TomVH: Weekly Update: Prince Holloway, Anthony Zettel, Dallas Crawford, 2012

Submitted by TomVH on

Prince HollowayPrince Holloway

5'9", 155 lbs.

Athlete

Cape Coral, Florida


Prince is an athlete fit for Rich Rodriguez' system, and could fill a spot as a slot in the offense very nicely. Holloway is from Florida, but says he has no problem with distance. As for what schools stand out to him right now, he had this to say:

There's still some other schools I'm looking at, but West Virginia and Michigan are the top two schools right now. I'll most likely take an official visit to Michigan, I'm just not sure when.

I don't think he'll have a good grasp for where he wants to go until he takes his visits. I think West Virginia might have a slight edge right now, but like I said the visits will change a lot of what he's thinking. He would be a nice addition to the offense and return game. [Ed: If Michigan has room. Slot is not a big priority in this class.]

Anthony Zettel

6'4", 247 lbs.

Defensive End

West Branch, Michigan


As everyone knows Anthony is one of Michigan's top priorities for this class. At first it seemed as if it would be a quick and painless courtship, and now it's likely to drag out to the end of the season. Zettel just came back from a visit to Penn State, and had a great time. As far as how his season will pan out, he said this:

I probably won't take officials to Michigan or MSU, because I've been there so many times already. I will most likely take official visits to Penn State and Iowa, though. I'll be at a couple Michigan games during the season, just not officials.

I understand his logic behind not taking official visits to either in state school, but I think it gives Penn State and Iowa a slight advantage, at least relative to where they were before. On an official visit the recruits get to spend the night and hang out with the players, go out at night, and really experience what it's like to be up there. He may have already done that at Michigan, but coming to a game doesn't give that same experience. I am still on the optimistic side though, and I think Michigan is still in prime position. He won't be making his decision any time soon:

My parents and I think it's best to wait until after the season to make a decision.

If Michigan wins, we're golden. If not, it will be a dogfight, or a lot of questions will need to be answered.

Dallas Crawford

5'10", 185 lbs.

Cornerback

Fort Meyers, Florida


Crawford was up at Michigan for the spring game with wide receiver Sammy Watkins, his teammate. It was their first time up to Michigan, and it left a lasting impression for a few reasons:

When we went up for the spring game, it exceeded my expectations. I've heard about the great tradition at Michigan, but being up there and seeing it is a great thing. The campus, everything is great. I had the best hamburger I've ever had at the Brown Jug.

Good food on campus is a plus for Dallas. With the season approaching, it's almost time to start thinking about who's going to make the cut, and what schools are left.

My list right now is LSU, Michigan, Wake Forest, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Miami. I think I'll take all of my official visits. One of those schools I'll have to drop, so I'll drop it down first. I think Michigan has a very, very, very realistic chance with me.

The weather has been mentioned with Dallas, as it sometimes is with Florida kids, and possibly going to the same school as his teammate Sammy.

Weather doesn't really matter to me. It was 30 degrees at the spring game at Michigan, and that would probably be around the coldest game I would play in. Eventually you'd have to play someone up north, so that's no big deal. With Sammy, if it happens it happens. I don't know if it will, we gotta do what's best for us.

It should be noted that Dallas holds a 3.52 GPA, and said he's qualified with the clearinghouse. I haven't confirmed this, but there are rumors that Watkins may have grade issues that could prevent him from choosing certain schools.

Coach Frey has made a great impression on Dallas, and has developed a nice relationship as well. Crawford's high school coach is a Michigan fan, and believes that the Michigan coaches would treat him well, too. He appears to be a reason that the coaches have put LA CB Daren Kitchen on the back burner for now—Michigan is in great position with Crawford.

Dallas is probably going to wait to make his decision, but said it will also most likely be before signing day.

2012 Notes:

  • Tommy Schutt - Tommy is a big defensive tackle (6'3", 300 lbs.) from Glenbard West in Illinois. If you feel like that school sounds familiar it's because that's the same school of 2011 OL recruit Jordan Walsh. Not only are they teammates, but they're good friends, too. Michigan will be one of the top schools that Tommy looks at, and his coach had some good news for the future:

    My coach told me that Michigan will be offering me on September first. I know Jordan is very interested in Michigan, and if he went there it would have an effect on my decision.

