Kicker, two three-star recruits verbally commit to Michigan
By DAVE DYE
FOX Sports Detroit
Jan. 22, 2011
Michigan coach Brady Hoke received an oral commitment Saturday from a much-needed kicker, along with two three-star recruits.
Matt Wile, who is from San Diego, made his decision during an official visit to the U-M campus. Hoke had recruited Wile when he was still coaching at San Diego State.
Wile is not ranked by Scout.com, but he was selected for the prestigious Army All-American game. Wile also considered Air Force and Nebraska.
He will have a good chance to win the job right away. Michigan's kickers were 4-for-14 on field-goal attempts last season.
In his last two years of high school, Wile made 19-of-24 field goals with a long of 49 yards. Several of his family members attended Michigan, including his father.
Michigan also received commitments from two other players who had planned to go elsewhere before coaching changes at those schools.
Raymon Taylor, a 5-foot-11, 172-pound cornerback, originally committed to Indiana. He also considered Iowa, Illinois and Pittsburgh.
Taylor, who made a visit to Michigan over the weekend, is the 49th-best cornerback in the nation, according to Scout.com. He had 15 interceptions in his last two seasons.
Keith Heitzman, a 6-3, 222-pound tight end, previously committed to Vanderbilt. He is from Hillard, Ohio, near Columbus, and grew up an Ohio State fan.
Heitzman, ranked as the No. 63 tight end nationally, also considered Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana.
Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell resigned after the season while Bill Lynch was fired by Indiana.
Hoke, meanwhile, was hired Jan. 11 to replace Rich Rodriguez. Hoke has received four commitments since taking over.
The Wolverines now have around 15 commitments, although some have been considering other options since Rodriguez was fired.
The latest additions moved Michigan's class to No. 35 overall, sixth in the Big Ten, in the Scout.com rankings.
Players can begin signing official letters of intent on Feb. 2.