Source: www.mgoblue.com
Michigan Inks 22 Student-Athletes to Letters of Intent
February 4, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez announced today (Wednesday, Feb. 4) the signing of 22 individuals to binding Letters of Intent during the first day of the signing period. The announcement was made during a press conference held in the Junge Family Champions Center at 3 p.m. EST.
The Wolverines' recruiting class consists of players from nine states, including eight student-athletes from Florida, four from Michigan and three from Ohio. U-M gained at least one player at every single position group.
2009 University of Michigan Football Recruiting Class
(As of Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m. EST)
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Coach
Isaiah Bell DB 6-2 205 Youngstown, Ohio (Liberty High School) Jeff Whittaker
William Campbell DL 6-5 317 Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical) Thomas Wilcher
Vladimir Emilien DB 6-0 186 Lauderhill, Fla. (Plantation) Steve Davis
Tate Forcier QB 6-1 185 San Diego, Calif. (Scripps Ranch) Sergio Diaz
Jeremy Gallon RB/SR 5-8 165 Apopka, Fla. (Apopka High School) Rick Darlington
Brendan Gibbons K 6-0 215 West Palm Beach, Fla. (Cardinal Newman High School) Don Dicus
Cameron Gordon WR 6-2 210 Inkster, Mich. (Inkster High School) Greg Carter
Thomas Gordon DB 5-11 200 Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical High School) Thomas Wilcher
Brandin Hawthorne LB 6-0 197 Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee) Blaze Thompson
Mike Jones DB 6-2 200 Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater) Bill Gierke
Teric Jones RB/SR 5-9 191 Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical High School) Thomas Wilcher
Anthony LaLota DE 6-6 260 Princeton, N.J. (The Hun School) Dave Dudeck
Taylor Lewan OL 6-6 270 Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral High School) Charlie Ragle
Denard Robinson QB 6-0 180 Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach High School) Art Taylor
Craig Roh DE 6-4 230 Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral High School) Charlie Ragle
Michael Schofield OL 6-6 270 Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg High School) Dave Wierzal
Vincent Smith RB 5-6 159 Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee) Blaze Thompson
Je'Ron Stokes WR 6-1 178 Philadelphia, Pa. (Northeast) Mel Hinton
Fitzgerald Toussaint RB 5-10 185 Youngstown, Ohio (Liberty High School) Jeff Whittaker
J.T. Turner DB 6-2 185 Massillon, Ohio (Washington High School) Jason Hall
Quinton Washington OL 6-3 315 St. Stephen, S.C. (Timberland High School) Art Craig
Adrian Witty DB 5-11 170 Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach High School) Art Taylor
PLAYERS BY POSITION
Defensive Back: Isaiah Bell, Vladimir Emilien, Thomas Gordon, Mike Jones, J.T. Turner, Adrian Witty
Defensive End: Anthony LaLota, Craig Roh
Defensive Line: William Campbell
Linebacker: Brandin Hawthorne
Offensive Line: Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield, Quinton Washington
Placekicker: Brendan Gibbons
Quarterback: Tate Forcier, Denard Robinson
Running Back: Vincent Smith, Fitzgerald Toussaint
Running Back/Slot Receiver: Teric Jones, Jeremy Gallon
Wide Receiver: Cameron Gordon, Je'Ron Stokes
PLAYERS BY STATE
Arizona: Taylor Lewan, Craig Roh
California: Tate Forcier
Florida: Vladimir Emilien, Jeremy Gallon, Brendan Gibbons, Brandin Hawthorne, Mike Jones, Denard Robinson, Vincent Smith, Adrian Witty
Illinois: Michael Schofield
Michigan: William Campbell, Cameron Gordon, Thomas Gordon, Teric Jones
New Jersey: Anthony LaLota
Ohio: Isaiah Bell, Fitzgerald Toussaint, J.T. Turner
Pennsylvania: Je'Ron Stokes
South Carolina: Quinton Washington
N O T E S
• William Campbell and J.T. Turner earned five-star rankings from scout.com and Campbell added a five-star listing from Rivals.com.
