Team Recruiting Countdown: No. 10 Michigan Wolverines

No. 10 Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten No. 2)

2008 Haul: 24 signees, 3 Athlon Consensus 100

Scouting Report:

No program in America lost more big time talent to graduation than the Michigan Wolverines. They lost a ton of experience on offense, including four-year starters at quarterback (Chad Henne), running back (Mike Hart), O-line (Jake Long/Adam Krauss) and wideout (Mario Manningham started for all three years). The defense took a hit up the middle as well, losing linebackers Shawn Crable and Chris Graham along with safety Jamar Adams.

Oh, and they are replacing one the winningest coaches in Big Ten history, too. Rich Rodriguez’s first order of business is to find a starting quarterback. Local product and Georgia Tech ‘quasi-transfer’ Steve Threet may be the answer. If not, Rodriguez may be scrounging the student section at the Big House for someone to throw the football.

Every other position on the offense has been addressed. Five offensive line prospects head to Ann Arbor including Dann O’Neill (Grand Haven, Mich.) and Ricky Barnum (Lakeland, Fla.). O’Neill dominated in Orlando at the All-Star classic and have scouts thinking Jake Long clone. Barnum, a signing day switch from the Gators, is in the conversation for top center prospect in the nation.

The offensive skill positions are restocked as well. Four running backs, three wide receivers and two tight ends round out a stellar offensive class for Michigan. Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor will likely assume the starting tailback job but depth is no longer an issue. Mike Shaw (Trotwood, Ohio), Terrence Robinson (Klein, Texas) and Sam McGuffie (Cypress, Texas) are three versatile prospects. Shaw gets the tough yards and has a solid, well-rounded game. Robinson, who was overshadowed at Klein by Texas’ DeSean Hales, could play quarterback, running back or slot receiver. McGuffie is the most intriguing of the three. He grew up a gymnast and can do things on a football field that few kids can. He will be an immediate impact player on special teams in the short passing game.

The pass catchers, Darryl Stonum (Sugar Land, Texas), Roy Roundtree (Trotwood, Ohio) and Martavious Odoms (Pahokee, Fla.), will look to step in and help replace Manningham and Adrian Arrington. Stomun is clearly the most gifted and has a very similar game to that of the departed Super Mario.

Kevin Koger (Toledo, Ohio) and Brandon Moore (Trotwood, Ohio) are two very talented tight ends. Moore may have more upside and Koger could end up at defensive end, but each have plenty of talent.

The linebacker position is also well represented in this class. All four prospects are talented and will see time on special teams.

Michigan has done a great job of recruiting nationally. Texas, Florida and New Jersey have played major roles in recent years in supplying the Big Blue with talent. Michigan landed three prospects from each of those states in 2008. They also dipped into South Carolina, Indiana and Connecticut for players.

Ohio will always be a staple of Wolverine recruiting and 2008 was no exception. Seven prospects from the Buckeye state head north to Ann Arbor. Madison High School in Trotwood, Ohio sent three prospects alone to Michigan (Shaw, Roundtree, Moore)

Top Prospect: Dann O’Neill – OL – Grand Haven, Mich. (6-7, 290) AC 100 No. 69

There are not many people who are 6-7 and nearly 300 pounds and can run like O'Neill. He has great athleticism and quick feet for a player of his size. He is very comfortable in open space and can be used much like Joe Thomas was at Wisconsin: pulling and lead blocking on the outside. He has that kind of versatility.

Aside from his athleticism, O’Neill has a great frame and attitude. His big, rangy body has room to add strength and bulk. He has a terrific motor and will block until the whistle blows. He is ready to help the run game immediately as he shows great drive and power. Once he polishes his pass protecting skills, Michigan fans could be looking at another Jake Long.

O’Neill went up against top-level competition in Orlando at the Under Armour All-American game and performed extremely well.

