Thursday Recruitin' Finds Another Funchess
This is my last post of the week, and I'll be taking next week off to do anything that doesn't involve sitting in front of a laptop. I just wanted to thank everyone for reading along through football and basketball season, and tease that I've got some fun content lined up for my return. (Think dunks. Lots and lots of dunks.) Have a great week, everyone.
Offer Bonanza! (Does Not Include QB)
Michigan's thrown out offers left and right over the last week, as Brandon has covered in detail in this mgoboard thread. In fact, they're going out so fast a couple more offers didn't make that list; since Tuesday, the coaches have extended offers to four-star VA OT Matthew Burrell, three-star GA OT Zach Giella, and five-star GA WR Preston Williams (Tennessee commit).
Burrell generated a lot of buzz when he visited for the Notre Dame game last season; he showed genuine interest, though we'll see how much that's changed given how long it took for U-M to decide to offer him. Giella's three-star ranking belies his impressive offer sheet, and he's currently got LSU as his leader with Ole Miss running second ($); just getting a visit from him would be an accomplishment. Williams, the top-ranked receiver in the class, is looking around at other schools but it's unclear if he'll take a visit to Michigan, per 247's Steve Lorenz.
While the Wolverines may be on the outside looking in for those three prospects, they're looking good for two recent offer recipients at wide receiver. IL four-star Miles Boykin is being recruited at both wide receiver and tight end due to his 6'3", 212-pound frame. Michigan sees him as a Funchess-type wideout, and per Tim Sullivan that's precisely how Boykin wants to play ($):
The 6-3, 212-pounder is open to both spots, but prefers to be out on the edge making plays in space. Fortunately, that's where Michigan would like to see him line up, should he choose to become a Wolverine.
"I'd rather play receiver, but if my body grows I can't really do anything about that so I'm open to playing tight end, too," Boykin said. "[Coach Mallory] said because of how difficult I am to cover, that's why they're offering me as a wide receiver, not a tight end."
Boykin visited Ann Arbor for the spring game-ish thing and told Tim he'd like to see Michigan again before a potential preseason decision. All of the major Midwest schools, among several others, are in on Boykin; Michigan looks to be among his top schools, and that return visit will obviously be key if he sticks to his current timeline.
Meanwhile, three-star FL WR Auden Tate told Scout's Amy Campbell that Michigan was his childhood favorite, and it's a "dream come true" to hold an offer from them—as you'd expect, this has the Wolverines in a very good spot ($):
Now that Michigan has offered, Tate says it’s easily his number one school. “They’re the top, I’m going to try to visit them soon,” he said.
Tate added an offer from his favorite’s rival, Ohio State, earlier this month. While he wasn’t as ecstatic about it as he was the Michigan offer, he was still very happy to add an offer from such a historic program.
Tate's offer sheet suggests he should eventually climb in the composite rankings, and he told Campbell he plans to make a decision "sometime after summer" once he's had the chance to visit his top schools, which also include the likes of Clemson, Miami, and South Carolina. While Michigan will have to sweat out those visits, they'll also get one of their own, and for now they're in a great position to land him.
One reported offer that's been refuted by multiple reporters, including Sam Webb($), is 2015 four-star dual-threat QB Deondre Francois. While Michigan watched him throw this week, no new QB offers have gone out recently, according to Webb.
[Hit THE JUMP for the latest on Grant Newsome, Darian Roseboro, where Michigan stands for several top 2015 targets, and more.]
An Offensive Lineman Emerges?
Michigan continues to put out offers to 2015 offensive linemen; in addition to Burrell and Giella, they also offered four-star FL OT Adbul Bello, three-star FL OT Tyler Jordan, and three-star FL OT William Sweet in the last week. Though a flood of offers to a particular position group often indicates a lack of interest from currently offered prospects, that's not the case with four-star NJ OT Grant Newsome, who gave some very promising quotes to Sam Webb in the wake of his recent Michigan unofficial ($):
“I’m still pretty wide open at this point just trying to what other interests come in throughout the evaluation period,” he stated. “I think Michigan is definitely a school that is very very appealing to me and offers a lot of what I am looking for in a school. I think Michigan is definitely one of my top schools going forward.”