• Campbell garnered PARADE Magazine All-American honors and was named to the EA Sports All-American first team squad.
• Defensive end Craig Roh was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Arizona.
• Campbell and Turner are the top-rated players in the state of Michigan and Ohio, respectively. This is the first time that the Wolverines had the top-ranked athletes from both states since 2002: Prescott Burgess (Ohio) and LaMarr Woodley (Michigan).
• Tate Forcier was rated the nation's most accurate quarterback according to Rivals.com.
• Forcier's brother, Jason, played at Michigan during the 2005 and 2006 seasons before transferring to Stanford. Both of Tate's brothers play in the Pac-10: Jason (Stanford) and Chris (UCLA).
• J.T. Turner is ranked the No. 3 cornerback nationally according to scout.com and Rivals.com. William Campbell is rated the No. 4 defensive tackle and Tate Forcier is graded the fifth-best dual threat quarterback nationally by Rivals.com.
• Defensive end Anthony LaLota was the No. 2 prospect in the state of New Jersey.
• High school teammates Taylor Lewan and Craig Roh are listed as the fifth- and fourth-ranked players in the state of Arizona, respectively.
• Six recruits played in the U.S. Army All-American game: William Campbell, Jeremy Gallon, Brendan Gibbons, Anthony LaLota, Je'Ron Stokes and J.T. Turner.
• Isaiah Bell, Taylor Lewan, Craig Roh and Quinton Washington participated in the 2009 Under Armour All-American game.
• The Wolverines had 13 signees land among the Rivals250 rankings: William Campbell (26), J.T. Turner (35), Je'Ron Stokes (104), Jeremy Gallon (151), Craig Roh (156), Tate Forcier (164), Denard Robinson (188), Taylor Lewan (194), Quinton Washington (213), Anthony LaLota (215), Michael Schofield (221), Cameron Gordon (233) and Fitzgerald Toussaint (239)
• Six recruits are ranked among the ESPNU 150: Craig Roh (48), Quinton Washington (82), Isaiah Bell (92), Denard Robinson (102), Tate Forcier (145) and Taylor Lewan (149).
• A total of six recruits attended the Michigan Summer Football Camp: William Campbell, Brendan Gibbons, Cameron Gordon, Thomas Gordon, Teric Jones and J.T. Turner.
Big Ten Network Special
The Big Ten Network will air a Football Signing Day Special at 4:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The 90-minute program will feature video highlights, press conferences, interviews coaches and expert recruiting analysis. The show will re-air Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. EST.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Say Hello To Taylor Lewan
Source: Scout.com
Lewan did not play much OT until his senior year but has progressed rapidly and has turned into one of the country's most coveted OTs. Has long arms, great athleticism, great feet and will finish blocks. Can pull and get to the second level. Still thin at 270 pounds but at 6-6, can easily add weight to his frame.
Lewan did not play much OT until his senior year but has progressed rapidly and has turned into one of the country's most coveted OTs. Has long arms, great athleticism, great feet and will finish blocks. Can pull and get to the second level. Still thin at 270 pounds but at 6-6, can easily add weight to his frame.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
U-M, Alabama, LSU do best to lure Campbell
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sam Webb: Recruiting
The long and winding recruiting road is fast approaching an end for Detroit Cass Tech lineman William Campbell. With three official visits now under his belt, the Army All American is just weeks away from announcing his final choice.
Outside of his frequent unofficial visits to Ann Arbor during the fall, Scout.com's No. 16 prospect stayed off the recruiting trail so he could focus on helping his high school team make a run at the state title. That dedication was reflected in his performance, as he notched an impressive 55 tackles from his defensive tackle spot, including 22 for loss and nine sacks.
However, Campbell and the Technicians saw their season come an end earlier than expected when they were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by rival Southeastern. With his final prep campaign in the books, it was time for the coveted youngster to hit the road.
Accompanied by Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher and a few teammates, Campbell's first official visit was to Alabama on Nov. 15.