Best of the Rest:

Darryl Stonum – WR – Sugar Land, Texas (6-2, 190) AC 100 No. 46
Boubacar Cissoko – CB – Detroit, Mich. (5-9, 175) AC 100 No. 52
Marcus Witherspoon – LB – Absecon, N.J. (6-2, 220)
Sam McGuffie – ATH – Cypress, Texas (5-10, 185)
Terrence Robinson – RB – Klein, Texas (5-9, 175)
Brandon Smith – ATH – New Brunswick, N.J. (6-3, 210)
J.B. Fitzgerald – LB – Princeton Junction, N.J. (6-4, 225)
Ricky Barnum – C – Lakeland, Fla. (6-3, 260)
Kevin Koger – TE – Toledo, Ohio (6-4, 240)
Mike Shaw – RB – Trotwood, Ohio (6-0, 185)

Sleeper: Roy Roundtree – WR – Trotwood, Ohio (6-0, 170)

Roundtree is another prospect that has too solid of an all-around game to not be successful in college. He shows solid route running ability, above average hands, great toughness and nice acceleration. He gets off the line quickly and simply makes plays. He was another signing day theft as he had been committed to Purdue previously.

Terrelle Pryor: Ohio St, Penn St, Michigan

I will be very happy when Terrelle Pryor finally ends this nonsense that has been his recruitment process. Yes, it is the most important decision he will likely make in his life but it is time to end the suspense.

There is only one thing that really matters: where will Terrelle Pryor go to college?

Two words: Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have been the leading candidate for Mr. Pryor since day one. Not only that but it is a perfect fit. He will be used in exactly the same fashion as Timmy Tebow was used his freshman year in Gainesville. Expect Pryor to get 75-100 snaps next season as Todd Boeckman finishes his career at OSU in Chris Leak like fashion. The Buckeyes kept some very talented defensive players from leaving early and will be loaded on defense, much like the Gators of two years ago. He will have a chance at a national title in year No. 1.

Lets consider the hoops angle. Yes, he says basketball will not even be an option. But you know, just in case, a recent No. 1 overall pick and national championship appearance isn't bad to have in your back pocket.

Not to mention Mike Adams, one of the best offensive line prospects in the nation, said during a Signing Day interview that Pryor will be headed to Columbus. The quarterback's coach at Jeannette High has too, in fact, given his "endorsement" of The Ohio State.

National title chance. Top-flight hoops program. Great rushing attack to back you up. OSU has been the leader since the beginning. His coach says its the Buckeyes. His friends and fellow recruit say OSU.

Terrelle Pryor is going to play football at The Ohio State University.

I would personally like to see him at Oregon - for a variety of reasons, some of which will remain unspoken - but it will not happen. Unfortunately, he would have been a blast to watch play in that Chip Kelly offense, but its not likely.

Terrelle, I have already figured it out. You can go ahead and sign now, lets end this thing and make it official.

Having said all of that, something is up. That fact that a father and son had not sat down one time in the last two years and compared college choices is unfathomable. You mean to tell me, the first time the No. 1 prospect in the nation and his father ever spoke about where they wanted him to go was the night before Signing Day? Something isn't right. I have no proof of anything; I have no inside information. But the logical train of thought is pretty clear. We will have to wait and see.

Hey, THE Reggie Bush just lost a settlement case with a former financier. He had to pay him back his money.

Early Theme in Signing Day: SWITCHES

Florida has already lost two prospects in LB/S Ramon Buchanan and C Ricky Barnum.

Now Auburn has lost one of its top playmakers: wide receiver Jarmon Fortson from Columbus, GA has signed with FSU. Fortson is a great looking pass catcher. He is built like a tank and had a stellar performance in the Georgia Dome in the state semis this season. Auburn will miss Mr. Fortson.

It does not end there, however. Georgia lost one its top players in tight end Dwayne Allen. Allen signed with the Clemson Tigers.

That is four top SEC targets that have left the league.

Purdue also lost one of its top targets too. Troutwood, OH wide receiver Ray Roundtree signed today with the Michigan Wolverines. Rich Rod and Co. are making a very strong push on Signing Day.

Ricky Barnum: The Ole Switcharoo!!

The Florida Gators got a bit of their own medicine this morning. One of the top centers in the nation has switched his commitment from the SEC power to the newly energized Michigan Wolverines.

Ricky Barnum is a 6-2, 250lb center from Lakeland, FL (Lake Gibson High). Interestingly enough, the city of Lakeland sent 7 prospects to Florida last year. No such luck this season.

A couple more names fall for Michigan and they could end up in the top-5 nationally.

They need Terrelle Pryor and Nick Perry though.