    September 1st is the first day that 2012 recruits can get written offers. A name to keep an eye on for sure, as he already has verbal offers from Illinois and Iowa.

  • Vin Ascolese - Vin is an outside linebacker (6'2", 196 lbs.) from New Jersey. Ascolese was an attendee at the spring game this year, and has also taken visits to Penn State, Boston College, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma. Everything is still fresh in his mind, and he said the spring game was very energetic. The Michigan coaches say they like his size and athleticism, and are going to keep in contact with him. You can take a look at his sophomore highlights here.

Extra:

  • As I mentioned the other day, DE/LB Austin Traylor out of Ohio narrowed his list down this weekend. The list consists of (in no order) Michigan, Minnesota, MSU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Arizona, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Kentucky. A pretty broad narrowed down list, if you ask me. We'll see if Michigan decides to show him enough interest, they may wait to see how some other prospects pan out first. 
  • Don't expect OL Chris Bryant to make his decision in the near future. He loves Michigan, but told me he will be waiting to make his decision at least a few games into the season. He wants to see how everyone's season starts off before deciding. 

Comments

Michigan4Life

August 9th, 2010 at 2:15 AM ^

is underrated and I hear that he's a stud.  If Michigan can get him, they have a real shot of landing Watkins who is more of a deep threat than Arnett.  Arnett is a great WR but not what Michigan offense need.  Watkins have the speed to stretch defense vertically which is needed because we currently don't have the WR to do it.  Stokes and Stonum have the ability but have yet to show it on the field.

CO Blue

August 9th, 2010 at 3:20 AM ^

"I had the best hamburger I've ever had at the Brown Jug." A man after my own heart. Sadly he went to the Jug instead of Casey's Tavern. If he had one of Casey's steak burgers he would have committed on the spot (or shortly after waking from his food coma)! Check it out when in town my fellow burger lovers, across from the train station. 

MGoObes

August 9th, 2010 at 4:27 AM ^

i sincerely doubt zettel will wait until the end of the season if he wants to commit to michigan. they'll run out of spots if he tries to pull that

Bodogblog

August 9th, 2010 at 6:46 AM ^

He's an elite MI recruit, and I think RR and staff do want to bottle up the best kids in the state, despite what some think.  Put a fence around and all that

Parents want to wait to make sure the staff will still be in place.  In that sense, can't blame them looking out for their boy.  He'll come on when we're bowl eligible or otherwise evincing clear evidence of weekly opponent beatdowns

Magnus

August 9th, 2010 at 8:30 AM ^

They might run out of OL spots, but perhaps not DE spots.  I don't think Michigan's entire recruiting class will be filled up by the end of the season.

Regardless, I also think Zettel will commit sooner than that.

MH20

August 9th, 2010 at 8:45 AM ^

The more I see and read about Zettel, the more excited I am to see him on the D-line.

Being that you are a defensive coach, Magnus, and from what you have seen and read, I assume you'd like to see him on your side of the ball as well?

Magnus

August 9th, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^

He'll be good wherever he is.  His offensive film suggests a smaller Taylor Lewan, somebody who will be nasty and play through the whistle.  I really like him as a guard prospect.  I like him on defense and I think he'd be the best DE we have a realistic shot at getting, but I think his best position would be guard.

Magnus

August 9th, 2010 at 8:28 AM ^

The first date Tommy Schutt should be able to receive a written offer would be August 1, 2011.  The NCAA recently changed the rules about when official, written offers can be sent.  Perhaps Schutt's coach doesn't know of the rule change yet.

jerseyblue

August 9th, 2010 at 9:01 AM ^

I'm just asking here. Am I correct in that we only have 9 more spots left? With all of the underclassmen at the slot already can we afford to take another this year?

Hannibal.

August 9th, 2010 at 9:04 AM ^

Are we really going hard after Holloway?  He is an unranked prospect on rivals with an offer list to match, this is a smaller class, and the roster is already ridiculously overloaded with slot receivers and candidates who can play the position.

Magnus

August 9th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^

It seems to me that he's on the backburner.  Regardless, our slot receiver depth isn't what it may seem.  Roundtree and Odoms are both probably going to play some outside, and both Odoms and Grady will be seniors by the time Holloway would get to campus.  That leaves Gallon and Robinson as the two "traditional" slot guys with Dileo and Williamson figuring in somewhere, although Dileo's more of a return guy and Williamson could play outside, too.

