When we last left Thomas Amaker to find people to think about who don't immediately cause despair, Young Master Duke Grad had just come back from the local 7-Eleven where he'd bought a Slurpee, a hot dog, Maxim, some chips, and a discount point guard for 2006 who was in one of those impulse-purchase plastic bins up front near the register. It wasn't a happy site.
But what a difference a week makes. On Monday, Michigan received an oral commitment from Class of 2007 shooting guard Corperryale "Manny" Harris. Landing Harris, ranked as a top-50 player nationally following a recent spate of strong showings at sundry all-star and AAU events, is a great victory for Amaker, as it not only breathes some life into the 2007 class, but also helps Michigan seem somewhat competent. It also earns Amaker a brief respite from the constant (and deserved) criticism. People like me won't be able to say anything mean and truthful about him again until Harris decommits sometime this fall.
But the good news train is only gaining momentum: On Wednesday, Michigan received its ninth verbal commitment for the 2007 football recruiting class when Denver, CO-area tight end Steve Watson pledged to eat Panchero's for the next four or five years. Watson is the son of former Denver Broncos WR Steve Watson, Sr.
The younger of the two Steve Watsons is rated as either a three-star prospect by "always stingy" Rivals or a four-star prospect by "always generous" Scout, depending on your perspective. With Martell Webb already in the fold and top WR prospects Toney Clemons, Junior Hemingway, and Taurian Washington all strongly considering Michigan, Watson's commitment likely brings to a close Michigan's TE recruiting. At least, it had better; there are still a lot of needs and big names out there.
What do y'all think?
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