Michigan Tuesday: Getting Stronger Was a Big Goal This Off Season

Mich. Football Twitter

With Fall camp to start this week and the nightmare of that bowl performance in the rear view mirror, its time to check on one major goal the Wolverine had after last season:


“We have to be stronger,” Kinnel recalled his coach saying at the time this week in Chicago.


Last season, Michigan saw 1st half leads disappear in the second half and mostly in the 4th quarter.  In the last 3 games, against UW, OSU and USC the Wolverines were outscored a combined 57-19 in the second half and 23-0 in the fourth quarter.   That is a painful stat.


Michigan of course, let their S&C staff go and hired Ben Herbet from Arkansas and Wisconsin to run the program with the goal of getting stronger and bigger.   Ben has a great track record of doing just that for Bret Bielema.


So did the Wolverines add weight and strength in the off season?  The preliminary results are in and the answer is Yes!


Higdon +15 pounds up to 205
Evans +10
Gentry +10
Eubanks +10
Hudson +10
Uche +10
Kinnel +10


Let's hope that translates to on the field success.

• Fall Camp Hype:  James Hudson:  “James is extremely talented,” Michigan offensive line coach Ed Warinner told The Michigan Insider this week. “Talented (enough) to be a starting tackle at Michigan, and talented enough to be an honors winner, conference-wise.   Added Mattison: “I think he’s going to be special. I think he’s going to be as good of an offensive lineman as there’s been (here), so I’m excited about him.”

• Did you forget that Casey Hughes is a DB transfer from Utah?  I did.  Sounds like he going to start off as a safety.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-tuesday-getting-stronger-was.html

Michigan Monday: Kareem Walking Out The Door Becomes Official

It's a bit strange today when the worst kept secret, stays the worst kept secret.   We have known for months that Kareem Walker is no longer with the program.   Nothing from the player or Michigan's athletic department.   As we sit here today, still nothing from the player or U of M. 

We know officially because Fort Scott Community College head coach said that Kareem signed with the team on Friday.   We also know that Kareem struggled with the academics in Ann Arbor and speculation leads you to believe that was the reason he is no longer a Wolverine.  The reports have always been that Kareem was a great kid and good teammate.   So hopefully this is just a bump in the road for the young running back.  

Since Michigan has both of its top 2 RB's coming back this season, this is clearly a loss for the following seasons.   Michigan has known of Kareem's issues for quite some time and has planned to replace him and has two highly touted RB's coming in the 2019 class.  

Fort Scott is the same JUCO that Amir Mitchell is also attending. 

• The BBQ came and went without an official commit.   There was some rumors somebody might drop, but nothing yet.   We give about a two week window for kids attending the BBQ to commit.  :-)

• Congrats to Alan Trammel and Jack Morris on getting into Baseball's Hall of Fame yesterday. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-monday-kareem-walking-out-door.html

TierPoint expands to second Maryland facility

TierPoint, a top provider of IT and data center services in the country, has officially opened its new facility in Linthicum Heights.

The company’s expansion was celebrated at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the 35,000 square foot data center this week. TierPoint, which also has a data center located in Baltimore City, expects to continue growing in Maryland as demand for its services continues.

Tierpoint’s growth in the state and expansion into Anne Arundel County was led by its geographic convenience, said Jim Weller, Vice President. In addition to the new data center needing accessibility and abundant power, it needed to be close to the company’s client base, which ranges from tech companies to the healthcare industry, and from tourist attractions to government agencies. Prior to this expansion, the company had nearly 150 customers in the Baltimore region.

“We like being in the tech corridor – there are a lot of cyber companies in this area. This location gives us a good reach into Washington, D.C., and convenient access to highways, rail, and the airport,” said Weller.

Weller continued saying that because every company has different technology needs, no two TierPoint customers are alike. TierPoint is able to run and house critical data for its clients, whether it is containing a company’s equipment in its secure facility, or providing the infrastructure needed for companies to operate.

“Every business is becoming data intense these days, everything is tech-dependent,” he said.

TierPoint has more than 40 data centers in 20 markets throughout the country, and has 5,000 clients, giving them one of the largest client lists in the industry. Learn more on www.tierpoint.com.

The post TierPoint expands to second Maryland facility appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/tierpoint-expands-to-second-maryland-facility/

Michigan Friday: BBQ and Man U at The Big House

Talk about a fun weekend for prospects.  They get to enjoy some great BBQ, bond with the coaches and other players, and maybe even watch a international soccer game.

As we know the BBQ at the Big House is one of the best traditions RR left in Ann Arbor.   Jimmy likes to use this event more for future years, like 2020 and 2021 but there will be many 2019 guys attending as well.

2019:

Prospects:

• Matt Akuchie, WR FL
• Isaiah Foskey, TE CA
• Jamal Hill, S GA 
• Quintel Kent, WR OH
• Vance Miller III, QB TX 
• Mike Morris, DE FL (FSU commit)
• Mike Sainristil, CB MA (VA Tech commit)
• Josh Sanguinetti, S FL 
• Tyrece Woods, DE MI 

Commits:

• Erick All, TE 
• Karsen Barnhart, OL
• Zach Carpenter, OL 
• Trente Jones, OL 
• Case McNamara, QB
• Gabe Newburg, DE
• Nolan Rumler, OL 
• Jack Stewart, OL 
• DJ Turner, CB 

2020:

25-30 prospects will be on campus

2021:

10 + prospects on campus and even a few 2022 guys. 

• Manchester United vs. Liverpool FC will face off at the Big House at 5:00. 

• Dax Hill a 5 Star won't make it up for the BBQ but Michigan seems to be trending with the talented safety.  Many are saying its a Bama vs. Michigan battle. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-friday-bbq-and-man-u-at-big.html

18 MARYLAND COMPANIES RECEIVE EXPORTMD GRANTS

The Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded 18 small and mid-sized Maryland companies with ExportMD grants to help promote their products and services in the global marketplace. The ExportMD grant program helps businesses finance the costs of marketing internationally, including trade show fees, brochures, and travel expenses. Applications are accepted on a monthly basis and the next application deadline is August 1, 2018. Eligibility requirements can be found on the Commerce website.

“ExportMD has been one of most popular programs, and is a big part of the success of many of our small and mid-sized companies,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “The financial assistance as well as the guidance offered by Maryland Office of International Investment and Trade is invaluable to companies looking to grow their customer base in the global market.”

Among the companies receiving an ExportMD grant is Rockville-based Inky Technology Corporation, a leader in email protection whose anti-phishing solution – Inky Phish Fence – uses machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computer vision to prevent phishing attacks. The company recently used its grant to travel overseas to Infosecurity Europe 2018, a leading information security conference that attracts nearly 20,000 attendees from across the globe.

