Introduction to 2013 ATH Eriq Baird

Photo Credit: Eriq's Twitter Page

 Last night on twitter I noticed that current 2013 Commit Logan Tuley-Tillman tweeted that a teammate of his would be accompanying him on a visit this weekend to Michigan.  I did a bit of research and Eriq is the team's "do it all" player.  He's 6'0" and 176 pounds so he has pretty decent size but he literally plays about every position.  His highlight had him at QB, RB, WR, S, CB, and also returning kicks on special teams.  He's great with the ball in his hands but also has great instincts in the defensive secondary and swarms to the football.  I was a bit confused after watching his tape as to why he was unsigned so I decided to reach out to Eriq and here's what he had to say.

Hoke's Mad Magicians:  So you're visiting with Logan Tuley-Tillman this weekend.  Have you been hearing from the coaches at all?
Eriq:  I haven't heard from them yet and it's my first time meeting them this weekend.  I'm excited to get up there.

HokeMM:  What schools are showing you the most interest?
Eriq:  Illinois State and multiple D-2 Schools.

HokeMM:  So your highlight tape was impressive you literally played everywhere haha. Do you prefer to play offense or defense?
Eriq:  Thanks, I love both but I really like to play corner and special teams. 

HokeMM:  Is this a full weekend visit or just one day inparticular?
Eriq:  Just Sunday because I have a basketball tournament on Saturday.

HokeMM:   So what are you most trying to accomplish on the visit? 
Eriq:  Really just to meet the coaches and to show my talent to all of the coaches at the showcase.  It's for seniors that are currently unsigned.  Plus it helps with basketball haha.

HokeMM:  So do you get more looks for football or for basketball?
Eriq:  Definitely for football but my coach tells me that I could go D-1 for basketball.  I love football though.

HokeMM:  So do you have any offers yet?
Eriq:  No offers yet but Illinois State is supposedly offering me in December.  My coach tells me there are alot of schools that like me but just waiting to offer.  He definitely tells me the offers will start coming in so I'm just waiting it out.


That was pretty much it but as you can see Eriq doesn't hold any offers but he does say there are schools with interest.  I'll attach the highlight tape and I am somewhat surprised as to why he doesn't hold many offers.  Maybe the experts don't favor him too much but he isn't the smallest guy being 6'0" and 176 he can always add the weight once he gets to college.  Michigan has had success in using the smaller guys such as Jeremy Gallon.  I'm not saying the coaches will extend him an offer or anything this weekend giving the limited number of spots but he definitely does have the talent to play at the next level and with a showcase like this you never know what will happen.  I'll be in touch with Eriq after the visit to see how things went.

The link below is to Eriq's highlight tape for some reason I was unable to get it to copy into my post so just copy and paste into your browser.  


 http://www.hudl.com/athlete/180868/highlights/20364377

Michigan's 2013 Top 247 Comprehensive List

Michigan has already been well represented on the ESPN150 and the Rivals250 and now they're done a great job at getting on the 247Sports list of the Top 247 recruits in the country.  There are certainly some head-scratching rankings on the list, but Michigan did pretty well with a total of 13 commitments and two targets appearing on the list.

COMMITS

21. Shane Morris (QB)

This marks another list where Michigan's only 2013 quarterback commitment finds himself as the highest ranked commit for Michigan.  He has been playing fantastic and actually won MVP honors at the Columbus Elite 11 camp where he earned a bid to play in the National Elite 11 competition.  Another thing to note is that Morris is now the highest rated 4* on 247Sports' list, which means that if he stays where he is right now, the odds are really good that he will be given 5* status soon.At 6'3", 190 pounds, Shane Morris is primarily a pocket passer, although he has shown the ability to move around in the pocket if need be. Most analysts refer to Morris as having the strongest arm in his class. The only major concern I can see at this point is accuracy. Through the Elite 11 process, Morris has shown streaks of brilliance in delivering the ball on a string, but he needs to work on making that a consistent outcome. He has the arm strength to put the ball just about wherever he wants it. 


Other Notable Offers: Alabama, Cincinnati, Michigan State.

Sound Mind Sound Body Recap

As we all know, the Detroit Sound Mind/Sound Body Camp was this past weekend and was loaded with top Midwest prospects, which included many Michigan commits.  Among the participants were Shane Morris, David Dawson, Logan Tuley-Tillman, Khalid Hill, Jourdan Lewis, and Csont'e York.  This camp was specially unique because coaches were actually able to be there and coach the prospects.  Coach Hoke and his full staff were present, along with Ohio State, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan's staffs.  It was a good chance for the coaches to get an extra look at commits and actually coach them up.

Shane Morris 
Well not much that we need to go in depth as far as Shane goes.  From what I'm hearing and reading he was the best quarterback there as was expected.  Coach Borges coached him the whole day and clearly liked what he saw.  As always, Shane threw hard, but ever since the Elite 11 in Dallas, he has improved significantly on his touch passes.  This is a great sign with the national Elite 11 competiton coming at the end of the summer in Los Angeles.

David Dawson
Yet again Mr. Dawson shows up and dominates at camp.  Easily the best offensive lineman on site and he showed why.  He did get beat a few times, but he was spectacular for the most part.  On the outside is where he got beat when he did but when the coaches moved him inside to guard, which is where he is expected to play in college, he won the matchups with ease.  His technique was top notch, displaying great footwork and hand placement. 


