With Mark Dantonio’s early success in 2009 recruiting, it’s important for Michigan to nab a couple of high-profile prospects from the state to slow down the momentum. Candidates for this I think would be:

Dion Sims TE/DE **** Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (offer)
James Jackson WR **** Grand Blanc (offer)
Hersey Jackson RB/MX *** Allendale (no offer)
Teric Jones RB/Slot *** Detroit Cass Tech (no offer)
Zach Matthias OT *** Hemlock (no offer)
Cameron Gordon WR *** Inkster (no offer)
Reid Fragel TE/OT *** Grosse Pointe South (no offer)
Thomas Gordon QB *** Detroit Cass Tech (no offer)

Of those, the only one who is a pipe dream to commit is James Jackson. Sims is also unlikely, but possible. I believe any of the others could commit if offered, along with lower-ranked state prospects if they get offers.

Out of state prospects who could be candidates to commit:

Zach Boren LB/DE *** Pickerington, OH (no offer)
Morgan Newton QB **** Carmel, IN (no offer)
Justin Turner DB **** Massilon, OH Washington (offer)

I wouldn’t be surprised if Michigan got upwards of five commits, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if Rich Rodriguez ended up with no pledges.

etc. Detroit News article by Sam Webb on Michigan dual-threat-QB targets. Buckeyes already hard at work to beat Michigan. A columnist in… Omaha… says that Steve Threet’s days are numbered.

Posted under Recruiting

If you only check this blog once a day, make sure you don’t miss out on the post about Junior Day, directly below this one.
The Recruiting Board has been updated slightly to include headings for each column. This was based on the requests from a couple of readers. Also, OK RB David Oku now has an offer.
A request regarding said recruiting board:
Do readers prefer Hometown and School fields OR State and Hometown/School fields? Leave your response in the comments to this post (and any other requests/suggestions you may have for the board, while you’re at it).

The Big House Thing
Various fans and members of the blogosphere are up in arms about Michigan Stadium’s capacity being below that of Beaver Stadium during the next two years. Personally, I think it is no big deal.

While having the largest stadium in the nation is something nice to be able to hang your hat on, I’m pretty sure avoiding constant litigation is more productive for the athletic department. Being able to get on the good side of the ADA also holds Michigan to the higher moral standard that I believe is an important aspect of our Tradition, and rids us of the annoyance of John Pollack, who Brian dubs (not-so-affectionately) “The Hero of Tienanmen Square.”

It’s also important to note that Michigan Stadium, despite announcing it was the home of “the largest crowd watching a football game anywhere in America today,” did not in fact hold this distinction on two Saturdays. The September 8th contest against Oregon was outdrawn by Notre Dame’s visit to Happy Valley (109,733 to 110,078) and Michigan and Penn State’s respective beatdowns of Eastern Michigan and Iowa had the attendance battle go to the Lions as well (108,415 to 108,951). The top 15 most-attended games in ’07 were all in Ann Arbor or State College, with the top 4 taking place in the Big House.

It is important to note that Michigan Stadium was not at or below official capacity (107,501) once in 2007, nor would I expect this to be the case in 2008 (at 106,201). With a new headman in Ann Arbor, and a lot of media interest surrounding this change, it is likely that there will be many members of the media in attendance, at least for the first game. Media and other game services personnel account for the difference between capacity and attendance. Penn State is also the only school in America who averaged more than Michigan Stadium’s projected new capacity (other than Michigan, of course). An exciting style of play, as Michigan is expected to have, will only help the case.

So, do I think this is a lot of hand-wringing about something that won’t greatly affect anyone? Yes. There is little practical reason to have a dick measuring contest in terms of attendance. It won’t impress recruits (they will still be awed at the sheer expanse of Michigan Stadium, and think that Beaver Stadium looks like an erector set gone wrong (for the record, I like the stadium, but it is far from aesthetically appealing)).

Recruiting Woes
Speaking of fans being irrationally concerned over matters, many are starting to express worry over the lack of Michigan commitments so far in this class. There are a few points that people will need to take into account before they start jumping of bridges.

Rich Rodriguez and staff had to play catch up on 2008 before they could worry about 2009. While other staffs had their 2008 classes completed, and were sending out feelers to 2009 prospects, Rodriguez had to first secure all of Lloyd Carr’s previous commitments, then get more players to sign with the Maize and Blue (Hill, Floyd, Feagin, Roundtree, Shaw, Robinson, Odoms, Barnum, Omameh), almost all of whom were four-star prospects. Odoms’s recruitment even stretched out past signing day, and Terrelle Pryor’s is obviously still ongoing (even if many Michigan fans have given up, don’t think for one second that Rodriguez has). Thus, other schools (including Michigan State) had a head start on Michigan.

