Notes
Bush Jr.: In about 48 hours, top linebacker target
Devin Bush Jr. will make his college decision, and it will be between Florida State and Michigan.
I'm still sitting at about 65/35 in favor of the Wolverines here. I realize there are many reasons why he would or could commit to Florida State, but I don't feel like I am exaggerating when I say Michigan has recruited him harder than anyone on their board outside of maybe Rashan Gary. At points in this recruitment, Michigan continued to push very, very hard while Florida State took a more lax approach, assuming he was eventually going to commit to them because of his Florida roots and legacy status with his father being a former Seminole star.
The coaching staff has made not only Bush Jr., but the Flanagan program in general a major priority on the recruiting trail, and I believe this remains a situation where their persistence will pay off. Small note, but don't forget that it was actually Bush Jr. who coined the #Fab25 phrase while on one of his unofficial visits to campus.
The other and more major note I continue to go back to regarding Michigan's confidence in Bush Jr. revolved around him not being able to make his official visit last weekend. When it first became clear that Flanagan's playoff run would interfere with the visit date, there was no concern on Michigan's end as far as him missing what would normally be a vital visit late in an important recruitment.
However this decision turns out, you can be sure there will be
extensive notes on the happenings.
Walker: I talked to one source on the Florida State side of things on Monday, and the belief is that Michigan's lead for
Kareem Walker may have been too much to make up for them to catch the Wolverines in the end.
Again, crootin, but this is another race where it really would take a lot to overcome the momentum Michigan had. The Wolverines and maybe Arizona State are the only two programs that recruited him hard while he remained committed to Ohio State, and Michigan really picked things up once it became clear he was wavering on his pledge to Ohio State.
Unless something changes here, I'm not taking my Crystal Ball off of the Wolverines in this race also. Again, extensive notes will follow however this turns out.
Onwuzurike: Michigan would really like to add Allen (TX) three-star defensive end
Levi Onwuzurike to their 2016 fold. He's a player they've recruited forever, and one that they've continued to pursue with vigor, as Greg Mattison was in-home last week after also watching him in a playoff game the weekend before.
He's set to announce a top four in the near future, and while Baylor, Washington and Michigan are safe bets to make that group, there isn't a great feel for who the fourth school would be. It may be local TCU. Either way, that fourth school is currently on the outside looking in (in our opinion) regardless of who it is. One source closer to the Michigan side of things was blunt when asked if there was any feel for what he was going to do: "None".
With four-star DE Connor Murphy 99% locked in to visit in January, the dead period will be an opportunity for the Wolverines to continue to work on Onwuzurike to get a better idea of where things stand with him.
He is a three-star prospect, but I'll get out in front of it now and say that if he does pledge to Michigan, it will be a huge win for the staff. They are very, very high on his abilities.
Bits
- Michigan's road to
Isaac Nauta got harder with Jacob Eason reaffirming his pledge to Georgia on Tuesday morning. We've had Nauta pegged to the Bulldogs for a while, but an Eason pledge to Florida would have helped the Wolverines' chances.
- Probably not a major surprise, but with an offer now on the board, we expect 2017 LB Jaquan Henderson to flip to the Wolverines from UCLA sooner rather than later. This pledge won't affect Michigan's pursuit of anybody on their LB board in the class, as we still see Josh Ross and Drew Singleton as the top overall targets early on.
- Posted this on the board yesterday, but worth re-iterating: It won't be a surprise to see Ohio State attempt to make a late run at Rashan Gary. Antwuan Jackson is expected to choose Auburn and the Buckeyes continue to chase LSU lean Rashard Lawrence at defensive tackle. If they miss on both, they will regroup and go hard after Gary and may go hard at him either way. While the Greg Schiano hire will help the Buckeyes recruiting efforts in the Garden State, we don't expect it to be immediately with kids slated to make decisions in less than two months. The battles in 2017 and 2018 will be a lot more interesting.
- Michigan tight ends coach
Jay Harbaugh dropped in on 2017 five-star offensive tackle
Austin Jackson last week while in town to see Connor Murphy. Expect the Wolverines to pick up their pursuit of him going forward, as I've moved him to the Top Target category on the 2017 board (for now). He's right there with Isaiah Wilson and Robert Hainsey as far as the tackle position is concerned.
- While Michigan is definitely one of the top schools on the list of 2017 Top100 wide receiver
Tarik Black, I fully believe Alabama is in the driver's seat for now. Depending on how the Tide view him as a prospect, it may be where he eventually ends up.
- Two 2017 Georgia prospects with offers are expected to release a top group soon, and I'd be surprised if the Wolverines made the cut for either one of them. Expect four-star cornerback
William Poole III and four-star linebacker
Jaden Hunter to end up elsewhere.
Levi Onwuzurike highlights
After watching this I can see why the staff is after him so hard
kid is relentless great looking motor
we taking his dad on, too
