Here are tonight's Blue Chips...
*** I was planning to go to New Jersey this coming week, but apparently there is a media ban from high schools, so I would not be allowed to go to practices. One of the main reasons I was going was to see Rivals250 Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep defensive lineman George Rooks. Michigan is still making a hard push here and has been in constant contact with him over the last couple of weeks. I'm told there is a positive feeling around the Michigan program. However, sources have also indicated that he's a wildcard and is tough to get a true read on.
*** Rooks has pretty much gone silent, and since I can't get out there, I caught up with St. Peter's Prep head coach Rich Hansen to get the latest on his recruitment: "He's approached it very business like. He knows in his mind what he wants to do in terms of his final places. He'll be ready to make a decision some time in August. The pandemic has changed some things, so I say that, but this could all change. As of right now, he wants to make a decision in August. I think Pitt, Boston College, Penn State and Michigan are four of the five. I think he feels good about those places and has great relationships with them. Those are the schools we talk about the most. Obviously, Syracuse with the lineage. That has created a natural affinity. I would not be surprised if he walked in and committed to any of those five schools."
*** Hansen on his overall thoughts on Michigan: "Michigan is Michigan. There are five or six schools that stand out regardless and are going to be in the mix. Michigan is one of those places just because of the history of the place. When Michigan is involved, you know that it's real and serious. They are always going to have a presence in Jersey. They have been on (Rooks) for a long time. His comfort level stems from the relationships he's built during the recruiting period."
*** On where Rooks projects best at the next level: "The coaches I've spoken with say the same thing. He's a hybrid three-five guy. It depends on how big he gets. That will determine if he's going to be able to be more of a full-time three. But he's so athletic, so I think it's going to play in his favor. He's athletic enough to play the edge, and he's big enough and strong enough to play the inside. That gives defensive coordinators a lot of flexibility with him. That's going to keep him on the field."
*** I was planning to go to New Jersey this coming week, but apparently there is a media ban from high schools, so I would not be allowed to go to practices. One of the main reasons I was going was to see Rivals250 Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep defensive lineman George Rooks. Michigan is still making a hard push here and has been in constant contact with him over the last couple of weeks. I'm told there is a positive feeling around the Michigan program. However, sources have also indicated that he's a wildcard and is tough to get a true read on.
*** Rooks has pretty much gone silent, and since I can't get out there, I caught up with St. Peter's Prep head coach Rich Hansen to get the latest on his recruitment: "He's approached it very business like. He knows in his mind what he wants to do in terms of his final places. He'll be ready to make a decision some time in August. The pandemic has changed some things, so I say that, but this could all change. As of right now, he wants to make a decision in August. I think Pitt, Boston College, Penn State and Michigan are four of the five. I think he feels good about those places and has great relationships with them. Those are the schools we talk about the most. Obviously, Syracuse with the lineage. That has created a natural affinity. I would not be surprised if he walked in and committed to any of those five schools."
*** Hansen on his overall thoughts on Michigan: "Michigan is Michigan. There are five or six schools that stand out regardless and are going to be in the mix. Michigan is one of those places just because of the history of the place. When Michigan is involved, you know that it's real and serious. They are always going to have a presence in Jersey. They have been on (Rooks) for a long time. His comfort level stems from the relationships he's built during the recruiting period."
*** On where Rooks projects best at the next level: "The coaches I've spoken with say the same thing. He's a hybrid three-five guy. It depends on how big he gets. That will determine if he's going to be able to be more of a full-time three. But he's so athletic, so I think it's going to play in his favor. He's athletic enough to play the edge, and he's big enough and strong enough to play the inside. That gives defensive coordinators a lot of flexibility with him. That's going to keep him on the field."