Michigan Dips Into Lone Star State Again

Texarkana quarterback Ryan Mallett - even though he transfered - Cypress all-purpose dynamo Sam McGuffie, Sugar Land wide receiver Daryl Stonum and now Klein running back Terrance Robinson have all left the state of Texas and headed north to Ann Arbor. Robinson committed to the Wolverines shortly after the Super Bowl Sunday evening.

Sugar Land has been very kind to the Wolverines as I did not even mention the two Sugar Land commits from last season - LB Brandon Herron and DB Troy Woolfolk. That is six very talented young prospects over the past two classes that chose Michigan.

Mallett was the top QB in the nation last year, McGuffie is just outside this year's Athlon Consensus 100 and Stonum is No. 39. These are top-flight talents that Michigan has gone into Texas to land.

Robinson is a perfect fit for Rich Rod's spread-zone-read-option attack. In fact, he is a striking resemblance to WVU starting running back for 2009: Noel Devine. Robinson is small but he is not quite Devine small. He is fast but not quite Devine fast. But more importantly he is very comfortable and familiar with the spread-option. Klein ran an almost exact replica of WVU's rushing attack.

The 5-9, 175 pounder shows great speed and burst with some surprising power. He does not mind putting his head down to finish a run. He has great agility using solid quickness to weave in and out of defenders. He shows the mental capacity to run between the tackles, I just wonder about his durability and size in the Big Ten. He certainly makes up for his lack of size with great speed and toughness, though.

I would like to see him add some thickness and will need to work on his blitz pick-up and receiving skills (he could be a nice slot receiver too) but should be a dynamic little playmaker for the Wolverines. Hey, Mike Hart was too short and too small to be any good too, right?

If Michigan and Rich Rod can land Terrelle Pryor and Nick Perry this class will be a top-5 class nationally. Sneaky good class for the boys in Maize and Blue.

Photo by Athlon Sports

Ohio State Pulls Torrence's Offer

Do everything athlete from Massillon, OH Devoe Torrence has been committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes for quite a while now. Apparently, Jim Tressell and Co. have decided to pull his scholarship offer. There has been some growing concern about Torrence's off-the-field issues. Namely his grades.

Most schools would kill for a chance at a kid like Torrence but the Buckeyes have a top-10 recruiting class and, I guess, have the luxury of being able to basically cut him.

Torrence is ranked No. 57 in the Athlon Consensuc 100.

Torrence played running back, wide receiver and linebacker in high school, so needless to say he is a versatile prospect. He is even being recruited as a tight end by some schools. He is most ready to play the running back position, though. He is a bigger back who runs with great physicality that makes him difficult to tackle in one-on-one situations. He runs downhill and rarely loses yards. His power, strength and size will keep him durable on the next level. The most noticeable weakness on film is his ball-carrying technique. He will have to learn to tuck the ball better is he expects to play running back in the Big Ten.

At linebacker, he shows excellent physical tools and solid tackling ability. His reaction time is slow and his diagnostic skills seem to be lacking. When he does find the right lane, though, he attacks it well and generally gets the job done. In the open field, he can play too upright at times. Coverage skills will be a huge question mark.

He is just another athlete in Columbus but will be a major player for any of the smaller programs chasing his talents. Torrence's finalists prior to committing to OSU were:

Akron, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State and Cincinnati

If I am Brian Kelly and the Bearcats I go after Torrence with full force and I make sure he gets into school. He could really give a boost to a mediocre Cincy class.

Photo by Athlon Sports

Terrelle Pryor heading to LSU?

Life for the top prospect in the nation is hectic to say the least.

The Oregon Ducks paid the young QB a visit a few weeks ago and they ended up on his short list of favorites. Then RichRod took the Michigan job and the Wolverines took the place of the West Virginia Mountaineers on his favorites list. Texas then got kicked to the curb. Tennessee followed when offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left for Duke.

Then Pryor showed the nation at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl why he is the No. 1 prospect in the nation. He dominated the game winning the MVP for the game as well as the U.S. Army National Player of the Year award.

There is no doubt that he is inundated with phone calls, text messages and visitors.

Pryor, however, can only visit five schools officially. He visited Columbus and the Buckeyes on Nov. 2nd. He is slated to be at Michigan this weekend - he was supposed to be at Penn St but instead is headed to Ann Arbor. That is not a good sign for JoePa.

