NJ Linebacker Marcus Witherspoon has committed to Michigan He was mentioned in yesterday’s recruiting recap.

Witherspoon, who had his unofficial visit to Ann Arbor this weekend, projects as a Will linebacker. He had already been on campus once with his high school coach, but his dad came along on this visit as well. When dad liked the place as much as Marcus, he committed.

Also along for the weekend was fellow NJ Linebacker J.B. Fitzgerald. All reports are that Fitzgerald enjoyed his visit as well, but he intends to take some official visits (USC among them) before making his final decision.

Georgia DT Omar Hunter was also in town, and was expected to commit shortly after his visit. He has indicated that he will make his announcement this weekend, regardless of where he decides to commit. Expect another post in this fashion if (when?) he goes Blue.

Posted under Recruiting

Sam McGuffie, Tex. RB, is Michigan’s top prospect and #1 at the position this year. McGuffie’s team, Cy-Fair in metro Houston, will be on ESPN2 October 18th as they take on their rivals of Cy-Falls.

(famed) YouTube clips of Sam:
THE Leap (most famed of them all)
McGuffie Mixtape (someone with the editing abilities of a 6-year-old put rap songs behind almost all of Sam’s clips and didn’t edit to the music. This one contains pretty much all of the best clips)
Another leap (this one shot with a poor-quality camera, and less impressive)
Receiving TD (not in the highlights video, and only reception of his I’ve seen on YouTube)

McGuffie will be in Ann Arbor starting June 9th. His father will be with him as well. It is expected that Texans Troy Woolfolk and Brandon Herron will be in town for their orientation sessions, and they will assist in recruiting him, as well as their high school teammate, rising senior Darryl Stonum. Ryan Mallett will be in town as well (the whole summer?), and is expected to aid in recruiting duties as well.

Posted under Recruiting

This recruiting class is likely to have between 20 and 23 recruits in it (check out the breakdown of the eligibility chart). The list is far from inclusive, but rather consists of the guys about whom there has been the most noise. It is also likely that a couple of sleepers will be uncovered at camp, which takes place June 17-21.

Offense:

QB (1):
possibilities:
Brendon Kay
Zack Stoudt
longshots:
Terrelle Pryor
E.J. Manuel

RB (1 RB, 1 HB/FB):
likely:
Sam McGuffie (RB)
Christian Wilson (HB)
possibilities:
Covaughn Deboskie (RB)
Michael Shaw (RB/HB)
longshots:
Darrell Scott (RB)

OL (2OT, 3OG/OC):
commits:
OT Dan O’Neill
OG Elliot Mealer
OG Kurt Wermers
likely:
OT Zebrie Sanders or
OT Graham Pocic
OG Zach Schlink
longshots:
OT Lucas Nix
OG Vaughn Dotsy

TE (1-2):
commits:
Brandon Moore
possibilities:
Kevin Koger (could be DE)
Tyler Hoover
longshots:
Kavario Middleton

WR (2-3):
likely:
Darryl Stonum
Jon Baldwin
possibilities:
Fred Smith
Jermaine Kearse

Defense:

DE (1-2):
possibilities:
Nick Perry
Kevin Koger (or TE)

DT (1-2):
likely:
Omar Hunter
possibilities:
Mike Martin
longshots:
Garret Goebel

LB (2-3):
possibilities:
Marcus Witherspoon
J.B. Fitzgerald
Steve Filer
Brandon Beachum
longshots:
Jon Major

CB (2):
commits:
Boubacar Cissoko
possibilities:
Robbie Green
Jared Holley
Rahim Moore (UCLA)

S (2):
possibilities:
Spencer Adams
Will Hill
E.J. Woods (UCLA)
longshots:
Robert Blanton

Most of my information comes from scout, and I pay little to no attention to Rivals. Also, I do not follow religiously, so I’m sure I’ve missed out on a couple of guys. If you have any questions, additions, etc., please feel free to leave them in the comments.

Posted under Personnel, Recruiting

1 Day, two commits. Hooray! 6-6 Tight End from Trotwood-Madison.

More on both of these guys coming up soon.

Posted under Recruiting

Indiana Offensive Lineman Kurt Wermers is expected to announce his commitment to Michigan this week. He will be the third OL commit for the Wolverines. At 6-5 and 260, he is projected to be a big guard. With Dan O’Neill at tackle, and Elliot Mealer (and now Wermers) at guard, Michigan will most likely take one more tackle in this class and be done with O-Line recruiting.

This marks a departure from the standard UM method of OL recruiting. In the past, they typically have grabbed the majority of OL commitments (if not all) after camp. I’m not sure there’s really anything to read into the difference this year, but it is certainly there.

Posted under Recruiting

From the Toledo Blade:

“Michigan was my number one school for a long time, and after I talked it over with my family and then slept on it, the decision to go there felt great,” Mealer said. “All signs pointed north for me. And as far as my room and all the Ohio State stuff – I’ll just have to figure that out.”

Bo used to live on the Ohio guys who grew up OSU fans, and always played with an extra chip on their shoulder all year, especially in the third weekend of November.

Posted under Recruiting

OH Offensive Lineman Elliot Mealer has committed to Michigan. He is a lifelong Ohio State fan, but did not have an offer.

