Los Angeles (CA) Loyola CB David Long, Jr.
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COMMITMENTS
Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan linebacker Devin Bush, Jr. committed to Michigan (LINK).
Wayne (NJ) De Paul Catholic running back Kareem Walker committed to Michigan (LINK).
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Los Angeles (CA) Loyola cornerback David Long, Jr. decommitted from Stanford. Long is a 6’0″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UCLA, USC, and Washington, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #7 cornerback, and #65 overall. Long took an official visit to Michigan for the Michigan State game in October, and he has an official visit scheduled to Washington for mid-January; those are his top two schools. Michigan has been recruiting Long hard for the entire recruiting cycle, telling him that he’s their #1 target at the cornerback position. They have also told him that they want to use him like Jabrill Peppers, as a defensive back, receiver, and special teams player.
Hit the jump for some guys who went off the board and some random bits.
OFF THE BOARD
Vero Beach (FL) Vero Beach defensive end Patrick Bethel committed to Miami. Michigan’s offer to Bethel never got much traction, and he was expected to stay in the state of Florida.
Euless (TX) Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels committed to Oklahoma. Daniels spent some time on the western side of Michigan as a kid, but he moved to Texas a few years ago. He mentioned a desire to be close to home, and your geography lesson for the day is that Oklahoma is closer to Texas than Michigan is.
Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll offensive guard Richard Merritt committed to Maryland. Merritt is Maryland’s first commitment since D.J. Durkin was hired as the head coach.
Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian tight end Colby Parkinson, a 2017 prospect, committed to Stanford. Michigan’s 2017 tight end situation is interesting, because a big chunk of the top recruits are committing to various places while Michigan has a single commitment from the lowest rated guy on the offer list so far, Carter Dunaway. I think many Michigan fans thought tight ends would flock to Michigan with the hiring of Jim Harbaugh, but instead, the Wolverines are making do with a couple low-ranked kids so far in 2016 (Sean McKeon) and 2017 (Dunaway).
Farmington (MI) Farmington linebacker David Reese II committed to Florida. The former Michigan commit wanted to enroll early, and teams like Florida, Nebraska, and Texas gave him that opportunity. It’s not a bad idea to go play in Gainesville and be coached by Randy Shannon.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy tight end Isaac Nauta named Michigan to his top three, along with Alabama and Georgia. The favorite is Georgia, and Michigan is probably #2.
Rockford (MI) Rockford punter/kicker Quinn Nordin announced that he will take three officials in January – to Michigan, to Penn State, and to Baylor. Nordin is “committed” to Penn State, but he has long been rumored to flip to Michigan. Baylor just recently offered and will receive an official the weekend before National Signing Day.
Allen (TX) Allen defensive end Levi Onwuzurike named a top four that includes Michigan. Onwuzurike is a bit under the radar because he does not talk much on the recruiting trail. However, he’s a 4-star, the #20 weakside end, and #280 overall.
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yeah it is a bit weird that the highly ranked TEs are not flocking to Michigan, and the two potential FBs in this class have both decommitted. I think we will be fine at TE position for the next few years with who we got on the roster, and by the time players like Wheatley and Bunting are graduating the high ranked TEs will be coming.
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Greetings
I’ve been around for a while, but every time I thought I had something to contribute to the conversation, someone else would say it before I could, and usually say it better.
Some thots:
Some folk around here would complain if you hung ’em w/ a new rope.
Coming into the season, I couldn’t see 8 wins on the schedule… Christmas came early and often this season, and yes, Harbaugh is living up to the hype.
Still on my Christmas wish list:
1) Bowl game victory over Florida
2) for the rest of the recruiting cycle:
NJ DLineman Gray
Another 4* or better OL
Another 4* or better LB
and Another 4* or better DB (in my opinion you can never have too many quality DB’s)
Will gladly accept Nuata as a substitute for a DB.
That’s it, that’s my list…
Merry Christmas to all…
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Whoops. That’s Gary, not Gray… My brain knows what to do, but fingers often do something else…
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What does the recent offer to Josh Uche mean? Lack of confidence with existing target or new insights from new DC who has been recruiting in Florida?
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He’s real fast and really likes to hit. He’s a demonic outside rusher and has some coverage skills.
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Here’s my Christmas list, in order. Santa, are you listening?
1. Rashan Gary ….. Of course.
2. Terence Davis ….. Allows you to think about Michael Onwenu at middle guard.
3. Jonathon Jones ….. Thunder’s preference for Dontavious Jackson caused me to lose confidence and look again. Yup, I think Jones, like Bush loses points for being, not tall and is the better linebacker.
4. Chase Allen ….. Yeah, I said it. Nauta is a wonderful football player, Allen has more upside. Especially here.
5. Quinn Nordin ….. I’m not crazy about Kenny Allen punting and kicking. Not entirely sure about Andrew David.
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what is “middle guard”? Is that like Nose Tackle?
I trust the coaches in general and they have clearly prioritized Jackson, almost as much as Bush. He’s target #1 at LB.
I don’t think Michigan needs another TE, so, assuming Nauta goes elsewhere, I hope they find a pure DE like Uche or land another elite athlete like Hardman or Fuller somehow.
I like having an extra spot heading into signing day to see if you can flip somebody.
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Yeah, middle guard and nose tackle are the same thing. It’s just that nobody calls it a middle guard anymore.
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I do.
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Touche.
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Merry Christmas
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Greetings
Anyone got anything on the OL kid looking to transfer from Texas? Possibly a Center w/ 2 yrs eligibility.
A true Center would be a nice pick-up if he can play.
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Raulerson was ranked as the #3 OC coming out of HS, 1 spot behind (and in the same class as) Kugler. Graduated but has 2 years of eligibility left. Eligible immediately.
He started at Texas for a few games but got benched eventually. He was expected to be the starting OC in 2016, but it was a bit by default.
Cons: Struggled as a sophomore on a very bad Texas OL in 2014 and didn’t breakout in 2015.
Pros: Has some talent. Has more experience than Kugler. Perfect fit as an OC. High character kid (early grad, considered ringleader of that Texas recruiting class.)
Everybody is talking about Gary and a bunch of other HS kids right now because everyone is enamored with recruiting ranking, but this is the most critical recruit to Michigan right now.
Raulerson isn’t an elite player, but neither are Michigan’s other OLmen. He’s an experienced center and Michigan has a chance to get him for 2 years of productive play (rather than waiting 3 years – and spending 3 years worth of scholarships – to develop him).
He would be a huge addition, even if he’s only adding depth.
The best case scenario for Michigan is that Kugler develops and competes with Raulerson at center giving us 2 quality options. That matters because keeping continuity along the rest of the OL could have a huge benefit in 2016.
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In other words, unless Newsome just sets the world on fire, I don’t want Cole to move.
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