ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2013
Santa Monica (CA) Santa Monica wide receiver Sebastian LaRue decommitted from USC. He’s the second wide receiver to decommit from the Trojans in recent weeks, joining Eldridge Massington, who subsequently committed to UCLA. LaRue is also considering Notre Dame and took an official visit to Washington State, likely due to Mike Leach’s reputation as a pass-happy coach. LaRue is considering a visit to Michigan.
Placer (CA) Placer defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes decommitted from USC. Vanderdoes is one of the best defensive tackles in the class, and he appears to be heavily considering Notre Dame, along with LaRue. Alabama, UCLA, USC, and Washington are also being considered.
OFF THE BOARD
Spotsylvania (VA) Chancellor cornerback Chris Holmes changed his commitment from North Carolina State to Duke. Holmes was offered as a potential replacement for Gareon Conley, but he never visited the Wolverines. He could also play safety and wide receiver.
Upland (CA) Upland defensive end Joe Mathis committed to Washington during the Army All-American Bowl. Michigan was high on Mathis’s list at one point last summer, but the Wolverines stopped recruiting him several months ago. There have been questions about his academic standing and suggestion that he might need to spend a year at prep school to qualify.
Seffner (FL) Armwood safety Leon McQuay III committed to USC during the Army All-American Bowl. He had officially visited Michigan and was seriously considering the Wolverines along with Florida State and Vanderbilt, but perhaps the biggest thing on his mind was finding a school that could foster his development as a music producer. It’s tough to argue with USC due to its location, and they do a pretty good job of pumping out NFL talent, too.
Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad committed to Miami at the Army All-American Bowl. The most persistent rumor was that he would be committing to Notre Dame, and there was actually some scuttlebutt that he was a silent commit to the Fighting Irish; however, there were also rumors that he didn’t meet the academic requirements. And judging from the past actions of Miami players, I doubt there are many academic hoops to jump through for admissions there.
Brooklyn (NY) Thomas Jefferson defensive end Ebenezer Ogundeko committed to Clemson during the Under Armour All-America Game. At one time the Tigers had verbals from the top defensive end in the country, Robert Nkemdiche, and Elijah Daniel, both of whom have decommitted since then.
Louisville (KY) Trinity wide receiver James Quick committed to Louisville during the Army All-American Bowl. It was a neck-and-neck race between the Cardinals and Ohio State, but Louisville got the verbal. There’s still time for that to change, though. Quick’s teammate Jason Hatcher is committed to USC, but he has visits scheduled to Florida, Kentucky, and Louisville. Another teammate, cornerback Ryan White, also holds an offer from Louisville but is committed to Vanderbilt.
Long Beach (CA) Jordan cornerback John Ross committed to Washington during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. Ross was being pursued by Michigan as a cornerback, but he will likely play wide receiver for the Huskies.
MISCELLANEOUS Here’s my analysis of the Michigan commits at the Under Armour All-America Game. Posts on the Semper Fidelis and U.S. Army games will be coming soon.
ADDED TO THE BOARD
St. Peters (MO) Fort Zumwalt South running back Chase Abbington received a Michigan offer on Tuesday, depending on whom you believe. The Wolverine’s Tim Sullivan says yea, and Wolverine Nation’s TomVH says nay. Regardless, I’m adding him to the list because I include anyone who has a check mark next to his name on any of the big sites. He had 1,459 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns as a junior in 2011. At 6’4″ and 210 lbs., he could play several positions. His offer list includes Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and UCLA.
Damascus (MD) Damascus wide receiver Zach Bradshaw received a Michigan offer on Friday. Bradshaw is a 6’3″, 205 lb. wideout with offers from Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, West Virginia, and several others. As a junior in 2011, he had 35 catches for 470 yards and 11 touchdowns; 25 carries for 220 yards; and 2 punt return touchdowns. Michigan pursued cornerback Brandon Phelps out of Damascus back in 2011, but Phelps picked Virginia instead.
Massillon (OH) Washington cornerback Gareon Conley was offered by Michigan on Thursday. Conley is a 6’2″, 170 lb. corner who reminds me a little bit of former Michigan commit Anthony Standifer. His only other offer so far is from Northwestern. He attends the alma mater of former Michigan players Shawn Crable and Justin Turner.
Bastrop (TX) Bastrop cornerback Antwuan Davis was offered by Michigan last week. He’s a 5’11”, 170 lb. cornerback who only played a portion of the 2011 season due to a stress fracture in his back. He sat out one game with the injury, but then returned the following week, thinking it was only a muscle injury. That might be a hint about how tough he is and how much he likes to play football. He also has offers from Alabama, Baylor, LSU, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech.
Arlington (TX) Martin running back Kyle Hicks was offered by Michigan on Thursday. He’s a 5’10”, 170-pounder with offers from Arkansas, Baylor, TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. As a junior in 2011, he ran the ball 212 times for 1,685 yards and 26 touchdowns. He attends the alma mater of redshirt freshman quarterback Russell Bellomy, as well as 2012 target Devonte Fields (TCU).
