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Recruiting Update: June 8, 2015

Dudley (MA) Shepherd Hill tight end Sean McKeon (image via

COMMITMENTS
Winchester (IN) Winchester running back Kiante Enis committed to Michigan (LINK).

Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis slot receiver Chris Evans committed to Michigan (LINK).

Prattville (AL) Prattville linebacker Dytarious Johnson committed to Michigan (LINK).

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech offensive guard Michael Onwenu committed to Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Miramar (FL) Miramar defensive end Terrell Lucas was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Minnesota and Tulane. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #67 weakside end, and #1152 overall. Lucas was at the satellite camp in Tampa, and the coaches extended him an offer after evaluating him in person. His film is not particularly impressive, as he looks a little undersized and lacks the explosion I would expect in an undersized weakside end.

Dudley (MA) Shepherd Hill tight end Sean McKeon was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Syracuse, Temple, and UMass, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #64 tight end, and #1489 overall. He claims a 4.69 forty. His highlights show a long, lanky kid who looks a little awkward and gangly, but he shows some toughness and an ability to grind out extra yards after the catch.

Hit the jump for a couple more 2016 offers, a couple 2017 offers, a new 2018 offer, some guys who committed elsewhere, and lots of random bits.

Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan safety Josh Metellus was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 187 lb. prospect who is currently committed to Georgia Southern. He’s a 247 Composite 2-star, the #134 safety, and #1915 overall. He claims a 33″ vertical, a 245 lb. bench press, and a 325 lb. squat. Unless he has hit a growth spurt since his junior season, he’s probably an inch or two under his listed height and weight, but he is an aggressive hitter from the safety position and shows some nice ball skills, too. He was at the satellite camp held just outside of Miami, FL. He is another teammate of 2016 offerees Devin Bush, Jr. and Devin Gil.

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic cornerback Antwaine Richardson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 165 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Rutgers, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #86 cornerback, and #867 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 35 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 10 pass breakups. Richardson is a lanky corner who needs to add weight, but he changes direction well and is pretty physical for being a skinny guy. He attends the same school as 2015 defensive end signee Shelton Johnson.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Tampa (FL) Tampa Bay Tech wide receiver Daquon Green was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 183 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, and several others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #33 wide receiver, and #210 overall. Green was one of the stars of the show at the Tampa satellite camp. He’s a speedster who can take the top off of a defense and run after the catch.

Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan wide receiver Clevan Thomas, Jr. was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’10”, 185 lb. prospect whose lone other offer comes from Temple. Another teammate of Bush, Gil, and Metellus, Thomas earned his offer at the Miami satellite camp.  Thomas is the son of Clevan Thomas, a former Florida State cornerback (6 career interceptions) who went on to become a three-time Arena Football League Defensive Player of the Year and Hall of Famer (73 career interceptions, 11 kickoff return touchdowns). Flanagan is Thomas’s third school after playing at Miami Jackson and Miami Booker T. Washington.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2018
Thomson (GA) Thomson cornerback Christian Tutt was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 171 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among others. Tutt is obviously a young kid, and his highlights are not very lengthy, but he does show some ability as a kick returner.

OFF THE BOARD
Hallandale (FL) Hallandale wide receiver Joshua Hammond committed to Florida. Hammond’s older brother, Frankie Hammond Jr., played for the Gators and spent the last two seasons as a wide receiver with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Darien (IL) Hinsdale South defensive end Josh King committed to Michigan State. Prior to his commitment, he tweeted out that his choice would make people’s heads spin. He seemingly forgot to check his 247 Sports profile page, which had 79% of predictions in favor of . . . Michigan State. Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State were all tied for second place with 5% of the votes.

Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Luers wide receiver Austin Mack committed to Ohio State. Michigan was his leader many moons ago, and he even visited again recently, but for a long time, he has been expected to be a Buckeye.

Fort Wayne (IN) Wayne defensive end Auston Robertson committed to Michigan State. Just like King and Mack, this had been expected for a long time. Robertson had also visited Michigan several times and recently put the Wolverines in his top three, replacing Ohio State, but any late addition to a top three means it’s a long shot.

