Monday Recruitin' Snaps Cake, Eats It Too
I Will Now Surgically Attach Myself To My Laptop
247's Steve Lorenz has published an early list of visitors for The Game. It's free, extensive, and includes the following big names, among many others:
- Five-star GA ATH Mecole Hardman, a Peppers-type who's expected to stay in SEC country but is giving M a serious look.
- Four-star TX ILB Dontavious Jackson and his teammate, three-star S Chris Brown, will take their long-awaited official visits.
- Four-star MD OG Terrance Davis, who maintains Michigan as his leader heading into his official visits, per 247's Luke Stampini ($).
- Detroit King teammates LaVert Hill and Donnie Corley could be back on campus for unofficial visits, as could Hill's fellow tenuous PSU commit, Quinn Nordin.
- Four-star FL DT Keyshon Camp is showing a lot of interest despite his USC commit; after taking an official in September, he'll pay his way back for an unofficial.
- Three-star FL WR Keyshawn "Pie" Young has had Michigan at or near the top of his impressive offer list for a while. He'll be in on an official.
- In addition to hosting a huge number of current commits, M will host six top-150 recruits each from the 2017 and 2018 classes.
Michigan also will have a second USC flip candidate on campus in three-star WR Velus Jones Jr., who added an offer a couple weeks ago and will be in on an official visit.
One big name who initially planned to make the trip is four-star TX OT Jean Delance, who had to reschedule his official visit because his team advanced in the playoffs. In a sign that his interest is legit, he told 247's Ryan Bartow that as a result he's pushing back his announcement date ($):
Delance had hoped to announce a verbal commit January 2 at the Under Armour All-American Game.
That's now up in the air.
"No I will not commit," Delance said. "I will visit these schools before I (am) committing if possible."
This might put Michigan in a tight spot if another lineman wants to commit before Delance is ready to make a decision, but that's one of those good problems.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Checking In On The Left Coast
It's always difficult to tell which West Coast prospects who show significant early interest will maintain that interest throughout the process, as the nature of travel, money, and time make it tough to have close to the level of contact they have with local schools. Michigan is right in the mix with California prospects CB Jack Jones, WR Dylan Crawford, and perhaps OLB Caleb Kelly, depending on your insider of choice. Based on what he told Scout's Greg Biggins, you can add four-star DT Boss Tagaloa to that list:
Tagaloa was blown away by the offer from Michigan last April and checked out UCLA twice over the summer. Although Tagaloa has never named a leader, there has always been a feeling those two could be tough to beat.
"I'm a big fan of Coach Harbaugh," Tagaloa said back in the spring. "He changed the program around when he was with the 49ers and he'll do the same thing with Michigan. Coach Drevno is the one recruiting me and when he told me I had that offer, I couldn't believe it, I was really excited.
Tagaloa is setting up a Michigan official for January before announcing on Signing Day. Tagaloa's high school teammate, four-star TE Devin Asiasi, seems like less of a possibility, per Scout's Brandon Huffman:
"I'm definitely visiting Alabama and I think I might take a visit to Michigan. And then the last visit will probably be to Washington or USC," said Asiasi. "The only guaranteed one though (in January) is Alabama. The others are still up in the air. It's just a matter of who I want to see."
While Asiasi and Tagaloa aren't a package deal, they're taking a visit together to UCLA, which looks to be in good shape with both of them.
Another Innovative Recruiting Tactic
A player you're recruiting is having a birthday. How do you show that recruit some love without committing an NCAA violation and in the process get yourself a delicious cake? Behold the power of social media.
WHAT!?! S/o to UMich for the love pic.twitter.com/do96yg7Lvk
— J.Jones (@KingCaarlos) November 19, 2015
TomVH approves.
Commit Updates: Davis, Reese Visit Louisville
Current commits continue to look around with the 2016 class looking like it will see plenty of movement before NSD. David Reese picked up a TCU offer and took a visit to Louisville. In what would be a telling development, Farmington teammate Des Fitzpatrick bailed on that Louisville trip ($); he decommitted from the Cardinals over the weekend. I'm not sure that'll have much of an effect on either Reese's interest in Louisville—where he was, at one time, committed—or Michigan's non-pursuit of Fitzpatrick.
While Reese seems like he's seriously considering jumping at a mid-year enrollment opportunity elsewhere, a source close to Kingston Davis told 247's Mike Hughes that even after his own trip to Louisville, he expects the three-star back to wind up in Ann Arbor ($):
“He’s still a solid commit to Michigan,” said the source. “Some of his friends went up there and Kenny (Thomas) was playing. Also Louisville was his first offer.”
