Tag: Juwann Bushell-Beatty

2014 Recruiting Awards

Michigan signee Jabrill Peppers

It’s that time of year again, where I pick out the best and least best of the recruiting class and we can argue about it for the next four or five years. Here’s a look back at my choices over the last five years (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). And on with the show:

Best Overall Recruit: CB Jabrill Peppers
Peppers is the 247 Composite #3 player in the country and for good reason. Michigan’s lone 5-star in the class, he won four state championships in his four years of high school football. He has the ability to play four positions (RB, WR, CB, S) in college, although he was recruited as a corner; Michigan will also probably use him in the return game. Peppers has the size, speed, and competitive attitude to be an All-American and a high draft pick in a few years.

Best Offensive Recruit: WR Drake Harris
I think this wide receiver class is loaded with Harris, Maurice Ways, and Freddy Canteen. In my opinion, these three could turn out to be almost as good as the trio of Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, and Steve Breaston playing together in the mid-2000’s. Harris has the best coordination, speed, and athleticism of the group, so as long as he stays healthy, I think he’ll be the top guy on this side of the ball.

Best Defensive Recruit: CB Jabrill Peppers
See above.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: CB Jabrill Peppers
Peppers will instantly be one of the four best athletes in the secondary, so it’s a question of where and how soon he should play. Whether he plays corner, safety, or slot corner, he should be on the field as soon as he arrives on campus. I do want to pump the breaks on him being an instant starter at corner because technique is so important, but he could play over the slot if the coaches want him there. He might also be able to challenge Dennis Norfleet for kick return duties, and both of Michigan’s punt returners (Drew Dileo, Jeremy Gallon) graduated, so that job will be an open competition, too.

Fastest Recruit: CB Jabrill Peppers
This is like a broken record, so I’ll also mention that Drake Harris can leave some people in the dust if he recovers from his hamstring issues.

Strongest Recruit: DT Brady Pallante
Pallante benches 370 lbs. and squats 580 lbs., but his best quality is probably the leverage he’s able to use on the defensive line. Fellow defensive tackle Bryan Mone is significantly larger, but Pallante plays like a guy who’s 30 lbs. heavier.

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: WR Maurice Ways
This is a really tough choice between Pallante and Ways, but both are pretty modest 3-stars in the 247 Composite rankings. I’m going with Ways because I think he will be the more acclaimed player of the two. He reminds me of Michigan’s 6’3″, 215 lb. receivers of yesteryear. If Michigan has a good quarterback situation down the road, I think Ways could be a 1,000-yard receiver.

Most Overrated Recruit: DT Bryan Mone
Perhaps more so than in other recent years, I think most of these guys are ranked just about right, with Ways and Pallante being the exceptions. I was extremely high on Mone early in his recruitment, and his junior film was very exciting. However, he gained a lot of weight before his senior year, didn’t put up great stats, and then didn’t stand out at the Under Armour All-American Game. I think Mone is probably ranked fairly accurately by the recruiting sites (#111 in the 247 Composite), but Michigan fans expecting instant domination are probably in for a bit of a disappointment.

Most Likely to Redshirt: OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty
Bushell-Beatty is a developmental prospect, and his performance at the Under Armour All-American Game solidified that position for me. He’s not a great natural athlete, and he was out of shape in early January. He needs to redistribute some weight, get stronger, work on his footwork, etc. Provided that Michigan’s line can stay healthy (an iffy proposition considering redshirt sophomore Erik Magnuson is missing the entire spring), Bushell-Beatty will probably be planted firmly on the sideline this season.

Personal Favorite Recruit: WR Maurice Ways
This is a tough choice, too. There are several guys that I could pick, and the obvious choice for most people is probably Peppers. I also like Mone (his family story is inspiring), WR Freddy Canteen (a somewhat under-the-radar route running specialist), and Pallante (the classic underdog). But I was high on Ways from the first time I saw his film, a lot of people disagreed with me, and he seems to have a good attitude when it comes to improving, blocking, etc.

National Signing Day schedule for Michigan commits

Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers

Here’s a list of approximate signing/faxing times for Michigan’s commits. When the National Letters of Intent are confirmed to have been sent/received, I will update the post.

Brady Pallante – DT – Naples (FL) Barron Collier: Signed at 7:39 a.m.

Maurice Ways – WR – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Signed at 8:07 a.m.

Ian Bunting – TE – Hinsdale (IL) Central: Signed at 9:40 a.m.

