Recruiting Stuff

Recruiting is something that is extremely pivotal to Michigan's success and future at the moment, so as the winter drags on I'll continue to try and keep you all as updated as possible with the current commits, future commitments, and prospect

LB Greg Hickman to visit Michigan - Greg Hickman is a 3-star linebacker from Tampa, Florida. Have I told you how badly we need linebackers? He's got a Michigan offer, along with offers from FIU, USF, Purdue, Western Kentucky, Marshall, Florida A&M and Iowa State. Not the strongest group in the world, and Hickman is extremely large for a linebacker, clocking in at 6"1, 255 lbs. If he is recruited to Michigan, I'd say he's a spinner candidate who could eventually slide down to the defensive line. But at this point, I don't think we'll end up seeing him in the maize and blue.

LB Darren Kitchens is another interesting name that's come up - He's an outside linebacker prospect from Homestead, Florida, who also has a Wolverines offer, along with offers from FIU, Florida State, Maryland, South Florida, Southern Miss, UCF, and Wake Forest. Not a bad list overall, and he's receiving interest from both Florida and Ohio State as well. According to rivals ($) he'll be taking a trip up to Ann Arbor on January 8th.

Kitchens is much better suited to be recruited right now. Even though we're at 23 commitments and will probably fill up to 28, if Kitchens really likes Michigan I would guess the staff would have room for him. I haven't had a chance to take a look at his film yet, but the offer list is solid, he's got good size (6"3, 215 lbs), and fits a position that we desperately need talent and depth at. It appears that he's being recruited by some schools as a defensive lineman, and he's been quoted as saying he wants to stay close to home. So this probably won't happen either.

As for the rest of the class...

A poster on rivals got in communication with the Big Ten Director of Compliance, which basically helped clarify the scholarship situation and if backtracking is allowed.

Basically, scholarships are like a headcount. The year/semester you enroll, you're counted. So since Michigan took 21 commits last year, they can take 3 more than 25 if they have room. With the class sitting at 23 right now and possible impending commitments from LB/S Josh Furman, CB Tony Grimes, DE Clarence Murphy, and DT Jonathan Hankins, this class could be filled fairly soon. And couple that with the fact that there may be one or two disqualifers and that will certainly leave room for more recruits as well.