First, the postscript on Michigan’s trip overseas to Rome …
As we reported earlier, the football team is planning a visit to Italy at the end of April for a week of football. Michigan coaches expect to make this an annual trip overseas to different locations, not just a one-year deal, and this has been extremely well received on the recruiting trail ... and by the kids.
It’s not just a week, either. Student-athletes will get the ability to stay overseas for three weeks after and earn school credit while studying abroad as part of the experience. Several have chosen Israel, others Germany, etc., and they’ll get a chance to see the world while studying.
This is unique, and more proof that Harbaugh is ahead of the competition in thinking outside the box.
To football recruiting now …
Brandon Brown recaps where things stand with each of Michigan’s remaining 2017 targets based on the scuttlebutt we’re hearing behind the scenes.
Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County three-star fullback Tory Carter – DOWN – The nation’s top fullback has been committed to LSU for almost a year and reaffirmed that commitment after new head coach Ed Oregeron hired Matt Canada as offensive coordinator.
Pinson (Ala.) Clay four-star wide receiver Nico Collins – SLIGHTLY DOWN – The once five-star receiver is getting a ton of attention from Georgia and with the way the Dawgs are recruiting they could end up being tough to beat.
Iowa City (Iowa) four-star wide receiver Oliver Martin – WAY UP – Michigan is making a very strong push for the newly-minted four-star and it could result in a commitment. Right now, Martin is reportedly taking an official visit to Florida next weekend but if that changes to Ann Arbor, it could really point to what will happen on Feb. 1.
Highland Springs (Va.) High School four-star offensive tackle Mekhi Becton – SLIGHTLY UP – Things seem to be in a good spot between Becton and Michigan. Virginia Tech, Oregon, and Michigan State are supposed to get his last three official visits but U-M will have a strong chance to convince him before his National Signing Day decision.
Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County five-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon – UP – Solomon’s recruitment has been such a rollercoaster ride and right now he seems to be at the top of a hill with U-M. The in-home visit from Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown went extremely well and might’ve pushed the Wolverines ahead of Alabama. Georgia was also involved for quite some time but the Dawgs turned mom off a bit with their pitch.
South Jordan (Utah) Bingham four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele – SLIGHTLY DOWN – Tufele’s downward trend with Michigan is due more to his upward trend with the in-state Utes. Ohio State was his perceived leader for a while but now it looks like he may stay close to home.
Starkville (Miss.) High School four-star outside linebacker Willie Gay – DOWN – LSU is the hot name for Gay right now and both in-state programs are also still in the mix for the one-time Ole Miss commit. Gay would be a perfect fit in Don Brown’s scheme at Viper but it’s tough to reel a kid out of the Deep South.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic four-star offensive guard CJ Thorpe – UP – He’ll take an official visit to Michigan over the weekend of Jan. 28 and the staff will roll out the red carpet for him. He’s been committed to Penn State for about half a year, is a local kid, and is also a Nittany Lion legacy. That’ll be tough for Michigan to combat but they’ll try hard in a little over a week.
****
To basketball now, where the Wolverines stand 2-4 in conference play heading into Saturday’s must-win game with Illinois. The Wolverines have shown improvement over the last two games, but they’ll need more consistency to pull them out and make a run.
Many don’t think they have it in them.
Good news, as reported recently … senior point guard Derrick Walton is going to play against Illinois and was just sore after taking a nasty spill against Wisconsin. John Beilein was clearly irate about the officiating he received from a crew he’s felt that way about before (and though he didn’t specifically say it, he was again today) … it will be interesting to see how many games those guys do at Crisler Center this year or whether U-M has any input there.
In the past, crews that weren’t up to par disappeared from Michigan games never to be seen again.
Flat out, the program needs a spark right now. Beilein and crew haven’t been able to parlay a 3-4 year run of great success into sustained, high-level success, and while some of that is not their fault – injuries, attrition, etc. – it’s about winning at this level. A.D. Warde Manuel knows it, the administration knows it, and those who believe that all U-M wants is a “clean” program and they don’t care if they win or lose … well, you’re mistaken.
There is hope among all of them, of course, that Beilein can turn this around as he has in the past and make the Wolverines into a contender again. Nobody on campus doubts his ability as a coach, and Manuel understands that he can win at the highest level … and wants him to.
There is also a hope (an expectation among some) that the Nike Jordan Brand needs to pay off more on the recruiting trail. The Michigan brand is as big as any in sport, interim A.D. Jim Hackett was told before signing a blockbuster deal – and while we’re not talking about “steering” kids to one school or another, there is influence out there that can be used, something else of which Manuel is aware.
There hasn’t been much to report on when it comes to 2018 recruiting. Like many schools, Michigan is concentrating on this year’s team. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that attrition will open the door for two more prospects in 2017, however. Westtown (Pa.) School’s Mohamed Bamba remains the big fish, and again, he’s very much in play. U-M needs to finish strongly, however, and a future point guard needs to emerge, whether it’s freshman Xavier Simpson, incoming frosh Eli Brooks blowing up even more, etc.
It’s possible – quite possible – that U-M pursues a graduate transfer point guard, as well, to help shore up that position next year. Simpson’s on a slower learning curve than expected, and that is the critical position.