Davis, 6-1, 225, will graduate from high school next month and will make his official visit to Ann Arbor for Michigan’s game vs. Ohio State.
“I don’t see anybody making him (switch),” said the source. “I think he’s pretty much set on Michigan, but a lot of crazy things can happen. I don’t think it would happen.”
A good visit this weekend may firm up Davis' commitment status.
This quote from Kiante Enis is worth noting. Via The Wolverine's Brandon Brown ($):
"I'm just a pretty quiet person," Enis said with a humble laugh. "I haven't had real solid contact with Michigan. Once a month maybe. I mean I'm still pretty solid though. I don't plan on decommitting at all really, I just haven't had much contact with them."
Enis will take an official visit to Michigan but it hasn't been set up yet. He also plans on checking out a few other schools just to experience the recruiting process.
We'll see if that amounts to anything.
Etc.
2016 five-star AL LB Ben Davis is considering taking an official visit to Michigan. This is almost certainly not going to amount to anything; Davis is an Alabama legacy.
Matt Falcon, the one-time M commit whose latest knee injury caused the school to offer him only a medical scholarship, has committed to play football at Western Michigan.
Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Michigan are the three schools standing out early for 2017 five-star CA WR Joseph Lewis, per 247's Ryan Bartow ($).
Michigan offered three-star 2017 MD QB Kasim Hill yesterday. Hill hails from the powerhouse Gilman program coached by Henry Poggi's father, Biff Poggi.
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:01 PM ^
Anyone know when this rumored next visit of Rashan Gary's will be?
Also, I know this has been discussed, but: Biff Poggi!
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:40 PM ^
late January would be best. Get in him here just before signing day so it's the last place he sees before signing day.
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:06 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 2:00 AM ^
Listening to SEC recruiting podcasts for tidbits of Michigan information? I salute you.
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^
Really hope Matt recovers fully down the road and is a beast for WMU.
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:24 PM ^
Whenever I see the name Velus Jones, it reminds of the Eddie Murphy skit on SNL as Velvet Jones....
Come to Michigan young man!
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:24 PM ^
Not to be EMO but the Chad Carr thing really f'ed me up. Nothing seems meaningful anymore. RIP little man.
November 24th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
It'll cure all. Loss is what makes us appreciate that which we have.
November 26th, 2015 at 4:57 AM ^
#Chadtough #beatohio4chad
November 26th, 2015 at 4:59 AM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:24 PM ^
commits soon. We need another really good lineman in this class and he fits the bill. Delance may just be the odd guy out if he waits too long and wants to come here. But, the late stages of this recruiting year is going to be the most interesting one we've seen, maybe ever here. It has the potential if things go well, to make a huge positive impact on Michigan football in the coming years.
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
I posted this question, maybe in the last recruiting roundup, don't recall seeing any answer:
When did Delance pass Davis on our board or in starz? There was a time Davis was the #1 OG in the class, wasn't he? Then as time went by it seemed we were slow-playing him while waiting for Delance... or am I totally misreading this entire recruitment?
Then, as long as recruitniks are clarifying things:
Why would we be cooling on Kiante? Where's Kiante's cake? Where's his phone calls at least?
His stats and the highlights posted here make him seem pretty damn dynamic. Our offense could use dynamic playmakers seems to me?! And he could play D too, they say...
November 23rd, 2015 at 10:35 PM ^
Delance is a tackle and Davis is a guard. Maybe they feel tackle is a bigger need with Bredeson and Onweu committed at guard?
Either way it's a wealth of riches.
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:34 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:06 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:29 PM ^
Did you photoshop this? :-)
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
You cannot upvote from the mobile app. This might be what rocky is trying to accomplish.
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:48 PM ^
Vivz, I'm pretty sure you're a nice person, sincere and true Blue...
But I'm totally sure what Rocky was going for is that thing so often represented around these parts lke so:
/s
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:43 PM ^
Let's all start photoshopping, cropping, whatever techniques we need to present clear evidence when a poster on this blog is FOS!!! People think they funny....
Kudos NYC!
Hey Rocky - maybe if you'd added the ever popular /s you wouldn't have been called out this way!
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:47 PM ^
The fact that Keyshon Camp is paying his own way to Michigan for The Game from Florida tells me he's extremely serious about Michigan. It's great to believe that we are going to land talent at all of the positions of need again. Coach Harbaugh does not leave anything to chance.