“Being part of the Maryland delegation at Infosecurity Europe really helped us stand out, network with prospects, and meet more Maryland cyber companies. We have learned from each other,” said Dave Baggett, CEO of Inky. “The U.K. market is new to us, so it was helpful to learn about different opportunities and partnerships from other Maryland companies.”

Established in 1999, the ExportMD program provides matching grants up to $5,000 from Commerce’s Office of International Investment and Trade. ExportMD is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, which has awarded multiple State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants to Maryland Commerce to help fund the program.

April-June 2018 ExportMD grant recipients

Anne Arundel County
Glacier Security
South River Technologies, Inc.

Baltimore County
AirPhoton, LLC
Rovner Products Inc.

Howard County
Bricata Inc.
Silent Circle
Vision Planning and Consulting, LLC

Montgomery County
Amarex Clinical Research, LLC
Clinical Research Marketing
Eniware, LLC
Inky Technology Corporation
Kolon TissueGene, Inc.
Rife International, LLC
Speak Agent, Inc.
Stress Indicators Inc.

Prince George’s County
Alertus Technologies
Cybrary Inc.
Untethered Labs, Inc.

The post 18 MARYLAND COMPANIES RECEIVE EXPORTMD GRANTS appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/18-maryland-companies-receive-exportmd-grants-2/

Michigan Thursday: Has Football and Basketball Roster Updates

I'm not a huge fan of updating the world when a player changes his number or adds 5 pounds, but I guess there are some people that is interested in that information.

The Basketball Program has released its roster this year and has new numbers and weights for each player.

The freshman and transfers for the football team have new numbers.

So if your into these things, here are the links to check them out.  Patterson will be wearing #2, which we already knew! :-)

• Ben Bredeson was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List 

• Michigan landed a crystal ball for 5 star safety Dax Hill.   Still a long shot.  

• Nordin named to Groza Award Watch List 

• The USA Today takes Urban to the woodshed.  I wondered when the "Florida" Urban Meyer would start poking his head out.   This might be the first sign.  

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-thursday-has-football-and.html

RSA 2019 call for speakers

For Maryland cybersecurity companies, the 2019 RSA Conference in San Francisco offers an outstanding opportunity to show the world how to protect data. While the conference is still seven months away – it takes place March 4-8 in San Francisco – RSA is already calling for speakers.

For consideration in all tracks, however, the deadline is August 1, just four business days away! The deadline for consideration in one of RSA’s two Hackers & Threats tracks is September 1.

General Keith Alexander, founder and CEO of IronNet Cybersecurity in Fulton, Md., has been featured in numerous panels and sessions at RSA. As an entrepreneur – and as the former commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and former director of NSA – he offers some sound advice for those pursuing an opportunity to present during RSA 2019:

• Pick a topic that’s timely and compelling. Show it to your CTO and your best friend who doesn’t work in technology. If both would attend – or at least consider attending – you probably have a winner.
• In describing the proposal, explain why it’s timely and what makes it compelling, and why the presenter or panelists are the right person(s) to present this particular topic.
• Make sure your proposal description offers an explanation of how it will provide concrete, actionable takeaways or significant learning outcomes for the audience.
• If it’s a panel, make sure the group represents a good spectrum of the potential views on a topic.
• If it’s a solo presentation, describe how the presentation will keep the audience engaged.

Evan Blair, co-founder and senior vice president of Baltimore-based ZeroFOX, has also been featured at RSA. As an entrepreneur – and as a cybersecurity expert – he has some solid recommendations for those proposing a topic for RSA 2019:

• Increase your chances that your topic will be selected and submit with a co-presenter from another organization, even better if they (or their company) have a “name brand” in the security space.
• Have fun with it – the goal is to educate AND entertain the audience. RSA has strong technical tracks but oftentimes they prioritize TED-style presentations vs. hardcore research.
• Stay away from product pitches! RSA is strictly a no pitch show and anything that whiffs of a product pitch will get you disqualified.
• Make sure you have takeaways that can be concretely implemented by the attendees – this includes checklists or a 120-day plan to better prepare themselves for XYZ attack type or issue.
• Get creative with your titles and abstracts – these are the tools RSA uses to attract people to your session and the name of the game is definitely butts in seats!

RSA also offers tips for speaker sessions as well, and proposals may be submitted online. For inspiration, check out Evan Blair’s session at last year’s conference. And here’s a clip from RSA 2018 featuring General Alexander and Nadav Zafrir, former commander of Israel’s 8200 Intelligence Unit, discussing their former roles in the private sector, as well as their strategies for building security companies in the private sector. Catch the entire 45-minute discussion – along with other RSA 2018 sessions – at RSAC onDemand. See you at RSA 2019!

The post RSA 2019 call for speakers appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/rsa-2019-call-for-speakers/

Wolverine Wednesday: Introduces The New Michigan Jordan Trainer 3

Every late July/early August it seems the Jordan brand plans to release a brand new Michigan Trainer.   This year is no exception and the below shoes are expected to hit the market soon.   Other schools like UNC, Oklahoma, and Florida will also get a version.  Florida and OK are new to the Jordan brand. 


The shoes are termed Jordan Trainer 3 "week zero" and features jersey mesh construction and official school logos.  I had a little bride tell me that the Michigan versions might be available as soon as this Saturday. 


I don't have a price yet, but I expect them to be in the $160 range. I also expect these to be available through Fanatics and I will have a link up if you would to purchase them and support the BHB at the same time!  









from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/wolverine-wednesday-introduces-new.html

CES expands in Queen Anne’s County

Communications Electronics Systems LLC (CES), a provider of security services including video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection systems, is expanding its operations in Queen Anne’s County and plans to hire 10 new employees in the coming months. The company is eligible for Maryland’s Job Creation Tax Credit.

CES was launched in 2017 as an expansion of the Maryland-based Communication Electronics, Inc., a 42 year-old communications company that is the largest Motorola partner/dealer on the east coast, with five offices and more than 150 employees that provide life safety and communications systems to a broad range of commercial business and government customers.

CES’s sales and engineering office opened in Stevensville in April with five employees. The CES management team boasts well over 100 years of combined experience in integrated security and have provided security systems to the highest levels of federal, state, and commercial clients including; the White House, Maryland State Police, major defense contractors, healthcare facilities, and national corporations.

“Maryland has always been our home so we’re thrilled to be expanding here,” said CES President Tom Steg. “We’re already at eight employees in the new office and expect to continue growing so we can enhance our engineering capability to deliver great services and products to all our customers. This service commitment is the foundation principle that differentiates us from our competitors. It’s exciting to have referral customers calling us.”