We will watch those developments in the weeks to come.
As we reported earlier, the football team is planning a visit to Italy at the end of April for a week of football. Michigan coaches expect to make this an annual trip overseas to different locations, not just a one-year deal, and this has been extremely well received on the recruiting trail ... and by the kids.
It’s not just a week, either. Student-athletes will get the ability to stay overseas for three weeks after and earn school credit while studying abroad as part of the experience. Several have chosen Israel, others Germany, etc., and they’ll get a chance to see the world while studying.
This is unique, and more proof that Harbaugh is ahead of the competition in thinking outside the box.
To football recruiting now …
Brandon Brown recaps where things stand with each of Michigan’s remaining 2017 targets based on the scuttlebutt we’re hearing behind the scenes.
Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County three-star fullback Tory Carter – DOWN – The nation’s top fullback has been committed to LSU for almost a year and reaffirmed that commitment after new head coach Ed Oregeron hired Matt Canada as offensive coordinator.
Pinson (Ala.) Clay four-star wide receiver Nico Collins – SLIGHTLY DOWN – The once five-star receiver is getting a ton of attention from Georgia and with the way the Dawgs are recruiting they could end up being tough to beat.
Iowa City (Iowa) four-star wide receiver Oliver Martin – WAY UP – Michigan is making a very strong push for the newly-minted four-star and it could result in a commitment. Right now, Martin is reportedly taking an official visit to Florida next weekend but if that changes to Ann Arbor, it could really point to what will happen on Feb. 1.
Highland Springs (Va.) High School four-star offensive tackle Mekhi Becton – SLIGHTLY UP – Things seem to be in a good spot between Becton and Michigan. Virginia Tech, Oregon, and Michigan State are supposed to get his last three official visits but U-M will have a strong chance to convince him before his National Signing Day decision.
Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County five-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon – UP – Solomon’s recruitment has been such a rollercoaster ride and right now he seems to be at the top of a hill with U-M. The in-home visit from Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown went extremely well and might’ve pushed the Wolverines ahead of Alabama. Georgia was also involved for quite some time but the Dawgs turned mom off a bit with their pitch.
South Jordan (Utah) Bingham four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele – SLIGHTLY DOWN – Tufele’s downward trend with Michigan is due more to his upward trend with the in-state Utes. Ohio State was his perceived leader for a while but now it looks like he may stay close to home.
Starkville (Miss.) High School four-star outside linebacker Willie Gay – DOWN – LSU is the hot name for Gay right now and both in-state programs are also still in the mix for the one-time Ole Miss commit. Gay would be a perfect fit in Don Brown’s scheme at Viper but it’s tough to reel a kid out of the Deep South.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic four-star offensive guard CJ Thorpe – UP – He’ll take an official visit to Michigan over the weekend of Jan. 28 and the staff will roll out the red carpet for him. He’s been committed to Penn State for about half a year, is a local kid, and is also a Nittany Lion legacy. That’ll be tough for Michigan to combat but they’ll try hard in a little over a week.
****
To basketball now, where the Wolverines stand 2-4 in conference play heading into Saturday’s must-win game with Illinois. The Wolverines have shown improvement over the last two games, but they’ll need more consistency to pull them out and make a run.
Many don’t think they have it in them.
Good news, as reported recently … senior point guard Derrick Walton is going to play against Illinois and was just sore after taking a nasty spill against Wisconsin. John Beilein was clearly irate about the officiating he received from a crew he’s felt that way about before (and though he didn’t specifically say it, he was again today) … it will be interesting to see how many games those guys do at Crisler Center this year or whether U-M has any input there.
In the past, crews that weren’t up to par disappeared from Michigan games never to be seen again.
Flat out, the program needs a spark right now. Beilein and crew haven’t been able to parlay a 3-4 year run of great success into sustained, high-level success, and while some of that is not their fault – injuries, attrition, etc. – it’s about winning at this level. A.D. Warde Manuel knows it, the administration knows it, and those who believe that all U-M wants is a “clean” program and they don’t care if they win or lose … well, you’re mistaken.
There is hope among all of them, of course, that Beilein can turn this around as he has in the past and make the Wolverines into a contender again. Nobody on campus doubts his ability as a coach, and Manuel understands that he can win at the highest level … and wants him to.
There is also a hope (an expectation among some) that the Nike Jordan Brand needs to pay off more on the recruiting trail. The Michigan brand is as big as any in sport, interim A.D. Jim Hackett was told before signing a blockbuster deal – and while we’re not talking about “steering” kids to one school or another, there is influence out there that can be used, something else of which Manuel is aware.
There hasn’t been much to report on when it comes to 2018 recruiting. Like many schools, Michigan is concentrating on this year’s team. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that attrition will open the door for two more prospects in 2017, however. Westtown (Pa.) School’s Mohamed Bamba remains the big fish, and again, he’s very much in play. U-M needs to finish strongly, however, and a future point guard needs to emerge, whether it’s freshman Xavier Simpson, incoming frosh Eli Brooks blowing up even more, etc.
It’s possible – quite possible – that U-M pursues a graduate transfer point guard, as well, to help shore up that position next year. Simpson’s on a slower learning curve than expected, and that is the critical position.
We will watch those developments in the weeks to come.
