2009 Michigan Recruiting

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Rivals $

2/11

Rivals100 prospects listing interest in Michigan.

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Rivals $

2/19

TheWolverine's look and the current scholarship distribution count and how the numbers project as to needs for the 2009 recruiting class.

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3/25

TheWolverine's Sweet 16 for 2009.

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3 commit to Michigan for football for '09 class

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

3 commit to Michigan for football for '09 class
Latest for Wolverines is safety from Ohio, who joins running back from Detroit Cass Tech.
Detroit News staff

Michigan has received three verbal commitments in four days for the 2009 freshman football class, including the most recent, Ohio safety Isaiah Bell , according to Rivals.com.

Bell, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder from Youngstown (Ohio) Liberty High, confirmed his commitment to Rivals.com on Monday.

Running back Teric Jones of Detroit Cass Tech committed Saturday and safety Justin Turner of Massillon, Ohio, committed Friday. Coach Rich Rodriguez has four verbals for the 2009 class, including defensive tackle William Campbell from Cass Tech.

Continued...

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Local players among stars of recruiting showcase

Rodriguez sends message

When Justin Boren left Michigan last week, his parting shot indicated that the practice atmosphere cultivated by the new regime is undesirable. An indictment like that from a legacy player surely will impact recruiting in a negative way, right?

In the short term, the answer is actually no. Ironically, the day Boren made clear his intentions to leave, two of the visiting prospects on campus were anything but put off by the approach of the new coaching staff.

"They really get after you," Massillon (Ohio) Washington High cornerback J.T. Turner said to GoBlueWolverine.com after observing last Tuesday's practice. "They're strict, but they just want you to work hard. They want everything done at a fast pace. They want it fast, quick and correct."

Added Isaiah Bell, a safety from Youngstown (Ohio) Liberty High: "It was fast-paced, the coaches were on everybody, and it was intense. But that's something I've already seen in high school."

Bell (6-3, 215), who could grow into a linebacker, clearly wasn't fazed by the coaches' methods, since he decided to pledge to the Wolverines on Monday. Turner, who opted for Michigan last Friday over an offer from Ohio State, is equally versatile. At 6-3 and nearly 200, he too has the frame to grow into another position should the need arise.

The two Ohioans have gotten Michigan off to a strong start in the Buckeye state, and ball could continue rolling in the near future with Bell's big-play teammate at Liberty High, Fitzgerald Toussaint. The 5-10, 185-pounder is a high school tailback, but he would likely utilize his 10.59 100-meter speed and outstanding open-field ability as a slot in Rodriguez's offense.

Toussaint would help further fill a pressing need that was addressed with Michigan's third pledge in recent days, Detroit Cass Tech tailback Teric Jones. The 5-10, 193-pounder committed to U-M on Saturday after taking in a spring practice, giving the Wolverines their second PSL player in the 2009 class, joining Cass Tech teammate Will Campbell.

Jones was limited early in his junior campaign due to injury and the presence of future Indiana RB Cortez Smith. However, his blazing 4.39 40-speed and outstanding hands sold Rodriguez on his long-term potential.

Based on these developments, it seems the notion that Michigan has a declining family atmosphere and little interest in recruiting Detroit are cases of perception not meeting with reality.

Sam Webb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine magazine and GoBlueWolverine.com, and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning show weekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA. His column appears every Thursday.

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Rivals $

4/16

A look at how the new UM staff plans to step up their prescence in Florida.

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ESPN - Pep Rally: First-year coaches hit the ground running - Insider

Rich Rodriguez, Michigan
Aside from a void at quarterback, Rodriguez inherited a great system-fitting class from Lloyd Carr in '08. The QB problem has been addressed early as coach Rodriguez has already lured not one, but two dynamic, dual-threat quarterbacks with the skills to run his explosive offense in Ann Arbor. Kevin Newsome (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) may be more physically ready to run the show and is currently a better passer, but Shavodrick Beaver (Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider) is perhaps the better runner of the two. His seven total commits all are on the ESPN 150 Watch List.

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Rivals $

5/27

From TheWolverine...2009 Hot Board: DEs

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SportingNews.com - Your expert source for NCAA Football stats, scores, standings, and blogs from NCAA Football columnists

Inside Dish: Rodriguez pursuing QB depth
Matt Hayes

Posted: June 29, 2008

Rich Rodriguez continues to recruit quarterbacks to Michigan despite oral commitments from two of the nation's top dual-threat players: Kevin Newsome and Shavodrick Beaver. Dual-threat stars Tate Forcier and Eugene Smith have Michigan high on their lists. If incoming freshman QB Justin Feagin doesn't win the job this fall or struggles to pick up the system, Rodriguez will sign three quarterbacks in February. . . .

