The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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32 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2019 BY BRANDON BROWN B efore and after the Michigan football program spent a week in South Africa from May 3-10, the coaches were logging miles all over the country during the evaluation pe- riod of the recruiting calendar. All 10 assistants hit the road to check in on commits and targets from the 2019 class through the 2022 group. These drop-in visits aren't meant to be long, drawn-out meetings, but they do give the assistants a chance to see kids in person, sometimes for the first time. The coaches are able to learn more about a prospect, his coaches and his high school program. Depending on which state the coaches are visiting, they may even get to see players in full-padded spring practices. Other possible view- ings include weight room workouts and other sporting events the pros- pect may participate in, like track meets or lacrosse games. Whatever the situation, the visits provide value as an in-person grad- ing tool, which is why the staff tries to squeeze in as many stops as possible over the 47-day evaluation period that runs from April 15 to May 31, exclud- ing Sundays and Memorial Day. The coaches see so many recruits that it's nearly impossible to track all of them, but here are some notewor- thy stops by each coach involving a targets in the 2020 class. Defensive coordinator Don Brown always swings through New England during recruiting trips, but it was a stop at Episcopal High School in Al- exandria, Va., to see three-star corner- back Elijah Gaines that should garner the most attention. The Wolverines have a commitment in place from Bel- leville (Mich.) High four-star corner- back Andre Seldon, so adding some- one like Gaines at 6-2, 190 pounds would be a very nice compliment to the 5-9, 154-pound Seldon. Gaines is listed as the No. 50 corner- back in the country by Rivals.com, but he also has offers from schools like Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. Notre Dame certainly wants him, and so do the Hokies. Michigan is in that mix, making Brown's visit noteworthy. As a New Jersey lifer, new lineback- ers coach Anthony Campanile likely enjoyed his weeklong stay in Florida during the evaluation period, even though it was a busy time filled with stops. One of those visits was to see Fort Pierce (Fla.) St. Lucie West Centennial three-star outside linebacker Jamari Stewart. The 6-3, 206-pounder has reeled in more than 20 offers, includ- ing one from Michigan in January. The U-M coaches will offer a kid sight unseen, and it's always good to check on those players during the evaluation period. He hasn't been on the job for very long, but wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has made a quick, and positive, impres- sion with the new offense he's im- plemented. That change in scheme has the attention of Oak Park (Mich.) High four-star wide receiver Maliq Carr, which is exactly why Gattis stopped by to see him. Carr, a 6-5, 215-pound monster of a receiver, has Michigan in his top five along with LSU, Notre Dame, Pur- due and Texas A&M, and Gattis is the main reason why. "Coach Gattis is a game changer in the program," Carr said. "It's that simple." Rivals.com's No. 49 wide receiver in the country may be viewed as a slight Michigan lean at this point, and con- tinued attention from Gattis should help keep the Wolverines at or near the top of Carr's list until he decides Oct. 11. One of running backs coach Jay Harbaugh's stops was to evaluate and potentially offer a prospect. That's exactly how it played out when the young assistant stopped by Destre- han (La.) High School to see three-star running back Kyle Edwards. The 6-0, 210-pounder had been considered a potential Notre Dame lean for a long time, but after the Irish landed Chester (Va.) St. Thomas Dale four-star all-purpose back Chris Tyree, he may not be much of a prior- ity anymore. That might mean Michigan could get a harder look from Edwards. However, as of late May, he had not scheduled a trip to Ann Arbor and wasn't saying much about which schools he favors. Rivals.com's No. 24 running back in the country claims offers from Alabama, Louisville and Mississippi State, among others. Quarterbacks coach Ben McDaniels might have the easiest job when it comes to visiting prospects. He has MICHIGAN RECRUITING U-M Coaches Hit The Road During the evaluation period, U-M defensive coordinator Don Brown visited Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., to observe three-star Elijah Gaines, the nation's No. 50 cornerback per Rivals.com. PHOTO BY WILL GARLICK/COURTESY RIVALS.COM Oak Park (Mich.) High four-star wide receiver Maliq Carr received a visit from new offen- sive coordinator and wide receiver coach Josh Gattis. The 6-5, 215-pounder is rated as the No. 49 pass catcher in the country by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM