Here are tonight's Blue Chips...
*** It's almost the new year, and Rivals250 Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep defensive lineman George Rooks has yet to make a decision. Rooks has been trying to commit every month since July and unlike counterpart Drew Kendall, he opted not to make a decision during the early period. I'm told Rooks is still conflicted and not ready to make a decision. He really likes Boston College, Penn State has regained momentum and he really wants to see what happens with Michigan's defensive coordinator search. Remember, Don Brown played a big role in his recruitment. While things have looked bleak with Rooks recently, Michigan has a chance to make a splash with its new hire. Rooks is now looking to taking his recruitment all the way until signing day in February.
*** Obviously, Michigan has a need along the defensive line and is continuing to work hard on Rivals100 Oak Park (Mich.) High defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny. Yes, Benny remains committed to Michigan State and has said all the right things. But there is a reason Benny didn't sign during the early period. This one is far from over with more than a month to go until the February signing period. Michigan's signees, especially guys like Donovan Edwards and Andrel Anthony, are doing everything they can to convince him to flip. More importantly, Benny is keeping an open dialogue with the U-M staff. I'm told talks with area recruiter Sherrone Moore in particular have gone really well as of late. I definitely think Benny is flippable and wouldn't be surprised if the Wolverines pull it off. With all this said, Benny is still concerned about stability, so Harbaugh's contract/the DC search loom large.
*** Rivals250 Los Angeles (Calif.) Loyola cornerback Ceyair Wright is set to make his decision this weekend. Wright has been extra careful with information coming out of his camp hence the lack of picks with about 48 hours until he goes public. I did feel like Notre Dame gained a lot of steam after his visit to South Bend, but USC seems like the safe pick here. I checked in with a source close to the USC program today, and there seems to be a lot of optimism there. Either way, I don't expect it to be Michigan. Jim Harbaugh and Michael Zordich are still fighting hard, and good friend Darion Green-Warren picked the Wolverines on this stage (NBC broadcast) a year ago, so it wouldn't be shocking to see Wright break the crystal balls and side with Michigan. But I think the chances of that actually happening are low as it stands today.
*** It's almost the new year, and Rivals250 Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep defensive lineman George Rooks has yet to make a decision. Rooks has been trying to commit every month since July and unlike counterpart Drew Kendall, he opted not to make a decision during the early period. I'm told Rooks is still conflicted and not ready to make a decision. He really likes Boston College, Penn State has regained momentum and he really wants to see what happens with Michigan's defensive coordinator search. Remember, Don Brown played a big role in his recruitment. While things have looked bleak with Rooks recently, Michigan has a chance to make a splash with its new hire. Rooks is now looking to taking his recruitment all the way until signing day in February.
*** Obviously, Michigan has a need along the defensive line and is continuing to work hard on Rivals100 Oak Park (Mich.) High defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny. Yes, Benny remains committed to Michigan State and has said all the right things. But there is a reason Benny didn't sign during the early period. This one is far from over with more than a month to go until the February signing period. Michigan's signees, especially guys like Donovan Edwards and Andrel Anthony, are doing everything they can to convince him to flip. More importantly, Benny is keeping an open dialogue with the U-M staff. I'm told talks with area recruiter Sherrone Moore in particular have gone really well as of late. I definitely think Benny is flippable and wouldn't be surprised if the Wolverines pull it off. With all this said, Benny is still concerned about stability, so Harbaugh's contract/the DC search loom large.
*** Rivals250 Los Angeles (Calif.) Loyola cornerback Ceyair Wright is set to make his decision this weekend. Wright has been extra careful with information coming out of his camp hence the lack of picks with about 48 hours until he goes public. I did feel like Notre Dame gained a lot of steam after his visit to South Bend, but USC seems like the safe pick here. I checked in with a source close to the USC program today, and there seems to be a lot of optimism there. Either way, I don't expect it to be Michigan. Jim Harbaugh and Michael Zordich are still fighting hard, and good friend Darion Green-Warren picked the Wolverines on this stage (NBC broadcast) a year ago, so it wouldn't be shocking to see Wright break the crystal balls and side with Michigan. But I think the chances of that actually happening are low as it stands today.