Mealer is an honorable mention on Jim Stefani’s top offensive linemen, putting him outside the top 75, but in the next approximately 4000. HOWEVER, Jim said his OL rankings are old, and Mealer is among his top 75 prospects now, as he has had a big boost after his film has gone around.

Some film 4 u.

Mealer has implied that TE Kevin Koger, one of his good friends, may have his mind on committing to Michigan as well. Koger currently holds an offer from Michigan.

Posted under Recruiting

T-minus one day until spring practice. Finally, the public gets a chance to review what the 2007 Wolverines will look like.

However, keep in mind that the impressions you get aren’t always going to be accurate. A year ago, Carlos Brown and LaTerryal Savoy looked like they were going to be world-beaters. At the end of 2006, Brown had 16 carries for 41 yards, Savoy had a statistically-anomalous 0 catches for 7 yards (he recovered a fumble).

Here are some things I’ll be looking for at spring practice (some of them suggested by commenters, and I encourage you to continue making suggestions):

Things to ask players/coaches:

• Upperclassmen’s opinions of Ryan Mallett
• How the defense will react after losing 6 starters
• Ask everyone around if they think Beilein will recruit the PSL

Things to observe, take pictures, gather footage of:

• Young guys coming in (Mallett, Panter, Helmuth, Chambers)
• Recruits attending the final spring practice
• Effectiveness of the D-Line
• Presence of Grady, Carlos Brown, Arrington

If there is anything else specific that you want to hear, speak now or forever hold your peace.

Posted under Mail Bag, Recruiting, Spring Coverage

Ironically, though I follow recruiting to a near religious degree, I rarely post about it on this here internet blogsite. This is for various reasons (i.e. what am I going to post that isn’t either easily available elsewhere or premium information from a recruiting site). However, I’ll hopefully start getting a little more recruiting info out there, starting with this piece on Detroit WR Fred Smith, in which he speaks glowingly of Michigan.

Interesting things: He holds a Michigan offer, and loved Michigan growing up (read: it’s not unlikely he ends up a Wolverine). This article didn’t appear in a Detroit paper, or even a Michigan paper, for that matter. Rather it is in USA Today, so maybe Smith is a higher-profile recruit than some are giving him credit for, especially since they say he is one of the top wideouts in the nation. However, in four batches of “elite wide receivers,” Jim Stefani has yet to mention Smith, and he’s not in Scout or Rivals early top lists.

However, at a 4.4 (reported) 40 time, and with his size (6-3, 215), he certainly has some potential.

SIDE NOTE: Don’t forget to comment in the post below with your questions for spring practice.

Posted under Recruiting

The loss of Germany hurts DE depth, but the Wolverines are strong in the middle, and have some real potential in guys coming off the edge. Taylor seems poised to have a good year stopping the run up the middle. There is 2 or 3-deep depth at every position, but the real question is how much quality there is at each of these positions. Sagesse will redshirt unless there is a huge depth problem.

Nobody will be lost to graduation, but Terrance Taylor MAY be able to make the jump if he has a really good year. Still, with depth as poor as it is on the defensive line, expect the staff to go for a couple of defensive ends (including one top guy) and a defensive tackle, maybe two. This year will be a time for the staff to improve the depth, especially losing a couple of guys after the next season.

This is a definite rebuilding year for a linebacker corps losing two of three starters. The depth chart will probably not be completely set until after fall camp. Fortunately, the Wolverines are 2-deep at every position. Some of these guys need to improve, and expect both freshmen to take a redshirt. I am surprised to hear that Panter is not practicing all that well, as I didn’t think Michigan would bother with a JuCo unless they thought he’d be able to contribute right away. There’s the off chance that he takes a redshirt (he has 3 years to play two) as well.

Shawn Crable is graduating after this season, as is Chris Graham. If Graham wins the starting job this year, the team will again have to replace at least two starters. The MLB position seems fairly strong as far as depth, even if Cobrani Mixon transfers to Cincinnati, as has been rumored. A couple of OLBers should come in this class, as well as maybe one MLB to build further depth, since Thompson and Panter both have junior eligibility (unless Panter redshirts).

This position, long a subject of much bitching for Michigan fans, looks to be relatively strong this year. If Trent and Sears can continue to improve (reports from spring camp indicate that Sears is looking very good), the corners should be adequate, though still the weakness of the position group. New coach Vance Bedford has helped this position a lot. The nickel back position is a new one for Ron English’s defensive scheme, and Brandon Harrison looks to fill that role, with freshman Michael Williams backing him up. Expect redshirts for Babb, Rogers, and Woolfolk, though nothing is guaranteed.

To graduation, Michigan loses Anton Campbell, a career special teamer (who actually impressed in spring practice), Jamar Adams, a three-year starter at SS, Brandent Englemon, and undistinguished safety. With a bunch of safeties in the past couple classes, Michigan will probably only need to take one or two. At the CB position, nobody is lost to graduation, but Doug Dutch
(unrenewed 5th year candidate) is unproven at the position, as is sophomore Carlos Brown. Expect a couple of CBs to be taken, including at least one super (I’m going out on a limb here by saying they’ll land one – wait a minute, they already got U.S. Army combine MVP Boubacar Cissoko).

Posted under Personnel, Recruiting