“Many of Maryland’s private businesses and as well as our government and military partners depend on top-notch security to ensure their systems, as well as their customers, are protected,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “That’s why the cutting-edge solutions and services provided by CES are a key resource for our state, and why Maryland’s talented workforce, strategic location and vibrant security sector are a great fit for CES.”

The post CES expands in Queen Anne’s County appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/ces-expands-in-queen-annes-county/

Michigan Tuesday: In Recruiting Sometimes Your Plan B

Big time college football recruiting is not for the timid.  Coaches pull offers after kids commit or even before signing day and sometimes kids commit to a school hoping they will get the offer they are really looking for.

Yesterday, Michigan lost a commit from 4 Star DE Stephen Herron who "everybody and their brother knew" was waiting on a letter from Stanford admissions to see if he qualified academically for The Farm.   He did and quickly de-committed from the Wolverines and is now heading to Stanford.

The good news is, this wasn't a surprise to anyone and Michigan has continued to recruit DE's and have two 5 stars interested and is in the final two for Aeneas DiCosmo who is making a decision between Stanford and Michigan.   5 star's Chris Hinton and George Karlaftis are both long shots but Michigan is still in the race for both guys.

Another data point is that Herron used to be a 5 star and now has dropped to a 4 and his Opening performance came with some negative reviews.  

A few notes from Jimmy's Presser in Chicago yesterday:

• Believes there should be more teams in the playoff model.  8 to 16. 
• On questions on beating rivals:  Improvement will lead to success and championships. 
• Called out Ed Warinner as doing a tremendous job
• Called Dylan MCaffrey as the most improved QB 
• Willing to do an injury report if it becomes mandated for gambling purposes

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-tuesday-in-recruiting.html

Baltimore County couple finds passion in restaurant business

For Dan Stachura and his wife Anne, deciding to run their own restaurant took something of a leap of faith.

Dan spent more than 30 years in the corporate world, including starting an employee benefits company in 2002 in Hunt Valley called ConnectYourCare with several other partners. And Anne had a very busy career as a registered nurse.

But like most entrepreneurs, Dan had an epiphany one day that would dramatically change the track of both of their careers. ConnectYourCare was no longer a small business and had grown to more than 400 employees, with big name customers like Starbucks and Amazon.

“I needed to get back to my roots running a small business,” Dan said. “At that time, I didn’t know what the next step would be, but I knew I wanted to do something in the community.”

About two years ago, Dan began looking for a new venture, and learned that the popular farm-to-table restaurant Woodfire Kitchen along York Road in Parkton was looking for a new owner. The fact that neither Dan nor his wife had ever been in the restaurant business did not deter them, though Anne – who loves to cook – had always dreamed of owning a small café.

“Being in the corporate world, I did a lot of traveling all around the country and sat at a lot of tables and really came to appreciate good food, good service, and good atmosphere in restaurants,” Dan said. “I was always taking mental notes along the way…..what worked and what didn’t.”

And, once they brought in a partner with a long history in the hospitality business to help guide them, Dan and Anne felt they had a perfect fit.

“It was the right place at the right time,” Dan said. “Many people look back on their life and they regret the things they didn’t do and realizing that, I didn’t want to be in that position. “

In April 2017, Dan and Anne jumped headfirst into the business. With Anne in the kitchen preparing some of her homemade recipes, Dan said he did “every job there was – washed dishes, served, made pizzas and everything,” which helped him to get to know the restaurant, as well as the staff and the customers.

The past year, Dan said, has been an adventure, a challenge, and most of all, a learning experience that took drawing on his days in the corporate world.

“Once you are experienced and successful in one business, I think a lot of those skills can transfer over to another,” he said, adding that he and Anne have really enjoyed coaching their young staff in customer service, as well as being able to have control of their own future.

“Now, if we have a great idea, we can implement it in three days,” he said, talking about some of the changes they’ve made since taking over the business, including adding live music.

Among his favorites on the menu? The Seven Spice Woodfire Duck; the burgers, which are locally sourced from Roseda Farms; and the woodfire pizza.

“Everything on the menu is great, and everything we try to do with a little bit of a twist, a little bit of a flare,” he said.

Over the past year, Dan has started a journal to capture some of this thoughts on the new adventure.

“There are good days, and bad days, but you got to roll up your sleeves and fight through it,” he said.

So what Dan’s advice for other entrepreneurs thinking about taking their career in a completely different direction and owning a business?

• Go into a new business with “eyes wide open” understanding as much about it as you can and knowing what the pitfalls can be.
• Surround yourself with expertise in the area, as well as an all-star team.
• Plan some fun moments along the way, and motivate your team to enjoy what they do, whether it’s through sharing a nice review, or just taking time to talk about the day.
• Don’t forget to laugh!

The post Baltimore County couple finds passion in restaurant business appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/baltimore-county-couple-finds-passion-in-restaurant-business/

Michigan Monday: Big Ten Media Day Starts Today

The official kick off to the pre-season starts today, as the Big Ten has it's media day in Chicago.  Each coach will do a 15 minute press conference and Jimmy goes from 1:30-1:45.  As we also know, Chase, Karan, and Tyree will represent the Michigan players at the event.   You can watch all the non-action on the Big Ten Network.

• 2019 4 star DE/OLB Adisa Isaac has Michigan in his top 10. 

• 2020 4 star DT from IN Cole Brevard will visit for the BBQ. 

• Former Wolverine WR Ahmir Mitchell who transferred after being suspended from the team, went to Rutgers, tore his ACL, and then was thrown off the team.  Is now at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas.  Let's hope he can get things figured out, get a degree, and play a little football. 

• Jalen Rose got married privately a couple weeks ago to ESPN personality and host of "First Take" Molly Qerim.  Congrats! 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-monday-big-ten-media-day.html

Michigan Friday: Are Football Coordinators Making Too Much Money?

saturdaytradition.com

Clemson's defensive coordinator Brett Venables signed a 5 year contract worth 11.6 million dollars on Thursday.  That is clearly head coaching money at many schools.  Which means college football programs are figuring out that great OC's and DC's are worth the money and probably making more then the school's president.

The funny part is that Brett won't be the highest paid coordinator in college football.  That title goes to LSU's DC Dave Aranda who get $2.5M annually.  Which probably puts Dave inline as LSU's next head coach if things don't go well for Ed Orgeron this season.

If your wondering where Michigan's staff lands on that scale:

DC Don Brown makes $1.3M and is 5th highest paid Coordinator.
OC Pep Hamilton makes $1.15 which ranks him 11th

Drevno was also making the same salary as Pep before he left the program.

