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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Michigan Senior Camp (update)

Chelsea running back Nick Hill

The following is a list of seniors who are expected to attend Michigan's one-day, invitation-only camp today. Don't be surprised if there are some more fireworks in the near future. (Highlighted players are confirmed attendees.)

Leveon Bell, RB – Reynoldsburg, OH
Jibreel Black, DL – Cincinnati, OH
Daniel Easterly, ATH – Detroit, MI
Justin Ford, S – Grand Rapids, MI
Devin Gardner, QB – Inkster, MI (Michigan commit)
Jonathon Hankins, DT – Detroit, MI
Nick Hill, RB - Chelsea, MI
Daniel Lindsey, S - Inkster, MI
Nathan Lindsey, S - Inkster, MI
C.J. Olaniyan, DE – Warren, MI
Christian Pace, OL – Avon Lake, OH (Michigan commit)
Montrel Robinson, WR – Southfield, MI
Dan Schneider, TE – Avon Lake, OH
Terrence Talbott, CB – Huber Heights, OH
Terry Talbott, DT – Huber Heights, OH
Earnest Thomas, S – Orchard Lake, MI
Ishmael Thomas, LB – Detroit, MI
Austin White, RB – Livonia, MI

Easterly is a guy who doesn't have a Michigan offer right now. He just committed to Illinois, so despite the pipeline from Cass Tech to Michigan recently, it's unlikely that Easterly would immediately decommit in favor of the Wolverines. But if he does earn an offer, Michigan could be a factor down the road. I like Easterly and I think he could play Greg Robinson's "Spin" OLB/S hybrid or pack on a few pounds and play OLB.

Hankins also doesn't have an offer, but has repeatedly implied that he would jump on board if offered. The problem in the past has been his conditioning. He was upwards of 326 pounds and that had Michigan's coaches concerned, but supposedly, he's down to about 310 right now. If he can maintain that weight and show the necessary athleticism and hustle the Michigan coaches desire, he could earn an offer today.

Hill is another player who would probably commit on the spot if he earns an offer. As much as it would be nice to add a guy who loves Michigan so much, I don't see an offer coming forth at this time. There are more talented guys on Michigan's radar, and recently it seems that Tony Drake is more likely to be a RB than a slot. This class will probably only take three running backs, and if those three RBs are Hopkins, Drake, and Hill, that would be underwhelming. Michigan has strong chances with Eduardo Clements, Austin White, and Cassius McDowell, all of whom are more desirable than Hill, in my opinion (and in the coaches' opinions, since those guys have already earned offers).

The Lindsey twins from Inkster might be MAC-level talents, and an offer to one would probably mean an offer to both. They would probably both jump at the chance to play at Michigan, which would fill up our safety class immediately with middling talent. They might earn offers late in the process, but not today.

Schneider is the teammate of Michigan commit Christian Pace and could get offered if he shows well. It seems that every TE Michigan offers commits very quickly . . . to another school. So there's a shortage of available TEs with Michigan offers out there.

Ishmael Thomas is a 3-star inside linebacker from Detroit Renaissance. I'm assuming Lawrence Thomas, potentially the state's top 2011 player, is Ishmael's brother, since they both play football at Renaissance and are named "Thomas" but I haven't ever seen any confirmation of that theory. Anyway, if they are brothers, it would probably serve Michigan well in the Lawrence Thomas sweepstakes to offer Ishmael; Ishmael already has offers from Indiana, Iowa, and a bunch of MAC schools.

UPDATE: I've highlighted the confirmed attendees above; below are some notable additions to the list.

Dalton Barksdale, DE - Detroit, MI
Isaiah Byler, OT - Elyria, OH
Trey DePriest, LB - Springfield, OH
Alvin Fletcher, OG - Muskegon, MI
Josh Harrison, LB - Huber Heights, OH
Delonte Hollowell, CB - Detroit, MI (Class of 2011)
Kofi Hughes, QB - Indianapolis, IN
Braxton Miller, QB - Huber Heights, OH (Class of 2011)
Matthew Mosley, DE - Chicago, IL
Wayne Pettus, CB - Melvindale, MI
Andy Phillips, DE - Lansing, MI
J.D. Pride, QB - Brooklynn Park, MN
Verlon Reed, QB - Columbus, OH
Andrew Schofield, OL - Orland Park, IL
Miles Simpson, S - Independence, KY
Malik Stokes, QB - Philadelphia, PA
Dwight Trammer, LB - Inkster, MI (Class of 2011)

5 comments:

  1. JD Pride is an important attendee because he's Seantrel Henderson's best friend.

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  2. I don't think Pride will get an offer unless it's getting close to crunch time and we still have several slots open.

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  3. I don't think Ishmael and Lawrence are brothers.

    Ishmael is the one Renaissance guy who actually wants to go to Michigan. Norman, Dixon, and Hicks have been in Lawrence Thomas' ear, he's probably a MSU guy.

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  4. According to a Rivals reporta, Pride was not in AA today, but instead was at the Minnesota camp with Henderson today.

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  5. You posted on June 21; he was at Michigan on June 20. I'm not sure if that's part of the confusion.

    However, there are pictures of Pride from the Michigan camp yesterday.

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