The 2012 Chesapeake Bowl will take place on December 29 at 2:00 p.m. in Landover, MD. For recruiting fanatics who might want to catch a glimpse of some high-profile recruits, here are the Michigan offerees who are scheduled to participate:
NORTH
Tre Bell – CB – New Jersey (Vanderbilt)
Marcell Lazard – OT – New Jersey (West Virginia)
SOUTH
Paul Harris – WR – Maryland (Tennessee)
Devin Butler – CB – Washington, D.C. (Notre Dame)
Yannick Ngakoue – LB – Washington, D.C.
Tim Harris – CB – Virginia (Virginia)
Na’Ty Rodgers – OG – Maryland
Logan Tuley-Tillman and his mohawk
might be moving to Michigan.
OFF THE BOARDRancho Cucamonga (CA) Rancho Cucamonga cornerback Chris Hawkins committed to USC. At one time Hawkins showed interested in Michigan, but then he set an announcement date, and all signs pointed toward Stanford. Then the Trojans flew in with an offer, and he put off his announcement for several weeks . . . until yesterday.
Not much else happened in the past week regarding Michigan’s recruiting. No new offers, no new commitments, and only one Michigan offeree went off the board. So here’s a look at where the Big Ten teams’ recruiting classes stand:
Illinois: CB Dillon Cazley, OT Jesse Chadwell
Indiana: None
Iowa: None
Michigan: OT Kyle Bosch, TE Jake Butt, DE Taco Charlton, CB Gareon Conley, OT David Dawson, WR Jaron Dukes, OT Chris Fox, TE Khalid Hill, OG Patrick Kugler, CB Jourdan Lewis, LB Mike McCray, QB Shane Morris, RB Wyatt Shallman, RB Deveon Smith, S Dymonte Thomas, OT Logan Tuley-Tillman
Michigan State: OG Caleb Benehoch, RB Gerald Holmes, S Jalyn Powell, LB John Reschke, RB R.J. Shelton
Minnesota: CB Keelon Brookins
Nebraska: CB Tre’vell Dixon, S Marcus McWilson
Northwestern: None
Ohio State: CB Cameron Burrows, RB Ezekiel Elliott, OT Evan Lisle, WR Jalin Marshall, DT Billy Price, S Jayme Thompson, CB Eli Woodard
Penn State: TE Adam Breneman, DE Curtis Cothran, CB Ross Douglas, QB Christian Hackenberg, OG Brendan Mahon, DE Garrett Sickels
Wisconsin: LB Garrett Dooley, LB Austin Ramesh, TE T.J. Watt
The biggest surprise in the above list is that Michigan has 16 recruits by the end of March. This is the earliest Michigan has reached that level since the modern era of recruiting began in 2002, which is when online sources started tracking such info. We’re all probably aware of that fact, though.
The second biggest surprise, though, is the fact that Wisconsin only has three commits, and none of them is particularly outstanding. The Badgers have done a great job of producing talented college and NFL players in recent years, but with their track record of beating up on teams and challenging for Big Ten titles, you have to wonder if they’ll ever consistently compete for big-time prospects. Madison isn’t the most exciting place in the world to play football, but if running backs and offensive linemen are looking to get to the next level, they ought to be pounding down the doors to wear a Badgers uniform.
Ohio State has a good class going and picked up a couple commitments this weekend, in the form of Ezekiel Elliott and Jayme Thompson. Thompson was “offered” by Michigan but most analysts think it was the non-committable form, which is why he committed to West Virginia in the first place. While Michigan has been concentrating on building up depth and talent in the trenches, so far Ohio State seems most interested in getting skill players in this class.
Penn State isn’t taking the world by storm, but they’re doing a pretty good job so far, all things considered. Breneman is the class’s #1 tight end, and Hackenberg is a pretty solid quarterback to get him the ball. I guess you can’t knock out the Nittany Lions with one punch, even though it was a huge punch; regardless of how things went down in Happy Valley, a bunch of these 17-year-old kids grew up wanting to wear the blue-and-white. If I were a parent, though, I don’t know if I would let my kid commit to Penn State right now. On the one hand, you know that the coaches and administration at PSU are going to be walking on eggshells to avoid any further controversy. But there’s so much turmoil and the administration has proved so ineffective recently that if my kid had any other options, I would probably be urging him in another direction.
The other seven recruiting classes aren’t anything too interesting for Michigan fans. No team besides OSU and PSU has grabbed a Michigan offeree, and Michigan State’s best recruit is an in-state kid (Reschke) who was never offered by Michigan.
MISCELLANEOUS
Washington (DC) Gonzaga cornerback Devin Butler has bumped up his decision date from May 12 to this coming Wednesday. The most recent feeling is that he’s going to pick Notre Dame, and the previous favorite seemed to be Penn State. Michigan appears to be on the outside looking in, despite his recent visit to Ann Arbor.
Peoria (IL) Manual offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman is planning to move to Michigan over the summer and play his senior season a little closer to college. If you remember, class of 2010 tight end Ricardo Miller did a similar thing when he moved from Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips and then played his senior year at Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer. Tuley-Tillman’s goal is to get out of Peoria, which can be a rough town. I would have to think an Ann Arbor school or one nearby (Chelsea, Saline, etc.) would be a likely destination here, but nothing is set in stone yet.
