- Michigan is up to 18 announced preferred walk-ons. I know of at least one or two others who could also end up in the class. This is the largest preferred walk-on class I have ever seen at Michigan. It looks like Harbaugh is really making a push to ramp up the walk-on program and bringing in 18+ kids could yield several key contributors down the road. This is of added importance now with the transfer portal making it easier for scholarship kids to transfer. This is because there will be more players transferring out of programs, and in such situations the depth provided by quality walk-ons can be critical to future success. An interesting aside is that 10 of the 18 are in-staters, which sort of makes up for an in-state scholarship haul of just two in a class that was being called something like the elite 11 or dandy dozen when the 2019 in-staters were offered early by Michigan.
- Bloomfield Hills cornerback Alec Ward was mistakenly listed on my PWO commitment list until yesterday. This was a mistake. Of note here is that he is indeed a junior. This is the first time I have heard of a kid so young being offered as a PWO. This looks to be the next phase in the accelerated recruiting timeline. We have already "offered" scholarships to a couple of seventh-graders the past year. Now we are starting to offer underclassmen as PWOs. Just the next step that Michigan needs to take to stay a step ahead of the competition.
- Michigan 2020 verbal Kalil Branham is going to have a close relative nearby as his older brother, RB John Branham, just signed with Eastern Michigan today. Sort of wondering whether Branham will end up sticking with the Wolverines. No inside intel or anything on my part, except for the fact that we are in on a ton of more highly rated WRs in the 2020 class and new OC/WR coach Josh Gattis may want to bring in kids that he thinks best fit his scheme. Perhaps Branham does, perhaps he doesn't. It will be interesting to see how this early verbal plays out.
- The SEC is enjoying a huge second Signing Day. Tennessee just picked up two huge verbals in Henry To'oto'o and Darnell Wright, two five star caliber players. Florida flipped stud DE Khris Bogle from Alabama and beat out Georgia for stud DB Kair Elam. Georgia flipped stud receiver George Pickens from Auburn, which makes up for their loss of Jadon Haselwood earlier in the cycle. Alabama recovered nicely by picking up stud LA DT Ishmael Sopsher over LSU. LSU still did well landing Jay Ward and Devonta Lee. Auburn recovered from their Pickens loss by picking up stud FL athlete Marc-Antony Richards and outstanding DL Charles Moore. Super stud RB Jerrion Ealy recommitted to Ole Miss, which is good because I feared he would end up at Clemson. As you can read, a lot of studs in the SEC.
- Michigan's day was quiet. The official announcement of the Quinten Johnson signing. Pretty much it. Amauri Pesek-Hickson ended up at Kansas . On the rivals front. Ohio State OL Doug Nester flipped to Virginia Tech but they replaced him with a similar level prospect in Enokk Vimahi out of Hawaii. Penn State added a couple of decent receivers in TJ Jones and Daequan Hardy to edge a bit closer to Michigan for the top class in the Big Ten. They will surpass Michigan on at least one service should Nick Cross, the stud safety out of DeMatha, commit to them. He is not signing today and is deciding between PSU and Maryland.
- On to the underclassmen. Michigan already has six 2020 verbals, but only one, Osman Savage, is a possible national top 100 type. Penn State has four 2020 verbals, one of whom-Derek Wingo-a possible top 100 kid. Ohio State has gotten off to a rapid start to the 2020 class with seven early verbals. Several are likely/possible top 100 kids, including QB Jack Miller, RB Darvon Hubbard, WR Gee Scott. OT Paris Johnson and OL Luke Wypler. Don't expect the new coach there to roll over and play dead. Great start for the Buckeyes. Notre Dame has four early verbals, three of whom are possible top 100 types in QB Drew Pyne and TEs Michael Mayer and Kevin Bauman. The fourth verbal is Alexander Ehrensberger, a tall (6-7, 255) native of Germany who played at Fryeburg Academy in Maine this year. I like him a lot. Michigan State has no early verbals at this point.
- Class of 2021: The race is on to land stud underclassmen. Ohio State scored a big win the past weekend landing the top prospect in Ohio, Pickerington North DE/TE Jack Sawyer (6-5, 219). I think he will be a superior prospect to Zach Harrison. Could be in the Bosa category, although a longer and leaner body type. Also a hard-nosed low major hoops prospect but football is his future. Penn State also landed a national top 100 type soph over the week-end in Baltimore Mount St. Joseph WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. (6-4, 185). He had a huge soph season and offers from both Michigan and Ohio State. Great, great get for PSU.
Class of 2022: Some serious Michigan targets are starting to be identified. I will mention a dozen names to watch out for here:
1. John Griffith, QB, 6-2, 206, Baltimore St. Frances: Freshman starter at QB for this talent-laden program and a future star. Held back for athletic reasons a year in junior high. LSU and Tennessee are huis other big-time early offers. We have also offered QBs Quinn Ewers out of Southlake Carroll, Texas, Maalik Murphy (Gardena Serra, CA) and Tennesseans Ty Simpson and Tevin Carter, but Griffith may be the best bet to end up in the class.