Logan Tuley-Tillman
Logan seemed to play well, but definitely not as well as Dawson.  He weighed in at 315 so he's dropped some weight, but still needing to lose a bit more.  Still has plenty of time before he arrives in Ann Arbor so he will without a doubt have time to get into better college shape.  He got beat a few times in drills but Coach Funk was on site to help him out with footwork and technique.  Logan will most likely play tackle at Michigan because of his size and it's definitely exciting to imagine Dawson and Logan playing alongside one another.

Jourdan Lewis
Jourdan's stock has began to rise with his recent dominance in camps.  He has been playing very well on both sides of the ball, but the coaches have let him know he will play CB at Michigan.  Lewis is 5'11" and has very good recovery speed.  He also has phenomenal ball skills, which is what helps him to excel at WR.  There's nothing wrong with a great two-way player, but I definitely think he's better on the defensive side of the ball and that's where we should all look to see him in Ann Arbor.

Khalid Hill
Khalid is rated as a 3* across the board, but is one of the lower rated players in Michigan's 2013 recruiting class.  Khalid has good size and good skills when it comes to going up and getting the ball.  As he showed at camp, he runs good routes and uses his body very well when it comes to going after the football.  As he continues to play well in camps he may move up the rankings and get some more love from the scouting services.  I'm not sure if he'll become a 4* by time he gets on campus, but he could be a decent pick-up for Michigan.

Csont'e York
C'sonte showed up late, so he didn't get a ton of time at the camp.  When he did play he showed why he is largely considered the most underrated recruit in Michigan's class.

-----

The biggest story coming out of the day to me was 2014 Cass Tech WR/CB Damon Webb who received an Michigan offer.  A couple weeks ago, he literally shut down touted 2013 WR Laquon Treadwell (who Michigan is recruiting hard).  Now, I know Damon is very young and is just finishing up sophomore year, but he does go to Cass Tech and we know the quality of player that comes out of that school.  Along with that, the school is essentially a Michigan pipeline.  He's got great size, athletic ability and good speed.

Can't forget about 2015 Cass Tech QB Jayru Campbell.  Kid is very good and already has some offers, but most notably received an offer from Alabama after his performance at the camp.  Another Cass Tech player, Jayru did throw 3 interceptions, but all were off of drops so can't really blame him for those.  He has been blowing up as of late and Michigan hasn't offered yet, but I expect they will very soon.  At only finishing up freshmen year some argue its way too early to evaluate a kid and extend an offer but he is very good.  He's definitely not the prototypical pocket passer and we know Michigan is looking to go back into the more pro style of offense so we will see how that plays into his recruitment.  Jayru is very good and you should all get to know him because he will only improve as time comes.

Not only were the players there, but as I mentioned, all of the coaches.  Brady Hoke got to speak to campers as well as evaluate top prospects, targets, and commits.  Pretty neat to see the coaches get to be at the camp and with the recent restrictions on basketball recruiting being lifted as far as texting recruits 24/7, I think that football will begin to follow suit.

It was definitely a great showing at this camp from Michigan commits and prospects.  The coaches extending an offer to Damon Webb shows a lot about him and how good he could be in the future.  I'll be trying to get in contact with Damon to talk about his offer and where Michigan stands with him.  Be sure to keep track on all of these prospects and pay attention to the Elite 11 next month to see how good Shane Morris performs.

Updated ESPN150, Michigan Continues to Dominate

The Wolverines continue to dominate the 2013 recruiting class with players like Shane Morris, David Dawson, and Logan Tuley-Tillman. Michigan has 11 commits in the newest updated ESPN150 list, and now we break them down.

32. Shane Morris (QB)
It's no surprise that Shane Morris is still the top 2013 recruit for the Wolverines. As the first big-time recruit at QB for Brady Hoke, Morris has already made a loud name for himself by winning MVP honors at the Columbus Elite 11 camp. Everyone is very excited to get this kid on campus, and it's easy to see why.

At 6'3", 190 pounds, Shane Morris is primarily a pocket passer, although he has shown the ability to move around in the pocket if need be. Most analysts refer to Morris as having the strongest arm in his class. The only major concern I can see at this point is accuracy. Through the Elite 11 process, Morris has shown streaks of brilliance in delivering the ball on a string, but he needs to work on making that a consistent outcome. He has the arm strength to put the ball just about wherever he wants it.

Other Notable Offers: Alabama, Cincinnati, Michigan State.

Elite 2013 Running Back Jordan Wilkins Visiting Michigan This Weekend

According to his Twitter, 4* RB Jordan Wilkins, who recently visited Auburn, has said he is coming up to Ann Arbor next Saturday or Sunday to visit Michigan.  I highly advise you all to look into him and keep a watchful eye out.  As we all know, Michigan is very in the mix for 5* RB Derrick Green, but Wilkins is no slouch himself.

Jordan is a consensus 4* player and Rivals has him as the 11th player at his position.  He is 6'1" and 210 pounds, so definitely a bigger back, which is what the Michigan coaches seem to be looking for at the position.  He has said he wants to play in a tough ground and pound offense, so naturally, with this amazing offensive line that the Michigan coaches have put together, it's safe to say Michigan would be a logical choice for him.

