Michigan News and Notes

• The word on the street is that Jay Hopson is the leading candidate for the defensive coordinator position at Michigan. Coach Rod says his focus is on recruiting: "I know a lot of people in this profession," Rodriguez said Wednesday at the National Football Foundation/Detroit Free Press all-state banquet at the Dearborn Inn. "My main focus right now is recruiting, and that's what I've been concentrating on." "Obviously, as a head coach, it's my responsibility to find the best fit for the program, and I'll do that," Rodriguez said. "I don't have a specific timetable other than I hope to have it by the time our student-athletes come back on Jan. 7. I'd like to have it in place by then, but I don't have to." It seems maybe RR is open to looking nationally for the next DC and that Jay is not a slam dunk.
• Michigan is still expecting 6-8 recruits to enroll early next month. RR: "I really think recruiting's going very well," he said. "We're going to have quite a group come in at midterm (in January). Anywhere between six-eight, and that's pretty exciting."
• Does the loss of Shafer as the DC affect "Big" Will Campbell decision in schools? "It really doesn't affect me because my defensive line coach is still there," Campbell said, speaking of U-M assistant Bruce Tall, who also attended the banquet. "It also doesn't affect me at all because I don't know where I'm going. Even if I was still committed there, it probably wouldn't make a difference because my coach is still there." That is good news, I think?
• LLP is ready to play! For those that don't know that LLP is short for freshman guard and Arizona transfer Laval Lucas-Perry who is eligible to play in Michigan's game this weekend against Oakland University at the Palace. LLP is 6"3, 185 and is expected to be a physical presence at point guard. Things are point up for the Michigan Basketball program right now! At 7 wins they have 70% of the wins they had last year and were not in the Big Ten season yet.
• Snake Oil Alert: WR Auburn commit Travante Stallworth says he is still committed to Auburn but will take a visit to Ann Arbor 0n January 9th. He told Mgoblog: "With Michigan there’s so much history. My coach called me two weeks ago and said Michigan is interested, and my eyes got big, because not everyone gets that opportunity. I already know what kind of offense they run, and it’s the same offense we run in high school."
• If Michigan is interested in former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis and/or former Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, they better hurry because they are both rumored in the DC opening a Clemson.