ESPN Midwest recruiting Blog

Posted by Bill Kurelic

Quarterback Malik Stokes (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) is the younger brother of wide receiver Je'Ron Stokes, who signed with Michigan in February. The Stokes brothers headed for Michigan this past weekend and the trip has already paid dividends for Malik.

Malik, Je'Ron and their father stopped at Michigan on Saturday to drop Je'Ron off for the beginning of his college career with the Wolverines. Malik attended Michigan's senior camp the same day.

"It went well," Malik said. "The (Michigan) coaches liked me a lot. They said I have a strong arm and all the intangibles. They said they don't want to throw anymore quarterback offers out there right now since they already have two commitments. But they will see what happens."

After working out at Michigan's camp, Malik and his father headed to Central Michigan's camp on Monday, and by the end of the day Malik had a scholarship offer.

"They said they are going to offer," Malik said. "They can't give me the official offer while I'm on campus, but they said I'll get it when I get home."

Malik and his father will finish the trip with a stop at Michigan State's camp on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder threw for 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior season. He said he is interested in every school in contact including Eastern Michigan, Michigan, Michigan State, Boston College, Virginia, Wake Forest, Maryland, Temple, Clemson and Louisville.

Is Virginia lineman Big Ten bound?

ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive lineman Evan Hailes (Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith) has narrowed his list of 30 scholarship offers down to five schools. Soon that list will be down to just one.

"I have a top five," Hailes said. "It's Penn State, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, North Carolina State and LSU. I've visited Virginia Tech and Tennessee so far. I visit Penn State this Friday.

"After I visit Penn State I'll make my decision. I'll decide at the end of this week or beginning of next week."

The 6-1, 315-pounder made 81 tackles including 11 sacks last season in helping his team go undefeated and win a state championship.

Gillliam narrows the field

Linebacker Joe Gilliam (Indianapolis/Southport) has 11 scholarship offers, but said his decision is really down to five schools, and maybe one other school he does not yet have an offer from.

"I've narrowed it down to Nebraska, Northwestern, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Purdue," Gilliam said when asked about his 11 offers. "And I'm still considering Notre Dame a little bit. They haven't offered. We'll see what happens. I might go to their camp in July."

Gilliam has visited Purdue and Northwestern. He will likely visit Vanderbilt the week of July 13, and hopes to visit Stanford by the end of the summer. Gilliam is not sure when he will visit Nebraska.

Gilliam is in no rush to select a college. In fact, it seems it will be quite awhile before he does so.

"I'm going to try and take all five official visits, and then make a decision after that," Gilliam said.