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Loading ...Recruiting Update: Part II (Rounding Out the Class)
Nice helmet, Mr. Baxter.
It’s been a while since I posted any updates on football recruiting, and with the Feb. 3 national signing day less than a month away, I figured I’d catch up on everything before the class completely rounds out and renders my opinion entirely irrelevant. In part one, I’ll looked at the six players who have enrolled early. Today, I examine the players that Michigan is looking at to fill the final few spots in the class of 2010.
For what seemed like an eternity, it was assumed that Michigan would be adding high school teammates Tony Grimes (Rivals 3* CB) and Clarence Murphy (3* DE) to the class of 2010. However, Murphy shocked recruiting experts by picking Maryland last week, and it is looking increasingly unlikely that Grimes, who will visit Ole Miss on Jan. 22 and also is considering Maryland, will choose Michigan. Also, the news that Adrian Witty had failed to qualify, coupled with rumblings that current commit Tony Drake is unlikely to qualify himself, means that there are a couple more spots available in the class than was initially expected. With signing day rapidly approaching, who are the candidates to fill out Michigan’s class? Let’s take a look:
Dillon Baxter, Mission Bay, CA (Rivals 5*, #22 overall, #1 all-purpose back): Baxter, along with wideout Kyle Prater, and the two most noteworthy USC commits who have opened up their recruiting in the wake of Pete Carroll jumping to the NFL. Michigan has been in contact with Baxter since Carroll left for Seattle, and will definitely be a player in his recruitment — the long-time Trojan commit took an official visit in November, and left impressed with the facilities and the coaching staff. Considering the only other official he has taken was to San Diego State, one would think that Michigan has a good chance at landing the blue-chip recruit. Baxter is a versatile back who can run between the tackles, bounce it outside, and even play some receiver and wildcat quarterback. Landing him would be a coup, and could change the entire outlook of this class.
Jatashun “Big Tex” Beachum, Dallas, Texas (Rivals 3*, #37 athlete): Beachum is not your typical “athlete” recruit, standing at 6’2, 275. With the commitment of Jonathan Hankins to Ohio State, Michigan is still in need of a true DT who can clog the middle, and Big Tex fits that mold. However, Beachum is much more than just a defensive tackle — the Arkansas soft commit plays quarterback and running back for his high school team, and shows speed and agility that are, quite frankly, freakish for a player of his build. Just check out his highlight tape, and I guarantee you’ll want to see this kid in the maize and blue (warning: highlights contain NSFW language). Beachum is down to Michigan and Arkansas, and will be announcing his decision on signing day.
Jibreel Black, Cincinnati, Ohio (Rivals 3*, #24 strongside DE): Black has had a tumultuous recruitment, having initially committed to Indiana in June before changing his pledge to Cincinnati in October, and now is opening up his recruitment after Brian Kelly took the Notre Dame head coaching job. Michigan was a strong contender for Black before he committed to Indiana, and have jumped right back into the picture — Black will take four official visits this month, to Cincinnati, Michigan State, Michigan, and Indiana, in that order. The Wolverines are looking at Black, who is 6-2, 253 pounds, to come in at strongside defensive end, a definite need in a class that is lacking in true defensive ends.
Rashad Knight, Jacksonville, Florida (Rivals 4*, #20 CB): Although Rivals has Knight listed as a cornerback, he would likely come in as a safety if he committed to Michigan. The Wolverines have been a consistent presence throughout Knight’s recruitment — although he was unable to make it to an official visit on Ohio State weekend, coach Rod Smith visited his home last week, and Knight will be taking his official visit this weekend. He recently visited Auburn, but has now narrowed his list to three schools: Michigan, Ole Miss, and Rutgers. He will be taking visits to both other schools following his trip to Ann Arbor. Although Sean Parker appears to be Michigan’s top target at safety, Knight would certainly be a welcome addition to this year’s class.
Steve Mehrer, Dublin, Ohio (Rivals 3* ILB): The 6-1, 220 pound Mehrer possesses an impressive highlight video, but as of yet no scholarship offer from Michigan. Mehrer took an official visit for the Penn State game, and came away very impressed with Michigan — it is very likely that he would commit as soon as Michigan offered him a scholarship. With Mehrer playing a position of great need (inside linebacker), and with the extra scholarships freed up for various reasons, it would not be surprising to see Mehrer — who holds offers from Indiana and a bevy of MAC schools — become a late addition to this year’s class.
Sean Parker, Harbor City, CA (Rivals 4*, #21 safety): Michigan, once thought to be on the outside looking in with Parker, has come on strong in recent weeks, helped by the fact that USC — and Pete Carroll — were thought to be the Wolverines’ strongest competition for Parker’s services. The 5’11, 185 pound Parker is not the most striking physical presence, but the Army All-American possesses great ball skills and instincts and gets the most out of his physical abilities. He narrowed his list of schools down to Michigan, USC, and Cal at the end of December, and will announce his decision on signing day. With Carrolls departure, Michigan appears to have the inside track to land Parker, who has expressed an interest in leaving the state of California, but he has been relatively quiet of late. This is one player to keep an eye on as signing day approaches.
Michael Taylor, Atlanta, Georgia (Rivals 3*, #13 ILB): Taylor, a Tennessee commit, has stated an intention to look around before signing day, and Michigan could be in line to receive an official visit this month, as well as Notre Dame. Taylor was the MVP for the Blur team in the Under Armour All-American Game, and is a hard-hitting presence at inside linebacker, a position of great need for the Wolverines. There hasn’t been much word on Taylor’s recruitment in the past week or so, but he would be a great addition to the class if Michigan can get him on campus and change his mind about where he goes to school.
Mike Thornton, Stone Mountain, Georgia (Rivals 4*, #10 DT): Michigan has hung around the fringe of Thornton’s recruitment for a long time, and although they’d be considered a long-shot at this point, they’re not out of the running just yet. The 6’2, 280 pound DT has taken official visits to Penn State and Georgia, and Miami and Auburn are also in line to get visits this month, but Michigan could be the team that receives his fifth and final official. Thornton would be a huge pickup if Michigan managed to make a late push, although it looks like he’ll probably be headed elsewhere.
Torrian Wilson, Miami, Florida (Rivals 4*, #2 guard): Michigan was an early leader for Wilson before he made a sudden, and surprising, commitment to Stanford after his official visit there. Wilson decommitted from the Cardinals just before Christmas, however, and Michigan was said in a final three with South Florida and Tennessee, although Wilson has also added a visit to Louisville as well. Wilson will take an official visit to Ann Arbor on Jan. 22, and the Wolverines have the advantage of being a team that has recruited him the whole way, and Wilson also has an aunt who lives in the area. Michigan, with only one current commitment on the offensive line, could really use Wilson. Hopefully the coaches can convince him that Ann Arbor is the place for him.
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