The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN RECRUITING choosing to graduate high school a semester early and enroll at Michi- gan in January. This allows them to participate in spring practice and the strength and conditioning program, increasing their chances of contribut- ing early in their college careers. Three prospects — linebackers Joe MISCELLANEOUS NOTES • Michigan scored a major recruiting coup when Avon (Conn.) Old Farms tight end Chris Clark pledged on a June 19 trip to campus. However, the recruiting battle there may not be done. Clark has mentioned a desire to visit North Carolina (to which he was previously committed) for an unofficial this fall. That would run afoul of the Michigan staff's policy for commits, and he will have to speak with the Wolverine coaches to clarify his status with U-M, and whether he'll take that trip. He is expected to stick with Michigan, but the door may be open a crack. • Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice 2015 wide receiver Grant Perry has two Michigan-bound classmates in quarterback Alex Malzone and defensive end Jack Dunaway (a preferred walk-on). He's hoping that he can add his name to those ranks, as well. Perry is an unranked 6-0, 185-pounder with offers from several programs in the Mid-American Conference, but a strong senior year could see him pick up a U-M offer. A good start — 22 catches for 485 yards (22.0 yards per catch) and six touchdowns — indicates that he's doing everything he can to prove his worth. • It is not yet known who will fill Michigan's need at tailback in the 2016 class, but the Wolverines certainly have some talented options. Among the five players with active Michigan offers are Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic five-star Kareem Walker (No. 1 at the position and No. 11 overall nationally), and four-stars Elijah Holyfield (No. 6 running back in the country, out of College Park [Ga.] Woodward Academy), Antonio Williams (No. 9, out of New London [N.C.] North Stanly), Kentrail Moran (No. 10, of O'Fallon [Ill.] High School), and Robert Washington (No. 15, a product of Huntersville [N.C.] Southlake Christian Academy). Walker, the jewel of the class nationally, has already visited Ann Arbor, and is training partners with fellow New Jersey native Jabrill Peppers, a freshman at U-M and five-star in the 2014 class. • Michigan's 2017 offer list remains limited, with only six players holding scholar- ship tenders from the Maize and Blue, but the first three games of players' sopho- more seasons (for some, their first on varsity) could see U-M move on several more. Although Rivals.com has not yet ranked the 2017 class, it's expected that all six players — East St. Louis (Ill.) wide receiver Jeff Thomas, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips offensive lineman Calvin Ashley, Miamisburg (Ohio) offensive lineman Josh Myers, Plano (Texas) East linebacker Anthony Hines (already committed to Mississippi State), Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's linebacker Joshua Ross, and Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer cornerback Jamyest Williams — will begin with at least four-star ratings.