Tag: Taylor McNamara

Mailbag: How do you want the class to finish?

Stefon Diggs is the top overall player left on Michigan’s radar

I am an avid reader of your blog and also enjoy most of your comments on MGoBlog. I was hoping you could comment on your site about how you would like to see the recruiting class finish up. It is commonly believed that there are four spots left, and here’s what I’m wondering: 

RB – Being held for Dunn, unlikely to take another RB otherwise. Do you think there’s another candidate? 

OL – There are several OL still high on Michigan (Banner, Diamond, Garnett, etc.) Could you provide your rankings of those players, which you’d want to see in a M uniform the most, and any thoughts about which makes a better fit based on the rest of the roster? 

WR – Now that we have one already in the fold, of the remaining options left who would you most want to see sign with M and why? 

Other – This had hoped to be Yuri Wright, but that hasn’t developed much. Who else would you consider here? A TE? Thanks for your insight! 

AC1997

Thanks for the e-mail, AC.

Regarding running backs, I don’t think there are any other candidates right now.  Drake Johnson is a bit of an insurance policy in case Canton (OH) Glenoak’s Bri’onte Dunn doesn’t come over to the good side, but I don’t know that there’s a pressing need to find an elite running back in this class.  There’s an outside shot that Greg Garmon could come to Michigan, but I don’t foresee that coming to fruition.  Michigan has Fitzgerald Toussaint for another couple years and the coaches seem to like Thomas Rawls, who’s the heir apparent to Toussaint.  I don’t think it would kill Michigan to lose out on Dunn, but they must  get an elite running back in 2013 if that happens.

As for the offensive linemen, here are some thoughts about the linemen still high on Michigan:

1. Puyallup (WA) Puyallup OG Joshua Garnett is the most athletic and most versatile lineman on the board.  His technique isn’t quite as solid as that of Michigan commit Kyle Kalis, but Garnett is the better athlete. Garnett could play tackle as well, but putting Kalis at strongside guard and having Garnett as the pulling guard could be a seriously powerful combination.  Aside from Stefon Diggs, Garnett is probably the best player left on Michigan’s board.
2. Lakewood (WA) Lakes OT Zach Banner is a potentially dynamic offensive tackle.  He’s not the best prospect, but a 6’9″ guy with his athleticism is extremely intriguing.  His bloodlines are a positive, too (his father is former NFL offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy).  With those long arms, Banner could be an ideal blind-side protector.  I think 2012 commit Blake Bars is a future offensive guard, so Michigan could use another tackle in this class.
3. Chicago (IL) Simeon OT Jordan Diamond is a notch down from the other two prospects, in my opinion.  He has decent size, decent athleticism, and decent technique, but he doesn’t have the All-American potential of the above two players.
4. Lakeland (FL) Lakeland OT Evan Goodman has popped up on Michigan’s radar recently.  It’s unclear whether the Wolverines have offered Goodman, although he has plenty of other good offers.  He’s currently committed to Arizona State, but the coaching uncertainty has caused him to reconsider.  I’m not a huge fan of Goodman.  He’s certainly athletic – probably the second-most athletic kid in this grouping – but he lacks a punch and is a real project.  His technique will have to be overhauled completely before he can play at the next level, and even then, I’m not sure he has the requisite aggression to be successful.

Recruiting Update: October 23, 2011

Arik Armstead sitting down.  Because that’s the only way you can fit him in the frame.

ADDED TO THE BOARD

Elk Grove (CA) Pleasant Grove DE Arik Armstead decommitted from USC.  His older brother, Armond, has had some shady dealings at USC and the Armstead family seems pretty peeved at the coaches and administration.  Despite being 6’8″, which is almost unheard of for a defensive player, Armstead wants to play defense in college.  It seems he would be better suited to play offensive tackle in college, where his length would be a positive.  Regardless, there’s very little chance that Armstead comes to Michigan.  Alabama, Cal, Notre Dame, and Texas look like strong contenders.

Wheaton (IL) St. Francis OT Kyle Bosch, a 2013 prospect, received a verbal offer from Michigan this week.  Bosch is a 6’5″, 275 lb. lineman with offers from Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Stanford, and West Virginia, among others.  Rivals’ midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt named Bosch one of the top seven prospects he’s scouted so far this year, in the same company as LB Joe Bolden (Michigan), WR Aaron Burbridge (Michigan State), 2013 CB Cam Burrows, and DE Adolphus Washington.  Bosch visited Michigan back in August and again for the Notre Dame victory in mid-September, so the interest level on his end is pretty high.

Columbus (IN) East QB Gunner Kiel is exploring his options.  Kiel is regarded by many as the #1 quarterback in the class of 2012, and he surprised many by picking the home state Indiana Hoosiers back in July.  That decision seemed largely based on the chance to play with his older brother Dusty, also a quarterback.  Indiana is 1-7 on the year under new head coach Kevin Wilson, with that lone victory coming against FCS team South Carolina State.  More recently, though, the Hoosiers have been losing in blowout fashion to Big Ten teams; they have been outscored 131-61 in their four Big Ten contests.  The 6’4″, 220 lb. signal caller was rumored to have strong interest in Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma before committing to Indiana.

San Diego (CA) Westview TE Taylor McNamara decommitted from Arizona this past week.  Alabama, California, Colorado, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Stanford were also high on his list before committing to the Wildcats, who fired head coach Mike Stoops and caused some of their commits to go looking elsewhere.  McNamara showed some early, passing interest in the Wolverines, but nothing strong enough to suggest that Michigan will get a second look now.

NEW ESPN 150 RELEASED

Just in case you missed it, I broke down the new ESPN 150 for the class of 2012 that was released last week.