Notes
Nauta: Something we alluded to yesterday can be confirmed 100% at this point, at least from Michigan's perspective: if Isaac Nauta does not choose Georgia, it's going to be Michigan. Secondly, the Wolverines are chomping at the bit to close out strong at Nauta with Mark Richt being let go in Athens as well. No confirmation yet, but we'd be shocked if Jay and/or
Jim Harbaugh were not conducting the equivalent of an in-home visit with Nauta as soon as possible (he's at IMG Academy).
He has used all five of his official visits at this point, and used one to Georgia, which may be a blessing in disguise for the Wolverines although he could take an unofficial to Florida (a school I'm still not 100% writing off and I expect to push as well).
Again, as far as a strict recruit-fit combination in the 2016 class, there may not be a better one than Nauta to Michigan. The stock for the Wolverines in this recruitment continues to rise, and confidence is also rising in Ann Arbor that they may be able to reel in the big fish.
Michigan on the road: We've dropped our lines in the water on who Michigan coaches will be out to see this week, but this stuff is never a surprise at this point in the process.
Go down our
list of top targets (and some "high choices), and I'll bet you a nickel a Michigan coach drops by to see them at some point.
Top priorities include
Rashan Gary,
Jordan Fuller, Lavert Hill, David Long, Isaac Nauta, etc.
Nordin: Michigan continues to feel great about their chances of eventually flipping Penn State kicker commitment
Quinn Nordin, according to multiple sources.
Quinn Nordin Rockford
Where will Quinn Nordin commit to?
All Crystal Ball Predictions
Nordin was on campus at Michigan for the fourth time this season, and has been leaning towards a flip to the Wolverines for at least the last two months, according to one person in the know we talked to on Sunday. Follow the visits, and it's not really difficult to figure out. His official to Penn State was last week when they took on.......Michigan.
The nation's #1 kicker remains a take for the Wolverines from what we've been told as well.
Camp: Michigan is reportedly still pursuing 2016 Top150 defensive tackle
Keyshon Camp, but we're not as confident in Michigan's chances as we once were.
Every cycle, there are a couple recruits who come from warm weather that tend to shy away from Michigan (or other schools) when they have warm weather options to play in. Following this weekend's visit, we're putting Camp in that category.
The Wolverines felt pretty good about a flip of Camp heading into the weekend, but that optimism has faded a little bit based on the weather situation (yes). Look for Camp to stick to his pledge to USC unless Michigan can pull a rabbit out of their hat.
Hill: 247Sports National Analyst Steve Wiltfong reported Sunday that Top100 cornerback Lavert Hill actually decommitted from Penn State last week, but made it public on Sunday night after his team won a state title on Friday.
Those that have covered his recruitment are not surprised that he wants to take his decision out until the Army Game and it's not really a surprise that he will take all five of his official visits as well.
Will Michigan get one of those officials? We're leaning towards no right now. Texas, USC, Michigan State and Tennessee are four we could see taking place. Maybe the Wolverines will sneak in, but it remains in the air at this point. Either way, it would remain a major upset if another school scooped Hill up.
Corley/WRs: Top150 wide receiver Donnie Corley is expected to still make his college decision on December 8th from what we're told, and as of this writing, we confirmed that Jim Harbaugh followed up his in-home visit with Lavert Hill last night with one to Corley.
Michigan's options at wide receiver look a lot like the ones they've had at defensive end the past few cycles; elite players who all but appear to be publicly leaning towards the Wolverine with zero verbals.
My opinion on the situation is that the harder the Wolverines push for Corley, I think it also says a lot about Michigan feeling like they're still in it (kind of obvious). With Hill decommitting from Penn State, Michigan may see a route to Corley through an eventual Hill commitment, as the two have talked about playing at the same place.
Early indications following this weekend are that Velus Jones may be a lean towards Oklahoma (we'll follow up with him this week) and we've talked enough about Pie Young. Eddie McDoom is scheduled to officially visit Ann Arbor on December 11th. Dylan Crawford remains quiet, but it should either be the Wolverines or Oregon.
2017 OL: Going into the weekend, I put in a 247Sports Crystal Ball on 2017 center Cesar Ruiz (who I think moves way up the board as a need in the class following Saturday's game), and Michigan looks like they're in great shape with him as of now. It's another elite OL that Michigan feels good about that could be a surprise.
"I'd absolutely watch (Michigan) with
Robert Hainsey," one source noted immediately following the visit. "I think they have a great chance with him. Ruiz too, but Michigan is in it with any prospect in New Jersey right now."
Hainsey has long been considered a near lock to commit to Penn State, but we may be looking at a third season in which there's some major pressure on James Franklin to take some steps forward with the program. Michigan State and Ohio State are two other programs Hainsey has been believed to be considering, but Michigan is right in the thick of it now.
Bits
- Not a ton to elaborate on, but the Wolverines still feel good about their situation with Terrance Davis, the nation's top guard in 2016. Davis drove home last night, so we will have more on his visit in the near future.
- Michigan could be a factor in the race for Mecole Hardman Jr. following his official visit. The reaction we got from those in the know was tepid, and Hardman's reaction to the Mark Richt firing on Twitter yesterday seemed to give a pretty clear indication that he may have been leaning towards the Bulldogs. That's not a big surprise, so maybe the Wolverines can sneak in here. We'll have more from him this week.
- The Wolverines offered the nation's top tight end in 2018 on Sunday in Camp Hill (PA)'s Zack Kuntz. A Penn State legacy, the Nittany Lions have been believed to be the (very) early school to beat, but we're told his Michigan visit couldn't have gone any better. Kuntz is close with Michael Shuster, the preferred walk-on QB commitment who was also in town this weekend. Michigan feels good about their chances with Kuntz early on.
- Given the aforementioned situation with Keyshon Camp, we may see Michigan push again with Chris Daniels, but it will likely be for naught as we expect Daniels to commit to Oklahoma on December 18th.
.God I hope we don't play any spread teams in the bowl game those guys in space
.
long as Gary is here
