Out of all the days in the college football offseason, none will impact a program more than National Signing Day. National Signing Day is to college football what Spring Training is to baseball. It represents hope for the future and everyone hopes that they’ve uncovered the next big thing.
With Thomas Rawls officially announcing his commitment to Michigan today, Michigan currently sits at 18 commitments for this year’s recruiting class. The Wolverines are still in the mix for five different players heading into tomorrow. I’ll break down when each of these five players will sign their letter of intent, how they’d fit in at Michigan if they decide to commit, and who I ultimately think they will end up signing with.
Jake Fisher – OT – Traverse City, MI
Announcement Time: 8 A.M. Wednesday
How would he fit in at Michigan?
Michigan will only return Taylor Lewan, Mark Huyge, and Michael Schofield at offensive tackle in 2011. Currently, most of Michigan’s offensive line recruits are viewed as interior lineman and there are no true tackles committed to the Wolverines. With such few options at tackle on the roster, Michigan could desperately use Fisher to help fill out this class. Fisher is very similar to Lewan in the fact that he is a tall and lean lineman with a nasty streak. Fisher is a tremendous athlete for being 6’7” and 265 pounds. Michigan sorely needs depth in the event that Michael Schofield doesn’t turn into a great player because Huyge will be gone following the 2011 season.
Where will he go?
After Rodriguez’s departure, Fisher re-opened his commitment status and ever since then I’ve felt that this one will not go Michigan’s way. Hoke simply did not have enough time to build a relationship with Fisher. Fisher spent last weekend in Eugene, Oregon touring the wonderful facilities that the Ducks have to offer. I think he heads west to attend Oregon.
Leilon Willingham – LB – Denver, CO
Announcement Time: 9 A.M. Wednesday
How would he fit in at Michigan?
Willingham is a kid who could step in and contribute on special teams and crack the two deep as a true freshman. He has great size at 6-2, 235 pounds and the Wolverines would start him off playing in the Middle Linebacker spot. Michigan has recruited a bunch of linebackers in this class but not many of them have the size to play the middle spot in Greg Mattison’s defense. Willingham would be a tremendous get this late in the game and would open up a pipeline into Denver Mullen High School, which traditionally produces a bevy of Division 1 talent. Willingham would be able to slot in behind Kenny Demens and potentially work himself into the playing rotation by year’s end.
Where will he go?
Willingham was committed to Texas A&M just a few short weeks ago. He has also drawn heavy interest from Colorado down the stretch following his decommitment. Willingham spent plenty of time getting to know Greg Mattison during his official visit and I would be shocked if Mattison didn’t sell him on his potential to be a big-time playmaker in this defensive scheme. Willingham heads to Michigan.
Frank Clark – OLB/TE – Cleveland Glenville, Ohio
Announcement Time: 10 A.M. Wednesday
How would he fit in at Michigan?
Clark is a solid athlete with nice size at 6’2” and 210 pounds. He was a receiver and outside linebacker at Cleveland Glenville. Michigan could use him at either the tight end position or OLB. Initially, it sounds like Clark will get his shot on the defensive side of the ball. He would bring solid speed to the linebacking corps but would almost assuredly need a redshirt year in order to add size to a frame that is on the light side right now for Big Ten football. Perhaps one of the most important things the Clark would bring to the table is just being from Cleveland Glenville High School. Glenville is coached by Ted Ginn Sr. and has become a Buckeye stronghold since Tressel took over in Columbus. Glenville produces too much Division 1 talent for Michigan not to have a foot in the door there. I think that if Clark can come have a positive freshman year in Ann Arbor, then Hoke and his staff might be able to start making in-roads in Cleveland again.
Where will he go?
Clark is down to Michigan, Michigan State, and North Carolina. Clark is an academically focused kid and he wants to play in the Big Ten and it’s been rumored since his official visit that he has been a silent commit to Michigan. I’d be stunned if he ends up signing with a school other than Michigan.
Darian Cooper – DT – DeMatha HS, Maryland
Announcement Time: 12 P.M. Wednesday
How would he fit in at Michigan?
Cooper is a true defensive tackle prospect at 6’2” and 275 pounds. Michigan is woefully thin at defensive tackle with Mike Martin being the only returnee with any significant playing experience. Richard Ash and Terry Talbott were both redshirt players this past year and it remains to be seen whether Will Campbell or Quinton Washington will be playing on the defensive side of the ball. Cooper would bring a similar skill set to Martin in the form of a disruptive interior pass rusher for the 4-3 under scheme that Mattison will employ. Cooper would almost certainly not redshirt if he were to come to Michigan due to the lack of talent at the defensive line position. He would fill a huge need in this class.
Where will he go?
Unfortunately, with the coaching change situation in Ann Arbor, I don’t think Michigan gets Darian’s signature despite having him in for an official visit this past weekend. Cooper’s other finalists are Iowa, Michigan State, and Georgia Tech. He has shown that he is fond of the Spartans, but conventional wisdom for the past month has held that the Hawkeyes were his leader and I think that at the end of the day he goes with the school that he has felt most comfortable with throughout the process. Cooper heads to Iowa.
Chris Barnett – TE – Hurst, Texas
Announcement Time: Friday February 4th.
How would he fit in at Michigan?
With Kevin Koger entering his senior year, and Brandon Moore (Redshirt Jr. for 2011) the only other tight end on the roster, Michigan is in desperate need of adding another body to the tight end corps. Hoke and Borges used many different multiple tight end formations at San Diego State and a pass-catching weapon at that spot will help make the offense go. Barnett is already a monstrous sized prospect at 6’5” and 245 pounds. He has tremendous athletic ability and garnered offers from all over the country including schools like USC, Oregon, and Florida State. His speed for his size is tremendous and would provide a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses in the red zone. Barnett tore his ACL early in his senior season and will more than likely need a redshirt year in 2011 before being fully ready to contribute and potentially start at tight end in 2012.
Where will he go?
Barnett has been an Arkansas commit since way back in October. The past two weekends he has taken trips to both Miami and Michigan and I have a feeling that the decision is ultimately going to come down to the Razorbacks and the Wolverines. The fact that he is delaying his decision past signing day, combined with Michigan being his most recent visit, makes me think that the Wolverines will be able to flip his commit. I think Barnett signs with Michigan.
Where would this leave Michigan?
If Michigan gets the three players I listed above, they would sign a class of 21 prospects that would be ranked somewhere between 17th and 25th in the country. This would be a nice way to cap what has been a tremendously challenging recruiting season for the Wolverines. If this is how it shakes out, Michigan will desperately need to get some big numbers on both the offensive and defensive lines in the 2012 class. After the signing day chaos ends I’ll break down the full recruiting class in detail.
write a new blog clown
ReplyDelete