Solomon has decided, has not announced
Chad Simmons talks to GA DT Aubrey Solomon:
"I feel like I have found out where I am going," Solomon said. "It came to me on Wednesday. I just prayed about it the night before and when I woke up, the answer came to me."
Football and graduation rate are the two things Solomon cited in his decision, and things are holding steady with the expectation it will be Michigan. The Georgia 24/7 guys still think it is Michigan:
Just talking to a few sources in the last 48 hours, I continue to feel like Aubrey Solomon is going to Michigan. Just too much smoke there. Alabama I feel like is 2nd from talking to most down South.
Brandon Brown reports that a source "very close" with the Leesville program says he is "all blue"; Lorenz says confidence remains high on Michigan's end.
Martin visiting this weekend
Michigan's renewed fervor in its pursuit of IA WR Oliver Martin appears to be paying off:
Source: #Michigan getting an official visit from 4-star WR Oliver Martin this weekend. Huge.
— Brandon Justice (@LandOfJustice) January 26, 2017
That report was confirmed by Allen Trieu and a local reporter, who noted that last week's supposed official to OSU basically never existed:
This Oliver Martin visit, unlike to OSU, seems like it's really happening. Michigan source: They're already working on "flights, hotel, etc"
— Matthew Bain (@MatthewBain_) January 26, 2017
Martin returning to Michigan, a school he's already been to, instead of heading to one of his other suitors, speaks volumes about his recruitment. We've flipped our crystal ball back to Michigan in response.
Gay still somewhat up in the air
Sam caught up with MS LB Willie Gay's mother and talked about it on WTKA this morning. A reader paraphrases:
Long story short, it sounds like Willie Gay's favorite school is LSU at the moment. However, to say Mom would be disappointed in that choice is a bit of an understatement. The way Sam puts it makes it sound like basically LSU is not an option in HER opinion. Willie could still choose LSU obviously, but if her opinion has even a small bearing on his decision, then LSU better do something to sway her opinion.
Sam doesn't think Michigan is the favorite here; the most realistic scenario that sees Gay end up in AA is mom nixing LSU and Gay liking Michigan more than Mississippi State.
Sam has a couple of pieces on Scout with more detail:
My feel for this is Mississippi State is Mom's first choice followed by Michigan. I think Willie is leaning to LSU and that she is really against it. I don't know who Willie likes more between Mississippi State and Michigan.
There's a window that Michigan can hit here but it looks like a small one. Lorenz reports that Gay will be a "tough pull" at this point.
Weird guy watch
MA S Ifeatu Melifonwu did make it to campus per Sam, and the odds that he'll get his offer are "really good"; a flip is naturally anticipated.
Other than that, all the various weird names have faded. Michigan look set to swing on their top targets and move on with a 27-29 man class unless they roll a critical hit. Lorenz did mention that Michigan is poking around OH P Brad Robbins, a Nevada commit. Robbins is "strongly considering" a visit the weekend after Signing Day; at that point Michigan will know if they have a scholarship spot or not. Survey says: very probably.
Guys like Dennis Norfleet do come out of the woodwork late. If there's a gentleman like that lurking about he's probably a low-to-mid three star instate kid like MI S Allen Stritzinger, who is also committed to Syracuse.
I may have to redefine Kaiju
2018 FL by way of Australia OL Daniel Faalele is turning heads at IMG because he is an absurd person.
He stands 6-foot-9, weighs 394 pounds and possesses a rare combination of power and speed. He is of Tongan and Samoan ethnicity and was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. He's 17 years old and wears size 18 shoes.
You may remember Michigan heading out to Australia last year for a satellite camp at which Faalele was the main attraction; Michigan offered a few months ago. That followed a half-dozen teams who did so despite the fact that Faalele has never taken a snap in anger. He's scheduled to do so this fall for IMG, and you should prepare yourself for a torrent of hype:
Wright recalls one memorable play when Faalele was responsible for trapping 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive end Josh Kaindoh, a five-star recruit bound for Florida State, at the line of scrimmage. Faalele delivered a hit that sent Kaindoh airborne, and although Faalele sheepishly denied trying to do it intentionally, Wright isn't so sure.
"I stopped and thought, 'Did that really happen?' " Wright said. "Then I got in the huddle and said, 'Daniel, did you aim to do that, or did you just run into him?' Daniel said, 'Coach, what was I supposed to do?' I said, 'You were supposed to hit him.' He goes, 'That's what I did!' "
Michigan's obviously got an in here. Fingers crossed, because I need to see this kid next to Xavier Simpson.
Etc.
GA WR Nico Collins will take an official to Georgia this weekend; things continue to trend away in that recruitment. If Michigan does lock down Martin it's a wash.
Both GA RB Kurt Taylor and NM RB O'Maury Samuels reaffirmed commitments to Michigan. Taylor had said he would visit MSU; Samuels was still considering Arizona. With those two shutting their recruitments down, all of Michigan's commits are solid heading into the final visit weekend.
This isn't a surprise at this point but Sam says Michigan's pursuit of UT DT Jay Tufele is likely fruitless, with USC surging late and Utah though to be in front of the two Big Ten schools.
Michigan picked up MI LB/FB Tyler Plocki as a PWO. Michigan is bringing in a pile of guys this weekend as they continue to focus on their walk-on program. May the Kovacs be with them.
If you'd like to dwell, CA RB Najee Harris explains how close he was to flipping to Michigan.
Michigan offers 2018 OH LB Dallas Gant, cousin of former Wolverine Allen. They'll get a visit, etc.
Matt Wenzel profiles MI WR enrollee Donovan Peoples-Jones.
