Shane Morris still recruiting hard for Michigan football team, California DL Joe Mathis nearly joined 2013 class

By Rich Rezler Freelance Sports Reporter

Posted on Sat, Apr 7, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.

Spring break at Warren De La Salle High School started on Thursday. In his free time, Pilots' quarterback Shane Morris was doing a little recruiting for his future school.

The first Michigan football verbal commitment for the 2013 recruiting class, Morris was wooing potential classmates while also being named quarterback MVP at the Adidas Best of the Midwest Invitational on Saturday.

"I'm trying to get to (Upland, Calif., defensive lineman) Joe Mathis, I haven't had a chance to see him. I heard he was up at Michigan and liked it a lot so I'll try and get with him," Morris told CBSSports.com college football recruiting blogger Bryan Fisher. "I heard (Fort Wayne, Ind., linebacker) Jaylon Smith is about to commit to Notre Dame but I don't know about all that. I'll definitely talk to him and see how things are going."

Morris was one of several Michigan commits at the event, which included more than 200 prospects.

Tim Sullivan, recruiting editor of TheWolverine.com, evaluated the play of Morris, Detroit Crockett tight end Khalid Hill, Detroit Cass Tech cornerback Jourdan Lewis, Detroit Cass Tech offensive lineman David Dawson and a number of Michigan recruiting targets.

Of Morris, Sullivan wrote:

The 6-3, 190-pound lefty ... bounced back from an up-and-down performance at the Dallas Elite 11 tryout in a big way. His arm strength is well-known, but his accuracy was picture-perfect the entire afternoon, and he showed more ability to put touch on passes than he has at times in the past. Although it seems unlikely, Morris might have raised his stock even higher than it already was.

Dawson was voted the camp's best offensive lineman and Lewis was the best defensive back.

CBSSports.com reported that Michigan recruit Kyle Bosch was also at the event to "hang out with" his fellow future Wolverines, but didn't compete.

One of Morris' primary recruiting targets nearly joined that group this weekend. Mathis, a 4-star Rivals.com recruit, combined the invitational with an unofficial visit to the Michigan campus.

He told CBSSports.com that he came close to committing to the Wolverines.

"I was going to (commit) but I said that would be selfish because I didn't see other schools," he said. "Michigan is number one on my list. I don't have a top five, it's Michigan and that's it. I did have a top five with USC but I was like, that's selfish of me because I didn't see other schools. Coming out here, my mom was saying it was going to be too cold out here but this is me. I love the coaches and this is me out here."

Mathis added that the visit was much better than recent unofficial trips to USC and UCLA as well. He'll take in Nebraska in the coming weeks and hinted that the Cornhuskers could be in his top three, which has shifted East quite a bit over the past week. The Michigan coaching staff left a very good impression for the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder this week however and will have others with a tough fight in their hands for the versatile California athlete.

Update: Mathis also spoke to Wolverine Nation reporter Chantel Jennings in this video report, telling her Michigan was among his top five college choices and that he'd make an official visit during the season.