To answer the question in the title, I would say no.  They are making fair market value and have a very difficult job that doesn't have an off season due to recruiting.  You can see why coaches have left programs because they just don't pay their assistants.   Before Jimmy got to town, you could have probably put Michigan in that category as well.





from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-friday-are-football.html

Paul Fredrick to locate headquarters in Baltimore County

Paul Fredrick, an online provider of high-quality menswear, is moving its corporate office from Pennsylvania to Baltimore County and expects to add 70 new jobs over the next five years. The company plans to lease up to 10,000 square-feet of space in the county where it will establish its new headquarters later this year. Led by former Jos. A. Bank senior executives, Paul Fredrick is also looking into adding a retail storefront component in the region.

“We are pleased to be moving our office to Baltimore County,” said R. Neal Black, CEO of Paul Fredrick. “Our team is looking forward to being in the greater Baltimore area, which has a long history in the apparel manufacturing business, and where we have the ability to hire from the area’s rich talent pool and terrific local colleges and universities.”

Founded in 1986, Paul Fredrick originally specialized in men’s dress shirts and over the years has grown its collection to include suits, sport coats, pants, ties, cufflinks and other men’s accessories, as well as men’s casual wear and shoes. For the past 30 years, the company has sold its apparel and accessories strictly through its catalog and website, without breaking into the retail sector. The company named CEO Neal Black and CFO David Ullman – both former senior officials at Jos. A. Bank – to its executive team earlier this year. The company’s majority owner is ClearLight Partners, a private equity firm based in Newport Beach, California.

“These 70 high-level executive, merchandising and marketing positions are just the types of jobs that keep our vibrant economy moving forward,” said Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Paul Fredrick to Maryland and look forward to helping the company grow its footprint in the region,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill.

The post Paul Fredrick to locate headquarters in Baltimore County appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/paul-fredrick-to-locate-headquarters-in-baltimore-county/

Michigan Thursday: Less Night - More Noon

I have a theory that Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines don't play well during night games, because coach hates night games.  Jimmy prefers to lace them up and play at 12:00 or 1:00 not 7:00 or 8:00.

With Fox Sports now joining ESPN and the BTN showing Big Ten prime-time games, the more likely the Wolverines will end up playing after dinner.    We know that NBC has already put Michigan at ND in primetime but the new probable Big Ten list seems a bit much.

Michael Spath tweeted out yesterday that he has a source that is saying Michigan could be in primetime against Nebraska and Penn State at home and MSU in East Lansing.   Usually, the football program prefers to have only one night home game per season, but I expect that is going to be very difficult to do with one of the Big Ten's top brands.

So the talented Wolverines will not only have one of the hardest schedules in the country, they are also going to be playing in uncomfortable time slots.  I guess they better get comfortable being uncomfortable.

• Donovan Jeter confirms that he tore his meniscus in practice last season and has now moved to DT from DE. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-thursday-less-night-more-noon.html

Wolverine Wednesday: Coach B Inks A New Deal

Coach B has signed a new rolling 5 year deal to stay with the Wolverines probably until retirement.  As we know, the Pistons flirted with him this summer but coach kindly stepped out of the process.

Below is the official release from Michigan:

/18/2018 10:00:00 AM

// Tom Wywrot

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced Wednesday (July 18) that he and the David and Meredith Kaplan Men's Basketball Head Coach John Beilein have reached an agreement for a contract extension through the 2022-23 season.

Additionally, the newly inked five-year rollover deal automatically extends one additional year and repeats each year until either Beilein, or U-M, has given proper notice that the renewal will not be exercised by mid-April.

"I am thrilled to ensure John's leadership of our basketball program today and into the future," Manuel said. "I am very pleased with our shared dialog throughout the process, and I am extremely happy that one of the game's great coaches is representing the University of Michigan."

"I am grateful for the opportunity the University of Michigan has given to me over the past 11 years," said Beilein. "Kathleen and I love Ann Arbor, our University, our fans and the state of Michigan. We will continue to work very hard in the future to have our basketball team reflect the greatness of this University. I thank Mark Schlissel and Warde Manuel for their faith and commitment to our coaching staff and basketball program. The future of men's basketball is bright and I am excited to be a part of it."

Beginning his 12th season in Ann Arbor, Beilein and his Wolverines are coming off a program-record 33 win campaign (33-8), and a run to the 2018 Final Four, and national title game -- a second trip in the last six years.

Already U-M's all-time leader in wins with 248, Beilein has compiled a career record of 799-461 (.628) during his 41 years as a collegiate head coach. In 11 seasons in Ann Arbor, U-M has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances with four Sweet 16 (2013, '14, '17, '18), three Elite Eight (2013, '14, '18), two Final Four and national title game (2013, 2018) runs.

The 2013 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Beilein has guided the Wolverines to two Big Ten regular-season titles (2012, 2014) as well as back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles in 2017 and 2018. He has had 13 Wolverines earn All-Big Ten honors with Moritz Wagner (2017, 2018) and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (2018) the most recent additions.

Beilein coached Trey Burke to consensus National, All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 2013 as well as Nik Stauskas to All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors the following year in 2014. This past season, Duncan Robinson became the first Wolverines to earn the Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year accolade (2018).

With 12 Wolverines reaching the NBA under Beilein's tutelage, he has nine NBA Draft selections with seven first-round picks -- Darius Morris (2011, No. 41), Burke (2013, No. 9), Tim Hardaway, Jr. (2013, No. 24), Stauskas (2014, No. 8), Mitch McGary (2014, No. 21), Glenn Robinson III (2014, No. 40), Caris LeVert (2016, No. 20), D.J. Wilson (2017, No. 17) and Wagner (2018, No. 25).

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/wolverine-wednesday-coach-b-inks-new.html

Michigan Tuesday: Big Ten Announces The Players Attending The Season Kickoff

Every year, the Big Ten does a kickoff meeting for the season with a few players from each team and the media.  The event will be held on July 23rd and 24th at the Chicago Marriott.   Attending from the Wolverines this year will be Karan Higdon, Sr., RB, Tyree Kinnel, Sr., DB, Chase Winovich, Sr., DL.

