Ghosts Be Damned

Wherever you are on this day Nick Yingst, you're going down.

Top Maryland Athlete Chooses the Buckeyes

Lamaar Thomas, a Rivals top100 athlete, last night selected Ohio State as his college of choice. Thomas, who held over thirty scholarship offers, had a final five of Maryland, Florida, Illinois and Tennessee. Illinois, who has made great strides in recruiting the DC metro area, was reportedly the other finalist.

Thomas becomes the 12th commitment for the 2008 class, and the first to join since OSU late July. The Buckeyes actually picked up two commits for the 2009 class during that time. OSU coaches envision the speedy Thomas as an all-purpose threat in the mold of Ted Ginn Jr. and Ray Small. They plan to use him in the slot and get him the ball in space. Along with DeVier Posey and TE Jake Stoneburner, the Buckeyes now have verbals from 3 top 100 receivers. With Michael Floyd (MN) and Cordale Scott (OH) still considering OSU, this could the greatest receiver class in school history.

Here's more on the Thomas commitment from the Columbus Dispatch, and the Washington Post discusses one of his recent performances.

Michigan Targets Update

MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 2008 RECRUITING

Top 12 Remaining Targeted positions as of October 18, 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 Georgia Tech

TE – K. Koger (OH)

RB – S. McGuffie (TX)

RB – M. Cox (CT)

HB – C. Wilson (PA)

LB – J.B. Fitzgerald (NJ)

LB – K. Demens (MI)

* Bolded are the guys to really watch

12. K – Michigan already has a scholarship kicker and 1-2 good walk-ons. UM NEVER has two scholarships taken up at the kicker position, but J. Potter (MI) is having a great senior year and is interested. Is Michigan?

11. DT- There is some talk that UM 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) and I have no idea who it would be.

10. RB- Michigan is almost certainly done at RB. But…J. Grey (Det., MI) – Nebraska commit who may be in play because of the significant problems at Nebraska right now. 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 breakaway speed. 4.37 40-time at camp got him his offer. He would be a great complement to McGuffie. 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. Also, ’09 Edwin Baker (MI) is another in-state back who is exploding onto the scene. RBs in ’09 will be to Michigan what TEs were to Ohio in ’08.

9. LB – Michigan is very likely done as far as Wills and Mikes go. But if they aren’t there is still: 3-star L. Murray (NY- M. Hart’s school) – Unlikely but Possible that he will get an offer. I kind of like him. He could very possibly play SAM (a linebacking position of need). G. Winston (Det., MI)/RB – A physical marvel. Great athlete/great shape. Detroit combine MVP. He could earn a scholarship offer. Plus there is 5-star J. Major (CO) and 4-star J. Meyers (CT) but UM just doesn’t seem interested in those two guys.

8. CB- A. Bushell (TX) – Probably visiting. He grew up a UM fan. It’s been quiet on him for a little while. J. Holley (PA) – Mixed reviews on him and he’s given UM mixed reviews as well. I’m not feeling very confident about him. Loves the movie Rudy. R. Green (LA) – Visiting for OSU…I think. Soon could move up this list too but I doubt it. UM would like one more corner but there isn’t a real likely scenario out there as of now.

7. OT- This would be a higher priority except that there isn’t much left out there. 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 just visited but he’s probably going south. J. Bennett (DC) is a backup plan for Sanders.

6. Slot receiver/Return man - C. Saddler (PA)/ATH – Slot receiver (Breaston?) or third down back/returner who was originally 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. He should at least be a great return guy which is a position UM needs. Watch out for UVA here.

5. SSDE – J. Jarrett (CA) – Michigan leads for this 4-star from San Diego. He’s being recruited by English who I think might just hook him. I’m not crazy about high school kids who are labeled by some to be “SSDEs” because I take that as meaning the player is to slow. However, Jarrett looks pretty athletic and has a ‘kill the QB’ attitude so I like him.

4. 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. It may be a signing day decision. Watch out for Pitt. D. Sims (MI) from the class of ’09 is a total stud and in many ways similar to Baldwin. He likes UM and UM will go after him even harder if we miss out on Baldwin. F. Smith (Det., MI) – He’s a committed Spartan but there are some reports of second thoughts. V. Carraway (PA)/S -The ’07 Z. Babb who is being recruited as an athlete. He might also be a safety. I’m pretty so-so on him. I’m not sure if UM is pushing very hard for him. 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. We will take at least one more here.

