Sunday, July 29, 2007

Targets Update - The Post McGuffie Decision Edition


MICHIGAN FOOTBALL
2008 RECRUITING


Top 10 Remaining Targeted positions
as of July 30, 2007


Already Wolverines:

CB- B. Cissoko (Det., MI)
OT- D. O’Neil (MI)
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)
RB – S. McGuffie (TX)

* Bolded are the guys to really watch

10. DT- Might take one more (a one-gapper) but probably not (note - already have a very good ’09 commit in William Campbell from Det., MI/OT) - 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. RB- J. Grey (Det., MI) – Rivals loves him while Scout does not care much due to McGuffie love and next year’s in-state RB crop. He’s a between the tackles type with break away speed. 4.37 40-time at camp got him his offer. He would be a great complement to McGuffie. M. Shaw (OH) - (RB/ATH) - He’s another 4-star athlete to look out for. UM is probably #2 to PSU but the recent PSU commitment of B. Beachum as a RB may help UM out. 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. Recent reports argue that he is spectacular and would be a 5-star recruit if only a couple inches taller. Keep in mind that there are some good indications that UM will land one if not more of their 4 to 5 star in-state RB recruits in ’09. Capers is a speedster with some size while Jackson is a between the tackles type. Still, this position may take on greater importance if ’07 commit A. Horn does not qualify academically as reports are now beginning to indicate. Might take one here.
8. 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. California is a big threat because he can be a big fish there. A. Bushell (TX) – Probably visiting. Soon could move up this list. J.T. Floyd (SC) - Wavering Tennessee commit is visiting ND weekend. 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.
7. HB- C. Wilson (PA)/LB – Definitely some mutual interest here. I’m starting to feel it.
6. OG- Z. Schlink (AZ) - (probably a 40/60 chance at best). T. Robinson (NE) – Looks like he decommited from Nebraska (at least for now) but who knows where he’ll end up. I’m not very confident but I’m wishful. The decision should come soon. 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.
5. 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. He might also be a safety. 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) is a moderate to top talent with moderate interest. Will take at least one more here.
4. OT- Looking to take another tackle (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. P. Bailey (TN) – UM is starting to get on this guy. He’s a 4-Star who I’d like as a member of this class. D. Pannell (MI)/OG – Probably the UM camp’s third best not offered coming in lineman. He’s compared with former wolverine R. Riley. He probably will be headed to a school where he can be guaranteed a large role. J. Bennett (DC) is a backup plan for Sanders.
3. 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. OSU may lead now. We will get him on campus for the ND weekend and that will be huge. 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” level 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 – Another name to know. May very well take two DEs here.
2. SS- B. Smith (NJ) – Michigan looking good for this top 100 player. He would make a good starting SS for 3 to 4 years. W. Hill (NJ) – Superstar who would be handed the keys to UM’s strong safety position. Who knows with him? It certainly looks like its going to be Florida. S. Adams (NC) – Less than a 50% chance at this athletic freak show. He’s from the same school as current wolverine SS J. Adams. J. Barbour (AZ) – UM currently is a solid lead for this four-star. He’s a teammate of OG recruit Z. Schlink. There maybe some 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.
1. LB- J.B. Fitzgerald (NJ) - A very important target for UM. He’s probably a MIKE. We really need him. Rutgers and Florida are the biggest threats. J. Major (CO) - A bit short (6’4” numbers are wrong & exaggerated) but will probably be a great college MIKE and maybe a SAM. K. Demens (Det., MI) – Now has a Michigan offer and things are looking much brighter for him and teammate Gray. But isn’t he a WSLB/FB that we don’t need? A. Brown (KAN) – Tremendous but not likely to be a wolverine. J. Meyers (CONN) – Probably a Will which is a position we don’t need anybody else at but there’s been some positive news here. C. Pantale (NJ) – Michigan is recruiting him as an OLB. I don’t know a lot about him but what I do know I like. L. Murray (NY- M. Hart’s school) – Possibly will get an offer. I kind of like him. He could very possibly play SAM. 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.

BY: WILLIAM LAWRENCE, esquire, former UM employee
Photo is of J.B. Fitzgerald from I believe Scout.com


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