This weekend saw several of Michigan's top commitments and targets flock to Columbus Ohio for the NIKE combine today, as well as the Elite 11 QB camp yesterday. Here's a quick rundown of the standout players.
- Shane Morris (2013): UM fans should be feeling even better about his early commitment now, because Shane turned in one of the best performances of the weekend, regardless of age/class. I believe he won the strongest arm award, and was a consensus top 3 QB along with Gunner Kiel and Zeke Pike.
- Gunner Kiel: He had a pretty good weekend and looked accurate in all his throws; pretty strong arm too. Outperformed Zeke Pike yesterday for sure, and looks like he'll remain as the #1 QB for 2012.
- Ondre Pipkins: Everyone is raving about Ondre's performance today, as he apparently dominated O-Lineman from the word go. It's lucky that Michigan got in there reasonably early, because he'll probably draw in some big offers now.
- James Ross: By all accounts had a really solid day, and looked very good in all aspects of the LB position. Shame RJS couldn't make it, they could have put on a real show in the LB corps.
- Sheldon Day: Not as impressive as Pipkins, but still had a very good day. Landing Day and Pipkins as the two DTs in this class would be insanely good; but then again, Jaleel Johnson has had good camps too. Any two of those three!
- Terry Richardson: Was in attendance, but I'm not sure if he actually competed in events.
- Mario Ojemudia: Very athletic, did very well in drills. If he puts on the muscle over the next year, he could be a really good one in years to come.
Overall it seemed like a good day for Michigan's commits, and also for prospects that they are in a strong position for, Pipkins and Day. The future at QB is also looking ridiculously good, regardless of whether Gunner Kiel comes to Ann Arbor.
These events are a great chance for UM commits to not along show their skills and boost their rankings, but also to recruit other top prospects.
TomLuginbill twitter said Better late than never, ILB James Ross and CB Terry Richardson arrive just in time and were both very impressive..So good news for TR also
ReplyDeleteWOOT! Go Blue. The coaches have been offering more and more RB's FB's and TE's the last few weeks. I've taken Ron Thompson off my board, looks like the coaches may have too at this point. Too bad for him.
ReplyDeleteI heard Ross was in Pipkens and Day's ear all day about UM! Call me stupid/crazy but at RB I honestly believe Dunn will be in OUR class coming NSD.
ReplyDeleteBenji, If Michigan does not land Kiel at QB who will Michigan target at the QB position?
ReplyDeleteAustin Appleby is still an option at QB, he had a pretty good weekend, but he still hasn't picked up the offer. If Kiel picks UM, then obviously we're done at QB, if he goes elsewhere, then we'll probably see a few new offers out there.
ReplyDeleteBenji
ReplyDeleteEspn had some good things to say about Appleby this weekend. If Michgan can't get Kiel is Micigan just looking for a QB to fill in if everything goes wrong or are they looking for a starting QB?
Well they'll always be looking for a guy they think can help the program. They may think the chances of him starting are less than Kiel's would be, but they won't offer him a scholarship with the assumption that he won't be able to compete for the starting role.
ReplyDeleteShane Morris also won the MVP for the Nike camp on the QB and was given a free ride to compete down in a competition in Orlando florida. Pipkins won the defensive line MVP for the day. These two were absolute studs. I fully believe Shane morris will be a 5 star next year and has the potential to be the number one quarterback for 2013.
ReplyDeleteWorm, you're stupid/crazy, and so am I. Simply because qb's are so valuable and Morris is equal or better than the #1 qb for this year I fully believe he can be the #1 overall recruit next year. No other recruits are going to attract so much early buzz and once the top spot is his they likely won't just take it away unless something remarkable happens. Most other kids won't be able to get measured head to head like he will either.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what the WR class next year looks like? With Morris already locked up hopefully when get a 5* WR next year? The only WR this year I would really be pushing is Stadford from cincy. Top 150 WR and wants to be a package deal with Washington!