2. Gavin Sawchuk (WR/RB, 5-10, 168, 4.4, Highlands Ranch Valor Christian, CO): Sam program as the McCaffrey clan. Michigan offered first last week and PSU and Oregon quickly followed. Giles Jackson type who made an impact running the ball as a frosh for a state power (he had 58 carries for 542 yards (9.3ypc) and 8 TDs, 7 receptions for 85 yards and 2 TDs and 9 KRs for a 43.8 avg).
3. Ismael Zamor (WR, 6-1, 165, Everett, MA): Michigan his first offer. The next fgreat one from te program that produced 2019 Michigan signee Mike Sainristl and Georgia stud Lewis Cine (by way of Texas).
4. Jack Nickel (TE, 6-4, 225, Milton, GA): First team freshman all-american and an all-region selection and freshman starter for the 7A state champs (largest in state). Kentucky his first offer, but early on he likes Georgia, Miami and.....Michigan.
5. Cameron Wilson (OL, 6-4, 290, Washington Gonzaga, DC): Huge freshman all-american bowl participant and youth leagues all-american who is an outstanding student and a HUGE Michigan fan with dreams of playing in the Big House one day. He has the talent to possibly fulfill those dreams.
6. Tyler Booker (DL, 6-4, 265, Oradell Bergen Catholic): Potential future five star who is one of my top four frosh DL prospects in the nation. Michigan just offered last week, the third school to offer after UVA and Rutgers. We are in a great position here with coach Campanile's brother the head coach at Bergen Catholic.
7 & 8. Baltimore St. Frances DLs Derrick Moore (6-4, 250) and Nasir Parce (6-4, 300): Both play for former Michigan staffer Biff Poggi and both were recently offered by Michigan
9. Wilfredo Aybar (DE, 6-4, 220, 4.60, Cheshire Academy, CT): From the same prep school that sent Tarik Black to Michigan. With Don Brown leading the charge we will be in the thick of things for Wilfredo.
10. Alex VanSumeren (DL/TE, 6-3, 240, Essexville Garber): Ben's younger but already bigger brother shined as a frosh DE (83 total tackles, 9 TFL, 7 sacks, 12 hurries and 1 FF) and has impressed at camps against superior competition.
11. William Johnson (CB, 6-1, 160, Grosse Pointe South): Could well be the top 2022 prospect in the state. Great length, quick, athletic and physical. Getting stronger. Already impressed as a frosh starter. Son fo former Michigan DB Deon Johnson.
12. Myles Rowser (DB, 5-11, 165): Started at FS as a frosh for talent-laden Belleville but may best project as a corner, the position his older brother, 2020 Michigan verbal Andre Seldon plays. A sticky DB like his older brother but already with better size. Already has early offers from Western and Central.
- Bloomfield Hills cornerback Alec Ward was mistakenly listed on my PWO commitment list until yesterday. This was a mistake. Of note here is that he is indeed a junior. This is the first time I have heard of a kid so young being offered as a PWO. This looks to be the next phase in the accelerated recruiting timeline. We have already "offered" scholarships to a couple of seventh-graders the past year. Now we are starting to offer underclassmen as PWOs. Just the next step that Michigan needs to take to stay a step ahead of the competition.
- Michigan 2020 verbal Kalil Branham is going to have a close relative nearby as his older brother, RB John Branham, just signed with Eastern Michigan today. Sort of wondering whether Branham will end up sticking with the Wolverines. No inside intel or anything on my part, except for the fact that we are in on a ton of more highly rated WRs in the 2020 class and new OC/WR coach Josh Gattis may want to bring in kids that he thinks best fit his scheme. Perhaps Branham does, perhaps he doesn't. It will be interesting to see how this early verbal plays out.
- The SEC is enjoying a huge second Signing Day. Tennessee just picked up two huge verbals in Henry To'oto'o and Darnell Wright, two five star caliber players. Florida flipped stud DE Khris Bogle from Alabama and beat out Georgia for stud DB Kair Elam. Georgia flipped stud receiver George Pickens from Auburn, which makes up for their loss of Jadon Haselwood earlier in the cycle. Alabama recovered nicely by picking up stud LA DT Ishmael Sopsher over LSU. LSU still did well landing Jay Ward and Devonta Lee. Auburn recovered from their Pickens loss by picking up stud FL athlete Marc-Antony Richards and outstanding DL Charles Moore. Super stud RB Jerrion Ealy recommitted to Ole Miss, which is good because I feared he would end up at Clemson. As you can read, a lot of studs in the SEC.
- Michigan's day was quiet. The official announcement of the Quinten Johnson signing. Pretty much it. Amauri Pesek-Hickson ended up at Kansas . On the rivals front. Ohio State OL Doug Nester flipped to Virginia Tech but they replaced him with a similar level prospect in Enokk Vimahi out of Hawaii. Penn State added a couple of decent receivers in TJ Jones and Daequan Hardy to edge a bit closer to Michigan for the top class in the Big Ten. They will surpass Michigan on at least one service should Nick Cross, the stud safety out of DeMatha, commit to them. He is not signing today and is deciding between PSU and Maryland.