I’ll probably end up taking one or two [visits] in June. I am definitely going to head back out to Michigan because my mom wasn’t able to accompany us on this past trip. So she definitely wants to get out and see the campus for herself. I’ll definitely be taking another trip out to Michigan sometime here in the near future.”
The all-important Mom Visit is an excellent sign, as is Newsome's planned timeline—he wants to make a decision in June or July. If he had to pick a school right now, I believe Newsome would choose Michigan, though Penn State, Ohio State, and LSU could provide some serious competition.
Top-150 Visitor On Campus
NC SDE Darian Roseboro, ranked #110 overall in the 247 Composite, begins a lengthy visit to Michigan today, according to this free update from Steve Lorenz:
He will make the trip with both parents, and will stay Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in town before departing on Sunday. ... He will have time to get the full academic and athletic treatment and then some, as he'll spend a wealth of time with the current players as well.
A visit that long, especially while accompanied by both parents, usually indicates major interest from a prospect, and Michigan has the opportunity to build on that over the long weekend. Roseboro holds offers from all across the country and doesn't appear to have narrowed his focus, so the Wolverines have a chance to make a strong push towards the top of his list.
Etc.
Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame comprise the top three schools for four-star 2015 Cleveland St. Ignatius SDE Dre'Mont Jones, per Rivals's Josh Helmholdt ($). Jones named Ohio State as his favorite after recently visiting both Ann Arbor and Columbus, so it'll be tough to pull him away from his home-state school.
According to Scout's Eric Rutter, four-star UT OLB Osa Masina is preparing to narrow his list to a top ten, and he already knows one school that will make the cut ($):
“I’ll start narrowing my list down,” said Masina. “I’ll start off narrowing it down to ten—maybe seven or eight, but most likely ten. Michigan will definitely be in my top ten.”
Despite the distance that stands between the two states, Masina has already made the 1,600—plus mile trip from Utah to Michigan once in the past year. Masina first visited for the Barbecue at the Big House, which was well received and will likely lead to a return trip this summer.
Masina isn't sure whether he'll make a decision before his senior season or wait and take his official visits; he hinted at a potential commitment at the Army All-American Game.
Michigan sits outside the top five for four-star TX OLB Anthony Wheeler, who has Oklahoma as his leader, though he told Rivals's Jason Howell that he'll "probably get up to Michigan" for a visit this summer ($).
Four-star MO TE Hale Hentges, who visited for the spring game-type substance, told GBW's Josh Newkirk he'll "definitely" be back to Ann Arbor for another visit—this time with his mother ($). He plans to announce a top five next month; I'd expect Michigan will be in there.
2016 IL RB Kentrail Moran, an early four-star on Scout, told Newkirk that Jeff Hecklinski said he's Michigan's top running back target in his class ($). Moran doesn't yet hold an offer, but said he's "very high on Michigan" and is looking forward to an early June visit.
Steve Lorenz also noted that if FSU were to offer him, he'd probably commit near immediately or at the least they'd become the leader right away.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
FYI: this is how FSU's WR board looks right now: Dante Philips, George Campbell, Deon Cain, Calvin Ridley.
Auden Tate visited Tallahassee with family and they really like it, but he is behind these other guys right now. I'm hearing that he's a very good WR, but the only knock on him is lack of elite speed.
Can't resist when I see Kentrail Moran's name - but glad we are getting in early on a top RB for 2016(!!).
If it meant that, they couldn't possibly be in second place. They pay better than anyone.
Also, it would have more $$$
This was on MLive:
MGoBlog recruiting reporter Brandon Brown reported later in the day that Williams "100 percent" plans on making a visit to Michigan at some point.
@CoachBrown3 I hope we can flip this kid. Would be a huge get
— Vince Lloyd (@Mwolverine78) April 24, 2014
Auden Tate looks pretty good, though I'd like to see some more diving catches to make sure he has good hands and concentration and positioning and whatnot.
Seriously, how is he a 3*?
I think a lot of it has to do with his top end speed compared to other top WRs. He doesn't seem to really outrun any of the DBs he's facing, either on routes or after the catch. Not extremely elusive, hard to tell how he runs routes. In summary, maybe not the top flight athlete some of the other, higher ranked WRs, but he can really snag a football.