Here are the list of the other players from the Big Ten:

EAST DIVISION

INDIANA
Jonathan Crawford, Sr., S*
Wes Martin, Sr., OL*
Luke Timian, Sr., WR*

MARYLAND
Derwin Gray, Sr., OL*
Taivon Jacobs, Sr., WR
Darnell Savage Jr., Sr., DB*

MICHIGAN
Karan Higdon, Sr., RB*
Tyree Kinnel, Sr., DB*
Chase Winovich, Sr., DL*

MICHIGAN STATE
Brian Lewerke, Jr., QB*
LJ Scott, Sr., RB*
Khari Willis, Sr., S*

OHIO STATE
Parris Campbell, Sr., WR*
Dre’Mont Jones, Jr., DT*
Isaiah Prince, Sr., OT*

PENN STATE
Trace McSorley, Sr., QB*
Amani Oruwariye, Sr., CB*
Nick Scott, Sr., S

RUTGERS
Blessuan Austin, Sr., DB
Tariq Cole, Sr., OL*
Deonte Roberts, Sr., LB

WEST DIVISION

ILLINOIS
Nick Allegretti, Sr., OL*
Mike Dudek, Jr., WR
Jamal Milan, Jr., DL

IOWA
Parker Hesse, Sr., DE
Matt Nelson, Sr., DE
Nate Stanley, Jr., QB*

MINNESOTA
Thomas Barber, Jr., LB*
Carter Coughlin, Jr., LB*
Rodney Smith, Sr., RB*

NEBRASKA
Jerald Foster, Sr., OG*
Stanley Morgan Jr., Sr., WR*
Mick Stoltenberg, Sr., NT

NORTHWESTERN
Nate Hall, Sr., LB*
Montre Hartage, Sr., CB
Clayton Thorson, Sr., QB*

PURDUE
Markus Bailey, Jr., LB*
David Blough, Sr., QB
Elijah Sindelar, Jr., QB

WISCONSIN
Michael Deiter, Sr., OL*
D’Cota Dixon, Sr., S*
T.J. Edwards, Sr., ILB*

* indicates 2017 all-conference selections and honorable mentions

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-tuesday-big-ten-announces.html

Michigan Monday: DJ Goes To OSU

When I was growing up in Ann Arbor my family would get DJ's Pizza on Packard once a week or so.  I have no idea if they are still even in business now but it was a good day when DJ's Pizza was at the door with a hot pie.

DJ Carton is a 5 star PG that was leaning towards Michigan and had recently cut his list to include Michigan, Indiana, and OSU.  Many insiders believed it was a Michigan vs IU battle since he hadn't visited Columbus yet.   This past weekend, he visited Ohio State and committed to the Buckeyes.    I guess you can say, he didn't deliver his commitment to the Wolverines.  

• Michigan is now in the top 8 for another 4 star guard named Rocket Watts (who has to be explosive right?).   Michigan is in his top 8 with Michigan State, Louisville, Florida State, UConn, Xavier, Oregon, and Missouri.

• During the Big Ten and Big Ten Tournament, I was very impressed on how well big man Isaac Haas played for Purdue. He was such a large human at 7'2 that I nicknamed him "Andre the Giant".   I didn't think he was a lottery pick for the NBA, but I thought he would be a late round 1 or early round 2 guy.   I know he hurt himself in the NCAA Tournament, but I still thought his upside for the NBA was still pretty strong.   Well, the big man didn't get drafted and signed a Summer League contract with the Utah Jazz.  The big man averaged 15 minutes a game but only 3 points.   He is going to struggle to find a contract and probably heading to the G League or overseas. I was wrong on that one!   

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-monday-dj-goes-to-osu.html

Michigan Friday: 24/7 Releases Updated Rankings and A Couple Wolverines Get A Huge Bump

The saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is never more accurate when it comes to college football recruit rankings.   Recruiting services have to rank over a thousand players each year and many times its off highlight tapes, etc.  It's pretty easy to see how a Mike Hart could be a 3 star player.  Ranking these kids has to be a very difficult task, outside say the top 100 kids. 


So recruiting services take as much information they can to rank kids.   Summer Camps and events like the Opening are big deals for kids getting seen by a ton of services.   That is why we will see new lists come out, between now and the start of the season.  


For those that don't visit 24/7 too often, they have two lists to rank kids.   #1 is they do their own ranking like any service, #2 the do a composite of the other services and give the kid an average star and overall ranking. 


So when 24/7 released their own updated rankings yesterday, some of Michigan's recruits went up, others stayed flat and a few dropped some.  

• DE David Ojabo moved up 347 spots from 540 to 193 and is now a 4 star.
• RB  Zach Charbonnet moved up from 219 to 40 and is just outside a 5 star.

Those are big jumps which will continue to help Michigan's overall class standing which ranks #5 in the country right now. 


Here is a quick list of guys Michigan is still in the race for: (composite)


#3 Zach Harrison
# 9 Dax Hill
#18 Quavaris Crouch
#30 Akeem Dent (FSU)
#41 Kyle Ford
#49 Lewis Cline
#95 George Karlaftis (Purdue)

• 4 star 2019 athlete has Michigan in his top group with Alabama, Ohio State, Nebraska, Purdue and UK.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-friday-247-releases-updated.html

Get the scoop on National Ice Cream Month

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore what Maryland has to offer. What better way to start than a trip to one of our many dairy farms or local ice cream shops for a sweet treat?

July is National Ice Cream Month, giving Marylanders a delicious way to cool down during a Mid Atlantic heat wave.

According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, there are 387 dairy farms in the state that generated $169 million in sales last year. To help highlight the importance of Maryland’s dairy industry, the agency has launched the state’s sixth annual Best Ice Cream Trail, including nine dairy farms and their locally-made ice cream, stretching from Western Maryland all the way to the Eastern Shore.

Kicking off the trail in Western Maryland is Smithsburg’s Misty Meadow Farm Creamery, with flavors ranging from chocolate cake batter to the seasonal bubble gum. The creamery offers dairy-free sorbets, as well as gluten, peanut, and tree nut-free ice cream and desserts for those with allergies.

In Aberdeen, Keyes Creamery not only serves premium ice cream, but also customized ice cream cakes and ice cream pies for special occasions. This Harford County staple is gearing up for National Ice Cream Day on July 15 – be sure to stop by for a $7 banana split special.

The 290-mile trail is just one way to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Marylanders can visit additional locally-owned and operated ice cream shops to get in on the fun and taste test some local creations.

Opened in 2013, The Charmery in Baltimore has since expanded to two additional locations – York Road in Towson and the highly-anticipated Union Collective space on 41st Street.

Hoffman’s Ice Cream & Deli – which celebrated its 70th anniversary in Westminster last year – is operated by fourth-generation family members, with the fifth-generation currently in training.

Voted our capital’s best ice cream for 11 consecutive years, the Annapolis Ice Cream Company rotates its 36 flavors daily, and prides itself on being the only ice cream made in the city.

DoDo Cookie Dough & Ice Cream in Ocean City puts a spin on the usual ice cream sundae by pairing it with edible cookie dough. After an overwhelmingly positive response, the company has decided to ship its cookie dough nationwide.

These are just a few of our favorite sweets throughout the state. Check out this Ice Cream Lovers’ Guide to find even more Maryland creameries.

From small, traditional family farms to modern aquaculture operations, Maryland has it all—and it’s all thriving. Learn more about Maryland’s agribusiness industry.

The post Get the scoop on National Ice Cream Month appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/get-the-scoop-on-national-ice-cream-month/

Michigan Thursday: BBQ at The Big House is Set For 7/28

Michigan Football will again do the BBQ at the Big House a tradition that was started by former Michigan and college football head coach Rich Rodriguez.   It will be held later this month on Saturday the 28th.  


