Commits #7 and #8

The bizarre theme of commits coming in pairs and from the same position continues as the Wolverines pick up 2 more linebackers over the weekend.  The two are the same two I mentioned in my commit post of the first pair of linebackers Michigan got.  I guess that answers my question of whether they will take both of them or not.

Joe Bolden (6'2" 225) from Cincinnati Colerain HS committed to Michigan on Friday over offers from the likes of Arizona, Boston College, Cincinnati, Iowa, North Carolina, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee, and West Virginia among others.  Rivals profile.  Film from two Junior year games.  Scout lists Bolden as their #27 OLB and a four star prospect.  Rivals has not released their rankings still (May 9 and 10 they will release their top 100 and 250 respectively) but he will likely be a high 3 star to them.  Bolden has a pretty decent offer sheet and I welcome him to a linebacker corps that I fully expect to be the strength of Michigan defenses over the next several years.

James Ross followed Bolden by committing to the Maize and Blue on Saturday but did not make the announcement until this morning.  Ross, or "Biggs" as he is known, is from Orchard Lakes St. Mary's and is listed at 6'0" and 209.  He chose Michigan over offers from Cincinnati, Michigan State, Mizzou, Nebraska, ND, OSU, PSU, Pitt, and USC.  That is a very impressive offer sheet and it should be noted that this is Michigan's first commit for this class that also held an OSU offer.  Scout ranks him as the #2 MLB in the country and Rivals is expected to give him four stars as well.  Rivals profile.  Junior film.  Ross is slightly undersized at only six foot but he shows good instincts and seems to really enjoy delivering the blow to the ball carrier.

This surely ends the LB recruitment for the class of 2012.  If a Deaysean Rippy calls up Coach Hoke or Mattison and says I want to be a Wolverine, do they make room for him?  It's usually agreed that a high caliber recruit like that you make room for, but I just don't know if they can afford it.  This is an outstanding LB recruiting class with the four already in the fold.  I think you shut it down and focus elsewhere.  I'm thinking that the remaining spots will be for a QB, a RB, possibly two WR, another couple of OL, at least two DE, at least two DT, a CB, and a S.  That would make a class of 20 with the guys already committed.  As we have seen there has been some attrition already and there will most likely be some more so a class of more than 20 is possible if not probable.  In that case I think the staff has set themselves up to be rather picky with who they are willing to accept from that point.