Michigan in Top Five for Marc Tyler

Michigan has made the top five for running back Marc Tyler of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif. However, while it appeared USC and Notre Dame at one time had the inside track, Tyler spoke Thursday with GoBlueWolverine.com and said things are now wide open.

The son of former UCLA running back great Wendell Tyler finally received an offer from his father's alma mater, and that changed a lot of things. “I got offered by UCLA (on Feb. 21),” Marc Tyler recently told Scout.com. “It took them a long time to offer me, but now that they have, I’m going to really look at them.” Tyler said he is now sitting with over 20 offers.

On Thursday, the 6-foot-0, 205-pound Tyler told GoBlueWolverine.com that his top five were USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Michigan. "I've been to USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, and Tennessee," he said, "I won't be going to any camps for combines because I really don't need to go. I'm open now and don't have any favorites. I'd like to decide at the U.S. Army game if I make it."

He added that his father isn't pushing him one way or the other. "All the schools I'm looking at, including Michigan, have top academics and top football programs," he said. "That's what I'm looking for."

While listing a top five, Tyler did add that South Carolina is also making an impression on him. "They're recruiting me and Jimmy (Clausen) hard," he said. "I really like Coach Spurrier."

The five-star talent rushed for 2,193 yards and 39 touchdowns as a junior. In the CIF Southern Section Division XI Championship game against Grace Brethren, a 49-0 Oaks Christian rout, Tyler scored six touchdowns, including five on the ground.