Per his Twitter account it looks like it's between Auburn, Michigan, Tennesse, or Vanderbilt.  As we all know, once recruits visit Ann Arbor they usually put Michigan at the top of their list as we can tell from Michigan's great recruiting so far and I'm sure that this could very well be the same after Wilkins checks out Ann Arbor.  All-American Offensive linemen commits David Dawson and Logan Tuley-Tillman are on him hard so that can't hurt as far as Michigan's hopes at landing him.

There are rumors that Jordan would have committed on Monday after his Auburn visit, but there seemed to be concern from his mother about committing too early.  So we will have to see if his high interest in Auburn has an effect on his Michigan visit.  Hopefully he takes in the experience and sways towards the Wolverines.  

Hopefully over the coming week we will hear more from Jordan about where he stands, particularly in regards to Michigan's standing.  Like I said, keep your eyes out because we have gotten two commitments this week and Jordan seems interested in Michigan as well.

Here's his highlight film, so you can see what Michigan would be getting if the Wolverines land his commitment:

Michigan Scores Big In New Rivals Rankings

Alright everybody, first thing's first, I gotta apologize for my "non-existence" as of late. The Navy is crazy demanding and I've been tied up with handling business as far as that goes.  But I'm back and I know I'm late to the party, but as many of you may know the updated Rivals 250 is out! Michigan debuts at #1 in the team rankings for the 2013 recruiting class. But where do the "experts" have our commits at? Well I'll tell you and then I'll let you know what I think about it.

At the tops of the list for Michigan commits is QB Shane Morris at #22. He actually moved down, which confused me.  Max Browne is the only QB commit ranked ahead of him.  I've seen highlight tape from Browne and Morris and I gotta be honest, Shane has a better arm and is more athletic. Now, some could say I'm biased because Shane is commited to Michigan and Browne to USC, but there is a clear difference in the tape. If you watched it, you would feel the same way.  Shane is ranked as a 4 star right now and close to a 5 star (according to Rivals) but in my eyes say he's a 5 star.  This is a recruit that fans should be familiar with and if not, they need to get familiar with him before he arrives on campus.

Next on the list is LB Mike McCray coming in at #55.  Mike is one of many commits that Coach Hoke and co. have "poched" out of ohio haha.  At 6'4" and 230 pounds he will be a beast at LB, and him coming in along with 2012 LB commits he goes along way towards improving a much improved defense from 2011.  Mike was recently in the news when he received an offer from rival "Ohio."  As many of us know, Mike is very close with fellow commit Logan Tulley-Tillman.  We all know about LTT haha.  Some speculated that the Buckeyes were trying to break them up but Mike reassured us all that he is firmly commited to Michigan.  He is ranked as a 4 star as well.  He won MVP honors at the NFTC camp earlier this summer and I believe is very close to a 5 star talent.  Let's see if the experts agree with me as the year goes on.

Chris Fox.  Right behind McCray coming in at #57.  Big time Offensive Tackle out of Colorado coming in at 6'6" 297 pounds.  Brady Hoke is a defensive line coach and we all know how much he believes in winning in the trenches.  Well, Mr. Fox is one of many commits between 2012 and 2013 that is going towards rebuilding the dominance that we are all accustom to Michigan having on the offensive line.  Chris is also a 4 star according to Rivals and is one of many reasons I am excited to see Michigan moving towards what used to be a smashmouth run it down your throat style of offense. I'm sure touted QB commit Shane Morris has no problem with the great talent coming in at offensive line.

#73 is Patrick Kugler.  Monster offensive tackle and son of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler he defintely knows what he's doing playing offensive line.  Patrick is a 4 star according to Rivals and comes in at 6'5" 280 pounds.  The experts all say he has a mean streak but also is very technically sound.  Well why wouldn't he be his father is the line coach for the Steelers and let's face it for many years they have been the blueprint for how to play line in the NFL.  The amazing technique would be enough for me but when you throw in the fact that he has a mean streak oh man just makes it that much better.  I love the offensive line haul and Kugler just makes it that much better.

Kyle Bosch comes in at #77.  You guessed it he's another awesome offensive line commit for Michigan.  He adds to the plethera of linemen commits for Brady Hoke at 6'5" 285 pounds he's another big guy on this line.  I'm not saying the offensive line has been horrible but definitely been a bit undersized and Kyle helps add to the bulking up of the line and getting back to Michigan football.  Kyle is a 4-star according to Rivals and is another reason why Michigan debuts with the #1 recruiting class for 2013.  I love me some smashmouth in your face football and I am excited to see Kyle in maize and blue.

Dymonte Thomas at #95.  Now he is also a 4-star and he along with Shane Morris is really the foundation for this amazing class.  He and Shane are the first two commits and don't get me wrong I love Morris but Dymonte is my favorite commit in this class.  Personally I love a badass ball hawking safety that makes plays and will flat lay you out.  Dymonte has put in pretty decent work at RB but he really excels at safety.  At 6'1" 175 pounds he's got good size and with the improvement of the secondary from a year go Dymonte will fight right in when he arrives on campus.  He's ranked 9th at the position but to me he is underrated.  He along with many other Michigan commits will show why. 

