Antioch (CA) Antioch running back Najee Harris
With the commitment of offensive tackle Kai-Leon Herbert yesterday (LINK), Michigan now has 18 verbal commitments in the class of 2017. Technically, there’s room for 19 signees since 19 seniors are graduating, but I’m assuming Michigan gets into the mid- to high 20s due to attrition. Somewhat randomly using the number 29 – only because that’s what Michigan maxed out at in 2016 – here are the 11 prospects I would like to see Michigan finish with in 2017. (Note: This is a wish list, not an expectation, but I am only considering players with interest in Michigan.)
QUARTERBACK
Commits (1): Dylan McCaffrey
Wish list (0): N/A
Rationale: Michigan has a pretty solid, consistent line of quarterbacks lined up for the next few years. Once Wilton Speight and John O’Korn matriculate, the Wolverines will have 2016 signee Brandon Peters and then McCaffrey in the next class.
RUNNING BACK
Commits (3): A.J. Dillon, O’Maury Samuels, Kurt Taylor
Wish list (1): Najee Harris
Rationale: I like Cam Akers and Stephen Carr (USC) a lot, too, but Harris is the #1 recruit in the country, according to some. He’s currently committed to Alabama, but many people think he’ll end up elsewhere. Michigan’s trio of running backs is solid, but Harris is too good to pass up if you can get him. The unfortunate thing is that one of the current commits would probably not end up in the class if Michigan were able to flip Harris.
Hit the jump for the rest of the positional wishes.
FULLBACK
Commits (2): Chase Lasater, Ben Mason
Wish list (0): None
Rationale: It’s true that Lasater and/or Mason might end up playing linebacker, but I don’t think too many scholarships should be spent on trying to fill the fullback spot. It’s also a spot that can be filled by position-switchers or walk-ons, so fullback can be addressed again in 2018 without worrying too much.
WIDE RECEIVER
Commits (0): N/A
Wish list (2): Joseph Lewis, Donovan Peoples-Jones
Rationale: I know it’s chic to want Nico Collins because he’s a top-100 prospect who has proclaimed Michigan his leader, but I really like Lewis, who’s the #2 receiver in the 247 Composite. He has taken a look at Michigan and has some interest, although it’s probably unlikely Michigan can swing him. The only guy ranked higher than Lewis is Peoples-Jones. Michigan got enough slots in 2016 to forego that position in 2017.
TIGHT END
Commits (1): Carter Dunaway
Wish list (1): Tyler Johnson
Rationale: Johnson is a luxury pick, but he’s a 6’4″, 245 lb. guy who can be an H-back type and can threaten downfield. Michigan has a lot of quality tight ends, but it’s also a spot that puts a lot of guys on the field. He would pair well with Dunaway, who’s an in-line Y tight end.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Commits (4): Ja’Raymond Hall, Kai-Leon Herbert, Joel Honigford, Andrew Stueber
Wish list (2): Cesar Ruiz, Jedrick Wills
Rationale: Michigan went light on offensive linemen in 2016, and truthfully, the talent level in the previous classes probably isn’t where it needs to be. Hall, Herbert, and Stueber can play guard or tackle. Honigford can probably play those positions, along with tackle. Michigan needs a true center, and Ruiz is the #1 center in the country. Outside of center, Michigan can swing for the fences, and I really like Wills. However, there are lots of options that would satisfy me, including Henry Bainivalu, Chuck Filiaga, Alex Leatherwood, Tedarrell Slaton, and Isaiah Wilson, among others.
DEFENSIVE END
Commits (2): Corey Malone-Hatcher, Luiji Vilain
Wish list (1): Jaelan Phillips
Rationale: I’m partial to weakside end types, because so many of them can bulk up to be strongside ends down the road, if necessary. Craig Roh and Taco Charlton are just a couple examples. Phillips (see highlights below) is committed to UCLA, but Michigan continues to pursue him. It probably won’t go anywhere for the Wolverines, but Phillips is a very athletic kid who plays outside linebacker for his high school team and does a bit of everything. He makes picks, flies around the field, makes plays with the ball in his hands, and terrorizes quarterbacks. If Michigan still had a Buck linebacker, he would be the prototype in this class. I think Michigan’s scheme might hurt them a bit, because he’ll be used in a wider variety of ways at UCLA.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Commits (2): Phillip Paea, Aubrey Solomon
Wish list (1): Jay Tufele
Rationale: Michigan needs to replenish some defensive line talent they’ll be losing after the next couple seasons, and I’m not sure that Michigan has the horses to continue their momentum of having such a talented defensive line. Rashan Gary will probably slide in at strongside end in 2016, but he could be a 3-tech defensive tackle down the road. Tufele is a nose tackle in the mold of Mike Martin, while Solomon is a bigger nose tackle and Paea is more of a 3-tech (or offensive guard). Getting Tufele would soften the blow of losing Ryan Glasgow this year, and perhaps Maurice Hurst, Jr. and Bryan Mone in the not-too-distant future if they play up to expectations.
