Manningham and Michigan links

First of all, I want to pass along this link to Coach Lloyd Carr's speech in the locker room after a 41-35 win over Florida on Tuesday.

Secondly, I want to answer a question posted by my buddy Peter who asked if Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham is ready to make an impact at the professional level. In my opinion, yes, he is. Though he had a dismal game against Ohio State catching only five passes for 34 yards while dropping at least as many as he caught. But that was the one blemish on his resume.

In all, he caught 72 passes for 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007 despite only 12 games. In fact, he ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifveraged over 16 yards per catch, and almost 100 yards per game.

But remember he is only a junior, and still has the option of returning for a senior season. As you can imagine, I'm glued to the two leading Michigan football blogs: MGoBlog and Michigan Sports Center. According to a story by Michigan Sports Center, Manningham is reportedly going to stay for his senior year. Generally, it had been accepted that he was going to go pro, but it seems by this story that he is leaning toward staying.

My opinion is that he will stay if Mallett transfers (which, according to the same story, he will) because they reportedly don't have the best relationship. Also, if Michigan gets consensus No. 1 recruit Terrelle Pryor (Vince Young-like quarterback), he'll be posting some big numbers in the spread offense next year. Pryor is expected to announce his future plans this Saturday at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the high school football all-star game, but has said that's false and is expected to visit Michigan in late January.

Pryor has narrowed his choices to Michigan, Duke, Florida, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn St. Pryor reportedly wants to play basketball too. His cousin plays for the Michigan football team, so that along with the hiring of noted spread head coach Rich Rodriguez has made him put Michigan near the top of his list. Also, he and five-star running back who has committed to Michigan Sam McGuffie are now Facebook friends according to MGoBlog.

Here's what Pryor said about Michigan: "(Rich Rodriguez's) excited and so was I. Michigan was on my early list, and now their right up there again. He's a great coach and I like his offense."

Hopefully he picks Michigan.

Long answer short, if Manningham decides to leave, he'll make a great prospect for a mid-to-late first round choice. He does have a tendency to drop easy passes, but makes tough catches look easy. That and he's very, very fast.

Just a few more recruiting notes: Michigan has been assured by top recruits running back Sam McGuffie (who you can see on YouTube many, many times) and cornerback Boubacar Cissoko that they will keep their commitments to Michigan. If Pryor signs, that would bring in three five-star recruits in a combination of Carr's last recruiting class and Rodriguez's first recruiting class. That to go along 10 four-star recruits and three three-star recruits. Michigan is still waiting to hear from an additional five-star recruit, and seven four-star recruits.

You can watch many recruits this weekend, including six players who have committed to Michigan and another four who are currently being recruited.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl:
West
Sam McGuffie (RB) Committed (5 Star, #6 RB, #50 Overall)
Nick Perry (DE) Recruit (4 Star, #7 DE, #61 Overall)

East
Boubacar Cissoko (CB) Committed (5 Star, #3 CB, #28 Overall)
Terrelle Pryor (QB) Recruit (5 Star, #1 QB, #2 Overall)
Shayne Hale (DE) Recruit (5 Star, #3 DE, #37 Overall)
Brandon Smith (DB) Recruit (committed at All-Star game) (4 Star, #5 S, #70 Overall)

Under Armour All-American Game:
Team Red
Darryl Stonum (WR) Committed (4 Star, #9 WR, #52 Overall)
Dann O'Neill (OG) Committed (4 Star, #15 OT)
Christian Wilson (OLB/FB) Committed (4 Star, #19 TE)
Brandon Moore (TE) Committed (3 Star, #45 TE)

In more local recruiting news, Washington is bringing in one of their best--if not the best--recruiting class ever. Right now, I think keeping Tyrone Willingham has been one of their best decisions. Behind Jake Locker who just finished his freshman year, the Huskies look poised to challenge USC in the coming years.