TE Jake Butt is ranked #118.  I was real excited when Jaked pledged his commitment.  With Kevin Koger leaving we could definitely use another great TE.  These guys are safety blankets for QB's and are great weapons in the red zone.  Jakie is a 4-star and at 6'6" 230 pounds he will be exactly what I said he is going to be and that's a weapon in the red zone.  He can go up and get the ball, also has great speed and hands.  He is incredibly tough to matchup with for defenders because let's face it at 6'6" he's too tall for corners or safeties and he's too quick for linebackers.  I love this kid's game and he is going to prosper very well being on the opposite end of Shane Morris' passes.

CB Jourdan Lewis comes in at #147.  Jourdan has been blowing up lately with his performances at summer camps.  One of many reasons is his speed.  This kid can flat out fly and I love it.   Jourdan is out of Michigan pipeline Detroit Cass Tech and we all know the type of talent that comes out of there.  He's 5'11" and 170 pounds also rated at a 4-star.  He's rated 10th at his position and I believe he could be a Blake Countess type of talent.  Let's face it he's still got his senior year to develop before he even steps on campus.  I'm very excited for another cornberback with good size and speed to arrive in Ann Arbor.

Monster Guard David Dawson is rated at #171.  As David's twitter name is at MrUnderrated, it definitely fits because let's face it...171?  That's insane in my opinion.  He has dominated every camp that he has been to this summer.  He's rated as a 4-star and is another great product of Detroit Cass Tech.  At 6'5" and 305 pounds he's a beast on the line and literally manhandles defensive linemen.  At the NFTC he won MVP honors and dominated everyone he went up against including touted Ohio commit Billy Price.  Mr. Dawson has made quite the commotion on twitter but let's face it this kid has been through alot and I believe has handled himself very well.  Some people have had him on "decommit watch" but I certainly was not one of them.  He has said on many occasions that he is a Michigan man and I believe him.  Great kid and great talent and another amazing addition to a great offensive line.

Taco Charlton is ranked #175.  Along with Mr. Dawson I believe Taco is underrated.  He has been camping alot this summer and everyone raves about his superior speed off the edge and for good reason.  He has been unblockable in one-on-one drills.  He's another ohio guy and at 6'6" 240 pounds, rated as a 4-star he's a speedy defensive end and has amazing speed off the edge.  Guys seem to have a lot of trouble with his speed.  It's been a while since Michigan has had an "elite" pass rusher and I believe Taco may be it.  Rivals has him rated 8th at his position but let's face it, Taco is a great player and will only continue to improve this summer and in his senior year of high school before coming to Ann Arbor.

#182 is versatile player Wyatt Shallman.  Playing DE and RB for Detroit Catholic Central this kid is a monster.   He's rated 8th at his position but at 6'3" 255 pounds have fun tackling him.  Wyatt is a 4-star and is a freakish athlete.  Being able to play both sides of the ball is very important to me.  For one, it shows that he has great endurance and durability, but also has great football smarts having to be knowledgeable in two positions.  Playing RB and DE I believe helps him at both positions.  I'm excited for Wyatt's arrival at Michigan and as good as he is now, he will only be better next year.

#235 Logan Tuley-Tillman and at 6'7" 321 pounds we don't really need to talk about Logan's physical attributes.  I think he's gotten a low rating because of not so good performances at camps this summer, but he has had a bum left shoulder, which has definitely taken its toll on him.  However, I like the fact that he still goes out there and competes and still does a pretty good job, even if he's not 100%.  He's a 4-star and ranked 24th at his position according to Rivals.  If you don't know about Logan on the field, I'm sure many of you do off the field.  There has been a lot of media uproar over his picture on twitter of lighting the Ohio recruiting letter on fire.  Personally, I love what he did, being a Michigan fan myself.  This is the greatest rivalry in sports and he's just adding to it.  He didn't do anything wrong and I think the way many Ohio fans are reacting to him and the things they are saying to him are way inappropriate and uncalled for. Keep doing your thing Logan.  When he gets back to being 100% I belive he will dominate camps and improve on his low ranking.

At #237 is Ben Gedeon.  4-star LB out of you guessed it, Ohio.  Another amazing pick up for Brady Hoke Ben is 6'3" 215 pounds and is another two way player.  Is a pretty darn good RB but Michigan has definitely brought him in for his great skills at LB.  Along with Mike McCray Ben is a great prospect at linebacker and will do wonders for revamping this always improving Michigan defense.

Alright so there's all the Michigan commits in the newly updated Rivals 250.  In my "expert" opinion haha, Michigan has a lot of underrated recruits.  Outsiders looking in could say, oh you're just biased because you love Michigan.  You're right I do love Michigan, but I'm not biased.  Check the tape people.  Michigan has the #1 recruiting class in the nation for a reason.  I definitely think there are people missing such as Deveon Smith the #1 rated running back in Ohio...where is he at?  I would take Morris over Max Browne any day of the week and he even qualified for the Elite 11 finals before Browne did, yet Morris is still rated lower. C'mon man!  Michigan commits have always received low rankings especially on the expert sites.  David Dawson holds offers from every major program in the country  yet he's rated #171.  Something is up.  I'm not questioning the knowledge of the guys at Rivals, but I definitely think the Michigan commits' standings will be changing over the summer and the following year.  Even with the disrespect they are still the #1 class in the country right now and should be for a long time.

