2018 Recruiting Update: The Dump

Tag: Olaijah Griffin


12Feb 2018
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2018 Recruiting Update: The Dump

Leesburg (GA) Lee County LB Otis Reese

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COMMITMENTS

Rochester (MI) Adams cornerback Vincent Gray committed to Michigan (LINK).

Northville (MI) Northville kicker Jake Moody committed to Michigan as a grayshirt.

DECOMMITMENTS

Washington (DC) St. John’s quarterback Kevin Doyle decommitted from Michigan (LINK).

Leesburg (GA) Lee County linebacker Otis Reese flipped from Michigan to Georgia. He’s a 4-star, the #5 outside linebacker, and #87 overall. Michigan’s coaching staff found out that he was flipping when he announced on the morning of National Signing Day, which is a . . . uhhh . . . less than ideal behavior from someone who has been committed to you for 1.5 years. Michigan’s coaches took heat for yanking offers late in the process previously (see: Erik Swenson), but at least those players had a chance to make other plans. If you wait until the last day to decide, somebody’s getting screwed.

Hit the jump for all the guys who committed elsewhere, along with some random bits.

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19Jan 2018
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Visitors: January 19-21, 2018

Mission Viejo (CA) Mission Viejo CB Olaijah Griffin (image via SoCal Prep Legends)

TRANSFERS

Casey Hughes – CB/S – Utah: Hughes is a 6’0″, 185 lb. cornerback/safety who is a grad transfer from Utah, so he will be eligible to play immediately. He made 35 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, and 2 forced fumbles as a starting cornerback in 2017.

2018

Ronnie Bell – WR – Kansas City (MO) Park Hill: Bell is committed to Michigan (LINK). This is his official visit.

Vincent Gray – CB – Rochester (MI) Adams: Gray is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect who was committed to Missouri from July 2017 until recently. He’s a 3-star, the #60 cornerback, and #681 overall. He also has offers from Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan,  West Virginia, some lower-level Power Five programs, and some MAC schools. This is his official visit.

Olaijah Griffin – CB – Mission Viejo (CA) Mission Viejo: Griffin is a 6’0″, 170 lb. cornerback who was committed to UCLA until recently. He’s a 4-star, the #4 cornerback, and #31 overall, and he’s an Under Armour All-American. He has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and USC, among others. He took a visit to Tennessee and named them his leader after the visit, so that’s who Michigan is chasing right now. He’s a teammate of offensive tackle Jarrett Patterson, whom Michigan is also recruiting. Griffin said he would visit either Auburn or Michigan this weekend, and he will visit the other team next weekend. UPDATE: Griffin is playing in the Polynesian Bowl this weekend and will presumably not take the official visit until next weekend. His official to Auburn is scheduled for the first weekend in February.

Ryan Hayes – TE/OT – Traverse City (MI) West: Hayes signed with Michigan in December (LINK). This is his official visit.

Jake Moody – K – Northville (MI) Northville: Moody is a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Air Force, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and UMass, among others; he also has a grayshirt offer from Michigan.

Otis Reese – LB – Leesburg (GA) Lee County: Reese is committed to Michigan (LINK) but did not sign during the early signing period. This is his official visit.

Tyquavious Terrell – WR – Leesburg (GA) Lee County: Terrell is a 6’0″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Georgia Southern, Marshall, and UMass. He’s a 247 Sports 2-star, the #314 wide receiver, and #2129 overall. Terrell is a classmate of Otis Reese (see above). He claims a 4.39 forty and has very good football speed. I’m surprised he doesn’t have some bigger offers.

2020

Bryan Bresee – DE – Damascus (MD) Damascus: Bresee is a 6’4″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #1 strongside end, and #1 overall player in the country for the 2020 class.

