11/5/2014 football Edit

Around the Midwest: Webers travel plans

Josh Helmholdt

National Recruiting Director

Rivals250 MichiganClick Looking aheadHere to view this Link. running back commit Mike WeberClick Looking aheadHere to view this Link. of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech has said consistently over the last month that he will take all five of his official visits, and we now have a strong feel about where those additional official visits will go.

Michigan State and Ohio State have long been favorites to be on that list, and the official visit to East Lansing could come as soon as this weekend, when the Spartans host the Buckeyes. Weber is likely to be in attendance for that game, but whether it will be an official or unofficial visit is yet to be determined.

The other two schools that Weber says have been in the closest communication recently are Mississippi State and Wisconsin. The Bulldogs' status as the nation's No. 1 ranked team has given Dan Mullen's staff noticeably more swagger on the recruiting trail, and they have been especially active in the Midwest. Weber said an official visit there is likely, and that Wisconsin's use of the running back has his attention as well.

Another Michigan class of 2015 commitment that is taking official visits is Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central four-star linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.Click Weber's commitment to Michigan is on very thin ice right now with head coach Brady Hoke's status in Ann Arbor in flux. Early enrollment has been discussed by Weber in the past, but with his team still going through the Michigan state playoffs and five official visits expected to be taken, this is a recruitment that could go into January.Here to view this Link.. The Rivals250 prospect wrapped up an official visit to Ole MissClick Weber's commitment to Michigan is on very thin ice right now with head coach Brady Hoke's status in Ann Arbor in flux. Early enrollment has been discussed by Weber in the past, but with his team still going through the Michigan state playoffs and five official visits expected to be taken, this is a recruitment that could go into January.Here to view this Link. on Monday, and is scheduled to officially visit OklahomaClick Weber's commitment to Michigan is on very thin ice right now with head coach Brady Hoke's status in Ann Arbor in flux. Early enrollment has been discussed by Weber in the past, but with his team still going through the Michigan state playoffs and five official visits expected to be taken, this is a recruitment that could go into January.Here to view this Link. this upcoming weekend.

After Wednesday, the top two ranked prospects in the state of Minnesota's 2016 class will be off the board. Four-star quarterback Seth GreenClick Other teams Kirkland has mentioned as possible official visit destinations include Texas, Oregon and USC. Michigan's chances of hanging onto the class of 2015's No. 7 ranked inside linebacker appears to hinge on whether or not Hoke keeps his job. He has a close relationship with that staff and said after a recent visit "it's always a great vibe with them."Here to view this Link. announced his commitment to Oregon last month, and his teammate, three-star defensive tackle JoJo GarciaClick Other teams Kirkland has mentioned as possible official visit destinations include Texas, Oregon and USC. Michigan's chances of hanging onto the class of 2015's No. 7 ranked inside linebacker appears to hinge on whether or not Hoke keeps his job. He has a close relationship with that staff and said after a recent visit "it's always a great vibe with them."Here to view this Link., will announce his selection between MinnesotaClick Other teams Kirkland has mentioned as possible official visit destinations include Texas, Oregon and USC. Michigan's chances of hanging onto the class of 2015's No. 7 ranked inside linebacker appears to hinge on whether or not Hoke keeps his job. He has a close relationship with that staff and said after a recent visit "it's always a great vibe with them."Here to view this Link. and Michigan State at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday evening. The expectation is that Garcia stays close to home and pledges to the Gophers -- an important early addition for head coach Jerry KillClick Other teams Kirkland has mentioned as possible official visit destinations include Texas, Oregon and USC. Michigan's chances of hanging onto the class of 2015's No. 7 ranked inside linebacker appears to hinge on whether or not Hoke keeps his job. He has a close relationship with that staff and said after a recent visit "it's always a great vibe with them."Here to view this Link. and his staff.

When I think of the most dominant high school performances I have covered going back almost 16 years, the first two that always come to mind are Adolphus WashingtonClick Top of mindHere to view this Link., now playing defensive tackle at Ohio State, and Laquon TreadwellClick Top of mindHere to view this Link., the college football freshman of the year in 2013. Those two looked the most out of place on a high school field -- how you would expect a college starter to look like if he came down and played high school ball. And, honestly, both could have started for numerous college teams as seniors in high school.

