The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/432566
MICHIGAN RECRUITING News All-Divisions and All-State Dream Team, and was named the State Champs Mr. Football in Michi- gan. He was also the Gatorade Player of the Year selection in Michigan. Malzone was joined on the All- Metro North first-team by team- mate Jack Dunaway, an unranked 6-3, 225-pound defensive end who will walk on at Michigan. Dunaway was also named the MLive Defensive Player of the Year in Michigan. RECRUITS REACT TO HOKE FIRING Michigan pledges weren't the only ones affected by U-M's change at the head coaching position. Several key recruits in the 2015 and 2016 classes will also see their processes affected by U-M's decision to relieve Brady Hoke of his duties. Long Beach (Calif.) Poly five-star cornerback Iman Marshall may have been a long shot from the beginning, and the coaching change could throw a wrench into those works. "I hate to hear Coach Hoke poten- tially losing his job," said Marshall's father, Tony, prior to Hoke being re- leased. "That will obviously affect Iman's recruiting. When the time comes we will sit down and discuss a contingency plan if Coach Hoke isn't retained." Since then, Marshall has tenta- tively replaced a planned January official visit to Michigan with one to Oregon instead, but a new coach will at the very least have a shot to convince him to head to Ann Arbor for a trip. His original plan was to visit U-M was along with teammate and friend Colin Samuel (a four-star quarterback who does not hold an of- fer from the Ducks), so the window is still open for Michigan if they'd like to take visits as a duo. The 2016 class should see Michigan have a much better shot with elite MISCELLANEOUS NOTES • Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's cornerback and former Michigan commit- ment Garrett Taylor will now attend Penn State. The four-star pulled back from Michigan in October. • Indianapolis Lawrence Central linebacker Darrin Kirkland has not made a new commitment, but U-M will not be in the mix to re-secure his pledge. He has narrowed his list to Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas, and will an- nounce his pledge at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 4. • With no coaching staff in place, Michigan will have a hard time holding onto current commitments. Though most are expected to remain Blue in the end, Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne safety Tyree Kinnel will officially visit Notre Dame (along with former U-M pledge Shaun Crawford, an Irish commit). Fel- low Dayton-area commit Messiah deWeaver, a four-star 2016 quarterback from Trotwood (Ohio) Madison High School, has visited and earned an offer from Michigan State.