19Jan 2018
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2018 Polynesian Bowl

Mustapha Muhammad (image via 247 Sports)

The 2018 Polynesian Bowl will be on January 20, 2018. Here’s a list of Michigan offerees who will be participating:

  • WR Bryan Addison (UCLA)
  • DT Jayson Ademilola (Notre Dame)
  • DE Eyabi Anoma (Alabama)
  • OT Tommy Brown (Alabama)
  • OG Emil Ekiyor (Alabama)*
  • LB Palaie Gaoteote (USC)
  • CB Olaijah Griffin
  • S Talanoa Hufanga
  • TE Brevin Jordan (Miami)
  • TE Mustapha Muhammad (Michigan)
  • QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA)
  • TE Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)
  • OT Penei Sewell
  • WR L’Christian Smith (Ohio State)
  • RB Brian Snead (Ohio State)
  • RB Markese Stepp (USC)
  • CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
  • OT Brey Walker (Oklahoma)

*Previously committed to Michigan

22Nov 2017
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School in the News: UCLA

San Marcos (CA) San Marcos WR Kyle Philips (image via Rivals)

As most of you know by now, UCLA fired head coach Jim Mora after a 28-23 loss over the weekend. The Bruins are 5-6 and have one remaining matchup against 5-6 Cal, which isn’t anywhere close to a guaranteed win. The Bruins elevated offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch (Michigan’s passing coordinator in 2015-2016) to interim head coach, but he wouldn’t be a splash hire long-term for UCLA.

Here’s a look at UCLA’s recruiting situation for 2018 and 2019:

2018 commits with Michigan offers: LB Kolin Demens, WR Jahan Dotson, CB Olaijah Griffin, WR Kyle Philips, QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
2019 commits with Michigan offers: WR Kam Brown
Roster players offered by Michigan: OT Alex Akingbulu, DT Martin Andrus, TE Devin Asiasi, WR Demetric Felton, CB Darnay Holmes, WR Theo Howard, TE Jimmy Jaggers, RB Soso Jamabo, LB Mique Juarez, DE Keisean Lucier-South, DE Jaelan Phillips, CB Adarius Pickett, LB Kenny Young

It may not seem like Michigan recruits against UCLA very heavily, but when Jim Harbaugh and some of his staff first came from California, they had a lot of connections. I think Michigan’s staff may be redirecting their efforts since California kids are so difficult to recruit. Obviously, Devin Asiasi spent his freshman year at Michigan and has been redshirting for the entire 2017 season, so I doubt he’s going anywhere unless he wants to sit out another year. The only other player that Michigan was close to getting was Lucier-South, who appeared to be a Michigan lean at one point.

As for the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes, Demens might be name that jumps off the screen. From Detroit (MI) Country Day, he’s the younger brother of former Michigan linebacker Kenny Demens, but the Wolverines coaching staff wasn’t pushing hard for him at any point, and the coaching change probably won’t change that. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, from Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman, was considered a Michigan lean at one point, but he followed Fisch to UCLA and the Wolverines already have two quarterbacks committed for the 2018 class.

Michigan recently offered Kyle Philips, who plans to visit Michigan in early December. Otherwise, the coaching staff doesn’t seem close to getting anyone on campus, even though they have continued to recruit Olaijah Griffin. It will be interesting to see if UCLA’s next coach (hot names include Chip Kelly and Kevin Sumlin) can keep all of these players.

9Aug 2017
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Recruiting Update: August 9, 2017

Warren G and his son, Olaijah Griffin (image via Twitter)

COMMITMENTS

Naples (FL) Naples cornerback/safety Sammy Faustin committed to Michigan (LINK).

Norcross (GA) Greater Atlanta Christian strongside end Chris Hinton, Jr., a 2019 prospect, committed to Michigan.

OFF THE BOARD

Houston (TX) Westfield defensive tackle Keondre Coburn committed to Texas. At 6’1″ and 329 lbs., the #103 overall prospect seems destined to be a fire hydrant of a nose tackle.

Pensacola (FL) Escambia wide receiver Jacob Copeland commmitted to Florida. He’s the #9 wideout and #52 overall.

Hampton (GA) Dutchtown safety Trey Dean committed to Tennessee.

Houston (TX) Dekaney tight end Malcolm Epps committed to Texas. The Longhorns now have two tight end commitments, which should be a signal that Mustapha Muhammad is headed elsewhere (a.k.a. Michigan).

Mission Viejo (CA) Mission Viejo cornerback Olaijah Griffin committed to UCLA. The son of rapper Warren G is the #49 player and #8 cornerback in the class.

Owings Mills (MD) McDonogh defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher committed to Penn State. The #98 overall prospect in 2018 is the younger brother of Notre Dame redshirt junior offensive guard Sam Mustipher.