Dunn and Kalis News.

First the really good news. We’re hearing that Michigan assistant Darrell Funk was in Lakewood today checking in on 5-star big man Kyle Kalis. Despite Urban Meyer’s best efforts to rekindle Kalis’ interest in Ohio State, the big fella has rebuffed those overtures remains solidly committed. As a matter of fact, he will take his official visit to Ann Arbor this weekend. Also worthy of note is the fact that he continues to work his good friend Brionte Dunn extremely hard for the Maize & Blue.

Now for the bad news for Michigan recruitniks. In case you missed it, Scout.com Ohio analyst Bill Greene reported tonight that Dunn will visit Ohio State this weekend. That’s akin to the Bucks connecting with an overhand right. Dunn had mentioned wanting to take his visit to Michigan with Kalis. The news that that won’t happen eliminates one of the Maize & Blue’s best chances to flip him. Then there’s the issue mentioned in a previous blog… Michigan still hasn’t had Dunn’s mom on campus yet. That Urban will have had his crack at her first is another blow on the part of the Bucks. Now before you go panicking, I said the Buckeyes connected with an overhand right… I didn’t say the Wolverines got knocked out.

Michigan still has advantage with both their system and their history. Dunn has already made mention that two Michigan coaches… running backs coach Fred Jackson and offensive coordinator Al Borges… will be in his home Thursday night. Jackson can spout off a resume that includes names like Tyrone Wheatley, Tim Biakabutuka, Anthony Thomas, Chris Perry, and Mike Hart. Borges can mention having coached Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams. Five of those backs were first round picks and all of them rushed for well over 1000 yards in a season during their careers… some in multiple seasons. Contrast that with Urban Meyer we previously stated has NEVER had a 1000 yard rusher… not a quarterback, not a slot, and not a running back. That includes big back Brandon Warfield at Utah (5-10, 211… he rushed 976 yards in 2003… the highest rushing total for any player in Meyer’s coaching career) and Parade All American DeShawn Wynn at Florida (5-11, 230… He rushed 621 yards in 05 with pro-style QB Chris Leak manning the position and 699 yards in 2006 when Leak split time with freshman Tim Tebow).

That quarterback Braxton Miller is going to get his share of carries for his share of yards is a given. The other disadvantage for the Bucks is the hidden rushing yards for the Percy Harvin types. We’re hearing that the Bucks are already in hot pursuit of their Percy Harvin type in this year’s class in Baltimore (MD) Gilman’s five-star ATH, Cyrus Jones.

The downhill rushing style in Ann Arbor that will become more downhill and running back focused after Denard Robinson graduates is Michigan’s other ace in the hole. Only time will tell whether Michigan’s positive system/history attributes are enough to make Dunn’s head overrule his heart.

For now, his heart is winning.

Very good post Pavel. Heart over head is all I hear about this kid in the media. If he is as good as everyone tells him he is then Michigan should trump that. The O-linemen and system we will and are running benefits Dunn more. Our recruiting class coming in looks heavy in OL. Lewan will be  a Junior. The Big Hogs are coming to Michigan as of right now. (kalis work on him lol)

If he was born to be OSU then let him go, but if he wants a better shot and paycheck in the NFL then Michigan I think is better for his running (style) power game. Hoke and Jackson are good recruiters, if theres a shot they will do their due diligence.

My 2 cents.

Hopefully the kid will see his best chance at the NFL is at Michigan.

I am looking forward to the day I stop hearing recruiting news about Dunn... all the speculating has been going on for far too long, thankfully he is planning to enroll somewhere early so this crap will end soon.

I don't think the quality of this class hinges on Dunn nearly as much as it used to. UM is in on some big names and with few spots remaining it seems like if he doesn't wanna come to UM, another top quality player will. 

Hail that is a great point.  This class will be strong regardless if we land Dunn or not.  With the guys like Diggs, Banner, Garnett, Wright and others still looking hard at Michigan we will be just fine for this year.  What I find a little curious is its seems that Dunn is the only running back we r recruiting hard.  Not sure if I am 100% right on that but this is no name that comes to mind at running back. But back to Dunn if he decides to come to Michigan we will embrace that but if decides not to we will have to beat him for four years then.

Good Luck to the Wolves in the Sugar Bowl.

This team also seemed in desperate need for a lead back when all the Dunn talk started. Now? Not so much, Fitz is legit. I don't think there would be as much of a desire for Dunn if there wasnt the added bonus of stealing another in-state buckeye.

IF he wants to be the second leading rusher with a sub 1000 yard season, his heart is in the right place. Yeppers. Although finishing 6-6 and sub .500 iin conf. was a nice touch too.