"Alabama was a lot of fun," Campbell told Scout.com. "I expected Tuscaloosa to be a little town, but it wasn't. It was fun, with a lot to do. The fans are amazing. They don't have any pro teams, so everyone there loves (Alabama)."
The next week Campbell flew solo to Baton Rouge, La. Despite being in attendance for one of LSU's five conference losses, he came away extremely impressed.
"They struggled a bit this year," said Campbell. "It may take a year or two to get back on top, but I'm sure they will.
"It was cool seeing (former Cass Tech and current LSU lineman) Joe (Barksdale) again, but he was busy preparing for a test so I got to hang out with a bunch of other guys, too. We spent a lot of time outside the campus and touring around the city, and that was fun. I liked getting off the campus and checking things out."
'Will, come to Michigan'
The third leg of Campbell's tour took place last weekend, when he made his way back to Michigan. He was accompanied on that trip not only by his coach, but also by his mother, father, and three current teammates, including Michigan commitments Teric Jones and Thomas Gordon.
"(The Michigan visit) was real fun," he said. "The (Michigan-Duke basketball) game hyped it up a lot. I ran out (on the floor to celebrate) with the crowd."
U-M fans at the game had a not-so-subtle message for the five-star prospect.
"They kept saying 'Will, come to Michigan'... 'Will, come to Michigan,'" he recalled. "They said if I come there, I've only got to stay in those dorms for four months and then I can get an apartment."
Campbell's parents were more interested in other aspects of the non-football side of Michigan, and like their son, they too said their expectations were met.
"I thought the visit went real good," said Campbell's father, William Sassie. "Educationally, I think Michigan stood out a lot. They really put education first.
"As far as the coaching staff went, they were 110 percent for trying to learn what me and his mother want for him as far as education goes. I really don't care what college he goes to. I just want my son to get a good education and graduate. I would love for my son to go to Michigan because it would be close to home, but that's his decision."
Campbell's mother has stressed the importance of academics throughout her son's athletic career. The visit gave her the opportunity to find out whether the Michigan coaches shared that sentiment.
"I grilled Coach (Tony) Dews and Coach Rodriguez," Ms. Campbell admitted. "Coach Dews was a major help because every question I had, he answered, and he answered them in detail. I put the same ones to Rodriguez because sometimes you've got to repeat what you mean. That way I know everybody is on the same page.
"I asked questions over and over and I didn't feel like I was inconveniencing them. I felt like that with a certain other school. I'm not mentioning any name, but I did. I felt like I was taking up (that school's time) and I don't want to feel like that."
Florida trips on tap
Suffice it to say, U-M's coaches put their best foot forward and now must wait to see if they've done enough to keep the state's No. 1 player home.
"Coach Rodriguez -- he's a good guy," Mr. Sassie said. "As far as what the media says about him -- I think he's a good guy. I think he's a good recruiter. I just feel like everybody should give this man a chance."
Added William: "I like Coach Rich Rodriguez. He's an intense coach and he shows his players a lot of love. I think he'll do great there."
Whether Campbell plans to "do great" with Rodriguez is still a few weeks away from being revealed. Next up for the player is an ACT re-take Saturday, followed by two possible visits to the Sunshine State.
"I'm going to Miami on the 19th and 20th," he said. "I might go to Florida this weekend. I'd go right after the test probably. I'd probably go by myself. I'll talk it about it with Coach Wilcher."
Campbell will announce his decision live on Jan. 3 on NBC during the Army All American game.
Sam Webb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine magazine and GoBlueWolverine.com, and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning show weekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA. His column appears every Thursday.
Sam Webb: Recruiting
The long and winding recruiting road is fast approaching an end for Detroit Cass Tech lineman William Campbell. With three official visits now under his belt, the Army All American is just weeks away from announcing his final choice.
Outside of his frequent unofficial visits to Ann Arbor during the fall, Scout.com's No. 16 prospect stayed off the recruiting trail so he could focus on helping his high school team make a run at the state title. That dedication was reflected in his performance, as he notched an impressive 55 tackles from his defensive tackle spot, including 22 for loss and nine sacks.
