Covington (Ga.) Newton running back Kurt Taylor
While many of the recruiting headlines for Michigan over the weekend were focused on a surprising official visit from Paramus (N.J.) Catholic five-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary, it’s a couple other prospects who may be making headlines themselves soon. Boulder (Colo.) Fairview 2016 defensive end Carlo Kemp and Covington (Ga.) Newton 2017 running back Kurt Taylor could be close to making their college choices.
Kemp, a 6-foot-3, 250-pounder ranked the No. 9 weakside defensive end and No. 23 overall prospect nationally in the 2016 class, hopes to make his college commitment by early December, in order to enroll the following month at the school of his choice. After last weekend’s trip to Ann Arbor, Notre Dame (Oct. 9), Colorado and UCLA (dates TBD) are the final steps before a college commitment. However, the choice could come even sooner.
“I’m trying to take all four, but once you get that feeling of ‘if you know, then you know,’ I might just have to commit then and make sure the school knows I’m invested in them and they have been invested in me, and show them the ultimate respect,” he said, then added, “I’m just taking my time before I commit. I still have to go out and see Notre Dame for sure.”
Should Taylor commit to the Wolverines, he would become the third pledge in a 2017 class that already includes three-stars Carter Dunaway (a Birmingham Brother Rice tight end) and Benjamin St. Juste (a cornerback from Canada who recently reclassified from the 2016 class). The 5-9, 201-pound Taylor is the No. 19 running back nationally in the 2017 class, and like Kemp, sounded blown away by his trip to Michigan.
“Last week, I went to the Georgia and South Carolina game,” he said. “The Michigan game was just… ‘more.’ It was more exciting, more fans, the atmosphere was better at Michigan, it was just ‘more.”
“I’ll make my decision after this year, after my junior year,” he added. “I will definitely know where I want to go by then.”
Both Kemp and Taylor were making a second visit to Ann Arbor. Coincidentally, each was in town in early August for the BBQ at the Big House recruiting event. Should both end up Wolverines, the seeds may have been sown at that time.
Tim Sullivan is the Football Recruiting Editor of The Wolverine magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a contributor to national football recruiting coverage on the Rivals.com network. You can follow him on Twitter @TimS_Wolverine.