If you're here for the Brandon post, scroll down or click here.
Real Talk
TomVH posted a lengthy article in the wake of Garrett Taylor's decommitment in which he quotes several recruits—including Taylor, Chris Clark, and Thiyo Lukusa—discussing the impact of Michigan's poor season and the accompanying uncertainty on their recruitments. As you'd imagine, it's not a fun read ($):
"I wanted to be a part of a program that knows what it takes to win and the players and coaches develop that culture. I felt like Michigan lost that while watching them play," Taylor said. "As well as the fact that I felt like Michigan wouldn't put me in the best position to get to the next level after college, especially with the problems they've had in developing their players."
Oof. Taylor will not be reconsidering Michigan as his recruitment moves forward, which... sounds about right.
Tom also posted a rundown of the commits he believes are likely to stick at Michigan despite the turmoil in his Big Ten roundup. With only nine commits left in the class, this should come as no surprise, but the list isn't a long one ($):
Quarterback Alex Malzone, offensive lineman Jon Runyan and kicker Andrew David are prospects who would likely stay committed no matter the coach, which is good for the future. Keeping Malzone will be a big deal as current quarterback Devin Gardner will be gone after this season.
...
Outside of Malzone, Runyan, David and most likely Brian Cole, there is a chance most of the other commitments look elsewhere.
Complicating matters is the fact that Malzone, Cole, Clark, Darrin Kirkland, and Mike Weber have all at one point or another stated an intention to enroll in December; if Michigan's coaching situation isn't resolved by then, it would put those recruits in a tough spot.
[Hit THE JUMP for Michigan's latest 2015 offeree—a recruit who might actually come, even!]
Michigan Offers John Kelly
courtesy of Maize & Blue News
Michigan offered three-star Oak Park athlete John Kelly yesterday, almost certainly as a result of Taylor's decommitment. Kelly is being recruited as both a running back and cornerback; the Wolverines offered him as a defender, and per Scout's Allen Trieu the interest is mutual ($):
"I'm so happy right now I can't explain how happy I am," [Kelly] said.
Part of that excitement is because of his relationship with Cass Tech running back and Wolverines commit Mike Weber, a player he trains with, and has discussed playing with on the next level.
"Yes, [we talk about it] all the time and this can be a perfect opportunity for us to live out that dream. That guy is a brother to me."
Kelly is considering a visit to Ann Arbor as soon as this weekend's Indiana game. He's previously narrowed his recruitment to Minnesota and Michigan State, but this offer has changed that outlook.
Of course, holding onto Weber looks like it'll be a huge factor in landing Kelly, and with Weber still considering the Spartans there's a chance the two play together somewhere else than Ann Arbor.
Rumor Debunking
Apparently there were rumors going around over the weekend that 2016 QB commit Messiah deWeaver had flipped his commitment to Kentucky, which recently landed his Trotwood-Madison teammate Roland Walder. Scout's Dave Berk debunked that rumor; deWeaver is still monitoring what happens at Michigan before making any major decisions:
“Kentucky has been in contact with me but we’re just talking. They want me there and they just got the commitment of my good friend Roland Walder over the weekend. They want me there, but I haven’t decided if I’m taking other visits yet.”
deWeaver is not ready to jump from Michigan to Kentucky just to jump and will make sure he covers all his bases before making any changes in his status.
“I’ll talk with my dad and mom as well as the coaches at Michigan before doing anything,” he stressed. “Right now I haven’t talked with them (Michigan) yet or talked with my dad yet. So we’ll probably talk with [sic] week and see if I want to visit other schools or now [sic].”
No word on how deWeaver would move forward if Hoke was to be fired, unfortunately, but for now he's still a part of the 2016 class.
Etc.
2015 four-star CB Marcus Lewis is looking less and less likely as an option. He recently set up an official visit to Kentucky, and he's waiting to see how matters play out at Michigan before taking a previously planned official to Ann Arbor, per Rivals' Adam Friedman ($):
"Coach Pruitt from Georgia is always hitting me up and I've already said I'm going to go down there for an official visit," he said. "I don't know the date yet. I'm just waiting to see how things play out at Michigan."
Saline (MI) kicker Ryan Tice will be a preferred walk-on with the program beginning in January, per Tim Sullivan. Tice actually graduated from high school in 2014, but took this fall semester off while working on his kicking and waiting for an acceptance letter from Michigan. That arrived this week, and the coaches extended the preferred walk-on offer; congratulations to Tice for a spot well-earned.