The Recruiting Revolving Door: Michigan loses one, Gains one!

Recruiting these days is "big business", kids get ranked and called non-stop by schools and recruiting services. They have their own highlight videos on YouTube and kids are committing earlier and earlier to their favorite schools.

When 18 year old kids make a "huge" decision they sometimes change their minds in the the many months before signing day. Michigan has seen some high profile kids verbally commit then de-commit a few months later. Kevin Newsome, Will Campbell, Bryce McNeal, are just a few that pulled the old switch a rooo on the Wolverines in the 2009 class.

Now, Jordan Barnes a 3 star LB from Indiana is the most recent Wolverine to de-commit for the 2009 class. Jordan was never a priority recruit for the Wolverines and maybe he felt the same way towards Michigan. To net it out, this is not a huge loss for the Wolverines.

With the loss of one recruit comes the addition of another.





Yes, the Wolverines have landed Taylor Lewan a 4 star Offensive Tackle from Scottsdale. Taylor is 6"7 and 272 pounds and is a high school teammate of Michigan defensive end commit Craig Roh. Taylor becomes the Wolverines 21st commitment for the 2009 class.

"Things went good and I did commit," Lewan said before sitting down to discuss the trip and the decision with his parents.

Taylor is a huge pick up in a position of need for the Wolverines. As always, here are the particulars on Taylor from Varsity Blue:

Recruiting Notes:
Lewan was unknown early in the recruiting season, but a solid senior year at a new position and a new school has given him the ability to pick from a virtual who's-who of colleges. Michigan offered him after the first few games of his final high school campaign, and when they landed Craig Roh, it greatly increased their chances to land Taylor. However, Lewan's father is a native Minnesotan, and attended the University in St. Paul. Because of his father's roots, Lewan has described himself as a displaced midwesterner. After a Minnesota visit, Lewan maintained that he would still take trips to Michigan and Oregon before making his decision. Taylor visited Ann Arbor the weekend of December 13th, and attended Michigan's basketball victory against Eastern Michigan. Shortly thereafter, he told Rich Rodriguez that he wished to be a Michigan Wolverine, and committed to the Maize and Blue.


Player Notes:
In his junior year, Taylor Lewan was a little-known defensive end prospect from Cactus Shadows High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. A transfer to Chaparral High School (a more successful program) and a move to the offensive tackle position (at which he is a better physical fit) gave Lewan a new lease on football life. He has become one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country over the course of a few short months. Lewan is a true offensive tackle, and a four-star prospect to both recruiting sites. He plays with an edge to his game that sets him apart from other offensive linemen. New teammate Craig Roh had a mutually-beneficial relationship on the practice field with Lewan, and the pair helped each other improve. Roh has described Lewan as a gym rat that won't be outworked by anyone.

Even though Michigan lost a recruit this weekend this was a Net gain for the Wolverines.