Obligatory Daniel Faalele section, now with content
FL OL Daniel Faalele gets his own SI profile complete with Vulcan Bill Brasky stories:
In one of Faalele's early practices Elder taught him to punch the pass rusher with both hands, then grab his chest. During a one-on-one drill that day, Faalele fired his hands to disrupt the lineman's charge. Then one hand disappeared inside the rusher's shoulder pads and the kid went limp. Sensing something wrong, Faalele let go and backed away. "He had grabbed [the defender's] collarbone," Elder says, shaking his head at the memory. Elder clarified: Seize the chest plate of the shoulder pads. "His hands are steel," Elder says. "If he gets them on you, it's over. Doesn't matter if he has good technique or bad technique, it's over."
Faalele's starting to put some steak behind the sizzle as well, impressing at a UA camp:
The massive Australian import created the most oohs and ahhs in the trenches Sunday with his power. He worked up and down the line but most at left tackle, where anyone trying to make a move on him inside felt his incredible punch and it was usually paired with what looked like a finishing move. Faalele buried more defenders than any other lineman on this day and it wasn't particularly close.
Hopefully Michigan's satellite camp appearance will put them ahead of the curve for a dude who can Vulcan nerve pinch guys accidentally.
No public leader for DTR
Top247 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson with a nice TD throw at Adidas Vegas: https://t.co/0Tj9WbnqtU#Michigan#UCLApic.twitter.com/7Agvy1sB9i
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) March 5, 2017
Since he was talking up UCLA previously, this is a good sign for Michigan in their pursuit of 4* NV QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson:
Dorian Thompson-Robinson maintains that the schools in his top 12 are all running even, but no doubt he's high on Michigan and UCLA, schools that are scheduled to get a spring visit.
Thompson-Robinson returns to UCLA this coming weekend and Michigan will get him to campus around April 11.
New Michigan offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has made a fast impression and the opportunity to play in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh is advantageous.
Meanwhile UCLA wants to talk to him about being a dentist, because death by electrocution's like life under Jim Mora. The pro-style/dentist statements are not quotes but they do seem like things that DTR told Steve Wiltfong, because ain't nobody else know about dentistry plans.
FWIW, Wiltfong expanded on that short note with a full article. DTR says he's "really built a relationship" with Hamilton in the last couple months; he also repeats the fact that UCLA picking up Jedd Fisch is "huge."
Actual (mostly) scheduled visits
- 4* GA CB Myles Sims has locked in a visit for this weekend. Lorenz previously reported that he was very high on Michigan's board, so this might be a situation to keep an eye on.
- 4* MI OL Ryan Hayes will visit "sometime this month" per Lorenz after being forced to cancel a planned official last weekend. Lorenz implies this is likely to come down to Michigan and Notre Dame, with Greg Frey a major asset since Frey recruited Hayes's older brother at Indiana.
- 4* NJ DT Tyler Fridayhas set a visit for the 26th, which will be his first trip to AA since a camp appearance last summer.
- 4* NY TE Jeremy Ruckert says he's "going to try" to see Michigan again that same weekend. He's not planning to take his recruitment out much longer than that; with Jay Harbaugh moving away from TE he hasn't met his actual position coach yet. Adam Friedman says OSU is "clearly in the driver's seat," but Adam Friedman.
Obligatory list of new names
- 4* WA ATH Tre'Shaun Harrisongrabbed an offer, says he'll visit in the spring or summer, says he's considering academics heavily, and he doesn't care about distance.
- 4* OR ATH Talanoa Hufanga: offer, interest, vague visit plans.
- 3* NC DE/DT Alim McNeill grabbed an offer, says he's focused on a "forty-year decision," and that he has vague plans to visit AA over the summer. He told Rivals that Michigan "will be in it to the end."
- 5* FL CB Patrick Surtain Jr says he wants to visit Michigan, but it sounds like he's got a number of other visits locked in and Michigan is currently up in the air; he does not list Michigan in a group of six leaders.
- 3* NY WR Aron Cruickshank is a slot type who has an offer type substance; trying to set up a visit, Brown reports that he's a "mid-tier target" who interest might ramp up in later.
- 4* FL ATH Amari Burneyapparently got an offer back in May; he reports that he doesn't hear from Michigan offer but they are still a "very big player" for him.
Grudging 2019 section
FL RB Cesare Mellusifields an offer, speaks highly of Michigan. This section exists mostly because of his name.
GA ATH Javonni Cunninghamgets an offer; it's his second and Howard is the other so naturally he declared Michigan his leader. Vague visit plans. 2019 CA RB Charles Mincy Jrsays Michigan leads amongst his four offers. One of the others is Oregon, so that's not bad.
MI CB Marvin Grant, who's at King, was offered by Iowa. He told Allen Trieu he will be visiting Michigan today. Big Ten offer this early for Grant probably means he'll join the Belleville kids amongst the most sought-after players in the 2019 class.
Etc.
FL QB Joe Milton, who's the entirety of the Michigan QB board other than DTR at this moment, also impressed at that UA camp:
From drills to one-on-ones even through seven-on-seven work, Milton was the creme of the Orlando crop on Sunday. He is physically impressive on the hoof, tall and well put-together, but his arm was fluid with a quick release through the afternoon.
Scout lists him at 6'4.5", so he's definitely a pocket guy.
MO CB Mario Goodrichreiterates a tentative lead for Michigan early in the process, saying they're "probably at the very top right now." Vague visit plans.
CA CB Isaac Taylor-Stuartsays Michigan is a possibility for an official, but doesn't really mention any unofficials and says he might commit in late summer if he's ready.
Former commit and OH LB Antwuan Johnson lists Michigan amongst a number of schools he'll be visiting over the summer. Looks like a team tour kind of thing since there are a wide range of schools on the list, ranging from Georgia and Michigan at the top end down to Toledo and Purdue on the bottom.
CA OL Tommy Brown says he's trying to get money together for an unoffical to Michigan, possibly at their Big Man camp.
Michigan begins to fade for FL DE Nik Bonitto.