I think there's room for one slot guy in this class.  I'm not sure that it should be Holloway, though.

umhero

August 9th, 2010 at 9:04 AM ^

The front page of Scout's Michigan site says "Hughes visiting U-M".

The only Hughes that we are listed as a school of interest is Travis Hughes, the number 5 MLB in the country.

Tom,

Do you know anything about our position with Travis Hughes?

I'll hang up and listen.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

August 9th, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^

I really hate when recruits start talking about themselves in terms normally used by recruitgurus handicapping things from the outside.  It's right up there with calling them "studs."

3rdGenerationBlue

August 9th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^

Based on Zettel and others comments it is clear that Michigan's 2010 record will directly impact their recruiting class. Hopefully all these kids need to see is a winning record and evidence that this team is going to be very good by the time they come to campus and compete for playing time. It would be fantastic to hear some of their names announced when Michigan plays Alabama in 2012. One thing every recruit needs to remember is that while other schools may have better records in 2010 than Michigan very few offer the combination of facilities, academics, winning traditon and opportunity for early playing time for those that prove their ability. Come to Ann Arbor and be a member of Michigan's next National Championship team.

funkywolve

August 9th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^

I'm not sure how much this will be available starting Fall of '11.  Depending on what shakes out this fall, the offense will return almost the entire starting unit minus Schilling for the 2011 season.

Defense is a little different.  However, most of the secondary will be back for 2011 as well as the dline.  LB's is the one area that might be open but that's really depending on how Ezeh and Mouton do.  Either way UM is going to have a lot of starters back on both sides of the ball for the Fall of '11.

If the 2010 team can get to around 8-4 it will be because of a lot of players had solid years.  Not to say a freshmen couldn't come in and start but it's rare that a freshmen beats out a returning starter.

toomer18

August 9th, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^

Great work Tom.  Dallas Crawford is one scary lookin dude.  I think Zettel is a huge recruit, and the more time he takes the more worried I get.  He seems to be a good fit for both PSU and Iowa.

Dr.Jay

August 9th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^

Thanks for the update Tom, the Zettel situation is getting me nervous. I'm hoping we get off to a good start and he commits, losing him would be huge

bluenyc

August 9th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^

It worries me because if he thought 45 was 30, what is he going to think when it gets below the freezing mark.  I do like his attitude that he will have to play in cold weather sometime. 

Laveranues

August 9th, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^

Sounds like Rich Rod should use the 'Campus Lifestyle' and 'Program Tradition' pitches when talking to Crawford on the phone, and perhaps a campus tour and a look at the trophy room when on his official.

Garvie Craw

August 9th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^

I'm extremely nervous about Zettel. The longer it goes, the less confident I feel. I hope he isn't waiting to see a winning season because I still think the team is a year away. I'm also not satisfied that Brandon is as supportive of coach Rodriguez as he has been publicly. I don't know that Rich keeps his job if the team wins 5-6 games, and then recruiting would become chaotic.  

phil.hersey

August 9th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^

I played rugby in Reno NV last year. We start in Sept. and season is Jan-Mar. California schools hate visiting us not because of cold but because of altitude (4500ft). I have been unable to train last two months in South Carolina (2nd home) because of 110-120F heat index. I was scared to play rugby in the cold but found it was quite nice compared to trying to play in summer heat. Cold weather makes football MORE COMFORTABLE, it is NOT a disadvantage!!! Southern players must HATE playing in this heat!!!

J. Lichty

August 9th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^

I dont like playing rugby in the cold.  I have played in snow and wet when it is cold and you cant feel hands, cant hold the ball, which for a scrumhalf is particularly difficult.

Its all preference.  I like playing in the heat because my muscles stay looser.  I'll tolerate it to the upper forties if dry, but below that it sucks.

Football they can dress a little more for the weather and most receivers wear gloves, and even QB's wear gloves, but it is not common in rugby.

I agree that altitude is the toughest adjustment though.

MGoShoe

August 9th, 2010 at 2:54 PM ^

...updates the Anthony Posada situation:

TomVH OL Tony Posada announces on Wednesday. I've been told by two sources that it should be Michigan, but I just have a weird feeling about it.