(Don't Don't Don't) Don't Stop The Beat
Everybody, a-move your feet and feel united. Oh oh oh.
Michigan four-day technique camp concludes today, and while coverage is still trickling in, there are already offers to report for both the 2014 and 2015 classes.
Let's start with the 2014 class, which had offers go out to a pair of high school teammates in WR Freddy Canteen and CB Brandon Watson. Both prospects attend Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy, which is essentially this sport's answer to hoops factory Oak Hill Academy—the academy itself is built entirely around the football program and attendees take their coursework through a larger online program. Their quarterback is David Sills, whom you may remember as the (then-)13-year-old who committed to USC, and now you exactly why USC offered such a player so early: his father, David Sills IV, is the founder of ECA. The program only played three games in 2012, as five opponents cancelled planned matchups, so what you see above—serious technique work (that's Canteen talking at the start of the video)—is what largely constituted their season, and now they're hitting the camp circuit very hard.
It's of little surprise, then, that Canteen and Watson were flying a bit under the radar heading into camp. It's also of little surprise that Canteen is really, really good at running routes. Here's 247 on Canteen from earlier this spring [emphasis mine]:
11) WR Freddy Canteen– Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Sills and Canteen connected often during this weekend. The 6-foot-0, 175-pound receiver was very difficult to defend and his routes were some of the best out of the entire camp. Canteen did plenty of talking on both days, but he backed it up every time.
GBW's Kyle Bogenschutz on Canteen's performance on Day 3 of Michigan's camp ($):
Catching GoBlueWolverine’s eye in the morning 1-on-1’s and 7-on-7, Canteen is extremely quick and very difficult to slow down off the line. Still developing from a technique standpoint with his hands, something that can be said for all high school wide outs, Canteen took some coaching and implemented it right away in the top group for the afternoon 1-on-1’s, blowing by corners attempting to press, sprinting across the field on quick slants. Canteen is around 6-0 and has the frame to add some muscle but maintain that speed of his, undoubtedly earning his Michigan offer and one of the true highlights on day three at camp.
One of the top corners in the 2015 class said Canteen is the toughest receiver he's covered. Canteen's coach, meanwhile, went as far to say that he's "perhaps the best route-runner in the country," in an interview with Sam Webb ($).
The big question to arise from Canteen's offer, of course, is how this affects the current scholarship situation; while we previously thought Michigan would take one more receiver—Artavis Scott, hopefully—it appears that's not the case:
"Rutgers is still high with me," said Canteen, who was told the Wolverines would be taking two additional receivers in the class of 2014. "I don't know why people don't think that. You could still say Rutgers is my favorite school. There are a lot of mixed emotions when I really think about everything, but the top three are Rutgers, Michigan and Tennessee.
Watson's offer raises similar questions about defensive backfield recruiting—with Jabrill Peppers in the fold and Parrker Westphal a presumed commitment, space in the secondary appears tight, especially if Michigan is a serious player for CA DB Adoree' Jackson (and I believe they are). Westphal's recruitment has gone oddly quiet, so perhaps there's been some cooling off from one end or the other, which would explain why a longtime presumed lock has yet to pull the trigger—I'd compare it to the Tommy Doles situation, but Westphal's initial offer and fit with the team made a lot more sense in the first place.
Regardless, Watson has his offer, and he sounded quite excited about it when talking to 247's Steve Lorenz ($):
"Michigan is definitely right up there," Watson noted. "It's Michigan. They have top of the line facilities and academics and an amazing football program. They pretty much offer everything you're looking for. I am still going to take my time before deciding, however. I'll be up at USC pretty soon and then want to visit a few schools that I am considering most. I hope to decide before my season starts. Michigan will definitely be a return visit."
Watson missed a golden chance for a "fergodsakes," but maybe he'll learn about that on visit number two. Canteen also expressed a desire to return to Ann Arbor before making a pre-season decision; if both players make it back to campus, it sounds like the Wolverines have a good shot at adding to their class. Even if they don't, it looks like the coaches are making inroads with a program that's churning out D-I prospects.
[Hit THE JUMP for the latest on 2015 offers, including a legacy who could pull the trigger imminently, and much more.]
Get Ready To Feel Old
Joining Tyrone Wheatley Jr. among Michigan legacies with 2015 offers is Jon Runyan Jr., son of all-conference tackle, longtime NFL standout, and current New Jersey congressman Jon Runyan. The younger Runyan picked up a camp offer and told The M Block in no uncertain terms that the commit watch is on [emphasis theirs]:
"Around lunch Coach Hoke took me into his office and just told me that he wanted me. It felt great. I've been looking forward to this day for a while." Junior is a bit undersized right now at 6'4", 250 lbs., but with a solid legacy in place and the knowledge and love of the Michigan program, he told me, "It's most likely a guarantee that I'll commit. I've loved Michigan my entire life."
Runyan wants to talk with his parents before making a decision, which will likely come within the next week or two. Have I started drafting a "Hello" post? No, but only because of laziness.
Also picking up a camp offer was 2015 OH LB Justin Hilliard, one of the top Ohio prospects in his class and the younger brother of Iowa commit C.J. Hilliard. Holding over 20 offers already, including all the Midwest powers and the likes of Arkansas and Oklahoma, he's yet to narrow down a list but told The M Block that Michigan "definitely has a shot," of being named his leader whenever he decides to do so. Early guess is that this comes down to Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and maybe Iowa if Justin feels a strong pull to play with his brother.
