Michigan Thursday: Jimmy Adds To His Staff

One of the question marks going into the season from a coaching standpoint is Jimmy's son Jay coaching the Running Backs.   Jay is a good football coach but doesn't really have any experience coaching RB's. 


Jimmy sort of fixed that yesterday, when he hired a former player (49'ers) Alfonso Smith to his staff.   Alfonso won't be able to coach on the field but will be able to prep the RB's in the film room, etc.   On January 1st, Michigan will be able to add another on field coach and the thought is Alfonso will get that role when it becomes available.  Michigan currently has a staff opening after Biff Poggi left to become the head coach of Baltimore Prep.


Alfonso played 4 seasons in the NFL with the Cardinals and 49'ers.  He went to Kentucky for college and played his HS ball in Louisville.   Welcome!

• Good Luck to DJ tonight.  I hope he is taken in the first round.

• David Harris signed a 2 year deal with the Patriots, reports were he was considering retirement after the Jets released him.

• BC and MSU have signed a home and home contract for 2024 and 2025.

• 2019 GA Offensive Line prospect Harry Miller will visit both OSU and Michigan in July.  Harry is 6'4 310 pounds and just finished his junior year of high school.

Wolverine Wednesday: Mid-Week Bullet Points

• 2019 4-star DE Kayvon Thibodeaux wants to visit Ann Arbor.

• North Carolina 4-star DT Rick Sandidge had “a great time” in Ann Arbor last weekend.

• Ohio 2019 four-star OL Nolan Rumler is expected on campus for a visit this weekend.

• 2018 4-star LB Cameron McGrone will visit tomorrow.

• Long time Michigan Basketball assistant Jeff Meyer is changing jobs and going to Butler to coach with another ex-Michigan assistant LaVall Jordan.

Michigan Tuesday: Michigan Looking Good For NBA Legacy in 2018 Class

Rivals.com

The son of Larry Nance and brother of Larry Nance Jr. is a top 100 2018 forward Pete Nance.    Coach B was recruiting Larry Nance Jr. to Michigan but that didn't work out and Jr. turned out to be an NBA prospect.  He won't make that mistake twice.


Pete seems to like Michigan and is down to the Wolverines, Northwestern and now maybe Ohio State who is coming in late after the coaching change.  Pete is expected to visit Ann Arbor a week from Saturday on July 1st and could be on commit watch. 


“Michigan is an established place, there’s nothing bad about it. It really seems like a great place. I’m going there officially the 1st of July so I’m really excited about it.”

• WR Zavier Scott from Germany was a standout in Michigan's camp last weekend and earned a offer from Central.

• 2019 TX DT Lloyd Murray Jr. will visit Ann Arbor this weekend.

• 2018 Safety Jamien Sherwood from Florida will also visit this weekend.

• Top 100 2018 FL OT Nicholas Petit-Frere visited last weekend and doesn't really talk to the media.   He is going to be a top prospect that many of the top programs are going to want.   Hopefully, Michigan put a great foot forward last weekend.   I'm told his last name in French translates to Little Brother.    He could be Mike Hart's favorite Michigan player if he comes to Ann Arbor.

Michigan Monday: Taking The Team Back To Europe

Jimmy is already planning their next trip to Europe for the team.   Next Spring Jimmy will take the team to London, Paris, and Normandy.  This private donor must have very deep pockets!

• Nico Collins is on campus but isn't participating in summer workouts yet.   He hasn't been cleared yet.  Which means he is still waiting on the Clearinghouse or has a minor injury and isn't medically cleared.   Hopefully, either situation won't be an issue and cleared up right away. 

• Michigan commitment twins Gemon Green and German Green will be at the BBQ at the Big House.

• Jimmy at the Arial Assault camp on Saturday said that Grant Perry won't represent Michigan on the field until there is closure in his case.   He also confirmed Grant Newsome will redshirt this year as he rehabs his knee.

• Sounds like Jimmy lost two members off his staff.  Reports are that Biff Poggi will head back to coaching HS football and one of his first hires Jim Minick is leaving his role.

• 2019 four-star TE Grayson Boomer visited on Friday.

• Don Brown says that Gary could be the best DE he has ever seen.  Yes, Please!

