Here are tonight's Blue Chips...
*** Two Michigan commits will not sign during the early period. One is Rivals100 Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood linebacker Branden Jennings, who is actually Michigan's most recent 2021 commit. Jennings was set to enroll early, but that is no longer the case. That means he has more wiggle room to continue to explore other options in his recruitment. Michigan is fully aware that Jennings is talking to some other programs and plan to get on the phone with him in the very, very near future. Michigan definitely wants to keep Jennings in the fold, but it going to be a bit of a fight. I would expect even more schools to try to get involved during the late period.
*** Right now, Miami and Maryland are two schools I'm most concerned about. Miami was an immediate favorite when he backed out of his verbal pledge to Florida State this fall. It's closer to home, and his brother, Bradley, plays there. Maryland may seem random, but he has a family connection there and visited very early on in the process. I actually have a really good Maryland plug from my time in the South (yes, very random), and that source expressed to me that there is definitely confidence from Terrapins. He did, however, express that he didn't feel like a flip was imminent. Overall, there is still a lot of time left here. Jim Harbaugh's contract situation getting resolved would obviously help.
*** Jennings isn't the only Michigan commit that Maryland is after. The Terrapins are also working hard on Rivals250 Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker Jaydon Hood. There doesn't seem to be as much confidence there, but they do feel like they can make progress during the late period as Hood does not plan to sign next week. Hood is also looking at Miami, which has recruited him hard for the last couple of months and is closer to home. Minnesota remains a contender. The Gophers have made him a top priority since they offered, and he's close with commit Steven Ortiz. Kentucky has been more involved as of late and is a school to watch as well.
*** While that doesn't sound great, Hood told me that the biggest reason he isn't signing early is because he has yet to visit Michigan. STA is still in the playoffs, and Hood did not make it up for the big visit weekend last month. Hood said his top priority is getting to Ann Arbor in January. Whether or not he'll also take some visits to other schools remains to be seen, but Michigan will definitely get him on campus at some point in the future. Hood still talks to Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary on a daily basis, and the two have a strong relationship. Hood also has a growing friendship with fellow commit Junior Colson. I think Michigan can keep him if it answers stability questions, and he does visit as planned.
*** Two Michigan commits will not sign during the early period. One is Rivals100 Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood linebacker Branden Jennings, who is actually Michigan's most recent 2021 commit. Jennings was set to enroll early, but that is no longer the case. That means he has more wiggle room to continue to explore other options in his recruitment. Michigan is fully aware that Jennings is talking to some other programs and plan to get on the phone with him in the very, very near future. Michigan definitely wants to keep Jennings in the fold, but it going to be a bit of a fight. I would expect even more schools to try to get involved during the late period.
*** Right now, Miami and Maryland are two schools I'm most concerned about. Miami was an immediate favorite when he backed out of his verbal pledge to Florida State this fall. It's closer to home, and his brother, Bradley, plays there. Maryland may seem random, but he has a family connection there and visited very early on in the process. I actually have a really good Maryland plug from my time in the South (yes, very random), and that source expressed to me that there is definitely confidence from Terrapins. He did, however, express that he didn't feel like a flip was imminent. Overall, there is still a lot of time left here. Jim Harbaugh's contract situation getting resolved would obviously help.
*** Jennings isn't the only Michigan commit that Maryland is after. The Terrapins are also working hard on Rivals250 Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker Jaydon Hood. There doesn't seem to be as much confidence there, but they do feel like they can make progress during the late period as Hood does not plan to sign next week. Hood is also looking at Miami, which has recruited him hard for the last couple of months and is closer to home. Minnesota remains a contender. The Gophers have made him a top priority since they offered, and he's close with commit Steven Ortiz. Kentucky has been more involved as of late and is a school to watch as well.
*** While that doesn't sound great, Hood told me that the biggest reason he isn't signing early is because he has yet to visit Michigan. STA is still in the playoffs, and Hood did not make it up for the big visit weekend last month. Hood said his top priority is getting to Ann Arbor in January. Whether or not he'll also take some visits to other schools remains to be seen, but Michigan will definitely get him on campus at some point in the future. Hood still talks to Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary on a daily basis, and the two have a strong relationship. Hood also has a growing friendship with fellow commit Junior Colson. I think Michigan can keep him if it answers stability questions, and he does visit as planned.