The guest list this year, looks to be many commits to the 2019 class, a few 2019 prospects, and plenty of 2020 prospects.  There are fifteen 2020 recruits invited right now and I expect even a few more attending.


The couple of 2019 prospects that could make it to Ann Arbor include:

• 4-star FL S Josh Sanguinetti
• 4-star CA TE Isaiah Foskey
• 4-star FL DE Mike Morris

- TN 4 Star WR TJ Sheffield got his ND offer pulled 5 days after he committed.   It seems the ND WR coach screwed up and took his commitment while on vacation while not understanding ND's board.   Yes, it happens and has even happened here.  The mistake is not letting the kid know the mistake right away and not waiting 5 days to figure it out. 


-I don't touch politics on this site for many reasons, but Stormy Daniels getting arrested after preforming in Columbus last night, did make me chuckle. 


-Mo Wagner will miss the rest of the NBA summer league with a bone bruise on his knee and a banged up ankle.

















from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-thursday-bbq-at-big-house-is.html

Wolverine Wednesday: A Good Day For D. Robinson's, Well Sort of ..............................

Duncan Robinson might have re-written a few things from the last 12 months or so.   We all know his story about being a D3 player that transferred to Michigan and is a knock down shooter that had some issues on defense.   Those issues caused Duncan to come off the bench during his senior year and a run to the National Championship Game.  


Duncan did win the Big Ten 6th man of the year award but threw up a goose egg in the NC game and saw his 6th man counterpart win the MVP.   Duncan watched Donte DiVincenzo steal the show in San Antonio and also get drafted in the first round.  Duncan wasn't drafted but was recruited hard by the Miami Heat to join their summer league team. 


During the summer league, Duncan has been shooting and playing well, Donte is injured and isn't even dressed.   Donte had less then $5 bucks in his account yesterday but signed his first round contract.   Duncan who was guaranteed nothing by being a Summer League free agent, yesterday signed a two way contract with the Heat, who was concerned another team might sign him to a roster after the Summer League ended.  The two-way deal will allow Duncan to play in the G-League and also spend some time on the Heat's roster during the season.  This was the same deal that Derrick Walton signed with the Heat last year. 


If Duncan plays in an NBA game, he will only be the second D3 player to ever play in the league.


Now on to the other D. Robinson, Denard.


Denard's CFL rights were traded to The Saskatchewan Roughriders yesterday.  That is the same team that currently employs Devin Gardner.   It's still unknown if Denard will join Devin on the roster this season or is just retired.   Denard was released from Jacksonville prior to last season and was not able to find another NFL deal.


So yes, Duncan preferred to be drafted and sign a full time NBA deal, but getting a deal as a free agent is a big deal.   Denard who had an NFL career, would love to still be in the league,  but now has a chance to play football professionally again.   So I guess the news for both former Wolverine D. Robinson's was a little bitter sweet.

• Michigan commit TE Erick All won the overall MVP at the Top Gun camp this week.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/wolverine-wednesday-good-day-for-d.html

Bridges to Biotech: Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce Today

With more than 500 biotechnology companies and 2,300 life science firms in Maryland, our state has one of the largest bio clusters throughout the country. In order to stay at the top of our game, it is critical that we prepare our future generations for entering the workplace. This is where the Bridges to Biotech Fellows Program comes in.

Bridges to Biotech is a collaboration between the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, the National Institutes of Health, and the Maryland Department of Commerce to provide Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows with additional training and networking within the industry. The academic and research partners work to recruit qualified science students through a competitive application process, while Maryland Commerce identifies companies that are interested in serving as mentors.

For each Bridges to Biotech session is a different host—typically a Maryland biotech business. Each session allows the company to teach students about the skills needed when joining the science sector, as well as understand the variety of employment opportunities available throughout the company and the state.

“At Johns Hopkins, we strive to give our PhD students and postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to interact and learn from professionals in an array of careers,” said Caroline Pounds, assistant director of biomedical careers initiative & employer relations at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Doing so offers the opportunity to gain exposure to different types of jobs as well as to build a network – critical pieces of a successful job search. The Bridges to Biotech program has been a great way for the local talent to engage with employers; our trainees are eager to take advantage of these opportunities.”

By hosting a session, companies are given the chance to raise their profile in the region and stand out among other workplaces in the life sciences industry. Participating companies also receive resumes from each attending student, which helps the host find all-star candidates for future employment.

“A program like Bridges to Biotech is important because it gets into the nitty gritty of each bio industry,” said Jennifer Aumiller, director of postdoctoral scholars and GPLIS/OPS career and professional development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Each industry is very different and this program gives students an idea of the different types of positions they could pursue, different roles they could have, and difference between academia and the working world.”

Over the past eight months, four sessions have been held and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. After hearing about the program’s success, Emergent BioSolutions – a global specialty biopharmaceutical company with locations in Baltimore and Gaithersburg – expressed interest. The company hosted its first session earlier this summer to approximately 30 students.

“We were pleased to partner with the Maryland Department of Commerce in hosting Bridges to Biotech at our Gaithersburg headquarters,” said Katy Strei, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Emergent BioSolutions. “Our goal is to be instrumental in connecting the scientific talent, grown from within our local, world-class academic institutions, with the experienced life sciences professionals in our industry.”

In order to host more sessions, the program needs more host companies like Emergent to participate. According to Aumiller, Bridges to Biotech is a win-win for both company and student.

“The feedback we’ve received from students and hosts has been very positive,” said Aumiller. “The sessions have resulted in both informational meetings and job interviews. Some employers are alumni at the school they present at, thereby creating a pipeline from Maryland student to Maryland employee to Maryland employer.”

Companies like Emergent understand that one of the state’s most critical assets is the talent pool.

“Maryland is home to a rich and vibrant biohealth ecosystem teeming with talent, and the Bridges to Biotech program is a perfect stepping stone for our local Ph.D. students and post-doctoral fellows to engage with the life sciences and biotech companies across the state, with the hopes of fueling our workforce of tomorrow,” Strei said.

If your company is interested in hosting a Bridges to Biotech session, please contact Nina Lamba, Ph.D., Business Development Manager for the Office of Biohealth and Life Sciences at the Maryland Department of Commerce, at 410-767-6799 or nina.lamba@maryland.gov.

The post Bridges to Biotech: Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce Today appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/bridges-to-biotech-preparing-tomorrows-workforce-today/

Michigan Tuesday: Coach Mattison in Michigan Jordan Player Editions

Sorry all, I just don't have any news worthy items today.  So I thought I would show you this picture of Greg Mattison in a pair of Michigan Jordan's!