Four Michigan Commits Get Invite To "The Opening"

Photo Credit: Nike

Aside from the Elite 11, there was also the NFTC on Saturday, and if you got picked, you earned a spot in the Opening. Michigan was well represented here with 4 getting an invite to "The Opening" later on: Shane Morris, David Dawson, Mike McCray, and Taco Charlton all took part in the events. However, Logan Tulley-Tillman, and Khalid Hill also made the trip to the event.

This was a loaded camp, and all 7 spots to the finals in Oregon were given to Michigan and Ohio commits. 4 to Michigan, 3 to Ohio. David Dawson took home OL MVP Honors, literally dominating all the opposition, including getting the best of touted Ohio commit Billy Price according to TomVH's reports.  There's a reason this kid is the #1 OG in the country and is still being heavily recruited. While some people worry, I think he's going to stay committed here.. David is all Michigan and he's going to be huge for the offensive line along with big man LTT. While Tillman didn't get an invite, he definitely showed his strength and why he's going to be the anchor for the Michigan offensive line. Leading the offense to winning all of the tug of war drills, he showed his size and strength are going to be something difficult for defenders to deal with in the future.

Photo Credit: MGoBlog

Mike McCray definitely balled out as well, taking home Linebacker MVP honors. He showed his great athleticism and versatility, beating out some very stiff competition and earning an invite to the opening as well. Linebacker was a definite need for the coaches looking at the 2013 class and McCray is definitely one of the guys that was big in filling that need. Taco Charlton also got an invite, just bull rushing offensive linemen and everyone knows about his speed off the edge as always giving linemen fits. To me Taco is an elite passrusher and is going to be great at the next level getting in the backfield. Michigan has always been known for having great defense, these two guys definitely fit right in with that tradition and I'm excited to see them in maize and blue.

Coming off his Elite 11 MVP, Shane Morris was also here competing. While he didnt take away MVP honors at QB, he still performed and earned an invite to the Opening. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's listed the #4 pocket passer on ESPN, but I definitely think that's going to change very soon. He's just going to keep proving people wrong and we will all see his ranking go up. TE Khalid Hill was also there today. To me he's underrated as well, (really all of Michigan's commits are in my opinion). While Khalid didn't earn an invite, he still performed well against some tough competition. Khalid is only rated a 3-Star on ESPN and I definitely think as he keeps on improving he's going to get the love that he deserves from all the experts and we will all see him go up. With the departure of Kevin Koger I like that we have a TE in Hill.  He will be a great addition to this offense in the future.

While all of the guys didn't get invites they did great and if people don't know about these future Michigan men, they better get to know them.  Team 134 is no joke and as this class closes, I believe it will remain the #1 recruiting class in the nation. All of these guys are elite prospects and will do great things for Michigan at the next level. It's a great sign that the class is so talented at the regional and national levels, is staying so close, and developing together.  Many recruiting classes don't unite until they arrive on campus in the fall for their freshmen year.  However, this class is different and is one of the main reasons why they should be a class to remember for Michigan fans.  For more details on the camp that I described above, check out ESPN.

This Weekend's Visitors

There were rumors that there would no visitors this weekend because the coaching staff was apparently on vacation. Well, that's not true. Tremendous writer Steve Lorenz informed everyone that OL Patrick Kugler out of Wexford, PA would be visiting this weekend. OL commit Logan Tuley-Tillman has been saying for almost a week now that he'd be visiting Ann Arbor this weekend. Looks like it's the weekend of offensive lineman, as OL Jack Keeler out of Barrington, IL will also be in town. 

1. OL Logan Tuley-Tillman out of Peoria, IL (commit)

LT recently committed to Michigan. Read all about him here and about his commitment in specific here. 

LT is visiting Michigan this weekend to celebrate his commitment. He had said he would try to being some Illinois recruits with him, but we don’t know who those are yet. Don’t get too excited -- WR Laquon Treadwell is not one of them. Treadwell said he would be visiting that school in Columbus this weekend. 

2. OL Patrick Kugler out of Wexford, PA

Kugler is a 4* offensive tackle who stands 6’5” and 280 pounds. Rivals ranks him 54th in the nation. Similar to LT, Kugler holds more than 20 offers including ones from Michigan, Notre Dame, and Stanford. He is clearly one of the nation’s top offensive lineman. This leads me to think that Coach Hoke is planning on getting one more offensive lineman. Since he is only looking for one more, I expect him to be extremely picky. Kugler is a great player though, as he has great feet and is excellent at getting to the second level. As a sophomore, Kugler earned 1st Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State Class AAAA honors. Interesting fact: Kugler is the son of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler and the brother of Purdue tight end Robert Kugler. 

3. OL Jack Keeler out of Barrington, IL


Keeler is currently unranked on Rivals but he is said to be one of the top offensive lineman out of Illinois this year. That says a lot considering how many excellent lineman are coming out of Illinois this year. Keeler currently holds a few MAC offers, but he is planning on visiting Michigan State and Illinois along with Michigan this weekend. I would not be surprised if he received a couple more offers this weekend. Keeler stands 6'7" and 275 pounds. He has great size and is said to look great on film. Let's see if Coach Hoke offers him this weekend. 

