Michigan Thursday: Will The Worm Turn Blue This Weekend?

One of the names that Michigan fans have been tracking this year is Chris Wormely a 4 star DE from Toledo.   Chris was offered by RR and Staff and that continued with Hoke and Mattison as well. 

One of the first recruits Greg Mattison met with was Chris Wormley after he was hired and that resonated with him.  Chris has been pretty quiet in his recruitment during track season with just letting folks know that Michigan and OSU are his top two.  With all the turmoil in Columbus, Michigan has seemed to have cemented their position as Chris's #1 school. 

Even 5 star offensive linemen Kyle Kalis thinks Chris is headed to Ann Arbor:  "The biggest thing about going to Michigan would be going against Tom (Strobel) and Chris Wormley every day (in practice)," Kalis told Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com. "I've pretty much come to the conclusion that Wormley is going to Michigan."


Will it be this weekend?  Not sure, but I think the Wolverines chances for a commitment sooner rather then later are pretty high.

• 2013 recruiting is starting to heat up.  Mega recruit QB Shane Morris has already jumped on board and now he needs some guys to block for him.   The two latest prospects to be offered are instate recruit Steve Elmer and Colorado's Chris Fox who was just offered yesterday.  Chris was at Michigan's camp this week and must of impressed the coaches.

• 4 star offensive lineman Blake Bars is planning a decision in the next week or so.  He visited Ann Arbor last weekend and Michigan seems to be one of this top schools.  (I personally like when they list their top schools and mention Michigan first) I'm really evaluating a top five of Michigan, Penn State, Florida, LSU, and Vanderbilt. We'll just lay out all those schools and what they have to offer. --- Yeah, I'm going to make my decision within the next week. We're going to sit down and evaluate each school on a different number of levels. Talk about how I would fit in, the level of football, and what it would do for me after football. We'll just go from there and then say where I want to go. We might be taking one more visit this weekend to either Boston College or Florida, but that's if my mom can find a good flight. After that we'll be done with visits.

• Former Wolverines Maurice Williams, Amani Toomer and Drew Henson are participating in the NFL's Broadcast Boot Camp in hopes of becoming NFL or College color TV announcers. 

• Steve Breaston comes strong with his lock out poetry work.  Another clear example of a Michigan Man!  Well done Steve.

Good luck tonight Darius!  I hope you go in Round 1.

Wolverine Wednesday: Hot Month - Hot Recruiting

Michigan's Camp as a couple more days left but the recruiting trial continues to be "hot" for the Wolverines. 
Here is some more news to keep an eye on:

• 5 Star OL Kyle Kalis has de-committed form OSU and will be in Ann Arbor this weekend, there are also rumors floating around that 5 star RB Bri'Onte Dunn might also pull this verbal from the Buckeyes.  Michigan seems well positioned for both guys if they want to stay close to home and play Big 10 Football.

• Michigan has offered OH RB Alden Hill who preformed well at camp this week. They want me as an all purpose back, a full back and running back. Someone they don't have to change personnel if they switch plays out of the two back system. I'm definitely good with that role, it's good for competition. I actually just got an offer from Iowa too, so the Big Ten is starting to come in now.

• Ondre Pipkins is a player Michigan has very high on their board.  He seems to be very interested in the Wolverines as well. The process might end a little sooner than I expected. I can't wait to get up to Michigan to visit.

• 
  I don't think we should expect it, but it would be nice if Chris Wormley pulled the trigger on a Michigan verbal this weekend. 
• TomVH catches up with Danny O'Brien after his camp performance and clarifies his Michigan recruitment:  There was basically some confusion during the spring on how they wanted things to go and they told me they wanted me to come to camp and prove myself. They told me that there's basically only a couple defensive tackles with offers and they will probably only take one interior guy. They're going to recruit me really hard now and they gave me the pitch and everything. Danny doesn't have a leader but would be a nice addition to the class.  I think it's really important to lock down the instate guys.  I believe they would take both Danny and Ondre if you are keeping score at home. 

Michigan Tuesday: Big House Bites

• Update 3:15: Out of left field, Ann Arbor visitor last weekend Trey Keenan committed to Texas Tech today.

• OSU verbal commit OL Kyle Kalis is going to be in Ann Arbor this weekend to visit U of M.  Some might remember that Kyle called OSU after the Tressel fall out to de-commit and was talked out of it by the OSU coaches.  Kyle is friends with Tom Strobel and Chris Wormley and wants to see Ann Arbor.   Kyle is a 5 star prospect from Scouts but is still committed to the Buckeyes right now.

