Recruiting Update: December 17, 2012

Recruiting Update: December 17, 2012


December 17, 2012
Westerville (OH) South safety/linebacker/receiver/quarterback Marcus Ball (image via This Week News)

COMMITMENTS
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech offensive guard David Dawson re-committed to Michigan.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech cornerback/safety Delano Hill changed his commitment from Iowa to Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2013
Westerville (OH) South linebacker Marcus Ball was offered by Michigan.  Ball is a 6’3″, 205 lb. prospect who is being recruited by Michigan as a linebacker, though most other schools have told him they want him as a safety.  Back in November he committed to Wisconsin, where his brother Ray is an offensive tackle (and was recruited by Michigan a couple years ago).  He also has offers from Arizona State, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, West Virginia, and others.  As a junior in 2011, he threw for 1,300 yards, ran for 500 yards, and had 7 interceptions on defense.  He played safety in high school but appears to be a SAM linebacker prospect, and no matter where he ends up playing, I think he would outgrow the safety position. (Highlights.)

Spotsylvania (VA) Chancellor cornerback Chris Holmes was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’2″, 187 lb. prospect who could play boundary corner or safety.  Holmes committed to North Carolina State back in July and holds offers from Clemson, Illinois, South Carolina, and West Virginia.  The Wolfpack just replaced head coach Tom O’Brien with former Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren, so there might be an opening to create a relationship. (Highlights.)

Brantford (Ont.) Pauline Johnson offensive tackle David Knevel was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’8″, 290 lb. prospect who is supposed to announce his college decision on Tuesday, which is reported to be between Alabama, Nebraska, and West Virginia.  It’s unclear whether Michigan’s offer will change that announcement date or factor into his decision, but he has not visited Ann Arbor and has already used all five of his official visits allowed (to the three above schools along with Washington State and Wisconsin).  Of course, Ontario is significantly closer than any of those other schools, so a 3.5- or 4-hour car ride might be feasible.

Arvada (CO) Ralston Valley offensive tackle Dan Skipper was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’10”, 295 lb. prospect who would likely be limited to tackle.  Skipper committed to Tennessee back in June and holds offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Northwestern, and Oregon State, among several others.  Tennessee and the home state Colorado Buffaloes are going through coaching transitions, which might open the door for Skipper to join the class.  Despite the re-commitment of Dawson, Michigan appears to be considering taking a sixth offensive lineman in the class, likely a tackle. (Highlights.)

Belton (TX) Belton tight end Durham Smythe decommitted from Texas.  Michigan does not appear to be back in the hunt, but it looks like a re-commitment to Texas is probably out the window.  Florida, Stanford, and Notre Dame all appear to be strong possibilities as of now.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Broken Arrow (OK) Broken Arrow running back Devon Thomas was offered by Michigan.  Thomas is a 5’10”, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and others, but he committed to Oklahoma State on Saturday.  Thomas is the teammate of 2014 quarterback Coleman Key, who has visited Michigan and is supposedly on the short list of quarterbacks being evaluated for an offer. (Highlights.)

OFF THE BOARD
Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School defensive tackle Maquedius Bain committed to LSU.  Bain never visited Michigan and was not a serious option at this point, although I do really like him as a prospect.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of players who visited this past weekend.

St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville linebacker Michael Ferns, a 2014 commit, released his junior season highlights.

13 comments

  1. Comments: 21399
    Anonymous
    Dec 17, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    Thoughts on Fern's newly released tape?

    • Comments: 21399
      Dec 17, 2012 at 3:02 PM

      I didn't break down his new film, but I liked what I saw when I glanced at it. I think he's going to be a good one down the road.

  2. Comments: 21399
    Dec 17, 2012 at 1:21 PM

    With hill on board now does hoke try for Crawford or Dawson for final DB? Mcquay is not coming here.

    Also is jameon moss coming for a visit?

    • Comments: 21399
      Dec 17, 2012 at 3:02 PM

      I'm not that high on Crawford. He looks like a linebacker to me, not a safety. Dawson, maybe.

      I haven't seen any indication that Moss is coming for a visit.

    • Comments: 21399
      Anonymous
      Dec 18, 2012 at 12:05 AM

      Dawson looks like a good high school player, but does he have enough speed and quickness to play CB at Michigan?

  3. Comments: 21399
    Anonymous
    Dec 17, 2012 at 2:59 PM

    I know it's probably been asked, but with the DC at FSU leaving why are we not persuing Levenberry? Does the staff believe that the CJ major that he wants to much to overcome?

    • Comments: 21399
      Dec 17, 2012 at 3:01 PM

      I think the Levenberrys screwed up when they tried to look around months ago and said that they would take a visit to Michigan without first asking the coaches if EJ could visit. I don't think Michigan is interested anymore. And I've never been very high on Levenberry, so I don't mind.

  4. Comments: 21399
    Dec 17, 2012 at 3:14 PM

    Knevel was not offered. That was a miscommunication.

  5. Comments: 21399
    Anonymous
    Dec 17, 2012 at 3:32 PM

    Related to Anonymous 9:59 posting (and not the actual post itself or the poster):

    The idea that anyone would choose a school based on the availability of a major like "criminal justice" strikes me as hilarious. In Michigan, it would be like a guy going Sparty because of their "Packaging Engineering" program (ignoring UMich's numerous Top Ten engineering departments).

    I personally know two Michigan engineering alums working for the FBI in pretty important jobs. To my knowledge their lack of a "criminal justice" credential did not impede their progress.

    Really, WTF?

    • Comments: 21399
      Dec 17, 2012 at 4:35 PM

      Yeah i thought about that too. it only takes a bachelor's degree and you can apply for the FBI

    • Comments: 21399
      Lanko
      Dec 17, 2012 at 6:09 PM

      It's not preposterous at all. If you know what you want to do and the school you go to doesn't offer it, you can still pursue that career path — but it's harder to do. If you KNOW you want to be a packaging engineer and you know you don't want to go to grad school – going to MSU is probably better than going to UofM and getting a related Michigan degree. It depends on how sure you are about your direction.

  6. Comments: 21399
    Dec 18, 2012 at 12:23 AM

    sounds stupid to me

  7. Comments: 21399
    Anonymous
    Dec 18, 2012 at 3:08 AM

    FYI I think you made a typo in the paragraph about skipper and wrote knevel on accident.

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