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2015 Season Countdown: #70 Grant Perry

Grant Perry (left, with Jack Dunaway)

Name: Grant Perry
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #9
Last year: Perry was a senior in high school. He caught 107 passes for 1,727 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was a 247 Composite 3-star, the #109 wide receiver, and #866 overall.
TTB Rating: 71

Perry was the guy who kept hanging around Michigan and hanging around Michigan until he finally got an offer. Brady Hoke kept telling Perry to keep coming back and that the staff liked him, but they just never pulled the trigger on an offer. Jim Harbaugh’s staff came in and didn’t immediately bite, but very late in the process, they gave him an official offer and he accepted shortly before National Signing Day. Fellow Michigan signee Alex Malzone’s favorite receiver in high school, Perry was extremely prolific for the powerhouse offense at Brother Rice. Those numbers would be outstanding for college or NFL receivers, and high schoolers usually can’t replicate that kind of production.

Perry is really the first player on the countdown where I think, “Well, he could  start if certain things go his way.” He is not the biggest or most explosive player around, but while Michigan has “big,” they basically lack “explosive.” The Wolverines have a bunch of possession guys with a couple others who have some athleticism but haven’t shown anything on the field yet. I do not think Perry has a chance of being the #1 guy, but he could potentially work in the slot, find his way open, and become a possession guy. The toughest part of the transition for him will be blocking, because he is not large and receivers have to block in a run-heavy offense like Michigan’s will be. If he can’t chop down a nickel corner or outside linebacker once in a while, he won’t see the field much.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

Visitors: June 19-21, 2015

Montgomery (AL) Greenville defensive end Marlon Davidson (image via Scout)

TRANSFER
Jhonathon Williams – DE – Notre Dame: Williams, who graduated from Berrien Springs (MI) Berrien Springs, was recruited by Michigan out of high school in the 2014 class. He was a 247 Composite 3-star, the #46 strongside end, and #984 overall. Aside from a few MAC schools, Missouri, San Diego State, and Washington also pursued him. He was listed at 6’4″, 260 lbs. on Notre Dame’s roster but did not play at all, redshirt in 2014. Williams did not grow up in Michigan so he does not have a strong affinity for the in-state schools. He has been granted his release from the Fighting Irish, and he is also looking at Duke, Missouri, and Toledo.

2016
Tony Butler – CB – Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Butler is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect who committed to Pitt in March; he also has offers from Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Rutgers, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #55 cornerback, and #609 overall. Butler is a former player of newly minted director of football operations Rick Finotti at St. Edward, and the Wolverines are thought to be making a push. However, Butler also covets an Ohio State offer, and while it may not be coming anytime soon, that would probably be his preferred destination. UPDATE: Butler had some car trouble and was unable to visit. He said on Twitter that he would reschedule.


Marlon Davidson – DE – Montgomery (AL) Greenville: Davidson is a 6’4″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #3 strongside end, and #23 overall. Davidson recently camped at Michigan’s satellite stop in Prattville, AL, but his Crystal Ball is 100% in favor of the home state Auburn Tigers. UPDATE: Davidson corrected the recruiting sites by saying he’ll visit on July 19, not in June.


Jonathan Jones – LB – Orlando (FL) Oak Ridge: Jones is a 6’1″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Georgia, LSU, Miami, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #28 outside linebacker, and #403 overall. Jones recently had a good visit to Duke, but he is expected by many to commit to Michigan, perhaps even as early as this visit, which is taking place on June 17th. He has already set his official visit date for September 25th.

Hit the jump for another couple 2016 prospects and several 2017 players who will be on campus.


Josh Mueller – DE – Thiensville (WI) Homestead: Mueller is a 6’6″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa State, Nevade, and some MAC programs. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #76 strongside end, and #1584 overall.

Jimmie Taylor – DE – Jacksonville (NC) Southwest: Taylor is a 6’3″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #48 weakside end, and #777 overall. He is considered to be leaning toward North Carolina.

2017
Tarik Black – WR – Cheshire (CT) Cheshire Academy: Black is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Duke, Maryland, Michigan, Rutgers, and UConn, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #15 wide receiver, and #99 overall. On his swing through the midwest, he also plans to visit Ohio State.

Jack Coan – QB – West Sayville (TX) Sayville: Coan is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Rutgers, and Syracuse. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #12 pro-style quarterback, and #291 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he completed 195/327 passes for 3,431 yards and 40 touchdowns. This will be Coan’s first visit to Michigan. As of right now, he and Dylan McCaffrey appear to be the two most likely quarterbacks to end up in Michigan’s 2017 class.

