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.
MD LB Jelani Jenkins. Some recruiting fluff from the Freep. Sam Webb will see that and raise it in the News. Michigan grades out well in The Matrix (I'm not joking, click the link). By the way, Good Counsel will be on ESPN2 this Thursday.
AL CB Dre Kirkpatrick. It appears he's only taking visits to SEC country. Word on the street is that Georgia conceded him to Alabama Saturday night, and pretty much gave up recruiting him (though the Bama coaches were recruiting him - at their away game).
Requisite Gordon-Will Campbell good feelings exist. Miller's commitment is a good way to keep recruiting mojo working when the 2009 class is mostly full.
Detroit Cass Tech QB/S Thomas Gordon (6-0 200) has given his word to become a Michigan Wolverine. Gordon will likely be a defensive back at Michigan, but could fill in as a signal-caller if an injury situation were to require it. Gordon becomes the 19th member of the 2009 Michigan recruiting class.
Recruiting Notes Gordon made it no secret from the get-go that the Wolverines were his favorite school, and spent much of the recruiting cycle waiting for his offer. He attended Michigan's camp with his teammates Teric Jones and Will Campbell this summer, but his performance did not earn him that coveted offer. Gordon became a more serious prospect for Michigan later, as more schools began to offer. Thomas attended Michigan State's game last weekend on a visit, where the Spartans gave him an offer. Shortly thereafter, Michigan followed suit, but Gordon chose to not immediately end his recruitment, giving respect to those that had offered him earlier. Gordon scheduled his announcement for September 26th, and despite a few changes to that schedule, he went with his heart on that date, picking the Wolverines.
Player Notes Gordon is the starting QB for Cass Tech High School, but wasn't deemed worthy of an offer at that position. When he attended college summer camps in 2008, several coaching staffs requested that he work out at the safety position. Though his performance didn't garner any big-time offers, it did pique the interest of Rich Rodriguez and company. 2 games into the 2008 Cass Tech season, the coaches were convinced he could contribute at safety. He will be a DB at Michigan, though he would also be capable of playing QB in an emergency. Gordon is given two stars by Scout, though Rivals deems him worthy of the third star. He is a high-upside guy who might see his ranking increase, since he has only been playing safety for a half season.
Etc. With two of his good friends and teammates now solidly committed to Michigan (on top of Boubacar Cissoko, who is a freshman standout in Ann Arbor), there is a good chance that William Campbell is more likely to recommit to Michigan.
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.
Moved to Committed: AZ DE Craig Roh. Hooray, a(nother) defensive end commit! Local article.
New Information: LA WR Rueben Randle. DeQuinta Jones's teammate has Michigan in his top 5, along with LSU, USC, Bama, and Miami of Florida. TN Marsalis Teague. Michigan is situated just outside his top 4, and may receive an official visit. FL S Jonathan Scott. He wants to set up an official for the Toledo game. FL S Vladimir Emilien. Official for the MSU game. FL CB/QB Mywan Jackson. When the headline is a question like "Is Michigan on Top for Mywan Jackson?," the answer is always "yes" or "they're in my top group, but I don't have a favorite."
Removed: CA WR Shaquelle Evans. Committed (albeit softly) to USC. OH RB Darrell Mason MI RB Hersey Jackson MN WR Fritz Rock LA LB Jonathan Stewart LA LB Jonathan Pippin MS S Dorian Berry VA CB Javanti Sparrow So, I removed a bunch of guys that don't seem to be on Michigan's radar.
Etc.:
Remember: Cass Tech S/QB Thomas Gordon announces his decision this weekend. Here's a little Cass Tech fluff, too.
IN LB Commit Jordan Barnes unofficially visited Purdue last weekend. Not sure if you should read anything into that, so take it FWIW.
Major (5 page) Tate Forcier fluff from the AANews. Obligatory "omfg he should mma w/ mike b."
I'll give a few 2010 tidbits here and there as the season progresses (more about the 2010 board tomorrow). A top instate player will have a hard time going against Green and White when it comes to his recruitment.
Added: FL LB Mike Marry. Michigan shall make his next cut (info in header).
New Information: OK RB David Oku. Never mind about deciding this week: he has delayed his announcement yet again. FL QB Denard Robinson. Still feelin' Michigan (info in header) despite the multiple QB commits. SC OL Quinton Washington. Official visit for Wisconsin game, and Michigan looks surprisingly strong in his recruitiment (Sam Webb audio). AZ DE Craig Roh. Sam Webb thinks he'll end up at Michigan, unless Rick Neuheisel is particularly slimy (audio). SC DE Sam Montgomery. Has decided which 5 schools to visit, including Michigan. MI S Thomas Gordon. Announcing in a couple weeks, and MIchigan looks good (audio same as above).
Etc.: 2008 MI DE Nick Perry qualified on time, and is now at USC. It was thought that if he failed t qualify, Michigan might be back in the picture for him. 2008 NJ LB Marcus Witherspoon ended up at Rutgers, where he will be eligible to play this year. FL DB Corey Addison. He is thinking about an official visit to Michigan. His commitment to SoCar will leave him off the board for now, but keep him in mind.
Analysis: Michigan finally grabs a defensive end. If they can grab Craig Roh, a huge weakness will be accounted for at the position.
As of now, I expect to see Roh, Will Campbell, Thomas Gordon, and maybe another guy or two to finish out the class.
"He's still basically committed to U-M, but I said there is nothing wrong with going to visit a few schools. There is nothing wrong with that."
This doesn't sound too bad. Also, the article says he won't announce his decision until the Army game, which would contradict a recent assertion that he will enroll early. NJ DE Anthony LaLota. Michigan and PSU are widely regarded to be his de facto top 2. Also, Scout indicates that he is likely deciding soon. MI S Thomas Gordon. The Cass Tech player has said he'd be a near-lock to Michigan were he to get an offer, and now he has it (info in header). Is his commitment just a matter of time? FL S Jonathan Scott. His brother transfers from OSU. I guess coming to Michigan would no longer let them engage in sibling rivalry. MS S Dennis Thames. Fluff, including top schools (Michigan still up there). His injury will keep him out 4-6 weeks.
Removed: MI RB Hersey Jackson. He is out for the season with an injury. He hadn't earned a Michigan offer, and needed a big senior year to get one. So much for that idea.
Analysis: Like I said immediately in the wake of the Campbell "decommitment," nothing has really changed for Big Will. When he was "committed" he said he'd take 5 visits and probably pick Michigan, and following his "decommitment," he's saying... that he'll take 5 visits and probably pick Michigan. On that basis alone, there's nothing to freak out about (if we didn't really have him before, did we really lose him).
Etc.: NC S Devonte Holloman. He will take visits other than Clemson. Typical "not including elsewhere-committed prospects" rules apply, but keep in mind that one of them will be to Michigan. He is planning to enroll early, fwiw. MI WR Commit Bryce McNeal. A bit of fluffy stuff. TX QB Commit Shavodrick Beaver. Don't forget, he plays on ESPN2 in a couple hours.
Michigan Targets Visiting South Bend This Weekend: NC OL Xavier Nixon (though he's not on the board anymore, could a strong game from the Wolverines rekindle his interest in Michigan?). SC DE Chris Bonds (have seen a "maybe" next to this one).
Removed: SC QB/S Stephon Gilmore. Michigan is out of his top group. FL CB Brandon McGee. Has made decision plans, Michigan not among the schools considered. IA WR Keenan Davis. Will not decide until signing day, no apparent M interest. TN WR Marlon Brown. Trimmed list, no Michigan. NC CB Terry Shankle. Michigan eliminated.
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