Derrick Green Thoroughly Impressed During Michigan Visit, Will He Commit Soon?

The University of Michigan appeared to be falling out of contention for the nation's No. 1 running back and No. 12 overall prospect, Derrick Green (Richmond, VA), about a month ago. However, an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor this weekend for the Barbecue at the Big House might have been enough to vault the Wolverines to the top of his list. 

During his visit to campus on Saturday, Green watched a presentation from the coaches about why he should be a part of the future of Michigan football, held a Heisman Trophy, bonded with several of the Wolverines' class of 2013 commits and chatted with star quarterback Denard Robinson. 

"He is hanging with Robinson as I type," Rivals.com recruiting guru Mike Farrell tweeted on Saturday. "A great closer for Michigan, so it will be interesting. 

Farrell also revealed how blown away the 5-star tailback was by his visit to Michigan via Twitter over the weekend. 

"Derrick Green's visit to Michigan must have gone/been going very, very well," Farrell tweeted. "Derrick has always said no when asked if he's thinking about committing. First time I got an "idk" answer -- Michigan impressing clearly." 

The Hermitage High School standout is still considering a host of powerhouse schools, but Michigan cornerback commit Channing Stribling (Matthews, NC) spent part of the day with Green and received some great news. 

"All the guys were asking him, 'Are you going to commit? Are you going to commit?' and Derrick kept saying he was 99 percent sure this is where he wanted to go to college," Stribling told Michael Spath of TheWolverine.com. "I think it's only a matter of time." 

Green also had a chance to go shopping at the M-Den with 3-star tight end commit Khalid Hill (Detroit, MI) revealed why the idea of becoming Michigan's 24th commit was so appealing. 

"He really had a great experience and just loved it," Hill said. "The thing he kept talking about to me was just how cool it was that we're already a team, already bonding. He just couldn't believe how many commitments were there and how comfortable we are with each other already." 

Many consider Green to be a Michigan lean at this point, however he informed Farrell that is far from the case and he is going to take his time before making his final decision.

"I wasn't really going to commit," Green said Tuesday morning. "The recruits all wanted me to, but I wasn't really close. I want to take this process seriously, I want to go slow and make the right decision. Michigan was great, it was a very good visit and I was impressed with the coaches, but I'm still going to take my time."

The Wolverines are currently in Green's top 13, which he hopes to cut down to a final five by the end of the week.

"I want to get it down to five hopefully by the end of the week," Green explained. "I have to talk it over with my family and come up with the best fits for me."

It is reasonable to assume Michigan will be one of the five finalists for Green's services, so be sure to check back in the coming weeks for updates on his recruitment. 

Class of 2014 offensive lineman Tommy Doles (Grand Rapids, MI) also enjoyed his time at the barbecue this weekend and said Michigan is one of his leaders right now. 

"I don't have a 1-2-3 list or anything, but at this point Michigan and Iowa State are the ones who have offered me," Doles told TheWolverine.com on Monday. "So, especially with Michigan, that's the one I've been looking into the most, and I'm really liking that school. But I don't have a time frame of when I want to commit. I still want to learn more and more about all of the other schools." 

OhioPreps.com's No. 14 overall prospect in the state of Ohio, Nathaniel Devers (Massillon, OH), revealed his top two schools and a time frame for when he will make his verbal commitment after visiting Ann Arbor this weekend, as well. 

"My top two right now are Northwestern and Michigan, with Michigan number one," Devers said. "The coaches (at Michigan) are great. They really hit home with me because they like to talk to me one-on-one and spend a lot of time with me. 

"I've already decided that I'm going to make my commitment in spring of 2013, after my junior track season." 

Stay tuned for updates on these prospects and more in the weeks to come!

Zach Dirlam is the former Lead Editor of the College Basketball section as well as Big Ten columnist for the FOX Sports/MSN/YardBarker affiliate website Sports at Work. Check out his blog, Dirlam’s Dirty Dugout Sports Blog, which features this story, along with other articles and video reports on major sports.

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