I guess they want an H-back
that's a shiny sparq score sir
Anyone wondering if Michigan was going to get GA TE Tommy Tremble got their answer before Tremble's announcement on Thursday when Michigan offered in-state LB/TE/H-back Ben VanSumeren, a late riser who recently committed to Iowa. He's from Nowhere, Michigan, and was originally committed to WMU before putting up impressive testing numbers at an Opening Regional, whereupon he started to get P5 offers.
Allen Trieu scouted him after his commitment; the Iowa staff apparently likes him on defense...
...he can obviously run to the football and the kid will be able to cover as his ball skills are outstanding. We knew he was strong, but his senior film shows a real love of contact. He takes on blocks with aggressiveness and strength. For a kid who has not played there much, he naturally gets leverage and takes good angles to the ball too.
...but he was an "athlete" offer there. At 6'3", 230 and moving upward he's a potential fit at FB, H-back, or linebacker. Trieu says the Harbaughs are headed to VanSumeren's high school to try to lock in a visit this weekend, which is just before the early signing date on the 20th.
Still waiting
Meanwhile, the other guy Michigan might have gotten in the boat yesterday is still uncommitted. GA ATH Michael Barrett didn't pull the trigger on his birthday. Still sounds like Michigan is the team to beat:
“Really enjoyed the way we were treated like family and everyone seemed genuinely concerned about the future of my son not only with football, but helping him grow into a great man."
At this point we might be in a holding pattern. If Barrett ends up taking some other officials that might be a sign Michigan doesn't have room; more likely is that he ends up committing sometime in the near future to secure his spot before the early signing period.
I'm saying there's a chance
A brief blip of optimism about NC DT Rick Sandidge in the immediate aftermath of his unofficial visit over the summer didn't last; his recruitment quickly settled into a "South Carolina lock who doesn't want to commit yet" holding pattern. It remains in that holding pattern, but this is a bonafide development:
[Sandidge] plans to take an official visit to Michigan less than two weeks before Signing Day in February.
"I really enjoyed my visit there earlier this year," said Sandidge, who is scheduled to visit Ann Arbor Jan. 26. "I had a great time and I want to get back and get a better look."
IIRC Sandidge's mom wants him close to home and that's Michigan's main hurdle. A visit just before Signing Day gives Michigan an at-bat, at least.
Basketball rankings revamp
How good was (Mich.) 2018 Top100 PF and #Michigan signee, Brandon Johns (@Brandon_Johns0) tonight? Well... pretty good pic.twitter.com/QIIOh84oNT
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) December 13, 2017
this is the guy who dropped
247 released its first basketball rankings after the Scout merger and most Michigan targets saw leaps. NY SG Adrien Nunez went from "who are you" territory to "I have heard of your name" territory by moving from around 300th to #176—that looks like a courtesy bump for an off-the-radar guy who signs with a P5 school.
Potentially more meaningful: FL C Colin Castleton cracked the top 100 at #81, moving up nearly 60 spots, and MI PG David DeJulius moved up to #124 from #169. Castleton is putting up some absurd numbers, FWIW:
‘18 Michigan commit Colin Castleton scored 43 points, 11reb, 8blks, and 5asts tonight and his team got the W.
hey! @umichbball he’s a good one!
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) December 8, 2017
ON SF Ignas Brazdeikis made a four-spot move up to #41.
The lone dropper was a weird one: MI PF Brandon Johns, who slid out of the top 100 and is now 106th. This may be an artifact of the merger. Scout was always the most skeptical about Johns and now the 247 ranking more or less matches Scout's opinion at the time of his commitment. Johns is still 50th on ESPN and 65th on Rivals, FWIW.
Long term things
2019 VA S and all-name-teamer Litchfield Ajavonvisited for OSU; there he was hosted by former teammate (and all-name-teamer) Luiji Vilain. Seems to get along with Harbaugh.
Michigan offers 2019 PA OL Andrew Kristofic; he's currently a three star but claims an impressive suite of early offers so that might change. 2019 GA CB Andrew Booth was also offered; he'll be a national recruit.
Also receiving an offer is 2020 CA QB DJ Uiagalelei, who should commit to Michigan just so Ace can repeatedly pronounce his name. Uiagalelei lives less than 20 miles from USC and professes to be a fan so that recruitment isn't likely to go anywhere, FWIW.
Etc.
CA OL Jarrett Patterson visits UCLA this weekend; will decide shortly after that. FWIW, UCLA kept Jedd Fisch and their OL coach. GA OL Jalen Goss is going to Auburn this weekend and Miami in January; he's fairly reserved after his visit. CA WR Chris Olave canceled an official visit planned for this weekend for a family issue.
GA LB commit Otis Reese just saw his primary recruiter at Georgia get hired away by Tennessee, so there's that.