So You're Saying...
As expected, four-star Detroit King WR Donnie Corley made his way to campus on Wednesday with his parents, and he told 247's Steve Wiltfong the visit helped Michigan's cause ($):
While Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee and West Virginia have been regularly mentioned as top contenders, Corley tells 247Sports that he wasn’t really feeling Michigan under the old staff, but Jim Harbaugh and the new group are quickly turning that around.
“My mindset was not really Michigan, even when they hired the new staff, but going up there it seems like a great place to be,” Corley said.
Corley will be back in Ann Arbor for the BBQ at the Big House on Sunday. While there's a lot of ground to cover against Michigan State and a recently surging Ohio State, Michigan looks to have at least an outside shot now, which is a far better position than they'd been in previously. With M also getting more involved in Lavert Hill's recruitment, it appears the program's relationship with Detroit King is on the mend.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
BBQ Preview: Yes Sir?
Sunday's BBQ will have me on constant laptop vigilance and a big reason for that is the expected presence of three-star MD CB Sir Patrick Scott, who declared Michigan as his leader to Scout's Brian Dohn heading into the visit. With rumblings that Hill could flip from Penn State, there could be a race to grab an open spot in the class while it's still available. Steve Lorenz also suggests a few in-state rising juniors could be ready to pull the trigger, though there's nothing concrete yet ($).
In somewhat disappointing news, Sam Webb reports Rashan Garywon't be able to make the BBQ because the group of players he was planning to drive up with are no longer going. I'm not sure why this news has caused as much consternation as it has. Gary's already make two unofficials to Ann Arbor, he'll be back for an official (Lorenz even mentioned he may also take an unofficial for a game), and Gary had worked around an ACT prep class in order to make the BBQ in the first place before the transportation issue arose. I wouldn't take this as a sign he has any less interest in Michigan. It sounds like he made every reasonable effort to make this trip. These things happen.
Four-star WDE/BUCK Carlo Kemp will make his first trip to Ann Arbor for the BBQ. His mother, who will accompany him on the visit, told Sam Webb they're looking to get a clearer picture of his recruitment:
“Once he gets to Michigan I think he’ll have a better idea (of what his leaderboard is),” Mrs. Pagano said. “He’s definitely trying to figure it out that’s for sure. He wants to get this trip in and he really can’t wait to get there. We all can’t. Then we’ll go from there and see.”
Kemp has already locked in an official to Notre Dame; Michigan is the only other school he currently plans to see officially, as well.
Tight End Dominos Falling The Wrong Way?
Michigan fans reacted positively when the news first broke that five-star TE Isaac Nautadecommitted from Florida State; after all, Nauta has long maintained he'll take an official to Ann Arbor and he's been heavily recruited by both the Hoke and Harbaugh regimes.
Instead, this is probably bad news. Georgia "leads big" for Nauta, according to Scout's Chad Simmons($), and his Crystal Ball reflects that. Florida State, meanwhile, now has a need at tight end, and their new top target is none other than Naseir Upshur. Upshur is no longer making a decision this month; per Rivals' Adam Friedman, he'll take official visits to Arizona State, FSU, and Michigan, and an unofficial visit to Tallahassee next week that Upshur initially couldn't make due to a "family issue" is now back on, TomVH reports.
Michigan has a solid contingency plan in place, at least. Four-star FL TE Jacob Mathis is very much in the mix to join Sean McKeon in the class, and plenty can happen with Nauta and Upshur with the official visit process yet to play out, too.
ESPN Bumps Metellus
Josh Metellus was the less heralded of the Flanagan safety duo (Devin Gil being the other) that committed to Michigan during the satellite camp tour. After taking a closer look, ESPN has moved Metellus all the way into four-star territory and released a very positive evaluation ($):
Metellus is a physical ball-hawk who can run and hit with top tier safeties in this class. Unrefined at times in man coverage, but in the right zone scheme this young man should make a lot of plays. Best football is likely ahead of him as he continues to physically develop. Undervalued, sleeper in our opinion.
This Harbaugh guy may be a decent talent evaluator after all.
More 2016 Updates: OL Outlook Strong
Michigan's top two targets for the final O-line spot hold Michigan in high regard. Four-star TX OT Jean Delance put the Wolverines in his top five and—no surprise here—four-star MD OG Terrance Davis has M in his top eight. Delance may actually be the priority here; if Ben Bredeson winds up at guard, M has more need for a tackle than another interior lineman.
Michigan also made the top ten for four-star CA CB/S Lamar Jackson, who told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown he's already set an official to Ann Arbor ($):
"I'm going to take all five of my officials and my official visit to Michigan is already set," Jackson said. "I'll be in Ann Arbor on October 17 for the Michigan State game. I'll visit Oklahoma against West Virginia on October 3 and I'm also visiting Arizona State for the USC game [September 26]. The other two I have to set up still."
Whenever Jackson does set his final two officials, he will decide between one of those five schools, and it likely won't take long.
"I'm pretty sure once I take all of my official visits I'll probably be ready to commit," he said. "I think I'll do that at my All-American game so I won't drag it all the way out to signing day."
I'll always be skeptical of Michigan's chances with top California recruits until they make it to campus, but they look to be in good position to at least contend for Jackson if they still have a spot for him.
Happy trails, for now, to four-star AL ILB Erroll Thompson, who committed to Mississippi State today; Lorenz still expects Thompson to visit Ann Arbor as long as M still has room for him.