However, Campbell and the Technicians saw their season come an end earlier than expected when they were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by rival Southeastern. With his final prep campaign in the books, it was time for the coveted youngster to hit the road.
Accompanied by Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher and a few teammates, Campbell's first official visit was to Alabama on Nov. 15.
"Alabama was a lot of fun," Campbell told Scout.com. "I expected Tuscaloosa to be a little town, but it wasn't. It was fun, with a lot to do. The fans are amazing. They don't have any pro teams, so everyone there loves (Alabama)."
The next week Campbell flew solo to Baton Rouge, La. Despite being in attendance for one of LSU's five conference losses, he came away extremely impressed.
"They struggled a bit this year," said Campbell. "It may take a year or two to get back on top, but I'm sure they will.
"It was cool seeing (former Cass Tech and current LSU lineman) Joe (Barksdale) again, but he was busy preparing for a test so I got to hang out with a bunch of other guys, too. We spent a lot of time outside the campus and touring around the city, and that was fun. I liked getting off the campus and checking things out."
'Will, come to Michigan'
The third leg of Campbell's tour took place last weekend, when he made his way back to Michigan. He was accompanied on that trip not only by his coach, but also by his mother, father, and three current teammates, including Michigan commitments Teric Jones and Thomas Gordon.
"(The Michigan visit) was real fun," he said. "The (Michigan-Duke basketball) game hyped it up a lot. I ran out (on the floor to celebrate) with the crowd."
U-M fans at the game had a not-so-subtle message for the five-star prospect.
"They kept saying 'Will, come to Michigan'... 'Will, come to Michigan,'" he recalled. "They said if I come there, I've only got to stay in those dorms for four months and then I can get an apartment."
Campbell's parents were more interested in other aspects of the non-football side of Michigan, and like their son, they too said their expectations were met.
"I thought the visit went real good," said Campbell's father, William Sassie. "Educationally, I think Michigan stood out a lot. They really put education first.
"As far as the coaching staff went, they were 110 percent for trying to learn what me and his mother want for him as far as education goes. I really don't care what college he goes to. I just want my son to get a good education and graduate. I would love for my son to go to Michigan because it would be close to home, but that's his decision."
Campbell's mother has stressed the importance of academics throughout her son's athletic career. The visit gave her the opportunity to find out whether the Michigan coaches shared that sentiment.
"I grilled Coach (Tony) Dews and Coach Rodriguez," Ms. Campbell admitted. "Coach Dews was a major help because every question I had, he answered, and he answered them in detail. I put the same ones to Rodriguez because sometimes you've got to repeat what you mean. That way I know everybody is on the same page.
"I asked questions over and over and I didn't feel like I was inconveniencing them. I felt like that with a certain other school. I'm not mentioning any name, but I did. I felt like I was taking up (that school's time) and I don't want to feel like that."
Florida trips on tap
Suffice it to say, U-M's coaches put their best foot forward and now must wait to see if they've done enough to keep the state's No. 1 player home.
"Coach Rodriguez -- he's a good guy," Mr. Sassie said. "As far as what the media says about him -- I think he's a good guy. I think he's a good recruiter. I just feel like everybody should give this man a chance."
Added William: "I like Coach Rich Rodriguez. He's an intense coach and he shows his players a lot of love. I think he'll do great there."
Whether Campbell plans to "do great" with Rodriguez is still a few weeks away from being revealed. Next up for the player is an ACT re-take Saturday, followed by two possible visits to the Sunshine State.
"I'm going to Miami on the 19th and 20th," he said. "I might go to Florida this weekend. I'd go right after the test probably. I'd probably go by myself. I'll talk it about it with Coach Wilcher."
Campbell will announce his decision live on Jan. 3 on NBC during the Army All American game.
Sam Webb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine magazine and GoBlueWolverine.com, and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning show weekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA. His column appears every Thursday.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Florida juniors highlight latest group of U-M visitors
BY JOSH HELMHOLDT
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER
Besides the eight high school prospects on their official visits to Michigan this weekend, there were more than 30 unofficial visitors for the Wolverines’ game against Michigan State. Many of those were juniors, including more than a half dozen who are expected to be ranked in the top 100 recruits in the class of 2010.
