Vicious Vic Decommits
I've decided to decommit. pic.twitter.com/6IZroWgdrY
— Victor viramontes (@Vicious_Vic10) December 7, 2015
The MGoStaff is going to have to find a new favorite commit. Three-star CA QB/ATH Victor Viramontes decommitted last night, leaving Brandon Peters as the only quarterback in the class and, well, nobody capable of being a quarterback/fullback/linebacker. Viramontes picked up a Cal offer right around the time he decommitted; he has a better shot of sticking at QB there. I look forward to seeing him play wherever he ends up.
With so many quarterbacks on the roster, including two who redshirted from the 2015 class, it's unclear if Jim Harbaugh will feel the need to add another; Viramontes' open spot may be better served going to an additional defensive prospect, especially one at linebacker.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Devin Bush Jr. Sets Decision Date
It's about that time I will making my college decision Dec 16th Thank Everyone for the support throughout this whole recruiting process
— Devin Bush Jr™ (@_Dbush11) December 7, 2015
Shortly after receiving an in-home visit from JIm Harbaugh, four-star FL ILB Devin Bush Jr. set his announcement date for December 16th. Michigan has long felt good about their standing with Bush, who plans to enroll early at the school of his choice. Auburn and Florida State are M's biggest competiton; Bush's father played at FSU, but he's also become close with Harbaugh and Co. after hosting one of last summer's satellite camps.
Gary's Mom Calls Muschamp "A Pure Liar"
Auburn has been considered Michigan's primary competition for five-star NJ DT Rashan Gary, but the departure of defensive coordinator Will Muschamp for the head job at South Carolina may have taken them out of the race. Gary's mom unloaded on Muschamp—calling him "a pure liar"—in an interview with 247's Keith Neibuhr, and while she stays she still "love[s] Auburn," their chances don't look good:
The question now: Can Auburn remain a contender?
"I don’t know,” Coney said. “I'm in the business world. If you bring representatives to me and one of your representatives tells you a blatant lie and almost immediately you find out they’re lying, well, what does that say about your organization?” Coney said. “In doing that, you make Auburn look bad. I’m not saying anything bad about Auburn. I like Auburn. I can see my son at Auburn. But these things happen for a reason. It just made me and Rashan realize, do not commit because a coaching staff is great. You cannot depend on these people. Am I upset at Auburn? No. I’m hoping they’re telling the truth when they said they were blindsided by this. I’d think they’d be smarter than to send him on a recruiting trip knowing he wasn’t going to be there. Thompson and (defensive line coach Rodney Garner) could have come.”
Coney added that she hadn't yet heard from Alabama or Georgia, which both had staff shakeups, but Jim Harbaugh called her Thursday to discuss DJ Durkin's departure. As I said last week, I don't expect Durkin's departure to impact Gary's recruitment.
Tight End Recruiting: Another Name To Consider
Five-star GA TE Isaac Nauta remains Michigan's top target at tight end—and right up there with Gary overall—but the Wolverines will have to wait for him to announce a top three on December 20th before getting word of a decision, one that may very well go Georgia's way.
Four-star FL TE Jacob Mathis is the most realistic backup option, especially if Nauta surprises and winds up at Florida. While this recruit's name hasn't come up in a long time, Jay Harbaugh had an in-home with four-star FL TE Nick Eubanks, who told 247's Steve Lorenz he's now considering a trip to Ann Arbor ($):
Eubanks, who has held a Michigan offer for months, has been recruited consistently by the staff but has long been considered a player that will eventually stay down south to play his college football. A December visit from Harbaugh has him potentially re-thinking that possibility.
"Coach Harbaugh showed me how they have used their tight ends," he said. "It's a focal point of their offense and it's an offense that allows tight ends to make plays. I'm thinking about coming up there now."
Eubanks seems like a longshot, but if a trip materializes you never know what can happen.
More 2016 Updates: Walker Has A Final Five
Five-star NJ RB Kareem Walkerdiscussed his final five schools and visit plans with Scout's Brian Dohn:
"Florida State visit. I'm catching a flight in a little while," Walker said Saturday. "Ole Miss isn't (under consideration) any more. Just Florida State, Arizona State, Michigan, Alabama and Auburn. I have Florida State now and Arizona State next week, if I don't have to take the ACT. I'm not for sure on that yet."
Walker already made official vists to Michigan, Alabama and Auburn. He is visiting Florida State this weekend and with the visit to Arizona State, it would mean his trips are over.
Walker will be an early enrollee, so a decision will come in the relatively near future. Michigan is still widely considered the favorite.
Three-star FL WR Eddie McDoom is taking an official visit in January and is strongly considering Michigan, but for now he's got another program out in front, per Scout's Corey Bender:
"I have an official to Oregon for the first week of January," McDoom said. "I think I'm taking three visits. I think I'm pushing towards Georgia (for my last visit), but I don't know yet.
"I guess Oregon would be my top school right now."
He doesn't sound dead-set on that, at least.
Jim Harbaugh made a savvy recruiting move when he bumped Chris Partridge up to interim linebackers coach for the bowl game; that distinction allows Partridge to recruit off-campus, and by the time the announcement was made he was already in Florida doing an in-home with four-star LB Jonathan Jones, per Lorenz ($). Partridge should be very active on the recruiting trail until the dead period begins in a week.