Greg Mattison fun facts:

• Born in Madison,Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin–La Crosse graduate
• He has been a HS coach at two programs
• He has been with 10 college programs including Michigan twice
• He of course has been with one NFL team the Baltimore Ravens
• He was a finalist for Western Michigan's head coaching job in 2004
• Greg has worked under 3 Harbaugh's: Jack, John, and Jim
• His defense at Florida won a National Championship in 2006 by beating Ohio State 41-14 in the BCS Championship game.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-tuesday-coach-mattison-in.html

Moe Monday Moment of Zen

per ESPN

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/moe-monday-moment-of-zen.html

Michigan Monday: Basketball Makes Top 3 For 5 Star PG

2019 Iowa 5 star PG DJ Carton is going to stay in the Big Ten.  He has a final 3 of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio State.  He has taken official visits to both Ann Arbor and Bloomington, but hasn't been to Columbus yet for an official.  Missing from DJ's list of course is the home town Iowa Hawkeyes. 


Many believe Michigan is the leader in the clubhouse but like a lot of recruitments, the longer he doesn't commit the more risk it is for the Wolverines.   DJ hasn't set a commitment time table yet.   Let's hope DJ picks Michigan and Coach B to develop him into another NBA 1st round draft pick.

• Shea Patterson's brother a 2020 TE now has a Michigan offer.

• Looks like Michigan would like another DB in the 2019 class and probably at Safety. Florida  four-star 2019 safety Josh Sanguinetti is expected to visit for the BBQ at the Big House in August.

• Sam Webb believes that 4 star CA WR Kyle Ford was the most dominant player at Nike's opening last week.  Kyle is considering Michigan and hopefully we can get him on campus.  USC currently has 100% of his crystal ball predictions.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-monday-basketball-makes-top-3.html

Michigan Friday: What Do The Numbers Look Like Now?

When Commit-a-Palooza One happened, we took a look at the Wolverines recruiting board for the rest of the class.  Here is what we said on June 26th:


Here is what I believe the Recruiting Board looks like: (6/26)


OT = 1
DT=  1
DE = 1
WR = 2
TE=  1
RB = 1
LB = 1
DB = 1


Since then Michigan has picked up another RB, DE, and a DB/Viper (+ a 2020 DT) in Commit-a-Palooza Two.




Here is the breakdown per position:


QB = Done
RB = Done
OT = +1
TE = Maybe +1
WR = +2 Outside


DT/DE = +1
LB = +1
CB/DB = Done


Michigan now has 19 commits in the 2019 class with an expected class of 24 players.  That only leaves 5 spots.   As you can see, I have 6 spots to be added above for a buffer for any de-commits or players leaving the program.


There is also the 5 star factor.  If a 5 star wants to come to Michigan, the coaches will find room even if its a position they already have filled.


Ranking the needs in importance with top prospect for the position:

1. OT = IL OT Trevor Keegan
2. WR = CA Kyle Ford and CT Cornelius Johnson 
3. DT/DE (see the below bullets)
4. LB = NC RB Quavaris Crouch, might want to play LB in college or Kalen DeLoach
5. TE =  CA TE Isaiah Foskey

Michigan is also recruiting a couple DE's that could put the 5 Star rule in effect:

• Ohio Zach Harrison
• IN George Karlaftis (committed to Purdue)
• NJ Aeneas DiCosmo is a 3 star with an offer that I believe the coaches would take
• I don't see another DT on the board right now

Other players the coaches wouldn't turn down:

• NC RB Quavaris Crouch at any position 5 star
• OK S Dax Hill 5 Star
• TX S Lewis Cline 4 Star
• Wash DC OT Walter Rouse 3 Star
• CA Athlete Giles Jackson 3 star (might have lost his spot)

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-friday-what-do-numbers-look.html

Datawatch Systems expands headquarters in Bethesda

Datawatch Systems, one of the top commercial office security providers in the country, is relocating its headquarters in Montgomery County and adding 50 new full-time jobs over the next four years.

The company is moving its operations to a nearby space on East West Highway in Bethesda, where it will lease 25,000 square feet of space in the coming years. Datawatch Systems currently employs 200 workers in the county.

“Datawatch Systems appreciates the support of both Maryland and Montgomery County in helping us remain and expand our company in Bethesda,” said William F. Peel III, president of Datawatch Systems. “Although businesses have many opportunities in this region, we are beyond thrilled to remain in Montgomery County and look forward to the continued growth and expansion of our organization.”

Formed in 1981, Datawatch Systems remotely monitors hundreds of thousands of doors in more than 4,000 buildings throughout North America. The company began by providing services to customers throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area and has since expanded to various international clients. Today, its portfolio includes Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and more. The company prides itself on protecting building owners, tenants, and property managers with its security systems for more than 30 years.

To assist with the expansion, the Maryland Department of Commerce is providing a $50,000 training grant through the Partnership for Workforce Quality (PWQ) program, and Montgomery County is providing an $80,000 conditional grant through its Economic Development Fund. The company is also eligible for various tax credits including the state’s Job Creation Tax Credit.

“We are happy to have Datawatch as part of the community of great cutting-edge companies that call Montgomery County home,” said County Executive Ike Leggett.

“This expansion is a powerful testimonial to our business-friendly climate here in Maryland,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “We are thrilled to support Datawatch’s commitment to Maryland and we look forward to watching them grow the state’s security sector and talented technology workforce.”

The post Datawatch Systems expands headquarters in Bethesda appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/07/datawatch-systems-expands-headquarters-in-bethesda/

Michigan Thursday: Moe and Duncan Playing Well In The Summer League

It seems the Miami Heat really wanted Duncan Robinson to join their summer league team:


"That was somebody that Chet went after right away as soon as the draft was over," Heat summer-league coach Eric Glass said of Heat Vice President of Player Personnel Chet Kammerer. "You can see why. Chet doesn't miss on too many guys."


Robinson, who was personally recruited by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra after going undrafted, could be making a case for a two-way contract or even the roster spot held at the end of last season by Babbitt, who again is a free agent.


Duncan is playing well so far:  he is averaging 25 minutes a game, 11 points and shooting 62%.


Mo is also playing well and is averaging 27.5 minutes and scoring 15 points per game. 


Derrick Walton Jr. is playing 33 minutes per but averaging less then 5 points per game but averaging 5 assists.