To add to that, Hoke's staff made it clear they prefer receivers who can catch first so this is pretty consistent. They'll take top-end speed if they can get it, but they figure if you don't have good hands by HS it's probably not going to change in college. So they'll take a 3-star that's labeled "possession" receiver over a 3-star that's basically a track star trying to get a football scholarship.
The upside, at least in my experience, is that dropped passes are a relative rarity -- I mean they do happen, but we have few ARGH ARGH moments compared to some teams. However, we tend to make opposing backfields punch above their weight because no one can blow the top off a defense.
Isn't he pretty tall? Could be another TE/WR hybrid?
Auden Tate looks really good.
Strikes me as kind of a cross between Avant and Gallon... in terms of playing style... not saying he is or will be as good (one can hope).
Oops... repeated Mattison Man... to answer your question, I'm guessing they only consider him a 3* bc he looks more like a possession guy than a burner... not to say he's slow or anything.
But we all know scouting types have a hard-on for speed at receiver.
wow ton of recent OT offers. obviously top OL usually play OT as preps even if projected at OG or C in college so listed positions never guaranteed but the recent activity still seems little heavy. hoke has been very deliberate with offers to date and they typically strategically time their offers pretty well (ie either jump in very early or wait to offer prospects at times when offers/sales pitch can marinate and not bookended by tons of offers from other schools) so im little surprised. the recent half dozen 2015 offers at OT feel a bit like the coaches exited spring with potential transfers or OL medical issues. ive doubted the job hoke and co did projecting their first few classes of OL considering the lack of versatility as well as offers to guys like samuelson and runyan who i do not think will ever be good enough to play but im liking the flurry of fresh offers to athletic OTs. maybe nussmeier pushed for some changes in evals/ protocol which prompted them to no longer simply offer their top 3-5 guys at each position and then just wait for all to make decisions? im wondering if they envision bars or someone buried on depth chart transferring out or getting hit with another bryant medical issue. interesting
I think you are reading into nothing. You just seem to like to stir the pot.
that the Spring evaluation period recently started.
Bring us all more Funchess today, next week and next month.
STORY: #Michigan, Doug Nussmeier quickly building bond with 2015 IMG Academy (Fla.) 4-star QB Deondre Francois http://t.co/0MbeUQBmAf
— Kyle Bogenschutz (@KyleBogie) April 24, 2014
Quick Correction! Lol. #Michigan has offered 2016 Washington D.C. Archbishop Carroll OT Jauan Williams
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) April 25, 2014
Quick Correction! Lol. #Michigan has offered 2016 Washington D.C. Archbishop Carroll OT Jauan Williams
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) April 25, 2014
STORY: 2015 Florida 4-star SF Dwayne Bacon eyes fall official visit to #Michigan, paying attention to NBA development http://t.co/FuNvQ8s4mY
— Kyle Bogenschutz (@KyleBogie) April 24, 2014
He would be a big pick up for next year I hope we can make a big impression on him because I am not sure how our recruitment of Jalen coleman is going.
I really hope we are still his favorite it has been a long time since the ND game. On a good note though Auden Tate is a big Reciever that will fit well in the program and it is also great that he has us on top of his list.
April 24th, 2014 at 10:06 PM ^
First time I have seen us do this. Burrell seemed to like it.
Sick!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/dKqIUCz8Yv
— April 24th !!! (@__Triumphant) April 23, 2014
April 24th, 2014 at 10:39 PM ^
April 24th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
Definitely not.. Ohio among other teams do it often and with great success.
had said it was a violation. I think almost everyone is doing it now so you either compete or you don't. Everyone isn't going to go on probation. Maybe there is something in the rules that allows it.
Kentucky encourages fans to contact recruits on twitter. Nothing seems to happen to them and I don't think they are the only ones. TImes are changing but it doesn't mean all the changes are good.
Personally, I don't like this because of the little "o" which I assume is a shot at OSU similar to the missing M's which I thought was an epic fail on OSU's part.
I believe the distinction is that you can do something like this and send it to the athlete, but you can't post it in a place (such as a scoreboard, twitter) for others to see. If you send it directly to the recruit and the recruit decides to repost it, that's the recruits doing, not the schools.
Kind of a loop hole, but I think that's why it isn't a violation.
Thanks for the clarification.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
This is my understanding as well.
Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
strange. I think you are right.
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