The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING pect of returning to the Midwest (he is a Cincinnati native) may be more intriguing to Kozan than playing in the SEC. That's a feather in the cap for Michigan and Iowa, but the Ti- gers have done a good job recruiting him and remain in the hunt. Birmingham (Mich.) Seaholm of- fensive lineman Dan Gibbs is a local product who is very high on Michigan. He has the size to play tackle at a Division I program, stand- ing 6-7 and more than 300 pounds (though he has cut weight to wrestle at 285 pounds this winter). The size alone is intriguing, and Gibbs has the strength to contribute as well. He needs to work on his quickness and technique, which will come with bet- ter conditioning. Gibbs currently holds a preferred walk-on offer from Michigan, but is hoping to earn a full scholarship of- fer before making a college decision. He is also a very good student and has academic scholarship options to play football at Ivy League univer- sities, including Harvard. If Michi- gan offers Gibbs, he's likely to be a Wolverine, but the preferred walk-on route could be an option despite his Ivy League scholarship offers. Tight Ends Michigan's coaching staff already has two tights ends committed in the 2012 class, and there are two who will still be on the roster next fall. However, offensive coordinator Al Borges is looking for more. There is just one tight end left on the board for Michigan, and if the Wolverines don't land him, it's likely that they will simply look to the future classes to shore up depth. Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward tight end Sam Grant is that remaining player, and he has the size to con- tribute immediately in college. His 6-6, 245-pound frame can help him move defensive linemen off the line of scrimmage as a blocker, but he also has enough athleticism to go out and catch passes. He brings a hybrid skill set that would complement Michi- gan's current two commits — Cincin- nati Sycamore tight end A.J. Williams is a blocker who hasn't caught a pass in a couple of years, and Farming- ton Hills (Mich.) Harrison tight end Devin Funchess is undersized and will need to fill out to play tight end in college. Grant is currently committed to Boston College, but his commitment softened following the fall, and he has taken official visits to Michigan, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Those are the final four schools he is consider- ing, but it seems Boston College is facing an uphill climb to retain his commitment. He wants to get a de- cision over with as soon as he can and will commit to a college once he finishes hosting college coaches for in-home visits. Defensive Backs Michigan's coaching staff already has four defensive backs committed to the 2012 class, but they're looking for at least one more. Detroit Cass Tech four-star Terry Richardson is the only cornerback in the group, and the other three are safeties, with Akron (Ohio) Buchtel four-star Jar- rod Wilson the most highly rated of the bunch. The coaching staff would like to add another true cover corner to build up depth in the defensive backfield. Both Williams and Reeves have been committed to Penn State since August, but in the wake of the scandal and staff turnover in State College, both have looked at other options in the recruiting process. Michigan has emerged as a serious option for Reeves, along with Notre Dame and Ohio State. Penn State may still be the favorite to re-affirm the commitment of both players, but Reeves took an official visit to Michigan on Jan. 13, and en- joyed himself. Michigan looks like a more realistic option, but Reeves will wait until National Signing Day to make his decision. Wild Cards As is always the case with recruit- ing, the situation can change in a hurry. In early January, it seemed like Michigan was the team to beat for Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep four- star cornerback Yuri Wright, but his official visit to Ann Arbor was can- celed, and now the chances of him ever making it out to Ann Arbor are slim. Washington (D.C.) H.D. Woodson four-star cornerback Kenneth Craw- ley recently decommitted from Ten- nessee and has expressed interest in Michigan, but has not set dates to take official visits to any other schools. If Michigan strikes out with the prospects they seem to be in good position for, new prospects could emerge. The Likely Finish If Michigan's coaching staff fin- West Roxbury, Mass., native Armani Reeves, Rivals.com's No. 17 cornerback nationally, has been committed to Penn State since August, but is reconsidering his options following a tumultuous fall for the Nittany Lions. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Me- morial Academy cornerback Armani Reeves fits that definition of cover corner to a "T." Although he mea- sures just 5-9, 185 pounds, he has the fluid hips to stick with wide receivers in man coverage, and the burst to make plays on the ball when it is in the air. Rivals.com ranks Reeves as the No. 17 cornerback and No. 213 prospect in the country, and the sec- ond-best player in Massachusetts, be- hind his friend and teammate, four- star linebacker Camren Williams. ishes with Garnett, Grant and Reeves, they will be a very happy group. That fills each of the three remaining needs (offensive line, tight end and cornerback), and with highly rated prospects, or in Grant's case, a player they seem to really like despite his low ranking. That would give Michigan 27 commitments in the class and a very solid group likely to finish in the national top 10. As it stands, the Wol- verines' class is ranked No. 4 — be- hind Alabama, Texas, and Florida — by Rivals.com. ❏ On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football re- cruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. FEBRUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 63