As of now, those are the only three visitors for the weekend, however these things change all the time. I will add to this list if more visitors decide to visit Michigan.

Commitment #8 of the Weekend!

Let’s welcome commitment #8 OF THE WEEKEND Mr. Logan Tuley-Tillman. Glad I wrote an in-depth post on this man the other day. Read it here.

LT wasn’t planning on committing any time soon, but who can blame him when Hoke received verbal commits from three other offensive lineman in the past 36 hours. It was a great decision and a great addition to our STELLAR and half-full 2013 class! Like I said a few days ago, LT is the epitome of a Michigan Man. "Really, there just comes a time and you know what you are supposed to do," he said of his commitment. LT continued by saying Michigan's was "one offer I couldn't resist." 


LT will be making his 8th visit to Michigan this weekend to celebrate his commitment. This visit will be a special one though, since it'll be his first as a Wolverine. "I can't wait to just be up there," he said. "I know that is where home is. Michigan is where I felt like I was destined to be." Well said, Mr. Tillman. 

Looks like we only have room for one more offensive lineman, if that, for the class of 2013. It will either be filled by an elite lineman or we will stick with 4. 

Read about Saturday’s first 4 commits here.

Read about Saturday night’s commits #5 and #6 here.

Read about Sunday's #7 commit here. 

Of Note:

• LT is the 11th commitment of the 2013 class. This class will probably end with 20-22 commitments, making it basically half-full. A whole year before Signing Day...
• LT is the 8th commit of the weekend, but he is also the 8th top-200 player in the nation to commit this weekend
• 10 of the 11 commits of the 2013 class are in the top-200 in the nation
• Kyle Bosch, David Dawson, and LT had offers from Alabama 
• Wyatt Shallman, Chris Fox, and LT had offers from OSU
• Both Taco Charlton and Jake Butt are from the state of Ohio
• Both Jourdan Lewis and David Dawson are from Cass Tech, showing that Coach Hoke wants to make sure all elite Cass Tech players choose Michigan 
• Michigan now has 10 commits in the Rivals top 200; the 2012 class had 6 total
• Michigan now has now picked up 8 (EIGHT!) 4* commits in the past 36 hours; the 2012 class had 10 total

Logan Tuley-Tillman: Mr. Michigan

Does this guy even need an introduction? Tuley-Tillman is basically Mr. Michigan. LT (just to shorten things up a bit) is a fantastic offensive tackle out of Manual High School in Peoria, Illinois. If you’ve noticed, Illinois is stocked with talent this year. Hoke and Co. are looking to set a tone in the state. Other prospects from Illinois we’re going after include RB Ty Isaac, WR Laquon Treadwell, OL Ethan Pocic, OL Kyle Bosch, and OT Colin McGovern. LT is a big guy at 6’7” and 300 pounds. Rivals ranks him 109th nationally and he holds an offer from basically every school in the country. You think I’m kidding? Check out his offer list. He is wanted by basically every top school in the nation. Lucky for Wolverine Nation, Michigan happens to be his favorite. Actually, a strong favorite. 

LT is the kind of “Michigan Man” that Brady Hoke loves. I asked him to give me a quote to put in this post, and this is what he told me,“Well, all of my success can be attributed to hard work, prayer, and determination. I promise if [any]one adds that to their life, they will also be [successful].” Now tell me you wouldn’t want this guy on your team. LT has visited Ann Arbor too many times to count, and he will also be in town this weekend. When he visited last weekend, however, it was the first time his mother accompanied him. The good news is, mom approves. LT said she really liked the university, which is good news for Wolverine Nation. Actually, he called the experience, “magical.” Win.

LT constantly talks about how blessed he is to be in the position that he’s in today. With offers coming in right and left, and growing up where he did, he just can’t fathom that he gets to choose where he gets to go to college. He said he doesn’t believe there’s ever been an All-American out of his high school before, and to be in the position he’s in today, he needed to be mentally tough, to have perseverance, and to be hungry for what he wanted. He is all of those things. LT, to me, is the epitome of a Michigan Man. 

Although Alabama is up there for LT (I mean, who doesn’t have Alabama up there?), it’s going to be hard to beat Michigan. Wolverine Nation loves LT and he would be an exceptional addition to the 2013 class. The Wolverines will probably sign between 4 and 5 offensive lineman for the 2013 class, and he would definitely head that group if he were to go Blue. 

LT talks about how the Michigan staff are all “Michigan Men” and how they are truly teachers. They don’t get in your face and yell, but instead want to help you excel and become better as a student-athlete. They’re all about the team, and LT notes Bo Schembechler’s speech...The Team, The Team, The Team! Like I said, Michigan Man. 

His mother spoke of having to hold back tears when she was in Nick Saban’s office as he was offering LT. It’s surreal for them. But he deserves it. LT’s mother was asked what she thought of her first visit to Michigan, and she said her mind was already made up before she made the trip. She wants LT at Michigan. Her visit only confirmed that. She was impressed with the academics, the tutors, and how everything is student-based. She met Mrs. Funk and said she has a really good feeling about everything. Needless to say, she loved her visit. 

