Michigan Monday Crootin’: Reactions from Daxton Hill and more from SMU recruiting weekend

Tight ends coach Sherrone Moore has done some serious work on the recruiting trail since joining the Michigan staff.

In the months after Jim Harbaugh hired him in January, he has already secured commitments from 2019 4-star tight end Erick All and 2020 4-star defensive tackle Denver Warren. His latest — and highest-rated — target is 2019 5-star safety Daxton Hill, an official visitor this past weekend.

Moore’s connections to Hill’s home state of Oklahoma — the former played offensive line for Oklahoma in the late 2000s, while the latter is a senior at Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High — make him an ideal point man in this heavily-contested recruiting battle. Hill is reportedly deciding between the Wolverines and Alabama, and holds offers from 26 schools.

According to Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider ($), Moore’s approach in this recruitment has been “low-pressure,” focusing more on the presentation of the visit rather than pushing for a commitment. What’s clear from even a cursory look at social media, as well, is that Moore has plenty of help from Michigan commitments.

Webb mentioned parents of current players made the Hill’s feel at home, as well.

The No. 12 overall prospect on the 247Sports composite talked about ending his recruitment after July’s official visit to Alabama, so the longer Moore and fellow recruiter Chris Partridge stay in the thick of this, the more optimism grows for Hill coming to Ann Arbor.

CADE MCNAMARA, RECRUITING EXTRAORDINAIRE

Another official visitor for the SMU game was 2019 4-star quarterback commit Cade McNamara. He rushed out to Ann Arbor all the way from Reno, Nev. after leading his Damonte Ranch Mustangs to a last-second win Friday night.

Someone who noticed? Oakley, Calif. 4-star running back and recent commitment Giles Jackson. The two hit it off after playing on the same 7-on-7 squad this summer Nike’s The Opening Finals.

He also bonded with offensive line commits Zach Carpenter, Karsen Barnhart and Nolan Rumler.

Many commitments end up being de-facto recruiters for their classes, and McNamara definitely falls in that category.

OTHER VISIT REACTIONS

2020 commitments in Denver Warren and Andre Seldon bonded on the field.

Barnhart, a 2019 3-star offensive lineman, reached out to Warren prior to the trip.

“It was great,” he said to 247’s Brice Marich ($), “We just ate, went on the field then watched the game. I got to talk with all the coaches and also hung out with Cade, Nolan and Zach the whole game. It was great with them. We all mesh together very well.”

Marich posted reaction quotes from several other 2019, 2020 and 2021 visitors.

Maize n Brew is currently tracking down reactions from a pair of 2020 4-star visitors from Arizona: running back Bijan Robinson and safety Lathan Ransom.

For now, here’s a picture of them in Coach Harbaugh’s office.