The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING The Scoop: Took unofficial visits to Michigan for final two regular-season games … Planning an official visit to Ann Arbor in December … Pro-style of- fense at Michigan and relationships with Michigan commitments Kyle Kalis and Tom Strobel give the Wolverines a good shot … Cousin Dymonte Thomas is com- mitted to Michigan's 2013 class … Plans to decide in December and enroll early in January. JOSHUA GARNETT • OL Puyallup High School/Puyallup, Wash. Measurables: 6-5, 275 pounds. 350-pound bench press, 500-pound squat. 3.87 grade-point average. Rankings: Rated a four- star prospect, the No. 24 overall player and No. 5 of- fensive tackle in the nation, and the top player in Washington by Rivals.com. Accomplishments: Selected to the Un- der Armour All-American Bowl Jan. 5 in St. Petersburg, Fla. … Named conference lineman of the year as a senior … Three- year starter on varsity football team. Favorites: Michigan, Auburn, Miami, Stanford and Washington. The Scoop: Visited Ann Arbor for Michi- gan's victory over Ohio State on Nov. 26 along with his friend, Michigan commit- ment Erik Magnuson, and raved about the trip afterward … Was also wowed by a visit to Stanford earlier in the fall … Plans to take official visits to Auburn and Miami … The home-state draw of Wash- ington could also be a factor in Garnett's final decision. MONTY MADARIS • WR Archbishop Moeller/Cincinnati Measurables: 6-2, 190 pounds. 2.9 grade-point average. Rankings: Rated a three- star prospect, the No. 51 wide receiver nationally and the No. 19 player in Ohio by Rivals.com. Accomplishments: Led team to state playoffs quarterfinal berth as a senior … Named to all-district and Division 1 All-Ohio first teams as a senior with 50 catches for 1,075 yards. Favorites: Florida State and Nebraska lead Michigan, Illinois and Michigan State. The Scoop: Didn't take recruiting trips during his senior high school season … Plans to take several visits this winter … Michigan will receive an official visit … Plans to come to a decision following all of his visits. TAYLOR MCNAMARA • TE Westview High School/San Diego Measurables: 6-5, 235 pounds. Rankings: Rated a four- star prospect, the No. 97 player overall and No. 2 tight end nationally, and the No. 12 player in Cali- fornia by Rivals.com. Accomplishments: Se- lected to play in the U.S. Army All-Amer- ican Bowl, Jan. 7, in San Antonio, Texas … Named a Top Offensive Performer at Nike's "The Opening" recruiting event this summer … Also played linebacker on defense as a senior. Favorites: Michigan, California, Col- orado, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Washington. The Scoop: Decommitted from Arizona this fall … New name on the Michigan ra- dar following the decommitment of Lynd- hurst (Ohio) Brush tight end/athlete Pha- raoh Brown … Friendships with Michigan commitment Erik Magnuson and fellow prospect Josh Garnett could help the Wol- verines earn an official visit … Has already visited several schools, including Colorado and Notre Dame … As a relatively new entry to his recruiting process, Michigan is playing catch-up in the race for his ser- vices … Will announce a commitment at the U.S. Army All-American Game. JORDAN PAYTON • WR Oaks Christian/Westlake Village, Calif. Measurables: 6-2, 199 pounds. 4.49-second 40-yard dash. Rankings: Rated a four- star recruit, the No. 120 overall player and No. 18 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 15 player in California by Rivals.com. Accomplishments: Selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Will also play in Cal-State All-Star game Dec. 23 in Fresno, Calif. … Four-year starter at perennially powerful program … Owns every single-season (29 recep- tions for 1,088 yards, with two games left to play) and career (145 receptions for more than 2,600 yards and 37 touch- downs) receiving record at Oaks Chris- tian … Younger brother of former Or- egon State receiver Mike Payton. Favorites: Michigan and Notre Dame lead Arizona State, Cal, Oregon and UCLA. The Scoop: Seemed likely to commit to Michigan or Notre Dame in October, but has since opened his recruitment back up … Visited Michigan in September and Notre Dame in October … Took an offi- cial visit to Arizona State in November … Will take his remaining two official visits before coming to a decision. DARIUS POWE • WR Lakewood High School/Lakewood, Calif. Measurables: 6-2, 185 pounds. Rankings: Rated a four- star prospect, the No. 248 player in the country, the No. 38 wide receiver na- tionally and the No. 30 player in California by Rivals.com. Accomplishments: Under Armour All- American Bowl selection … Led team in receiving with 516 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior despite injury- shortened season … Also plays safety on defense. Favorites: Oregon State leads Michi- gan, UCLA, and Utah. The Scoop: Has a strong attraction to Oregon State, thanks to the commitment of his friend and teammate Malik Gilm- ore … Also likes Michigan and has been trying to schedule an official visit to Ann Arbor … Seeking opportunity for playing time, a positive in Michigan's pursuit. YURI WRIGHT CB Don Bosco Prep/Ramsey, N.J. Measurables: 6-2, 180 pounds. Rankings: Rated as a four-star prospect, the No. 57 player overall and No. 3 cornerback nation- ally, and the No. 3 player in New Jersey by Rivals.com. Accomplishments: Cho- sen to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Member of back-to-back unde- feated teams as a junior and senior … Led team to RivalsHigh No. 1 ranking in the country as a senior. Favorites: Michigan, California, Colo- rado, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Rutgers and Ohio State. The Scoop: Fond of Michigan, but his plans for an official visit to see the Ohio State game were scrapped due to high school playoff obligations … He won't pare down his list until he gets the op- portunity to see some schools in person … Plans to make a decision on National Signing Day … Ohio State is in the mix following the hiring of Urban Meyer. ❑ DECEMBER 2011 THE WOLVERINE 67