Michigan 2008 Football Recruiting- Targets Update

For a detailed introduction to this list, please review to my 2008 Recruiting Overview.

Top 10 Remaining Targeted positions
as of July 20, 2007



Already Wolverines:

CB- B. Cissoko (Det., MI)
OT- D. O’Neil (MI)
OT/OG- E. Mealer (OH)
OG- K. Wermers (IND)
TE- B. Moore (OH)
LB- M. Witherspoon (NJ)
DT- M. Martin (MI)
OG/OC- R. Khoury (MI)
QB – J. Wienke (Ill)
WR – D. Stonum (TX)
QB – S. Threet (MI) – Actually a ’07 recruit that has transferred to UM from GTU
TE – K. Koger (OH)

* Bolded are the guys to really watch

10. DT- Might take one more (a one-gapper) (already have a very good ’09 commit in William Campbell from Det., MI) - G. Goebel (IL) – Will likely chose OSU but would be a good four-star complement to Martin if he goes Blue. C. Henderson (PA) – Does he still have UM in top 2? R. Ellis (DC) - Would be higher on this list but there is not a great chance of a commit. A. Woods (Det., MI) & S. Barnett (IND) (another Warren Central kid- I think we are backing off that school for now b/c of Finch) are also out there. Not a very high priority.

9. FS/CB- J. Holley (PA) – Not feeling very confident with him. Loves the movie Rudy. R. Moore (CA) – He is a soft UCLA commit and he is being recruited as a CB/S for UM and he was offered after the UCLA commit and Ron English is recruiting him (See Donovan Warren) and he has a summer official to UM. M. Anthony (AZ) – Great camp performance got him his offer. I actually like him. Michigan has a chance. A. Bushell (TX) – Probably visiting. Soon could move up this list. R. Green (LA) – Visiting. Soon could move up this list too. L. Green (PA) – Haven’t heard much from him in a while. R. Butler (TX) – Ditto. May take two more in this category.

8. HB- C. Wilson (PA)/LB – Definitely some mutual interest here. I’m starting to feel it.

7. OG- Z. Schlink (AZ) - (probably a 40/60 chance at best). T. Robinson (NE) – Looks like he decommited from Nebraska but who knows where he’ll end up. I’m not very confident. V. Dotsy (CA) - Needs to get in better shape. He’s from ’07 recruit M. Williams’s school which is also ’08 recruit D. Scott’s new school. K. Page (SC) - Longshot. Might take one more here.

6. WR- J. Baldwin (PA) – Rivals referred to him as the next Calvin Johnson. Originally a leader, Michigan is now dealing with ND and others for his services. F. Smith (Det., MI) – catching fire as of late. It’s between UM and MSU. V. Carraway (PA)/S -The ’07 Z. Babb who is being recruited as an athlete. D. Walker (VA) & M. Floyd (MN) – They are top talents who are unlikely to be wolverines but they’ve been offered and are moderately interested. J. Fuller (TX) & S. Johnson (TX) are both moderate to top talents with moderate interest. Will take at least one more here.

5. OT- Looking to take another tackle (one and mostly a LT) from the following list: Z. Sanders (OH) – UM’s #1 OT tackle left on the board. A LT prospect. He probably is going south. D. Pannell (MI)/OG – Probably the camp’s third best not offered coming in lineman. He’s compared with former wolverine R. Riley. J. Bennett (DC) is a backup plan for Sanders.

4. WSDE - S. Hale (PA)/LB - Camp performances indicates DE is the most likely future for him. He is gaining interest in UM and we offered best pal (and cousin) Saddler. K. Middleton (WA)/SSDE/TE - Very tough to get him off the west coast but he really likes UM and so does his HS coach. I’m worried about whether he is truly a WSDE. N.Perry (Det., MI)/LB - I like him a lot and he’s looking like he’ll be a wolverine. More of a “B” option guy. D. Heyman (KEN.) & K. Lewis-Moore (TX) - Both former high targets without new news or any real buzz for a while. J. Jarrett (CA)/SSDE & D. Square (TX)/SSDE– Other names to know who will make fine SSDEs. May take two DEs here.

3. SS- W. Hill (NJ) – Superstar who would be handed the keys to UM’s strong safety position. Who knows with him? He may want warm weather. S. Adams (NC) – A little less than 50% chance at this athletic freak show. B. Smith (NJ) – Michigan looking good for this top 100 player. J. Barbour (AZ) – UM currently is a solid lead for this four-star. There maybe qualifying problems. K. Staley (OK) - A stud but when does UM get OK studs? K. Cooper (TX) - 33% chance at best for this solid player. B. Leslie (CA) – Haven’t heard anything about him in a while. E. Biakabatuka (CAN) – See Leslie comments. May very well take two here.

2. LB- J.B. Fitzgerald (NJ) - A very important target for UM. Probably a MIKE but maybe a SAM. Either way we really need him. Rutgers is the biggest threat. J. Major (CO) - A bit short (6’4” numbers are wrong & exaggerated) but will probably be a great college MIKE and maybe a SAM. S. Filler (ILL) - Could be a SAM or a MIKE also. It looks like ND or OSU for him. Probably ND. His dad is good friends with B. Graham’s dad. A. Brown (KAN) – Tremendous but likely not to be a wolverine. J. Meyers (CONN) - See Beachum comments below but here there’s some positive new news. L. Murray (NY- M. Hart’s school) – Possibly will get an offer. I kind of like him. He could very possibly play SAM. C. Pantale (NJ) – Michigan is recruiting him as an OLB. B. Beachum (OH) – Witherspoon’s commit basically kills UM/Beachum relations? K. Demens (Det., MI) – Now that Michigan’s offered Gray will they finally offer his (short) 4-star teammate? G. Winston (Det., MI)/RB – A physical marvel. Great athlete/great shape. Detroit combine MVP. He could earn a scholarship offer very soon. Will take at least two more LBs.

1. RB- S. McGuffie (TX) - This year’s Ryan Mallett in UM’s eyes. D. Scott (CA) - The best RB in the county is taking an official visit to UM. J. Grey (Det., MI) – Rivals loves him while Scout does not care much due to McGuffie love. 4.37 40-time got him his offer. M. Shaw (OH) - (RB/ATH). He’s another 4-star to look out for. R. Polk (AZ)/ATH – Offeree is a between the tackles type meant to complement McGuffie. C. Saddler (PA)/ATH - Third down back/Returner who was offered to lure S. Hale. Might take two here.

(Photo of Sam McGuffie's thigh - credit unknown)