Two New Offers
The new (and still incomplete) coaching staff has hit the recruiting trail running, with a couple new offers to committed 2015 prospects going out this week.
TX WDE Charles Omenihu is a Texas commit whose three-star ranking belies an impressive offer list that also includes Florida, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, and TCU, among others. At 6'5", 232 pounds, he's got the frame to be a rush end in a DJ Durkin defense that'll utilize both three- and four-man fronts. After getting the call from Greg Mattison that he'd earned a Michigan offer, he talked to 247's Steve Lorenz ($):
"I talked to Coach Mattison and he told me I had a scholarship offer," Omenihu said. "Michigan is a program I wanted an offer from since I was a kid. They are a very prestigious school. Coach Harbaugh is a cool guy too. I know he has a plan for them and it's a plan I believe in."
While Omenihu has been firm in his commitment to the Longhorns, he said he'll "definitely" consider an official visit to Ann Arbor.
Michigan also offered three-star FL CB Damon Arnette, a South Carolina commit whose offer sheet—which includes Florida State, Louisville, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Wisconsin—doesn't necessarily line up with his ranking. At 6'2", 185, Arnette has great size for a corner, something he told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown was a big factor in Michigan offering him; he also talked about his visit schedule, which changed in the wake of the M offer ($):
"All of my visits I've set up are realistic places for me," Arnette stated. "I'm not going just to go. I was originally going to Louisville on the 16th, but I cut them off today for Michigan. My other visits will be to South Carolina and Ohio State. Those three will probably be it."
Brady Hoke's staff didn't recruit Arnette at all, so to jump into the mix this quickly is a good sign for M's chances. As you'll see, the weekend of the 16th—just after the current dead period ends—is shaping up to be a big visit weekend for Michigan.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Old Names, Renewed Interest
A couple 2015 prospects who'd fallen off the radar last season have re-emerged as possible candidates to end up in the class.
DJ Durkin and new defensive backs coach Greg Jackson reached out to three-star LA DE Jalen Bates, who Steve Lorenz reports is open to Michigan despite his Arizona State commitment ($):
"I talked to Coach Jackson, Coach Singletary and the new defensive coordinator," Bates said. "I really like what they have planned defensively. They want me to play a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end type spot. I really like that idea. I have no idea if I will take an official to Michigan at this point; I am pretty solid to Arizona State. It would be cool to check out the new situation though, and I am familiar with what Michigan has to offer."
If Bates decides to visit, Michigan should have a pretty good shot. He's already been to campus once for the BBQ back in July.
Four-star GA LB Adonis Thomas, an Alabama commit, is much more of a longshot, but per GBW's Kyle Bogenschutz, the Wolverines at least have a newfound connection with him ($):
Currently a verbal commitment to Nick Saban and Alabama, Thomas was at one time a Florida Gators’ commitment, back when D.J. Durkin was still the defensive coordinator in Gainesville.
...
“I’m going to make contact with Coach Durkin just cause of the relationship we have,” Thomas said. “He’s a good coach, and great recruiter but an even better person.
“He was a big reason why I committed to Florida in the first place.”
That said, Thomas mentioned he'll stay in the SEC in all likelihood, and his only planned visit right now is to Tuscaloosa.
Another old name to watch: three-star MI OT David Moorman, a current Wisconsin commit—if there's a stronger endorsement for offering a three-star lineman than "Wisconsin commit," I don't know of it. Moorman fielded interest but no offer from the previous regime.
New Names, New Interest
Three-star OH CB Jeff Christian rather bluntly updated his status as a Purdue commit to GBW's Eric Rutter ($):
“It went cool,” said Christian. “It was just a lot of coaches calling me left and right. I made a decision to go to Purdue, but that’s kind of, well, I’m decommitting. I want to look for more options. I think I committed too early. I already talked to the coaches and I’m decommitted.”
Purdue football, everyone! Christian has stayed in touch with Chris Singletary and he's holding open an official visit spot for Michigan should they come forth with an offer; he indicated to Rutter that he'd likely commit if one came through.