Coming into the weekend, all eyes were on Eagle Lake (Fla.) Lake Region junior safety Marvin Robinson (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) who had stated before his trip that he would consider making a commitment to U-M at the game. Robinson left Ann Arbor with the Wolverines still in the lead for his services, but without making a verbal commitment.
"Right now I am just focusing on my season and trying to help my team go to the state championship,” Robinson said. “I'm not too much worried about the recruiting process. (A decision) will probably come after the season or maybe longer than that.”
Both of Robinson’s parents joined him on the trip to Michigan and the trio met with coach Rich Rodriguez. According to Robinson, his parents are supportive if he chooses Michigan and plan to relocate to the state to be near him while he's in college.
Robinson was one of four Florida juniors that came for the game. Orlando wide receiver Ricardo Miller (6-3, 208), who committed to Michigan in September and is a friend of Robinson’s, was also along for the trip. His mother is a U-M graduate and he attended the Wolverines’ summer camp in June, but this was his first time experiencing a game in Michigan Stadium.
"It was so huge, and sitting in the Big House, looking around at 110,000 fans, it was just crazy,” Miller commented. “I couldn't speak. I just kept looking around the stadium. I can't believe I'm going to play there in a few years."
Apopka, Fla., cornerback Lo Wood and Lake Region cornerback Tyler Blandin and Orlando Dr. Phillips sophomore running back Demetrius Hart rounded out the Florida contingent. The group stayed through Sunday evening, taking tours of the school and meeting with coaches and academic personnel.
Several notable in-state juniors were also attended Saturday’s game. Ann Arbor Huron receiver Jeremy Jackson, who committed to Michigan earlier this month, Chelsea running back Nick Hill, Inkster quarterback Devin Gardner and Livonia Stevenson running back Austin White all made the trip to Ann Arbor. Each is considered a top ten in-state recruit for 2010.
Palatine (Ill.) Fremd junior offensive tackle Christian Lombard is considered one of the top linemen in the Midwest for 2010. He picked up an offer from Michigan at their summer camp in June, and now has more than 12 total offers before him. Saturday’s contest was the first Michigan game he has attended this fall.
Josh Helmholdt is the recruiting editor for The Wolverine Magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a national recruiting analyst for Rivals.com.
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER
Besides the eight high school prospects on their official visits to Michigan this weekend, there were more than 30 unofficial visitors for the Wolverines’ game against Michigan State. Many of those were juniors, including more than a half dozen who are expected to be ranked in the top 100 recruits in the class of 2010.
Coming into the weekend, all eyes were on Eagle Lake (Fla.) Lake Region junior safety Marvin Robinson (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) who had stated before his trip that he would consider making a commitment to U-M at the game. Robinson left Ann Arbor with the Wolverines still in the lead for his services, but without making a verbal commitment.
"Right now I am just focusing on my season and trying to help my team go to the state championship,” Robinson said. “I'm not too much worried about the recruiting process. (A decision) will probably come after the season or maybe longer than that.”
Both of Robinson’s parents joined him on the trip to Michigan and the trio met with coach Rich Rodriguez. According to Robinson, his parents are supportive if he chooses Michigan and plan to relocate to the state to be near him while he's in college.
Robinson was one of four Florida juniors that came for the game. Orlando wide receiver Ricardo Miller (6-3, 208), who committed to Michigan in September and is a friend of Robinson’s, was also along for the trip. His mother is a U-M graduate and he attended the Wolverines’ summer camp in June, but this was his first time experiencing a game in Michigan Stadium.
"It was so huge, and sitting in the Big House, looking around at 110,000 fans, it was just crazy,” Miller commented. “I couldn't speak. I just kept looking around the stadium. I can't believe I'm going to play there in a few years."