ReplyDeleteI wish, I can't even guess what this years class looks like and I've seen the offers list. :o)
ReplyDeleteanybody know what the talent is looking like in michigan for next year or any of the top players
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ReplyDeleteIt seems like I saw early reports of next years class being as good or even a little bite better than this one. But this isn't the norm so were have to wait and see. Luckily were building the Ohio relationships because there always strong. I would like to see some pa kids coming our way, maybe some woodsons and hennes.
ReplyDeleteman as you see from the '11 class and the '12 class the talent gets better. by the '13 class the talent should be even better and you will see Michigan go after the nations top prospects and put up a fight we already got one in the fold with shane morris... H.S coaches and players our going to get fimilar with this coaching staff and this program n want to send players here because of the great oppurtunity to play in the biggest stadium, the biggest rivaly, the best coaching staff, and the best fans. so ofcourse the '13 class will be amazing
ReplyDeletelooking for our offer list?? The only way that I have found it is by searching on (and I am sorry Benji)Rivals. By searching the recruit prospect database and searching for uncommitted recruits for Michigan and I came up with 91 uncommitted athletes with offers. If I included committed athletes I found 139 offers out there (minus our twelve commits = 127). Do these numbers sound right or can anybody suggest a link elsewhere. Thanks a bunch......Phil
ReplyDeleteCombine performances really don't translate well into how a kid is going to do once he hits the college level. Anyone who has followed recruiting and combines long enough should know this. What will determine how these kids do at Michigan is their maturity level and the coaching they will get.
ReplyDeleteHey Benji when do you think the big DTs will start to commit. With all these DEs already coming im not worried about that position, but the beef on the inside of our DLine. And do we really have a chance with Jarron Jones or am I dreaming??
ReplyDeleteProbably still dreaming with Jarron Jones. It'll take a lot to turn him away from Penn State, and who's to say that Michigan won't already have 2 DT commits lined up by the time Jones decides.
ReplyDeletePhil, if you want an up to date offer list, look for a blog called 'Touch the Banner' through google.
ReplyDeleteSpot on with Jarron Jones, by the time he takes his summer/fall visits the positions could be filled. He's been very blunt saying he'll go to the best program, but he's an odd bird to me. His other top teams were Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, and North Carolina. He had much better offers than those schools. He loves Penn State/the coaches but told them he would visit others and if they were better he'd go there. Strange honesty. He'll visit Notre Dame, Michigan, and Louisville in the fall. Unless he really likes it close to home I'm not sure why PSU, Michigan, and ND weren't in his top classes. Maybe he's a Big East/ACC fan. If we don't have DT locked up when he visits THEN it's a possibility.
ReplyDeleteRichardson did compete but only briefly. He tweaked a hamstring and was held out the rest of the day after that.
ReplyDeleteI know this is off subject, but I found a link about the latest OSU scandal mentioned in posts a few days ago. Right now none of this is confirmed anywhere else, so this may be total BS, but here's the link: http://www.5thquartersports.com/ncaa-football/ohio-st-violations/
ReplyDeleteJameel
ReplyDeleteI live in Columbus and haven't heard any new news. I wonder if it was hyped again because of the ESPN cover?
Jenn
ESPN rumors
ReplyDeletehas Se'von Pitman w/ OSU Mich and Mich ST as leaders. How much of an OSU lean is he?
Jenn,
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm not putting much credence into this link, other people commented about another scandal coming to light and I'm one of those types who has to verify things like that. That link was the only thing I found and to me it doesn't seem legit. BTW a Michigan fan in Columbus must be rough?
Jamie
There is supposed to be an article that is coming out from Sports Illustrated about the Ohio program that is supposed to be another bad one for them. Don't know just have to wait until it is released.
ReplyDeleteI usually avoid the muck raking rumors (they're everywhere) but when Chris Spielman is fanning the ohio scandal flames I start listening.
ReplyDeleteoh I could not find anything about the Nike camp on best pay per head blog, but I gladly found the information I needed on your blog!! :D
ReplyDelete