The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN RECRUITING up can go to a defensive back, or even be banked for the 2014 group. MICHIGAN STATE VISITORS The Michigan State game Oct. 20 was penciled in as Michigan's biggest recruiting weekend of the season, and although several 2013 and 2014 pros- pects were in attendance, it wasn't the blockbuster it was initially projected to be. fer who were in attendance included Beverly Hills (Mich.) Detroit Country Day quarterback Tyler Wiegers; India- napolis Pike wide receiver Dominique Class of 2014 players without an of- Booth; Tarpon Springs (Fla.) wide receiver Artavis Scott; and Lapeer (Mich.) East tight end Kyle Rachwal, who was making his third trip of the season. u In the 2013 class, the headliner was Richmond (Va.) Hermitage five-star running back Derrick Green. The No. 1 running back and No. 13 overall pros- pect in the country, according to Ri- vals.com, is a five-star talent and the highest-ranked player left on Michi- gan's board. He told Rivals.com ana- lyst Mike Farrell that he enjoyed the trip to Ann Arbor, but as of Oct. 29, has been unavailable for further comment. The 6-1, 215-pound Green is a batter- ing ram of a runner who would be an excellent fit in Michigan's pro-style offense. Crete (Ill.) Monee four-star Laquon quarterback Shane Morris, was diagnosed with mononucleosis in September and presumed unavailable for the remainder of his senior year. However, he recovered quickly enough to play in the final two regular-season games for the Pilots, and although both were wins, it was not enough to lead them to the playoffs. De La Salle finished 5-4 on the year. • Crete (Ill.) Monee wide receiver Laquon Treadwell is one of Michigan's top • Michigan's top-ranked 2013 commitment, five-star Warren (Mich.) De La Salle MISCELLANEOUS NOTES remaining targets. The 6-3, 190-pound wideout favored U-M early in the process, but the Wolverines had slipped from the forefront in recent weeks. Nowhere was that more clear than in his desire to forego an official visit to Ann Arbor (in favor of an unofficial trip, which offers the coaching staff fewer opportunities to impress). However, the Illinois state playoffs have changed the itinerary for Treadwell. He now plans to wait until after his season comes to an end to take any visits. He will also officially visit all five of his favorite schools — Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss. That's an upgrade for Michigan and a chance to remind him what each of his previous six visits to Ann Arbor had showed him about the school. • Detroit Cass Tech offensive lineman David Dawson may not be the only loss Treadwell — the top wide receiver and No. 23 overall senior in the na- tion — was unable to make the trip due to a death in his family. However, one player who could fill that wide receiver role should Treadwell opt to play elsewhere is Westland (Mich.) John Glenn wideout Da'Mario Jones. Though Jones has flown under the ra- dar thanks to a run-heavy high school offense, he has been timed at 4.5 sec- onds in the 40-yard dash and stands 6-2, 185 pounds. He could earn a U-M offer down the road. In the 2014 class, the big fish in atten- dance was Chicago Hales Franciscan offensive lineman Denzel Ward. The 6-9, 285-pounder committed to Michi- gan before the game, filling a need on the offensive line. Other offered 2014 visitors included Tarpon Springs (Fla.) East Lake of- fensive lineman Mason Cole; Mon- roeville (Pa.) Gateway safety Montae Nicholson; and Detroit Cass Tech cor- nerback Damon Webb. Though none seem close to a decision yet, witnessing Michigan's 12-10 victory over an in- state rival — in front of a vocal crowd — is a boost to U-M's chances. On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football re- cruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. in the 2013 recruiting cycle for Michigan. Massillon (Ohio) Washington defensive back Gareon Conley has also mentioned a desire to take visits to schools outside of the one in Ann Arbor. Ohio State has offered Conley, and his childhood favorite Oregon is in play as well. Although Michigan's coaching staff has kept him in the fold thus far, the situation is playing out very similarly to the way Dawson's did. Though he's ranked as just a three-star prospect and the No. 56 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com, Conley would be a big loss for Michigan. The Wolver- ines' coaching staff has told him they love his 6-2, 170-pound frame at corner- back, where his length allows him to cover taller receivers. He also has the poten- tial to play wideout, one thing he finds intriguing about his other options. Both Ohio State and Oregon are recruiting him at that position, while Michigan has left it open as a possibility with the expectation he's a defensive player for them. Conley has made 17 total tackles and one interception on defense for the Tigers, and 34 receptions for 716 yards and 10 touchdowns on the other side of the ball. He leads Massillon with 1,145 all-purpose yards this year. • Michigan has only two more home games this season, but will bring in visitors for each of them. Class of 2013 defensive back Leon McQuay III plans to see Ann Arbor for the Nov. 10 game against Northwestern. The 6-2, 185-pound McQuay is a five-star ranked the No. 2 safety nationally by Rivals.com. Michigan likes him as a cornerback in addition to his potential at safety. Michigan commitment Chan- ning Stribling, a two-star defensive back from Matthews (N.C.) Butler, also plans to attend his first Michigan game that weekend. For the Iowa game Nov. 17, underclassmen Brian Allen and Ian Bunting, an of- fensive lineman and tight end, respectively, from Hinsdale (Ill.) Central are among the expected visitors. Chicago Marist tight end Nic Weishar is also an option to visit that date, though he has not made definite plans. The majority of Michigan's local commits, especially those whose seasons have ended, are expected to visit for both of the final two home games of the season. However, like with the 2012 class, most of them will wait until December to take their official visits together on the same weekend, instead of for a game. • Denzel Ward's commitment gives Michigan two commitments in the 2014 class, slightly behind last year's pace (when Alliance [Ohio] Marlington safety Dymonte Thomas picked the Wolverines Sept.10). However, with the 2013 class mostly wrapped up, the coaching staff can focus on their future groups. While the 2013 class had to wait until February for commitment No. 3, don't expect the same to happen in 2014. NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 87