Santa Monica (CA) Santa Monic wide receiver Sebastian Larue got offered by Michigan on Wednesday. Larue is a 5’11”, 185 lb. kid with offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and UCLA, along with a few others. Larue is a 247 Sports’ #193 overall prospect and the #15 athlete, while he’s a Rivals 4-star and their #141 overall prospect. He claims a 4.42 forty and scored 17 touchdowns as a junior in 2011.
Randolph (NJ) Randolph offensive guard Brendan Mahon was offered by Michigan last week. He’s a 6’5″, 302-pounder with offers from Florida, Miami, Rutgers, West Virginia, and several others. Mahon is an early 4-star to Rivals and the #190 player in the country, while on 247 Sports, he’s the #9 guard nationally and a 3-star prospect.
Dallas (TX) Kimball defensive tackle Justin Manning received a Michigan offer. He’s a 6’3″, 275 lb. kid with offers from Arizona, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCLA, and USC, among others. He had 43 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles despite missing four games due to a torn meniscus. His preference would be to play the 3-tech defensive tackle spot. Rivals ranks him as the #89 player in the country.
Upland (CA) Upland defensive end Joe Mathis was offered by Michigan on Thursday. He’s a 6’4″, 250 lb. strongside end with offers from Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington, among others. He was previously committed to Washington, but the coaching changes caused him to re-open his recruitment. He made 79 tackles and 6 sacks as a junior in 2011.
Everett (MA) Everett offensive lineman John Montelus received a Michigan offer. Montelus is a 6’5″, 295 lb. kid who looks to me like an offensive guard but is listed as a tackle. He has offers from Connecticut, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, and others.
Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll linebacker Yannick Ngakoue was offered by Michigan on Saturday. He’s a 6’2″, 226 lb. linebacker who has offers from Florida State, Maryland, Rutgers, Tennessee, and West Virginia. He had 87 tackles and 9 sacks as a junior in 2011.
Forestville (MD) Bishop McNamara offensive tackle Damian Prince, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’7″, 300 lb. sophomore who already claims offers from Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, Rutgers, and Virginia, along with a few others.
Petaluma (CA) Casa Grande defensive end Elijah Qualls was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 265 lb. athlete who could play defensive line or fullback in college. As a junior in 2011, he ran the ball 166 times for 1,139 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also made 76 tackles and 4 sacks. He holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Iowa State, Oregon State, UCLA, and Washington.
Belton (TX) Belton tight end Durham Smythe was offered by Michigan on Wednesday. He’s a 6’6″, 230 lb. kid with a limited offer list, but it’s a list that includes Baylor, TCU, Texas, and Texas Tech, so there are some other significant programs who are after him.
Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde wide receiver Demorea Stringfellow received a Michigan offer. He’s a 6’2″, 185 lb. wideout with offers from Arizona State, Nebraska, UCLA, and Washington State. Rivals thinks he’s the #107 player in the country.
Placer (CA) Placer defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes received a Michigan offer on Tuesday. He’s a 6’4″, 285 lb. kid whom Rivals projects as a strongside defensive end, but when you’re that size as a high school junior, you’re probably not headed for defensive end. He’s the #21 overall player to Rivals and #44 overall to 247 Sports, although his offer list (Cal, Ole Miss, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington, Washington State) is pretty thin for being so highly ranked.
Los Angeles (CA) Loyola cornerback Cameron Walker was offered by Michigan last week. He’s a 5’10”, 180 lb. kid with a San Diego State offer. 247 Sports ranks him as the #210 player overall and the #15 cornerback.
Tempe (AZ) Marcos De Niza cornerback Priest Willis was offered by Michigan on Thursday. He’s 6’2″ and 200 lbs. with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Cal, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, UCLA, USC, and Washington, along with several others. He’s a 4-star and the nation’s #89 player to Rivals, while 247 Sports ranks him at #167 overall and the #13 cornerback.
OFF THE BOARD
Arlington (TX) Martin running back Kyle Hicks committed to Texas (see above for more info).
Dallas (TX) Jesuit wide receiver Jake Oliver committed to Texas. Oliver is a big, 6’4″, 194 lb. kid who has caught 193 passes combined in his sophomore and junior seasons. He was offered by the Longhorns at their junior day last weekend and committed a couple days later.
Austintown (OH) Fitch defensive end Billy Price committed to Ohio State. The writing was on the wall when he visited Michigan for the Ohio State game at the end of the regular season and started tweeting smack talk about the Wolverines while standing on the sideline. Here’s a hint for all the children out there: if somebody hosts you at their house, workplace, facility, etc., it’s bad form to insult them while you’re there. An analyst whom I respect says Price is “soft” – and that was well before he committed to the Buckeyes – so hopefully that’s true and Kyle Kalis turns him into roadkill for a few years.
Dallas (TX) Bishop Dunne offensive guard Ishmael Wilson committed to Texas A&M. He was offered by Michigan a couple weeks ago but never expressed interesting in visiting.
Voorhees (NJ) Eastern cornerback Eli Woodard committed to Ohio State. Michigan offered him a couple weeks ago, but even then, it was assumed he would end up in Columbus.
