Bring Me All The Defensive Backs
It's the week for highly touted senior cornerbacks to discuss Michigan, apparently.
247's Ryan Bartow reports four-star DC CB Marcus Lewis still has the Wolverines in the lead, followed by Miami (YTM) and Oregon ($). Lewis will take official visits to all three of those schools in December or January, and he's still considering a handful of programs for his final two officials.
Five-star CA CB Iman Marshall confirmed his list of five official visit recipients (in no particular order): Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida State, LSU, and Oklahoma. Remember that isn't the same as a top five; Marshall is seriously considering UCLA and USC, as well, but doesn't need to use up official visits to see those nearby campuses.
The Wolverine's Brandon Brown caught up with four-star Virginia Tech commit Mook Reynolds, who's been in close contact with Roy Manning and will officially visit Ann Arbor for the Penn State game ($):
"They are a tremendous school that produces big time corners," [Reynolds] explained. "It's just a legacy of Michigan football, the program. A lot of historic things have happened within that program. I wouldn't want to pass up a chance to be a part of that."
...
"I plan to come up and take an official visit the night we play Penn State," Reynolds outlined. "That's the only time that I really know that I'll be in Michigan. That's the only official visit I'll take that I know of."
In addition to VT, Ole Miss is also under consideration. Reynolds told Brown that if he decides to change his commitment, "it'll be a surprise" that comes on Signing Day. I'm sure the Hokie coaches are happy to hear that.
While this is messing with the system, I'll also include Gerry Hamilton's tweet regarding four-star 2015 OT William Sweet:
#ESPN 4-star & #TarHeels commit William Sweet officials visits: #Mizzou Sept 20, #UNC Oct 4, #Michigan Oct 11, #Vols Oct 25 & #LSU Nov 8.
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) September 11, 2014
#nice
[Hit THE JUMP for a look at new preferred walk-on commit Jack Dunaway, news on a potential early enrollee, NIGEL WARRIOR, hoops recruiting updates, and more.]
Hello: Jack Dunaway
Word came out on Saturday that Michigan had picked up a preferred walk-on commitment from 2015 Birmingham Brother Rice DE Jack Dunaway, high school teammate of Alex Malzone and the son of former standout U-M tight end Craig Dunaway. As it turns out, however, the decision came a while ago, per 247's Steve Lorenz:
"I actually told the coaches last Thursday," Dunaway said. "I knew it was going to be Michigan all along.My dream growing up was to play for Michigan in any way I could. My dad wanted me to camp and visit other schools to see if there was a better fit for me, but I never got the same feeling I did at Michigan. It's where I wanted to be all along."
Dunaway, per the embedded junior highlights above, recorded 15 sacks among his 67 tackles in Brother Rice's state title run in 2013. At 6'3", 212 pounds, it's unsurprising that Dunaway is unranked on the recruiting services; Scout's Allen Trieu caught him at May's Elite Big Man Camp and came away impressed with his pass-rushing ability ($):
Dunaway is quick off the ball and also has good pass rush technique. He's a tweener size wise, but knows how to play the game as evidenced by his success as a junior.
Dunaway also "made plays in the backfield and batted some passes down" in Birmingham BR's victory earlier this season over their Chicago Brother Rice counterparts, per Trieu ($). Dunaway could eventually grow into a weakside DE or, if Michigan shifts back to an under front, potentially move to strongside linebacker. Either way, he's a welcome addition to the class, and he may not be the last 2015 Brother Rice prospect to end up at Michigan—three-star receiver Grant Perry is under consideration for either a late offer or a preferred walk-on spot.
Commit Updates: Weber Enrolling Early?
It's a good possibility I go to college in January
— The Machine (@mikeweber25) September 9, 2014
In addition to the tweet above, Mike Weber told Steve Lorenz that he's in position academically to enroll early at Michigan, with the only question being whether or not he wants to cut short his high school experience—he's spoken with Brady Hoke about the possibility. Chris Clark, Brian Cole, Alex Malzone,and Darian Roseboro are the four 2015 commits currently planning to enroll early.
In decidedly less positive news, Cole is facing an automatic one-game suspension after he was ejected from Saginaw Heritage's game against Midland Dow following two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties over the weekend. He'd already sat out the first quarter of that game for unspecified disciplinary reasons.
2016 Updates: NIGEL WARRIOR
Four-star 2016 IN LB Noah Burks is hearing from Michigan, and based on what he told 247's Steve Wiltfong, the Wolverines would be in very strong position if they come through with an offer ($):
“Purdue wants me to come down, Iowa, N.C. State recently started talking to me, Michigan so that’s really awesome to me because they’re one of my dream schools. I really want to go down to every single school and see what it’s like.”
Burks doesn't yet hold an offer, but interest in him is picking up quickly after a strong start to his junior season.
Meanwhile, THIS IS IMPORTANT...
#ESPNJr300 DB Nigel Warrior w/ potentially one of the best last names for a jersey RT @CHECK_UP_ Purdue made me this pic.twitter.com/sd2mzkTDTB
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) September 10, 2014
...and this is even more important:
@MikeWScout@AceAnbender Wouldn't be a surprise if Michigan follows suit soon.
— Steve Lorenz (@TremendousUM) September 10, 2014
DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME, STEVE.
Hoops Stuff: Dozier Sets In-Home Visits, Brunson To Nova
Via UMHoops, the #25 overall prospect in the 2015 class, South Carolina shooting guard PJ Dozier, will take an official visit to Michigan on September 26th, and he'll also host an in-home visit from the coaches on Wednesday. Dozier, Michigan's top remaining target in the class, will also take officials to Louisville, Georgetown, North Carolina, and South Carolina. While Dozier doesn't yet hold an offer, it's assumed he'll receive one when he gets on campus, as is the usual process with John Beilein.
Michigan ended their pursuit of five-star 2015 point guard Jalen Brunson when they added transfer Duncan Robinson, and if you were worried this would come back to bit them, the chances of that happening have decreased dramatically:
A top MSU target RT @BSnowScout: Jalen Brunson announces that he has committed to Villanova
— Mike Wilson (@MikeWScout) September 10, 2014
The Only Colors surveys the damage; Tom Izzo hasn't had much luck going after top-tier prospects over the last few years.