MISCELLANEOUS
Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison defensive end Khalid Kareem has set an announcement date for June 24th. He took a visit to Michigan two weekends ago that reportedly had a big impact on him because of its focus on academics. Kareem was previously committed to Michigan State for a short time this spring, but new circumstances are pointing toward him choosing Michigan.

Saline (MI) Saline quarterback Joshua Jackson has set an announcement date for Thursday. Jackson does not hold an offer from the Wolverines, but he is the son of former running backs coach Fred Jackson and the brother of former wide receiver Jeremy Jackson. He has offers from Minnesota, Northwestern, Utah, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #14 dual-threat quarterback, and #411 overall. He is expected to be a Hokie by the end of the week.

I’m keeping a running tab on the coaching staff’s 2015 Summer Swarm Tour (LINK).

Here’s a list of the eight in-state 2017 prospects who visited Michigan last Tuesday (LINK).

Rivals updated their top 100 (LINK) and top 250 lists (LINK) for 2016.

Rivals also held their 5-star Challenge in Baltimore, where Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was the keynote speaker. Here’s a list of Michigan offerees who participated (LINK).

Dytarious Johnson, Wolverine

I can’t find a picture of Dytarious Johnson, so here’s a picture of a shirtless Jim Harbaugh instead.

Prattville (AL) Prattville linebacker Dytarious Johnson committed to Michigan on Saturday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Alabama State, Memphis, South Alabama, Troy, and others.

Johnson is 6’1″ and 215 lbs. He claims a 4.5 forty, a 32.5″ vertical, a 315 lb. bench press, and a 405 lb. squat. As a junior in 2014, he had 82 total tackles.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 2-star OLB
Scout: Unranked
247 Sports: Unranked

Johnson had been picking up offers from smaller schools for a while. He visited Michigan in April with teammate and fellow Michigan commit Kingston Davis, and the coaching staff told him they would evaluate him at the Prattville satellite camp. The camp took place on Friday, Michigan extended an offer on Saturday, and Johnson committed. Both players played with Keith Washington in high school, a player who was their team’s quarterback and a part-time cornerback before signing with the Wolverines in February.

I had been aware of Johnson’s existence since he visited Michigan, but without much of a recruiting profile, I did not expect Michigan to pull the trigger on an offer, at least not this early. Now watching his film, it’s clear to see what the coaches like in him. For being a linebacker, he’s a very smooth runner who moves like a strong safety. The first highlight in his film below is of him playing man coverage on a slot receiver, staying right on his hip on a wheel route, and tracking the ball down in the air; he tips it to himself and races about 75 yards to the endzone. He also likes to hit, and he takes good angles to the football. One thing I also like is that he seems to understand his role as an outside linebacker, and he does a very good job of maintaining leverage and fighting off blocks to keep outside contain.

The athleticism is there, but some basic fundamentals are lacking. His stance and footwork will probably need to be adjusted, but that will come with reps and coaching. He will also need to get stronger and add a little bit of weight.

Overall, if you told me this was a 4-star recruit, I would not have batted an eyelash. That doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to be a star, but college teams like speed and he has it. College teams like physical players, and he’s physical. He can play and tackle in space, and he can be an asset in pass coverage. There’s not much to dislike. As an outside linebacker, he should be able to do those things, and if he ends up at inside linebacker, he’s a guy who should be able to go sideline to sideline.

Michigan now has ten players in the 2016 class, and Johnson is either the second or third linebacker, depending on whether David Reese plays defense or fullback. With four senior linebackers graduating and other contributors in their upperclassman years, Michigan is going heavy on linebackers this year and might take five. This is the fourth player Michigan has picked up since last Tuesday, joining a string of commitments that includes Michigan offensive guard Michael Onwenu, Indiana running back Kiante Enis, and Indiana slot receiver Chris Evans.

TTB Rating: 77 (ratings explanation)

2015 Season Countdown: #84 Michael Jocz

Name: Michael Jocz
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 231 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Novi
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #95
Last year: I ranked Jocz #86 and said he would be a backup tight end. He played in four games.

Jocz is undersized at 231 lbs. but the guy has some receiving skills (check out the link above). Junior Jake Butt is Michigan’s only proven option at the tight end position, and for the second year in a row, the Wolverines have another contributor (Khalid Hill) coming off of a torn ACL. The Wolverines should have a full-strength Butt and some other pieces at tight end, but Jim Harbaugh likes to use multiple tight ends. If there are injuries, Jocz could find his name called for certain situations.

