Blue-chip linebacker E.J. Levenberry Jr. will reportedly decide between Michigan and Florida State on Tuesday
Updated: Michigan football team misses on elite linebacker recruit E.J. Levenberry
The Michigan football program may be on the verge of its 18th commitment for 2013.
And this one would be the highest-rated player yet.
According to multiple outlets, including TheWolverine.com, 2013 outside linebacker prospect E.J. Levenberry Jr. will decide between Michigan and Florida State at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-3, 226-pound Levenberry, from Woodbridge, Va., is the No. 15 prospect in Rivals.com's Top 100 for 2013.
Levenberry is currently rated as the third-best linebacker in the class, slotted one spot higher than 2013 quarterback commit Shane Morris.
In an interview with the Detroit Free Press on Monday, Levenberry's father, Eric, said Brady Hoke's staff has gone all out on the recruiting trail in search of a commitment from his son.
“Michigan has done everything that they can do to get him to come there,” he said. “There’s nothing more they can do. Michigan is going to do something special. They’re going to play for the national championship in the next four years.”
Should he verbal to Michigan, he'd be the program's 18th pledge for 2013 -- and the Wolverines' third linebacker commit.
Michigan already has commitments from four-star linebackers Mike McCray (the country's No. 44 overall player, per Rivals) and Ben Gedeon.
Levenberry, a four-star prospect, would give the Wolverines 14 Rivals.com four-star pledges for 2013.
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Robert Granville
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
It comes down to Michigan's family atmosphere vs. the criminal justice major at FSU. Michigan doesn't offer that major. After EJ, there are several blue chip recruits that Michigan is battling other top flight programs for. Laquon Treadwell, Eddie Vanderdoes, Henry Poggi, Joe Mathis, Ty Isaac, and Su'a Cravens all come to mind. Here's to a more satisfying close to the class than last year. It was a great class but missing on those last few big targets was disappointing.
towny
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:57 a.m.
Oh Yeah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Michigan Go Blue ................1.
ted
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 7:32 a.m.
The insight I bring to the table tells me that Levenberry will definately choose...
ted
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:10 p.m.
I believe he will choose Florida St.
umgoblue47
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:33 p.m.
you mean that little voice in your head? GO BLUE!!!!!!
sid haque
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.
school in ohio lol
ted
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 7:33 a.m.
And it's because what I am hearing from the sources I have....
Scott Laux
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 6:56 a.m.
Weather Levenberry comes or not there will be fine prospects transferring because they can't crack the lineup. Here are the rivals ratings of the incoming recruits; Bolden (7), Jenkins-Stone (9), Ross (14), Ringer (17), Mccray (8), Gedeon (8) Our current linebacker staff is probably the best in the Big Ten- yet look at the rivals rating of these guys when they were recruited. Demens (23), Hawthorne (35), Ryan (30) Morgan (not ranked)
81wolverine
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 1:12 a.m.
Levenberry is a very good player and I hope he goes Blue tomorrow. His rankings are across the board though. ESPN has him much lower for some reason. But, if Hoke and Mattison want him, that's good enough for me. Both schools visited his high school today, so you know they both want him.
truebluefan
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:57 a.m.
Awesome recruiting for 2013! Question, how can Levenberry be #15 overall per Rivals and not be a 5-star?
PillowRock
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:30 a.m.
So far Rivals has only given a fifth star to 11 recruits in the class of 2013.
Poorman
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:36 a.m.
Why are all these non-Michigan people on today? Must be scared, I would fear Mattison and E.J. if it were me too. This kid is a beast and coach Greg Mattison will get him to play like Ray for Sundays. Tuesday, from tomorrow forward will be renamed E.J.Day. Get the trophy case cleared so that BSC national championship will fit on the shelf for the 2012 and 2013 classes. Go Blue! Top class in the country coming to town.
DB
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:32 a.m.
I know that the schedule is supposed to be against us this year (according to every analyst and football "guru"), but just imagine 2013 for a sec... If so called experts can't see that Crystal Football in our trophy case this year, it will def be in there '13 &'14! GO BLUE!!!
GoBigBlue
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:20 a.m.
The rivals analyst has him as a 60 40 lean to FSU. If we get him great, of not we are in great shape at LB so all is not lost. That being said, I hope we get him. : )
Terry Star21
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.
Tough to read Dad; "Michigan has done all they can do"....then on the other hand, "Michigan will play for a National Championship in the next four years"..... However it turns, JR would be very welcome at Michigan and I hope he choses right. MgoBlueForTiM....hope to welcome JR, sorry MM Ted...
Terry Star21
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
"chooses", were is that delete button...
michboy40
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 11:25 p.m.
Michigan has faired well with Virginia kids in the past. Not sure what E J's attraction to FSU is?...if it's easier courses, hot girls, or beaches and nice weather, then I'm guessing he will go to FSU. If he wants to go to the NFL, get a quality education, and get a shot at a National Title, then he should go to Michigan
Scott Laux
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 6:34 a.m.
Lived in Florida one year. Couldn't wait to get out. High Crime, crowded, unhappy old people, crack pipes sold in every gas station. Couldn't wait to get out.
PillowRock
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:08 a.m.
>> Not sure what E J's attraction to FSU is? From what I've read elsewhere on the net, his choice for specific major ("computer forensics" as I recall) isn't offered at UM but is at FSU. It's not an unreasonable thing to count in favor of FSU academically. I think that UM could get reasonably close with the right choice of double majors. Plus, of course, a large percentage of students don't end up graduating in the major that they were thinking about as HS juniors. So I don't know how much weight that will necessarily have. Certainly, if the major was an immediately deal breaker then UM would not have made it into his final 2.
GeeWhiz
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 10:23 p.m.
I think he is all FSU. Michigan is fairly stacked at the linebacker position between the 2012 and 2013 classes.
Phil
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
Hate to sound like a downer but Mr. Levenberry's comments definitely sound conciliatory in nature - IE: UM did all they could to land E.J., but unfortunately (for us) he'll be attending FSU - hope I'm wrong. GO BLUE!
The1Cool
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 9:05 p.m.
Boom.
ted
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 7:25 a.m.
That kid went on to do great things! He doesn't need anyone's pity !
garrisondyer
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:15 a.m.
Haaahaha. DVB, thanks for that. Haven't thought of that poor kid on the news in a long while.
David Vande Bunte
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
goes the dynamite.