Jake Moretti – OT – Arvada (CA) Pomona: Moretti is a 6’5″, 285 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #10 offensive tackle, and #69 overall. His Crystal Ball has two votes for Colorado, but an Oregon offer last month may have propelled the Ducks beyond the Buffaloes.

Josh Palmer – WR – Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas: Palmer is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan and Temple. He participated in the International Bowl last year and is transferring from a school in Canada to St. Thomas Aquinas, so he’s new to the south and doesn’t have allegiances down there. He attended the Sound Mind Sound Body camp two weeks ago in Macomb, MI.

Drew Singleton – LB – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Singleton is a 6’2″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #11 outside linebacker, and #142 overall. He is a teammate of 2016 defensive tackle Rashan Gary, 2016 wide receiver Donald Stewart, and 2017 defensive end Corey Bolds, all of whom have Michigan offers, and his former head coach is Michigan recruiting coordinator Chris Partridge. Singleton’s Crystal Ball is 100% in favor of Michigan.

Brock Wright – TE – Cypress (TX) Cy-Fair: Wright is a 6’4″, 243 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Baylor, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #1 tight end, and #57 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he caught 17 passes for 369 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wright attended Michigan’s satellite camp in Houston, so he is familiar with the coaching staff already. He will be in town on Thursday, June 18.

2018
Allan Walters – QB – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Walters is a 6’2″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Rutgers and Temple. A teammate of Singleton’s, Walters will likely be the starting quarterback this fall for the perennial powerhouse. UPDATE: Walters was offered on his visit to campus.

2015 Season Countdown: #71 Tyree Kinnel

Tyree Kinnel

Name: Tyree Kinnel
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Huber Heights (OH) Wayne
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #17
Last year: Kinnel was a senior in high school. He was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #11 safety, and #195 overall.
TTB Rating: 74

Kinnel was an early commit to the 2015 class, pledging in August of 2013 going into his junior year. Despite efforts by other schools to flip him, he stayed true to his word and signed with the Wolverines this past February. His dad said that he was given a University of Michigan football on the day he was born, and he came to a bunch of spring games in Ann Arbor when he was growing up. Kinnel was a part-time running back in high school, but his main position was safety.

Michigan is not in dire need of safeties to be on the field this fall. Between senior Jarrod Wilson, junior Delano Hill, and sophomore Jabrill Peppers, the coaching staff seems to think they have three starting-caliber players on the back end. Meanwhile, redshirt junior Jeremy Clark and junior Dymonte Thomas both have a significant amount of playing time. I rank Kinnel here based largely on the fact that he could potentially play cornerback, and the depth chart at cornerback gets questionable after the top three. Ideally, Kinnel would redshirt and give a little more space between himself and the guys ahead of him, but injuries or underperformance could put him on the field at some point.

Prediction: Redshirt if possible

2015 Michigan Summer Camp Participants

Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg quarterback Hunter Johnson

Thanks to Jeff for the recent donation! If you would like to donate to the site redesign drive, please use Paypal (on the left sidebar) or do some shopping on Amazon (LINK). Thanks for your support!
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The Exposure U camp (for most positions) is from June 14-17th, and the Aerial Assault camp (for quarterbacks) is on June 20th (LINK). Aerial Assault participants are denoted with an asterisk.

2016
*Jacob Baldwin – QB – Wateford (MI) Mott: Baldwin is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He will be throwing to Desmond Fitzpatrick this fall after Fitzpatrick transferred from Farmington.

*Wade Buckman – QB – Holland (MI) Holland: Buckman is a 6’6″, 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Jacob Cerny – OG – Traverse City (MI) West:

*Reagan Cotton – QB – Traverse City (MI) Central:

Bailey Edwards – WR – Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Edwards is a 6’1″, 177 lb. prospect with offers from Minnesota and a handful of MAC programs. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #183 wide receiver, and #1234 overall. He’s the younger brother of former Wolverine wide receiver Braylon Edwards, as well as Minnesota running back Berkley Edwards.

Trenton Fincher – OT – East Kentwood (MI) East Kentwood: Fincher is a 6’6″, 280 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Ezra Gray – WR – Lynn Haven (FL) Mosley: Gray is a 5’9″, 175 lb. prospect with no FBS offers at this time. He claims a 4.31 forty.

