Recruiting Update: July 13, 2015

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Tony Butler could be Michigan's next commit

Over the weekend, I pre-ordered John U. Bacon's new book. Endzone: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Michigan Football  is available on Amazon (LINK).
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ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Tony Butler decommitted from Pitt. This was a long time in the making, but it was tough for Butler, who said he considered new Pitt head coach (and former Michigan State defensive coordinator) Pat Narduzzi a bit of a father figure. Former St. Edward head coach Rick Finotti is now Michigan's director of football operations. Butler is 6'2", 195 lbs. and is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #57 cornerback, and #622 overall. He is now expected to commit to Michigan at some point (he will visit Michigan this weekend) unless Ohio State swoops in with an offer.

St. Petersburg (FL) Farragut safety Craig Watts decommitted from Wisconsin. Watts is a 6'0", 180 lb. prospect who also has offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, and Ohio State, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #16 safety, and #287 overall. He is not expected to consider Michigan. He just committed to Wisconsin in late June, so this was quite a quick change of heart.

Hit the jump for a couple new 2018 offers, numerous players who committed elsewhere, some news from the Elite 11/The Opening, and some random tidbits.

2016 Recruiting Update: May 4, 2015

Mesquite (TX) North Mesquite offensive tackle Jean Delance (image via 247Sports.com)

2016 RECRUITING: A NEW ERA
Michigan has now extended 198 offers in the 2016 class, which is the most offers the Wolverines have ever handed out during the Rivals/Scout era. The previous high was 195 in 2011 (LINK). It's not a coincidence that both of those classes are right near transitions. The 2011 group was the combined Rodriguez/Hoke class, while 2016 will be Harbaugh's first full year. Each time a new coach comes in, some previously extended offers are no longer valid; conversely, some new offers have to be given out to make up for lost time.

Regardless, it is only the beginning of May, and we are approximately nine months away from National Signing Day. The "record" number of offers will not simply be surpassed - it will be obliterated. Michigan fans have at times criticized Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, etc. for littering the countryside with offers, but the Wolverines are entering that category. I have never had a problem with that strategy, because without an offer, only the diehard-iest of diehard recruits will maintain interest (such as Grant Perry, who flipped from Northwestern to Michigan this past winter). An offer is a way to gauge interest. If the player says "thanks" and never does anything more about it, you've extended an offer but can concentrate your efforts on more interested parties.

There's no wrong way to eat a Reese's. Brady Hoke generally sent out fewer offers and wanted to develop strong relationships with individual players, and Hoke's recruiting classes were ranked pretty high. I recently read an article about Mike Krzyzewski at Duke (a basketball coach, I know), who tries to only offer one guy at a time until the kid says no or commits elsewhere. Coach K talked about wanting to develop a level of trust with a player from the outset, not telling him he's "their guy" one minute and saying the same thing to another guy at the same position with his next phone call. At the same time, the aforementioned football teams have brought in pretty good recruiting classes, too. Whether you like it or not, Harbaugh is going to be more Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.

Hit the jump for a bunch of new 2016 offers, a couple guys who committed elsewhere, and some random bits.