While Runyan is the most likely candidate for first 2015 commit, he may have some competition if he doesn't pull the trigger soon. KY RB Damien Harris has been openly rooting on the Wolverines in various sporting events for the past several months, and his decision timeline bodes well for Michigan:
"@Damien_D1Harris: Can you see yourself committing by the end of the year or in your senior seas... — Probably the end of this season."
— Steve Lorenz (@TremendousUM) June 18, 2013
If not Harris or Runyan, then perhaps OH CB Shaun Crawford? (LINK, $)
"I love Michigan. I mean there's nothing more to say, it feels like home and all the coaches are like a second family," Crawford said. "Michigan is definitely one of my top schools, they are either first or second right now."
Michigan and Miami (YTM) form Crawford's top two, and he told 247 that he plans to take trips to Miami, Penn State, and Arkansas by the end of the summer before coming to a decision; I've got him pegged as a Wolverine sooner or later.
And, if not any of those guys, maybe Cass Tech RB Mike Weber will do the seemingly inevitable? His other visits aren't living up to Michigan's standard, if this quote to GBW's Josh Newkirk is any indication ($):
“I went to Notre Dame,” Weber said. “It was normal. I expected a lot things when I went up there. They didn’t shock me. It was just Ok.”
Weber then goes on to talk about wanting to take his parents along for his upcoming trip to the BBQ at the Big House, and he already sounds excited to be in Ann Arbor again:
“I’m just going to look around and go up there and fun,” Weber said. “I want to meet the people I haven’t met. You know, and see people I haven’t seen in a while. I want to see the coaches and the fans and stuff like that. It’s going to be pretty good.”
#JPTTA
Smart Kid
2015 Canton (OH) McKinley CB Eric Glover-Williams attended last week's Sound Mind Sound Body camp, and perhaps this taste of Pure Michigan elicited the following, via Sam Webb ($):
“I like Michigan because the coaches make me feel at home,” he said. “I want to go out there and check it out to learn and see how the players are, how practices go, and see if I can learn a lot of things I don’t know already.”
...
“I don’t know… I kind of want to get out of Ohio,” Glover-Williams responded. “They’re on the top five list. I’d have to say Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia.”
Smart kid.
2014 Updates: Dickerson Names Top Three
Four-star 2014 NJ DE/TE Garrett Dickerson named a top three, in order, of Stanford, Michigan, and Northwestern on Twitter this week — he eliminated Ohio State and Alabama, so this is a kid who's serious when he mentions academics as a key factor. While the other schools are recruiting him as an athlete, Michigan wants him as a defensive end—at least initially—though the coaches have some catching up to do in the communication department if they want to overtake Stanford, per Rivals' Adam Friedman ($):
"I'd probably say I talk to the Stanford and Northwestern coaches the most," he said. "Michigan is right there behind them. I speak with all the coaches and the head coaches very often. It's all very close.
"I guess my communication with the coaches is what will set the schools apart," Dickerson said. "All the schools tell me they want me. If they really want to talk to me, they'll get me on the phone. My communication and the way they express to me how they see me fitting in as part of their program will be the deciding factor."
Dickerson plans to take official visits to all three of his finalists before making his choice, so Michigan has time to cover the communication gap. Stanford is still the favorite until further notice.
Four-star Glenville safety Erick Smith told Scout's Bill Greene after attending SMSB that he'd like to visit Michigan, among other schools, for a game this fall ($). Smith is, of course, teammates with five-star athlete Marshon Lattimore; while Ohio State is the presumed destination for both—remember, Glenville is OSU's Cass Tech—the Michigan coaches are still going to take their best shot at landing both. Obviously, having them on campus would help that cause.
Good Job, Good Effort
Michigan State came to East Lake and didn't know who you were.... — Yeah that's absolutely true http://t.co/a6FRzg4pLo
— GΣΩRGΣ CΔMPβΣLL (@GeorgeCampbell0) June 18, 2013
Etc.
In case you ever had an inkling to take SpartanMag seriously, don't ever take SpartanMag seriously.
ESPN's Craig Haubert looks at which defense fits better for Da'Shawn Hand: Michigan's 4-3 under or Alabama's 3-4? At least initially, in his opinion, the Wolverines provide a more natural landing spot at weakside DE.
Leading 2015 NOTY candidate Equanimeous St. Brown has interest from Michigan and Ohio State after an outstanding performance at SMSB; the Midwest is a long way from home for the California prospect, but as it turns out a cross-country trip isn't a big deal to him, per GBW ($):
“My mom’s German and I speak both German and French,” said St. Brown. “I lived in Paris for like four months and I go to Germany every summer. I’m kind of used to traveling so it’s not an issue.”
Tri-lingual high-schooler fits the current Michigan character mold, methinks.
Top 2015 Georgia cornerback interviewed by Georgia blog says his dream school is... Michigan. RECRUITING IS GOING OKAY THESE DAYS. [EDIT: Brian alerts me that the recruit in question is LaMarr Woodley's nephew, so he may be saying this out of fear for life and limb.]