Summer of Harbaugh, Commence
Michigan's nine-day, ten-camp tour kicked off yesterday in Indianapolis, where Jim Harbaugh, sweatshirt tucked into khakis, instructed a group of campers that included quarterback commit Brandon Peters and RB/ATH targets Kiante Enis and Chris Evans. Here is what some of that instruction looked like, via MLive; you're going to want to pay close attention starting around the :30 mark:
Nick Baumgardner has an excellent recap of the day, which also features an amazing photo of Harbaugh and Peters. 247's Steve Wiltfong focused more on the evaluation side of things, and his look at the top performer from the camp may feature on this site again quite soon:
Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis four-star running back Chris Evans typically leaves the field he played on as the best player and the same goes for this day.
Evans has speed, evident in him making the state finals in the 100-meter dash among other events, but it’s how fluid he is that impresses. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Evans is so smooth changing direction. He’s an impact guy on the next level at running back, receiver, cornerback or safety.
At this particular camp, Evans was a cut above the rest through running back agility drills and in 1-on-1s it was easy for him to abuse the linebackers on the field. He’s sure-handed. Perhaps Evans best trait is his love for the game. If there is a football in the air, he’s typically performing at that particular camp.
Evans has confirmed to both Rivals and 247 that he'll announce on Saturday. Sam Webb indicates Michigan is recruiting him as a slot receiver, and Evans didn't hide his intentions much when talking about his upcoming decision with The Wolverine's Chris Balas ($):
Evans confirmed that he plans to announce Saturday now rather than wait, and though he wouldn't give a list, he did say Michigan was high on his list.
"Academics," he said when asked the best part about his trip. "They were a big hit on academics first. Everything centered around that and what you do with that. That's the biggest part."
He said tradition and comfort level with the program and coaches would be the deciding factors in his decision, and it's clear U-M has emerged as a serious threat.
It'll be a surprise if Evans isn't a Wolverine this weekend.
Meanwhile, I've buried the lede: Michigan's first satellite camp immediately produced a commitment in Kiante Enis. There's a whole lot more on him in yesterday's Hello post. Since that went up, he clarified his positional future—somewhat, at least—to Scout's Anna Hickey ($):
Enis projects as an athlete at Michigan.
"They had me with the running backs today," Enis said. "I know they said come in as a running back first, and then receiver second and after that secondary."
After watching his film again, I think safety may represent Enis' best chance of seeing the field quickly, not only because of the depth on Michigan's roster, but his closing speed and willingness to lay a hit. That said, it could be hard to keep the ball out of his hands; I also liked his patience as a runner, which may help him stick at RB even though he doesn't fit the burly mold of a quintessential Harbaugh back.
Now the coaches are already on to camp the second, this one in Prattville, Alabama, home of incoming freshman Keith Washington and 2016 commit Kingston Davis. Davis gave Wolverine247 an update on his commitment status ($):
Since his commitment to Michigan, Davis has seen two major SEC offers from LSU and Florida. While a visit to LSU fell through last weekend, his current plan is to see both of those schools. He has no current plans as of now to return to Ann Arbor until the fall for an official visit. However, he maintains his commitment to the Wolverines.
"My commitment is solid," he said. "It would take something major for me to reconsider. There'd have to be a chance for a great education and a great opportunity to play early that would be better than what Michigan has to offer."
The good news is with the attention he's getting, I doubt Davis will remain a three-star for long; the flip side is Michigan will have to fend off some top programs, though if they can afford attrition from this class, it's at running back.
The highest-rated prospect at the Prattville camp, five-star AL SDE Marlon Davidson, is planning to make his way to Ann Arbor soon:
Biggest name at Michigan's Prattville satellite camp is 4-star Greenville (Ala.) DL Marlon Davidson. Plans to visit #Michigan July 19th
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) June 5, 2015
Getting Davidson on campus would be huge, though he's an Auburn legacy who most expect will end up there.
IMPORTANT, LATE-BREAKING HARBAUGH UPDATES:
Lol... @CoachJim4UM is out here in Prattville mixing it up. pic.twitter.com/W9x2PY3wo2
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) June 5, 2015
Jim Harbaugh plays shirtless during Prattville Camp GALLERY: http://t.co/0Br6iQ34pBpic.twitter.com/jqnWZis6pB
— Albert Cesare (@AlbertCesare) June 5, 2015
GONNA BE A GREAT DAY. A GREAT WEEK. A GREAT MONTH. AND A GREAT YEAR.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
More On Onwenu
Photo via 247
On Tuesday night, Cass Tech OG/DT Michael Onwenubecame the seventh member of Michigan's class of 2016. While Onwenu has four-star potential on either side of the ball, he told Scout's Allen Trieu that Michigan recruited him as an offensive lineman. That article also clears up another question; Onwenu indeed measured in at 6'3", 365 pounds at last month's The Opening regional in Chicago.
The photo above is from last weekend—while Onwenu's certainly a big dude, he's got the body type to carry a lot of weight without it necessarily being a bad thing, and he's been praised for his quick feet at these recent camps. Onwenu discussed his weight with MLive's Jared Purcell:
"Nobody believes my weight," Onwenu said earlier in the spring. "Right now, I weigh about 360 and it doesn't show. I just look like, majority, muscle - which I am. What they say is, they know I'm strong and I'm quick to be that big."
Onwenu believes himself to be "a heavy-hitting, tough lineman," noting that his hands are the best aspect of the game right now and that he is continuing to work on improving every facet of his skills over the summer.