Michigan Friday: Interesting News and Notes

• Louisville Basketball is being punished for having a prostitute in the dorms entertaining recruits.  They might have to vacate some wins including the National Championship game against Michigan in 2013.   Does that mean, Michigan would be the National Champion that year?  No, the history books will show there wasn't a winner in the game.    I think we should claim as the National Champion that year!  Give Spike the MVP!  Side Note: NCAA if you really want to penalize a University for cheating, take away their National Championship and give it to the team they played and followed the rules.

• Speaking of Michigan Basketball, they got a 2019 commit in Clarkston big man Taylor Currie.  Taylor is 6'8 and probably has a few inches still to grow still.   He is young big man that rebounds and can shoot the 3.   Many of the 2019 rating are not in yet but Scout has him as an early 4 star.

• Michigan lost a QB recruit last night when Tyler Shough committed to North Carolina.   I hear the reason he committed was he knew the "Ceiling is the Roof" when it comes to Carolina Football.   Michigan was in early on Tyler who grew up a Michigan fan, my guess is he has a clearer route to playing time at NC over Michigan.    In Ann Arbor, there are going to be guys with the names of Milton and McCaffrey in his way to playing time.

• Michigan's Band will be heading to Dallas for the opener against Florida.

• 2018 3-star OT Raiqwon O'Neal has a Michigan offer and is expected on campus for a visit next week.

• Top ranked 2019 TE Grayson Boomer visited Ann Arbor yesterday and was offered.

• I'm a sucker for these types of photos.  I love that Coach Mattison had his DL unit over for dinner.  Lawrence Marshall looks huge! I also like seeing Aubrey Solomon in the photo. 

Hat tip to Mgoblog

Michigan Thursday: James Hudson Moving To DT

Toledo, OH 2018 commit James Hudson will be moving from DE to DT when Fall Camps starts.   James shared the planned news on the radio with WTKA's Michael Spath yesterday: 


"Right now, I'm 6'5" and about 297 lbs.," Hudson said. "I'll be playing defensive tackle for Coach Mattison."


"I've played all over the defensive line, and I feel like I can make the transition pretty easily," Hudson said. "I feel like I'm pretty versatile. I'm just ready to see what happens!


James is expected to report to Ann Arbor a week from this Saturday on June 24th. 

• Michigan Baseball coach Erik Bakich has decided to stay at Michigan and sign a new 5 year contract.   Reports are that Erik had an offer from Stanford and was a candidate for the South Carolina opening.

• DT Rick Sandidge is expected to visit Ann Arbor this weekend.

• 2019 KY DT Jacob Lacey is the first guy to commit to attending the BBQ at the Big House.

• Ex-Michigan long snapper Scott Sypniewski has transferred to Vanderbilt.

• Denard is getting a look at Jets camp this week.  He is a free agent and looking for a job this summer.  He also got a tryout with the Bears but didn't get a contract offer.

• The Michigan trip to Italy cost the funding donor $800,000 which is $5,000 to $6,000 per player. 

Wolverine Wednesday: More MSU News and Some Recruiting News and Notes

• MSU lost another player as Vayante Copeland has left the team.  He started 5 games at CB last year before he broke his foot.   Vayante also had a marijuana legal issue back in 2015.   Players keep dropping from this program and this is eleventh player to leave the program with eligibility since January.  

• Police reports say that former MSU Staff member and Sound Mind and Sound Body leader, Curtis Blackwell interfered with their investigation into the sexual assault charges brought a couple weeks ago against the 3 former players.  No charges have been filed against Blackwell.

• Michigan Baseball Coach Erik Bakich has been offered a new 5 year contract.   He made $182,000 last season. South Carolina and Stanford have been rumored to be interested in interviewing Erik.

• 2018 TN OL Jerome Carvin has Michigan in his final top 10 schools.

• 2018 Tampa 4-star OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, visited Ann Arbor yesterday.   Some Alabama insiders believe Nick is their #1 target on the offensive line in this class.

• 2018 4 Star NC DT Rick Sandidge is expected on campus this week.

• Michigan made the top 4 for GA OG James Ohonba along with Alabama, LSU, and USC.

• The BBQ at the Big House is scheduled for July 29th!

• Remember recruit Vic Viramontes?  He announced that he is transferring from CAL.

• Peppers will wear #22 for the Browns.