This is one of the most exciting NFL Draft seasons for Michigan fans in years, probably even surpassing the 2017 draft when Taco Charlton was taken in the first round, Jourdan Lewis seemed like a borderline first rounder, and several others were drafted. A couple players are expected to go in the first round, and another player is considered to be one of the top few players at his position.
Hit the jump for more.
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Berkley Edwards (image via Detroit Free Press)
Former Minnesota and Central Michigan running back Berkley Edwards will be joining the Michigan Wolverines as a walk-on. He’s the son of former Michigan running back Stan Edwards and the brother of former Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards.
Hit the jump for more on the transfer news.
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| David Robinson (#50, posterizing Gerald Wilkins) was always one of my favorite basketball players, and now his son is going to play for Notre Dame |
It’s always interesting to me to see the kids of pro athletes and celebrities grow up (see last year’s edition). What do the children of the privileged choose to do with their lives? Well, at least for these few athletes, they have chosen to pursue college football careers:
Keith Byars II – RB – Boca Raton (FL) Boca Raton: Byars is a 5’10”, 205 lb. running back who picked Purdue over offers from Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Rutgers, and Vanderbilt, among others. The elder Byars was an Ohio State Buckeye who went on to a successful career as a running back/fullback/tight end – now commonly referred to as an H-back – with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets. He ended his career with 3,109 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, but his bigger impact was in the passing game, where he had 610 catches for 5,661 yards and 31 touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl with the Patriots after the 1997 season and then spent a year with the Jets before retiring.
Berkley Edwards – RB – Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Edwards is a 5’9″, 185 lb. running back who picked Minnesota over offers from Cal and numerous Mid-American Conference teams. As a senior this past season, he had 234 carries for 1,394 yards and 21 touchdowns. His father Stan played running back at Michigan before continuing his career with the NFL’s Detroit Lions and Houston Oilers. He ended his career after the 1987 season with a total of 149 carries for 533 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 52 catches for 436 yards and 1 touchdown. Berkley’s older brother is former Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who has played for the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks.
Torii Hunter, Jr. – WR – Prosper (TX) Prosper: Hunter is a 6’0″, 172 lb. receiver who chose Notre Dame over offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, and West Virginia, among others. As a senior this past season, he had 71 catches for 1,235 yards and 14 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he broke his femur during practices for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The elder Hunter was a first round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 1993. He has played 16 seasons in the major leagues, first with the Twins and then with the Los Angeles Angels; this off-season he was acquired by the Detroit Tigers. His lifetime numbers include 1,986 hits, 297 homeruns, 1,143 runs batted in, 186 stolen bases, and a career batting average of .277. He’s a five-time all-star and a nine-time Gold Glove winner.
Ray Lewis III – RB – Lake Mary (FL) Lake Mary Prep: Lewis is a 5’10”, 192 lb. back who committed to Miami last March. As a junior in 2011, he had 177 carries for 2,312 yards and 29 touchdowns. Lewis played in the Semper Fi All-American Bowl. His father Ray was a first round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 1996 and is likely Hall of Fame-bound as a middle linebacker. He ended his career on Sunday night by winning a second Super Bowl; his career statistics include 1,336 total tackles, 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions, and 3 touchdowns.
Jonathan McCrary – QB – Ellenwood (GA) Cedar Grove: McCrary is a 6’4″, 200 lb. quarterback who picked Vanderbilt over offers from Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. As a senior in 2012, he completed 203/270 passes for 2,927 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions; he also ran 45 times for 317 yards and 7 touchdowns. His father Greg McCrary was a backup tight end for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers from 1975 to 1981, totaling 22 catches for 228 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Corey Robinson – WR – San Antonio (TX) Christian: Robinson is a 6’4″, 195 lb. receiver who picked Notre Dame over offers from Iowa and Kansas, among others. As a senior in 2012, he had 67 catches for 1,414 yards and 20 touchdowns. His father David Robinson was a 7’1″, 235 lb. basketball player who was the #1 overall pick out of Navy in 1987. He played his entire career for the San Antonio Spurs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. The elder Robinson’s career accomplishments include 20,790 points (21.1 per game), 10,497 rebounds (10.6 per game), and a career field goal percentage of .518. He won NBA Championships in 1999 and 2003, his final year in the league.
