Happy belated Labor Day, everyone. I hope you were able to enjoy some time at the pool, on the patio or on the couch watching football all weekend. As for the world of recruiting, there was a good amount of news to come out while you were grilling up those burgers and hot dogs.
Butler Back in Play
First reported by Wolverine247’s Steve Lorenz ($), a familiar name looks to be back on the staff’s board (was it ever really off?) in St Edward (OH) CB Tony Butler.
According to Lorenz and The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($), DB Coach Zordich was in town to see the talented cornerback and told Lorenz that “things could get interesting with Michigan again, I am sure of it”.
Butler dropped Michigan from his last top list but it now looks like they are contenders again. But will there be room?
The staff already has 4 pure defensive backs committed for 2016 (Richardson, Scott, St-Juste and Metellus) with St-Juste looking like he’ll be apart of the 2017 class. They also have 4 more athletes that will/could play multiple spots, including defensive back (Gil, Evans, Enis and Viramontes) along with two very highly rated defensive back recruits at the top of their board in Lavert Hill and Lamar Jackson.
So, once again, will they have room for Butler? That is the main question in Butler’s recruitment.
One of the Best of All-Time
Scout’s Scott Kennedy was in Paramus, NJ for Paramus Catholic (NJ) DL Rashan Gary‘s season opener and though his team lost big to Michigan LB commit Dele Harding’s Eastern Christian Academy, the nation’s #1 overall player did more than just impress ($).
Mario Williams, JaDeveon Clowney… Rashan Gary.
Those are the three best defensive line prospects I’ve ever Scouted”
Kennedy went on to rave about Gary’s talent and work ethic, saying that he “has the potential to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the game’s greats.” If Kennedy and the rest of the nation’s top scouts are correct about Gary, whoever reels in 2016’s biggest fish will have themselves a bonafide superstar. And Michigan is still in great shape to do so.
Visitors Galore
- There are several top defensive end targets on the 2016 board but one name that has been forgotten is Allen (TX) DE Levi Onwurizike, and he is not one to forget. In an interview with Scout’s Greg Powers, Onwurizike said that he is “definitely trying to hit Michigan up first” when talking about visits this fall ($).
- Another 2016 Miramar (FL) DE Terrell Lucas looked like a likely candidate to join the class after landing an offer during the satellite camp tour. However, things have cooled off dramatically on that front but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t interest. Lucas told Wolverine247’s Steve Lorenz that he plans on officially visiting for the MSU game this fall ($).
- As for 2017, Norcross (GA) QB Davis Mills told Steve Lorenz that he plans on visiting Michigan this weekend ($).
- 2017 Mater Dei (CA) WR Osiris St. Brown is also hoping to visit Ann Arbor this fall ($), per Lorenz.
Names to Watch
2016 OL Noah Johnson
Johnson is an unranked interior offensive lineman out of Fayetteville, Arkansas and is a name to pay attention to moving forward. While the staff has a couple top targets on the line still on the board, like Terrance Davis and JohnCarlo Valentin, Johnson is an underrated option to wathc as he was one of the recruiting coordinator Chris Partridge’s latest follows on Twitter.
2017 OLB Trenton Guthrie
Guthrie is a name that was first brought up by The Wolverine’s Brandon Brown, and when you look at his film, you can see why the staff is interested. He is a long, athletic linebacker that fits the BUCK linebacker spot really well. Though he’s not from Michigan (moved from South Carolina before his sophomore year), the Wolverines could be a bit time player for him if they extend an offer.
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