Proposition Jim
I usually don't tweet things like this, so forgive me but this is just really too funny not to! haha #ImDonepic.twitter.com/Muk5ZcVYzd
— Boss Tagaloa (@_BT75) March 14, 2015
Top-100 CA DT Boss Tagaloa, who added a Michigan offer a couple weeks ago, added... uh... that over the weekend. Thus began a heated recruiting battle:
@_BT75@CoachJim4UM don't go stealing my prom date coach
— Sof (@sofmorales13) March 14, 2015
Tagaloa is rumored to be sticking with his initial commitment.
Last Week's Visitors: New QB Target?
Michigan hosted a handful of visitors over the last week, including a five-star Californian and a potential target at quarterback.
Five-star CA LB Caleb Kelly has yet to go on the record about his weekend visit, though it sounds like it went well—247's Steve Lorenz believes Michigan has a great shot at getting him to return on an official visit ($). That seems likely given what Kelly told his coach, per 247's Steve Wiltfong ($):
“He loved it man,” Tony Perry, the coach who brought Kelly in from the West Coast said. “He really liked it a lot.
“He felt comfortable. He liked the coaches there, everybody around there, he felt comfortable. He told me it was one of his better trips. He had a nice time out there.
“He said he felt like he was at home.”
Perry hinted that Michigan is standing out even among Kelly's top ten; UCLA and Oklahoma are serious competition, while Kelly has trips planned to Alabama and Notre Dame.
Four-star IN WR Austin Mack came in on Saturday to meet Harbaugh for the first time. He recapped the visit with GBW's Josh Newkirk, and it's safe to say he approves of Michigan's new head man ($):
"I can't be more impressed with Harbaugh," Mack said. "His career background is crazy. He's straight from the pros. You're not going to learn anything better. You're playing in the pro-style offense. They would probably put me on the outside. ...
"He really just said everything they got my interest. it was just real good and educational."
Mack said he plans to return to Ann Arbor, this time with his parents in tow. He's got Michigan in his top group alongside Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. After the Wolverines had seemingly faded from the forefront of Mack's recruitment, they've got momentum.
Four-star NJ ATH Jordan Fuller, who's fielded offers from all over the country, told GBW's Kyle Bogenschutz that his visit put Michigan up among his leaders ($):
As far as a decision timeline is concerned, that is also up in the air with the four-star talent stating he’s just, “going with the flow.”
Either way, Michigan made quite an impression.
“They’re up there,” Fuller said. “I’d definitely say toward the top.”
Fuller sat it on a defensive backs meeting; he could play corner or safety in college, and could even project to wide receiver.
Three-star GA QB Logan Byrd decommitted from Virginia Tech last week. Jim Harbaugh and Jedd Fisch immediately got in touch with Byrd and set up a visit for last weekend, per Rivals' Woody Wommack ($). Given how quickly Byrd jumped at the opportunity to visit, there's clearly mutual interest, though as of yet no scholarship offer.
A visit to Ann Arbor may have spurred another decommitment. 2017 four-star IA DT Juan Harris entered the weekend an Iowa commit, then was blown away by his experience at Michigan, per Wiltfong:
"My visit was great," Harris said.
"Everything in that place was amazing. The coaching staff was great."
Last night, Harris decommitted from Iowa for the second time; he initially committed to Iowa in December, then decommitted and recommitted in January. That's impressive speed for a 356-pound(!!!) junior. Given the timing, Michigan looks to be a serious contender.
Michigan also hosted two top in-state prospects. 2016 Farmington Hills Harrison DE Khalid Kareemswung by practice Thursday for his second unofficial visit since Harbaugh was hired, and told Wiltfong "it was a real good visit." 2017 Orchard Lake St. Mary's ATH KJ Hamler visited over the weekend; it appears he was impressed.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
New Offers: 2016
Three-star GA TE Christian Roberson earned his eighth offer when Michigan extended one his way last week, and he told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown that he isn't close to narrowing things down ($):
The Michigan offer brings Roberson's total up to eight and the Wolverines join Florida, Kentucky, Louisville and Mississippi State among others as schools interested in the big tight end. Roberson hasn't put the schools in order yet but will start to once he learns more about them.
"I don't have an order yet," Roberson said. "I want to take a lot of visits and Michigan is one of the places I want to get to. I haven't had enough time to do that yet so I don't have any sort of order on my list right now."
Roberson intends to visit Michigan, though he's not sure when yet.
Michigan extendedthreeother 2016 offers last week, according to The Wolverine:
- Top-100 WR Jack Jones, who plays for California powerhouse Long Beach Poly. UCLA currently leads for Jones, and while USC is outside his top five, the Trojans should never be counted out for a top Poly prospect.
- Four-star GA ATH Mecole Hardman won't be easy to pull out of SEC country. His top five consists of Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, Clemson, and Ole Miss.
- Four-star DC TE Devante Brooks, a Tennessee commit who's considering trips to other schools.
New Offers: 2017
Now that so many 2016 offers have gone out, the coaching staff has been able to focus a little more on 2017 prospects, and several offers went out to rising juniors in recent days.
Michigan was one of three top programs—along with Oklahoma and Tennessee—to offer TX DT Marvin Wilson, the #17 overall prospect on the 247 Composite. Considering USC offered him the previous day, and Texas is expected to throw their hat into the ring, there will be a ton of competition for his signature.
Top-100 CO OL Jake Moretti told Sam Webb "it was a shock" when he received his Michigan offer, though it's too soon for him to name any leaders ($):
“They’re all treating me really good,” Moretti stated. “They’re all great schools. The University of Michigan is crazy with their rich football history and all that, but I couldn’t give you a (list of favorites) right now. But I’m honored to get a scholarship from the University of Michigan.”
Moretti also holds offers from Miami (YTM), Colorado, and Colorado State. He mentioned high interest in visiting Ann Arbor.
Steve Lorenz reports that Michigan will receive a spring visit from Los Angeles Hawkins teammates WR Joseph Lewis and ATH Greg Johnson, both recent offer recipients ranked in the top 50 overall ($). They're a potential package deal, and despite both holding USC and UCLA offers they maintain that they're open to going to school far from home.
Michigan also offered TN ATH Maleik Gray, the #26 player in the class, and GA SDE MJ Webb, who's 39th overall, according to TheWolverine.
Etc.
The battle for top-50 2016 WI OT Ben Bredeson looked like it might narrow down to Michigan and Wisconsin, but instead the field of contenders is growing, per Rivals' Josh Helmholdt ($):
"It's those four [Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin] because I've been out there and love it there," Bredeson said. "Then, the other two would be Alabama and Stanford because, respectively, that's the mecca of football and the mecca of education. Those six are definitely separating themselves from everyone else right now."
Bredeson landed the offers from Alabama and Stanford within a couple days of each other last month. His next priority is to schedule visits to their campuses.
Bredeson is expected to visit this spring when his older brother, Jack, a Michigan baseball commit, checks out campus.
Four-star 2016 TX DT Jordan Elliott, a Baylor commit who recently added a Michigan offer, told Sam Webb that he's planning to take an official visit to Ann Arbor ($).
Happy trails to four-star CA WR Theo Howard, who committed to Oregon over the weekend.