That leaves three more officials. PSU, Oregon, Florida and maybe even Duke might get a visit. Oregon and Florida are my prediction. He has been to Penn St so many times they may not get an official visit. So that leaves one more visit date.

Who gets it? There is a new player in the Pryor sweepstakes.

Les Miles and the LSU Tigers might end up with one of those visits. The main reason Pryor is interested in Oregon is the style of offense that they run. Gary Crowton was the OC in Eugene and worked with Dennis Dixon. Crowton is now at LSU. They have been supposedly pitching Pryor on the implementation of the zone-read offense in Baton Rouge. Music to young Mr. Pryor's ears.

Will Pryor end up at or even visit LSU? Who knows. All I know is that when a player visits the Bayou, they don't forget it. It is a fabulous place to hang out in and certainly an unforgettable football experience.

The question about LSU is the QB situation. It is the most clogged of all the favorites. The controversial Ryan Perrilloux and young Jarrett Lee both would be ahead of Pryor on the depth chart.

Pryor is on record as stating that playing time is not necessarily the important issue so LSU's depth chart may not matter. Either way, LSU is a very easy sell. Great culture, great football, great women, great weather, defending National Champs and a newly designed offensive system put in place just for him.

It sounds pretty tantalizing to me. The Bayou Bengals may have something to say about this thing before its all said and done.

What about Pittsburgh? In a word, no.

The young Western PA quarterback has developed a friendship and mentor in Pittsburgh Steelers QB Charlie Batch. He was seen with Batch at the Pitt-GTown basketball game recently. Rumors about Pitt's chances at Pryor are unfounded and ridiculous. He is not headed to Pitt. The Stache has done a great job on the recruiting trail, however.

NEWLY UPDATED TERRELLE PRYOR PERCENTAGES:

Mich: 35%
OSU: 35%
Oregon: 10%
Florida: 10%
LSU: 10%
Duke: 0%
Pitt: 0%
PSU: 0%

Pre-Signing Day Team Recruiting Rankings:

In the middle of November, the first edition of The UV's Unofficial Team Recruiting Rankings debuted. Notre Dame was the best class in the nation after the first unofficial rankings. Things have changed a bit since then.

Athlon's ranks were USC-1, UGA-2, OSU-3, ALA-4, MIA-5. Our rankings only act as one-fourth of the overall team rankings. Much in the same way that the Athlon Consensus 100 works, these team rankings are compiled using four expert sources. ESPN, Rivals, Scout and Athlon.



Rivals and Scout use a computer system that calculates a point total based on individual rankings and quantities. ESPN's list is a subjective group put together based on one man's opinion. Athlon's rankings are obviously subjective as well. This gives The Unofficial Team Recruiting Rankings equal parts computer and human.

Georgia's consistency at No. 2 across the board gave the Bulldogs enough to overcome Notre Dame's two No. 1's. USC and OSU have the best bang for their buck with the highest level of quality. But schools like Miami and Alabama have put together much bigger classes at the moment so they got the nod in most rankings.

Texas has the top running back class with five nice prospects. They would have one of the best classes at the position in history if land Ventura (Cali.) running back Darrell Scott, whom they seem to be leading for after Longhorn tailback Jamaal Charles declared for the draft. Scott is the No. 1 running back prospect in the nation. If the Gators were to add Jacksonville star Jamie Harper and DeSoto (Tx.) product Cyrus Gray, they might be able to challenge. If the experts want to count USC transfer Emmanuel Moody, Florida might be leading.

USC is pulling off the same feat along the offensive line with six outstanding prospects. Ohio State could challenge if they were to land a kid like Josh Jenkins and Notre Dame might have something to say if they could snag Kenneth Page from the southeast.

The depth of this wide receiver class is special and there is still a lot of work to be done. With names like Muskogee's (Okla.) Jameel Owens and Foley's (Al.) Julio Jones still hanging in the balance, any number of teams could claim the title.

Florida would certainly clinch this position if they can somehow pull the upset and land Jones. Carl Moore, Omarius Hines and Frankie Hammonds round out a very well-balanced class for the Gators.