LINEBACKER
Commits (1): Joshua Ross
Wish list (1): Baron Browning
Rationale: Based on the assumption that Chase Lasater and/or Ben Mason will end up at linebacker, I don’t have a strong desire to pull in another linebacker beyond Browning. However, Michigan has a lot of good potential options, such as Jordan Anthony, Will Ignont, and Drew Singleton.
CORNERBACK
Commits (1): Benjamin St-Juste
Wish list (1): Darnay Holmes
Rationale: Holmes is a cover corner who would pair nicely with Benjamin St-Juste on the other side. He also happens to be the #1 corner in the country, so there’s that.
SAFETY
Commits (1): J’Marick Woods
Wish list (1): Markquese Bell
Rationale: I’m not in love with the options at safety for Michigan. There are some high-quality safeties, but they’re not interested in Michigan. I think Bell might be the best of the bunch, although there are others interested, like Jaylen Kelly-Powell.
SPECIALISTS
Commits (0): N/A
Wish list (0): N/A
Rationale: Michigan has two scholarship kickers on board for 2017 (Andrew David, Quinn Nordin) and one scholarship long snapper (Scott Sypniewski). That’s enough.
SUMMARY
It won’t happen because I’m aiming too high, but here’s my wish list all together in one place:
- RB Najee Harris
- WR Joseph Lewis
- WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
- TE Tyler Johnson
- C Cesar Ruiz
- OT/OG Jedrick Wills
- DE Jaelan Phillips
- DT Jay Tufele
- LB Baron Browning
- CB Darnay Holmes
- S Markquese Bell
Whom would you like to see finish out Michigan’s 2017 recruiting class? Where did I go wrong?
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Najee Harris is pretty special, I don’t even dare let myself dream in that direction. Besides, I kind of like this group of backs coming in and Harris might cost us two.
My Cass Tech buddies are drop dead certain that Onwenu is a Nose Tackle pretty quick. Tufele would be an outstanding pickup. Mostly on lineman I defer to Thunder, but I think Tufele can be a stud 3 Tech. I’d really like to see Paea get a shot at Guard.
Ruiz is really fun to watch, he is quick, strong and seems to like to bury people. I want that guy a bunch.
I like Kelly-Powell probably better than Thunder does and I also like Ambry Thomas across from St Juste who I am still just marveling over. This despite not really believing Thomas’ listed height and weight. But, I’m taking Darnay Holmes over just about anybody in this class regardless of position. We talk about big kids that don’t have full control of their size, Holmes is a fast kid that loses control of his acceleration. He sometimes drives into trouble he didn’t need to be in. Then he kicks it into a gear that even fast people can only dream about and just leaves. Clearly Thunder is capable of bigger dreams than I am.
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I think Tufele can be a 3-tech, too. But with his quickness and stoutness, I would put him at the 1-tech spot and let him wreak havoc like Mike Martin. The potentially bad thing about Paea becoming a guard is that Michigan then already has 6 offensive linemen in this class. So if they take 1 or 2 more guys, you’ve got 7 or 8 offensive linemen in one class. That makes things tricky down the road. But we agree on Onwenu looking like a NT, Paea looking like an OG, etc.
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Were we to get Ruiz, I’d be pretty happy with the group we have plus Paea. To my way of thinking, that’s an outstanding Center prospect, Guard prospect and four Tackles, three of which are legitimate LT candidates, and at least one in Stueber that feels like a pretty nasty RT or Guard prospect.
I think I’d be as happy with two more big D line kids as I would with any more O line kids past Ruiz. Ewell and Hudson coming in on the D line along with what we already have would feel pretty good to me.
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I know it’s a wish list, so I’m not criticizing. But it sounds like Ewell isn’t really a legitimate option for Michigan at this point.
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Yeah, I know, In thinking about big defensive types, we don’t seem to be in on all that many this year.
I really like Tufele,and feel some urgency there as a result of what seems to be limited options. This may be driving Paea as 3 tech some, or they really like him there. I do think he’s one of the best big athletes anywhere this year.
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Ok, I’m new here so here goes . . .
WR. DPJ, Nico Collins and Tarik Black. I want all three b/c they’re all big, fast and athletic Nico may not be Julio Jones now but he will be etter in a couple of years. Joseph Lewis is not as big and I don’t think he will leave Cali. KJ would be nice at the slot but I don’t think he likes us.
OL. Caesar Ruiz, Issiah Wilson, TeDarrell Slaton, Alex Leatherwood and/or Henry Bainivalu. We only need 3 but I would keep all 5 if possible. We need the depth.
TE. Josh Falo is the only one, if not him then skip the position and stick with what we have this year. We kind of over-signed the position last year.
CB. Darnay, Darnay, Darnay Holmes. This kid is special and would replace Peppers as our most dynamic athlete. Ambry Thomas, Jalen Redd, Alex Perry. We need three.
S. JKP, Grant Delprit, Chaz Ah You, not much here.
LB. Somebody call Willie Gay and tell him to reconsider this guy is special. Baron Browning, Drew Singleton, Jordan Anthony. I would take all four if there was room.
