Michigan Thursday: Heading to Germany and Spider Gone

If I was Coach B, I would make sure I was recruiting a European player every year and then extend the trip a week or so. Franz Wagner brother of Mo will get a visit from Coach B very soon.  Franz still has a few weeks left in his season and is then expected to make a decision.  Rumor mill is Mo and Mom are pulling for Michigan.   Well will see what Franz has to say.   I would also recruit guys in Hawaii.

Michigan Basketball still has an important visit this weekend with graduate transfer William and Mary transfer Justin Pierce.

The big news today is that Miles "Spider" Simms a 4 star red-shirt freshman from Georgia has entered the Transfer Portal.  The WOTS was that Simms was way too skinny and not gaining weight and was getting passed by 3 stars and walk-ons.   He also didn't participate last Saturday which means he is gone or was hurt.

Local kid Vincent Gray got a ton of Spring Buzz and is a borderline starter. Even walk-on and former WR Hunter Reynolds was getting pushing people.   Spider found himself behind a lot of people and was probably clear he didn't see a way to get on the field.

Being in the portal doesn't mean you are 100% transferring but in this case there is a very good chance he is gone.  

Brandon Peters news has to be coming soon.   His planned destination, Purdue got some news today that quarterback Elijah Sindelar got another year granted by the NCAA.

Wolverine Wednesday: Has Dax Hill News

It has pretty much become recruiting season for Michigan's top 2 sports.   Football is looking for superior talent for the 20 and 21 classes, Basketball is trying to fill 2 holes left by the NBA Draft.  

Jimmy sometimes drops nuggets on his podcast.   The latest nugget is that Dax Hill is planning to be in Ann Arbor enrolled and working out with the team on 6/1.   Jimmy also said, that was important because the plan is to play him early.   The news is really being Dax coming up on June 1st, which will give him about a month lead time on the guys arriving this fall.   Which means more time working out with the DB's and more time in the S&C program.  

• Brock Mealer will be studying at the Ross Executive MBA Program. 

• Devin Bush is visiting the Raiders today

• 4 star RB Blake Corum tweeted out he is announcing soon.  He plays for Biff and his CB predictions is 100% Maize and Blue. 

• Michigan Basketball transfer prospect Justin Pierce who is visiting this weekend will also take a visit to North Carolina. 

Michigan Tuesday: Some Recruiting News Basketball and Football

With Michigan Basketball probably losing two players to the NBA draft, Coach B has to fill a few holes in the offense.   One option is William and Mary graduate transfer Justin Pierce.  Justin averaged 14.9 points per game and 8.9 rebounds this past season. He just visited ND last weekend and will get a chance to see Michigan this weekend. His decision could come after that.
Not sure if these guys are on the radar, but brothers Sam and Joey Hauser announced they are transferring from Marquette.  Sam is a 6-foot-8 junior that averaged 15.1 points, 7.2 boards and 2.3 assists this past season. Joey is a 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman that averaged 9.8 points and 5.2 boards. They both shot better than 40 percent from three this season.  These are Coach B type of players but would need a waiver to play next season.  No word yet, if Michigan is interested in the talented brothers.

Speaking of brothers, Franz Wagner is still out there if he decides to come to the US and recruit Harlond Beverly committed to Miami yesterday, so he is off the radar.

---
We know, Michigan got a 2020 de-commitment just as the Spring Game was ending.  Which is strange timing and pretty good sign the coaches wanted to go in another direction.


-Michigan is looking strong for the top QB in the 2021 class QB J.J. McCarthy from Illinois. J.J. says Jimmy told him that he is the Wolverines top priority for the 2021 class/ -Michigan also leads for 3 star 2020 Tennessee RB Jabari Small who visited last weekend.
-The Wolverines made the top 8 for 2020 DE Antwaun Powell who visited Ann Arbor in March. -Michigan also made the top 5 for Bay City WR 2020 three-star wide receiver Devell Washington.

Michigan Monday: Spring Game Thoughts

Michigan on Saturday held a practice/scrimmage at the Big House.  It wasn't really a game and more of a scrimmage but it was more entertaining then I expected.   I wasn't there live but did watch it on BTN to Go while also keeping an eye on the Masters.

Here are a few of my thoughts:

I like it! 

• Speed in Space is for real and Michigan showed tempo getting to the line of scrimmage.   They are going to catches the defense with too many men on the field or get them tired.   The pace wasn't warp speed but it was much better than what we have seen.   Michigan still has some work to be done, but I like version 1.0.   
• Rember when OSU had 3+ QB's better than Michigan's starter?  The Wolverines have 3 very good QB's that could play right now.  Shea is clearly #1 but its a nice luxury to have 3 guys competing to be the best.  
• Tarik Black is healthy and looked pretty good on a couple of throws.  
• Ross didn't play but the LB's look fast and physical. 
• Like the depth on the offensive line, that looks like a solid unit 
• Barrett had a nice pick and looks to be the advertised athlete he was recruited to be
• The secondary looked good without Hill
• Ronnie Bell is going to be really good 
• Michigan has 2 very good kickers
• McCaffrey is sneaky fast

Going to Need Some Work

• There are two areas that concern me.  The first is the RB position.  I know about the injuries and the projections about being ready by Fall.   Still, this is an issue and Michigan didn't have a scholarship RB on the field on Saturday (Yes, I know Tru earned one as a walk-on - Ok,  VanSumeren is a scholarship recruited RB but I consider him more of a FB then a TB).  Chris Evans getting his academics cleared up and his suspension lifted is very important for this offense.  
• The defensive line concerns me.  The first unit is pretty good but it doesn't seem to have any depth.  Michigan needs to hit the transfer portal after Spring Ball to look for a big run stopper.  I think the DE position will be ok with the CMU transfer and Michigan's younger guys.  Ben Mason is a physical guy, but I don't believe is the answer.  Dwumfour was dressed and looked like he has lost some weight.  
• Injuries - I know Spring injures aren't a huge concern but Michigan is missing a lot of guys that are trying to learn a new offense.  

I had very little expectation on Saturday and thought the Wolverines were pretty open about their play calls and new offense.   Yes, it still needs work and Michigan has pretty much all of its skill positions hurt.   I also thought it was a little funny that the defensive could hit the walk-on running backs but not Tru or VanSumeren.

Michigan also suffered a de-commitment from Columbus, OH WR Kalil Branham.  Kalil committed to Pep Hamilton who is now running an XFL team and the thought is Gattis has some other ideas for WR's in the 2020 class.   Kalil's brother signed to play at EMU in the 2019 class.