Detroit (MI) King RB Martell Pettaway
With Michigan suffering a few decommitments in the 2016 class, I think it’s about time that we start considering some potential offers within the state of Michigan. When Michigan misses out on big-time national prospects, they often look closer to home for players that could potentially commit or flip to the Wolverines. So here I will examine some options within the state who could fill some holes in Michigan’s class.
QUARTERBACK
Top option: The obvious first choice in the state would probably be Saline (MI) Saline QB Joshua Jackson (3-star, #15 DT QB, #496 overall). Jackson has decent size at 6’2″ and 200 lbs., and he is a good all-around athlete, though not dynamic in any phase of the game. He did not transfer out of Ann Arbor (MI) Huron on good terms, and he did not get a stranglehold on the QB job at Saline until his senior year. Also, his father is long-time Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson, who was not retained by Jim Harbaugh last winter. Jackson is supposed to enroll early at Virginia Tech in January, but the coaching situation in Blacksburg has left his plans slightly up in the air. This would be a long shot to happen for several reasons.
Other options: Lansing (MI) Catholic Central’s Tony Poljan is a 6’6″, 235 lb. prospect who was previously committed to Minnesota. I think he will probably end up playing tight end or defensive end in college, but he does have designs on being a QB.
Hit the jump for the rest of the look at offensive players.
RUNNING BACK
Top option: Detroit (MI) King runner Martell Pettaway (3-star, #24 RB, #452 overall) is currently committed to West Virginia. Originally thought to be a Michigan State lean, he committed to the Mountaineers instead while fielding little interest from the Wolverines. At 5’10” and 205 lbs., his running style is somewhat reminiscent of that of former Michigan and Central Michigan running back Thomas Rawls, who now plays for the Seattle Seahawks. He does not have great acceleration or quickness, but he has a low center of gravity, breaks tackles, and has decent long speed.
Other options: Novi (MI) Novi’s Emanuel Jackson is committed to Western Michigan, but at 6’0″ and 175 lbs., he does not fit the mold of running backs Jim Harbaugh has mostly pursued. Utica (MI) Utica bruiser Kumehnnu Gwilly is a 6’1″, 210 lb. Central Michigan commit who looks like a linebacker running the ball, if you’re into that sort of thing. He runs upright and is not the fastest guy around, but he hits the hole and gets what he can.
WIDE RECEIVER
Top options: While this may be the most ideal option, it’s unlikely that Michigan could pull West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield wideout Trishton Jackson (4-star, #43 WR, #216 overall) away from MSU. Jackson was a high-performance dual-threat quarterback in high school, but he’s going to East Lansing as a wide receiver. The 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect has speed and athleticism, and Michigan is going to struggle to defend him for the next four years. Ypsilanti (MI) Ypsilanti jack-of-all-trades Marquis Smith (highlights below) is an intriguing player. The former Kansas commit is 6’0″, 170 lbs. and played QB, WR, CB, and KR, and he claims a 4.4 forty. He won’t be a high-level QB at the next level and switched positions this year to show off his other talents, but he could play any of those other three spots, plus safety or slot receiver.
Other options: Chelsea (MI) Chelsea wideout Bailey Edwards is a 6’2″, 180-pounder who’s the younger brother of former Michigan wideout Braylon Edwards. Some bridges may have been burned a few years ago when Michigan did not offer another brother, Berkley, who ended up going to Minnesota; however, that was Brady Hoke’s staff, so things might be able to be fixed by Harbaugh. I am not high on Bailey Edwards as a prospect, though, because he’s not great coming out of breaks, catches the ball with his body, and takes a few steps to get going. Romeo (MI) Romeo wideout Brad Tanner is a bit of a late riser who earned a lot of exposure on Romeo’s run to the state championship, which culminated with a win over Cass Tech. Tanner is a 6’2″, 185-pounder who could play outside or in the slot. He has a couple MAC offers and committed to Western Michigan recently, but his star may be on the rise here before National Signing Day.
TIGHT END
Top option: I will once again mention Poljan here, who could play multiple positions in college. I think he’ll end up somewhere other than quarterback, and Jim Harbaugh could give him an opportunity at QB before moving to another spot.
Other options: Although not a traditional tight end, Romeo (MI) Romeo’s Mitchell Heimbuch was a two-way high school player who could play tight end, H-back, or linebacker at the next level. Michigan does have a more traditional tight end committed in the form of Dudley (MI) Shepherd Hill’s Sean McKeon, so Heimbuch – who is 6’3″, 220 lbs. – could be a complement or an “athlete” who just settles in wherever needed.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Top options: I’m not personally high on Detroit (MI) Renaissance offensive tackle Alaric Jackson (3-star, #59 OT, #629 overall), but Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin have all offered. He only recently started playing football, so that helps to explain his rawness. Novi (MI) Catholic Central’s Tom Kowalkoski (3-star, #125 OT, #1442 overall) is a Boston College commit, but he’s more of an offensive guard or maybe right tackle. Michigan is looking for a left tackle in the class, and Jackson is probably the best fit, but he needs a lot of work.