Onwenu also mentioned that he'll take other visits—something Harbaugh's staff, in stark contrast to Hoke's, is okay with commits doing—but he doesn't "have anyone in second right now." There's little reason for concern about that at the moment.
Michigan should continue to recruit two or three more offensive linemen into the class, with five-star Ben Bredeson, who visited last weekend, as a top priority. Another top O-line target, top-100 Maryland prospect Terrence Davis, took notice of Onwenu's commitment.
Khalid Kareem Sets Announcement Date
I will be announcing my college commitment on June 24th.
— Khalid Kareem (@khalid_kareem53) June 4, 2015
Four-star Farmington Hills Harrison DE Khalid Kareem hasn't had the easiest recruitment to pin down, but there's a lot of optimism from the Michigan side of things in the wake of his recent visit and subsequent decision to announce his college choice this month. Kareem also visited Michigan State recently, and the Spartans will factor heavily into his decision—as will Alabama and Notre Dame—but the Wolverines are looking good here.
In-State Junior Day Reactions
Onwenu's commitment wasn't the only big recruiting happening on Tuesday; Michigan also hosted their top 2017 in-state targets for a Junior Day of sorts. The early returns have been quite positive, including from perhaps the best prospect in the state regardless of class, five-star Cass Tech WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, who told TMI's Josh Newkirk he could see a big group of Michiganders staying close to home ($):
With his fellow Cass teammate, Jaylen Kelly-Powell, and other notable prospects Josh Ross and Carter Dunaway along for the visit, Peoples-Jones did admit the thought did cross his mind of them all playing on the same team in college.
"It was definitely a thought," Peoples-Jones said. "Just the fact that it was nine prospects at Michigan who were offered was very important and very interesting, because we could have that chance to all be there and play together. Right now I think we are all just having fun enjoying our time at Michigan."
Peoples-Jones took the visit with his mom, and he'll be back with both his parents on June 13th, when he plans to tour the medical school and take a more "in-depth" visit on the football side, as well. His teammate, four-star S Jaylen Kelly-Powell, went so far as to thank the coaches on Twitter after a "First Class" visit; he told TMI's Brice Marich that arguably the most beautiful part of campus stood out to him ($):
“My favorite part of the visit was seeing the law library because I would love to major in law,” said Kelly-Powell. “The library was beautiful and big. Everything in there looks like history.”
I love that last quote. Kelly-Powell added the visit was a "10" (out of 10), and he'd like to see himself "and big Mike [Onwenu] dominate together." Michigan looks to be in great position for him, which should only help their recruitment of Peoples-Jones, too.
The coaches also made quite the impression on the parents in attendance. Four-star St. Joseph DE Corey Malone-Hatcher's father had high praise for both the football and academic aspects of the trip, per 247's Steve Wiltfong ($):
"The experience was awesome," Orlando Malone, Corey's father told 247Sports. "Coach (Jim) Harbaugh personally showed us around campus. We toured the academic department, the business school, everything. We learned that Michigan's academic offering is actually top five in the world for Corey's targeted majors.
"They also did a five-minute film cut out that detailed exactly how they would use him. Used old player's film to show examples of Coach (DJ) Durkin's scheme."
Malone said Michigan is in "excellent position" in their recruitment of his son, who plans to be back on campus for the Barbeque at the Big House, which the coaches announced will be held on August 2nd this year.
Wiltfong also caught up with the father of top-100 Oak Park OT JaRaymond Hall, and it's safe to say the whole family enjoyed the visit ($):
“It was beautiful,” Hall’s father said. “His mother fell in love with it up there. That was her first time up there.
“The atmosphere, the coaches, what everybody was talking about as far as the nine kids invited. All the positive things coming from the parents also.”
JaRaymond himself also "liked it very much," according to his father.
Michigan also did well with Orchard Lake St. Mary's teammates Josh Ross and KJ Hamler, per Steve Lorenz ($). Ross, for whom Michigan is the prohibitive favorite, discussed forging new connections with Allen Stritzinger and Carter Dunaway. Hamler, who's considered an early MSU lean, said Harbaugh was his favorite part of the visit, and "the most energetic coach" he's been around.
Etc.
Holy heck, this post is long (before Enis' commitment, this was going to be a two-part roundup). Let's cover the rest of this as quickly as possible.
It didn't take long for three-star MA TE Sean McKeon to set up a visit after adding a Michigan offer on Monday; he told Steve Lorenz he plans to be on campus June 13th ($). He wants to make a decision by the end of the month, and M has quickly risen into his top group, along with Boston College, Syracuse, and Virginia.
Three-star OH S Tony Butler, a Pitt commit, will be back on campus June 20th, per Scout's Bill Greene. Butler's visited back in April, but this will be the first time he sees Ann Arbor with his mother; he also mentioned that Ohio State, the other program seemingly poised to poach him from Pitt, hasn't had much contact with him of late.
Michigan is the only school outside the Pac-12 in the new top eight for four-star OR LB Lamar Winston, per Scout's Brandon Huffman. The Wolverines also made the top seven for four-star FL WR Freddie Swain, per Scout's Corey Bender.
The Wolverines are in the early top five for five-star 2017 TX DT Marvin Wilson, who will attend M's satellite camp in Dallas, per Lorenz ($).
Happy trails to four-star IL DE Josh King, who committed to Michigan State today, only for that commitment to be overshadowed by a shirtless lunatic.