Nonetheless, Michigan’s football coach has been covering the country as part of his recruiting plan. He said he started in Detroit, was in Chicago on Wednesday and will hit California, Texas, Florida and Ohio this month before he’s off the road.
You can guess who he's visiting in each place. Snyder also reports that Rodriguez expects 8 early-enrolling recruits from the class of '09. Those would be Tate Forcier, Shavodrick Beaver, Vincent Smith, William Campbell if he re-commits, Anthony LaLota, Brandin Hawthorne, Mike Jones, and Vlad Emilien.
Added to the 2009 Board: LA DE Bennie Logan, who has been offered (info in header). Added to the 2010 Board: NE DB Darius Evans. He grew up in Ohio and likes the Big Ten (info in header).
There's been something of a minor inter-freakout among the Michigan fanbase over a comment posted by DandyDon.com about 2009 MI DT William Campbell.
As for William Campbell, I list him at 60-40 because he has told an LSU commitment more than once that he was going to sign with LSU.
Not to besmirch the honor of Dandy Don, but regardless of his source, I don't think the information is correct. All reports on Campbell's LSU visit have indicated he was less-than-enthused, and barring a sea-change in his sentiments, I think Michigan is still the leader, especially after he stormed the court following the hoops upset over Duke. Also storming the court after the upset over the Blue Devils? 2010 DE William Gholston, pictured below in the lovely purple T-Shirt, along with Brandon Graham in the black jacket.
Still (somewhat surprisingly, given the lack of information about him relating to Michigan) considering the Wolverines is 2009 GA CB Darren Myles. Michigan appears to be in his de facto top 6, along with Alabama, LSU, West Virginia, Purdue, and Georgia Tech.
Though I thought he was planning to make a commitment a couple weeks back, 2009 MD RB Tavon Austinnow says he'll wait until signing day. West Virginia is his current leader, followed by Maryland, UNC, and Michigan.
2010 OH OL Matt James. He has now been offered by Notre Dame (info in header). They seemed to be right in the thick of things before they offered, I'd now assume they are an early leader.
Etc.: UNC CB Commit Josh Hunter intends to visit Ann Arbor. I had been ready to eliminate OH OL Marcus Hall, because he had been naming a top group without us, but now it looks like he's planning a Michigan visit. I still think the Wolverines don't stand a chance, but he'll remain on the board until they're officially eliminated. GA WR Jamal Patterson remains "100% committed" to Stanford.
Added: SC S DJ Swearinger. Michigan has called the onetime target and former Tennessee commit. Other Tennessee commits may start dominating this category sometime soon.
Etc.: Still elsewhere-committed, GA WR Jamal Patterson is hearing from Michigan regardless. Might they be able to convince him to take a visit? MD RB Tavon Austin is supposed to announced sometime very soon, but I predict his choice will be between WVU and UNC.
Analysis: QBs on the board committing elsewhere should be something we get used to: Michigan is unlikely to grab another one, but none on the board have technically eliminated the Wolverines, so on the board they stay. The Wolverines will probably start looking for more DB prospects, so keep an eye out. The outside WR position is also yet to be filled, and it's looking like a prospect who is or has been committed to another school may end up filling the role.
Analysis Austin will be off the board soon, though that's no surprise considering he suddenly cancelled a Michigan visit early this year. It's sounding more like Michigan probably won't have a chance with Devonte Holloman. They'll get a shot at Mywan Jackson, though it sounds like Angelo Hadley isn't all that interested in Michigan (however, see the Freep article about recruiting teammates).
Etc.: In the audio above, Sam Webb gives a little treatise on Michigan's in-state recruiting in 2009. His feelings are essentially the same as mine, in that people are making a big to-do when there is no substance to the "allegations." Freep fluff on the senior recruits at the MSU game.
Analysis: I've been wondering for some time if Michigan will get back in on Cameron Gordon, if only to help with his junior teammate, Devin Gardner. It appears as though he's resigned to ending up at linebacker, though Michigan may be filling up at the position. Who knows how it'll end up, but I wouldn't mind seeing Michigan go after him at least a little bit more.
The Board lives here. Going against the requests of commenters, I'm going to split up 2009 and 2010 updates for now. I think the main fear was that I would be giving less information as a result, but I think it will allow me to give more information on each class.
Analysis: Very Maryland-centric update today. Hawkins and Ankrah both seemed to really dig the Ann Arbor experience. Bryce McNeal's softening of commit status is somewhat troubling, though I still expect that he ends up in blue.
Added: AZ OL Taylor Lewan. Both premium sites have front-page headlines indicating he's been offered. He's a teammate of DE Commit Craig Roh. FL CB Jarvis Byrd. Michigan is showing interest in the Pahokee-an (Pahokeeite?).