Dele’ Harding – LB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Harding committed to Michigan in October 2014 (LINK). He’s current a 247 Composite 3-star, the #21 inside linebacker, and #568 overall.

*Joshua Jackson – QB – Saline (MI) Saline: Jackson, the son of former Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson and the brother of former wide receiver Jeremy, committed to Virginia Tech in early June (LINK).

Trishton Jackson – QB/WR – West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield: Jackson, coached by former Wolverine Ronald Bellamy, has earned a bunch of MAC offers and Big Ten teams are starting to ramp up their interest (Iowa and Michigan State have offered).

Daniel Joseph – DE – Lake Forest (IL) Lake Forest: Joseph is a 6’3″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #15 strongside end, and #262 overall. Michigan State’s 247 writer Sean Scherer has him headed to the Wolverines, while a Vandy writer pegs him for the Spartans; however, Michigan State has picked up several defensive line commits in the past week or two, so they’re running low on spots.

Jalen Martin – WR – Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park:

Sean McKeon – TE – Dudley (MA) Shepherd Hill: McKeon committed to Michigan on Monday (LINK).

Jai Nunn-Liddell – WR – Mableton (GA) Pebblebrook: Nunn-Liddell is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

*Brandon Peters – QB – Avon (IN) Avon: Peters committed to Michigan in April (LINK).

Jalen Phelps – S – Powder Springs (GA) Hillgrove: Phelps is a 5’10”, 175 lb. prospect with an offer from Kent State.

David Reese – LB – Farmington (MI) Farmington: Reese committed to Michigan in April (LINK).

Nathan Skene – TE – Hartland (MI) Hartland: Skene is the son of former Michigan lineman Doug Skene.

Devin Taylor – CB – Lansing (MI) Sexton: Taylor is a 6’1″, 175 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.5 forty.

Eyioma Uwazurike – DE – Southfield (MI) Lathrup: Uwazurike is a 6’6″, 254 lb. prospect with offers from seven MAC programs. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #59 strongside end, and #1139 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 74 tackles, 14 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.

Andrew Vastardis – OG – Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge:

*Kurt Walding – QB – West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic: Walding is a 6’1″, 206 lb. prospect with no offers right now. He attends the alma mater of redshirt junior wide receiver Amara Darboh.

Devin Waldon – LB – Detroit (MI) East English Village:

Kendrew Wynn – S – Norcross (GA) Norcross: Wynn is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers right now.

Hit the jump for a bunch of 2017, 2018, and 2019 prospects.

2017
*Jake Allen – QB – Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas: Allen is a 6’3″, 197 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Florida, Iowa, Miami, Pitt, and Rutgers, among others. He’s a high school teammate of several Michigan targets, including 2017 wide receiver Trevon Grimes and a couple 2018 cornerbacks. St. Thomas Aquinas is also the alma mater of Michigan quarterbacks Jake Rudock and John O’Korn. Allen is likely to end up as a Gator.


Jafar Armstrong – WR – Mission (KS) Bishop Miege: Armstrong is a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Johnathan Berghorst – DE – Zeeland (MI) East: Berghorst is a 6’3″, 245 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has visited Michigan many times. Some expect him to grow into a defensive tackle.

*Austin Burton – QB – Newton Center (MA) Newton South: Burton is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Keegan Cossou – TE – Greenville (MI) Greenville: Cossou is a 6’5″, 225 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. As a sophomore in 2014, he caught 15 passes for 342 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Conor Doyle – OT – Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s:

Carter Dunaway – TE – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice:

Blake Gallagher – LB – Needham (MA) St. Sebastian’s:


Ja’Raymond Hall – OT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Hall is a 6’5″, 255 lb. prospect with offers from Miami-OH and Michigan. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #13 offensive tackle, and #82 overall. He has visited Michigan several times, and at this time, he is considered a Michigan lean.


K.J. Hamler – WR – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Hamler is a 5’9″, 155 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #45 wide receiver, and #283 overall. He has visited Michigan multiple times but is considered a Michigan State lean.

Kasim Hill – QB – Baltimore (MD) Gilman: Hill is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State, Syracuse, and Virginia, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #10 pro-style quarterback, and #265 overall. He plays for the father of Michigan tight end/defensive end Henry Poggi. He is also a teammate of 2016 offensive linemen Stephen Spanellis and Devery Hamilton, both of whom have Michigan offers.

Derrick Hubbard – LB – Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer: Hubbard is a 6’2″, 202 lb. prospect who just picked up his first scholarship offer from Toledo. He claims a 4.67 forty.