• It seems Ohio DE Chris Wormley will be joining Kyle on his visit to Ann Arbor this weekend.

• Jordan Diamond didn't commit to the Wolverines last weekend and it seems he wants to continue the recruiting process.

• Danny O'Brien is at Michigan's camp and there has been some buzz that Tennessee is no longer his leader.  We will see how these next days go.

• Ohio Safety Jarrod Wilson continues to talk to his high school coaches about his college choice.  Don't expect an announcement this week (may this weekend at the earliest).

• Ohio RB Alden Hill spent some time at camp this week with Coach Jackson and really enjoyed it.  He is interested to see if he earned an offer.

• Michigan TE Ron Thompson is expected in Ann Arbor today, I don't know anyway he could be part of Michigan's 2012 class?

Michigan Monday: Busy Time at Schembechler Hall

Michigan's football camp is underway and there are a number of guys looking for offers and other guys looking to standout.  The names that interest Michigan fans the most are:

• Danny O'Brein is an instate 4 star DT that Michigan fans have been interested in for sometime now.  Danny has been pretty quiet about his recruitment but ranks Tennessee as his top school.  Danny is friends with Michigan commit Matt Godin and they have discussed playing together.  The Michigan hype around Danny has been a bit quiet as both sides might have back off each other a bit.  This camp will give Danny the feel of how he would be coached at Michigan and might light the maize and blue flame under his recruitment or blow it out.

• OH QB Austin Appleby will be in Ann Arbor this week and trying to earn a Michigan offer.  Austin is considered to be an option if Gunner Kiel and Maty Mauk pick other schools.   

• Instate 2013 OL prospect who made big splash at the Sound Mind and Sound Body Camp last week is 6'6 297 pound Steven Elmer.   Steven just received a Michigan offer on Saturday and will be one of the top players in Michigan for the 2013 class.   Steven made news a the Sound Mind/Body by holding his own against Matt Godin in drills.

• 2013 DE Matt Miller who is the brother of soon to be Wolverine Jack Miller.  

TomVH caught up with 5 star visitor Andrus Peat:  For sure, I was really impressed with everything. I could definitely see myself playing there. I don't know when I'll make my decision, just whenever I feel right. I will probably take official visits and then decide after my senior season.

There was a rumor last weekend that Se'Von Pittman a highly ranked DE from Ohio wanted to commit to Michigan but the coaching staff asked him to delay his decision awhile.  Michigan has high interest in Chris Wormley and Adolphus Washington.  He didn't wait and committed to MSU on Sunday.

Texas OL Trey Keenan visited Ann Arbor on Saturday and has "short listed" the Wolverines. TomVH interview:  All the places I've been to are southern schools and I've never really been to a place like Michigan. It's flattering to be here and see all the tradition and history in the buildings. They have national championships and all americans so it's pretty cool to be here.

We're going to the morning session of camp tomorrow [Monday]. I'm going to work out with Coach Funk to get a feel for him and how he interacts with his players. We do have a short list right now and Michigan is on that short list. I don't want to say how many are on it yet. We're going to take the next week then talk about everything with my coaches and family. All my planned summer visits are done with so we'll figure out what's going to happen next. This visit did nothing but up Michigan's status though.

Michigan recently offered GA WR Jason Croom and his mom happened to be in Detroit for a wedding and visited with the coaches this weekend.  Jason was playing in a 7 on 7 tournament.

Scouts Allen Trieu updates us on some local 7 on 7 at EMU:  Michigan commit Devin Funchess did not disappoint either. He's long, lean, and runs good routes. We knew he could go up and get it, but what he did here that we hadn't seen as much, was display run after the catch ability. He caught a short out, turned upfield and out ran an entire defense on one touchdown. He'll have weight to add to become an effective tight end, but he's a matchup problem waiting to happen. 

Allen also mentions that wide receiver Aaron Burbridge preformed well.

Michigan Friday: Recruiting Blitz

Brady Hoke and staff has been very busy since "they walked to Ann Arbor" in January to take over the Maize and Blue program.   They had to finish up the 2011 class and start to build relationships for the 2012 class as well. 

