Sorry for the bad pun in the title, but . . . okay, I’m not sorry.
This is the conclusion of the series of Fence the Mitten Project posts, which assumes that Michigan recruits and signs the top 25 in-state prospects each and every year.
Hit the jump for a projected depth chart and some realizations about talent within the state.
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Muskegon (MI) Muskegon OT Anthony Bradford (image via Twitter)
Using 247 Composite rankings, I’m doing a rundown of the top players in the state of Michigan for 2019. I posted about the #1-5 players last week (LINK). Here’s the next installment.
6. Anthony Bradford – OT – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 320 lbs.
Notable offers: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State
Commitment: Uncommitted
247 Composite: 4-star, #23 OT, #236 overall
Analysis: Bradford’s own Hudl page lists him as 6’6″ and 344 lbs., along with a 5.24 forty, a 5.12 shuttle, a 28″ vertical, and a 365 lb. bench press. I’m guessing he’s closer to the 344 than the 320; he is a very large individual and someone who probably needs to reshape his body a little bit. He moves pretty well for a guy his size and has a good first step, though he will need to rework his stance a little bit in college, which may slow him down a little bit when he puts less weight on his hand. He’s a mauler and probably a right tackle, or maybe an offensive guard.
Hit the jump for #7-10.
Logan Brown (image via The D Zone)
I’m going to do things a little bit differently for 2019 than I have before. I started off this series several years ago just listing the big-time prospects within the state, and then I tweaked that by doing my own rankings the last couple classes. While I prefer doing my own rankings, the truth is that I just don’t have the time at this juncture to watch the film and go through the process of ranking each player. Therefore, I’m just going to run through the top players in the 247 Composite with my analysis of their abilities and recruitment. I don’t think my own personal rankings generate enough buzz or eyeballs to warrant making that extra effort
1. Devontae Dobbs – OT – Belleville (MI) Belleville
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 270 lbs.
Notable offers: Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State
Commitment: Uncommitted
247 Composite: 5-star, #1 OT, #9 overall
Analysis: Dobbs is athletic enough to play tackle at the next level, but the question with him is whether he will have the combination of length and bulk to play on the outside in college. It’s not impossible to succeed as a 6’4″ offensive tackle, but usually those guys are taller and longer. If tackle doesn’t work, he could be an excellent pulling guard because of his athleticism. But based on what I’ve seen, I think he’s ranked too highly at #9 overall.
Hit the jump for #2-5.
Devontae Dobbs (image via Fanbuzz)
Michigan has offered a bunch of new in-state players for the 2019 and 2020 classes, and it seems out of character for the Wolverines, especially for Jim Harbaugh’s staff. There have been rumors that Harbaugh (and others within the program) have realized that their recruiting in 2018 has not been up to snuff, and there have been complaints for several years that Harbaugh was ignoring the midwest – particularly Ohio – in favor of spending a lot of time recruiting Florida, California, Texas, Alabama, etc., which are more difficult to recruit, for obvious geographical reasons, along with some other reasons.
First, here’s a look at the numbers, from Brady Hoke’s final full class through 2021 so far:
Dearborn (MI) Divine Child defensive end Aidan Hutchinson
SITE NEWS: Thanks to everyone who donated to the site during the “server drive” over the weekend. I asked for $900 in donations, and within two days, I received $1,005. A special thanks to the person (wishing to stay anonymous) who chipped in $300, thus paying for four months of hosting. There were also multiple people who chipped in $100 or $75, which will pay for at least one month each.
On my other other site, Recruiting Season, I keep track of FBS prospects across the State of Michigan. Since the Mitten State is a fertile recruiting ground for the Wolverines, I like to keep an eye on which players might be potential Michigan-level recruits. So here, according to my own evaluations, are the top players in the state. Here’s the first chunk of five, and the second group will probably be released late this week or early next week. (If you click on each name, it will take you to their recruiting profile on Recruiting Season.)
1. Aidan Hutchinson – DE – Dearborn (MI) Divine Child
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 235 lbs.
Notable offers: LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Commitment: Uncommitted
247 Composite: 4-star, #8 SDE, #199 overall
Analysis: I wouldn’t have put Hutchinson this high if I had made this list following his sophomore year, but I saw some real improvements when it comes to both technique and athleticism since last year. He’s the son of former Michigan defensive tackle Chris Hutchinson, and I think his dad has been teaching him some things. The younger Hutchinson is a high-motor kid who has quick reaction skills, shows an array of pass rushing moves to beat offensive linemen, and plays aggressively.
Hit the jump for the rest of the top five.