Photo Credit: Jim Harbaugh/SI.com

Inside the Fish Bowl is a Tasty Little Appetizer

Posted onAuthorGarrett Fishaw

With the BBQ at the Big House coming up next week, I’ve decided to go ahead and put together a Michigan football recruiting update to discuss some pre-BBQ preview and Jordan release items, including commits and targets who will and won’t be in attendance for one of the program’s largest recruiting events of the year.

That Brand Up to Something

While Michigan fans are hyped up about August because of the start of training camp and the BBQ at the Big House, the event that has everyone pumped for happens on the first two days of the month. On August 1st at The MDen for apparel and on August 2nd with Charles Woodson, Lamarr Woodley and Jim Harbaugh at the Nike store in Detroit for the jersey reveal. That’s when everyone will get their first true looks at what Jumpman has put together.

Though some of the apparel has been leaked out (and most of it looks pretty good), the jerseys and other football gears is still a big surprise. I’m not expecting too much of a change from the 2015 jerseys but, according to several Michigan players after they got their sneak peek, the new gear is going to blow everyone away:

Clearly the players love what Jordan and Nike have down with the new Michigan/Jumpman gear. Mix that in with the recruits, who will get a firsthand look at it on August 6th, that’s really all that matters. But, for my sake, here’s to hoping there’s nothing over the top and everything it clean and simple.

UPDATE: It looks like the base model of the jerseys have been leaked on CFB Reddit (first pointed out by follower @AJTweetss)

You can see that the jersey definitely isn’t finished. The collars are clearly unfinished while they’re still missing a Michigan logo and B1G logo.

Committed to Being Committed

When Michigan added the commitment from highly ranked 2017 DT Aubrey Solomon right out of deep SEC country, a lot of analysts thought it wouldn’t stick. And, I won’t lie, I thought and still think it’ll be a bit of a roller coaster ride from now until he signs his LOI. But, thanks to his recent interview with MLive’s Matt Wentzel, Michigan fans can feel much more confident that he ends up in the Maize and Blue:

Solomon will continue to be the target of numerous other schools during that time, but said there’s no No. 2 on the list moving forward.

“Michigan,” he said of his interests. “That’s it. I was supposed to go to ‘Dawg Night’ (a recruiting event at Georgia); I’m not going to Dawg Night. I’m not trying to go to ‘Bama Barbecue. Really, I’m just focused on Michigan. I’m committed there and now I’m really focusing on trying to win state in high school.

“It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders,” he added of committing before his senior season. “I feel relieved. It’s just a different feeling now because in ninth grade it felt like I was playing to please these people, but now I’m just playing for me.”

Being right in the heart of SEC country, it’ll likely be tough for Solomon to stay away from visiting the likes of Georgia and Alabama during the fall, especially for official visits. You really can’t blame any player for taking full advantage of their recruitment and enjoying free trips to some of the best stadiums in the country. But it’s clear to see that he’s all Michigan right now and looks much more likely to sign with the Wolverines than I have ever thought before.

Committed to Being Decommitted

Do you remember when 2017 Newton (GA) WR Jeremiah Holloman was a Michigan commit? Yeah, it really happened. Back in mid-December, the former teammate of current Wolverines commit RB Kurt Taylor committed to the UM coaching staff. It wasn’t really talked about too much as he wasn’t highly rated. However, he started gaining steam on the camp circuit which turned into offers from just about everyone and he decided to cut bait and bail on his pledge.

Like with most decommits, I never put much into Holloman ever really looking at or considering Michigan again. And he proved that to be true on Wednesday as he didn’t even include UM in his top 12 teams:

Once again, this wasn’t much of a surprise. My Crystal Ball has been on Georgia for a couple weeks now and I still feel pretty confident that he’ll stay in-state and play for the Bulldogs.

Back for Seconds

The BBQ at the Big House is going to be jam packed with top 2017, 2018 and 2019 recruits. But there likely won’t be two bigger recruits in attendance than 6’8” 305lb Gadsden (AL) OT Toryque Bateman and 6’7” 350lb Poly Prep (NY) OT Isaiah Wilson.

After being question marks before, both confirmed on Thursday that they are both planning on making their way to Ann Arbor for the 2nd time:

Bateman

Wilson

I talked about where I believe things stand with Wilson at this point in my July BGRC.

As for Bateman, he also released his top 5 in which he named Michigan his leader.

Add in his expected trip to town for the BBQ and all signs point to him choosing the Wolverines. That’s now especially the case since Wolverine247’s Isaiah Hole is also hearing that he is indeed a take for the staff ($).

Thanks to all of that, I’ve joined both Hole and Steve Lorenz in putting in my Crystal Ball for Bateman to Michigan.

Next week’s ITFB will be a full preview of the BBQ, including players to watch in terms of a possible commitment. So, make sure to have your swim trunks and appetite ready. I’ll bring the Sweet Baby Rays.

Photo Credit: SI.com/Jim Harbaugh

Garrett Fishaw
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