Over the past couple of months, the Michigan staff has done a tremendous job getting recruits to Ann Arbor.  Michigan now has 16 verbals in the 2012 class and only about 9 spots left.   Players are excited about Brady Hoke, the direction of Michigan's program, Greg Mattison with his Raven experience and the implosion of the school in Columbus doesn't hurt:

"When I filled out Strobel's evaluation card after talking to him, I wrote down, '95 percent going to Ohio State,'" CBS College Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "I thought he was a lock and I thought the Top 10 recruits in Ohio would all end up going to Ohio State.


"But now, with Tressel gone and so much uncertainty hanging over the program, I'm not so sure."

Well, one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity, as the saying goes, and other schools could benefit from Ohio State's dramatic fall.



"Michigan, man," said Doug Plank, a former Ohio State and NFL defensive back now working for NCSA, a recruiting firm that connects athletes and their families with schools. "They are back in the recruiting business in Ohio."

Hoke had a reputation of being a very good recruiter when he was brought on board.  I had my doubts on that statement in January, I no longer do:  "Knowing the coaches so well when they were at San Diego State; knowing the style of offense they were running and where they would take the program at Michigan made me want to stay in touch with them. I called Coach Funk when he was hired to take me on board with them. They stuck with me, and when I committed, they were very excited."
 
"The odds are not very high I would have signed at Michigan, Magnuson said. "I had so many offers, going that far away without Coach Hoke probably wouldn't have happened."

Michigan's focus still remains on both lines with these last nine spots.   The Wolverines will also be looking for a QB, RB, WR and maybe a FB. 

Here is some latest news for guys that could be Wolverines:

• Jordan Diamond who is expected back in Ann Arbor today got a 5th star from Scouts in it's latest rankings.  Jordan has been a Wolverine lean for some time now and it would be great for him to pull the trigger soon.  I heard some 'talk" that Jordan's high school prefers that recruits wait a while to commit so they can build up some extra PR as signing day gets closer.   Chris Bryant commitment to Michigan was an example of that policy.   With the way this class is filling up, I would prefer Jordan to jump on board sooner rather then later.   

• 6'5 Texas Offensive Tackle, Trey Keenan is planning a visit to Ann Arbor.

• Michigan's Football Camp starts on Sunday so there will be a number of guys on campus this weekend.  Here is a list of visitors from TomVH.

• 2013 CB prospect that played well at the Sound Mind and Body camp named Shaq Wiggins got a Michigan offer this week.  He will be in Ann Arbor this weekend at Michigan's camp, coming off an MVP performance at Sound Mind and Body.

• It seems teams are starting to back off Tate Forcier as he sent a packet to the University of Hawaii this week to see if they are interested.   Looks like Tate is trying to sell his services, instead of schools recruiting him.   I hope he figures it out at some point.   

Michigan Monday: Updates the 2012 Offer Train

The offers keep coming:

• Royce Jenkins-Stone visited A2 this weekend and met with Coach Hoke.  RJS tweeted that the coaches said he could be the next Ray Lewis. 

• James Ross was also in Ann Arbor this weekend for a un-official to Michigan.

• OL Kyle Dodson (6'6 315 lbs.) from Cleveland was offered this weekend as well.

• Instate DE/DT Matt Godin got his Michigan offer this weekend.  As you know, Matt had been concerned about not getting an offer from Ann Arbor and he finally got the good news this weekend:  I just got offered by Michigan. I called Coach Montgomery, and then talked to Coach Mattison. He said they reviewed my film and I have an offer from the University of Michigan. This is definitely a dream offer, I'm pretty excited. I'm going to wait and think things through before I make my decision, I'm going to visit up there this week and talk to the coaches more.

• Matt is good friends with Danny O'Brien who was at the Midwest Best of the Best camp on Michigan's campus on Sunday.  Matt currently has Tennessee as his leader but Michigan is in the running and now having Matt having a scholarship offer to Ann Arbor could effect his decision.   He is planning a decision sometime during the football season.  Matt is a high priority recruit for Michigan this year.

• Jordan Diamond was again up to Ann Arbor this weekend with future freshman Chris Bryant.  Jordan didn't participate in the camp but did get a chance to catch up with the new coaching staff and players:   We went up there yesterday; I met just about everybody. We talked to Coach Hoke, Coach Heck(linski), Funk, so it was cool. Coach Funk was telling me that they're light on the offensive line, they only have around 11 scholarship guys so I would have a good chance to play early. I was trying to build some comfort with them, get to know them, so it was good. The one thing I did get to see that was new was I got to see the players working out. That was good for me to see how they work out, and what they do.

• Texas OLB Jeremiah Tshimanga (6'3 226 lbs) got a Michigan offer on Saturday.  Could be a candidate for the all name team!