Noah Furbush – LB – Kenton (OH) Kenton: Signed at 8:01 a.m.

Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Signed at 10:53 a.m.

Jared Wangler – LB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Signed at 9:00 a.m.

Jabrill Peppers – CB – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Signed at 8:00 a.m.

Chase Winovich – LB – Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Signed at 7:03 a.m.

Juwann Bushell-Beatty – OT – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Signed at 8:27 a.m.

Unless Michigan pulls any surprises late in the day (or after today, which is rare), that wraps it up for the 2014 recruiting class.

Final ESPN 300 released for 2014

Michael Ferns (#10), Wilton Speight (#19), Jabrill Peppers (#5), Juwann Bushell-Beatty (#73), and Bryan Mone (#52) all appear in the final ESPN 300 for 2014; Jared Wangler (#2) is not ranked on the list

ESPN made its final update to their list of the top 300 prospects in the nation. Here’s what the ESPN 300 looked like in August, and here’s the movement for Michigan’s commits since then:

– Drake Harris dropped from #72 to #85
– Bryan Mone dropped from #76 to #91
– Lawrence Marshall dropped from #112 to #121
– Michael Ferns dropped from #123 to #129
– Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #122 to #142
– Mason Cole dropped from #146 to #165
– Ian Bunting dropped from #118 to #200
– Wilton Speight dropped from #128 to #257

Here’s the rest of Michigan’s offerees:

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana (LSU)
2. Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana (Alabama)
4. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas (Texas A&M)
5. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia (Virginia)
6. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia (Alabama)
9. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California
10. Quin Blanding – S – Virginia (Virginia)
11. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, DC (Florida)
12. Bo Scarbrough – ATH – Alabama (Alabama)
14. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia

4-stars:
17. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana
18. Jamal Adams – S – Texas (LSU)
24. John Smith – S – California
25. Solomon Thomas – DE – Texas
26. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
33. Lorenzo Featherston – DE – North Carolina (Florida State)
36. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
39. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona
43. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee (Tennessee)
45. Marshon Lattimore – ATH – Ohio (Ohio State)
50. Edward Paris, Jr. – S – Texas (LSU)
53. Joe Mixon – RB – California (Oklahoma)
58. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
60. Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan
70. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)
72. Nyles Morgan – LB – Illinois (Notre Dame)
74. Jamarco Jones – OT – Illinois (Ohio State)
76. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee (Notre Dame)
80. Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina (North Carolina)
83. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida (Clemson)
85. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
91. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)
94. Corey Holmes – WR – Florida (Notre Dame)
95. Parrker Westphal – CB – Illinois (Northwestern)
99. Andy Bauer – OT – Missouri (Missouri)
101. Jeb Blazevich – TE – North Carolina (Georgia)
107. Tyler Luatua – TE – California (Notre Dame)
118. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey (Rutgers)
120. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia
121. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
123. Nick Watkins – CB – Texas (Notre Dame)
127. Braden Smith – OG – Kansas
129. Michael Ferns – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
130. Dante Booker, Jr. – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
136. Kyron Watson – LB – Illinois (Kansas)
137. Jeff Jones – RB – Minnesota (Minnesota)
139. Steven Parker – S – Oklahoma
140. Dravon Henry – ATH – Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
142. Juwann Bushell-Beatty – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
143. Kevin Crosby – TE – South Carolina (South Carolina)
144. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina (North Carolina)
158. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
162. Bryson Allen-Williams – LB – Georgia (South Carolina)
165. Mason Cole – OG – Florida (Michigan)
167. Demarre Kitt – WR – Georgia (Clemson)
169. Jacory Washington – TE – Louisiana (LSU)
172. Demetrius Knox – OG – Texas (Ohio State)
174. Andrew Williams – DE – Georgia
179. Dexter Wideman – DT – South Carolina (South Carolina)
180. Dwight Williams – LB – California (UCLA)
183. Erick Smith – S – Ohio (Ohio State)
184. Adarius Pickett – CB – California (UCLA)
187. Otaro Alaka – LB – Texas (Texas)
194. Mattrell McGraw – S – Louisiana
196. Kiy Hester – ATH – New Jersey (Miami)
200. Ian Bunting – TE – Illinois (Michigan)
204. Devon Thomas – RB – Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
211. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida (Florida)
218. Christian McCaffrey – ATH – Colorado (Stanford)
244. Montae Nicholson – ATH – Pennsylvania (Michigan State)
246. Darrion Owens – LB – Florida (Miami)
250. Jermaine Roberts – CB – Louisiana (Texas)
257. Wilton Speight – QB – Virginia (Michigan)
262. Brandon Simmons – S – Texas (Stanford)
269. D’Andre Payne – CB – Washington, DC (Tennessee)
270. Garrett Dickerson – TE – New Jersey (Northwestern)
274. Nic Weishar – TE – Illinois (Notre Dame)
278. Jalen Brown – WR – Arizona (Oregon)
282. Jonathan Hilliman – RB – New Jersey (Boston College)
286. Isaiah McKenzie – ATH – Florida
292. Quincy Wilson – S – Florida (Florida)
295. Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona (Oklahoma)

