Michigan Thursday: 2012 QB Recruiting

So there are plenty of obvious jokes regarding Zeke Pike picking Auburn:  He took the turn-Pike town south or just another big fish that got away.  Please remember to tip your waiter and waitress.................

Bad jokes aside where are the Wolverines looking for a QB now that 5 star Zeke Pike is heading to play for the National Champs?

#1 Gunner Kiel out of Columbus, IN.  Considered the top QB prospect in the 2012 class.  He has offers from everyone.  Has some ties to ND and that's probably where he will end up. 

#2 Maty Mauk out of Kenton, OH.  Brother played for Brian Kelly at Cincinnati but Maty has been up to Ann Arbor a couple of times and nearing a decision on where he wants to play next year.   He has offers from Cincy, ND, Ill, Missouri, Vandy and Michigan.   This could be Michigan's best shot at a QB commitment in the near future.

#3 Austin Appleby out of North Canton, OH.  Austin continues to be on Michigan's radar as a potential QB offer.  He is 6'5 228 pounds and has mostly MAC offers at this point. 

#4 Bennie Coney out of Plant, Florida.  RR was in on Bennie early and that has seemed to continue into the Hoke era.  Bennie has said he has Michigan in his top 5.  He has offers from Auburn, Louisville, FSU, BC, Texas Tech, VT, MSU and others.  Bennie had some school/team issues so he might have some baggage.

Michigan has also offered: Devin Fuller from NJ and Jake Rodrigues from CA.  Neither has shown a ton of interest in Michigan yet.

Don't forget about 2013 mega instate QB recruit Shane Morris but Michigan will still take a QB in the 2012 class for sure.

Michigan Friday: Updates Rumor Mill and A Few More Offers

The rumor mill is spinning that Devin Gardner might have had his medical redshirt application approved.  This rumor started at an alumni event in Florida.  So it has not been confirmed by anyone at the Michigan program yet. 

This would be big because Denard is a junior now and this approval would make Devin a redshirt freshman.  This could also give Bellomy (incoming freshman for 2011) a redshirt year to learn the offense.   Either way, I would expect Devin to get a number of snaps next season.  With Tate gone to South Beach, Devin is now firmly in the #2 role and will spell Denard if he gets nicked up running the ball.

Devin played in two games in 2010 (UConn and Bowling Green) and was 7-10 for 85 yards.  He also ran 6 times for 25 yards and 1 TD.

• Recent Michigan offer Ron Thompson TE from Detroit has a relationship with Devin Gardner and Michigan might be the team to beat in his recruitment.

• Michigan has offered 2012 California WR Derrick Woods. DW is 5'11 180 pounds.

   

• Michigan Basketball team takes on Indiana at 4:00.  Please go to the game and support this team. 

• Do you think it took Michigan a long time to fill their assistant coaching spots? Well we could be Indiana who has lost 4 assistant coaches who had only been the job a couple weeks under the new staff,  UCLA which seems to be a complete mess with  Neuheisel just hiring two position coaches yesterday and they are still without DC,  Maryland is trying to hire Randy Shannon as their DC.

Tuesday Night Lights: Finds a QB

We all know how Texas loves it's high school football.  Today Michigan got a 6'3 185 pound QB from Arlington, Texas in Russell Bellomy.  Russell is a 3 star prospect (to Scouts) with offers from Purdue, Boise State, Michigan State, Colorado, Minnesota, South Florida and others. 

Russell was on a mid-week visit to Ann Arbor and it seems the Wolverines made a big impression on the young man and he committed to the 2011 class.  With only two scholarship QB's on the roster, Michigan needed a QB in this class and they picked Russell.   He has been committed to Purdue for sometime, so I'm sure Danny Hope "love" for Michigan will continue to grow. 

I had never heard of Russell before this week but I am impressed how athletic he is.  Check out the tape for yourself.  He throws very well on the run outside the pocket.





Stayed tuned I believe I will have information on another commit in an hour or so.