• Want to know the list of all the 2012 offers? Check this out.

Michigan Friday: U of M Hosts Best in the Midwest Camp This Weekend

The University of Michigan is not affiliated with this combine they are only providing the facilities.  Which gives Michigan a nice advantage in recruiting.  Why?  Because it allows some of the best talent in Michigan, Ohio, and other states a chance to look at Michigan's facilities like the Al Glick Field House.   (On a side note, Michigan has two indoor football practice facilities and The Cincinnati Bengals have zero)

Jordan Diamond who participated last year will be in attendance but won't be participating in the event.  Jordan is using this event as a un-official visit to Ann Arbor.  It is still a bit unclear on who is attending and who isn't at this point.  Many players don't register until later this weekend (the event is on Sunday), the cost is $75 for high school participates and $150 if you want a 3 minute highlight tape.

Some high profile names attending for Michigan fans include: Royce Jenkins-Stone, Ohio WR Corey Smith, Detroit Mumford OL/DL Daron Brown and Detroit RB Dennis Norfleet.  They are expecting around 400 kids so maybe some new names for the 2012 class might jump out.

• Is he back?  There was some twitter activity that suggests former Michigan LB Marell Evans is back with the Wolverines.  Marell transferred from Michigan in August 2009 and ended up at Hampton.  He was listed as a Junior last year on the Hampton's roster.

• Matt Godin Information:  TomVH caught up with Matt yesterday.  Matt is disappointed that he hasn't got a Michigan offer yet.   Matt is clearly frustrated but let's hope he connects with the Michigan coaches soon and a offer comes his way.  Oregon is interested in Matt and MSU has already offered.   Let's hope this is just a situation with the Michigan coaches being on the job only a few weeks and not getting to every one's film yet.   It's clear this young man has a love for U of M.   

• Looks like Michigan has a couple new offers out to OL Jordan Simmons (6'5", 295 lbs) and WR Jordan Payton who is a USC commit. 

Big House Blog Claps for the Wolverine Softball and Golf Teams

The Michigan Softball Team advanced to the college world series this weekend by taking Baylor to the woodshed 15-2 in two games. They will take on Alabama on Thursday at 7:00 on ESPN.

The Michigan Golf Team has qualified for the National Championship Golf Tournament that starts today at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo. Here is to the Wolverines getting some "bite" on the greens on a difficult PGA Major quality course.

• Rich Rodriguez celebrated his 46th birthday over the weekend. For those that wanted Les Miles back coaching the Wolverines. Rich is 10 years younger the Les.

• Michigan is planning their second annual BBQ at the Big House this weekend. This is another chance for recruits to visit the campus and get a feel for the Wolverine program. Michigan's first summer football camp also kicks off soon on June 14-17. Rivals says: Among those expected to attend include committed linebacker Antonio Kinard, defensive backs Latwan Anderson and Cullen Christian, linebacker Ken Wilkins, offensive linemen Skyler Schofner and Andrew Donnal, running backs Tony Jones and Andre Givens, defensive ends Jibreel Black and Marcus Rush and wide receivers Brandon Ifill and Andrew Carswell. This is, of course, in addition to the majority of the top prospects in the state of Michigan. More news to come on who is attending the BBQ and Camp as we get closer to the events.

• William Gholston is one of the high profile recruits that has RSVP'd for the BBQ.

• Evan Smotrycz was pretty much a no name when John Beilein got him to commit to the Wolverines a short time a go. Well, things have changed for Evan in the 2010 player recruiting rankings; Evan starting lighting up camps with some great shooting and some nice low post moves and ESPN recently just put him in their top 100 and all the way up to #47.

Illinois Preview

What a great win last week. Talk about two different feelings in about 4 hours, the first half you think Michigan won't win a game left on their schedule then in the second half you start having un-realistic dreams of the Rose Bowl.

Well, as Rich says enjoy a win for 24 hours then move on to your next opponent. On to Illinois..................

Michigan in the past has had trouble with athletic QB's that can run and throw. Juice is that prototypical dual threat QB that can beat you with his feet and sometimes with his arm. This team went to C-Bus last year and beat a top ranked Buckeye team. Then the bottom fell out, they got embarrassed in the Rose Bowl by USC, start the year by getting beat by Mizzu, eat a few cupcakes, and then get beat by Penn State last week, in a game that wasn't very close.