3. OG- T. Robinson (NE) – He decommited from Nebraska (at least for now) but who knows where he’ll end up. I wasn’t very confident but I’m wishful now. Things are really falling apart at Nebraska and Notre Dame and those schools are the other finalists. Another visit is very likely. I think he will really solidify the future for UM on the offensive line if he commits. 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. I haven’t heard much about him lately. Z. Hueter (MI) – He hangs around the guys a lot and comes to all of the games so maybe he’ll got a last second scholarship offer if we need another Offensive lineman.

2. Safety- B. Smith (NJ) – Michigan looking good for this top 100 player. He would make a good starting SS for 3 to 4 years. Rutgers is the main competition here. S. Adams (NC) – Less than a 50% chance at this big time athlete. He’s from the same school as current wolverine SS J. Adams. V. Telemaque (CA) – He’s from Cal-Poly (the same school as D. Warren). That fact is really helping us out. USC has offered and he’s having a big senior season. UM, USC, and UNC are the top three. Michigan leads. He is now a 4-star with both Scout and Rivals. J.T. Floyd (SC) – He’s an extremely soft Tennessee commit. He very recently said that it’s between Tennessee and UM. Some see him as a corner. I think FS sounds about right and Tom Beaver says UM is recruiting him as a safety. Mixed reviews on him but he’s growing on me. He’s a high 3-star with both Scout and Rivals. K. Cooper (TX)- A high 3-star. I think UM is holding back the full court press on him because of the others on this list above him. If we do press hard we might very well get him. I’m a fan. R. Moore (CA) – He is a soft UCLA commit and he is being recruited as a CB/S for UM. He was offered after the UCLA commit and Ron English is recruiting him (See Donovan Warren) and he may still take an official to UM. He’s not going to Michigan but I put his name on this list anyways. Michigan will take up to three on this list and should add two anyway.

1. Pass rusher- N.Perry (Det., MI) – An explosive senior season has changed the perception of Nick. He is now in every local analyst’s view the number 1 player in the state of Michigan. He’s been offered by (and courted heavily) by USC (the main competition). Because he’s really starting to fill out, he’ll be an elite DE in college. Michigan REALLY needs him. S. Hale (PA) – A 5-star stud athlete but number 2 on the pass rusher wish list for UM. Camp performances indicate that DE is the most likely future for him. He is gaining interest in UM and we offered best pal (and cousin) Saddler. WVU may lead now. We will get him on campus a couple of times with the official visit occurring on the OSU weekend. That could be huge. C. Pantale (NJ) – Michigan is recruiting him as a SAM. I don’t know a lot about him but what I do know I like. Michigan is in his final three. Getting both Perry and Hale would be a dream.

Phot: Nick Perry (center) from Scout.com

Calling Brandon Smith...

We need you. He is the latest to take over the top spot in the 2008 football recruiting wishlist. He would be penciled in to take over the SS spot his sophomore season. He and then senior Steve Brown would make for a very athletic safety combination. Hopefully peer pressure will get him on board.

Crable a first-round pick?

He would make a great OLBer in the NY Jets 3-4 defense. He has been one wolverine who has played at a high level for almost every snap this year. Plus he's a star all-around athlete with great measurables. He is versatile in that he can put his hand on the ground and rush or blitz or cover a RB/TE. But primarily he is a pass rusher. Other than that I don't really know the guy.

Sam McGuffie is a 5-Star Prospect

That is according to Scout.com. BTW- Since returning from an ankle sprain injury that kept him out of several games, Sam returned to action these past two weeks with over 500 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Buckeyes Land Another Elite '09 Commit

Coach Jim Tressel received some great news yesterday, as Licking Valley RB/LB Storm Klein offered his verbal commitment to the Buckeyes. Klein, a junior, becomes the second member of the 2009 class. Some recruiting services have Klein as a top 100 player for next year, and all agree that he's one of the top prospects in the state of Ohio.

Klein received interest from many top programs like USC and Penn State, but he always considered a heavy Buckeye lean At one point he told reporters that he could commit any time, but wanted to make sure he was making the right decision. With his home state Buckeyes unexpectedly at #1 again, Klein decided to pull the trigger.

Along with Kentucky star Jordan Whiting, the Buckeyes already have two potential stud linebackers to add to an already deep position.

(photo provided by Rivals.com)