USC's class is special. D.J. Shoemate is Percy Harvin plus two inches and 30 pounds. Brice Butler might be the most polished wideout in the entire class. Oklahoma would challenge if they land Owens - which seems likely. Notre Dame recently pulled Deion Walker off the east coast and Michael Floyd is a very special player. Miami could join the action if the 6-6 Tommy Streeter gives The U a clean sweep of the Northwestern-7. (Ben Jones would have to commit as well...work with me here)

Spain Park defensive end William Green would give Alabama the best defensive line class. Miami boasts the best interior group led by Marcus Fortson, Texas A&M leads on the edge with six commits. Georgia has the second best overall class. Clemson and Oklahoma bring in the best two defensive line prospects in DaQuan Bowers and R.J. Washington respectively.

Miami has the linebacker class locked up. This class is so deep that the Canes might have five starters in the group: three linebackers, one safety and one defensive end. Michigan and Virginia Tech both have great depth in the linebacker corp. If the Buffaloes can hang onto Lynn Katoa, Colorado will have a dynamite group at linebacker.

LSU is atop the list of defensive back classes, led by Ely's (Fl.) Patrick Johnson. If Rick Nueheisel can hang onto Rahim Moore, E.J. Woods and company, UCLA might get my nod, however. It just seems so unlikely that will happen. The Gators claim the top safety group with New Jersey product Will Hill and Auburn High's Dee Finley.

The final team rankings will be released post-signing day.

US Army AA Game Notebook:

Heading into this game I really felt that the offensive skill position players were better on the West team and that the defensive front seven was better on the East team. That was pretty much how the game played out with one exception. No one can stop Terrelle Pryor.

There is no substitute for supreme talent. It was a clean sweep from the top prospect in the nation. He took home not only the win today but also the games' Most Valuable Player and the US Army National Player of the Year award too. It is very easy to see that he is clearly the best player in the nation.

Some random thoughts....

The athleticism was very apparent at the quarterback position for the East team with Pryor, Star Jackson and MarQuies Gray. The West had no answer for the speed at the QB position.

Miami defensive tackle prospect Marcus Fortson was dominate as the East shut down the West ground game. The linebackers were all over the field led by another Miami defender Arthur Brown. There is no way Brown plays in the middle. He was noticeably smaller than guys like Steven Filer and Etiene Sabino. Brown will be a fabulous weakside backer.

The wide receivers for the West were phenomenal. D.J. Shoemate, Dan Buckner, Jameel Owens and particularly Michael Floyd played well. I would have liked to see Shoemate used more out of the back field. I am very high on all four of these kids.

Gerell Robinson is very raw and very good. He is a smart, well-spoken kid that has freakish size and athleticism. He may want to redshirt at Arizona St to learn the subtleties of the wide receiver position. He is gifted enough to play right away though.

Speaking of the Pac-10. The west coast had a great day landing three of the kids announcing on Saturday. Robinson is headed to ASU; Solomon Koehler leaves Hawaii for the desert and Arizona; Covaughn Deboskie chose Cal.

Alabama and Georgia are in a heavyweight bout for the SEC recruiting race. After stealing A.J. Harmon from Clemson, the Bulldogs are making a strong push for not only the SEC crown but maybe the top class in the nation.

With Gray's commitment to Minnesota, Tim Brewster has found a piece to build a future around. The Gophers' class is very strong as the Big Ten doormat has dipped into Texas, Chicago and now Indianapolis to snag a lot of solid prospects.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AJ Harmon - Georgia
Patrick Johnson - LSU
Shayne Hale - Pitt
MarQuies Gray - Minnesota
Ryan Williams - Va. Tech
Solomon Koehler - Arizona
Gerell Robinson - Arizona St
Covaughn Deboskie - Cal
Brandon Smith - Michigan

Photo by Rivals.com

US Army All-American Announcements:

Every year the US Army AA game affords plenty of action for recruiting fans. It pits top flight talent versus top flight talent allowing evaluators to really get a look at prospects with the lights on. It gives football fans a taste of the future. And then there are the announcements.

This year there are plenty of big names making their picks on Saturday...

Predictions:

Shayne Hale - Ohio State
Young Hollywood Johnson - Florida (LSU is major player)
Solomon Koehler - Arizona
Ryan Williams - Va. Tech
MarQueis Gray - Minnesota
Brandon Smith - Michigan

Covaughn Deboskie was supposed to announce as well but it has leaked out that he chose the Cal Golden Bears. He is a nice pick-up for Jeff Tedford and Co.

