Arriving in the fall: Mike Martin (DT).

Michigan really needed some DEs in the 2008 class, and pulled none. They also lose three of their starting linemen to graduation, and the jury is still out on whether everyone else will stick it out.

William Campbell is a great start. Michigan might want to snag another good DT (do they have enough depth to only grab one if he’s on a higher level?)

Michigan has a ton of need here, and don’t be surprised if they grab 2 or 3.

Posted under Personnel, Recruiting

Arriving in the fall:
Kevin Koger & Brandon Moore (TE), Roy Roundtree (WR), Michael Shaw (also an RB) & Terrence Robinson & Martavious Odoms (Slot). All three slots are essentially guaranteed to see PT. Roundtree might get some spot duty, along with perhaps one of the TEs (not likely). I foresee Redshirts for both TEs and Roundtree.

Clemons could be a monster in the slot, but the position is too important in this offense to have just one body there. He also has a skill set that transfers to outside receiver so he’ll likely see time at both positions. Earnly enrollee Darryl Stonum had an impressive spring, and will probably see significant PT in the fall.

This position group loses nobody except perpetually-injured tight end Mike Massey. For recruiting, they will look for a couple outside WRs and apparently 7,000 slot guys (with two potentially committed in Teric Jones and Fitzgerald Toussaint).

Michigan will need 2-3 slot guys (with 2 potentially committed already, in Teric Jones and Fitzgerald Toussaint (see RB)), and about 2 outside receivers. James Jackson seems like another slot-type guy that could potentially end up with Michigan, though he appears to be digging OSU of late. Bryce McNeal is currently the strongest shot at an outside receiver.

If Fragel were to commit, he probably wouldn’t end up at TE. Sims and Mitchell are big TEs with WR speed, though I still maintain that Sims’s best future position would be DE (where he could be an absolute terror).

Posted under Personnel, Recruiting

Oh RB Fitzgerald Toussaint has given Rich Rodriguez his word to sign with Michigan in February. Toussaint is a 5-10, 185lb back from Isaiah Bell’s high school, Youngstown Liberty.

Player Notes
Toussaint is a little guy who is speedy and has great balance. He seems a lot like a poor man’s Noel Devine, not unlike Oklahoma RB David Oku. For the evidence, check out his highlight video from Scouting Ohio:

Toussaint will be a slot/scatback hybrid, just like seemingly every player Michigan is pursuing.

Recruiting Notes
Toussaint is the second of three major recruits from Liberty to commit to Michigan, leaving only LB Julius Ferrell – who may still end up a member of this class. He becomes Michigan’s 5th commitment for the 2008 class.

Posted under Recruiting

I’m digging this Monday-Friday recruiting update schedule when there isn’t a ton going on. I’ll probably keep to it except in the case of big news like commitments. Speaking of which… a couple of bigtime visitors are coming in the weekend, including Bryce McNeal. I wouldn’t be shocked if McNeal pulled the trigger for Michigan. On to the update… (full board here).

Moved to committed:
OH RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. This is what I get for publishing before doing all my due diligence.

New Information:
SC QB (DB to most other schools) Stephon Gilmore says that Tennessee is his favorite, but he isn’t close to finalizing a decision.
OK RB David Oku. Pontificates on Michigan and Ohio State. By the way, he has a top 6 with neither in-state school.
IL OL Chris Watt visited Notre Dame for the 7 millionth time, I think it’s fair to say they’re his favorite.
FL QB Aaron Murray is the first player selected to the Elite 11 camp.
OH OL Marcus Hall. Ohio State, Southern Cal, and Illinois are his favorites.
LA DT Chris Davenport has a top two (LSU and USC) and a decision schedule (Spetember or October). He is a candidate for removal soon, since the Wolverines appear to be out of the race.

Most importantly, this:
TX QB Shavodrick Beaver is really wanted by TCU. A quote from Beaver:

“I was just about to make a decision here for TCU, but now I don’t know… but now that Michigan has offered that made me want to change my mind.”

Sounds like Michigan and TCU are atop his list. The entirety of the “open letter” response to Beaver’s comment (warning: it’s really stupid):

“Dear Shavodrick,

Its COLD as HELLLLL in Michigan and its a long ways from Wichita Falls. Don’t get wrapped up in all the hype. The new TCU offense will be a mirror image of Michigan’s and you WILL get playing time here instantly. Do the coaches in Ann Arbor even know how to get to Wichita Falls? No they have no idea. They offered just to offer. Don’t let them cloud your vision of being a superstar here at TCU. *See University of Texas if you want an example of players told one thing and receive another. Transferring after finding out too late would really suck and sitting out a year would suck too. Plus, your mom can watch you EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND here in Fort Worth.