USC RB Joe McKnight is on track to complete the required academic work this summer and be eligible this fall. McKnight has been with the team for voluntary workouts and has bulked up to 210 pounds after playing under 200 most of last fall. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian wants McKnight more involved in the passing game, and McKnight has spent much of summer workouts in seven-on-seven passing drills. . . .

Alabama coach Nick Saban quickly is finding room for his top-ranked recruiting class that started out with 32 members. Senior LB Jimmy Johns' arrest and expulsion from the team last week added another spot and left the Tide three over the 85-player scholarship limit with six weeks until the beginning of fall camp.

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ESPN - Big Ten and Notre Dame team recruiting needs for the Class of 2009 - Football Recruiting

Michigan


Quarterback
True freshman Justin Feagin out of American Heritage-Boca-Delray High School in Florida may be a better fit for new head coach Rich Rodriguez' offense than sophomore Nick Sheridan and freshman transfer Steven Threet. But the bottom line is none of them bring the same kind of playmaking ability to the table that QB Pat White brought under Rodriguez at West Virginia. The hope had been that Terrelle Pryor would fill this role but he opted to sign with rival Ohio State. Keeping that in mind, the Wolverines will be in the market for a blue chip quarterback.

Safety
There is some promising talent amongst the reserves here and Michigan signed Brandon Smith out of New Brunswick High School in New Jersey last year. However, the ranks still need to be replenished because starting SS Brandon Harrison and backup Charles Stewart are seniors and Stevie Brown is a junior.

Running back
True freshmen Sam McGuffie out of Cy-Fair High School in Texas, Michael Shaw out of Madison High School in Ohio and Mike Cox out of Avon Old Farms School for Boys in Connecticut have injected youth and talent into the position. So why is running back still a need? There are also three junior backs on the roster and Rodriguez should look to continue to add playmakers here.

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ESPN - Miami could net second consecutive top-five class - Football Recruiting

Stanley, Houston: Of the new head coaches this year, which are recruiting the best right now?

Good question, Stan. There are 16 new head coaches leading teams in 2008. Although they are busy trying to post wins, they also are trying to assemble their first full classes. It is pretty simple who leads the way: Rich Rodriguez at Michigan is doing the best job of the new coaches. This is no surprise, though, because Michigan is a school with tons of history and tradition. Although the 2008 season may be filled with some serious highs and lows for Wolverines fans as far as wins and losses go, they can at least take solace in the fact that Rodriguez is putting together a good class and getting some of the pieces he needs to try to return Michigan to past glory. The most glaring need for Michigan is at quarterback -- the Wolverines do not have the player needed to run Rodriguez's scheme. They have addressed this need in recruiting. The Wolverines have commitments from Tate Forcier (San Diego, Calif. / Scripps Ranch) and Shavodrick Beaver (Wichita Falls, Texas / Rider), both of whom are athletic quarterbacks who appear to be good fits. The class also boasts a talented wide receiver in Bryce McNeal (Minneapolis / Breck) and a trio of good defensive ends led by Craig Roh (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Chaparral). Right now, Michigan is in that top-15 range nationally, but Rodriguez is at the top among the new coaches.

Abram in Flint, Mich.: Do you think Michigan will become a major player in the state of Florida for top recruits this year and in years to come?

I think Michigan will have more of a presence and success in Florida under Rodriguez than it previously had. Still, I don't think the Wolverines will be a major player in the Sunshine State.

Michigan is a program that can recruit nationally, but its recruiting base is in the Midwest, and it can be tough to go into Florida and tangle with the likes of Miami, Florida, and Florida State as well the other ACC, SEC and Big East programs that recruit Florida hard. The 2006 and 2007 classes under Lloyd Carr had only one signed player from Florida. But in the limited time Rodriguez had to work with the 2008 Michigan class, he hauled in three Florida prospects late.

Thus far, the 2009 class has four prospects committed from Florida, led by Brandin Hawthorne (Pahokee, Fla.). The Wolverines are also in the hunt for more Floridian talent, with prospects such as athlete Denard Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) and linebacker Mike Marry (Largo, Fla.). Rodriguez did land key players from Florida like Noel Devine and Jock Sanders while at West Virginia, so it is possible, especially at a more traditional power like Michigan, that Rodriguez will have some success recruiting Florida.

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ESPN - More skill prospects than ever in Michigan and Wisconsin - Football Recruiting

Michigan, 18 commits (Oct. 22)

Rich Rodriguez and staff have gone national for the 2009 class, with ten different states represented in their current verbal commitments. System-fitting quarterbacks, one of the Wolverines' biggest concerns looking ahead to the '09 campaign, are in tow with Californian Tate Forcier (San Diego/Scripps Ranch) and Texan Shavodrick Beaver (Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider). Another common theme is speed, and Under Armour All-American Craig Roh (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) fits the mold from the defensive end spot.