Michigan Tuesday: Clarifies Medical Redshirts

This is game week and after a week off it's hard to find news worthy stuff out of the Wolverines.  So I will do my best today on getting you the most interesting "stuff" out there.

Funny Quotes from the Michigan Press Conference Yesterday:

-A camera man asked a question to Coach Rod about facing JoPa head to head.  RR responded jokingly: “Joe and I aren’t going against each other, I might be able to take him, if it is just me and him."

-Stephen Schilling on Big Will Campbell playing on the Offensive line:  Sometimes he played the defensive line like an offensive lineman.  He was more interested in finishing blocks then making the tackle.

• The Daily Gopher profiles a "Michigan Man" Brady Hoke for their open head coaching position.  I didn't realize the job he has done at San Diego State.  He is currently 5-2 with a win over Air Force and played Missouri within 3 points and was leading in the 4th quarter. 

• Kelvin Grady was interviewed  for ESPN's GameDay on Monday for his twitter use.

 

• Denard is a semi-finalist for Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.  There are 15 other semi-finalists as well.

• I know many of you have questions on what qualifies for a medical redshirt for Devin Gardner.  #1 he can't play more then 30% of the games in a season, with all participation being in the first half of the season.  His last snaps were in the Bowling Green game.  #2 He also has to have a documented injury.  Currently, he has a documented back injury.   At the end of the year, they have to file paperwork to the NCAA requesting a medical redshirt.  I fully expect Michigan to file for the medical redshirt also commonly known as a medical hardship at the end of the season.

• The other situation is that it seems Ricardo Miller played on special teams for the UMASS game this year.  Let's hope that stat is a mistake.  You lose your redshirt eligibility if you play one play. 

• Yes, Michigan is recruiting a place kicker.  They were looking at guys in California and Maryland last week.

Michigan Tuesday: Dee Hart Decision Coming on Friday

Dee Hart is planning to announce his decision on Friday at 12:00 EST.  All signs right now point to a positive decision for the Maize and Blue.  Dee Hart is rated the #37 player in the nation by Rivals and might even make his announcement on ESPN.  Here are some quotes from the local paper in Florida:

"I've pretty much decided it's between Michigan and Alabama. I'll be coming up on a decision here Friday," Hart said Monday after practice. "I had a great visit to Alabama, talked to the coaches. I was with my boy HaHa (best friend and teammate Ha'sean Clinton Dix) we had fun. It was crazy. Nothing like that atmosphere in the SEC. That was a great football game. Florida had a good game, but Alabama's just the better team."

Hart, ranked No. 3 in the Sentinel's 2011 Central Florida Super60, has great hands out of the backfield, excellent leaping ability to overcome his 5-foot-9 height, and once he gets the ball in open field, anything can happen. His hip movement angers embarrassed defenders as he cuts, stops, starts again -- all, it seems, in milliseconds.

Clinton-Dix, a safety and ranked No. 1 in the Central Florida Super60, is already committed to Alabama and he reaffirmed that on Monday, saying, "Done, I am done. 100 percent done."
DP is 4-0 heading into Friday's game with Orlando Boone. Hart has 70 carries for 569 yards and 12 TDs this season, an average of 142 yards per game and 8.3 yards per carry.

Let's hope this starts off a very good weekend for the Wolverines on Friday!

Michigan Monday: Recruiting Buzz

A common theme with 2011 recruits is; they want to see how Michigan does on the field this year.  Many recruits are concerned that there could be a coaching change at Michigan if they don't play well on the field. 

Saturday went a long way in proving that Michigan is moving in the right direction.  Did they move forward with some key recruits?  That still maybe in question but Saturday sure didn't hurt. 


TomVH from Mgoblog gives us some recruiting updates from visitors this weekend.

• Dee Hart:  This weekend came and went without a verbal commitment from Dee. Many had predicted/expected that he might make it official this weekend.  That didn't happen, which is a minor loss for the Wolverines.  Dee did enjoy his visit and still has Michigan #1 but I'm guessing he still wants to take a couple more official visits before he commits.  He is expected to graduate early and be on campus in January, so he needs to make a decision fairly soon. 

• Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix is Dee's teammate and friend with Ricardo Miller.  He also happens to be the #1 safety prospect in the nation.  He made it to Michigan this weekend but "insiders" still believe he is still solid with Alabama.  Getting him to visit Ann Arbor was huge (wish it was warmer) and Ricardo will continue to be in his ear.  I think Michigan has an outside chance but I still expect him to stay with Bama.

• Anthony Zettel was again on campus and had a good time.  He continues to have Michigan high on his list and will make a decision after his season.   This recruitment makes me nervous and I think the Michigan "negative" recruiting is starting to get to him.  He is one of those guys that is really watching Michigan's season and if Michigan wins he probably will be Blue.

• Avery Walls was again in Ann Arbor for his 3rd visit.  He was another guy on commitment watch but that didn't happen.  For me Avery falls into a similar situation as Dee Hart.  I think he wants to take a couple of visits and has an official to Oregon and CAL set up in October.  I still believe Michigan leads.

• AJ Jordan:  AJ plays in Trotwood, Ohio the same program that gave Michigan current starters Roy Roundtree and Michael Shaw.   AJ was high on the Wolverines early but his recruitment has been quiet since this spring.   Which has given other teams a chance to recruit the 6'2 WR.   I got to believe that Michigan only having one more WR spot in this class will help AJ make a quicker decision but it also could be a negative, since Michigan has a lot of depth at his position. 

Other Michigan news:

• Denard wins the Rivals National Player of The Week Award.   Congrats Shoelace!
• I will have an update after RR's morning press conference on injuries and other team news.