Your future biggest fan,

Zammers”

• First things first: it does indeed get cold in Michigan. That may be the only part of the letter that makes sense (then there are the counterarguments of having to play in the cold in the NFL, non-conference CFB games being played in cold weather (or even conference games for about half of the Mountain West), and the fact that summer camp in the south is brutal).
• The new TCU offense will be a mirror image of Michigan’s, eh? Then why would you play at a less prestigious school with a coach who didn’t invent the scheme?
• Instant playing time? Have you seen Michigan’s depth chart? Offering just to offer? I think it might be offering because Michigan needs a good dual-threat QB.
• Superstar at TCU != Superstar at Michigan.
• What does UT have to do with players being told one thing and experiencing another at Michigan? And what, exactly, are you saying that Rich Rodriguez will lie about?

Again, dumb.

Removed:
NV DE Justin Chaisson. Committed to Oklahoma.

Etc.:
A depressing comparison of all the recruits at OSU’s spring game as opposed to Michigan’s. And Alabama’s. How about a hundred at Nebraska?
Freep recruiting articles: Sam Webb, Quarterbacks (albeit with a limited number of targets).
The Columbus Dispatch covers Michigan recruiting. Please, try to convince me they don’t have a complex of some sort.
MVictors covers the kickoff the The Official Rich Rodriguez Whirlwind Tour.

Posted under Recruiting

Various commenters have let me know that the audio levels on yesterday’s videos are too low. I’ll fix that and repost them later today.

Also, since today is the last day of spring practice, the post-spring reports will be published over the next couple of days. This includes:

• Updated Scholarship count
• Post-spring depth charts
• Post-spring recruiting needs
• Summer preview

Look forward to it, yo.

Posted under Spring Coverage

More on the spring game coming up later today.

Posted under Spring Coverage, Video

Taking a page out of the MGoBlue.com book, instead of having a heavy a page with a lot of images, you get a slide show!

If you’d like to get high quality versions of the images you can look through them here or just click on the picture. I guess you can even order prints if you’re into that kind of thing.

I’m going to try to get my initial impressions posted tonight before the standard college Saturday night starts. Look for player and coach interviews to be up tomorrow. The footage from the scrimmage, warm-ups and position drills will be posted throughout the week.

Posted under Blog News, Photo Album, Spring Coverage

This will be short because I am still cold, wet and quite tired. Multimedia content will be up tonight or tomorrow depending on how busy I am tonight.

Some quick observations:

• The starting linebackers were Jonas Mouton and Austin Panter on the outside with Obi Ezeh in the middle.
• Marell Evans was injured and had limited participation.
• The first team offensive line from left to right: Ortmann, McAvoy, Moosman, Zirbel Schilling.
• Terrance Taylor worked exclusively with the second team defense. I have to look at the pictures to tell you exactly who played on the 1st team defensive line.
• Threet looked serviceable; Sheridan did not.
• Carlos Brown was out. Minor and Grady split reps with the first team offense.
• Greg Matthews was the best receiver by far and really showed good athleticism and blocking.
• Brandon Graham absolutely leveled Grady on a zone read.

Blogger isn’t liking the pictures I try to upload, so those will be saved for a later post.

Posted under Spring Coverage

Boardasaurus Rex. Big Spring Practice stuff tomorrow (will Michigan get a commit? I wuldn’t be surprised, but I’m not expecting it). Don’t forget to drop your questions in the comments for the post below.

Added:
VA RB David Wilson. A weird message board post from his coach(?) says he has received a Michigan offer.
TX QB Shavodrick Beaver. He now has a Michigan offer, and is liking the Wolverines. Also, he will face Tyrik Rollison’s Sulphur Springs team hopefully on ESPN2 this fall.

New Information:
Eugene Smith has reportedly been offered.
Chris Freeman. More basketball information. Seriously, what?
Stephon Gilmore and Devonte Holloman visit South Carolina.
Corey Adams and Devon Kennard visit Arizona State.
MD CB Travis Hawkins plans to enroll early.
Removed:
Ain’t Nobody

Etc.:
Colin Cowherd had many positive thoughts about Rich Rodriguez on Wednesday, basically stating that snake oil and wizard hats are boss. (Link for those with Insider). Jake Long may go first in the Draft.

Posted under Recruiting

What hockey game? I haven’t heard anything about a hockey game.

Anyway, Varsity Blue will be having team coverage of the final spring practice. If tradition holds, there will be a chance to interview players after the practice. This is where you come in. Let us know if you have any burning questions you’d like us to ask the players.

Posted under Spring Coverage