You Know The Drill
Michigan's latest 2014 offer, Warren De La Salle linebacker and current Penn State commit Jared Wangler, will visit campus today along with his father, former Michigan quarterback John Wangler, per Jared's Twitter. Wangler plans to decide between sticking with PSU and flipping to Michigan before the start of football season, and while many expect him to choose the Wolverines today, that's not coming from Wangler — he told Scout's Allen Trieu($) that he's "not planning on committing today," and you can read into that however you like.
I think Wangler will end up at Michigan, but it's certainly not guaranteed; don't count out the fact that Penn State was the first major program to offer him. He even passed up an offer from LSU that came in a couple weeks after his initial commitment. That said, his father and brother didn't play for the Tigers, and the Wanglers being something of a Michigan institution should factor heavily into his final decision.
A 150+ Comment Thread Suggests I Should Talk About This
Michigan State's hiring of Curtis Blackwell as their de facto recruiting coordinator paid immediate dividends yesterday when 2015 Cass Tech quarterback Jayru Campbellcommitted to the Spartans. Campbell was one of several top in-state juniors in East Lansing yesterday — Technician teammates Mike Weber and Josh Alabi, Saginaw athlete Brian Cole, Oak Park athlete John Kelly, and Saint Clair Shores lineman Kyonta Stallworth (who may or may not have committed, and almost certainly will eventually) were also present. Getting that many key local targets on campus — and pulling in commitments from two of them, most likely — is a big step for State, and the credit should rightfully go to Blackwell, who has a relationship with all of these players from his time running Sound Mind Sound Body and coaching the Maximum Exposure 7-on-7 squad.
HOWEVA, the consternation among Michigan fans in the wake of Campbell's commitment is unnecessary for a couple of reasons:
- Campbell, in all likelihood, was never going to get a Michigan offer. CA five-star Josh Rosen is the only 2015 QB with an offer, and I don't believe Campbell was even in the next group of signal-callers being considered by the Wolverines. Having watched Campbell play many times over the course of the last two years, I don't think he has the pure arm strength — especially on short-to-intermediate routes — that this coaching staff wants in a quarterback. You can watch the tape and judge for yourself.
- Michigan's projected to take a very small class in 2015, and so far they're pursuing elite national prospects to fill those coveted spots. Weber's potential place in the class was taken by Damien Harris, a higher-ranked running back; Kelly wasn't under serious consideration for an early offer; and the Wolverines may only take two offensive linemen — with Jon Runyan Jr. already in the fold and Michigan looking good for PA four-star tackle Sterling Jenkins, I don't think Stallworth was going to get one, either. Cole and Alabi are the only two guys among yesterday's MSU visitors who could be counted as real head-to-head losses for Michigan, and neither is guaranteed to end up at State by any means.
Is Campbell a solid pickup for State? Certainly. He's made great strides as a passer in the last two years while quarterbacking CT to back-to-back state titles and he gives MSU a commitment from the state's best talent factory.
Is this a major blow to Michigan? Nope. The Wolverines could strike out on every top in-state junior and still put together one of the best classes in the country; in case anyone has forgotten, they're already off to a very good start in that regard.
[Hit THE JUMP for perhaps the worst recruiting pitch ever, the latest on Malik McDowell's transfer to Southfield, and more.]
"You Can Meet Tito" Is Code For "I Am So Fired"
ESPN released a video interview with Da'Shawn Hand (and Da'Shawn Hand's Neck, which deserves separate billing), and oh man the first story you guys just click play already:
Hand is also the subject of a lengthy feature by Athlon Sports in which he reveals his dream announcement, one he'll make a reality on November 14th:
He has a dream, and in that dream he’s sure of only one thing.
“A baby blue suit. Always a baby blue suit. No idea, but that’s what it is.”
Da’Shawn Hand has had this dream for years, and while he doesn’t know where he’s headed, he knows in the dream that he’s in his high school, in the baby blue suit, announcing that he’ll go play big-time college football.
“I first had the dream when I was little. I put the hat on and people cheer, and people ask ‘How do you feel?’ and I tell them that the coaches are cool and that I want to play in the NFL one day.”
To make sure the dream becomes a reality, Hand promises he’ll be sporting a baby blue suit on National Signing Day in 2014, a fashion creation he’ll have tailored for the event. But while his outfit might feel lucky, it’s Hand’s ascension as the next great defensive end prospect and the popularity of his chosen position that are responsible for making his dream a reality.
As for where Hand might end up, Michigan still looks to be the destination:
Certainly every coaching staff is a little different, and Hand already has his favorites.
“The Michigan coaching staff. That is the staff,” he enthuses. “They’re great. That staff is so cool, so easy to talk to. Also I’d say the one coach is (Virginia Tech defensive coordinator) Bud Foster.”
This has been your regularly-scheduled Da'Shawn Hand update.
Etc.
Malik McDowell has officially been cleared to transfer to Southfield High School and play for them this fall, per the Detroit News. If it wasn't already, the Southfield-Cass Tech opener is now a must-watch for recruitniks. Best of luck to Southfield opponents who must figure out how to block McDowell and Lawrence Marshall.
Local news video feature on George Campbell; he's a self-professed "mama's boy" and, when asked about his favorite player, named Mason Cole. Yeah, that commitment seems firm.
2015 five-star VA DT Tim Settle is shutting down contact with the media until after his junior season; first, he gave Scout's Jason Higdon a few more details about potential visits ($):
"I dont have a top five anymore, I Just want to take my time with the recruiting process. I am going to UVA/Oregon game and UNC/NCST and maybe Ohio State/Michigan."
That's all we'll hear from Settle until at least November, most likely.
NJ DT Rashan Gary is the third 2016 prospect to earn a Michigan offer; he already holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Penn State, but told Steve Lorenz that he wanted that Wolverine offer after being in touch with a couple of familiar names ($):
"Michigan is an offer I wanted," Gary said. "I don't know a lot about them, but I've talked to (current Michigan commits) Jabrill Peppers and Juwann (Bushell-Beatty) about them in the past after they committed and they talked about how good of a program it is."
Gary has family in Detroit and says he's in contact with Roy Manning about getting up to a game this fall.
Free scouting report on 2015 PA OT Sterling Jenkins from Scout's Brian Dohn.