The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PREP PROFILES 2013 linebacker haul with the recent ad- dition of Rivals.com four-star standout Ben Gedeon from Hudson, Ohio, who joins fellow Ohio four-star Mike McCray in the class. There is room for one more, however, if the player is good enough. Woodbridge, Va., four-star E.J. Leven- berry Jr. fits the bill, Rivals.com's No. 15 player nationally in his class. Levenberry has been on U-M's cam- Michigan coaches all but filled up their Michigan Has Room For Elite Virginia Linebacker E.J. Levenberry ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, Va. Position: Outside Line- backer Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 226 Rankings: Rivals.com's No. 3 outside linebacker and No. 15 overall player nationally pus twice in the past few months, most recently for the April 14 spring scrim- mage. He stayed for three days, toured the campus, got details on both the football and academic side of college at U-M and left with nothing but positive feelings about the program. Michigan has been at the top of Lev- enberry's list since a January visit in which he got his first look at the cam- pus. He followed up with a trip to Ohio State. "E.J. had great visits to both universi- ties," his dad, Eric Levenberry, said. "He was able to obtain important informa- tion regarding day-to-day life at each school. " in the 2013 class in Ohio's Jaron Dukes (6-4, Rivals.com's No. 43 wide receiver nationally), but there's room for at least one more, probably two. U-M's national reach has put it in contention for one of the West Coast's best in Santa Monica (Calif.) High standout Sebastian Larue, who is ranked as Rivals.com's No. 21 re- ceiver nationally. Larue "I was thinking recently about maybe the end of the summer and during my senior season is when I want to narrow it down." a defensive back, but Michigan likes him as a wideout. Larue recently visited UCLA for a Bruins spring practice, and though the speedy receiver isn't saying it publicly, some believe he's likely to stay closer to home. "I don't have any top schools right now, Some schools are recruiting Larue as but if I did then they definitely would be up there, California — I'm not saying I want to stay 56 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2012 " Larue said of the Bruins. "It's in Michigan has landed one wide receiver cent trip to Florida State. Levenberry spent a week in Tallahassee, a trip that put the Seminoles neck-and-neck with the Wolverines. "That visit really helped FSU a lot, He also had his eyes opened on a re- said April 7. "They are at the top now with Michigan. I just felt so comfort- able with everything here from being a student to feeling at home with the players and coaches. I really like the people here because that's what you want to surround yourself with. "Coach [Jimbo] Fisher is going to push " he you pass your limits to get the best out of you, but he's going to love you off close to home, but if I did, that would be my No. 1 option. Hecklinski and tight ends coach Dan Ferrigno continue to speak with him fre- quently, nonetheless. Their priority is to get him on campus, which could happen with a summer unofficial visit or a fall official trip. Those will be reserved for his top five colleges regardless of location. For now, anyway, Larue is wide open. Michigan wide receivers coach Jeff Michigan is one of the schools talking to him exclusively about playing wide receiver. Larue caught 31 passes for 554 yards and six touchdowns as a junior and said coaches are impressed with his playmaking ability, reporting he also had five touchdowns on special teams. "I think I play the ball very well in the air," he said, noting added strength and the field. Me and my mom hit it off well with him because she is from New Or- leans and he coached there [at LSU]. It's like a big family here with how they push you, but they also feel comfort- able around each other. about Michigan, setting up a poten- tial North-South battle for his services. Rivals.com's No. 3 outside linebacker prospect nationally racked up 151 tack- les, four sacks and three interceptions as a junior. He holds offers from dozens of schools including some of the nation's top pro- grams in Alabama, Florida and LSU in addition to Michigan, but he's pretty much narrowed his list to U-M, FSU and the Sooners. "I also want to see Oklahoma for a Levenberry has said similar things " visit, and I do think it's between those three, " he said. "I've been really thinking about a decision date for a while. "I may do it at the All-American game " — Chris Balas or signing day, but it may happen in the summer before I start the season. I don't know yet. California Wide Receiver Holds Michigan Offer " Sebastian Larue ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Santa Monica High School Santa Monica, Calif. Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 185 Ranking: Rivals.com's No. 21 wide receiver and No. 141 overall player nationally "I'm just going to see how the campus is set up, things like that," he said. "I'm go- ing to talk with some players there, and see what's their take on the coaches and the campus, maybe some guys from Cal- ifornia to see what their experience is. Larue plans to take his time making a " decision and doesn't have a set date. "I was thinking recently about maybe better route running are offseason pri- orities. "I'm very explosive and I'm very elusive in the open field. I just make plays happen with the ball in my hands. Texas A&M and Washington are among the 20-plus schools to have extended offers in addition Michigan. Both could get visits in the spring, as might USC, while Larue insists U-M is also a priority for a visit. the end of the summer and during my senior season is when I want to narrow it down, " take longer than that I'll take longer, and if I feel like a school is where I want to be, I'll narrow it down earlier. I'm just taking it one day at a time. " he said. "I feel like if I need to It's getting hectic, he admitted. "There is no certain way of dealing with it," he said. "I'm just enjoying the process." — Chris Balas "