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Top 10 Most Viewed Posts of 2018

It’s been another great year here at Touch the Banner, even though there are still six days to go. As of Christmas Eve morning, there have been 258,529 unique users and 3,293,015 page views since January 1, 2018.

Since today is a light traffic day here at the blog, I thought I would just do a rundown of TTB’s most viewed blog posts during the year. Maybe you’ll visit one, revisit one, or skip them altogether.

1. Visitors: 2018 BBQ at the Big House
2. 2018 Scholarship Count
3. Ex-Wolverine Update: Post-2017 Recap
4. Welcome to the Weekend
5. Visitors: February 16-18, 2018
6. Visitors: Michigan vs. Indiana
7. Visitors: December 7-9, 2018
8. Michigan 56, Nebraska 10
9. Visitors: Michigan vs. Wisconsin
10. Outback Bowl: South Carolina 26, Michigan 19

It’s always an interesting endeavor for me to review the year and see which posts got the most attention. With five of the top ten posts being visitor lists, I guess I must be hitting on something that readers want to see. Otherwise, it’s a smattering of content. I guess people must have enjoyed Michigan beating up on Scott Frost, and people really must have hated that loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!

Recruiting Snapshot: Ohio State

Lewis Center (OH) Olentangy Orange DE Zach Harrison

2019 Ranking: #12 nationally. #3 in Big Ten. They have three 5-stars, seven 4-stars, and five 3-stars signed, along with one 4-star who’s a verbal commit.

Cream of the 2019 Crop: Lewis Center (OH) Olentangy Orange defensive end Zach Harrison made a late decision for the Buckeyes, picking the home-state team over Michigan and Penn State. Harrison is the #1 strongside end and #4 overall in the class. Austin (TX) Lake Travis wide receiver Garrett Wilson (#2 WR, #16 overall) and Buford (GA) Buford center Harry Miller (#2 C, #31 overall) are the other two 5-star commits. Michigan was never involved with Wilson, but the Wolverines appeared to be near the front for Miller before that recruitment went cold. Michigan had a shot, since 2018 freshman running back Christian Turner hailed from Buford, but it wasn’t meant to be.

2020 Ranking: #5 nationally. #1 in Big Ten. They have one 5-star and four 4-stars verbally committed.

Cream of the 2020 Crop: Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier offensive tackle Paris Johnson, Jr. committed to the Buckeyes in June. He’s the #1 offensive tackle and #6 overall in the 2020 class.

J.D. Johnson, Wolverine

Phoenix (AZ) Pinnacle QB J.D. Johnson (image via USA Today)

Phoenix (AZ) Pinnacle quarterback J.D. Johnson, a 2020 prospect, committed to Michigan on Friday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Arizona, Colorado State, South Carolina, and UNLV.

Johnson is listed at 6’4″ and 190 lbs. He claims a 4.79 forty, a 4.6 shuttle, and a 28.6″ vertical.

RANKINGS
ESPN:
Rivals: 3-star pro-style QB, 5.5 grade
247 Sports: 3-star, 85 grade, #25 pro-style QB, #558 overall

Hit the jump for more on Johnson’s commitment.

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Daxton Hill, Wolverine…again

Tulsa (OK) Booker T. Washington safety Daxton Hill committed to Michigan (LINK), flipped to Alabama (LINK), and then re-committed to Michigan on Wednesday.

Of course, you know this already, because you’re a diehard Michigan fan. I’m not breaking any news here.

Hill supposedly flipped to Alabama because of the “news” that Jim Harbaugh was leaving for the NFL’s Browns/Packers and Don Brown was leaving for the Temple head coaching job. Brown did interview for the Temple gig, so that might be a viable concern, but rumors of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL pop up literally every year. Harbaugh will have to deal with that type of negative recruiting for his entire career at Michigan. Once the rumors were dispelled, Hill regretted his decision.

Hill joins a short list of players who have committed to Michigan, de-committed, and then re-committed. A lot of recruits burn bridges or cut off ties to the program to which they originally committed. It has happened a few times in the last several years with the Wolverines, though, in the former of offensive guard David Dawson and defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon. (It may be noteworthy, though, that both Dawson and Solomon transferred before their Michigan careers ended, at least if Solomon follows through with his current intentions.)

RANKINGS
ESPN: 5-star, 90 grade, #1 S, #13 overall
Rivals: 5-star, 6.1 grade, #1 S, #24 overall
247 Sports: 5-star, 98 grade, #1 S, #7 overall

This is just a reminder that I gave Hill my highest possible…

TTB Rating: 100 (ratings explanation)

Cornelius Johnson, Wolverine

Greenwich (CT) Brunswick WR Cornelius Johnson (image via Brunswick Athletics)

Greenwich (CT) Brunswick wide receiver Cornelius Johnson committed to Michigan on Wednesday morning, sending in his National Letter of Intent to the Wolverines instead of Alabama, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford, or a bunch of other schools.

Johnson is listed at 6’3″ and 197 lbs. He claims a 4.58 forty, a 4.13 shuttle, and 36.7″ vertical.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #36 WR, #281 overall
Rivals: 3-star, 5.7 grade, #69 WR
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #25 WR, #185 overall

Hit the jump for more on Johnson’s commitment.

read more