Malzone Continues to Impress as Summer Rolls Along
The quarterback position slot to be filled in the 2015 recruiting cycle was one of the bigger storylines heading into this summer. After an offensive coordinator change and an extended evaluation period, some said the Wolverines had settled on a player after losing out on what recruiting rankings said were some of the best passers in the nation.
Well, it's starting to look more and more like the patience that the program displayed in trying to find their quarterback definitely paid off.
The Wolverines offered and received an instant commitment from in-state quarterback Alex Malzone (Bloomfield Hills, MI), who has done nothing but blow up since he pledged his allegiance to the Maize and Blue.
Malzone has shot up recruiting rankings and turned a lot of heads since he verbally commited to the program in late May. He busted his butt for an offer from Doug Nussmeier and the Wolverines and he received it after a live throwing session and a subsequent visit to the school not long after.
I've always liked what he brings to the table both on and off the field. He is a bit raw right now, but absolutely has the tools and attitude to be a great player in time.
He was invited to the Elite 11 finals in Oregon this week and he has done nothing but impress since he got there.
#Michigan 4-star QB commit Alex Malzone receiving praise from Trent Dilfer for his accuracy and "listening and learning" #Elite11
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) July 6, 2014
Dilfer in the background giving props "@bartonsimmons: #GoBlue commit Alex Malzone https://t.co/eFg3pTIHDn"
— Steve Lorenz (@TremendousUM) July 6, 2014
It's cool to see a local kid go out and prove he belongs in the conversation with some of the best players in the country, but it's not enough for him to show what he himself can do. Malzone is out to bring talented prospects back with him from Nike's The Opening event in Oregon this week.
Big Name Michigan Targets at The Opening
Malzone has been one of the better recruiters that Michigan has had since he committed, and he is on a mission to not only prove himself out in Oregon, but he wants to help the Wolverines keep building what already looks to be a strong, albeit abbreviated recruiting class.
Joining Malzone at The Opening is linebacker commit Darrin Kirkland Jr. (Indianapolis, IN), who will also assist in spreading the good word of the Wolverine Way.
Many Michigan targets will be in attendance, including running backs Mike Weber (Detroit, MI), Damien Harris (Berea, KY) and Jacques Patrick (Orlando, FL), wide receiver Auden Tate (Tampa, FL), defensive end Keisean Lucier-South (Orange, CA), cornerback Mook Reynolds (Greensboro, NC), and many more.
Tight end commit Chris Clark (Avon, CT) was slated to be a part of the event but had to drop out for personal reasons. He would have been another big recruiter at the event, but it is what it is. Malzone and Kirkland will be in the ears of many of the nation's top prospects with Michigan interest this week.
I believe Michigan sits well with many of their top guys, and even with decommitments that have gone down and missing on some other prospects, this still has the potential the be Brady Hoke's best class from top to bottom since he arrived in Ann Arbor.
A strong season on the field will cement this as one of the better classes in the nation, and we'll have to wait out the process of some of the higher profile guys and see what happens.
Mook Reynolds Will Be at The BBQ
Speaking of Mook Reynolds, the four-star cornerback prospect committed to Virginia Tech will visit the University of Michigan for the annual BBQ at the Big House, according to 247 Sports. (FREE)
"I will be at Michigan's BBQ on July 27," Reynolds told 247Sports.com. "That's the only visit I know of."
Just because you verbally commit to a school doesn't mean that others can't recruit you, but this does bring up an interesting question in terms of Hoke's recruiting policy.
Since he took over as Michigan's head football coach, the program has enacted an unwritten rule that if a commit chooses to visit other schools, they let him know his position is no longer guaranteed and start recruiting it openly.
Now, that seems silly because that's just not how recruiting works, but it is interesting that they apply this to their own commits but will openly recruit a player committed to another school. It is what it is I suppose.
Anyways, getting Reynolds on campus could be big for them in swaying him over to Michigan. There seems to be enough mutual interest here to keep this one worth paying attention to.
That's it for Monday. Come back Wednesday for the latest news and notes regarding Michigan football recruiting.
Be sure to follow Maize N Brew's Anthony Broome on Twitter, @anthonytbroome.