Posts by: Thunder

2021 Season Countdown: #111 Mathew Harrison

Name: Mathew Harrison
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 212 lbs.
High school: Ortonville (MI) Brandon
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #88
Last year: I did not rank Harrison. He did not play.
TTB Rating: N/A

Harrison came out of high school in 2019 after having been a small school quarterback. He has since transitioned to wide receiver in college. After being listed at 187 lbs. as a high school senior, he now appears on Michigan’s roster at 212 lbs. I can only assume that’s good weight, and as such, perhaps Michigan will look at him in a minor blocking role. Chances are slim that he gets on the field – he does not have noteworthy speed – but he could also simulate some bigger receivers on the scout team in practice.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

Jordan Whittley, Wolverine

Oregon State graduate transfer defensive tackle Jordan Whittley has selected the Michigan Wolverines as his destination for 2021.

Whittley is a 6’1″, 358 lb. nose tackle. He missed 2020 with a tumor near his heart, but the last time he played (when he was listed at 6’1″, 324), he made 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup, and 1 quarterback hurry. Before Oregon State he was at Laney College, a JUCO in Oakland, California, that was profiled in season four of Last Chance U. Out of high school in the class of 2014, he was a 247 Sports 2-star and the #287 athlete, signing with San Jose State but never attending.

Whittley was listed as a 6’2″, 225 lb. running back coming out of high school. He tore his ACL and put on 100 lbs. or so while he was laid up recovering.

Michigan needs help on the interior of the defensive line. Former defensive coordinator Don Brown did not stockpile nose tackle types, leaving the Wolverines thin on pluggers and heavy on tackle/end tweeners. Michigan addressed the dearth of defensive tackles in the 2021 recruiting class, but nobody is ready to play as a true nose tackle right away. Whittley – if healthy – should be able to hold up to double teams. He won’t be Maurice Hurst, Jr. and living in the offensive backfield, but he should be able to let the linebackers flow to do their job.

Thoughts on Michigan’s Recruiting Restructure

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As you may have heard, Michigan has done some restructuring of its recruiting plan. About a year ago, I wrote about how I thought Michigan could “fix” its recruiting (LINK). Some of those steps have been taken, and others not mentioned have also occurred.

A few things have changed in the past year, largely for the better.

1. Ronald Bellamy replaces Bob Shoop as safeties coach. There are rumors about Shoop’s time at Michigan, but he was never known as a good recruiter – though recruits did say a few positive things once in a while – and basically served as an analyst in 2020. Shoop is more of an X’s and O’s guy. Meanwhile, Bellamy spent the last chunk of his life coaching West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield to a point where it was a perennial threat to win a state championship. Bellamy got good talent to come to West Bloomfield – who would normally have attended other schools – and coached them up. He developed positive relationships with athletes who didn’t even attend West Bloomfield, and recruits seem to gravitate toward him. The former Wolverines wide receiver seems to be more of a father figure than a bombastic personality, but it appears to be working on the recruiting trail.

Hit the jump for more.

2021 Season Countdown: #112 Matt Torey

Name: Matt Torey
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #39
Last year: I did not rank Torey. He did not play.
TTB Rating: N/A

Matt Torey has been named Scout Team Player of the Week twice in his career at Michigan, once on offense in 2019 and once on special teams in 2020.

He is still on the football team.

Matt Torey, ladies and gentlemen!

2021 Season Countdown: #114 Luke Fisher

Name: Luke Fisher
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 292 lbs.
High school: Plymouth (MI) Plymouth
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #60
Last year: I did not rank Fisher. He did not play.
TTB Rating: N/A

Fisher has been in the program now for two years, going on three. He probably does not have as good of a chance at getting on the field as some of the receivers listed already, but it’s important in practice to have veteran offensive linemen who can execute the scout team offense. Fisher has adequate size at 6’4 and 292 lbs., but what I know of him – which boils down to his high school senior highlights – suggests that he will probably not be able to work his way into the rotation.

Prediction: Backup offensive lineman