Other option: Traverse City (MI) West offensive guard Jacob Cerny has a few offers from MAC schools, and he is committed to Illinois.
You need to login in order to vote
Frankly, I have yet to be impressed by Harbaugh’s recruiting. Our class for 2016 is not matching up well with either Ohio State’s or Michigan State’s. Too many guys who are projects and too few real impact players. And we’ve already seen how Harbaugh does in head-to-head coaching match ups with Meyer and Dantonio. So where does that leave us but crossing our fingers…again?
You need to login in order to vote
You might want to wait another month or so. We’re in on several high-profile recruits who are supposed to announce in the coming weeks (Rashan Gary, Kareem Walker, Lavert Hill, Jean Delance, etc.).
You need to login in order to vote
Well, that’s fine and dandy, but lots of teams are “in on” guys like Gary and Walker. Until and unless we actually get them signed, this is all just finger-crossing.
You need to login in order to vote
That’s a failure in logic. You say that our class doesn’t match up with Ohio State and Michigan State, but then you say that our class doesn’t matter until we get players signed. OSU and MSU players haven’t signed yet, either. So which is it – do verbals matter, or is it just signees?
You need to login in order to vote
Because guys like Walker and Gary, who have a lot of elite programs (of which we are not one) pursuing them, can easily flip to someone better. Programs like OSU and Alabama traditionally hold guys like that better, and even when they lose them to decommitting, typically replace them with someone just as good. We don’t.
You need to login in order to vote
So, in other words, even if Gary and Walker were already committed to Michigan, you would be saying “I’m not impressed with Harbaugh’s recruiting because somebody might flip Walker and Gary.” Basically…you’re manufacturing reasons not to be impressed.
If I were you, I would just wait until a week into February to figure out whether you’re satisfied with the recruiting class or not.
You need to login in order to vote
Seriously Windy, you need to find yourself a girl that puts out.
You need to login in order to vote
Why you’re trying to make this about me, instead of about the real issues with the football program, is a mystery.
Tell me why you think our 2016 class is better than OSU’s, and how you foresee us making up the 28 point gap between us and them with a boatload of 3 star projects on board?
You need to login in order to vote
Traditionally, the Buckeyes have had higher rated classes than we have going back to the days where the ratings came out in the newspaper for the first and only time on signing day. We have managed somehow to compete against OSU with our supposed inferior talent quite nicely, I’ve attended Michigan OSU games in which they have had All Americans all over the place, one in particular in which their Fullback was bigger than every player on our defense. We won some, lost some and notoriously tied one.
Secondly, I’m laying 18 + of the 28 points you’re so worried about directly at the feet of DJ Durkin who never got our best lineup on the field. The balance is a reflection of a talent, coaching and system advantage that has accrued to them over the disastrous period brought on by our own self destructive stupidity. We are no longer practicing self destructive stupidity and are closing on them quite nicely. They’re having a very nice recruiting year and so are we. Talent is evening out and our coaching has caught up.
If you want to think you see a discrepancy in the two above paragraphs, you do not. Durkin looking at a seriously depleted D Line got caught by the master trying to save legs. Oopses, shit happens in football sometimes, but there is little doubt in any thoughtful football persons mind that he is the real thing and that we are the real thing.
We have a universally rated top ten class recruiting class going on here and are in the hunt for the huge names that typically announce at the all star games, We have a very nice QB coming in that fits our system, some outstanding linemen on both lines, some speed, some big strong athletes. Clemson had their first top ten class in forever last year, they are traditionally a top 15 recruiter. Sparty is invariably a top 20 recruiter.
There are great programs all over the country for the top kids to select from. those guys are humping too. Get over it.
We’re doing like a winning Michigan program does for the first time in 8 or 9 years and you’re whining. It is you,
You need to login in order to vote
The fact that you’re dredging up events from 40 years ago to make your case in the here and now tells me you don’t have much of a case at all. How about recent, relevant history? We’ve lost 13 of the last 15 to OSU, and during that time, despite your claim, they have certainly not recruited significantly better than we have.
And I’m not sure what “real thing” you think we are at this point. We’ve got some “big strong athletes”? Really? On a football team? Well, that sure gives us a leg up on everybody else. And “outstanding linemen”? No, sorry…not even close. We have some good defensive linemen, but nobody even close to “outstanding”. We don’t even have any who are first team all-conference, let alone all-American. And you can’t even be thinking the word “outstanding” in regard to anyone on our O line. Seriously.
