The Michigan bandwagon is starting to fill up quickly and with every win (and dominating defensive performance) recruits across the nation are starting to take notice. Jim Harbaugh has been the home run hire that everyone and their mother predicted, and it’s going over just as well on the recruiting as it has on the football field.
Towels, Visits and Decisions for DTs
The #1 overall player in the class is trending toward Michigan quicker than he has to any school after his unofficial visit two weeks ago for the BYU match up and it looks like he picked himself up a souvenir.
As caught by Rivals’ Adam Friedman, Gary was sporting a block ‘M’ Michigan towel during his game against Bergen Catholic:
Hard to see here but 5-star DT Rashan Gary (#3) is using a #Michigan towel in today's game pic.twitter.com/6kX3nI5klP
— Adam Friedman (@RivalsFriedman) October 3, 2015
If all of the reports and Crystal Ball predictions didn’t have the Wolverine faithful excited, this sure did. However, he did also use a Georgia backpack after the game so don’t think this thing is completely wrapped up, though I believe the towel is a good sign.
Elliott is a former Houston commit and remains very high on the Michigan staff’s recruiting board. He let 247Sports’ EJ Holland know that Michigan, along with Texas, Oklahoma and USC, are the teams that are recruiting him the hardest ($).
While he hasn’t seemed like a legit option to end up in this class to some, he is planning and expected to take an official visit to Ann Arbor this fall. If he has a similar experience as Gary, look out here.
Daniels has been high on Michigan throughout the recruiting process as he played in Muskegon (MI) early on during his high school career and had a great visit to Ann Arbor in August. He named the Wolverines to his top five at the start of September but has yet to set up an official return visit.
He told Bleacher Report’s Damon Sayles that he’s planning on making his commitment announcement on his 18th birthday, December 18th. With Michigan sitting pretty with Gary and Daniels yet to set up an official visit, and while it’s not out of the question, things look to be trending away from the Wolverines here.
Secret Visit?
I received a tip from a little birdy in Ann Arbor about one of the top 2016 recruits in the class and nation making a “secret” visit to Michigan a couple weeks ago. While this has not been 1000% confirmed, it is something to look out for as this particular recruit will be making an official visit to Michigan in the not-so-distant future.
If/when this is confirmed or reported elsewhere, I will let the name be known but until then I’ll have to keep it close to the vest. Just know, if it is true, remember who had it first and know that you’ll be very happy.
Perfect Fit for Kingston
I briefly spoke with Michigan running back commit and Prattville (AL) standout Kingston Davis about how the Wolverines have looked so far this season and lets just say, he’s excited about his fit in this offense:
Michigan is doing great things. They are getting better and better every game it seems! (As for his fit in the offense)I like it a lot! It really fits me perfectly!”
There have been plenty of questions surrounding Davis’ commitment status with the SEC calling and visits expected to happen. However, with him having another great trip to Ann Arbor for the BYU game and Harbaugh proving how much he loves power running backs, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about here.
Kelly-Powell’s Decision Could Come at Any Time
Though the Cass Tech junior standout has tabled recruiting for most of the season because of his commitment to his team and the classroom, things still look great for Michigan to land 2017 DB Jaylen Kelly-Powell.
He let me know how impressed he has been with the way the team and defense has performed under Harbaugh. And when you look at his midseason highlights….
You can see how perfectly he would fit at the nickel corner spot. Add in his 4.0 GPA and he looks to be a perfect fit for the Maize and Blue.
But when could he make a decision and possibly join Michigan’s 2017 class? That could come at any time.
There were reports of him planning on making his decision after his junior season but he let me know that it could happen “tomorrow, end of the season, summer, or whenever”. He’s being smart and wants to be 100% sure and comfortable with his decision so he doesn’t have to think twice about it and decommit later on.
I’ve spoken with a lot of recruits since starting the website and there aren’t many as impressive as Jaylen Kelly-Powell. I still believe he ends up choosing Michigan in the end and the Wolverines and University will be lucky to have him, if that prediction comes true.
Quick Hitters
- 2016 S Jordan Fuller may seem like more than a long shot but he’s still interested in the Wolverines. He released his top 8 teams on Twitter and Michigan is included.
- According to The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich, Cartersville (GA) tight end and Alabama commit Miller Forristall is starting to get more interest from Jay Harbaugh and could look to visit this fall ($).
- Elite 2017 LB Micah Parsons told Rivals’ Adam Friedman that he’s planning on taking a visit to Michigan ($).
- Five star 2017 OT Isaiah Wilson spoke with The Wolverine’s Brandon Brown and raved about the Wolverines and said “I like Michigan a lot” ($).
- 2017 WR Pascal Mondombo told Scout’s Gabe Brooks that Michigan is his “dream school” ($).
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