Christian is one of several cornerbacks to field recent interest. Marcus Lewis, Colin Samuel, and Octavius Spencer have been discussed previously in this space; Lewis is the most likely of those three to end up in the class—the other two are UCLA pledges whose interest in Michigan likely depends on Jim Mora's NFL job prospects.
Lorenz added a couple more names to the board in a recent post: four-star TN CB Ugo Amadi, an LSU commit without a Michigan offer at the moment, and three-star TX CB Will Lockett, yet another UCLA commit who's been looking around a bit. In addition, in-state ATH John Kelly could end up at corner, while Michigan is still waiting on five-star CA CB Iman Marshall to set a date for his official visit. Of all these prospects, Kelly and Lewis are the best bets to end up in the class.
Lorenz also reports that Michigan reached out to three-star Virginia commit Rasool Clemons, another candidate to fill that hybrid WDE/OLB spot ($). Clemons previously stated interest in taking an official visit to Ann Arbor.
Big Official Visit Weekend Taking Shape
Top-50 GA OLB Roquan Smith has set his visit schedule, per TomVH:
LB Roquan Smith visits Michigan Jan. 16, talking to Harbaugh tonight, UCLA 29th. Signing day decide btwn Florida, Georgia, Michigan & UCLA
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) January 7, 2015
Georgia is the presumed favorite but Michigan is definitely in the running. Scout's Chad Simmons says he thinks the Bulldogs and UCLA are the two leaders but the Wolverines are "making a rapid move" towards the top of the list ($). After DJ Durkin, who'd recruited Smith at Florida, took the DC job, Smith replaced a planned official to LSU with the trip to Ann Arbor. Ole Miss, USC, and more recently Arizona State also fell out of contention.
This is something to keep an eye on:
Bout to have a blast with my boy @RoquanSmith1 in Ann Arbor for the official visit !!!
— Chris Clark (@Clark8Chris) January 7, 2015
There'd been conflicting reports as to when Clark would take his official, but he'll be in on the 16th. That could be very good news for Michigan; it wouldn't surprise at all if Clark committed while on his visit, even if he still decides to take a trip to UCLA the next weekend. (What happens then, of course, is anybody's guess.)
Per Lorenz, Marcus Lewis and Jalen Bates are also considering taking officials that weekend, and Damon Arnette, as mentioned previously, is already scheduled to be in Ann Arbor then ($).
Wheatley and Wheatley Package Deal?
Michigan appears close to landing Tyrone Wheatley as their running backs coach, which could play a huge role in their recruitment of Tyrone Wheatley Jr., per Scout's Brian Dohn ($). It'll be interesting to see where Michigan would fit in to Wheatley's visit schedule; he's already taken an official to USC, and the last three weekends of this month he's scheduled to visit Alabama, UCLA, and Oregon; of those three, Alabama appears to have the best chance to land him.
Couple More Elite '16s On The Radar
While 2016 five-star CA OLB Caleb Kelly has yet to hear from the current staff, he discussed his interest in the Wolverines with The Wolverine's Brandon Brown ($):
"I was interested in Michigan before," Kelly said. "I want to see that stadium. I know it's really big and just has a lot of history there. I also want to meet the coaches. Hiring Jim Harbaugh was a great fit for Michigan since he played there. He has connections to the NFL too so that's big. Him being there makes Michigan more attractive to me."
Kelly has a who's-who offer sheet and no Michigan offer yet, but if one comes the Wolverines could jump into the mix.
Top-50 2016 CA WR Tyler Vaughns has been in touch with the new staff and is hoping an offer will come, per Scout's Brandon Huffman ($):
Michigan is also showing interest and he’s now reciprocating it.
“With Jim Harbaugh being their new coach, Michigan is definitely a school I’m interested in,” said Vaughns. “I hope they offer because Michigan has always intrigued me.”
Vaughns doesn't have a deluge of elite offers yet but, notably, holds one from USC and is showing a lot of interest in them.
That's Not Very Nice, Wisconsin
Clint Copenhaver, a linebacker on the 1997 title team, shared a recruiting letter he received from Wisconsin on his Twitter account yesterday. It contains a very NSFW word, and likely explains why he didn't end up at Wisconsin.