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First of all, let me wish everyone a belated happy Fourth of July! Hopefully all is well and you're hungover from your ridiculous [legal] drinking adventures across this great country. Now get some sunglasses, aspirin and coffee together so you can stop leaning and start reading. Excuse the briefness of some of the material: I'm writing this before my Fourth of July plans and need to get the hell out of this house.
Bunting, Hand Show Out at The Opening
Michigan didn't have nearly as many targets or commitments at The Opening this year as last year, but their targets still managed to make an impact at the camp.
All-world defensive end Da'Shawn Hand was dominant, as per usual. Michigan recruiting journalist Sam Webb noted that he hasn't ever seen Hand lose a one-on-one rep at a camp. Ever. Webb has probably seen or heard of Hand take upwards of fifty pass-rushing reps at various camps, so that's extremely impressive.
Hand will make a decision before the end of the year, which is good for Michigan.
Safety prospect Montae Nicholson ran with the safeties and the receivers. It sounds like Michigan is in great shape for him, along with five-star prospect John Smith. Both performed well.
Tight end Ian Bunting performed well, although he seemed to have tweeked one of his hamstrings early on in the camp. He still managed to come down with a few impressive grabs, and even made one gurus all-camp team:
Michigan commit Ian Bunting just hauled in a deep pass. Really athletic
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) July 2, 2013
Ian Bunting with a TD grab... This is a good setting for him. Could be a big week.
— Justin Hopkins (@JHopkins247) July 2, 2013
My first day all-tourney team from @TheOpening_2013 - Budda Baker, KD Cannon, Quin Blanding, Curtis Samuel, Ian Bunting, Kyle Allen, S.White
— Brian Stumpf (@Stumpf_Brian) July 3, 2013
He better get his fourth star from every recruiting site, and it wouldn't surprise me if he cracks the top five at his position on one or more of them as well. Injuries and a lack of playing weight are the only things holding him back.
Class of 2015 wide receiver George Campbell showed why he's already a five-star player:
2015 Michigan target George Campbell says he ran 4.36 at The Opening today.
— Clint Brewster (@clintbrew247) July 1, 2013
After running a 4.36 this morning on field turf @GeorgeCampbell0 just won the fastest 40 contest with a 4.37 on grass at @TheOpening_2013
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) July 1, 2013
That's insane speed for someone who checked in at 6'3.5". He's leaning toward Florida right now, but don't give up on the Michigan staff just yet.
Finally, let's all marvel at the athleticism of elite college football recruits:
Is that a trampoline?
Lorenzo Carter with a 43.8 vertical jump. That's a defensive end....
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) July 1, 2013
Lordy, lordy.
Furbush Picks Michigan; I See New Blue People
Michigan picked up three-star Ohio linebacker Noah Furbush earlier in the week:
Yes, Furbush was the "commit watch kid I posted about Saturday. And no, his commit does NOT spell end of 2014 LB recruiting for #Michigan
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) July 1, 2013
Check out his New Blue piece, along with the pieces for Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson.
General Notes and Multimedia Items
Ace Anbender wrote a solid recruiting mailbag over at MGoBlog, answering a multitude of questions regarding camp and this class' final commitments. Recent news of Parrker Westphal not having any favorites has me falling off of the Westphal wagon as well.
Ohio State's commitments seem to be jealous of Michael Ferns' shirt idea:
Picture of the shirts the Ohio State commits are wearing this week pic.twitter.com/C9bi0od7rx
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) July 2, 2013
Cool shirt, bro.
Check out my piece on how Michigan will finish the class of 2014. It will be updated every now and then.