Buckle Up
just overheard an #Amaizing phone call!
— Jay Harbaugh (@JayHarbaugh) February 2, 2015
A "miscommunication" means that Deontay Burnett is not only not a Michigan commit right now, but won't end up in the class, period. The Wolverines won't go wanting for long, though. Jay Harbaugh's tweet indicates a commitment is imminent, and I'm hearing the same thing.
Since I may have just spent a good part of my afternoon writing up a commitment post, I'm holding off on Signing Day stuff until tomorrow, when I'll write up a primer for what should be an eventful day.
Williamson Announces Tonight
In unrelated* news, three-star FL ATH Chris Williamson will announce his choice between Cal, Florida, Michigan, and UNC tonight at 10 pm. Sam Webb talked to Scout's Chad Simmons before the weekend to get the lay of the land after Williamson's recent official to Ann Arbor:
Michigan has already cemented themselves in the game, they’re right there I think with North Carolina at the top right now in the top two. Florida beat out Georgia, an instate school for the final visit this weekend, so Florida I think is the third team.
As the weekend wore on, however, Florida picked up a lot of expert picks—I'd expect him to end up with the Gators.
*Not tongue-in-cheek—Williamson isn't the prospect referenced in the previous section.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Maybes and Happy Trails
Depending on how the numbers shake out, Michigan could have a very good chance of landing four-star WR Van Jefferson, an Ole Miss commit who visited last weekend. Jefferson, whose father Shawn played for the Lions in 2003 and coached their WRs from 2005-2012, spent much of his youth in Michigan and said after the visit that Ann Arbor felt like home, per Sam Webb ($):
“It was great seeing all my old friends… seeing the University again… man I was just glad to be back home,” he said happily. “Probably what stuck out to me the most was just hanging out with the guys. Hanging with Moe Ways and Alex Malzone. Moe Ways was (my host), but Alex was pretty much with me that last day. I knew Alex Malzone from my old high school at Orchard Lake, so me and him were close friends. So probably hanging out with them and seeing all of campus (stood out the most). Man it was just crazy!”
Jefferson plans to announce his decision on Wednesday.
Three-star FL CB Jarius Adams, a Rutgers commit, told Scout's Brian Dohn that he may decide tomorrow after visiting Michigan last weekend ($). The word from insiders is he's likely to stick with Rutgers.
Three-star TE Matt Snyder will stick with his commitment to Nebraska, per TomVH.
Three-star RB Karan Higdon, who took a surprise weekend visit to Michigan, will stick with his commitment to Iowa, per Rivals' Blair Sanderson. Michigan also took a late run at four-star FL RB Dexter Williams, but he's a lock to end up at Notre Dame, per 247's Tom Loy ($).
Oh, here's just some casualreading on Mike Weber, who'll make his final decision on Wednesday. While Weber has shut things down with the media, word leaking out of Detroit is positive regarding Michigan's chances to flip him back from Ohio State.
2016 Updates
The hiring of Chris Partridge as a recruiting staffer should pay immediate dividends in the form of improved chances with five-star 2016 DT Rashan Gary, who played for Partridge at Paramus Catholic. Gary told Sam Webb before the hiring was official that he's very close with Partridge ($):
“Coach Partridge really helped my family during [my transfer to Paramus Catholic],” said Gary. “He told me to keep my head up and just focus on football. ‘Focus on football. You get ready by your first game and I promise you that you’ll play your first game.’ He was right.”
“That’s my guy. That’s someone that I can come to for personal things (outside of) football. I can talk to him about school and on a personal level. He gives me advice. When I got (to Paramus Catholic) he made me feel like it was home. That’s somebody that definitely keep in contact with the rest of my life with.”
Gary added that while he's backed off recruiting for the time being, he'll "definitely" take a visit to Ann Arbor. When the news officially broke of the Partridge hire, Tom Lemming declared Michigan the "odds-on favorite" to land Gary.
Michigan offered four-star NJ DE Quayshon Alexander, per Steve Lorenz. Thus far his only other offers are from Miami (YTM), Pitt, and Rutgers.
While Greg Mattison got back in touch with him after the Harbaugh hire, five-star OH OL Liam Eichenberg told Lorenz that he's narrowed down his options to Notre Dame and Ohio State ($). Eichenberg is expected to make a decision in the spring.
Messiah deWeaver spoke with Scout's Bill Greene about his decision to decommit—it appears he's open to considering Michigan down the road:
"The de-commitment from Michigan was just a business decision, and it was a decision I made after talking to my family," deWeaver stated. "We thought it was best to reopen my recruitment and take a look at some other schools right now. I'm wide open right now and anxious to speak with other programs."
"I did talk to Michigan about my decision, and we are keeping the lines of communication open," he added. "I have not spoken with Coach (Jim) Harbaugh yet, but I'm sure we will. I'm thankful to them for offering me."
DeWeaver has visits set up to Michigan State and Florida in the near future.