New Information: VA DE Will Hill. Enjoys a Tennessee visit, still plans to visit Michigan before deciding. SC DE Chris Bonds. The perpetually-injured one now says he's probably not going to visit Michigan. FL LB Commit Brandin Hawthorne. He's still taking other visits. I wonder if the Michigan coaches might discourage that at his official visit this weekend. FL LB Mike Marry. Michigan is in what appears to be a Top 7 for him. How about a little video?:
Official Visits this Week: TX QB Commit Shavodrick Beaver (though that is apparently not the case) FL LB Soft Commit Brandin Hawthorne MD RB Tavon Austin SC OL Quinton Washington
Analysis: Chris Bonds might be a casualty of 2 DE commits. Michigan's continued pursuit of o-linemen definitely indicates that they see Anthony LaLota staying on the DL. Michigan definitely still seems to want another CB (in addition to another LB), as their increased interest in Jarvis Byrd seems to indicate. That would fill a need and keep a pipeline open.
Etc.: MSU picks up a TE transfer. This probably hurts them with Dion Sims. I personally think he wants to go to OSU if he picks football, but the Buckeyes' class might fill up before he gets a chance to commit there.
Much stuff from late last week snuck its way in here because of the JAM PACKED WITH CONTENT nature of Friday's update.
Added: FL WR Rontavious Wooten. Michigan is in his top 4, though LSU leads. WA DT Deandre Coleman. I'm still convinced Michigan needs to take another DT in this class. FL OL Andrew Carter. Apparently offered.
New Information: Pahokee, FL prospects. Will play on ESPN August 30, where many of them also plan to announce college decisions. Also, they got in a huge brawl this weekend. MD RB Tavon Austin. Wants to have freedom in his college offense. Seems a spread attack would be a good fit for him. GA WR Braxton Lane. Baseball fluff. At this point, I expect him to be a top pick in next spring's MLB Draft, and would be surprised if he went to college. Hell, we'd definitely take him for both sports. FL TE Orson Charles. Decision Timeline. OK RB David Oku. Talks officials (Michigan's is for the MSU game). Video? Video:
Ladies, if you're going to go visit him at work, don't forget to sport some of this stuff.
Removed: FL DT Antwan Lowery. Down to two (info in header). I'm betting neither is Mich, since he has visited several other schools.
Added FL LB Brandon Hawthorne. Michigan in his top two with USF (info in header). SC S David Sims. Offered. SC S DJ Swearinger. He has a Michigan offer. FL CB Angelo Hadley. Offer.
New Information SC DE Chris Bonds. Recruiting fluff with mention that one of his officials will be to Michigan. OH OL Chris Freeman. WVU-tinted recruiting fluff. AZ DE Craig Roh. Plans a summer visit to Michigan. AL DB Dre Kirkpatrick. Plans to take a visit to Michigan. NC WR Jheranie Boyd. Michigan is in his top 15. FL OL Nick Alajajian. He plans to make a summer decision without taking a visit to Michigan. Things don't look so good here. SC OL Quinton Washington. Michigan doesn't make his top 5, but is just barely on the outside. MD Slot Tavon Austin. Georgia has distinguished itself in his recruitment by offering him as a slot. Michigan has done the same (most other schools want him to play RB), but does not garner special mention.
Removed TN OL Alex Bullard. Notre Dame commit.
Analysis Alex Bullard isn't a huge loss, mostly because it was expected. It may also indirectly help out with Chris Watt (whom I believe UM covets more than Bullard) by making the Irish less appealing to him.
Since a flurry of updates over the past couple weeks, it's been 5 days since the last recruiting update. Once everything settles down a bit more (i.e. no commitments), I plan to probably do 2 updates a week. The collaborative board with MGoBlog is still in the works; I'll give an update to you when I know more about it. For all the info, make sure you visit the recruiting board. I may be adding an all-star game field to the board soon, so readers will know which Michigan prospects are headed to the Army game or the ESPNU game.
Added: MD RB Tavon Austin. He now sports a Michigan offer. SC QB Stephon Gilmore. He has been offered by Michigan. FL S Jonathan Scott. He has reportedly been offered by Michigan. MD CB Travis Hawkins. Reporting a Michigan offer. (The last two pieces of information come from Scout articles, but the information itself is apparent from the headlines).
New Information: SC DE Chris Bonds will officially visit Michigan. FL WR Nu'Keese Richardson video. AZ DE Devon Kennard fluff. OK RB David Oku. Has a Brightcove video diary. Entry 1. Entry 2. IL OL Chris Watt's older brother Kevin plays for Northwestern. IN QB Jordan Luallen has GT as his favorite (premium article, but the info is in the headline).
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