Cornerback Devin Butler visited Michigan this past weekend
OFF THE BOARD Owensboro (KY) Apollo offensive tackle Hunter Bivin committed to Notre Dame over the weekend. The 6’7″, 288 lb. lineman forged a friendship with Michigan’s incoming safety Jeremy Clark, who played high school football nearby in Kentucky. But with a full offensive line class, Michigan was no longer an option for Bivin.
Philadelphia (PA) William Penn Charter offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey committed to Notre Dame over the weekend. The 6’9″, 280-pounder also held offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, Pitt, and Wisconsin, among others. Much like Bivin, Michigan has no more room for offensive linemen at this point.
New Lenox (IL) Lincoln-Way West offensive tackle Colin McGovern committed to Notre Dame over the weekend, too. It’s the chic thing to do. McGovern also had offers from Alabama, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and several others. See Bivin and McGlinchey above.
WEEKEND VISITORS I was out of town this weekend, so I didn’t get a chance to put together a list of weekend visitors on Friday. However, there were a handful of kids in town:
Washington (DC) Gonzaga cornerback Devin Butler
Pickerington (OH) North tight end Jake Butt (already committed)
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech quarterback Jayru Campbell (2015)
Columbus (OH) Marion Franklin wide receiver Jaron Dukes (already committed)
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech defensive back Johnny Miggins (2014)
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech wide receiver Damon Webb (2014)
Butler is the most significant of those recruits, since he’s a 6’1″, 185 lb. cornerback and Michigan needs a player like him in this class. The coaching staff struck out on some big corners in the 2012 class and are pursuing guys who are 6’0″ or taller to pair with 2013 commit Jourdan Lewis.
Washington (DC) Gonzaga cornerback Devin Butler (#7) tries to tackle Olney (MD) Good Counsel running
back Dorian O’Daniel while getting blocked by Stefon Diggs.
(image via Washington Post)
ADDED TO THE BOARD (2013, 2014)
Vienna (GA) Dooly County defensive tackle Montravius Adams was offered by Michigan last week. He’s a 6’4″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from everywhere – Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and USC. He had 84 tackles, a whopping 45 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks as a junior in 2011.
Wyomissing (PA) Wyomissing Area linebacker Alex Anzalone was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 220 lb. linebacker who looks like a SAM linebacker prospect for the Wolverines. He has offers from Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and South Carolina, among others.
Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas defensive end Joey Bosa was offered by Michigan last week. He’s a 6’5″, 260 lb. strongside end or possibly a defensive tackle. He has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, and many others. As a junior in 2011, he had 52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks.
Charlotte (NC) Vance linebacker Larenz Bryant is listed by 247 Sports as having a Michigan offer, but it’s unclear when he received it. He’s a 6’1″, 203 lb. inside ‘backer with a 4.58 forty. As a junior in 2011, he had 144 tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 interceptions. Bryant also has offers from Clemson, Georgia, Illinois, the two in-state schools, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech. He recently named a top five that does not include Michigan.
Washington (DC) Gonzaga cornerback Devin Butler was offered by the Wolverines. He’s a 6’1″, 170 lb. defensive back who has offers from Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Penn State, and West Virginia, along with several others. As a junior in 2011, he had 43 tackles, 6 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown), and 12 pass breakups.
Baltimore (MD) Gilman quarterback/safety Shane Cockerille was offered by Michigan last week. Cockerille is a 6’2″, 205 lb. athlete who is being recruited by the Wolverines as a safety. He has offers from Maryland and Temple.
Oakley (CA) Freedom wide receiver Darrell Daniels was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 200 lb. wideout who has offers from Arkansas, Colorado, Oregon State, and UCLA.
Rancho Cucamonga (CA) Rancho Cucamonga cornerback Chris Hawkins was offered by Michigan on Tuesday. He’s a 6’0″, 170-pounder who has offers from Cal, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Stanford, and UCLA, among others. He had 56 tackles and 2 interceptions as a junior in 2011. While Hawkins did express excitement about his Michigan offer, the general feeling is that he will stay close to home in California.
Pendleton (SC) Pendleton defensive tackle Michael Hill received a Michigan offer last week. Hill is a 6’3″, 315 lb. nose tackle with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among others. Hill is expected to remain down south like most recruits from the deep south.
Chandler (AZ) Hamilton cornerback Cole Luke was offered by Michigan on Wednesday. He’s a 6’0″, 165 lb. corner with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma, along with several offers. He had 63 tackles and 6 interceptions as a junior in 2011.
OFF THE BOARD
Dallas (TX) Jesuit offensive tackle J.J. Gustafson committed to Texas A&M. The Aggies are running neck-and-neck with (well, actually slightly behind) Michigan for the top class in 2013, although there’s obviously a long way to go. Gustafson’s teammate, wide receiver Jake Oliver, also had a Michigan offer and committed to A&M the previous week.