Hunter Johnson – QB – Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg: Johnson is a 6’3″, 197 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #1 pro-style quarterback, and #9 overall. He transferred away from Avon (IN) Avon, the home of Brandon Peters, and is now a teammate of 2016 running back Toks Abinrade, who holds a Michigan offer. Johnson is considered to be a Notre Dame lean.

Chris Kolarevic – LB – Traverse City (MI) St. Francis:

Solon Page III – LB – Marietta (GA) Kell: Page is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2014, he made 71 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.

Jaylen Kelly-Powell – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Kelly-Powell is a 6’0″, 183 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Carolina, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #13 safety, and #189 overall. A teammate of 2016 offensive guard commit Michael Onwenu, Kelly-Powell’s Crystal Ball is 100% in favor of Michigan.

Carter Lynch – OT – Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s:

*Tyler Lytle – QB – Anaheim (CA) Servite: Lytle is a 6’4″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado State and Miami. He was teammates with 2017 wide receiver Osiris St. Brown, who holds a Michigan offer, and 2018 wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, although the St. Brown brothers are transferring.

Corey Malone-Hatcher – DE – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph:

Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Peoples-Jones is a 6’2″, 192 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #2 wide receiver, and #12 overall. I believe I mistakenly identified him as the son of a former Michigan player in the past, which I had read in an article some months back, so I apologize for the misidentification. Peoples-Jones recently ran a 4.45 forty and showed off a 38″ vertical. His recruitment is considered to be wide open.

Trey Pratt – CB – Suwanee (GA) Peachtree Ridge:

Antjuan Simmons – RB – Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer: Simmons is a 6’1″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Akron, Eastern Michigan, Miami-OH, and Western Michigan. He claims a 4.55 forty. He probably lacks the speed to be an elite running back, but he’s an excitable player and a heavy hitter who could be a strong safety or outside linebacker at the next level.

Allen Stritzinger – RB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Stritzinger is a 6’0″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Michigan, and a few MAC schools. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #25 running back, and #303 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he ran for 1,356 yards and 20 touchdowns. He recently named Michigan his leader.

David Terrell, Jr. – WR – Wilmette (IL) Loyola: Terrell is a 5’11”, 165 lb. prospect with no offers right now. He is the son of former Michigan and Chicago Bears wide receiver David Terrell.

*Cameron Thomas – QB – Chicago Heights (IL) Marian Catholic:

C.J. Turner – CB – Rochester (NY) Eastridge:

Edward Verdree – DE – Atlanta (GA) Holy Innocents Episcopal: Verdree is a 6’1″, 240 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.91 forty, a 315 lb. bench press, and a 435 lb. squat.

Jamyest Williams – CB – Lawrenceville (GA) Archer: Williams is a 5’9″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #14 cornerback, and #111 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he made 60 tackles and 2 interceptions, along with 1,152 total yards and 13 touchdowns on offense. He appears to have sincere interest in Michigan, although it will be difficult to pull him out of the south. Michigan also has offers out to Archer prospects E.J. Price, a 2016 offensive tackle committed to Georgia, and 2017 safety Isaiah Pryor.

Justice Williams – DE – Belleville (MI) Belleville:


2018
Blake Bacevich – LB – Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Bacevich is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. St. Xavier is a pretty steady producer of talent, so he’ll be one to watch in the future.

Leddie Brown – RB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Brown is a 6’1″, 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He will be a teammate of Michigan commit Dele’ Harding this fall. At least one source had Brown as the #1 prospect in his class, although those things are very fluid this early.

Emil Ekiyor – OG – Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral: Ekiyor is a 6’3″, 285 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan and South Florida. He is the son of a former South Florida Bull and Atlanta Falcon. He also attended Michigan’s satellite camp in Indiana.

*Kaden Frost – QB – Naples (FL) Gulf Coast:

Isaiah Gaynor – CB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Gaynor is a 5’9″, 175 lb. prospect who holds no offers. He is another upcoming teammate of Dele’ Harding.

Nick Henkel – QB – Greenwich (CT) Brunswick: Henkel is a 6’1″, 161 lb. prospct with no offers right now. As an eighth grader, he completed 71/103 passes for 1,011 yards and 14 touchdowns.