The US Army All-American Game airs Saturday, Jan 5th at 2pm EST on NBC

USA Today...Today...Today Today Today

Offensive/Defensive Players's of the Year along with the annual USA Today High SChool All-American Teams were released today.

Shocking. Terrelle Pryor was named Off. POY while current Miami-FL commit and Florida Gator lean Patrick Johnson was given Def. POY honors.

They interviewed both. Pryor's best answer was to the question, 'Who is in your five?' He responded with "Mom, Dad, friends Jason and Ted, coach Ray Reitz and coach Roy Hall."

1, 2, 3, 4...yeah that is definitely six people. For Pyror's academic tutor's sake, I hope someone is sharing a line.

He also said "Someone tried to land a helicopter on our field."

Hmmmm? Jim Tressel and his championship teams and his fancy sweater vest? Maybe. How about the guy who jet-sets in the offseason with Bill Belichick? Nah, not Urban Meyer. There are just so many logical candidates: Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Bobby Petrino. Who is my guess though?

Rich Rodriguez. He has not only got the clout but also the balls to do it. The brashness helps too.

Terrelle Pryor Update and more...

I just got off the phone with my contacts in Ann Arbor and he gave me his thoughts on the new hire and Michigan's chances at Terrelle Pryor.

My unnamed source at TheWolverine.com first told me that there is more energy around the Michigan program in one day under Rich Rod than in the past five years combined. This is not shocking.

First things first, Terrelle Pryor has officially added Michigan to his list of schools. And they move right to the top. My contact tells me that the % chance Terrelle Pryor goes to Michigan is at 50%. West Virginia, Tennessee and Texas have all bit the dust in the last few weeks. Florida is on its death bed. That leaves Michigan, Ohio St and Oregon.

So, hypothetically, if Pryor goes to Michigan that raises intersting questions about the current depth chart. Pryor has told Michigan that he does not have to play right away. Redshirting is an option or use him like Florida used Timmy Teabags when he was behind Chris Leak on the depth chart: get some time under center in special circumstances.

So this leaves me with one burning question. What happens to Ryan Mallet? Well, apparently he is a jerk. That is a quote that has been cleaned up for children. Will he transfer? Will he stick it out? What about Ga. Tech transfer/recruit Steve Threet? Only time will tell.

The 50% number would mean that Michigan is leading and I do not believe that...yet. I would guess its closer to...

Michigan 40%
Ohio St 40%
Oregon 20%

We shall see what happens.

Also, huge commitments coming today from Arthur Brown and Chris Harper today from Wichita, KS. I have been saying Brown to USC but rumors are swirling about North Carolina.

Athlon Sports Recruiting Blitz 12.04.07

Every week I host a recruiting podcast for Athlon Sports. This week's edition is now up on the site. AthlonSports.com

Joining me this week was Michigan expert from TheWolverine.com Chris Balas. Is the Michigan class still standing strong? Chris Balas tells all.

Also joining me this week was Colorado guru from BuffStampede.com Adam Munstertieger. The Buffalos might be the hottest team in the nation on the recruiting trail.

FSU, Washington, Bama and many more got some time on the National Recruiting Blitz.

So without further ado...

The National Recruiting Blitz

Top players for 2009 released

Rivals.com released its top-100 prospects for 2009 today. It is the earliest release of a top-100 for the website ever. Who is the early favorite for No. 1 player in the nation? A 6-3, 225 lb quarterback from the football powerhouse Mater Dei high school (Santa Ana, CA) Matt Barkley gets the nod as Rivals' top prospect.

Back on October 4th, I had the pleasure of watching a truly epic battle between the #1 team in the state of California - Mater Dei - and the #2 ranked team Centennial (Corona, CA).

In a nationally televised showdown, Matt Barkley and Mater Dei took Centennial's best shot and won a shootout 51-37.

Barkley was very impressive. Not only does he show the arm strength to make all the throws but his intangibles are off the charts. His poise and toughness are what won him that game. He stood tall in the pocket and delivered the football in the face a potent Centennial blitz. A blitz that involves the #17 player in 2009, the hard-hitting linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Barkley has great downfield vision as he had the patience to work through his progressions even in the face of pressure. If Barkley does not choose USC it would be a shock to everyone.

