2014 Michigan Football Recruiting Rumors

Michigan football's 2014 recruiting class is off to a great start, listed as one of the nation's tops classes by all of the major recruiting service. Even better, in the last few days, they have received verbal commitments from the best WR, George Campbell, and 3rd best RB, Damien Harris in the 2015 class.

Given the added focus on the juniors (2015 class) in the past weekend, we inquired with those close to the program on what is happening with the last few remaining spots on the 2014 Michigan football recruiting class.

Here's the latest from Ann Arbor:

* Michigan hosted CB Marshon Lattimore over this past weekend at the BBQ at the Big House, and made quiet an impression. Lattimore, the #1 player in Ohio, is from Ohio State feeder school Cleveland Glenville and has long been considered an OSU lock. From the sources we have talked to, Michigan is now even with Ohio State, if not ahead, for Lattimore's services. The idea of playing with another superstar CB in Jabrill Peppers is incredibly appealing to Marshon and Michigan coaches focused their conversations deeply on how Michigan DC Greg Mattison was the driving force behind the defensive success that Urban Meyer saw at Florida, and pointed out the massive defensive struggles the school has faced under Luke Fickell's direction the past two seasons. Likelihood of commitment: 51%

* Malik McDowell is the #1 player in Michigan and is regarded as the #23 player in America by Rivals - a sure fire 5 star during the next recruiting rankings. Call this one wrapped up. McDowell will be a Wolverine and that could happen as early as this week. Malik has been very shy during the entire recruiting process, and their are those close to him telling him to get the decision out of the way prior to his senior season, given the fact that he has made up his mind that he will end up at Michigan no matter what. Likelihood of commitment: 99%

* Although he didn't visit as expected this past weekend, the nation's #1 overall player is very, very likely to commit to Michigan in the next 7 weeks. Da'Shawn Hand, the 6'4" beast DL from Virginia has trimmed his final 3 schools to Michigan, Alabama and Florida. Rumors have been heating up the he is set to drop for Michigan ever since he dropped boyhood favorite Virginia Tech last month. Hand is set to visit Michigan on Sept 13-15 for the Notre Dame game. Look for him to commit to Michigan within days of that trip, if not during the trip. Likelihood of commitment: 70%

* Now to the bad news: We no longer consider the following players to be viable options  for Michigan's 2014 recruiting class: 4 star linebacker Dwight Williams,

5 star cornerback Adoree' Jackson (2014 five-star) or 5 star running back Leonard Fournette. These three players, although interested in Michigan, will not be attending school in Ann Arbor due to love of a local school.

Additionally, Michigan has cooled big time on IL CB 4 star Parrker Westphal and is not aggressively pursuing the prospect who many previously considered to be a Michigan lock. Westphal had an abundance of time to commit, and given his expressed interest in attending Michigan to coaches over the past 18 months. Since he has chosen to not commit, Michigan has focused its efforts on 2015 CB's and higher rated 2014 candidates.

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