Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy center Cesar Ruiz (image via Scout)
COMMITMENTS
Cheshire (CT) Cheshire Academy wide receiver Tarik Black committed to Michigan (LINK).
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones committed to Michigan (LINK).
DECOMMITMENT
Groton (MA) Lawrence Academy running back A.J. Dillon flipped from Michigan to Boston College (LINK).
Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips defensive end Robert Porcher IV decommitted from Nebraska. He’s the son of former Detroit Lion Robert Porcher, as you probably gathered already. He’s a 3-star, the #33 weakside end, and #545 overall. When he decommitted he mentioned that he wanted to stay closer to his family, which is interesting because his offers within the state of Florida are from FAU, UCF, and USF. If he indeed plans to stay in Florida, then those aren’t exactly powerhouse schools. He did take an official visit to Michigan in October.
Hit the jump for several players who committed elsewhere and some random bits from the recruiting world.
OFF THE BOARD
Grenada (MS) Grenada safety C.J. Avery committed to Louisville. The Under Armour All-American didn’t really give Michigan a look.
El Cerrito (CA) El Cerrito offensive guard Aaron Banks committed to Notre Dame. Michigan apparently had a chance to reel in Banks, but they took a pass with spots getting tight. There are also concerns about Banks’s weight. Regardless, it didn’t look like a bad move to pass on him with the impending good news of Isaiah Wilson’s commitment . . . except Wilson committed to Georgia (more on that below).
Norfolk (VA) Bishop Sullivan defensive tackle Breyon Gaddy committed to Maryland. Gaddy, along with twin brother Brandon, had recently decommitted from Tennessee. Now both of them will be Terrapins.
Forsyth (GA) Mary Persons defensive end Malik Herring committed to Georgia. He’s another prospect from the deep south who never gave Michigan a look. He’s the #5 strongside end and #150 overall.
Bellaire (TX) Episcopal offensive tackle Walker Little committed to Stanford. He’s the #4 offensive tackle and #18 overall. Texas was hoping to pull him in as the Longhorns’ first big-time recruit under Tom Herman, but instead he committed to Jim Harbaugh’s old school.
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy tight end Tre’ McKitty flipped from Oregon to Florida State. He had been wavering from his Oregon commitment for a while, and Michigan threw him out an offer in late November to test the waters. That was a surprising development, since it appeared that the Wolverines weren’t really pursuing tight ends in this class anymore.
Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman cornerback Alex Perry committed to Arizona State. Perry was at one time very high on Michigan, but a visit never materialized. Michigan is recruiting several of his teammates, including 2018 quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Madison (AL) James Clemens linebacker Monty Rice committed to LSU. At one point Michigan made a big run of offering players from Alabama, but for whatever reason(s), not much happened with most. Michigan’s satellite camp tour that headed through Alabama may have contributed to the continued commitment of J’Marick Woods and the potential landing of wide receiver Nico Collins, but even visits were hard to come by for the Alabamans.
Clairton (PA) Clairton cornerback Lamont Wade committed to Penn State. Wade is the #5 cornerback and #50 overall. At one time he lamented how long it took for Michigan to offer him, since he was a fan of the Wolverines growing up. Perhaps as a result of his wait, he never visited and didn’t give Michigan much of a chance afterward.
Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral linebacker Pete Werner committed to Ohio State. Werner had recently been committed to Notre Dame, but their putrid season contributed to him ending up as a Buckeye.
Brooklyn (NY) Poly offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson committed to Georgia. I wrote some notes on his commitment the other day (LINK).
Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Boyd Anderson safety Daniel Wright flipped from Florida State to Alabama. An Under Armour All-American, he had been committed to FSU since June.
St. Petersburg (FL) Admiral Farragut Academy defensive end Jeremiah Zio committed to Central Florida. He’s a 3-star and #811 overall.
MISCELLANEY
I’ve been doing a rundown of each position and how it’s shaping up for the remainder of the 2017 recruiting cycle: quarterback (LINK), running back (LINK), and tight end (LINK). The look at wide receiver should be posted by tomorrow.
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy center Cesar Ruiz will be announcing his commitment today. He is expected to pick Michigan by all 36 Crystal Ball pickers on 247 Sports. He’s a 4-star, the #1 center, and #58 overall. A New Jersey native, he’s a former teammate of Brad Hawkins, Jr. and Ron Johnson. UPDATE: Since I received a couple e-mails about this, yes, there will also likely be another commitment today.
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy linebacker Jordan Anthony will be announcing his commitment on Thursday, December 22. Michigan has 94% of the Crystal Ball choices for him. He’s a 4-star, the #6 outside linebacker, and #107 overall. Anthony is a Maryland native.
You need to login in order to vote
Lots of opportunity on the o-line right now. Could use another Mason Cole and/or Ben Bredeson for sure. Two plug and play gets here would be appreciated.
A couple of fast outside linebackers and a quality interior defensive lineman would pretty much fill the bucket- with a pleasantly unexpected addition like Asiasi last year please!
All very within reason.
You need to login in order to vote
Re: Ruiz … a “get” for the good guys.
Question for the X’s and O’s guys … given Michigan (and Harbaugh) favor more of a pro-oriented offense, does that necessarily mean the O-Line guys are better-prepped for the pros? Or is the experience gained at Michigan essentially the same as, say, Ohio State … meaning: O-Line play is O-Line play, regardless of the offensive style?
You need to login in order to vote