Rivals top-10:
1. Matt Barkley - QB Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
2. Jamarkus McFarland - DT Lufkin (Lufkin, TX)
3. Cierre Wood - RB Santa Clara (Oxnard, CA)
4. Russell Shepard - ATH Cypress Ridge (Houston, TX)
5. Dre Kirkpatrick - DB Gadsden City (Gadsden, AL)
6. Manti Te'o - LB Punahou (Honolulu, HI)
7. Rueben Randle - WR Bastrop (Bastrop, LA)
8. Devon Kennard - DE Desert Vista (Phoenix, AZ)
9. Jacobbi McDaniel - DT Madison (Greenville, FL)
10. Bryce Brown - RB Wichita East (Wichita, KS)

That last name might look familiar as Bryce Brown is the younger and more talented brother of 2008 star LB Arthur Brown.

7 of the top-100 are already committed. Go figure, USC has three of them.

#35 DJ Fluker - DT (Alabama)
#52 Jordan Whiting - LB (Ohio St)
#55 William Campbell - DT (Michigan)
#65 Randall Carroll - WR (USC)
#78 Morrell Presley - TE (USC)
#86 Marlon Pollard - DB (UCLA)
#88 Kevin Graf - OL (USC)

The aforementioned #1 versus #2 battle:

Day 5 of the Michigan coaching search:

Candidate No. 5: Mike Trgovac (DC with Carolina Panthers, 48-41)

Experience:
Carolina Panthers - Defensive Coord (2002-present)
Washington Redskins - Asst Coach (2000-2001)
Green Bay Packers - Asst Coach (1999)
Philadelphia Eagles - Asst Coach (1995-1998)
Notre Dame - Asst Coach (1992-1994)
Colorado St - Asst Coach (1990-1991)
Navy - Asst Coach (1989)
Ball St - Asst Coach (1986-1988)
Michigan - Grad. Asst (1984-1985)

Positives: This seems to be a theme, he is a Michigan guy. He started for Bo for three seasons and was a GA for him after graduating. This guy has plenty of experience at all different levels (except Head Coach). Thought of as one of the top defensive minds in the NFL, Trgovac helped lead his Panthers to a Super Bowl in 2004 with one of the nastiest defenses in the NFL.

Negatives: Despite having a TON of experience at many different levels he has never been a head coach at the level of a school like Michigan. Being in the NFL certainly exposes him to the pressures of the game but he has been away from the college game for a long time. He does not have any solid recruiting ties to the state of Michigan or any where else for that matter. The recruiting learning curve would also be steeper due to the fact that he has never been the captain of a ship, especially one as famed as the SS Wolverine.

Probability: 35%
Visitor Hire Rating:

Next Week: All the stupid candidates that will never get hired (Cam..*cough*..Cameron)

Day 4 of the Michigan Coaching Search

Candidate No. 4: Brian Kelly (144-53-2 as NCAA head coach)

Experience:
Cincinnati - Head Coach (2007-Present)
Central Michigan - Head Coach (2004-2006)
Grand Valley State - Head Coach (1987-2003)

Positives: He is a winner. Kelly has won two national titles at Grand Valley State and a MAC title at Central Michigan. He has also turned Cincinnati into a Big East contender. He also clearly has ties to the state of Michigan. He knows the state and has relationships with the high school coaching staffs. Kelly is considered a "up-and-comer" in the coaching ranks these days with his offensive innovations.

Negatives: Is this a destination job for Kelly or is he looking for the next step? That means the NFL. Michigan is NOT a stepping stone job, PERIOD. Plus, the last time Bill Martin went after an up-and-comer (Tommy...*cough*...Amaker) it did not play out quite the way he wanted. Kelly is a risky choice.

