The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/178977
michigan recruiting also plays the same position as Nich‑ olson. Long Beach (Calif.) Poly safety John "Juju" Smith will take his of‑ ficial trip to Ann Arbor for the Wol‑ verines' Nov. 30 contest against Ohio State. He is not as likely to commit to Michigan on the visit as Nicholson was — which may be one of the main reasons the U-M coaches asked Nich‑ olson to hold off on visiting — but does play the same spot on the field. Cleveland Glenville teammates Marshon Lattimore and Erick Smith, both defensive backs, have already been on campus in Ann Arbor. They took unofficial visits for the Notre Dame game and, depending upon room at the time they plan to make decisions, could find a home in the class. Although the Michigan class is not complete, there is limited space — and limited prospects to fill them. While sleeper prospects emerge seemingly every year, this group looks likely to finish strong. Da'Shawn Hand Entering The Final Stretch Woodbridge (Va.) High defen‑ sive end Da'Shawn Hand is the top prospect remaining on Michigan's recruiting board. In fact, he's the top uncommitted prospect in the land. The 6-4, 248-pound end is the No. 1 senior nationally according to Ri‑ vals.com. He has narrowed his list to Michigan, Alabama and Florida, and the end of his recruitment is in sight. Hand will announce his college commitment in a ceremony at Wood‑ bridge High School Nov. 14. The Wolverines are considered the favor‑ ite, and his official visit for the Notre Dame victory did nothing to change that. In fact, it likely fortified the po‑ sition of the Maize and Blue. "It was more laid back," he said. "They were just acting like normal people. They weren't even acting like they were recruiting me. It was more about seeing how I was doing, catching up with people and seeing what I remembered," Hand said. "I talked to all the coaches, and it was the same old, same old." Hand has held Michigan in high regard throughout his recruitment, and official visits to Alabama and Florida are the final stage in making his choice. The schedule for those two trips is on the move, however. "Hand was set to visit Florida on Oct. 5 when it hosts Arkansas and had scheduled a visit to Alabama for Nov. 9 for its home tilt with LSU with national title implications," said Ri‑ vals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell. "However, the SAT is on Oct. 5, so Hand changed things. Now, he will visit Alabama on Oct. 26 when its hosts Tennessee, and he'll take his Florida trip on Nov. 9 when the Gators host Vanderbilt." The change could portend good things for Michigan. In a video se‑ ries on WashingtonPost.com, Hand admitted that he already has a good idea of where he'll be attending col‑ lege. Given his high opinion of the Wolverines — and the Gators' short time period to change his mind — it's likely his mind is filled with Maize and Blue thoughts.