*Brandon Leach – QB – Pinckney (MI) Pinckney: Leach is a 6’8″, 220 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

*Michael Lynn III – QB – Lansing (MI) Sexton:

Phillip Pfaffman – CB – Fayetteville (GA) Whitewater: Pfaffman is a 5’9″, 160 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Tyrone Sampson, Jr. – C – Detroit (MI) East English Village: Sampson’s Hudl page lists him at 6’4″, 304 lbs. but I have heard that he is not close to being that height. Regardless, he has been earning some buzz as one of the top in-state linemen in this 2018 class.

2019
Dale Chesson – WR – Olivette (MO): Chesson is the younger brother of Michigan redshirt junior wide receiver Jehu Chesson. The younger Chesson is entering high school and I’m not sure where he will play, but Jehu went to St. Louis (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins.

Christian Ford – WR – Lima (OH) Shawnee:

*Sam Johnson III – QB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Johnson is a 6’3″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Akron and Ohio. He is said to be the youngest player in Michigan history to be offered a full scholarship to an FBS program. A rising freshman, Johnson will likely be Southfield’s starter quarterback this fall.

*Dwan Mathis – QB – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Mathis is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Akron and Cincinnati.

Jacardia Wright – RB – Decatur (IL) St. Theresa’s:

Devin Gil, Wolverine

Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan safety/linebacker Devin Gil (image via Scout)

Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan linebacker/safety Devin Gil committed to Michigan on Friday. Previously a Miami commit, he also holds offers from Central Florida, Colorado, Louisville, Marshall, and South Florida, among others.

Gil is 6’1″, 205 lbs. As a junior in 2014, he made 64 tackles and 3 interceptions.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 78 grade, #33 S
Rivals: 3-star S
Scout: 3-star, #93 S
247 Sports: 3-star, 83 grade, #79 S, #1147 overall

Gil committed to Miami in January, but he immediately said that he still wanted to check out other schools who might have interest in him. Michigan started pursuing him in March, and he seemed excited by the offer. As the weeks went along, he showed more and more interest in the Wolverines. He and two of his teammates (2016 safety Josh Metellus, who committed to Michigan earlier this week, and linebacker Devin Bush, Jr.) visited Ann Arbor last weekend, and that sealed the deal. He went public with his announcement Friday morning.

Gil is solidly built in the upper and lower body. He plays some safety and some linebacker for his high school team. As a linebacker, he does a good job of taking on and shocking blockers with his hands, which frees him up to make plays in the run game or coming up on short passes. He is a very physical player and will stick his nose in there against guys who are bigger than him. He also likes to lay out players coming across the middle, and there are some hits which might get him in trouble at the higher levels of football. He reads plays quickly and takes good angles to the football, which is something I have noticed about the Flanagan kids, so they appear to be well coached defensively. (According to Maxpreps, Flanagan went 12-1 in 2014 and allowed point totals of 0, 0, 2, 3, 6, 6, 8, 10, 10, 16, 21, 21, and 28 for an average of 10.1 points allowed/game. They also beat fellow commit Rashad Weaver’s Cooper City squad by a score of 42-2.)

On the negative side, I have questions about where Gil will play in college. I believe he is too stiff in the hips and too slow to trust with deep coverage, so he may be limited to playing strong safety in the box. At roughly 6’0″ and already supposedly over 200 lbs., he may end up as a linebacker, too. The interceptions shown on his highlights are not particularly athletic ones, and his touchdown return on one shows a guy who lacks burst.

I am reminded of 2009 recruit Isaiah Bell, who ended up at linebacker/defensive end before transferring to Lake Erie College, a D-II program in Ohio. I don’t necessarily think Gil will end up being 252 lbs. like Bell, but I do think Bell was a smoother athlete coming out of high school (check out Bell’s highlights HERE). I just can’t buy into Gil as a quick-twitch athlete on the back end. He looks like a limited safety, a small-ish outside linebacker, and/or a special teams guy. The coaches might have to chisel out a role or certain packages for him so he doesn’t get exposed.

Michigan now has 17 commitments in the 2016 class. If Gil is a safety, he’s Michigan’s second at the position, joining Metellus. If he’s a linebacker, he’s either the third or the fourth, depending on whether David Reese is a fullback or not; the other two are Dele’ Harding and Dytarious Johnson. The other offered 2016 teammate, Bush Jr., tweeted out today that he would not be making his commitment at January’s Under Armour All-American Game, which seems to imply that a decision is close at hand. The odds are strongly in favor of him choosing the Wolverines as well.

TTB Rating: 58. This is exactly the rating I gave Delonte Hollowell, and that seems to have been roughly accurate (ratings explanation).