Thursday, January 28, 2021

Tyler Martin, Ex-Wolverine

 

Tyler Martin (image via The Boston Globe)

Acton (MA) Buckingham Browne & Nichols linebacker Tyler Martin decommitted from Michigan on Thursday evening. He had pledged to the Wolverines back in September 2020.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

George Rooks, Wolverine

 

Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep DT George Rooks (image via NJ.com)

Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep defensive tackle George Rooks III committed to Michigan for the class of 2021 on Wednesday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others.

Rooks is listed at 6'4" and 260 pounds and is the son of former Syracuse defensive lineman George Rooks, who played for the Orangemen from 1988-1991. During the former's junior year in 2019, he made 71 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #22 DE, #208 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #14 SDE, #227 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #30 DT

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Monday, January 25, 2021

2022 Recruiting Update: January 25, 2021

 

Denver Harris (image via Houston Defender)

Here's a look at the current recruiting situation, with a special bonus update on the 2021 class.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2021

Ike Iwunnah - DT - Garland (TX) Lakeview Centennial: Iwunnah is a 6'4", 285 lb. prospect who committed to Colorado last week. He did not sign during the early signing period, so Michigan could still sway him in the next week or so before he is likely to sign. He's a 3-star, the #66 DT, and #1187 overall.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2022

Alfonzo Allen - CB - Hallandale (FL) Hallandale: Allen is a 6'1", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, and LSU, among others. He's a 4-star, the #12 safety, and #170 overall.

Jordan Allen - CB - Lafayette (LA) Christian: Allen is a 5'11", 182-pounder with offers from Arkansas, Miami, and Mississippi State, among others. He's a 3-star, the #54 cornerback, and #550 overall.

Hit the jump for more.

Sunday, January 24, 2021

George Helow, Wolverine

 

George Helow (image via Freep)

Michigan has hired Maryland linebackers coach/special teams coordinator George Helow to be the safeties coach.

Hit the jump for more.

Transfer Portal Recruiting Update: January 23, 2021

 

Quavaris Crouch (image via Rocky Top Talk)

Quavaris Crouch - LB - Tennessee: Crouch was listed as a 6'2", 235 lb. linebacker for Tennessee in 2020 after coming in at 6'1", 246 lbs. (too heavy) as a freshman in 2019. As a second-year player, he made 57 tackles and 2 tackles for loss. His final three out of high school included Clemson and Michigan. Originally from North Carolina, the Wolverines and Tarheels are being considered. Crouch was a 4-star, the #3 athlete, and #61 overall in 2019. Here's a blast from the past, what I wrote about Crouch when he committed to the Vols (LINK):

Crouch somewhat inexplicably picked the Tennessee Volunteers. With a top three including Clemson, Michigan, and Tennessee, most people thought he would pick Clemson. Except he then supposedly eliminated them in the last week or two, taking a final-weekend visit to Tennessee. Michigan seemed to be running #3, but Tennessee . . . I mean . . . Tennessee?

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Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Luiji Vilain, Ex-Wolverine

 

Luiji Vilain (image via MLive)

Defensive end Luiji Vilain, after four years in the program, has entered the transfer portal.

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Monday, January 18, 2021

Zach Charbonnet, Ex-Wolverine

 

Zach Charbonnet (image via Michigan Daily)

News came on Monday that rising junior running back Zach Charbonnet is entering the transfer portal.

Hit the jump for more.

Recruiting Update: January 18, 2021

 

Columbia (SC) Spring Valley QB DeQuandre "D.Q." Smith (image via Hudl)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2022

D.J. Allen - WR - Gladewater (TX) Gladewater: Allen is a 6'0", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Baylor, Houston, New Mexico, and SMU. He's a 247 Sports 3-star and the #63 wide receiver in the country. As a junior in 2020, he caught 59 passes for 1,316 yards and 17 touchdowns. It's very early in his recruitment (three of his six offers came in the last week), so it's tough to gauge where he might be leaning.

Hit the jump for more.

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Mike Macdonald, Wolverine

 

Mike Macdonald (image via MGoBlue)

Michigan has hired Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Mike Macdonald to be the new defensive coordinator, replacing Don Brown, who is now at Arizona.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Mike Hart, Wolverine

 

Mike Hart (image via Hoosier Sports Report)

Please help to support the blog by making your Amazon purchases through the links here (LINK):

I would say "again," but I wasn't blogging about recruiting back in 2004 when Mike Hart committed to Michigan as a player.

Hart is joining Michigan's coaching staff as running backs coach after spending the past several years coaching at Eastern Michigan (2011-2013), Western Michigan (2014-2015), Syracuse (2016), and Indiana (2017-2020). That followed a college career with the Wolverines, when he finished as Michigan's leading career rusher, and a short career with the Indianapolis Colts. Hart happens to be the last Michigan running back to get drafted, an agonizingly long gap since 2008.

Hit the jump for more.

Highlights: Stars of the National Championship Game

 

DeVonta Smith (image via Maxpreps)

Michigan and Alabama don't always cross paths in recruiting, so I wanted to go back and watch highlights of some of the stars of Monday's national championship game. So here are a few of the guys who really stood out for Alabama and Ohio State.

Devonta Smith - WR - Amite (LA) Amite: Smith was a 4-star, the #9 wide receiver, and #62 overall in the 2017 class.

Hit the jump for a few more highlight reels.

Monday, January 11, 2021

Goodbye, Nick Eubanks

 

Nick Eubanks (image via Michigan Daily)

HIGH SCHOOL
Eubanks attended Fort Lauderdale (FL) American Heritage, a program pretty well known for producing college prospect. He was a 3-star, the #15 tight end, and #344 overall in the class of 2016. Michigan secured his commitment late in the process, and he was one of three tight ends in that class, joining Sean McKeon and Devin Asiasi. I gave Eubanks a TTB Rating of 44 (LINK), largely because I thought Asiasi (a 92 rating) and McKeon (77) would push him out.

Hit the jump for more.

Sunday, January 3, 2021

Coaching Situation Update: January 3, 2021

 

Joe Moorhead (image via The Register-Guard)

I'm not big into trying to pretend to be a reporter, but like all fans, I'm curious about Michigan's coaching situation. Here's what I've gathered from various resources on each of the coaching jobs:

1. HEAD COACH: Jim Harbaugh
Harbaugh is rumored to be holding a staff meeting early this coming week to discuss an extension, as well as some staff additions. The rumor is that he will be extended through 2026.
Other options: Matt Campbell, Luke Fickell

2. OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/WIDE RECEIVERS COACH: Josh Gattis?
I think Gattis is on thin ice due to the lack of development, questionable play calling, and general ineptitude. There are rumors floating about that Joe Moorhead (current OC at Oregon, former OC at Penn State, and former HC at Mississippi State) may sign on to coordinate Michigan's offense. Gattis may be demoted to wide receivers coach or go somewhere else entirely.
Other options: ???

Hit the jump for more.