U of M Football general recruiting thread

[The Black Hand]

Kaleb Stefon Ringer ‏ @KRingoUM1

we got commits in here!
Retweeted by DG

In where?

[phillyfan]

In where?

Hopefully in isaac

[HailtotheVictors20]

Hopefully in isaac

I would be stun if it's Issac...He wants to take that trip to USC

[TG7782]

Couldn't it simply mean that there are commits there, like Morris etc? Doesn't mean there are NEW commits.

[mikevshungry]

Couldn't it simply mean that there are commits there, like Morris etc? Doesn't mean there are NEW commits.

Dreamkiller#

[ACfromtheD]

Only one commit this weekend? Lame.

[GoBlue75]

Only one commit this weekend? Lame.

Rivals #43 DT Henry Poggi is still in town on day 2 of his visit....not out of the question

[mikevshungry]

from rivals... the urban meyer part about burning bridges in ohio sounds alot like rich rod when he came here....

To football recruiting now …

The hot name on the board right now is Joliet (Ill.) Catholic Academy running back Ty Isaac. He is visiting USC this weekend, and that’s the last big trip he has planned for the recruiting process. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be ready to decide upon returning from L.A., but at that point, he’ll know whether he’ll decide shortly thereafter, or have to plan more visits.

Despite the visit out West, we’d be surprised to see Isaac leave the Midwest for his college ball. He also wants to play in a pro-style offense, so while South Bend and Columbus are within that footprint, the Irish and Buckeyes are probably fighting an uphill battle.

There is confidence around Schembechler Hall that Isaac will pick Michigan not too long after he gets back to Joliet next week. “Confidence” isn’t a magic bullet - remember there was confidence surrounding the recruitment of Bri’onte Dunn, but he ultimately delayed and then canceled a Michigan visit, sticking with the Buckeyes. Still, being in the Wolverines’ current situation is certainly better than lacking that confidence.

In fact, Richmond (Va.) Hermitage running back Derrick Green actually came to Ann Arbor last weekend knowing he wouldn’t be able to commit, even if he wanted to. If Isaac comes off the board and doesn’t pick Michigan, a spot may be available for Green, but it seems the coaching staff is set on Ty Isaac being the runner to join Deveon Smith in the 2013 class.

Neither back is worried about competition in the backfield, despite what you may read elsewhere. Isaac has shared the ball with Division-1 recruits (including 2012 Northwestern signee Malin Jones last fall), and any indication that he’s scared of competition is simply a negative recruiting pitch against Michigan.

There is also growing confidence with Baltimore (Md.) Gilman defensive lineman Henry Poggi. The 6-5, 255-pounder made his third visit to Ann Arbor last weekend, and according to one of his good friends, who was in attendance, he couldn’t have had a better time.

“I know Henry, and he’s definitely into the whole “team” concept and who Michigan recruits,” Wheaton (Ill.) St. Francis offensive line commit Kyle Bosch said. “I’ve talked to him and he said he really likes the type of kid that Michigan recruits, and he feels they’ll be good teammates.”

Poggi is concerned not just about the caliber of player Michigan recruits - although they couldn’t have done a much better job than they have so far, building the country’s top recruiting class early in the 2013 cycle - but also character. Poggi is used to playing alongside high character guys at Baltimore’s elite Gilman School, and one his most recent trip to campus, he mingled with some of Michigan’s recruits - including Deveon Smith, Shane Morris, and David Dawson, along with Bosch and others - and came away impressed with the caliber of person Michigan is bringing in.

Poggi plans to take a couple more college visits - Alabama and Stanford are among the other schools that have impressed him - but he wants to wrap up the recruiting process sooner, rather than later.

More recruiting …

It may be overstating things to state that Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is “burning bridges” with high school coaches in his home state, but the Buckeyes certainly aren’t doing themselves any favors with the way they’re approaching the 2013 recruiting class.

That includes a lack of focus on recruiting in Ohio. It took the Buckeyes much longer than expected to offer Alliance Marlington safety Dymonte Thomas, a Michigan commit. His fellow future Wolverine, Trotwood-Madison linebacker Mike McCray, is the son of a former Ohio State captain, and the lack of an Ohio State offer is seen as an insult to the No. 44 player in the country.

An attitude problem is also part of Ohio State’s issue. Michigan’s coaches are praised by some coaches in comparison to “other coaching staffs” - and it’s not a mystery who the contrast is with.

“It’s a pretty easy thing, but unlike some other coaching staffs we’ve dealt with, they don’t big-time you,” one Ohio high school coach told us. “They don’t sit there and act like ‘oh, we’re Michigan.’ They just are normal people.”

Another coach didn’t quite draw a comparison to the Buckeyes, but gave similar praise to Michigan’s staff.

“Brady did a great job, as well as the defensive coordinator,” he said. “The AD did a great job. They’re very sincere and genuine and down to Earth.”

It may be premature to say Ohio State is dead in their home state (because they never will be, in all honesty), but Michigan’s coaches are building bridges, rather than burning them. The Wolverines will continue to recruit well in the Buckeye State.

Finally, on to the linebacker situation. There was a bit of controversy late last week about Michigan’s cooling on Olney (Md.) Good Counsel four-star Dorian O’Daniel. The Wolverines’ coaching staff has been up-front with prospects about the quick-filling recruiting class - particularly at linebacker - and that was the case with O’Daniel.

Michigan told him that they weren’t able to wait until April 14th to get on campus (and possibly commit). That didn’t work for O’Daniel, and the two groups had to part ways. Although that’s disappointing for O’Daniel, Michigan’s coaching staff isn’t happy about having to tell players such things, either.

It does speak to their confidence with other linebackers. The only two prospects at the position that Michigan hasn’t told they’re full are Hudson (Ohio) four-star Ben Gedeon and Woodbridge (Va.) C.D. Hylton four-star E.J. Levenberry. That doesn’t mean either of them is a silent commit, but Michigan feels very good about their standing with those two.

Levenberry is probably one that Michigan will hold a spot for no matter what. He’s planning a late decision, so don’t expect him to commit when he visits Ann Arbor April 14. However, we’ve seen prospects move up their decision dates to join Michigan’s class already in 2013, so nothing is out of the question.

Moving the decision date is also a possibility for Crete (Ill.) Monee wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. Like Levenberry, he’s planning a late decision. However, if dominoes start falling in Michigan’s class, he could expedite his timetable - and we believe Michigan is still in the driver’s seat for him.

Treadwell caused a stir on The Fort when he made back-to-back tweets last week about hearing from Michigan’s recruiters, and then trying to get in touch with Isaac. The two talented prospects haven’t built much of a relationship yet, but if Isaac is in the fold by the time Treadwell is on campus (likely for the Wolverines’ Spring Game, though he may actually visit earlier that week, instead), it can only help Michigan’s chances to land the talented wideout earlier than expected.

Finally finally, Michigan also seems to be in great shape for ’14 elite Missouri offensive lineman Andy Bauer, who is wrapping up some visits and headed toward a decision. Family members told us today Bauer could well visit for Michigan’s spring game, though details have to be finalized - regardless, the Wolverines have made a great impression.

[GoBlue75]

This is copied and pasted verbatim from a premium article, that does not seem to be cool at all.

[joeking1978]

This is copied and pasted verbatim from a premium article, that does not seem to be cool at all.

What doesn't seem cool?

[FastFreddie]

This is copied and pasted verbatim from a premium article, that does not seem to be cool at all.

I find it really cool!