Prediction: Backup tight end

Chris Evans, Wolverine

Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis running back/slot receiver Chris Evans (image via IndyStar.com)

Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis slot receiver Chris Evans committed to Michigan on Saturday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Purdue, among others.

He’s 5’11”, 186 lbs. As a junior in 2014, he carried the ball 185 times for 1,249 yards and 18 touchdowns; he also caught 51 passes for 676 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2013, he ran the ball 99 times for 530 yards and 7 touchdowns, adding 37 catches for 440 yards and 5 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 3-star, #47 ATH
Scout: 4-star, #9 RB, #165 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #5 APB, #292 overall

Evans was vaguely on my radar until he planned a visit to Michigan and was offered at the end of May. He expected to receiver by the time the visit was finished, and it happened. The Wolverines immediately jumped to the front of his middling offer list, and in short order, he set an announcement date for June 6. Despite his coach saying that Evans would take more visits this summer before deciding, Evans went ahead with his announcement as planned.

When Michigan first extended an offer, I was a little bit confused since they seemed to be on the verge of pulling in Kiante Enis to add to the other two running backs already committed in the 2016 class. Evans has the skills of a wide receiver or slot receiver, but not so much those of a running back. He catches the ball very smoothly and does not fight it on its way in. He looks like a natural pass catcher, using his hands, keeping his stride, etc. He can also be dynamic in open space, using his speed and some decent lateral movement to gain extra yardage. I also like the way Evans scores, which is by acting as if he’s crossing the finish line at a track meet.

Evans’s highlights do not show much of him running inside or through contact, which suggests that at 5’11” and 186 lbs., he’s just not equipped to do that very often. The offense appears to be designed to hit the defense up the middle on some quick stuff and then get him on the edge whenever they can.

I like Evans as a slot receiver, and I could even see his skills translating to cornerback or return man. I don’t think he has the physicality to be a running back or safety. The more I have watched of him, the more I like him. He just seems to be a good all-around player who can plug in at multiple spots, and at the very least, I am confident that he can be a solid slot guy. Michigan reportedly recruited him as an athlete with an eye toward playing him at slot receiver.

Evans is Michigan’s ninth commitment in the 2016 class, and he’s the third from the Hoosier State, joining Enis and quarterback Brandon Peters. It’s the first time in the Rivals era that Michigan has received commitments from three Indianans in one recruiting cycle, and it’s only June. Ben Davis High School is one of the more productive programs in Indiana, recently producing 2015 linebacker Asmar Bilal (Notre Dame), 2014 safety Antonio Allen (Indiana), 2010 safety Isaiah Lewis (Michigan State), and a host of MAC players; however, Evans would be the first player from Ben Davis to play at Michigan.

TTB Rating: 79 (ratings explanation)

2015 Season Countdown: #85 Karan Higdon

Name: Karan Higdon
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Sarasota (FL) Riverview
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Higdon was a senior in high school. He was a 247 Composite 3-star, the #40 running back, and #478 overall.
TTB Rating: 73

Higdon was a late success story for the new coaching staff this winter. He had been a Hawkeye commit, but he was interested in Michigan for a while without reciprocation. Jim Harbaugh extended an offer just before National Signing Day, and Higdon fought through a snowstorm and some travel issues to make it to Ann Arbor. Leading up to NSD, it was a question of whether he would stick with Iowa or flip to Michigan, and obviously he sent his National Letter of Intent to the Wolverines. Higdon is a slightly undersized back who has good vision and runs tough, though he lacks great speed.

Michigan’s situation this year is an intriguing one. There are two very highly touted recruits (Derrick Green, Ty Isaac) with experience, last year’s leading rusher returns (De’Veon Smith), and Drake Johnson made a late-season push before tearing his ACL for a second time. Yet three of the four guys have been hampered by injuries at one point or another, none has been outstanding, and the job remains up for grabs. It would be a surprise if Higdon were to beat out all those guys, although it’s not impossible. It would probably be best for him to redshirt, let the situation in front of him play itself out, and then have an extra year to make an impact down the road.

Prediction: Redshirt