Willie Henry Goes Blue

1-4?  Willie Henry a 3 star DT/DE committed to Michigan today.   Willie was sort of a surprise for Wolverine Recruiting fans.  He visited Ann Arbor this weekend and picked the Wolverines today.

Willie is 6'3 around 275 pounds DT/DE from Glenville out of Ohio.  He has offers from Pitt, Syracuse, Cincy, Hawaii and a number of MAC schools.  (Can't remember the last time we were in a recruiting battle with Hawaii) Willie is a 3 star prospect to Rivals and Scouts.

I'm glad we got another DE/DT in this class and it's  always good to get another recruit from the talent rich Glenville.   Sure I would have loved to have landed Garnett, Reeves, Kozan or Grant but maybe our bad steak is over with Willie's commitment.

Michigan Monday: Updated Recruiting Scoreboard and it's Ugly

How does 0-3  0-4 sound right now?  Pretty bad. 

Josh Garnett to Stanford - Close to Home
Armani Reeves to OSU - Close friend/family attending there as well
Alex Kozan to Iowa - Iowa has always lead
Update: Sam Grant to Oklahoma.  Wow!

Michigan started the 2012 class arguably better then any other program in the country.  For the most part they have been able to hold on to the important members of this class and still ranked in the top 10.  The issue is Michigan was looking to finish just like they started, strong.  They have not and now has missed on the top prospect on their board (Garnett) and probably the position they need the most depth (Center and Kozan).   Michigan wanted another corner in this class and targeted Armani early on.   He is a small cover corner and Michigan has nice depth at that position already. 

Where do we go from here?

Jordan Diamond - Announces on Friday and visited Wisconsin.  Most services think Michigan, I haven't been very confident in Michigan the last 3 months or so. 

Sam Grant - Ohio TE and the rumor was we would announce last night.  We might hear today and it's between Michigan and Oklahoma.   Insiders are calling Michigan and I agree.  Could hear today.

New Names:

Chris Muller a 4 star OL who is verballed to Rutgers.  He is torn between staying with Rutgers or strongly considering Michigan.   Unless he get clarity in that decision in the next two days, I expect his decision might go past Wednesday.

Willie Henry: Is a 3 star DT/DE from Glenville in Ohio.  He has offers from Pitt, Syracuse, Cincy, and a number of MAC schools.   You know the kid is smart because he has a Hawaii offer and visited in December!  Willie visited Ann Arbor this past weekend and the rumor is he was offered a scholarship.  He is 6'3 and 275 pounds.   If Willie wants to go blue this could replace the loss of Pharaoh Brown who was a TE/DE hybrid player who broke Michigan's recruiting visit rules and is now an Oregon Duck.

It now looks like Michigan will not be able to fill all 5 remaining spots.  Which means they can give a scholarship to a walk on or bank it for a guy enrolling early next year.  Let's hope the coaching staff has a few surprises up their sleeve for signing day.   The only recruit I feel good about right now is Sam Grant but I know Oklahoma is pushing hard for him as well.

Quick Wolverine Weekend Update

Armani Reeves to OSU

Alex Kozan to (Twitter is saying) Auburn  Iowa.

Jordan Diamond enjoyed his visit to Wisconsin.

Sam Grant could announce at any time.

Monty Madaris to MSU.

Michigan Final 5 Starts Off 0-1

We knew it was 50/50 decision between Stanford and Michigan for Josh Garnett.  Michigan lost that coin flip and no matter his decision this was the first domino to fall in finishing Michigan's 2012 class.  

So now what?

• This decision has to be a positive for Jordan Diamond.  When looking back at the last few months, it was probably too much to ask for two 5 star guys in the final 5.   Jordan has been to Michigan like 5 or 6 times in the last year and has a good friend on the team already in Chris Bryant.  Not real excited that he is announcing 2 days past signing day.

• Alex Kozan I hear is leaning towards Iowa but Coach Hoke has a visit with him this weekend.  I expect an announcement soon after.  Alex can come in and play a position of need, which is center and Coach Hoke can make a pretty good case for early playing time.   

• Michigan is now back in the picture for 4 star offensive lineman Chris Muller who was a Rutgers commit.  The story goes Chris and Kyle Kalis became friends at the Army game and Chris thought about visiting Michigan early in January before he decided against it.  Now Rutgers have lost their head coach to the NFL and he might take a visit to Ann Arbor.   I am betting Kyle in in his ear about Michigan right now.  Sounds like this could be a good plan B for Michigan and Chris. 

• Hoke had a in home visit with Sam Grant last night. I expect an announcement as early as today or this weekend.

• Armani Reeves is struggling with his decision between playing with his best friend at OSU or at Michigan where he has a better relationship with the coaches and has stronger academics.

• If Michigan misses out on Alex Kozan look for instate Dan Gibbs to maybe land a late offer from the Wolverines. 

• Ondre Pipkins was not happy camper last night about 6:15 on Twitter, he felt Garnett lied to him.

The big question mark now is:  Will Michigan pull in a few surprise guys late in the process to try to get to 28 or will they bank a couple scholarships for next year?  Right now it looks like a trip to the bank.  

Can someone please explain to me, why Michigan didn't have a scholarship for Arnett?  I don't understand that one at all.

Garnett to Stanford

Time for plan B.

Latest Buzz........

I am hearing that some of the Josh Garnett to Michigan guys are starting to think it might be Stanford.   Not sure they have any new information to say one way or the other. I guess we will find out in 4 hours.   Josh is still tweeting Erik Magnuson, so I hope that is a good sign.

I am sure you heard that former Michigan coaching candidate/Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano took the Tampa Bay job this afternoon   Michigan is interested in two current Rutgers commits in offensive lineman Chris Muller and JJ Denman.  It has been reported that Michigan might have already called Chris this morning.  Pretty sure Chris was the 'secret visitor" that was planning a visit to Ann Arbor a couple of weeks ago but never happened.

Michigan Thursday: What Will Josh Garnett Do?

Today is January 26th the day that 5 star offensive lineman Josh Garnett will make up his college decision known.   He did an interview late last night and says he is still 50/50 between Michigan and Stanford.   Since he is trying to make a decision between two good schools.  I thought I would do a Tale of Tape for him to help with the final decision:

Academics = Push
Football Tradition = Michigan
Program Trending Up = Push
Chance to Play = Push
Distance from home = Stanford
Good Friend in Recruiting Class = Michigan
Outlook for Program over the next 4 years = Michigan   (loss of Luck and Harbaugh vs Denard, Devin and Shane at Michigan)
2012 Recruiting Class = Michigan (Scouts = Michigan #3 Stanford #21)

Votes:
Michigan = 4
Push = 3
Stanford = 1

As you can see it is a very close decision and could go anyway.  Let's hope he goes Blue around 6:00 tonight!

Most recruiting services are calling Stanford which include Scouts, Rivals and ESPN.  The local recruiting guys are calling Michigan.   This decision will have a big impact on how the rest of the class goes with Kozan, Diamond and Gibbs.

• Bill Sheridan was just hired as an assistant coach at OSU.  I think Nick still has some eligibility left.   I don't consider this a big deal, Bill needed a job and found one.

• Denard was at the Pistons - Heat game last night. 

• Jordan Diamond will announce on 2/3 with his teammate Robert Gregory.   Robert is deciding between Arkansas, Minnesota, Kansas and Purdue.  The only reason I bring this up is both Robert and Jordan have Arkansas on their lists.  Package deal?

• Coach Hoke will be in home with Sam Grant tonight.