Well, we tend to agree with Mom. 

As much as Michigan fans want a commitment from LT, he has made it known that he plans on taking his time. He has visited multiple schools including Notre Dame, Alabama, South Carolina and still plans on visiting USC, LSU, Oregon, Texas, and Texas A&M. I told you he had a ton of offers. I doubt he’ll visit them as many times as he will Michigan though. Michigan has so much to offer LT; he loves the coaching staff (calling them “phenomenal”), his aunt lives about 20 minutes away, and he could be part of one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. He’s also already good friends with Shane Morris (surprise, surprise). Not to mention his position and athleticism is needed. More so, Michigan fans already love LT. After he visited Michigan for a hockey game, he said,

“I was walking around and the people all know me. A lot of the fans just come up to me, greet me, and talk to me. I really like the fans that work hard all week, and then Fridays they spend their money to take their families out to a Michigan game. That means a lot. Those are the ones that really come to support you, and those are the ones I really love talking to.”

Looks like Wolverine Nation is doing their part. LT once said he wanted to decide by March 20th (his 17th birthday), but that doesn’t look likely anymore. That is actually unfortunate for Michigan fans, but I don’t think he expected to be sought after to the extent that he is. He wants to take his time with his suitors, and it’s hard to blame him. He said the latest he would decide though would be at his All-Star game. Of his timeline adjustment, LT said of Michigan, “They don’t really even care [about the decision date change]. They’re just happy about everything. They just see me as their little Logan.” Our Little Logan indeed!

Here’s to hoping LT goes Blue. Oh, and if you guys are feeling confident, go ahead and order your #72 Tuley-Tillman jerseys. 

Michigan’s #1 WR Target: Laquon Treadwell

Laquon Treadwell is a one of the top wide receiver prospects of the 2013 class. He is a 4-star recruit out of Crete-Monee in Crete, Illinois. Rivals ranks him 31st nationally. Treadwell stands 6’3” and 190 pounds and holds double digit offers, most of which are from Big Ten schools. Treadwell has always held Michigan near the top of his list, and he visited for the third time this past weekend. The other two times were during wins vs. Notre Dame and Ohio State this past season. Both, of course, great games to attend. 

This past weekend, however, was the first time his mother was able to visit with him. Treadwell told me that his visit, “was great. It was just laid back, I was kicking it with the coaches. I didn’t have too many questions because I basically know a lot. It was another good visit.” It’s true...I have a feeling that as soon as his basketball season his over, Treadwell will be a regular in Ann Arbor. He also said his mother liked everything she saw. She wants to come back with him when his basketball season ends. Treadwell is strongly considering staying close to home, although he has also said that distance would not be a factor in his decision. His mom, however, will be a big factor. He says that she has to like the school he’ll be attending. Treadwell and his mother said the biggest factors in his decision are going to be education, distance, coaches, and other recruits coming in. All good factors for Michigan.

Treadwell has excellent size, leaping ability, ball skills, and especially speed. He attributes his national attention to his unique athleticism and willingness to make the difficult play. 

“My strengths are just being physical, being able to block well when my coaches need me to, and being able to make people miss after I catch the ball,” Treadwell said. “I feel that I’m a pretty well-rounded receiver.”

Treadwell said that the experiences that stuck out to him most this year were the Michigan night game vs. Notre Dame and his Michigan State visit. Interestingly too, Treadwell says he’s been in touch with Shane Morris. Like I’ve said before, Morris is going to be our best recruiter this year. Treadwell also said he talks to Michigan targets Ty Isaac and Logan Tuley-Tillman. Treadwell and Isaac were talking about possibly visiting USC together, since they both have offers, but decided they liked Michigan so much that they would possibly be visiting Michigan together. 

Treadwell would be a valuable asset to any program, but the Wolverines need a couple of elite wide receivers for the 2013 class. His favorites as of now are Michigan, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. He says he has no leader though, and plans on cutting down his list midway or at the end of his football season. As of now, he wants to decide on Signing Day. 




Photo Credit: Rivals

An In-Depth Look at This Weekend’s Visitors

1. OL Kyle Bosch (4* out of Wheaton, IL)

Bosch is an early 4-star prospect out of Illinois who, according to Rivals, is ranked 60th in the nation. He is 6’5” and 285 pounds and holds offers from over 20 schools, including Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Stanford. He is not only one of the best offensive linemen in the Midwest, but maybe the country. He would be a welcomed addition to the kind of offensive line we’ve seen Coach Hoke recruit. He says that he’s looking for a program where “there’s a good relationship between the staff and the players, and just a bunch of people I’m willing to go to war with. At the Division I level, all the places have fancy locker rooms and facilities. For me, it’s about the people.” He seems like a very intelligent kid. One would think that quote would eventually favor the Wolverines. He does not plan on making a decision any time soon.

2. TE Jake Butt (4* out of Pickerington, OH)

Butt is one recruit I’m really hoping we land. He seems like a very genuine and stand-up student-athlete. We know tight end is a position of need this year. Butt is the 96th player in the nation and he is listed at 6’6” and 230 pounds and can also play DE. He says he has great hands and will catch anything that comes his way. Most importantly, Michigan is currently his leader and no one else is “even close.” He holds almost 20 offers, but says he’s very excited about the possibility of playing with the #1 quarterback in his class, Shane Morris. Shane, of course, will be doing his best to recruit Jake this weekend. Butt has no definite decision date. 

