Tag: Cesar Ruiz

2017 Recruiting: Who finishes out the class? – Version 1

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy center Cesar Ruiz (image via Bleacher Report)

During shopping season, please consider supporting TTB by making purchases on Amazon using the ad(s) here. Thanks for your support!

It’s that time of year when concentration turns from bowl games to recruiting while we wait for the games to begin again. With early enrollees making permanent choices in the second half of this month, and then National Signing Day coming in early February, it’s about to get crazy around here. Here’s my look at whom I think will finish out the class. A couple notes beforehand:

• I don’t like to project decommitments, because I don’t like to give the impression that Michigan fans want players gone. However, I will point out players who are shaky in their commitments, along with some potential replacements down below.
• Fully committed players are in regular type. Projected commitments are in bold. Shaky commitments are in italics.
• Just because I list them here does not mean I am comfortable putting in a Crystal Ball for each of these players to Michigan. Naturally, I am more confident in some picks than others.

Hit the jump for my projected class:

read more

2017 Recruiting: Upcoming announcement dates

Cheshire (CT) Cheshire Academy WR Tarik Black (image via Eleven Warriors)

With a flurry of recruiting activity coming in the weeks leading up to the early enrollment period, the All-American games, and National Signing Day, I’ll keep a running list here of announcement dates for prospects of interest:

Tarik Black – WR – Cheshire (CT) Cheshire Academy: December 14, 2016 (picked Michigan)

Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: December 15, 2016 (picked Michigan)

Isaiah Wilson – OT – Brooklyn (NY) Poly: December 16, 2016 (picked (Georgia)

Cesar Ruiz – C – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: December 19, 2016 (picked Michigan)

Jordan Anthony – LB – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: December 22, 2016 (picked Michigan)

Markquese Bell – S – Bridgeton (NJ) Bridgeton: January 1, 2017 (picked Maryland)

Eno Benjamin – RB – Wylie (TX) East: January 7, 2017

Chuck Filiaga – OT – Aledo (TX) Aledo: January 7, 2017

Deron Irving-Bey – DE – Flint (MI) Southwestern: January 7, 2017 (picked Michigan)

Nico Collins – WR – Pinson (AL) Clay-Chalkville: February 1, 2017

Aubrey Solomon – DT – Leesburg (GA) Lee County: February 1, 2017 or later

Who’s enrolling early in 2017?

Brooklyn (NY) Poly OT Isaiah Wilson

Some class of 2017 prospects will be enrolling in January, which means there’s only a few weeks left for players to make college decisions. Here’s a look at the players Michigan is targeting who plan to enroll early, along with their scheduled commitment dates (if they have been announced).

Cam Akers – RB – Clinton (MS) Clinton: N/A

Aaron Banks – OT – El Cerrito (CA) El Cerrito: Committed to Notre Dame

Ja’Raymond Hall – OT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Committed to Michigan

Najee Harris – RB – Antioch (CA) Antioch: Committed to Alabama

Tarik Black – WR – Cheshire (CT) Academy: Committed to Michigan

Jaylen Kelly-Powell – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan

Alex Leatherwood – OT – Pensacola (FL) Washington: Committed to Alabama

Corey Malone-Hatcher – DE – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: Committed to Michigan

Tre’ McKitty – TE – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Committed to Florida State

Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan

Shanon Reid – LB – Ft. Myers (FL) Dunbar: Committed to Tennessee

Cesar Ruiz – C – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Committed to Michigan

Benjamin St-Juste – CB – Montreal (Canada) Vieux: Committed to Michigan

Ambry Thomas – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Committed to Michigan

Isaiah Wilson – OT – Brooklyn (NY) Poly: Committed to Georgia

read more

Visitors: Michigan vs. Wisconsin

Alex Leatherwood

This might be Michigan’s biggest recruiting weekend of the year, since the MSU and OSU games are on the road. So here’s an early list of the visitors headed to Ann Arbor.

2017

Jordan Anthony – LB – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Anthony is a 6’0″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #7 outside linebacker, and #115 overall. Though he has played the last couple seasons in Florida, he’s a Maryland native. The Crystal Ball is 40% in favor of Michigan. This is his official visit.

Markquese Bell – S – Bridgeton (NJ) Bridgeton: I did a scouting report on Bell in April (LINK). He tweeted not long ago that distance is no longer a factor in his decision, which has made some people think that he’s leaning away from Rutgers and perhaps toward Michigan. UPDATE: Bell is no longer planning to visit.

Kenney “K.J.” Britt – LB – Oxford (AL) Oxford: Britt is a 6’0″, 232 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #15 inside linebacker, and #317 overall. So far his Crystall Ball is 67% for Auburn and 33% for Georgia. UPDATE: Britt is no longer planning to visit.

Hit the jump for a bunch of people who are planning to visit, I swear.

read more

2017 Recruiting Update: July 5, 2016

Plantation (FL) American Heritage offensive tackle Kai-Leon-Herbert

OFF THE BOARD

Dallas (TX) Woodrow Wilson cornerback Darrion Green committed to SMU. His Michigan offer was considered a big deal, and so is SMU’s, frankly: Green is partially deaf, so it’s quite an accomplishment to be recruited by FBS programs. His Michigan offer was probably not committable, however, and the Michigan fans who were concerned that such a low-ranked prospect (#179 CB, #1703 overall) could take up a spot in Michigan’s class can rest easy for now.

Oak Ridge (TN) Oak Ridge wide receiver Tee Higgins committed to Clemson. He’s a 5-star and the #3 wideout in the class, behind Donovan Peoples-Jones and Joseph Lewis.

Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips defensive end Robert Porcher IV committed to Nebraska. He is, of course, the son of former Detroit Lions defensive end Robert Porcher. The third. In case you got confused.

MISCELLANEY

Plantation (FL) American Heritage offensive tackle Kai-Leon Herbert will announce his college decision on July 6, which is tomorrow. He narrowed his list to Florida, Miami, and Michigan, but most believe it’s between the Gators and Wolverines. For what it’s worth, I put in my Crystal Ball for Michigan.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech offensive guard Jordan Reid will announce his college decision on July 10 at The Opening in Oregon. His final five are Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, and Tennessee.

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy center Cesar Ruiz put Michigan in his top eight. He had named Michigan his leader at one point, and then named a top twelve with no favorites. So the list is getting whittled down.

Lexington (KY) Lafayette offensive tackle Jedrick Wills named Michigan to his top eight.

Here’s a list of Michigan commits and targets who will be participating in The Opening over this coming weekend (LINK).