- On to the underclassmen. Michigan already has six 2020 verbals, but only one, Osman Savage, is a possible national top 100 type. Penn State has four 2020 verbals, one of whom-Derek Wingo-a possible top 100 kid. Ohio State has gotten off to a rapid start to the 2020 class with seven early verbals. Several are likely/possible top 100 kids, including QB Jack Miller, RB Darvon Hubbard, WR Gee Scott. OT Paris Johnson and OL Luke Wypler. Don't expect the new coach there to roll over and play dead. Great start for the Buckeyes. Notre Dame has four early verbals, three of whom are possible top 100 types in QB Drew Pyne and TEs Michael Mayer and Kevin Bauman. The fourth verbal is Alexander Ehrensberger, a tall (6-7, 255) native of Germany who played at Fryeburg Academy in Maine this year. I like him a lot. Michigan State has no early verbals at this point.
- Class of 2021: The race is on to land stud underclassmen. Ohio State scored a big win the past weekend landing the top prospect in Ohio, Pickerington North DE/TE Jack Sawyer (6-5, 219). I think he will be a superior prospect to Zach Harrison. Could be in the Bosa category, although a longer and leaner body type. Also a hard-nosed low major hoops prospect but football is his future. Penn State also landed a national top 100 type soph over the week-end in Baltimore Mount St. Joseph WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. (6-4, 185). He had a huge soph season and offers from both Michigan and Ohio State. Great, great get for PSU.
Class of 2022: Some serious Michigan targets are starting to be identified. I will mention a dozen names to watch out for here:
1. John Griffith, QB, 6-2, 206, Baltimore St. Frances: Freshman starter at QB for this talent-laden program and a future star. Held back for athletic reasons a year in junior high. LSU and Tennessee are huis other big-time early offers. We have also offered QBs Quinn Ewers out of Southlake Carroll, Texas, Maalik Murphy (Gardena Serra, CA) and Tennesseans Ty Simpson and Tevin Carter, but Griffith may be the best bet to end up in the class.
2. Gavin Sawchuk (WR/RB, 5-10, 168, 4.4, Highlands Ranch Valor Christian, CO): Sam program as the McCaffrey clan. Michigan offered first last week and PSU and Oregon quickly followed. Giles Jackson type who made an impact running the ball as a frosh for a state power (he had 58 carries for 542 yards (9.3ypc) and 8 TDs, 7 receptions for 85 yards and 2 TDs and 9 KRs for a 43.8 avg).
3. Ismael Zamor (WR, 6-1, 165, Everett, MA): Michigan his first offer. The next fgreat one from te program that produced 2019 Michigan signee Mike Sainristl and Georgia stud Lewis Cine (by way of Texas).
4. Jack Nickel (TE, 6-4, 225, Milton, GA): First team freshman all-american and an all-region selection and freshman starter for the 7A state champs (largest in state). Kentucky his first offer, but early on he likes Georgia, Miami and.....Michigan.
5. Cameron Wilson (OL, 6-4, 290, Washington Gonzaga, DC): Huge freshman all-american bowl participant and youth leagues all-american who is an outstanding student and a HUGE Michigan fan with dreams of playing in the Big House one day. He has the talent to possibly fulfill those dreams.
6. Tyler Booker (DL, 6-4, 265, Oradell Bergen Catholic): Potential future five star who is one of my top four frosh DL prospects in the nation. Michigan just offered last week, the third school to offer after UVA and Rutgers. We are in a great position here with coach Campanile's brother the head coach at Bergen Catholic.
7 & 8. Baltimore St. Frances DLs Derrick Moore (6-4, 250) and Nasir Parce (6-4, 300): Both play for former Michigan staffer Biff Poggi and both were recently offered by Michigan
9. Wilfredo Aybar (DE, 6-4, 220, 4.60, Cheshire Academy, CT): From the same prep school that sent Tarik Black to Michigan. With Don Brown leading the charge we will be in the thick of things for Wilfredo.
10. Alex VanSumeren (DL/TE, 6-3, 240, Essexville Garber): Ben's younger but already bigger brother shined as a frosh DE (83 total tackles, 9 TFL, 7 sacks, 12 hurries and 1 FF) and has impressed at camps against superior competition.
11. William Johnson (CB, 6-1, 160, Grosse Pointe South): Could well be the top 2022 prospect in the state. Great length, quick, athletic and physical. Getting stronger. Already impressed as a frosh starter. Son fo former Michigan DB Deon Johnson.
12. Myles Rowser (DB, 5-11, 165): Started at FS as a frosh for talent-laden Belleville but may best project as a corner, the position his older brother, 2020 Michigan verbal Andre Seldon plays. A sticky DB like his older brother but already with better size. Already has early offers from Western and Central.
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