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^
I thought the same thing. It's one thing to take an official when you're committed elsewhere, but it's another to pay your own way for a second trip to a school you've already seen.
Add in the fact that when he took his first visit to Michigan, Sarkissian hadn't been fired yet, so he had genuine interest in Michigan even before all the turmoil at USC. Now it's late November and the situation at USC hasn't cleared itself up yet and Camp is paying his own way for another trip. Also - Michigan and USC are the only schools he's had officlas to, so if he decides to flip from SC, Michigan has to be the favorite. I think we should feel very good about him.
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:50 PM ^
I love that recruiting tactic. Especially since we need linebackers so badly for next year. Also... CAKE!!!! That is all.
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
at calling wishing a recruit a happy birthday with cake a "recruiting tactic." Though it is, technically, it's about as simple and seemingly genuine as recruiting tactics come. Bravo, Coach.
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing. It's as if the recruiting experts picture Harbaugh saying "Hey Durkin, I've got a devious plan. When a recruit has a special occasion in his life, we'll be happy about it and want to celebrate it for them. But we won't stop there. We'll take a picture of it, so he can see how happy we are for him. It's genius."
November 23rd, 2015 at 7:36 PM ^
If that was all they did, then yes, it's possibly a little overboard to call it a recruiting tactic. However, they got a custom cake FOR THEMSELVES with the player's name on it. That takes it up a notch to "recruiting tactic" level. Hopefully they'll get to eat their cake as well (in the form of a commitment)!!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^
Bummed to hear that about Enis.
You recruit the players who are committed to you nowadays and having cursory contact once a month makes me think they are doing smilar things as at Stanford where Harbaugh basically cut off the spigot of communication.
I get he is quiet but if I was the commit and the school I was committed to suddenly went from X contact to .20 of X 5-6 months later I'd feel like I was not much of a priority.
I don't want to read too much into it but I cannot imagine not reaching out to every commit you are serious about at least 1-2x a week.
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^
You'd figure they'd either fish or cut bait. Enis seems like a really good athlete and a great guy to get in the class, I'm hoping it's more along the lines of they feel really solid with Enis and so are keeping contact cursory, but I doubt it's like that.
Regardless here's hoping everyone does the right thing and either Enis gets confirmed in the class or told straight up he's better off finding another opportunity. Here's hoping for the former.
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:05 PM ^
I'll take the devil's advocate side of that argument:
Michigan's staff, during the season, has very limited time. In terms of recruiting time priorities, I imagine it looks something like this, in order:
1. Uncommitted recruits
2. Highly sought-after committed recruits
3. Uncommitted 2017 recruits
4. Committed recruits you still want to keep, but aren't getting attention from other top programs
It's entirely possible (if not likely) that Enis falls under #4 above. That doesn't mean the coaches don't want him, but if they feel like there isn't a threat there, they'll focus their limited time elsewhere. I work in sales, and I need to be smart about my time. If there is an account that's mine and I know they're going to be loyal, I won't spend as much time on them as if there is a bigger account under threat from a competitor. But that time spent doesn't reflect how much I value either account.
November 24th, 2015 at 12:42 AM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 1:09 AM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^
Yeah, I hope it's not the recruiting version of "Im just not going to talk to you anymore and hope you get the hint."
November 23rd, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
Has had on everything Michigan, including recruiting, is simply remarkable.
November 23rd, 2015 at 5:42 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:03 PM ^
that is all.
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:30 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:28 PM ^
November 23rd, 2015 at 9:40 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 12:49 AM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 12:52 AM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 6:42 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 24th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^
It may just be a matter of needing to mend fences and speak to him after the season is over, WolvinLA2's devil's advocate position seems to be a pretty logical one on reflection, so it could just come down to the coaches having a talk with him after the season on an ion-home and explain their perspective. A similar thing happened with a couple of UCLA recruits last year and all turned out well in the end.
November 23rd, 2015 at 9:41 PM ^
That's Boss!!!! In a game thread after Tagaloa makes a dynamic play, also Biff Poggi FTW!!!
Also, also, I like Kiante Enis and his size, 6'2" can be a nice size for a CB or dual threat and special teams, he's a great athlete and I'd like to see his commitment stick.
November 24th, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
Click on that link and can't help but gravitate towards an account of a ND fanboy who does nothing but retweet ND pics and tweet at recruits.
*barfs*
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