Commitments Are Becoming the Norm
Committing early is the current trend in the college football recruiting world, so it should be no surprise that the 2013 class received yet another commitment from North Carolina DB Channing Stribling. If you're at work or in the same room as your wife I advise you to Google search his name. NOT.
Now that I've got your full attention I seriously advise you to read DG's piece on Stribling. In my opinion Michigan just landed a poor man's Leon McQuay. If he puts time and effort into adding muscle to his lanky frame he could be a major steal. Here's his tape:
The commitment puts Michigan at a total of 22 for the class of 2013, leaving the Wolverines with roughly two vacant spaces barring any more attrition. Since Brady Hoke's name is "Brady Hoke" and not "Nick Saban" I wouldn't expect the number of open spaces to climb much, if at all.
MOAR 2013 News
Focusing On 2014
Michigan finished its summer camp, but not without offering a few prospects. Safety Monte Nicholson got his offer from the Wolverines, as did wide receiver Drake Harris and and linebacker Joseph Henderson. Harris has enough talent to receive offers to play both football and basketball at a multitude of elite schools. Michigan also offered Florida wideout Corey Holmes and are now in the lead for his services. His film can be found here.
Many people are familiar with the name Glenn Robinson III, but not too many seem to be familiar with his talented younger brother Gelen Robinson. If Gelen is half as explosive as his Glenn he shouldn't have much trouble earning BCS-level offers.
Detroit Cass Tech cornerback Damon Webb is creating nearly as much buzz as Jourdan Lewis, and he now holds an offer from Ohio State because of it. He should end up being another Cass Tech player who dons the maize and blue while spurning many top programs.
Size Matters
Tom VH recently tweeted about the average size of Michigan commitments as compared to previous classes under Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez took less lineman during his time in Ann Arbor but Michigan is no longer going after safeties that might grow into linebackers or water bug slot receivers. Brady Hoke has made it clear that players with size are going to receive major attention from the program, and seeing Chris Fox and Malik McDowell listed on the All Lobby Team only reaffirm this. For further proof of Hoke's desire for his team to get bigger check out the heavier Ben Gedeon and Mike McCray:
#Michigan's Ohio LB haul - Ben Gedeon says he's up to 6-2, 230 and Mike McCray says he's 6-3, 235 twitpic.com/9y7yfe
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) June 19, 2012
This doesn't mean that Rodriguez isn't an elite coach or recruiter, it just means that philosophies have definitely changed at Michigan. The second part is obvious, the first part might not have been.
BTW
There are 30 recruits committed to SEC schools in ESPN's top 150: ALA & UF have 7; A&M 5, AUB/UGA 4; LSU 2; SC 1. (BTW, MICH has 11.)
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) June 18, 2012
Come at us bro.
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