Apopka, Fla., cornerback Lo Wood and Lake Region cornerback Tyler Blandin and Orlando Dr. Phillips sophomore running back Demetrius Hart rounded out the Florida contingent. The group stayed through Sunday evening, taking tours of the school and meeting with coaches and academic personnel.
Several notable in-state juniors were also attended Saturday’s game. Ann Arbor Huron receiver Jeremy Jackson, who committed to Michigan earlier this month, Chelsea running back Nick Hill, Inkster quarterback Devin Gardner and Livonia Stevenson running back Austin White all made the trip to Ann Arbor. Each is considered a top ten in-state recruit for 2010.
Palatine (Ill.) Fremd junior offensive tackle Christian Lombard is considered one of the top linemen in the Midwest for 2010. He picked up an offer from Michigan at their summer camp in June, and now has more than 12 total offers before him. Saturday’s contest was the first Michigan game he has attended this fall.
Josh Helmholdt is the recruiting editor for The Wolverine Magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a national recruiting analyst for Rivals.com.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
U-M to host biggest recruiting weekend of season
Sam Webb: Recruiting
This weekend's matchup with Michigan State looms large for Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines, not only because the opportunity it provides to stem the negative tide from a 2-5 start, but also for what it might mean for recruiting.
The Wolverines are set to host their biggest visit weekend of the season, with eight official visitors (those seniors whose trip is paid for by the program), and even more unofficial visitors (those who have to foot the bill themselves).
Here are the attendees that we've been able to confirm thus far (all class of 2009 unless noted):
OFFICIAL VISITORS
QB Shavodrick Beaver, 6-4, 200, 4.50, Rider High (Wichita Falls, Texas): Committed to Michigan. Saturday will mark Beaver's second visit to Ann Arbor, but his first for a game. The dual-threat quarterback remains solidly committed to the Wolverines despite persistent pressure from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to reconsider.
OT Travis Bond, 6-7, 300, 5.28, Bertie High (Windsor, N.C.): After watching Bond work out at the Carolina Panthers' training facility with my own eyes this summer, I can verify that this young man's measurables are unquestionably legit.
Michigan has been Scout.com's No. 16 OT since the spring, when he was a virtual unknown nationally. Since then, both his exposure and his stock have been on the rise. Butch Davis' Tar Heels have made Bond a priority, and after hosting him during their summer camp and for visits earlier this season, they may be tough to beat.
However, Bond insists he has no leader currently and that Michigan is on equal footing will all of his other suitors. He further indicated that Michigan's early-season struggles will not hurt their chances.
"I think they are still rebuilding," Bond told Scout.com. "I think their future looks good, so I'm not too worried about how they are doing right now. Michigan has great history and has produced some great athletes. They always seem to make their players better and the school is also known for its good academics, too."
S Vladimir Emilien, 6-1, 190, 4.66, Plantation High (Plantation, Fla.): Scout.com's No. 40 safety is out for the year because of a torn ACL, but reportedly is mending very well and has a top six of Wisconsin, Michigan, Wake Forest, Central Florida, Ohio State and Stanford. His visit to Wisconsin two weeks gave the Badgers a big boost, but if Michigan can equal or better that effort, they could become the team to beat. Emilien may also visit Stanford before announcing his decision on his birthday, Nov. 23.
WR Willie Haulstead, 6-3, 205, 4.59, Titusville High (Titusville, Fla.): Scout.com's No. 37 wideout verbally committed to Florida State in May but is looking to visit a few other schools, including Michigan. Thus far, his trip to Michigan this weekend is the only one other than Florida State for which he has concrete visit plans. Regardless of how his trip to Ann Arbor goes, don't expect a decision anytime soon. Haulstead plans to announce his intentions on signing day in February.
DE/OT Anthony LaLota, 6-6, 265, 4.65, The Hun School, (Princeton, N.J.): Committed to Michigan. LaLota will be the highest-rated prospect in attendance as the No. 4 OT in the country, No. 28 player overall, and a five-star recruit, according to Scout.com.