Shane Tripucka – P – Allen (TX) Allen: Tripucka is a 6’3″, 210 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Sam Houston State. However, Rutgers has shown recent interest, as offers to specialists frequently come late in the process. Tripucka was selected for the Under Armour All-America Game. His uncle Kelly was a #12 overall pick by the Detroit Pistons out of Notre Dame in 1981; he led Notre Dame in scoring during each of his four seasons. In a ten-year career with the Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets, he averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists; Kelly was a two-time NBA all-star. Shane’s brother Travis was recently signed by the New York Jets as a long snapper after playing college football at UMass.
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| Olney (MD) Good Counsel linebacker Dorian O’Daniel |
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is always accompanied by a combine, an event that recruitniks and scouts drool over. Here’s a look at Rivals’ All-Combine Offense, which includes 2013 offeree Monaca (PA) Central Valley WR Robert Foster and honorable mention in-state prospects like Chelsea (MI) Chelsea RB Berkley Edwards, Howell (MI) Howell TE Pete Cender, and Flint (MI) Powers Catholic OG Vinnie Palazeti.
As for the defense, Michigan has targeted Louisville (KY) Trinity DE Jason Hatcher, Olney (MD) Good Counsel LB Dorian O’Daniel, and Olney (MD) Good Counsel CB Kendall Fuller. In-state prospects made honorable mention on defense, too: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech DT Kenton Gibbs and Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc LB Luke Maclean.
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| Bri’onte Dunn will be visiting Michigan this weekend. |
Fenton (MI) Fenton P Kenny Allen: Allen is a 6’3″, 175 lb. punter who has already committed to walking on at Michigan next fall. He had a scholarship offer from Oregon State but didn’t want to be called a Beaver for the rest of his life.
Cincinnati (OH) Colerain LB Joe Bolden: Bolden is a 6’2″, 225 lb. middle linebacker who will enroll at Michigan in January.
Wheaton (IL) St. Francis OT Kyle Bosch: Bosch is a 6’5″, 275 lb. offensive tackle from the class of 2013. He was offered by the Wolverines a few weeks back and visited Michigan in September.
Canton (OH) Glenoak RB Bri’onte Dunn: Dunn is a 6’2″, 215 lb. running back who is currently “committed” to Ohio State unless the NCAA drops a bomb on Columbus, which should happen but you never know. Penn State is a distant third to OSU and Michigan. Dunn’s cousin is 2013 safety Dymonte Thomas, who will also be visiting Ann Arbor this weekend.
Chelsea (MI) Chelsea RB Berkley Edwards: Edwards is a 5’8″, 165 lb. running back from the class of 2013. He’s the younger brother of Braylon Edwards and the son of Stan Edwards, who played wide receiver and running back, respectively, at Michigan. He currently has no scholarship offers.
Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison TE Devin Funchess: Funchess is a 6’5″, 205 lb. tight end who will be signing with Michigan in February.
Sylvania (OH) Southview S Allen Gant: Gant is a 6’2″, 210 lb. safety who will be signing with Michigan in February.
Birmingham (MI) Seaholm OT Dan Gibbs: Gibbs is a 6’7″, 320 lb. offensive tackle who caused me to get some angry e-mails when I mentioned him last because I stated that he wasn’t a Michigan-level recruit. According to an e-mailer who will remain anonymous, offensive line coach Darrell Funk has remained in contact with Gibbs throughout the recruiting process. I can only assume this would be in the hopes of convincing him to walk on.
Naperville (IL) North OG Colin Goebel: Goebel is a 6’4″, 275 lb. offensive guard from the class of 2013. He’s the younger cousin of Ohio State defensive tackle Garrett Goebel. Colin has offers from Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Toledo. He has good size but doesn’t move his feet extremely well. BCS offers are almost certainly on the way, but he’ll probably have to move from his high school position (offensive tackle) to guard.
Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer RB Drake Johnson: Johnson is a 6’1″, 200 lb. running back who will have to walk all the way across the street to get to Michigan Stadium.
Muskegon (MI) Muskegon RB Juwan Lewis: Lewis is a 5’11”, 208 lb. fullback/tailback whose heart probably sank when Drake Johnson received his offer. Lewis had been holding out for an offer from the Wolverines, but that probably won’t happen now. Hopefully Lewis enjoys Michigan Stadium while he can.
Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc DE Luke MacLean: MacLean is a 6’3″, 233 lb. defensive end from the class of 2013. He was a high school teammate of freshman running back Justice Hayes.
Campbell (OH) Memorial DT Shaquon McWilson: McWilson is a 6’3″, 290 lb. defensive tackle from the class of 2013. Information on McWilson is scarce, but I’m guessing he’s Scottish.
Toledo (OH) St. John’s DE Matt Miller: Miller is a 6’5″, 250 lb. defensive end from the class of 2013. He already has an offer from Toledo, and he’s the younger brother of freshman center Jack Miller.
Warren (MI) De La Salle QB Shane Morris: Morris is a 6’3″, 183 lb. quarterback from the class of 2013. He’s planning to sign with Michigan in February . . . of 2013.
Cadillac (MI) Cadillac OT Riley Norman: Norman is a 6’7″, 315 lb. offensive tackle from the class of 2013. His only current offer is from Michigan State, and Norman is expected to end up in East Lansing, regardless of who else offers.
Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison DE Mario Ojemudia: Ojemudia is a 6’3″, 215 lb. defensive end who will sign with Michigan in February.
Warren (OH) Harding WR Jalyn Powell: Powell is a 6’1″, 185 lb. athlete from the class of 2013. He could play wide receiver, cornerback, or safety at the next level. Harding has produced several prospects who went to Michigan, including Mario Manningham and D.J. Williamson. Powell has not received any offers thus far, but he has excellent change-of-direction skills and knows what to do with the ball in his hands. I would not be surprised to see Michigan offer him at some point, for either side of the ball.
Clayton (OH) Northmont LB Kaleb Ringer: Ringer is a 6’0″, 219 lb. linebacker who will enroll at Michigan in January.
Cincinnati (OH) Oak Hills OG Caleb Stacey: Stacey is a 6’4″, 275 lb. offensive lineman who will sign with Michigan in February.
Crete (IL) Crete-Monee CB Anthony Standifer: Standifer is a 6’1″, 178 lb. cornerback who will sign with Michigan in February.
Alliance (OH) Marlington S Dymonte Thomas: Thomas is a 5’11”, 167 lb. safety who will sign with Michigan in February of 2013.
Beverly Hills (MI) Country Day DT Poet Thomas: Thomas is a 6’6″, 295 lb. defensive tackle from the class of 2013. He has visited Michigan and Notre Dame up to this point but has no offers. Based purely on his size, he’s bound to get some BCS offers, but he’s not an elite athlete at his position.
Toledo (OH) Central Catholic S Jayme Thompson: Thompson is a 6’2″, 184 lb. safety from the class of 2013. He visited Michigan for the Purdue game a few weeks ago. He only has offers from a couple MAC schools and West Virginia, but unfounded rumors popped up a couple days ago that he had been offered by Michigan. That offer might be coming soon, though.
Crete (IL) Crete-Monee WR Laquon Treadwell: Treadwell is a 6’3″, 183 lb. wide receiver from the class of 2013. His high school teammate is 2012 commit Anthony Standifer. Treadwell has offers from both Michigan and Notre Dame, and others will be on their way. He’s been rated early as a 4-star prospect.
Peoria (IL) Manual OT Logan Tuley-Tillman: Tuley-Tillman is a 6’7″, 280 lb. offensive tackle from the class of 2013. He already holds offers from Illinois and Indiana.
Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore TE A.J. Williams: Williams is a 6’6″, 260 lb. tight end who will sign with Michigan in February.
Akron (OH) Buchtel S Jarrod Wilson: Wilson is a 6’2″, 190 lb. safety who will enroll at Michigan in January.