Pro Athletes and Their Spawn: 2017 Edition

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31Mar 2017
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Pro Athletes and Their Spawn: 2017 Edition

Derrick Brooks (image via Tampa Bay Times)

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In what has become a yearly tradition, I tried to keep track of some noteworthy players’ sons in the 2017 recruiting class. Several former Detroit Lions have sons who are matriculating into the world of college football, and there are many others, too. You can also check out former years’ posts (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)

DeCalon Brooks – LB – Tampa (FL) Gaither: Brooks is a 5’11”, 197 lb. outside linebacker who signed with the Florida State Seminoles. He turned down offers from Illinois, Iowa, and Louisville to become a Seminole. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #52 inside linebacker, and #1174 overall. He is the son of former Florida State linebacker Derrick Brooks, who was a 1st round pick (#28 overall) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 and played through 2008. He’s now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after making 11 Pro Bowls, 1715 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 25 interceptions, and 7 total touchdowns throughout his career.

Germane Crowell – CB – Winston Salem (NC) Carver: Crowell is a 6’3″, 180-pounder who enrolled early at Virginia. He’s a 3-star, the #41 athlete, and #557 overall, and he spurned offers from the likes of Georgia and Notre Dame to attend his dad’s alma mater. The elder Germane Crowell was a 2nd round pick (#50 overall) of the Detroit Lions in 1998. He caught 184 passes for 2,722 yards and 16 touchdowns during a five-year career with the Lions. He was the head coach at Carver and amassed a 33-18 record over the past several years, but he resigned in December of 2016.

Luther Elliss (image via Detroit Lions)

Christian Elliss – LB – Littleton (CO) Valor Christian: Elliss is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect who signed with Idaho. He’s a 2-star, the #207 outside linebacker, and #3067 overall. For more on his bloodlines, see the Noah Elliss entry below.

Noah Elliss – DT – Littleton (CO) Valor Christian: Elliss is a 6’4″, 330 lb. prospect who signed with Mississippi State. He’s a 3-star, the #23 defensive tackle, and #344 overall. Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and USC also offered Elliss, so the choice of Mississippi State was odd. Furthermore, Michigan was in need of defensive tackles, so I thought it was possible that the Wolverines would extend an offer, especially considering where his “dad” spent his NFL career. Luther Elliss played his college ball at Utah before becoming a 1st round pick (#20 overall) of the Detroit Lions in 1995. A two-time Pro Bowler for the Lions, he made 331 tackles and 29 sacks during a ten-year career, the last season of which he played for the Denver Broncos. Noah is actually Luther Elliss’s biological nephew, but Luther adopted him.

Hit the jump for a gaggle of more players and their dads.

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19May 2016
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Visitors: May 20-22, 2016

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Montvale (NJ) St. Joseph DE Dorian Hardy (image via NJ.com)

2017

Darrion Green – CB – Dallas (TX) Woodrow Wilson: Green is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan and SMU. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #150 cornerback, and #1528 overall. He claims a 4.4 forty. Green is partially deaf, so earning FBS football offers is a big deal. There has been some talk that his Michigan offer is “not committable,” and he will be making his college announcement in the coming weeks, so his pick will probably be SMU unless something changes.

James Hudson – DE – Toledo (OH) Central Catholic: Hudson is a 6’5″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Iowa, Penn State, and Pitt, among others; he just recently decommitted from Kentucky. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #11 strongside end, and #330 overall. Michigan has not yet offered, but there’s a good chance that they will on the visit (UPDATE: Michigan did indeed offer).

Jaylen Kelly-Powell – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Kelly-Powell is a 6’0″, 183 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Oregon, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #22 safety, and #243 overall. I put in a Crystal Ball for him to Michigan a couple weeks ago.

Hit the jump for several more 2017 and 2018 visitors.

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31Mar 2016
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Chase Lasater, Wolverine

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Jacksonville (FL) Trinity Christian Academy LB Chase Lasater attempts to block a punt

Jacksonville (FL) Trinity Christian Academy fullback Chase Lasater committed to Michigan on Thursday evening. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Charlotte and Troy.

Lasater is a 6’2″, 238 lb. fullback and linebacker. He claims a 4.57 forty, a 4.4 shuttle, a 34.5″ vertical, a 315 lb. bench press, and a 475 lb. squat. His Nike testing numbers are a little less impressive (4.75 forty, 4.56 shuttle), but still solid.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 3-star FB
Scout: Unranked
247 Sports: Unranked

Hit the jump for more on Lasater’s commitment.

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31Mar 2016
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5 Defensive Players to Watch in Michigan’s Spring Game

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LB Mike McCray II

Michigan held some open practices in Florida and another at Ford Field last Saturday, but for many, the spring game will be the first opportunity to see the Wolverines in person or at least in action. I posted some notes on the defense earlier this week (LINK), and here are the top five defensive players I’ll be watching at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night:

LB/S Jabrill Peppers
It’s no surprise that Peppers would be first on my list. He might not be Michigan’s best defensive player, but his athletic abilities outstrip those of everyone else on the team. Peppers spent most of his time doing drills at SAM linebacker last Saturday at Ford Field, but when the Wolverines lined up for scrimmage action, he also played safety. The 6’1″, 208-pounder will line up at the line of scrimmage in a 9-technique, over slot receivers, or back deep in coverage. There’s reason to believe he will be a big-time playmaker, so prepare to be impressed when things go live.

Hit the jump for four more players to watch.

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