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Michigan Monday Crootin’: Who is on commit watch?

2020 four-star defensive back commit Andre Seldon put fans on commit watch this weekend. Who is he talking about?

Dustin Johnston

Andre Seldon shot this flaming arrow into the Twittersphere this weekend.

The 2019 four-star cornerback from Belleville unofficially visited Ann Arbor for the Nebraska game, and it appears from his tweet he worked tirelessly to secure a commitment from someone in attendance.

At the time of this article, no one has pledged to the maize and blue. Who is Seldon talking about from the visitor list?

“(I) put on my recruiting hat and enjoyed a really great game by my team and as always the energy was great,” he said to 247 Sports’ Brice March ($). “Recruited Cornell Wheeler, Damon Payne and Mike Drennen, though he got there a little late.”

All players are 2020 prospects, with Wheeler as a three-star linebacker, Payne as a four-star guard and Drennen as a four-star running back. The first two are southeastern Michigan products — Payne plays at Belleville with Seldon — while Drennen made the trip from Dublin, Ohio.

Drennen is the least likely of the recruits on commitment watch. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder hails from just 20 minutes north of Columbus, and insiders are split between Ohio State and Michigan as future destinations.

Wheeler plays at West Bloomfield High just outside Detroit, and all the crystal balls point to him landing in Ann Arbor. Don Brown and fellow coaches are competing with Mark Dantonio and Michigan State for the top 500 player’s services.

Seldon most likely is talking about his teammate Payne. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder holds offers from a who’s who of college football — Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State, among 16 others — but the nation’s No. 26 player seemed incredibly satisfied by his visit:

He talked most extensively with offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, who looks at him as an guard or tackle prospect. Payne went on to say that he’ll play wherever the coaches need him, already showing flexibility with the Michigan staff.

Payne’s connection to Seldon, his comfort with the staff and the successful visit during a 56-10 beatdown of Nebraska makes me guess that commit watch centers around him for the near future.

THE SEARCH FOR 2020 OL IS IN EARNEST

Marich ($) also talked to 2020 four-star offensive tackle Michael Carmody, ranked No. 191 overall and No. 24 amongst tackles, according to the 247 Sports.

Ed Warinner and the staff are trying to pry the junior from Mars, Pa. away from Penn State, where all insiders expect him to sign. Carmody, for his part, claimed no leaders.

“Not that I have any top schools or any lists, but I loved it,” Carmody said. “The atmosphere, getting to see the coaches, watching the game, it was all awesome.”

Three-star center Carson Lee trekked all the way from Englewood, Colo. for the Nebraska weekend. While claiming no leaders, the 6-foot-4, 300-pounder will see the Cornhuskers for the second weekend in a row this Saturday as Nebraska hosts Purdue.

His time in Ann Arbor created a positive impression.

“I was able to meet with coach Ed Warinner and the other assistants,” he said to 247’s Blair Angulo ($). “It was great seeing them and finally putting a face to a name instead of just texting all the time.”

He mentioned he plans to visit the Wolverine State once more before deciding, but travel costs have a way of deterring future trips.

Lee is the nation’s No. 27-rated offensive guard and No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Colorado for the 2020 class per the 247Sports composite.

ERIC GRAY WATCHES HOMESTATE VOLUNTEERS GET BLASTED

There’s good news and bad news.

The bad news is that four-star running back commit Eric Gray is looking at other suitors. The Memphis jitterbug made the drive to Knoxville, Tenn. for a visit to the Tennessee Volunteers.

The good news is he watched his home state team get obliterated by rival Florida 47-21 in a shell-shocked Neyland Stadium. Side note: I was in attendance. The crowd started off electric. It was dead silent with the home team down 40-13 in the fourth quarter.

He mentioned he is focusing on future program potential rather than current shortcomings.

With the Wolverines holding strong cards in 2019 four-star backs Zach Charbonnet and Giles Jackson, the immediate need for Gray is diminished. If he decides his future is outside Ann Arbor, though, Jim Harbaugh and company will surely miss his production.