DL Jay Tufele, DJ Johnson, Fred Hansard, PoPo Aumavie, LeBryran Ray, Hunter Echols, Darnell Ewell, James Hudson, Corey Bolds, Anthony Payne. Lots of options I’d take 4.
Ath. Marquise Bell, and CJ Holmes. in a package deal with WR- Black. Take both.
RB. None unless it’s a homerun recruit. like Najee Harris, Cam Akers, Stephen Carr, Deandre Swift, or Anthony Mcfarland. btw McFarland looks like he could be a great athlete. Hate to see him running against us.
And I know I’m at over 35 players total but its a wish list right?
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Welcome to the new site! And I agree on Willie Gay. He’s right up near the top of my wish list, probably right behind Baron Browning and Anthony Hines. I didn’t really consider him for this since he trimmed Michigan out of his top three before picking Ole Miss.
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As for a wish list I think you cover this well, you also hit or mentioned everyone that comes to mind in your comments if they weren’t your first pick. The only thing I’d change is adding a RB. It’s hard to say I’d be upset if Harris joined, but if that happened I’d expect to lose someone else. With that in mind I think I’d stick with 3 RB’s however it shakes out and I would take both Singleton and Browning at LB.
Maybe that’s to deep when thinking strictly about a wish list. My point is that I want more LB’s and stay at 3 for RBs
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Harris and Tyler Johnson are both kind of luxury picks. So if Michigan ended up with another linebacker, I wouldn’t be upset. However, Singleton probably wouldn’t be my next choice beyond Browning.
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Who would you like at LB?
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Anthony Hines, Dylan Moses, or Leonard Warner. They’re longshots, of course, but this is a wish list.
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Excellent, I’d like to see this list refreshed in December, and repeated annually.
In the secondary though, I’d like Ambry Thomas & JKP. Not sure if they’re better, but it keeps them away from Sparty, who I don’t see as competitive for highly touted CB/Safety alternatives
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I’m not high enough on Kelly-Powell to worry about him going to MSU, but I can see where you’re coming from. Ambry Thomas would be a bigger concern. He’s not far down the list of available cornerbacks beyond Darnay Holmes.
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Wishlist: DPJ and then DPJ and then DPJ again and then DPJ.
Not one to care much about in-state recruiting in most years, but I really want to see Michigan get the top guys in state again – especially with an elite prospect like DPJ. Also want to see a couple more on the OL – keep the numbers coming until the position is a strength again. UM should be OL-U.
Wishlist:
1. DPJ
2. Wilson
3. Ruiz
4. A.Thomas
5. JKP
My list is based more on likelihood than Thunder’s pure “wish”. I think there are some benefits to having kids with local ties (or at least who aren’t likely to have a hard time with the crummy weather.) even if they are a little less talented than some out-of-state players. Anyway, that’d be a stellar finish to the class.
Wouldn’t be too picky about who rounds out the rest of class if we land the above (2 linemen, 2 DBs, and an elite WR). Anything else seems like a luxury, if/when more spots open up. I always like to see positionless athletes like viramontes/evans especially if they play some QB.
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agree on the safeties – theres some really nice prospects out there like okudoh, delpit (who i think might be one of the better overall players from this class when its all said and done), etc but they dont appear to be showing much interest in michigan. i guess id put bell up there too.
i think kelly-powell is decent but he doesnt have a high ceiling. i cant see him making much more of an impact than thomas gordon (and theres nothing wrong with that, gordon was a solid player). all teams want smart, savvy, tough dudes at safety they can rely on and kelly-powell fits the bill – but teams also want elite athletes on the back end capable of impacting the game and making plays and i dont see kelly-powell ever really filling that role. not sure i see it in bell either – but he at least offers a little more hope in that regard given his potential size, length and speed back there.
i also like holmes and thomas at CB and think theyd both be nice additions.
hopefully the coaches land another 2 DL they really like bc they need to replenish that interior DL depth. if they cant find interior guys they like then i guess theyll be ok adding another TE and LB.
they obviously need to add another OL, 1-2 CBs, another S, another DT or 2, plus the 2 spots theyre saving for outside WRs. but after handling most of the needs, the last few spots should and likely will be reserved for best available overall players towards the end of the period. roster balance is key but so is finding the best available talent.
im also in agreement on lewis rather than collins. i obviously like peoples-jones, the dudes a player. but lewis is a similarly smooth yet explosive athlete. and while collins is a nice prospect with great size, he falls behind those 2 in terms of explosiveness (collins will likely be a rock solid player but hes just not julio jones 2.0 as some want to believe)
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QB- Fine there, no more need
RB- A little soured on 5 star RBs these days. I don’t think Harris is too good to pass up any more than Derrick Green or Ty Isaac. Happy to stick with what we have rather than be overloaded at that position
WR- We did well this year, but should still grab one recruit in 2017. Don’t think it’s ever good to leave a position where you sometimes play 3 or 4 guys at once completely blank.
TE- We’re well fixed at TE, so one is plenty. Never thought it made much sense to recruit too many TE prospects…you can convert guys from lots of other positions to be your 5th and 6th stringers.
OL- Definitely need 5-6 Olinemen, but it will be a while before we really have depth there.
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