Michigan beat Illinois last year with similar personnel on Defense, but the Offense had point makers like Henne, Hart, Manningham, and Long. This game can not become a shoot out if Michigan thinks they are going to win, the Michigan Defense needs to hold The Juice and company to the low 20's.

Key's for the Game:

Does Juice get loose? #1 key for the Michigan defense is to not lose contain on Juice Williams, he can easily take 3rd and 7 and make a first down with his feet. The only real threat at WR is Arrellious Benn and the other wide outs are pretty average. With Juice's scrambling ability, Michigan's DB's will have to stay in coverage for a long time and the Michigan line will have to keep pressure on him and hit him a lot. In the option, make Juice pitch the ball and get a helmet on him everytime.

Michigan Defensive Line: Pressure all day. Juice won't be an easy target, but the Defensive line will be able to get a push against a weak Illinois Offensive line. They can't miss opportunities to get a sack or he will find an open WR or kill Michigan with his feet.

Where oh where is shadow, where can shadow be? My feeling is Jonas Mouton is going to spy Juice most of the day from his LB role. He seems to have the speed and athleticism needed to keep up with the Juice.

Can Michigan score? Michigan is going to need points, lots of points in this one. They can't give up possessions with 3 and outs and turnovers. Michigan needs to continue to move the ball against a below average defense. Even cupcakes have scored on the Illinois defense, Michigan needs to as well.

Tale of the Tape:

Michigan Oline vs Illinois Dline: no push either way (zing!)

Michigan DLine vs Illinois OLine: Michigan Advantage

QB Play: Illinois Advantage

Running Backs: Michigan

WR Play: Push

Special Teams: Illinois (until Michigan can catch the ball or return a kick with out a fumble)

Time in the Spread: Illinois (didn't help them last week)

Intangibles: Michigan coming off a big win, Zook and Crew coming off a big loss

Overall Prediction:

Michigan needs to pass to open up the run, but Illinois's Dline and LB's are average at best. Still Michigan's Offense has shown an ability to hurt themselves with silly mistakes or not executing at all. Michigan needs long drives to keep The Juice off the field.

On Defense, Michigan needs to force the Juice to beat him with his arm. He is not known as a strong passer but has been getting better, if he runs wild like he did against OSU, Michigan is in for a long day. There is no doubt about it, the Michigan Defensive Line has to dominate for a Michigan win - Dominate!

I think it really comes down to who can execute their offense better. Michigan has a better D, but they can't be on the field all day against a decent spread team. These type of offense's have been giving Michigan fits for years (I know they see it in practice everyday now). My gut tells me that the Juice will light up the scoreboard and even though Illinois's Defense is not grand, Michigan will do something stupid and won't be able to keep up in a shoot out. The fact remains, that one team has been running the spread for years, the other is in its 5th game. (I hope I'm wrong on this one and that Illinois still has a "hang over" from their Happy Valley beat down)

Michigan 21 Illinois 31

Go Blue!

"Lights Out" for Deion Sanders at Michigan's Camp

Back in 1986, James "Lights Out" Toney was Huron High School's dual threat QB and DB, he could run and throw and was a one man show. Of course James was at a disadvantage playing against perennial power and highly ranked Pioneer High School in his own town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

With the Purple Haze across town, James decided to focus on boxing and has had a very long career in the ring. Highlights have been a fights against Roy Jones, being the middleweight champion of the world, and even getting suspended twice for steroids. "Lights Out" is now 40 years old and is starting to look back at some moments in his life. One he says, was when he knocked out Deion "Neon" Sanders back at Michigan football camp in 1986.

"But it wasn't much of a scuffle," said Toney of the dispute with Sanders who would go on to play for five different NFL teams and four Major League Baseball teams.

"We was in football camp and the Michigan camps was one of he biggest camps in the world. We got in an argument over a bed, it wasn't much of an altercation," said Toney who shrugged off the dispute. "It was two hits -me hittin' him - and him hittin' the floor," he chuckled.

Recruiting News and Notes:

• Nyshier Oliver, is listing a Michigan offer after just de-committing from Tennessee. ND is also in the race for this 3 star athlete's service.


• What's the next steps in our QB recruiting to replace Newsome? Both Forcier and Smith are planning Michigan visits. Did I mention that Forcier is one of the most accurate passers in the entire country and ran for more yards then Newsome did?


• Todd Thomas, is a 6"3 Running Back/Linebacker is being recruited by Pitt, West Virginia, Penn State, Boston College and Michigan. He says he has somewhere between 25-30 offers.