Dontavious Jackson
Michigan has 23 commitments in the 2016 class, which is expected to reach a size of 27. That leaves room for four more prospects (and perhaps more if there are other departures from the commit list). So here on Christmas Day 2015 is my wish list to fill out the four remaining spots. I only included players who seem to still have some interest in coming to Michigan, plus Michigan’s latest offer who has yet to indicate much about his interest level.
- Rashan Gary – DT – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Gary is a tackle/end tweener. While the position itself does not seem like a huge need because of all of Michigan’s returning talent on the defensive line, it’s actually a pretty big gap to fill. Michigan did not take any tackles in 2015 and has just one in the 2016 class so far (Jordan Elliott). The Wolverines have a couple weakside end prospects lined up in this class, but Rashad Weaver is the only SDE/DT prospect, and he has been poking around other schools. If Michigan wants to stay strong up front in 2017 and beyond, they need contributors in the 2016 class. Gary is the top target and perhaps some assume that he will end up signing with Michigan, but I think the Wolverines might be scrambling to fill his spot if they get stiffed at the end.
- David Long, Jr. – CB – Los Angeles (CA) Loyola: Long is a true cornerback prospect who has the skills to be elite, and not just another guy. Long is physical and speedy, and he can do some things with the ball in his hands, too. He could be a guy who plays slot receiver and returns kicks along with his defensive duties. Michigan does not have any super-athletic corners available after Jourdan Lewis leaves, except maybe the unproven, position-switching Keith Washington, who redshirted this past season.
- Dontavious Jackson – LB – Houston (TX) Alief Elsik: Michigan has a shortage of linebackers available next year, and they got their small-ish, quick space player in the form of Devin Bush, Jr. a week ago. Now it would be nice if the Wolverines could pull in a true, thumping middle linebacker to stuff the run. Jackson could certainly be that guy, and he’s someone who could play as a freshman.
- Jean Delance – OT – Mesquite (TX) North: You can never have enough athletic left tackle prospects on a roster, and Delance is someone who could fill that role. A top-100 prospect, he has some filling out to do. He probably won’t be needed in 2016, but he could slide right in when Michigan loses several seniors going into 2017.
Other players considered: TE Chase Allen, WR Dylan Crawford, OG Terrance Davis, ATH Jordan Fuller, ATH Khaleke Hudson, TE Jacob Mathis, TE Isaac Nauta, DE Levi Onwuzurike, C/DT Boss Tagaloa, DE Joshua Uche (the newest 2016 offer)
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I like this list and love Long, but having been disappointed so many times on West Coast kids, I hardly dare to consider the possibility. Pulling Long and or Crawford out of California and pulling Delance and or Jackson out of Texas would send a powerful signal that we are threatening to be a national recruiting power on a scale that few schools have attained ….. ever. USC under Pete and Brennan Carroll being the best and most recent example. Even on Christmas morning that seems beyond a reasonable dream, but maybe ….. Harbaugh.
I do think we need to find an Ohio guy, if only to irritate Urban and Fickell.
Merry Christmas everybody.
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What are the odds those 4 end up in our class? What are your thoughts on uche? He seems to have a disparity in rankings and offer list.
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I think the odds are slim that ALL four end up in Michigan’s class, although the Wolverines have a shot with all four. I would say the best shot is with Gary.
I like Uche. I think he is the type of player that Michigan has been lacking in recent years, that quick-twitch edge rusher. Other guys have been able to get the job done (Henry, Wormley, Beyer a little, etc.) as far as putting some pressure on the QB, but Uche is a different kind of player. He wouldn’t be in my top four, but I would not be disappointed if we got him.
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No mention of Lavert Hill or Pie Young?
I think I’m more interested in your opinion of which recruits are LEAST wanted of those still interested. I like your top 4. What’s your bottom 4? Personally, I don’t really care for Hudson too much.
Merry Christmas
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Oh, it’s Christmas today. I think that’s a discussion for another day. Merry Christmas!
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Haha. You’re probably right.
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DT/NT is definitely a big need for the 2016 class, since Hurst is currently the only proven performer that we’ll have back in 2017. We don’t HAVE to have someone who can step in and play right away next season (though Gary likely could), but pretty much everyone we recruit at DT/NT in 2016 is going to be pressed into duty in 2017, so they’d better be ready by then, or we’ll be in the situation we were for the OSU game that whole season.
We need a stud CB too, since we’ll be stripped pretty clean at DB after 2016 too, and we need help at LB right away, so another guy who could at least rotate in would be nice.
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I’ve read that T Davis isn’t viewed as a take because the staff values J Delance more. Any truth to it? With as important as the OL is it seems that both should be takes. M Onwenu has position flexibility, and could be moved to DL if we miss out on Gary. Even with Gary, he could switch and give and give us a lot of strength up front.
I know we’re running short on open spots, but I think most are assuming we are losing a few of the committed players as well as possible grey shirts. Taking this into account, isn’t it likely there are more like 7 spots that will be available between now and signing day? If so, does it make sense to possibly tell a highly rated recruit that we only want him if a different recruit picks another school?
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The staff seems to be wanting to hold off Davis long enough to let Delance decide. I think Davis is potentially a “take” once Delance decides on January 2, but that could get dicey.
Yes, I do think there will be more than 4 spots available from this point forward. However, it’s tough to predict exactly where those spots will come from.
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I second this list, down to the order of prospects. Gary is too elite not to be #1 regardless of position. DT, ILB, CB, OL all seem like obvious needs.
From the list of ‘almost made it” guys I see a bunch of DEs which I agree is next down the line of wishes. I do think there’s a decent chance that somebody like Johnson or Kemp grows and becomes a SDE/DT type. If Craig Roh can grow from a skinny tall LB to an interior linemen, a lot of other kids can too.
I don’t see much need for a non-elite TE (Mathis or Allen) but I would like to land Conner Murphy who can fit at either TE or DE, depending on development and need over time.
I’d love to have Hardman above many of these guys, but he’s probably not a realistic target.
What Position-switches is Keith Washington undertaken? I thought he was an ATH recruit projected primarily to CB but maybe to WR. I haven’t heard about where he was practicing.
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Washington was a high school QB and is now playing CB. He did play a bit of defense in high school, but not much.
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I’m updating my list based on who’s left out there.
Rashan Gary … of course.
David Long or Lavert Hill. I have heard twice now that Hill doesn’t make a lot of plays, I’ve have also heard that he has 12 picks. I dunno either way. If he’s anywhere close to 12 picks, thats more than enough playmaking for me.
Devin Asiasi … is a beast. Even among the beasts, this kid is a beast. He is beastly, even for a beast. A BEAST!!! I hate the thought of him as Alabama.
Quin Nordin … I know we need some linebackers, but I want a kicker.
Thats 28, somebody is gonna get cut.
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A kicker over a linebacker or a pass rusher? I don’t think I can get on board with that. Kickers are important, but that position can often be filled by walk-ons.
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Yeah, i know and mostly agree. I’d really like to be hearing real good things about Andrew David though. I know he hit the 58 yard field goal in HS and couple others near 50 and punts some. But I hear about accuracy issues.
This might be an overreaction to the Mike Lantry thing that I’m still not fully recovered from.
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