Michigan Recruiting: State of the Union Week 1/18

So after weeks of not much happening in Wolverine recruiting circles, this weekend cleared the way for what the Michigan class might look like when it's finished. Here's an update:

Enrolled: 7 players from the 2010 class
Verbally Committed: 18 other players
Expected not to make it to A2: 1 player due to academic concerns
Total expected class size: 26 (per RR at the basketball game yesterday)
Signing day: In 17 days and counting

Current commits, including early enrolled players, is 25 players. Like I mentioned above, one guy is not expected to make it in. That leaves two more spots for the Wolverines. So who is left on the board?


Let's Start By Who Isn't Left

• Torrian Wilson , an offensive lineman from Miami, committed to Louisville on Sunday. Not a big shocker here, Michigan had "cooled" a bit on Torrian since he is still recovering from a knee injury suffered early in his senior year. The Michigan coaches feel very good about their 2009 offensive line class and is expecting good results from the 2011 class at that position as well. Louisville made a great hire in Charlie Strong from Florida and they are starting to see a very early return in recruiting success.
• Michael Taylor , an All-American LB who was recently a Tennessee commit. This was always a "Hail Mary" recruit for the Wolverines and they were never able to get him on campus for a visit and he picked Florida this weekend.
  

Fellas, You Better Hurry Is You Want to Wear the Most Recognizable Helmet in College Football:

• Jatashun "Big Tex" Beachum, at DT from Texas. When there is two weeks left in the recruiting season and your recruitment is not making any "noise", that means your staying put. I predict he stays with Arkansas.
• Jibreel Black , a DE from Cincinnati. Jibreel has been committed to Indiana, Cincinnati, and back to Open with the coaching change. If Jibreel drives the 3 1/2 hours and does a visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan has a chance. If he doesn't make it on campus, expect him to stay committed to Cincinnati. With good friend Butch Jones at UC now, I don't expect RR to push this recruit too hard to leave UC.
• Tony Grimes, DB Florida. Tony has been a Michigan lock for the entire year, until recently. Now it looks like he won't have a spot in this class, which is too bad. I expect Tony to go to Miami.
• Demar Dorsey , a highly rated safety and currently a Florida commit who took an official up to Ann Arbor this weekend. Demar had an opening in his visit schedule after Lane took a jet to the West Coast. Demar is tight with Devin and Denard and we will see if that is enough to change his mind about U of F. I expect Demar to stay a Gator.

Best Bets to Round off the Class:

• Sean Parker , four star Safety from California. Sean is announcing on signing day and took a visit to USC this weekend. Michigan recruiting insiders still expect Sean to be a Michigan lean and that there isn't much difference between Pete and Lane at USC. Let's hope that holds true and Sean is Blue on 2/3.
• Jake Ryan , LB from Ohio. Your first thought might be who? Yes, Jake Ryan is a 6'3' 220 pound linebacker from St. Ignatius and was ranked first team in Ohio's top high school division. He is by all concerns a recruiting "sleeper" or "late bloomer" meaning he had a fantastic senior year and grew almost two inches from his junior season. (Side note: a lot of recruiting services rate and rank players on their junior year. If a player was hurt or was playing behind a star they usually get missed or ranked pretty low). For example, a second team All Ohio player is rated with four stars and heading to Ohio State. Jake was in Ann Arbor this weekend for a visit and got a Michigan offer. His offer list before Michigan looked like the who's who of the MAC. This is a guy the Michigan coaches seem pretty excited about and some insiders are talking about him playing as a freshman. What a turn around! I expect Jake to be part of Michigan's 2010 class.

So there you have it. One question you might have is: What if Sean, Demar, and Jake or Rashad want to commit, does Michigan have room? Yes, the Michigan coaches would find a way to get really good players into this class. (I wouldn't expect Michigan to take three safeties though with the remaining spots—they for sure will take 2)