Mark Dantonio’s class is looking good, but the players haven’t signed anything yet, and some of them might not fit Michigan’s new system. Brian covered this yesterday.

Michigan is one of the last schools to have its junior day. While schools like Texas get nearly their entire classes to commit at junior days, Michigan hasn’t had an opportunity to hold its junior day yet. This is mostly because of playing catch-up (see above, in addition to the coaches getting to know existing players and each other). Junior Day is finally coming tomorrow, and with more offers likely being given out, and a good possibility for a commit or two, Michigan will jump back into the recruiting game with a vengeance.

Posted under Blog News, Recruiting

Tomorrow night, Michigan will be holding its 2008 junior day. While past Michigan junior days have been held surrounding a basketball game, this year that is not the case.

Michigan will be holding its first annual “Night of Champions,” likely taking its name from the famous New York Bodybuilding competition. “Night of Champions” is neither a novel idea nor name, taking place at such schools as Central Michigan, Idaho, and even reclassifying school Western Kentucky. However, it is certainly a departure from the way Michigan has operated in the past. As the name references, this event is a competition between members of the football team to show off their physical improvement from winter strength and conditioning.

Back to the topic of juniors, expect mostly regional prospects (in-state, Ohio, Indiana, maybe northeastern Illinois or western Pennsylvania) to attend. From the recruiting board (and some who have been removed/not added), that would include (my educated guesses on) the following prospects (and definitely several more):

Michigan
QB Mike Schaaf – Not a dual threat, but could be a good baseball prospect that could pick UM and also play football.
QB Thomas Gordon – A fallback prospect, though his teammates Will Campbell (committed) and Teric Jones (seeking an offer) will almost definitely come.
RB Edwin Baker – He now has a UM offer, though his commitment to Sparty may prevent him from attending.
RB Teric Jones – He may get his offer at RB or slot, and he is one who could commit if the offer comes through.
RB Larry Caper – Committed to State, and new-UM hasn’t shown tons of interest, but he could make it in.
Hersey Jackson – He wants a UM offer.
WR James Jackson – He has a Michigan offer, and Michigan wants him badly.
WR Cameron Gordon – Prospect on Michigan’s radar who is still looking for an offer.
TE Dion Sims – He has an offer and Michigan wants him. OLSM BBall lost last night so he should be able to make it in.
TE Reid Fragel – Potential future OT could hope for an offer.
TE Mitch Kessel – Probably won’t ever garner an offer unless our recruiting class starts (continues?) to suck late in the year.
OT Zach Matthias – He is still an instate sleeperish type guy.
OG Ricky Clemons – Could be looking for a future offer.
OG Aaron McCord – Also a potential DL target.
DT William Campbell – Michigan commit can recruit for the good guys at this event.
LB Chris Norman – An MSU commit.
S Brock Reynolds
S Jamonne Chester
S Shamari Benton

Ohio
WR Josh Jones – Looking for big name offers. Can he make the long trip during a school day?
OT Marcus Hall – Top prospect. Michigan would love for him to come in.
OT Chris Freeman – From Trotwood-Madison.
LB Zach Boren – Legacy recruit with no scholarship offer.
LB Julius Ferrell
S Justin Turner
CB DJ Hunter
CB Tony Graham – Another Trotwood guy.

Indiana
QB Morgan Newton – He has been picking up some steam lately, though some doubt his fit in the read-option offense. His basketball obligations have ended.
QB Jordan Luallen

Illinois
QB Darwin Rogers – His class at Leo High has a lot of prospects.
DE Craig Drummond – A top prospect Michigan would love to have come in.

Pennsylvania
RB Jordan Hall – Don’t know how far he’d be willing to travel for a junior day, both he and Terrelle Pryor are eligible to play in their basketball game tonight, so he might be too tired to come.
WR Je’Ron Stokes – Can he make the 4 hour drive on a school day?
DE Juantez Hollins
DE Jack Lippert
LB Dorian Bell – Michigan would be ecstatic if he’d make it in, and he is currently planning to attend.
LB Dan Mason
LB AJ Fenton
S EJ Banks
CB Corey Brown – Dorian Bell’s Teammate. Plans to attend.

Also, NC S Devonte Holloman’s lovely mug is featured in the free portion of the latest Scout post about Junior Day, so don’t be surprised if makes an attempt to come in.

**BONUS** If Trotwood guys come in, they may be accompanied by some of Michigan’s 2008 commits from their school. Same story with Boubacar Cissoko and the Cass Tech guys, and maybe even BB commit Stu Douglass tagging along with Morgan Netwon?
**Double Bonus** If Jordan Hall can make it in, may he bring along uncommitted 2008 uber-recruit Terrelle Pryor? I’m sure Michigan would be very pleased to have him in, especially if he brought his mother with him.

Defensive spring preview coming tomorrow, the last day before the start of spring practice.

Posted under Recruiting