3.DE Taco Charlton (4* out of Pickerington, OH)

I just published an in-depth post on Charlton yesterday, and you can read it here. 

4. DT Rod Crayton (currently unranked out of Dadeville, AL)

This visitor excites me because he comes from the heart of SEC Country. Although he’s currently unranked on Rivals, we all know how easily that can change. Crayton is a huge lineman (6’1” and 285 pounds) who has multiple offers from all over the nation and is one of the top prospects out of Alabama. He had a great junior season with 162 tackles, 10 sacks, and 40 tackles for loss. Crayton says that he wants to take his time and visit a wide variety of schools. He does not have a timeline on his decision, and also says that location is not a factor.

5. OL David Dawson (4* out of Detroit, MI)

Dawson is one of three Cass Tech players that are a late but welcome addition to the visitor list for this weekend. The other two are DT Kenton Gibbs and DB Jourdan Lewis below. Dawson is a big offensive tackle listed at 6’5” and 305 pounds. He is a 4-star prospect that Rivals ranks as 199th in the nation. He holds offers in the double digits, including an offer from Alabama, but does not hold one from Michigan yet. It is expected he will get offered on his visit this weekend. He says he has a lot to think about, but if he knows what school he wants to go to, there is no point in waiting. He also says distance is not a factor. 

6. DT Kenton Gibbs (currently unranked out of Detroit, MI)

Gibbs is another Cass Tech player who will probably receive a Michigan offer when he visits this weekend. Currently, he only holds a few MAC offers, but is starting to hear from multiple BCS schools. Gibbs is 6’2” and 290 pounds, and said to be able to battle with the best. He has the tendency to play high, but is also athletic and light on his feet. At the Best of the Midwest Elite Big Man Camp, Gibbs went head-to-head with 4-star OT Steve Elmer on at least three reps and got the best of him a majority of the time. He has the ideal three-technique defensive tackle build, and seems like someone Mattison would love to coach. 

7. DB Jourdan Lewis (4* out of Detroit, MI)

Lewis is an excellent cornerback also out of Cass Tech. He is listed at 5’11” and 170 pounds, and Rivals ranks him as the 167th player in the nation. He does hold an offer from Michigan and is very high on them. He had Michigan high even before he received an offer. He only holds one more offer from Toledo. It looks like Hoke wants to make sure he gets the best players out of Cass Tech every year, as Lewis’s teammates, LB Royce Jenkins-Stone and CB Terry Richardson are a part of our 2012 class. Lewis wanted to commit immediately after receiving his offer, but his mom wants him to take his time. As soon as his basketball season ends, he will be focusing more on his recruitment, and a commitment seems more likely then. 

8. OL Ethan Pocic (4* out of Lemont, IL)

Rivals ranks Pocic as 27th in the nation. He is a big tackle at 6’7” and 285 pounds. He holds more than 15 offers, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and USC. Pocic is a special recruit because he comes from the same high school David Molk came from. His older brother, however, plays at Illinois. He says he wants to stay in the Midwest, which bodes well for Michigan. He is a very talented tackle with very long arms. What he’s looking for most is whether he “fit[s] in with the players, the coaches, and the schemes.” He has no leader and does not plan on deciding any time soon.

9. OT Logan Tuley-Tillman (4* out of Peoria, IL)

Tuley-Tillman is an excellent offensive tackle who Rivals ranks as 109th in the nation. He has decided to join the long list of visitors this weekend, but he’s a regular at Michigan to be honest. Tuley-Tillman loves Michigan, but he’s a popular prospect with basically every offer one could imagine. He stands 6’7” and 280 pounds and has offers from schools like Alabama, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and just about any other BCS school. Before everything is said and done, Tuley-Tillman will probably receive a 5th star. He is good friends with Shane Morris and will probably be a help in bringing in other top-notch recruits to round out our 2013 class. 

Photo Credit: Rivals

February 18: Revenge and Recruits

Next Saturday, February 18, the Buckeyes visit Crisler Arena for a rematch. But that's not the only big thing going on that weekend. Next weekend, Michigan will also host multiple big-time recruits and the list is growing every day. So far...

1. OL Kyle Bosch (4* out of Wheaton, IL)

2. TE Jake Butt (4* out of Pickerington, OH)

3. DE Taco Charlton (4* out of Pickerington, OH)

4. DT Rod Crayton (currently UR out of Dadeville, AL)
5. OL David Dawson (4* out of Detroit, MI)
6. DT Kenton Gibbs (currently UR out of Detroit, MI)
7. DB Jourdan Lewis (4* out of Detroit, MI)

8. OL Ethan Pocic (4* out of Lemont, IL)
9. OT Logan Tuley-Tillman (4* out of Peoria, IL)

I will add more names as I hear, as I'm sure the list will grow. 

And of course, QB commit Shane Morris will also be there. Hopefully the Wolverines can put up a good showing against the Bucks and sway some recruits. Go Blue!

Note: Rankings obtained from Rivals. 

Photo Credit: Rivals