You need to login in order to vote
Pretty disputable assertion about OSU “traditionally out-recruiting Michigan”. Last 10-15 years – yeah. 10-15 years before that – I think Michigan got better talent, recruiting more nationally than OSU, and plucking away some key in-state guys that both teams wanted. OSU clearly has an advantage (in-state talent, current-profile, and ‘extra-curriculars’) but Michigan can recruit at or near that level.
Is recruiting going to be the path to beating OSU? No, very likely not.
You need to login in order to vote
Is MIchigan moving backwards because we lost to OSU by more in 2015 than 2013? Of course not.
The team had a bad game after 3 starting-caliber DLmen got hurt. Durkin gets to be the whipping boy because people like to find simple answers.
Michigan’s not going to beat OSU until the OL stops being a problem. The Harbaugh system is not in place yet. We have to be able to run the ball and our OL isn’t there yet. The D does have to get better too, of course, but the biggest problems this year were offense and health on the DL.
It’s not going to be easy to beat OSU, no matter how you slice it.
You need to login in order to vote
When you repeatedly can’t even get lined up on defense, your DC is having a terrible day. We had guys running all over the place pre snap and lined up out of position against the best power option team in college football. I was making the reads pre snap. If I can make the calls from the stands, you can bet your ample tushy that JT Barrett can do it better standing there watching that fire drill run amok right in front of him. On one spectacular example, we had nobody with a hand down or within 1 yard of the line of scrimmage between their Center and Tight End on 3rd and short yardage. It was a holy ten letter word starting with cluster. Guess where the ball went.
I like Durkin a lot and am sorry to see him go, but he stunk the joint out against the Buckeyes.
You need to login in order to vote
Well, by comparison, MSU had significant injuries at LB and on the Oline, and also lost a very good starting QB, but they still went on the road to Columbus and somehow managed to have a really good game, and hold OSU to 28 points less than we did. With no need for excuses about a new DC.
You need to login in order to vote
Didn’t MSU have most of their guys back for OSU? That was a viable excuse against Michigan but I think they got healthy. Were they missing 3 starters from a single (critical) unit? MSU struggled (against even bad teams) when their OL was decimated.
Obviously what MSU did against OSU without Cook was impressive, but OSU played right into their hands too. They seemed to overreact to the rain and MSU’s D also got a huge assist from their O eating clock. Long-term that’s the recipe for success against OSU but you need the OL to execute it.
————–
OSU, according to Meyer himself, didn’t run the zone read much anymore. They went back to the well against Michigan, which is a smart adjustment, but also one enabled by Michigan’s personnel limitations. I’m not saying Durkin did GREAT, because he should have had a counter/response ready for that, but everybody who is happy to toss the guy to the curb is nuts and overreacting.
Honestly, I have bigger issues with the Indiana game than Ohio State.
I seriously doubt we’ll be upgrading from Durkin and Anderson comes with A LOT more questions and a lot less upside than Durkin.
I’m really hoping it’s Shannon or Aranda and not Anderson.
You need to login in order to vote
Yea windy sound like a hater this thr man fits full class and it’s not even over yet and btw we have a top ten class so far with chances of moving up how much did u want him to do to be impress. .you sound like a member of thr 49ers front office.
You need to login in order to vote
We have a top ten class mainly because we have a lot of bodies, many of whom, as noted, are projects and not impact players. In terms of quality, OSU and MSU are beating us, again. We were 28 points worse than OSU this year..how do you foresee us making up that gap if Harbaugh is still so much getting second-tier talent?
You need to login in order to vote
The recruiting sites generally take only the top 20 prospects in each class when doing the team rankings. We have 21 commits, so the lowest one is removed from the equation. Florida is just behind us, but they have 25 recruits, so 5 of them don’t factor into the equation. Several other teams near the top are at or near 20.
If we get Rashan Gary, the next-lowest recruit will be chopped off. If we get Kareem Walker, the next-lowest recruit will be chopped off. So on and so forth.
You need to login in order to vote
Sorry, not true. Look at Rivals…their rankings are determined based on everyone in the class. A class with 30 3 stars will be rated higher than a class with 10 4 stars and 10 five stars.
You need to login in order to vote
Unfortunately, it is true. Here’s a link to the explanation for their ratings:
https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1364602
A couple excerpts:
“One major similarity- only the top 20 commitments in each class are considered in the main variable of the formula.”
“The main part of the formula is now a point scale reflecting the average Rivals Rating of a team’s top 20 signees.”
You need to login in order to vote
That’s a very good change by the sites, though quantity does matter, it’s not all about the ‘total’ that they used to use.
Still, Windy has a point, because a lot of teams don’t have 20 guys yet.
