Cartwheels For Carlo
This is just great; newest Michigan pledge Carlo Kemp (Hello post here) filmed his commitment call to Jim Harbaugh:
"I had to do a cartwheel there" is an instant entry into the Jim Harbaugh Quote Hall of Fame.
The Denver Post has plenty of coverage on Kemp's commitment, including Kemp explaining why he made his decision:
"Do I see myself being there? Yes," Kemp said. "Definitely the town (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and atmosphere. And, of course, the academics at the forefront of it all. Michigan is one of the top, top academic programs and, of course, along with playing top-caliber football."
The chance to play for Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, Kemp said, was also a huge factor as "everything I wanted is at Michigan."
Also of note from that article: Kemp will enroll early. And, of course, there's another great Harbaugh story, as Kemp's high school coach is the son of former Bo assistant (and later Colorado head coach) Bill McCartney, whose household served as the all-important sugar sanctuary for the Harbaugh children:
Tom McCartney recalled that he could consume his cereal of choice, but the only cereals permitted in the Harbaugh house "were healthy ones." Hence, John and Jim Harbaugh regularly went over to the McCartney household "for sugar cereal."
When Kemp and Pagano, who already knew about the cereal story, met with Jim Harbaugh last month while in Ann Arbor, they presented him with a gift from McCartney: a box of Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries cereal.
"That was our favorite cereal growing up," McCartney said.
Said Kemp: "Coach Harbaugh just started laughing when we gave it to him."
Harbaugh has great taste in cereal, even if Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the undisputed greatest cereal on Earth.
Kemp wasn't the only player to commit to the program this weekend; Bowling Green (KY) TE Dane Drobocky announced he'll join the team as a preferred walk-on in 2016, per Tim Sullivan. You can see his junior highlights on his Hudl page. The coaches are making a very concerted effort to build the preferred walk-on program; Drobocky is the third in this class, joining QB Michael Shuster and WR Simeon Smith, and several other PWO offers have gone out in the last couple weeks.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Goon Squad
ESPN300 Chris Daniels wants to go into broadcasting & acting after football, Michigan catered to that on his visit pic.twitter.com/L6aZEsApkw
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) November 8, 2015
Four-star TX DT Chris Daniels was the lone uncommitted official visitor for the Rutgers game, and what Michigan lacks in volume of visitor quotes is made up for by the incredible quality of this one, via Sam Webb ($):
Said Daniels, “I feel like with the defensive line what stood out to me the most was how grimy they get and how explosive they are. I feel like there’s a goon mindset that Coach (Greg) Mattison put in them.”
Daniels added that the visit was "awesome." He has one other official visit set to Oklahoma and plans to make a decision in early December; Michigan looks to be in good shape.
Michigan is in line for a very strong finish with their defensive line recruiting. Rivals analyst Rob Cassidy told Tim Sullivan he believes everyone else is chasing Michigan for five-star NJ DT Rashan Garyafter speaking with him recently ($). No speculation is necessary regarding Michigan's standing with four-star TX DT Jordan Elliott, who reiterated to Webb that Michigan has a decided edge over his other finalists ($).
Simmons Gets His Offer
2017 Ann Arbor Pioneer LB/RB Antjuan Simmons has added offers from a who's-who of top programs this season; over the weekend, the hometown squad threw their hat into the ring.
Extremely honored & blessed to announce that The University of Michigan has offered me my 28th offer! pic.twitter.com/R5i9mlW7jS
— antjuan simmons (@_antjuan_) November 5, 2015
Simmons didn't mince words when talking about the offer's importance to 247's Steve Wiltfong:
"It was huge," Simmons said.
Simmons got the good news from Tyrone Wheatley and Jim Harbaugh after driving across the street to campus.
"It was big. It's the hometown power. I go to school right across the street. Plus the tradition and where their program will be in a few years."
Michigan should jump right to the forefront of Simmons' recruitment; he attended the Rutgers game and took multiple unofficial visits prior to receiving the offer.
The Wolverines extended offers to a couple more 2017 prospects. Three-star NJ OL Carter Warren told Tim Sullivan he wants to visit campus after adding his offer ($). Three-star OH TE Matthew Dotson told Brandon Brown that Michigan joined Ohio State, Michigan State, and Tennessee among his top group ($).
Commit Updates: Brandon Peters Remains Good
Maize n Brew's Mike Sanborn caught up with Brandon Peters after his four-touchdown performance led Avon to a playoff win over the defending Indiana state champs; while he knows a redshirt is a possibility, he's not enrolling early with his eye on the bench:
"We talked a little bit about redshirting, but I don’t know yet. I still have a chance to earn my spot," Peters said. Such a high level of talent combined with the benefits of enrolling early should have Peters right in the thick of the quarterback competition once the spring practice rolls around.
Peters headlines the rundown of top performers from last weekend's slate of games over at MnB, at well. Meanwhile, Kingston Davis now has 1650 rushing yards this season, a Prattville school record.
Scout's Allen Trieu has the latest on David Reese after his official visit to Nebraska:
"It gave me a lot to think about. Being on that side of the conference, you know they're going to win because of their tradition."
Reese remains committed to Michigan, but has two more officials coming up.
"I visit Florida on the 28th (of November) and Texas on the 10th (of December), that's all I have planned right now."
Something to watch with regard to Reese: 247's Clint Brewster, whose father Tim is on the coaching staff at FSU, just put in a Devin Bush Jr.Crystal Ball pick for the Noles ($). Bush plans to enroll early at the school of his choice, and if Michigan was holding a spot for him and doesn't land him, that could open up an early enrollee spot for Reese.