking of some monster D-line in the near future, creating havoc. This is great, the future seems to get more and more exciting around these parts.
October 28th, 2015 at 6:51 PM ^
The future? We have that now!
October 26th, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^
When your GPA looks like a fake 40 time then that's kinda insane right there.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^
You're saying I didn't run a 2.85 40 in high school?
October 26th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
I think I'll give your 2.85 10 FAKES out of 5.
October 26th, 2015 at 11:33 PM ^
Had to laugh at that one! Upvote to you, if I could.
And you were faster than I was. ; )
October 26th, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
In high school I had a 5.3 and a 5.0.
October 28th, 2015 at 6:52 PM ^
I think you mean when your gpa looks like a reasonably not fake 40 time thats kinda insane. Even more insane if your gpa is higher than your actual 40 time!
October 26th, 2015 at 3:18 PM ^
with a paltry 25ypc. MIght want to think about pulling that offer unless he can get it up over 30.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^
They offer scholarships to just about anybody these days.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:18 PM ^
October 26th, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^
Doesn't Notre Dame outrank Michigan in most of those rankings systems? US News has ND at #18 & UM at #29 in national universities, for instance.
October 26th, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^
October 26th, 2015 at 4:20 PM ^
I love Michigan and have a couple degrees to prove it, but the power of ND's alumni network rivals that of any non-Ivy school in the country. They may be fewer in number than Michigan but do a great job of looking out for one another.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:00 PM ^
To hell with Notre Dame.
October 26th, 2015 at 11:56 PM ^
I love the school But the networking didn't help my son when he was looking for a job in the Bay Area. How exactly is this supposed to work, and do people really find it benefits them? These are honest questions.
October 26th, 2015 at 4:21 PM ^
But it's stupid to act like ND is some shitty school that doesn't compare to Michigan.
I didn't go to either, so it's no skin off my ass either way.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:02 PM ^
To put it in perspective: UC-Berkeley is ranked number 20. Do you honestly believe Notre Dame is a better school than Cal? It's not.
US News weights class size heavily, but if you look at worldwide brand, prestige, and job and graduate school placement, Michigan, UVA, UCLA, and Cal beat out a lot of these smaller private schools like Emory, Notre Dame, Tufts, that are ranked higher in US News.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^
but I'd be shocked if the "public ivies" rank better than the private schools you mention in terms of job and grad school placement on a per applicant basis so might want to cite something there. They're all great schools, and you wouldn't be better or worse off going to any that you list. It's a matter of personal fit if you have the chance to go to more than one of those schools.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^
sorry.
October 26th, 2015 at 4:44 PM ^
Undergrad is probably a wash. We're most impressive in our graduate degrees.
October 26th, 2015 at 4:54 PM ^
Notre Dame has a great business school, and OK engineering. Liberal Arts are a tossup I think.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^
Best of luck to Simeon Smith; awesome that the Kalamazoo Promise helps get him to Michigan without costing us one of the football scholarships!
October 26th, 2015 at 6:21 PM ^
I don't know about you guys but he looked a little like Braylon with some of those catches, keep it up Mister! :)
October 26th, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^
What a phenomenal example of the opportunity and empowerment that the Kalamazoo Promise provides for young people. Good on you for earning your way into Michigan, Simeon!
October 26th, 2015 at 5:27 PM ^
October 26th, 2015 at 5:32 PM ^
seven anonymous donors a few years back pledged a lot of money to endow these scholarships. It's a cool concept. recommend you google "the kalamazoo promise" if you're interested better details.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:08 PM ^
Stryker and Pfizer people.
October 26th, 2015 at 11:10 PM ^
That's entirely speculative. Only Janet (I can't think of her last name, but the ex-superintendent of KPS) knows the donors and she has always referred to them non-descriptly. I only know this because I used to work for the Upjohn Institute which assisted in overseeing the fund. Either way, the Promise is funded into perpetuity by an anonymous donor(s).
October 27th, 2015 at 12:01 AM ^
And yes, it is truly amazing.
October 27th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^
Dr. Janice Brown
And she isn't the only person who knows who the donors are.
October 27th, 2015 at 9:48 AM ^
I have heard through teacher friends of mine that work in KPS is Derek Jeter? I would like to think that is a legit speculation for obvious reasons?
Go Blue
October 26th, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^
Nice (and unexpected) to see the name of my old high school pop up in a recruiting post. Hooray Simeon Smith! And aiming for Engineering school as well. I'll have fun following his career.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:45 PM ^
Go Giants!
October 26th, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 26th, 2015 at 3:28 PM ^
I have only watched one play of Smith's highlights so far, but what's the level of competition here? Obviously no downside to a PWO and he looks especially enticing for a PWO, but his QB ran straight into the fullback and Smith just kinda backpedals and watches. Then he runs in and throws a questionable block. And that's his first highlight on the reel. And the players look extremely small other than Smith.
Edit: didn't realize it says he's 6'6". That explains why everyone else looks like a middle schooler.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:31 PM ^
It's decent, pretty much all Class A schools, but it's certainly lower than the GR area or east side.
October 26th, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^
throwing to him. Most balls were underthrown. Smith made some nice catches though taking advantage of his height and reach. I didn't see much jumping ability, but that may have just been the passes thrown to him. His speed looks decent. But, a very welcome addition. I guy with high intelligence is always an asset too.
October 26th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^
I look at someone like Mark Huyge who was just always in the right place and think Smith might be the same type of player. Not overpowering, but you can count on him to run the play correctly.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
Congrats to Smith - damn, he is a big boy! What a fantastic addition and a cool story.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
Simeon welcome to the engineering ranks!
October 26th, 2015 at 3:50 PM ^
Slap a cup of coffee (or 4) in there somewhere and then I'll agree.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^
Awesome pick up for a PWO. He has the size and raw talent. Maybe he can develop into a TE? I like it.
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