Class rankings mid-way through the cycle are pretty much pointless. People seem to enjoy pretending WHEN a recruit commits matters. It doesn’t at all, all that matters is who signs (actually, who enrolls, but that’s pretty set by signing day.)
You need to login in order to vote
It’s true that several teams don’t have 20 yet, but every team in Rivals’ top 17 classes has at least 17 prospects. UNC, Stanford, and Michigan have 20+. So there aren’t a ton of additions to be made to most of those classes. Some schools can easily pass us up, but Gary, Walker, Hill, etc. could potentially knock off some of the “dead weight” (at least from a points perspective) in exchange for…uhhh…live weight. The point is, there’s a long way to go and a lot of things will happen between now and February.
You need to login in order to vote
“every team in Rivals’ top 17 classes has at least 17 prospects”
That’s kind of the point.
Georgia has the 2nd highest average star rank but is rated 18. They will inevitably shoot up by signing day. USC and Clemson are outside of the top 20 – but will be there by signing day. Texas and Oklahoma have a lot of slots left and rank 42 and 50. They’ll probably end up in the top 20 too, as they almost always do.
So, there’s a pretty good bet that a bunch of teams will pass Michigan. Michigan is #18 in average star rank, notably, behind MSU. So yeah, their spot is significantly inflated by the numbers they’ve landed so far and they are a longshot to finish with a top 10 class if they don’t get Gary and Walker.
You need to login in order to vote
Michigan is #18 in average star ranking, but they could also move up in that category with Walker, Gary, Bush, etc. And my point with the 17 prospects note was that there are not a ton of teams with 10 recruits or 12 recruits. The majority of them are 1, 2, or 3 recruits away from hitting the 20-player cutoff. So while we’re at the ceiling already, other teams are also close. And who knows? If they finish up with a couple 3-star recruits, and if we finish up with a couple 4-star recruits, then we still stay ahead of them, move up on the list, etc. Regardless, nothing is finished until February, and the difference between the #15 recruiting class and the #13 recruiting class is negligible. I think we can all agree that this will be a pretty darn good recruiting class if we get Gary and Walker, whether we’re top-15 or top-10 or top-5.
You need to login in order to vote
Long way to go – the results so far (#5 ranking aside) are not that encouraging. Michigan has few slots to fill and needs to land some 5-stars to get to a top 10 class.
Too early to judge but the class is clearly not going to be elite (starz-wise.)
Unfortunately, the reality is we will be playing behind for the next few years at least. Harbaugh did that with great success at Stanford…but he also unearthed Andrew Luck, which had a lot to do with his success.
Up to eye of the beholder if you think that’s a single outlier event or indicative of an eye for undervalued talent and/or system-specific development.
You need to login in order to vote
You’re not supposed to be impressed with recruiting until a few years after guys sign – so that’s probably a good thing.
That said, I know what you mean. I think it’s important to consider how Michigan does in competitive situation and how many of their first-tier (first offered) guys they land. I want to see us lose fewer head-to-head battles against MSU, Notre Dame, and OSU.
There seem to be a lot of ‘fliers’ being taken in this class. Maybe some of them will grayshirt, as has been rumored, and I trust to make this staff to land system guys, but you also want to see them close on some of the 5-stars like Gary and Walker.
In-state recruiting has been flat-out disappointing as you’re seeing most of the elite guys go elsewhere despite Michigan offers. I’m not sure I can remember a more unsuccessful in-state recruiting cycle (pending what happens with Corley and Hill I guess, but my hopes aren’t high.) Coming off what happened last year with Weber, Alabi, etc. that’s disappointing.
But in-state recruiting can be overrated…
You need to login in order to vote
#1, Harbaugh has not been recruiting for a full year yet… Meyer has been recruiting these kids for three years already.
#2. By NSD, Michigan will have a recruiting class that’s no lower than top 5 in the country and there is a chance it’s the #1 class.
#3. Mike hart was a 3* recruit, boubacar sissoko and JT Turner were 5* recruits.
I’m excited for this week, with Walker and Bush making their announcements. Its a shame that there isn’t a George and a Herbert also committing this week. It’d be funny as hell if the headline read George, Herbert, Walker and Bush Go Blue!
You need to login in order to vote
Smith seems like he’d be the best fit for a late addition as DB depth is a long-term issue and Kansas has had some success identifying under-the-radar DB talent.
OL is always a good option too, to shore up depth.
You need to login in order to vote
If you can only land either Bush or Walker…..which would you choose? Assume Gary is already on board.
You need to login in order to vote
If other linebackers are still an option, I choose Walker. If other linebackers are off the table, I choose Bush. Michigan’s biggest need in the 2016 class is at the linebacker position. But if I could get Walker and Jones/Jackson, then that would be a pretty good scenario.
You need to login in order to vote