• One of  the best players in the 2019 class is from Ohio and very interested in the Wolverines. Zach Harrison is a 5 star DE from Ohio and has 100% crystal balls to OSU.  He visited Michigan and OSU in back to back weekends prior to Nike's Opening and now says "he is as confused as ever".    It seems like its a two team race between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes.  Both have very good head coaches and great defensive line coaches.  One is 20 minutes away from home and another is a few hours:  "There are positives and negatives," Harrison said. "The positives are that I'd be the hometown hero. Everybody loves Ohio State, and who's not a Buckeye that lives 20 minutes from Ohio State? The negative is sometimes you just wanna get away from home, be on your own a little bit. When your parents are 20 minutes away that's kind of hard to do."  Zach is planning to announce his decision on 8/14 which is his birthday.  Zach being confused on where he wants to go, is a positive right now for the Wolverines who still has to convince the 5 star to leave home.   The third team he is considering is Penn State.

Any guess which number Zach is wearing in the above photo from twitter and Michigan's big June visit weekend?


Yes, he is #13 in the above photo.   Yes, Please!



from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-thursday-moe-and-duncan.html

Happy 4th of July and Quinten Johnson Commits

Commit-a-palooza doesn't stop it just pauses for a few days!


Michigan landed Nike Opening Invite and 3 Star DB Quinten Johnson on Tuesday.  QJ seems a bit under ranked at the moment getting 3 stars across the board but receiving an invite to the premier camp/event of the summer.  


He got to the Opening doing this a the Nike camp in Vegas:   He started the day off with a bang and had the top testing score in the event with a 125.70 Rating. At a rocked out 5-11, 195 pounds, Johnson clocked a 4.48-40, 4.17 shuttle, threw the power ball 47.5’ and jumped 35” in the vertical.


He was equally impressive in the position and one on one drills and showed the ability to play corner or safety. He has a safety frame but showed very good feet and quickness and plays with a nice physical edge to his game.


That doesn't sound like a 3 star player to me?  But the best way to confirm is the offers.   He has offers from the likes of Alabama, Arizona, UNC,  Penn State, Maryland, BC, Virginia and others.   His offer list was growing and his Bama offer came after preforming at their camp.   So the coaches got to see him up close and personal.


After the Bama offer and the Opening performance, I expect Johnson is headed to a 4th star on one or two of the services.


Johnson is also an athlete that can play offense or defense and can line up at CB, Safety, or even Viper for the Wolverines in the future.   A player with that type of flexibility is a Harbaugh trade mark  His main recruiter is Coach Partridge which might show that the Wolverines are thinking Viper for young man from DC.









I expect the Wolverines and Commit-a-palooza is done for awhile, but you never know!  

• Shea Patterson signs a tiny contract with the Texas Rangers for some reason.   I guess if football doesn't work out, he can go Tim Tebow or a reverse Drew Henson.

Enjoy the 4th everyone!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/happy-4th-of-july-and-quinten-johnson.html

Michigan Tuesday: More Help For The Perfect Vision Class

I'm a big fan of building your football team with strong offensive and defensive lines.   I believe having a strong offensive line can make your running back look great and your QB an accurate passer.   A strong defensive line can make the opposing offense struggle for first downs and scoring points.


Michigan has also struggled in recruiting these two areas for the last 10 years or so.  The offensive line has gotten 4 and 5 star guys that didn't work out.  The defensive line (tackles) for awhile was full of 3 star guys that Greg Mattison turned into NFL players. 


That is why I get excited when OT's and DT's commit to the Wolverines.  Last night, Michigan took a peek into the future when DT Denver Warren committed to the 2020 class.  He is 6'2 and 318 pounds and hasn't played his junior year of high school football yet.   He is listed as a 4 star to 24/7 composite with early offers from  Michigan State, Penn State, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Duke and more.


Welcome Big Man and enjoy your high school experience for two more year and we will see you in Ann Abor soon!


That is 3 commits for the Wolverines in the last two days.   Is it over?





Nope!  Quinten Johnson is expected to announce today at Nike's Opening.  He is a 3 star Safety from DC.

• Michigan is in the final 5 for 2020 five-star OL Myles Hinton.  Myles of course is the brother of 2019 commit Chris.   Georgia, Clemson, Stanford and Northwestern round out the 5.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-tuesday-more-help-for-perfect.html

Michigan Monday: Eric Gray and Breaking News David Ojabo Commits To Michigan

Eric Gray is one of the top "All Purpose Backs" in the 2019 class.  His skill set allows him to run off tackle or catch passes down field for first downs.   Which is exactly the type of RB that Jimmy loves.   See Chris Evans on the roster for an example of Eric's doppelganger. 


Eric is a 4 star rated to all the services minus Rivals which lists him as a 3.  He is 5'10 and just under 200 pounds.  He is also at Nike's Opening this weekend and already lighting up the drills.   His offer list is a crazy one with the headliners being: Bama, Ole Miss, PSU, Tennessee, Texas, A&M, Arkansas, Miami, and many more.   Eric has been named Mr. Tennessee in back-to-back years and clearly a big loss for the Tennessee's program not keeping him at home.


Michigan now has 2 RB's in the 2019 class and probably the best duo in the country.  They are completely done at RB, unless 5 star Quavaris Couch wants to play at the Big House.  (even though he can play a handful of positions).











While I was writing up the Eric Gray commitment, Dave Ojabo committed to the Wolverines this morning.    Dave is a pure athlete at DE and maybe the recruit with the highest ceiling in the country.  He has been playing football only for a year and could sky rocket in his skills as he continues to learn the game.


Here is his path to the football field:


“(David Ojabo) was born in Nigeria, then he moved to Scotland when he was about seven, eight-years-old,” Saylor said. “Parents live in Scotland now but goes back and forth from Scotland to Nigeria – works for Shell Oil.
“He came to Blair Academy two years ago. As a junior, he played basketball and soccer. He was on the basketball team with [2018 top-100 Penn State DE] Jayson (Oweh), saw how Jayson was blowing up, came into my office and said, ‘hey coach. I’m more athletic and I’m tougher than Jayson. Do you mind if I play football next year?’ He’s 6-5, 240-pounds. I looked at him and said, ‘Oh yeah. You can play some football next year.’


As you see David has the frame at 6'5 and 240 pounds but lacks experience playing football which  pretty much guarantees him 3 stars.   His offer list is impressive which rounds out over 30, with the likes of BC, Harvard, Ohio State, Clemson, ASU, Baylor, ND, MSU, Ole Miss, PSU, Duke, Nebraska, and many more.


Remember when I wrote about Michigan needing a DE if Stephen Herron Jr. decides to go to Stanford over Michigan?  This commit feels that void.   If Herron stays in the class, Michigan still has a guy they can develop in his football skills and in weight room. Don't be surprised if Coach Mattison turns David into a strong NFL prospect.


Welcome both Eric and David!!!

• Nik Stauskas signed a free agent deal to play with the Trial Blazers.

• GR3 is coming home and signed with the Pistons.

I will leave this here as commit-a-palooza part 2 could continue today and/or Tuesday. 









from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/07/michigan-monday-eric-gray-and-breaking.html