Michigan Football: 5-Star Tackle Kyle Kalis Visits, Other Prospect Updates

The Michigan Wolverines received more good news on the recruiting trail Tuesday afternoon at the expense of their hated rival in Columbus. 

Scout.com reported 5-star offensive tackle Kyle Kalis, who attends high school in Lakewood, Ohio, de-committed from The Ohio State University. According to The Detroit News, Kalis will visit Michigan this weekend.

Kalis told MGoBlog.com analyst Tom VanHaaren that Tom Strobel, a highly rated defensive end prospect who made a verbal agreement to Michigan last week, has been recruiting him as of late.

“For the past few months I’ve become really good friends with Tom Strobel and he said i would love it up there,” Kalis said. “He fell in love with it.”

Kalis also shed some light on Michigan’s recruitment of another defensive end prospect from Toledo, Ohio, Chris Wormley. ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon that Kalis expects Wormley to be a Wolverine come fall 2012. 

“I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that Wormley is going to Michigan,” Kalis told Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com.

Strobel and Wormley appear to be getting close to Kalis, which significantly increases the likelihood all three of them will play college ball at Michigan. “The biggest thing about going to Michigan would be going against Tom (Strobel) and Chris Wormley every day (in practice),” Kalis said.

Another recent Michigan commit, Carlsbad, Calif. offensive tackle Erik Magnuson, told sportingnews.com on Tuesday he expects the Wolverines to be a powerhouse in the Big Ten Conference in the coming years.

“I’m going to Michigan at just the right time,” Magnuson said. “By the time I get there, the coaches will be going into their second year and with all the stuff happening to Ohio State, I believe it’s Michigan’s turn to own the Big Ten.”

Magnuson also discussed why he chose the Wolverines over the other schools who pursued him. “I wanted to go to a big-time program where people care about football, and I don’t know if there is any place better than there for that.”

Plus, Magnuson told The Detroit Free Press he wanted to get away from his current landscape, “I’m not a beach person. I’ve been here 17 years and want to do something new,” Magnuson said. “My mom’s side of the family is from Edmonton, and we go there in the winter, so I can handle it.”

There was some bad news though for Michigan earlier this week and last weekend. On Sunday afternoon, Se’Von Pittman, who hails from Canton (Ohio), pledged his commitment to the Michigan State Spartans. 

Pittman is the No. 61 overall prospect according to Rivals.com and experts thought he would commit to either Ohio State or Michigan. Pittman also spurned Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and a host of other power conference schools.

Trey Keenan, a 3-star offensive tackle prospect (Scout.com) from Argyle, Texas, visited Michigan on Saturday and attended Michigan’s football camp on Monday. The Wolverines were on Keenan’s short list of schools, but he committed to Texas Tech upon returning home from Michigan.

There were many other players who attended the camp that are considering Michigan or have already given the Wolverines a verbal commitment.

Rockford, Mich. offensive tackle Ben Braden stood out the first few days of the camp. The Detroit Free Press reported Braden was considerably more filled out and had the best performance out of all the offensive linemen in attendance.

Finally, Andrus Peat, who is rated as a five-star offensive tackle by Scout.com, had a strong showing at the Arizona State University Big Man Camp last last week. GoBlueWolverine.com reported at the end of April that Michigan was still in the mix for Peat, who is from Tempe, Ariz. 

BlueandGold.com reported via Twitter Wednesday afternoon that Peat recently paid a visit to Notre Dame and that he was impressed. Peat’s recruitment is still wide open and he said on Twitter Wednesday, “Wow this college decision will be TOUGH. So many good schools so many schools I like!”

Look for more prospect updates and articles previewing Michigan’s 2011 football season in the coming weeks.

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