I would not put the performance four-star cornerback Shaun Crawford had this past weekend for Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward quite at that level, but he leads off the very next tier. A Notre Dame commit, Crawford had seven receptions for 127 yards, returned a kickoff 99 yards and intercepted a pass. The stats do not even do his play justice. He just made it look so easy -- at times toying with a very talented Cleveland St. Ignatius team. On one of his two touchdown receptions, Crawford caught a quick screen in the flat and proceeded to juke two would-be tacklers out of their shorts in a very small window along the sideline. His touchdown on the kickoff saw Crawford have to leap to keep the ball going into the end zone for a touchback because he was itching to get a return.

Speaking of versatile athletes at St. Edward, a question is being debated now about where Kentucky will play 6-foot, 200-pound Andrew DowellClick I have covered Crawford live in each of the past three seasons, and he is always one of the most enjoyable players to watch. Just 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, Crawford hits like a linebacker, has the speed of a track sprinter and his ball skills are nearly unmatched in the Midwest's 2015 class. He could go to Notre Dame and legitimately be an early contributor at cornerback, slot receiver and as a returner -- he is that dynamic.Here to view this Link. when he arrives in Lexington next fall. Currently ranked as the No. 29 running back prospect in the class of 2015, Dowell has made his biggest impact for St. Edward at safety during his senior season.

On Saturday night, Dowell proved to be a big hitter from that safety position and he also came down with an interception. But when he lined up in the backfield, he demonstrated the skills that made him a four-star running back in the first place. Dowell nearly won the offensive skill MVP at the Rivals Camp Series Pittsburgh during his sophomore year, and I watched him carry 17 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns in one half of play last fall.

The tide is starting to trend toward Dowell playing safety for Kentucky, but I believe he at least needs a shot at running back. If five-star Damien Harris pledges to the Wildcats he may not get that shot, but Dowell still has the skills to be a dynamic inside running threat at the college level. As a safety, he is definitely an asset in run support and he is solid in coverage, though maybe not as rangy as you would like from the position. Either way, he provides a nice dilemma for head coach Mark Stoops and his staff.

Four-star Michigan safety commit Tyree KinnelClick Official visits had previously been scheduled with Arizona (Dec. 4) and Missouri (Dec. 12), but after adding a Michigan State offer on Oct. 25, he now plans to head to East Lansing the weekend of Nov. 22, which has previously been the date he was going to officially visit Oregon. Whether an official visit to Oregon is rescheduled remains to be seen, but a decision will come out of those five schools and could happen before the new year.Here to view this Link. had planned to make an unofficial visit to West VirginiaClick Official visits had previously been scheduled with Arizona (Dec. 4) and Missouri (Dec. 12), but after adding a Michigan State offer on Oct. 25, he now plans to head to East Lansing the weekend of Nov. 22, which has previously been the date he was going to officially visit Oregon. Whether an official visit to Oregon is rescheduled remains to be seen, but a decision will come out of those five schools and could happen before the new year.Here to view this Link. this past weekend for the Mountaineers' big showdown with TCUClick Official visits had previously been scheduled with Arizona (Dec. 4) and Missouri (Dec. 12), but after adding a Michigan State offer on Oct. 25, he now plans to head to East Lansing the weekend of Nov. 22, which has previously been the date he was going to officially visit Oregon. Whether an official visit to Oregon is rescheduled remains to be seen, but a decision will come out of those five schools and could happen before the new year.Here to view this Link., but Kinnel cancelled the visit Saturday morning. He does not have any further visits planned, but says Notre DameClick Official visits had previously been scheduled with Arizona (Dec. 4) and Missouri (Dec. 12), but after adding a Michigan State offer on Oct. 25, he now plans to head to East Lansing the weekend of Nov. 22, which has previously been the date he was going to officially visit Oregon. Whether an official visit to Oregon is rescheduled remains to be seen, but a decision will come out of those five schools and could happen before the new year.Here to view this Link., Michigan State, KentuckyClick Official visits had previously been scheduled with Arizona (Dec. 4) and Missouri (Dec. 12), but after adding a Michigan State offer on Oct. 25, he now plans to head to East Lansing the weekend of Nov. 22, which has previously been the date he was going to officially visit Oregon. Whether an official visit to Oregon is rescheduled remains to be seen, but a decision will come out of those five schools and could happen before the new year.Here to view this Link. and West Virginia are pushing the hardest for him to make a visit to their campuses.

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