Michigan football team misses on elite linebacker recruit E.J. Levenberry
Four-star linebacker E.J. Levenberry announced Tuesday afternoon he will play football at Florida State next year, according to Rivals.com.
The Woodbridge, Va., native chose the Seminoles over Michigan during a news conference at C.D. Hylton High School. He is ranked the No. 3 outside linebacker in the country by Rivals, and the No. 7 outside linebacker by Scout.
Finishing runner-up for a player that highly touted is never welcomed, but the Wolverines can adsorb the miss as well as anyone.
They already have two four-star linebackers verbally committed to their 2013 class in Ben Gedeon and Mike McCray -- the top two linebackers in Ohio, according to Scout.
That haul comes on the heels of a plentiful 2012 class, which featured four elite linebackers in Royce Jenkins-Stone, Joe Bolden, Kaleb Ringer and James Ross.
Jenkins-Stone is ranked by Scout as the top player in Michigan. Bolden and Ringer, both Ohio natives, already are on campus as early-enrolled true freshmen.
That brings the total to six elite incoming linebackers spanning the next two classes, which infuses significant depth at a position already brimming with young talent on the current roster.
Jake Ryan (strong side) and Desmond Morgan (weak side) started last year as freshmen.
The Wolverines' 2013 class numbers 17 commits, the most in the Big Ten.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
Arborcomment
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 10:45 p.m.
Lengthy article in today''s Washington Post. It came down to M or FSU and was decided late Monday night. Selected FSU because he feels the program for his selected major (computer forensics) is better at FSU. He wants to go into law enforcement after school. Sounds like a fine young man. Wish him well.
81wolverine
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
Like the article says, this is not a big loss from the standpoint of position depth, since we are in very good shape at LB (for once!). Plus, it gives us a scholarship we can use for another elite prospect at a position where we do need more depth. The coaches put in a lot of work recruiting Levenberry, but they know it's part of the game. We just move on to the other players we need to get. And you never know, Levenberry may re-think his decision before signing day. So, it's always a good idea to keep the bridges up and open.
chuck
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
THATS OK...WE CANNOT GET them all !!!!
DB
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
We recruited this kid harder and longer than University. It still stings with me. Just hope it doesn't have a domino perfect with the rest of the recruiting period. GO BLUE!!!
Ted Bundy
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.
According to the 247sports FSU site, theyve been recruiting Levenberry for 3 years. UM got in on him late. But we did recruit him hard the past three months or so.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 5:20 a.m.
1. We all know Michigan's recruiting has been exceptional since Hoke took charge. 2. We all know that, just to be in competition with traditionally strong teams like Florida State (in the SEC, aren't they?) is indicative of Michigan's great reputation out there. 3. We all know: that the real question is WHEN Michigan will start beating out-of-conference foes with national reputations. Not IF, but WHEN.
DB
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 11:15 a.m.
ACC
Scott Laux
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 3:27 a.m.
Who knows- could be guys like Bolden, Jenkins-Stone, Ross, Ringer, Mccray, Gedeon. will turn out to be better anyways.
Blue Marker
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
He and his father had some nice things to say about Michigan. If he would have picked UM we'd all be talking about what a great kid he is. Good luck to him at FSU. I hope Michigan finishes this class strong!
DB
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 11:14 a.m.
My sentiments exactly. Very disappointing, but Levenberry is a standup kid. Besides, its not like we lost him to a rival. GO BLUE!!!
A2D2
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.
word on street has it that FSU has cooler dorms..........
michboy40
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 1:16 a.m.
It's also hotter, in the weather and chicks department.
Terry Star21
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
Also cooler cells, it would appear....
ted
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
I knew it. This is what I predicted earlier on the previous Levenberry post. It's a shame we turned away the Maryland LB, because we may have been able to draw his teammate Fuller in addition. This is a huge disappointment.
blue91mba
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
I'm so glad we have you around to remind us, lest we forget, why we hate Buckeye fans. Go shave a nut, Troll.
Steve McQueen
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
boo hoo concern troll
Terry Star21
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
I wasn't aware ohio was in the mix for this guy too.....so sorry buddy...
A2D2
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
calm down, we'll be fine........
Hailmary
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
We'll be just fine ted.
umgoblue47
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
it would have been nice to get him but it's not the end of the world. . . we are sitting pretty good at linebacker!! GO BLUE!!!!!!