WR/CB Dewayne Peace, 6-0, 183, 4.68, South Grand Prairie High (Grand Prairie, Texas): Committed to Michigan. This cat-quick athlete, ranked the No. 104 WR in the country by Scout.com, has maintained his commitment to Michigan. However, he is contemplating visits to Kansas and Oklahoma with his high school teammates.
WR/CB Josh Robinson, 5-10,180, 4.45, Plantation High (Plantation, Fla.): A teammate of Vladimir Emilien at Plantation High, Robinson has consistently put in-state schools South Florida and Central Florida at the top of his list over offers from Michigan, West Virginia and South Carolina. His time in Ann Arbor could go a long way toward closing the gap.
RB/slot Vincent Smith, 5-8, 175, 4.62, Pahokee High (Pahokee, Fla.): Committed to Michigan. Smith, who is Scout.com's No. 101 RB, will be making his first visit to Ann Arbor.
UNOFFICIAL VISITORS
RB Brennan Clay, 6-0, 190, 4.47, class of 2010, Scripps Ranch High, (San Diego): A teammate of Michigan QB commitment Tate Forcier, Clay already has offers from Wisconsin, Baylor and Stanford. Now the Wolverines are jumping in the mix.
QB Tate Forcier, 6-1, 190, 4.63, Scripps Ranch High, (San Diego): Committed to Michigan. The other half of Michigan's quarterback contingent will be on hand to take in the game and help court future teammates. Forcier is currently ranked a four-star prospect and the No. 12 quarterback in the country by Scout.com.
RB Demetrius Hart, 5-9, 165, 4.5, class of 2011, Dr. Phillips High (Orlando, Fla.): This electrifying tailback is only a sophomore, but Michigan and a number of others have decided to get started early.
WR Jeremy Jackson, 6-4, 200, 4.57, class of 2010, Huron High (Ann Arbor): Committed to Michigan. The son of Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson opted to join his dad in Ann Arbor after considering offers from Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Stanford and Wisconsin. Now he is working hard to help bring others into the Maize and Blue fold.
OL Christian Lombard, 6-5, 280, class of 2010, William Fremd High (Palatine, Ill.): Lombard was one of the top performers at Michigan's camp last summer and will be among the highest-rated linemen in his class. Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Iowa and Illinois have already offered.
WR Ricardo Miller, 6-3, 200, 4.5, class of 2010, Dr. Phillips High (Orlando, Fla.): Committed to Michigan. Miller had accumulated offers from Florida, Central Florida, UCLA and South Florida before choosing to end the recruiting process with his commitment to Michigan in September.
DB Marvin Robinson, 6-1, 204, 4.63, class of 2010, Lake Region High (Eagle Lake, Fla.): This talented youngster already has offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, USC, Ohio State, Florida State, Georgia and Nebraska, but might decide to end his recruitment in the coming days. Friends Jeremy Jackson and Ricardo Miller have been working hard to convince him to do just that.
"It's possible I could join (Miller and Jackson) in the class," Robinson said, referring to this weekend. (Their commitments) had an effect on me, but I'm going to still talk it over with my family."
CB Lo Wood, 5-11, 170, 4.5, class of 2010, Apopka High (Apopka, Fla.): Wood, who is a teammate of Michigan commitment Jeremy Gallon, is receiving strong attention from a number of national powers, including Florida and Michigan.
U-M pursuing top 2010 recruits from Florida
Sam Webb: Recruiting
The 2009 recruiting season hasn't even concluded yet, and already a number of top-flight 2010 prospects have emerged.Michigan is currently in hot pursuit of a number of them in this state.
The Wolverines have extended early offers to Livonia Stevenson tailback Austin White, Inkster quarterback Devin Gardener, Detroit Southeastern defensive end Will Gholston, Detroit Cass Tech cornerback Dior Mathis and Ann Arbor Huron receiver Jeremy Jackson.
When the search extends beyond the Michigan and Ohio borders, no state looks to be higher on the priority list than Florida.
Rich Rodriguez showed just how much he would prioritize the vigorously contested region when he assigned three coaches to recruit it upon completing his staff. Now it appears that strategy is paying off.