Final Top 247 for 2014 released

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake offensive guard Mason Cole jumped 25 spots in the latest Top 247

247 Sports finalized its top 247 players for 2014. Here’s what it looked like back in October. Movement for Michigan commits:

– Jabrill Peppers dropped from #3 to #4
– Bryan Mone dropped from #46 to #82
– Mason Cole jumped from #111 to #86
– Drake Harris dropped from #43 to #87
– Michael Ferns dropped from #191 to #197
– Lawrence Marshall jumped from #229 to #220
– Ian Bunting dropped from #224 to #229
– Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped off the list

5-stars:
1. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas (Texas A&M)
2. Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana (LSU)
3. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana (Alabama)
4. Jabrill Peppers – ATH – New Jersey (Michigan)
7. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia (Alabama)
8. Quin Blanding – S – Virginia (Virginia)
9. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia (Virginia)
13. Dante Booker – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
19. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, DC (Florida)
20. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia
24. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California
27. Joe Mixon – RB – California (Oklahoma)
30. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana
32. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)

4-stars:
35. Bo Scarbrough – ATH – Alabama (Alabama)
38. Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan
40. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
41. Solomon Thomas – DE – Texas
43. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
44. Marshon Lattimore – ATH – Ohio (Ohio State)
45. John Smith – ATH – California
49. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee (Tennessee)
55. Jeff Jones – RB – Minnesota (Minnesota)
59. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
61. Erick Smith – S – Ohio State (Ohio State)
63. Edward Paris – S – Texas (LSU)
64. Dexter Wideman – DT – South Carolina (South Carolina)
75. Jamarco Jones – OT – Illinois (Ohio State)
77. Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina (North Carolina)
82. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)
86. Mason Cole – OG – Florida (Michigan)
87. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
88. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida (Clemson)
95. Bryson Allen-Williams – LB – Georgia (South Carolina)
97. Nyles Morgan – LB – Illinois (Notre Dame)
103. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina (North Carolina)
111. Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona (Oklahoma)
121. Braden Smith – OG – Kansas
122. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
123. Sam Hubbard – ATH – Ohio (Ohio State)
124. Lorenzo Featherston – DE – North Carolina (Florida State)
127. Garrett Dickerson – DE – New Jersey (Northwestern)
133. Kyle Berger – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
142. Jalen Brown – WR – Arizona (Oregon)
150. Isaiah McKenzie – WR – Florida
154. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee (Notre Dame)
155. Devon Thomas – RB – Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
159. Demetriux Knox – OG – Texas (Ohio State)
163. Dravon Henry – ATH – Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
174. Adarius Pickett – CB – California (UCLA)
184. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia
190. Parrker Westphal – CB – Illinois (Northwestern)
192. Jay Hayes – DT – New York (Notre Dame)
196. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey (Rutgers)
197. Michael Ferns – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
199. Darrion Owens – LB – Florida (Miami)
212. Nic Weishar – TE – Illinois (Notre Dame)
220. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
221. Kenny Young – LB – Louisiana
222. Otaro Alaka – LB – Texas (Texas)
223. Juwann Winfree – WR – New Jersey (Maryland)
229. Ian Bunting – TE – Illinois (Michigan)
230. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida (Florida)
231. Steven Parker – S – Oklahoma
238. Shai McKenzie – RB – Pennsylvania (Virginia Tech)
243. Montae Nicholson – S – Pennsylvania (Michigan State)

Highlights: Michigan commits in the Under Armour All-American Game

Hit the jump to see highlights of Wilton Speight, Bryan Mone, and Juwann Bushell-Beatty.