Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Inside the Fish Bowl is Riding High After BYU

Posted onAuthorGarrett Fishaw

What a win on Saturday, huh? Michigan trounced BYU and did it in front of one of their top recruiting visitors list of the year. And from all reports, that visit went very well and could end up helping land the Wolverines two big time 2016 targets.

More Visitor Reactions

2016 Paramus Catholic (NJ) DT Rashan Gary

While all eyes were on the field Saturday, every recruiting fan was trying to sneak a peak at the stands behind the Michigan sidelines where the #1 recruit in the country was sitting. Luckily, Wolverine247’s photographer, Isaiah Hole, was able to snap a couple shots of Gary during the game. And it looked like he was having a great time:

As for how his visit went, from all reports, things went extremely well and both Rashan and his mother had a great time on their trip.

According to The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb, the recruiting staff and “people not on the football staff” did a great job impressing Rashan’s mother, Jennifer Coney ($).

Wolverine247’s Steve Lorenz caught up with his mother as well as she again talked about how great the visit was thanks to the non-football part of the trip. She also said Rashan had a “great experience” and knows what is available in Ann Arbor ($):

I think that he feels he would be successful athletically and academically,” Coney said. “I believe he feels if he works hard and plays hard he has a chance to get some early playing time as a freshman.”

Lorenz also mentioned that he’ll likely make his decision later in the process, like most expected.

I’ve been sticking with my prediction of Gary ending up in the Maize and Blue for months now and this visit only helps my feelings towards that. Michigan offers the #1 player in the country the entire package unlike most schools and has that X-factor in Chris Partridge.

If the defense and defensive line continues to dominate and the Wolverines continue to win, I believe Jim Harbaugh signs Rashan Gary on National Signing Day.

2016 Boulder (CO) LB Carlo Kemp

While Gary was the headliner, Kemp was far from an opening act. The top BUCK linebacker target made his 2nd visit to Ann Arbor in the last two months, though this time he knew what to expect from his rumored favorite.

Well, he thought he knew what to expect.

Kemp spoke with The Wolverine’s Tim Sullivan after his visit and absolutely raved about the Wolverines program and his “outstanding” visit ($):

I love Michigan, I love everything about it,” Kemp said. “I had a really good trip, and I really like the way they’d use me. They’d use me as a Buck linebacker, and that’s what Ojemudia plays. A guy that just goes all over the field, blitzes, drops into coverage, just the monster, the beat.”

Add in Kemp being completely decked out in Michigan gear and sources close to the situation telling me he was thinking about committing to Harbaugh during his visit for the BBQ in early August, and I believe he ends up pulling the trigger and joining the 2016 recruiting class soon after his official visit to Notre Dame on October 10th

Clark Wants to be a Wolverine

Have you heard anything about Chris Clark lately? Of course you have. And while it’s been like beating a dead horse covering his transfer from UCLA, I just wanted to add this (final?) piece from The Wolverine crew who have been in contact with Clark throughout his move and have been relaying an opposite take on his feelings about Michigan ($):

The No. 1 tight end in 2015, Chris Clark, only lasted one game at UCLA and has now been officially released from the Bruins. He has set three official visits to Virginia, Pittsburgh, and N.C. State but if it were up to him, he’d end up at Michigan.

Though they, like everyone else, have reported that Michigan is not interested in their former tight end commit, I’m in the minority who thinks they should give Clark a look IF they miss on their top tight end targets in 2016. But, that may not happen with the emergence of the 2015 Wolverines so that personal feeling will just be that, a personal feeling.

Johnson Still All Blue

When news broke of Camden (NJ) defensive end commit Ron Johnson taking an official visit to Kentucky this past weekend for the Missouri match up, some Michigan fans were a little worried. In the past, Brady Hoke did not allow committed players to visit other schools.

That is not the case with Jim Harbaugh.

The Wolverine’s Tim Sullivan caught up with Johnson’s head coach and was reassured that Johnson cleared the visit with the coaching staff and is still “fully committed to Michigan” ($).

These kids are making the biggest decision of their young lives. It only makes sense to allow them to be 100% sure they’re making the right choice. Especially if the other school is going to foot the bill.

Speaking of that, does anyone know if Hawaii is looking for a 27 year old kicker?

Jones Swaying Towards South Bend?

Since offering 2016 Oak Ridge (FL) LB Jonathan Jones back in early February, Michigan has been the known favorites for his services. However, that may have changed this past weekend.

Jones officially visited South Bend for Notre Dame’s game vs UMass and left feeling the Irish more than ever. He told 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong that he was tempted to commit to ND during the trip ($) but decided to hold off. Most believe he’s waiting to see how his Michigan official visit goes at the end of November vs Ohio State but that didn’t stop several analysts from putting in Crystal Ball predictions for Jones to end up at Notre Dame.

While I didn’t have Jones in my last couple Best Guess Recruiting Classes thanks to his timeline (I didn’t believe a spot would be available by the time he made a decision), this definitely makes his official visit to Ann Arbor more interesting. The staff now has some ground to make up if they are planning on taking Jones in 2016.

Is Michigan Taylor-Made?

I spoke with 2017 Covington (GA) RB Kurt Taylor after his return trip to Michigan this past weekend and things are still looking fantastic for the Wolverines here.

He told me he “will fit perfect in this system”, when I asked him about how he thought UM looked vs BYU. While that may have been a bit of a slip of the tongue/fingers, he also added that he is getting close to making a decision.

Lets just say, I wouldn’t be shocked in the least bit to see him be one of the next Michigan commitments.

Quick Hitters

  • 2016 St Edwards (OH) DB Tony Butler is still a name to remember. Though he tweeted he may move up his decision timeline, he told me he’s slowed down everything and isn’t sure where he’s at. He’s also continued to talk to Michigan’s DB coach Mike Zordich and is planning on visiting again this fall.
  • I caught up with 2017 St Joseph (MI) LB Corey Malone-Hatcher‘s father to ask about his son’s injury. As you may have saw during his visit to the BYU game, he’s in a cast and on crutches after having surgery to clean up an ankle injury recently. Luckily, he’s doing good and is in good spirits.
  • 2016 Sprayberry (GA) CB Dreshun Miller has continued to stay in touch with the Michigan coaching staff and an offer could very well come his way. I believe it depends on how the staff feels about Lavert Hill and Tony Butler, but he’s definitely a name to watch moving forward. As for another one…..

Name to Watch: 2017 Prattville (AL) ATH Josh Moore

Prattville will have three players on the 2016 Michigan roster and there’s another name to keep an eye on in the near future. Quarterback Josh Moore has quickly taken over for Wolverine cornerback (and former Prattville QB) Keith Washington and has a very similar playing style. Watch out for him moving forward as Harbaugh has clearly loved what he’s seen from the Alabama high school program.

Photo Credit: Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Garrett Fishaw
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