Fitz is legit

I am very interested in seeing what Rawls can do when given enough carries...

I am very interested in seeing what Rawls can do when given enough carries...

Agreed, although he didnt have the bravado of Fitz coming out of HS...He has the attention and praise of the UofM coaching staff.

Dunn, if he comes here will have his work cut out for him. Rawls has a ton of talent, and was said to have more talent than Mark Ingram coming in. Touissaint obviously emerged this year. If Dunn does commit theres gonna be a heck of stable here, to go along with a already the best OL class in the country, which could get even better if Garnett, and or Banner commit. The future looks bright in Ann Arbor.

The downhill rushing style in Ann Arbor that will become more downhill and running back focused after Denard Robinson graduates is Michigan’s other ace in the hole. Only time will tell whether Michigan’s positive system/history attributes are enough to make Dunn’s head overrule his heart.

Marcus Ray once said on his recruiting trip to Ohio State that he seen a sign in the locker room that said something like number one goal beat Michigan, His response was if that is their goal then maybe I want to play there. Visted and signed.

A Colunbus native who was exposed to Buckeyes football was sold on the Maize and Blue. I agree with the running back development that Bourges and Jackson can do for him then being a side show as Urban makes Miller another Tebow project.

First off, this was an in-home by Borges and Jackson last night.

The whole Dunn family was there, including extended family (probably a bunch of OSU fans trying to get their collective-heads around this, lol).

We're told even Dymonte was there.

However, no firm commitment was made by them for Brionte to visit next weekend ... it all depends on what happens at OSU this weekend...


Based on this I think he remains a luckeye....The gifts and benefits MUST be backl.

What is nice in this whole saga is that Dunn is going to be a early enrolly so if we do miss out on him we have enough time to go hard after someone else.  But for now we have seem to put all our eggs in one basket but there is also that great fact of adding a great player and taking one away from your rival.  

GO BLUE!! 
 

I am now hearing that Dunn will no longer enroll early and will take an official visit to Michigan... I fear this curcuis will continue until February unless we run out of scholly by then.

How I see it on Monday morning........................

1- Brady Hoke and his staff have done a great job with Brionte and they have stayed relentless in recruiting him. Even when they were out of it, they didn't think they were out of it. And that's why they aren't out of it today. Hoke recruits more like Meyer recruits, and the opposite of the past OSU staff who would have walked away from a recruit committed elsewhere, figuring they had no shot. Shariff Floyd was an OSU lock too. To everyone but Urban Meyer.

2- Urban Meyer has had 2 weeks to make an impression on Brionte, and he has certainly done that. Two weekends in a row to Michigan in November would have probably buried any other staff or coach. Not Urban Meyer. He has forced Brionte to at least be in the position of not knowing where he wants to go, as opposed to maybe leaning to Michigan following those 2 unofficials.

3- Luke Fickell kept OSU in the game, and Brionte thinks a lot of him. Had Fickell not kept battling against tough odds this one would probably be over. He kept things manageable until Meyer took over. Luke deserves much credit for being able to clean up the OSU mess he inherited.

4- Is there an edge? To me the edge is Michigan having their official visit left to go. Ohio State has used theirs. I've felt for months the officials will tell the tale. Ohio State's was very good. Michigan gets theirs this week.

5- Not enrolling early takes the pressure off. I think this probably means we will be discussing this into February. Unless Brionte figures it out before then without a shadow of doubt. If he does get it solved before Signing Day, I think he will end it and make a final announcement.

Bill Greene :: Ohio Recruiting Analyst for Scout.com

I think this probably means we will be discussing this into February.

This is the problem because I don't know how many schollys we will have by the time February arrives... I think Chesson and Wright may take 2... and we might get another lineman and tight end...  If Dunn's heart is with Ohio St he should just go there and stop this circus, but he didn't reaffirm during his Ohio St visit like I was expecting so everything is still wide open.

I think if Michigan can get a couple of solid recruits (Chesson, Wright) it might put a little pressure on Dunn to make a decsion. It would be nice if Diamond and Garnett would make a decision but they both look like they will wait until February.

Also, Dunn is waiting for word from the NCAA on what penalties will be imposed on OSU.  I think Hoke & Co. are handling this the only way possible. Keep pressing until he either commits or UofM has no more schollys to offer. I would rather see us press for a TE.

Keep pressing until he either commits or UofM has no more schollys to offer.

yup, thats the way to go, I hear that they are heavily going after Armani Reeves while Penn St does not have a coach...

Word out is that Dunn is "150% commited to Ohio State"  Reported by Dustin Fox on his radio show and he is supposedly tight with Dunn.  Take it for what it is worth.