Probability: 45%
Visitor Hire Rating:

Fri: candidate No. 5 Mike Trgovac

Day 3 of the Michigan Coaching Search:

Candidate No. 3: Ron English (20-5 as defensive coord. at Michigan)

Experience:
Michigan - Defensive Coord. (2004-Present)
Seattle Seahawks - Secondary Coach (2003)
Arizona St - Secondary Coach (1998-2002)
San Diego St - Secondary Coach (1996-1997)
Northern Arizona - OLB Coach (1995)

Positives:He is a current member of the staff. This is a huge factor when considering the current class of recruits. Most kids commit to the coach that is recruiting them, or at least have a stronger relationship with them than the head coach. If English is hired it almost guarantees that the recruits stay committed. English is not a bad coach either. He was the DB's coach in his first two seasons and was elevated to DC prior to last season. It paid off. Michigan's defense finished #1 against the run, 4th in sacks, 7th in 3rd-down defense, 10th in total defense and 15th in scoring defense. These are all national rankings. He is a high-energy guy that is a solid recruiter also.

Negatives:His lack of head coaching experience at the high D-1 level will hurt his case. And he is still learning as a play caller and in-game adjuster. His defenses were beat pretty bad in a four game stretch spanning the final two games of last season (OSU/USC) and the first two of this season (App St/Ore). Now to his credit, all of those offenses are very high powered, with the exception of Appy St of course. No one has stopped Dennis Dixon this season and no one slowed Troy Smith last.

Probability: 60%
Visitor Hire Rating:

Thu: Candidate No. 4: Brian Kelly
Fri: Candidate No. 5: Mike Trgovac

Day 2 of the Michigan Coaching Search:

Candidate No 2. Jim Harbaugh - Head Coach @ Stanford

Experience:
Stanford - Head Coach (2007-present)
U of San Diego - Head coach (2004-2006)
Oakland Raiders - QB Coach (2002-2003)

Positives: He is a Michigan guy. There are not many people out there that bleed Maize and Blue more than Harbaugh. The former Michigan QB, also has experience at a BCS school, albeit very limited. However, within that limited time, Harbaugh has made a huge impact with the biggest upset in Pac-10 history beating USC earlier this season. That team plays with dramatically more emotion and intensity. He also coached in a Super Bowl with the Raiders. The Visitor thinks he is the clearly the best option.

Negatives: He is a bit boisterous. He opened his yapper and got into a family feud with Michigan and Lloyd Carr. He also took a poke at Petey The Poodle at USC. I suppose he backed that one up. The comments on Michigan academics (who better to comment on them than a former player by the way?) drew a lot of resentment from Mich. AD Bill Martin and HC Lloyd Carr. He may have burnt that bridge. Its unfortunate too, because he would be the best man for the job.

Probability: 15%
Visitor hire rating:

WED: candidate No. 3 Ron English
THU: candidate No. 4 Brian Kelly
FRI: candidate No. 5 Mike Trgovac

You Can't Spell Lloyd Carr Without 2 L's...

Or in the 2007 version: 4 L's. Lloyd Carr announced Monday that he would be stepping down as the head coach of Michigan. This immediately raises the question of who will take his place. The Visitor has complied his list for all the Michigan folks out there. Today, we start with "The Hat."

1. Les Miles - head coach LSU

Experience:
LSU - Head Coach (2005-Present)
Okie St - Head Coach (2001-2004)
Dallas Cowboys - Asst coach (1998-2000)
Okie St - Asst coach (1995-1997)
Michigan - Asst coach (1987-1994)
Colorado - Asst coach (1982-1986)

Positives: Les Miles is logically the choice of the alumi base in Ann Arbor. He played at Michigan, he coached under Bo Schembechler and has experience as a head coach in big time NCAA football. He wants to get back to the Big Blue. He also had a strong record against Stoops and Oklahoma in the Bedlum Series.

Negatives: The timing is terrible. Miles is coaching his own team right now that sits at #1 in the polls. If you wait to hire him until after the season you leave a solid recruiting class sitting around wondering what will happen. Not a good thing. He is also a bit of a basket case, calling timeouts when you don't need to (see Tenn game 2005). His Freudian slips surrounding Alabama, the Pac-10 conference, and the Louisiana city of Monroe have not made him any friends. Snoop Dogg, a USC Trojan fan, quickly slayed the Miles dragon with his pleasant and classy response. I must issue a STRONG warning, however, as this audio file contains language not suitable for everyone. Its amazing that the cerebral ramblings of a rapper still won the verbal sparring match with Mr. Miles.

Probability: 80%
Visitor hire rating:

Godzilla or Les Miles??