Michigan Friday: Welcomes a New X Man to Ann Arbor

Many recruiting insiders predicted a nice commitment run for the Wolverines and that prediction seems to have been spot on with 2 commitments just this week.  Coach Whitt and staff secured another commitment on Thursday when 6'3 275 pounded defensive lineman Xavier Muhammad from Houston committed.  

X is rated as a 4 star to 24/7 composite and 97th player nationally, 7th in Texas, and 9th defensive lineman.  His offer list is deep and wide and includes: ASU, Houston, Miami, TCU, Vandy, Pitt, Iowa, Nebraska, ND, and Stanford.  X clearly takes care of business on the field and in the classroom.  Welcome Big Man! 

The insiders also feel the streak will continue as this staff is creating new relationship in driving kids to Ann Arbor. RB Tyson Robinson and DB Tavares Harrington both have decision says coming up in the next two weeks with Michigan having a strong chance in both of their recruitments.

Enjoy the PGA this weekend!

Michigan Thursday: New WR Commit

The Michigan coaches have work to do to recruit talented WR's to Ann Arbor.  Yes, there is a 5-star QB under center but everyone and their brother knows the Wolverines are a run first team.   The new staff put in work and got  a commitment from one of the best WR's in the country yesterday, from 2027 top 100 player (to On3 & ESPN) 4-star 6'3 200 pound Quentin Burrell.  

Q is from Chicago and picked the Wolverines over the likes of ND and Alabama.  In fact, he put the ND hat (both are navy) on after he announced for Michigan by mistake.  Reports are that Quentin was one of the highest rated players on Michigan's board this cycle and the new staff landed him! 

• Round 1 of the PGA Championship is today! 

• Yax was on the 6:00 Sportscenter last night and did a really nice job. 

• The Duke-Michigan game on Amazon might get pulled as the TV rights are in question between Fox and Amazon. 

• Jimmy Rolder and Derrick Moore have signed their deals with the Detroit Lions.

Wolverine Wednesday: The Slightest Chance Rez Returns

Dusty is at the NBA Combine in Chicago supporting his guys.  Andy Katz found him sitting with Yax and interviewed him on next year's roster. 

The one thing that I took out of the interview was that Dusty is holding the last roster spot for Morez and his decision to either stay in the NBA Draft or head back to Ann Arbor for another year.  I figured he was a lock to stay in the draft but he still seems a bit conflicted.  Reports are he is performing well in Chicago this week.

It also sounds like Cadeau is for sure coming back after getting some feedback from the NBA Draft process.  The plan is to play Trey as the backup point as LJ recovers.  

• Some recruiting insiders feel Michigan Football is about to go on a commitment run for the 2027 class.  Yes, Please! 

• If your a watch person, the internet has been on fire with the new Swatch - AP collaboration, until they released photos as a pocket watch.  People are waiting in lines as early as Monday this week for the Saturday release.  I think the design is a swing and a miss after the success of the Swatch - Omega Moon watch. 

• I also love a good golf major week, honestly I didn't know much about this golf course.  Aronimink Golf Club was opened and designed by Donald Ross prior to 1900 and was redone by the hottest designer in the game right now Gil Hanse.  I'm expecting low scores this week. 

Michigan Tuesday: Time Is on our Side

As regular readers of this blog know, I believe kickoff time is very important for how the Wolverines will play.  I believe the Wolverines play better at Noon, then they do at 3:30 or 7:30.  I don't have any stats to back up that opinion, but I know what I know 😀.   Coach Whitt seems to have similar football sensibilities to Jim Harbaugh, even though Coach has lived in the Mountain time zone most of his career.  

Now TV contracts has thrown a wrench into playing more Noon kicks.  Fox owns the Noon time slot, CBS owns the 3:30 kick, and NBC the night game.  BTN gets the rest of the games.   Which means to play at noon, its has to be big game that Fox wants or a bad game BTN gets. 

The TV Networks have started to grab games next season and of course, Fox has grabbed two big Michigan games.  Oklahoma @ Michigan and Michigan @ OSU, both of course Noon kicks.   To me, playing The Sooners at noon is a big deal! 

Michigan's Big 3 are at the NBA Combine and measured in yesterday.   Per Jonathan Givony from X: 

Michigan's Morez Johnson measured 6'9 barefoot and 251 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'3.5 wingspan and 8'11 standing reach.

Michigan's Aday Mara measured 7'3 barefoot and 260 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'6 wingspan and 9'9 standing reach. Absolutely absurd measurements. Tied with Mark Williams for the second-longest standing reach in Combine history, behind only Tacko Fall.

Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg measured 6'8.75 barefoot and 241 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'3.25 wingspan and 9'0.5 standing reach. No surprises after last year's Combine, but still outstanding dimensions for a player who slid seamlessly from the 3 to the 5 this season.

• John Henry Daley is expected to be 100% by June 1st

• Greg Crippen signs with the Steelers