Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy TE Isaac Nauta
There are three new noteworthy job openings in college football this morning. Virginia’s Mike London resigned (or was dismissed), Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood was unsurprisingly canned, and in the biggest news, Georgia’s Mark Richt was fired. Georgia is a perennial powerhouse in the south, but Michigan has stepped up their efforts in all three of these geographical areas in recent years. Here’s a look at how these job openings might affect Michigan.
Hit the jump for the scoop on several noteworthy prospects.
GEORGIA
2016 commits with Michigan offers: OG Ben Cleveland, QB Jacob Eason, RB Elijah Holyfield, TE Charlie Woerner, CB Malek Young
2017 commit with a Michigan offer: CB DeeJay Dallas
Players offered by Michigan: OT Pat Allen (Fr.), DT John Atkins (RS So.), TE Jeb Blazevich (So.), OLB Lorenzo Carter (So.), WR Isaiah McKenzie (So.), RB Sony Michel (So.), S Rashad Roundtree (Fr.), LB Roquan Smith (Fr.)
Scoop: Aside from the players listed above, the Richt firing is most noteworthy for the fact that Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy tight end Isaac Nauta reportedly has a top two of Georgia and Michigan, with the Bulldogs holding the edge. Originally from Buford (GA) Buford before transferring to IMG Academy, he wants to play close to his family. However, he also has family in Michigan, and he likes how the Wolverines use and develop the tight end. Nauta is perhaps the top offensive target on Michigan’s board and the #1 ranked tight end in the class. Regarding other players, Elijah Holyfield would fill a need at running back and once had the Wolverines atop his list before contact seemed to fall off with Harbaugh’s staff. There were also rumors that Jacob Eason – the top pro-style QB in the class – would strongly consider Michigan if Richt was fired. It’s unclear if Michigan will pursue him with two quarterbacks (Brandon Peters, Victor Viramontes) in the class already. Charlie Woerner is someone who could play tight end or outside linebacker at the next level, and the coaches really liked him, although the interest never seemed to be strongly reciprocated.
RUTGERS
2016 commits with Michigan offers: None
2017 commits with Michigan offers: None
Players offered by Michigan: S Kiy Hester (RS Fr.), OG Chris Muller (RS Jr.)
Scoop: Michigan used to battle Rutgers for recruits a little more often, but the downturn of the program since the days of Greg Schiano has separated the two programs. For a little while, New Jersey pride was taking hold and the top recruits were trying to stay within the Garden State. That’s no longer the case. I would not expect anything to come from Hester and Muller, who are both starters for the Scarlet Knights. However, the disarray at Rutgers should help Michigan and other schools who are trying to infiltrate a fairly talent-rich state. Michigan already has several New Jersey products committed (Brad Hawkins, Ron Johnson, Ahmir Mitchell) and is in good position with several more (Rashan Gary, Kareem Walker, Cesar Ruiz – who plays in Florida right now – and Drew Singleton, just to name a few).
VIRGINIA
2016 commits with Michigan offers: OT Stephen Spanellis
2017 commits with Michigan offers: None
Players offered by Michigan: S Quin Blanding (So.), QB Connor Brewer (Jr.), DT Andrew Brown (So.)
Scoop: Virginia was doing a great job of recruiting for a few years when people thought the program was on its way back with London as the head man. Blanding and Brown were both 5-star prospects, and so was running back Taquan Mizzell. But when he couldn’t show progress on the field, recruiting dropped off. It didn’t help that someone like Greyson Lambert was unproductive in Charlottesville (12 TDs, 13 INTs in two seasons) before transferring to Georgia, where he led the country in passer rating for a while earlier this year (finishing with 11 TDs, 2 INTs). Spanellis is a high school teammate of 2016 Michigan commit Devery Hamilton and 2017 quarterback target Kasim Hill at Baltimore (MD) Gilman. He is a guard/tackle tweener, and Michigan is probably set with either/both of Terrance Davis and Jean Delance if they can reel them in. But there might be an opening for the Wolverines if they want him.
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