Visitors: Michigan at Michigan State

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison WR Gairus Coleman

Even though this weekend's game is being played in East Lansing, some common recruits will be watching the game that might be keeping an eye on the Wolverines, too.  Here's a list of some of the recruiting visitors who are planning to be in attendance at today's in-state showdown:

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison ATH Gairus Coleman (2013) is the current teammate of Michigan commits TE Devin Funchess and DE Mario Ojemudia.  Coleman is a 5'9", 180 lb. slot receiver/punt returner type who almost certainly would have been pursued by the previous coaching staff.  While the current staff clearly wants bigger wide receivers, Coleman could be offered as a punt returner; it seems like virtually every coaching staff needs that one guy who might not be a prototypical NFL-sized receiver but who can play in the slot and do some things on special teams.  Coleman doesn't have any offers yet, but I'm sure they'll be on their way soon.


Jeannette (PA) Jeannette SS Demetrious Cox (2012) doesn't have an offer from the Wolverines and likely won't get one due to Michigan's scholarship situation.  He's the #14 safety in the country, according to Rivals, and has offers from several solid programs around the country, although the powerhouse programs haven't offered.  Jeannette is the alma mater of Terrelle Pryor who, if you didn't know already, is a giant douchebag.  Michigan hasn't recruited a single Jeannette product since Pryor.

Canton (MI) Canton OG Cameron Dillard (2013) has already visited Michigan a couple different times, and he's one of those in-state kids angling for offers from U-M and MSU.  He's a 6'3", 280 lb. guard with offers from Buffalo and Eastern Michigan so far.  I'm not sure that he leans strongly toward either in-state school, but he seems like a kid who will choose either the Spartans or Wolverines if he's offered.

Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc ILB/DE Luke Maclean (2013) will be in attendance.  Maclean visited Michigan earlier this season.  He's a 6'3", 233 lb. player who looks a little too stiff to remain at linebacker; it seems to me he'll end up at defensive end in college.  His only current offer is from Buffalo and I'm not sure that Michigan will extend an offer.  Grand Blanc is the alma mater of freshman running back Justice Hayes.

Cadillac (MI) Cadillac OT Riley Norman (2013) has one offer currently, that being from the Spartans.  He's a 6'7", 315 lb. behemoth as a high school junior.  Although I have yet to see film on Norman, the general opinion seems to be that he's one of the top three prospects in Michigan for 2013, along with Warren (MI) De La Salle QB Shane Morris and Midland (MI) Midland OT Steve Elmer.  Sooner or later, it looks like Norman will be a Spartan, too.

Cincinnati (OH) Taft DE Adolphus Washington (2012) has been recruited consistently by the Wolverines throughout the recruiting cycle.  Many assumed - and still assume - that he's Columbus-bound.  However, the potential doom hanging over the Buckeyes' heads leaves Washington checking out other options just in case.  Michigan State has a chance here, but the Buckeyes and Alabama Tide seem to be in the mix, too.

Southfield (MI) Southfield ATH Brandon Watkins (2012) has offers from Bowling Green, Iowa, and Toledo to play safety.  He's a 5'11", 185 lb. quarterback/cornerback in high school who, as recently as I can find, has 600 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns to go along with 2 interceptions on defense.  In recent years, it seems Michigan fans would have been wondering why Michigan doesn't throw out an offer to Watkins; there likely won't be a clamoring for that strategy this year.