Commit #11 (And One to Grow On!)

 

Commit #11 came in the form of Matt Godin on Thursday morning when he drove to Ann Arbor and informed the coaches himself.  Not long after, Godin appeared on WTKA to make his commitment public.  This was not much of a surprise to most.  Michigan State and Wisconsin were his other finalists.

Godin grew up a Michigan fan and briefly became disillusioned with the program earlier in the calender year when he felt that his offer was not coming fast enough.  This made me feel a little like he might be a little high maintenance and, quite frankly, a bit of a baby.  Perhaps it was a little overblown and maybe I'm being too harsh but whatever.  Water under the bridge.  All was made well when Godin got his U-M offer and things have been pointing in Michigan's favor for him for a while.  Here's his Rivals profile.  And some film for your perusal:

Matt was not included in the initial Rivals rankings (which places him outside their top 300+) and Scout rates him as a 3-star and the #39 DE.  Rivals lists him at DT and that seems to me to be the position where he will end up.  At 6'5" and 253 already, I think he has the frame to add plenty more weight and play the three tech DT position.  I have heard others say they expect him to play the SDE but I just don't see it.  

The one to grow on alluded to in the title (and as I'm sure you already know) is 2013 potential super recruit Shane Morris.  This is a big get to jumpstart the class of 2013 as Morris is the early favorite for #1 in the state in his class and potentially a top 5 national QB.  Shane is a 6'3" 183 pound lefty out of Warren De La Salle that gave his pledge to the Wolverines last week as well.  Michigan State was his other major offer at this point but I have no doubt that his offer list would have (and probably still will) include a lot of heavy hitters from BCS conferences.  Rivals profile.  Some sophomore film:

 

He shows some impressive polish for just a sophomore and does appear to have the arm to make all the throws.  This kid is going to be big time and should bring some big time players with him.  This could not have been a better start to the class of 2013.

With Morris' commitment, there has been some wonderings around the net as to if this means that Michigan will no longer use a scholarship on a QB for the class if 2012.  There has also been some rumblings, mostly on the Rivals board, that Gunner Kiel is now leaning to Michigan.  Okay, one thing at a time here.  First of all, I am in the 'take a QB every year' camp.  You just never know what is going to happen as far as injuries and other things that may come up as well as the fact that Morris can't sign a LOI for another 21 months.  The kid seems pretty solid with his decision even with Hoke and company telling him that they would sign a QB in this class, but you just don't not take a player at a position as critical as QB on the word of a 16 year old kid.  We've all been through the drama of decommitments before and it's just too risky.  Besides, Morris has said that he's fine with them taking a 2012 QB and the guys over at Rivals don't think that even a commitment from Kiel would change his mind.  Now on to Kiel himself.  The kid is the #1 ranked QB to Rivals, he has a very impressive film reel, and an even more impressive offer sheet.  He has been to campus and is coming back, both good signs.  He is a very talented player and someone I would love to have join this already very solid class.  Having said that, I don't think we land him.  I think he ends up at Oklahoma.  It'd be an embarrassment of riches at the QB position though.  Imagine a QB lineup in September 2013 of RS Junior Devin Gardner, RS Sophomore Russell Bellomy, RS Freshman Gunner Kiel, and true Freshman Shane Morris.  Yikes!  Yes please!!

As far as what to expect coming up, I kind of think we may have a slight lull in the commitment deluge we've been experiencing (after tomorrow morning I mean).  It seems like the coaches have cooled on Ron Thompson for some reason and there is still some waiting to be done for Aaron Burbridge with all of the off field work he needs to do.  Those seem like the two closest to joining the party to me.  The mention of tomorrow morning is me pointing to the press conference and likely commitment of a certain highly rated yet diminutive defensive back from southeastern Michigan.  We'll see what happens in the morning.  Until then, Go Blue.

UPDATE:  The press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning has been postponed until Thursday at 11:45(ET).