Michigan currently holds four commitments from the Sunshine State: Apopka slot receiver Jeremy Gallon, Orlando safety Mike Jones, Pahokee running back Vincent Smith and Pahokee linebacker Brandin Hawthorne -- all three-star recruits.
The Wolverines appear to be even more of a factor with the 2010 crop and they already are among the favorites for a number of highly-rated prospects.
Rodriguez scored his first commitment for the 2010 class two weeks ago when he landed Orlando, Fla., receiver Ricardo Miller. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was a standout at Michigan's summer camp and had already earned offers from Florida, Central Florida, UCLA and South Florida by the start of the school year. A number of other programs also were showing heavy interest when the Wolverines extended an offer late last month. It didn't take long for him to jump at the chance to don the winged helmet.
"I committed right away," Miller said. "It's something I waited for and I wanted to seize the opportunity. Coach Rodriguez told me he liked me ever since he met me at camp. He said not only was I a solid kid on the field, but said I was a good kid off the field."
Describing Miller's talent as "solid" is a bit of an understatement, according to Scout.com analyst Allen Trieu.
"Miller is kid who is shockingly put together for his age," Trieu stated. "He uses his strength to play a very physical game and blocks like a tight end. He also has good speed (4.5 in the 40) and has shown he can stretch the field. Certainly, when you talk about Florida juniors, Ricardo's name has to be mentioned right up there with the best of them."
Recruiting help
Once Miller joined the Maize and Blue fold, he immediately went to work trying to help lure others. His efforts even reached back to the state of Michigan, helping convince Jeremy Jackson (the son of Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson) to also take the plunge. Now both are focused on trying to help land an even bigger fish from the recruiting pond.
Marvin Robinson of Eagle Lake, Fla., is a 6-1, 204-pound playmaking safety who is already a prime target for many of the country's elite programs.
"When I saw this kid at the Michigan summer camp two years back, I thought they had misclassified him as a sophomore-to-be," recalled Trieu. "He's built like an NFL player already, and the fact that he can cover ground well enough to play free safety is impressive. I cannot imagine there are many other kids out there with his size that can run, jump and catch the ball the way he does. It is easy to see why Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, USC and others have offered him this early. A kid that boasts those offers before the start of his junior season is definitely elite."
Add Ohio State, Florida State, Georgia and Nebraska to Robinson's scholarship ledger and you'll have an accurate feel for just how coveted he truly is. However, the problem for most of those programs is he has a strong affinity for the Wolverines. So strong is his connection with them that the question many scouts ask isn't if he will commit to Michigan, it's when. It's a topic that he, Jackson and Miller have been discussing since the summer.
"When Jeremy Jackson came down and we were at the Friday Night Lights (7-on-7) camp (at the University of Florida this summer), we were talking about all three of us going up there," said Robinson."(Their commitments) had an effect on me, but I'm going to still talk it over with my family. Me, my mom and my dad are going up (to Michigan) for the Michigan State game."
Big day for U-M
Should Robinson opt to become Michigan's third 2010 verbal commitment, he won't hesitate in trying to help add to the tally. As a matter of fact, it seems he has already started.
"I talked to (Apopka, Fla., junior cornerback) Lo Wood at the Friday Night Lights camp," Robinson said. "He was telling me about some of the schools he was interested in and one of them was Michigan. I also talked to (Royal Palm Beach, Fla., receiver) Chris Dunkley and he said that Michigan is one of the colleges he is interested in, too. I'd definitely talk to them about Michigan if I go there."
Dunkley is a 5-10" 175-pound big-play wideout who already holds offers from Michigan, Florida, Georgia and West Virginia. Wood (5-11, 170), who claims a 4.49 40, only holds an offer from Florida International at this early stage, but is receiving strong interest from a number of national powers, including Michigan. He will be yet another of the visitors in attendance at the Michigan-Michigan State game on Oct. 25.
As it turns out, that weekend may be as significant for the Wolverines off the field as it is on it.
Sam Webb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine magazine and GoBlueWolverine.com, and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning show weekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA. His column appears every Thursday.
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