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Rivals 100 for 2016 updated

Erik Swenson is the #82 prospect in the country (image via 247Sports.com)

Rivals updated their top 100 prospects for 2016 (LINK). Here’s what it looked like in December (LINK). Michigan commit Erik Swenson dropped from #76 to #82 over the past couple months. Here are the rest of Michigan’s offerees:

5-stars:
1. Jacob Eason – QB – Washington (Georgia)
3. Shea Patterson – QB – Louisiana
4. Rashan Gary – DT – New Jersey
5. Nate Craig-Myers – WR – Florida (Auburn)
6. Demetris Robertson – ATH – Alabama (Alabama)
8. Greg Little – OT – Texas (Texas A&M)
9. Levonta Taylor – CB – Virginia
11. Rahshaun Smith – DE – Florida
12. Caleb Kelly – LB – California
13. Dexter Lawrence – DT – North Carolina
15. Malik Henry – QB – California
18. Kareem Walker – RB – New Jersey (Ohio State)
19. Daelin Hayes – LB – Michigan (USC)

4-stars:
25. K.J. Costello – QB – California
28. Brandon Jones – S – Texas
29. Elijah Stove – WR – Florida
31. Tommy Kraemer – OT – Ohio (Notre Dame)
32. Scott Bracey – WR – Virginia (Duke)
36. Sam Bruce – WR – Florida (Miami)
39. Janarius Robinson – DE – Florida (Florida State)
40. Isaac Nauta – TE – Georgia (Florida State)
41. Ben Bredeson – OT – Wisconsin
42. Ben Cleveland – OT – Georgia (Georgia)
43. Deontay Anderson – S – Texas
44. Jake Hausmann – TE – Ohio (Ohio State)
50. Ahmir Mitchell – WR – New Jersey
51. Erick Fowler – LB – Texas
53. Miles Sanders – RB – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
55. Ed Oliver – DT – Texas
56. E.J. Price – OT – Georgia
58. Willie Allen – OT – Louisiana
59. Josh King – DE – Illinois
61. Naseir Upshur – TE – Pennsylvania
62. Collin Johnson – WR – Texas (Texas)
66. Donnie Corley – WR – Michigan
68. Dwayne Haskins, Jr. – QB – Maryland
69. Dylan Crawford – WR – California
74. Trayvon Mullen – CB – Texas
79. T.J. Chase – WR – Florida (Clemson)
81. Michael Menet – OT – Pennsylvania
82. Erik Swenson – OT – Illinois (Michigan)
84. Kendell Jones – DT – Texas
91. Jarrett Guarantano – QB – New Jersey

In-State Preview of 2016 Recruiting

Detroit (MI) King wide receiver Donnie Corley

In past years I’ve listed the upcoming class’s prospects in alphabetical order, but this year I’m going to try something different. Based on their junior film, I’m going to rank the prospects in order of their talent level. Things can always changed based on spring/summer camps, fall performance, body maturation, etc., but this is how I see these guys here in the winter of 2015. Note that I ranked these players before compiling their recruiting rankings from other services, although I am aware of rankings peripherally since I cover recruiting quite a bit. There is also a dearth of linemen on the list, partly because linemen take a little longer to mature and pop up on the radar.

1. Donnie Corley – WR – Detroit (MI) King: King is 6’2″, 180 lbs. and a 247 Composite 4-star, the #24 wide receiver, and #111 overall. As a junior in 2014, he had 47 receptions for 1,087 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also made 9 picks on defense. So far he has offers from LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, among others. I do think he could play corner at the next level, but I think he’s such a strong north-south runner and a natural pass catcher that he would be best served playing offense.

2. Lavert Hill – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Hill is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect who committed to Penn State recently; he also holds offers from Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #21 cornerback, and #218 overall. He claims a 4.4 forty. He’s also the younger brother of Michigan sophomore safety Delano Hill. Lavert himself played at Detroit (MI) Cass Tech through his junior season, but he will be playing for King this coming fall. Lavert is an aggressive corner – perhaps too aggressive, since he gets called or should get called for lots of pass interference – who shows good speed, nice hips, and smooth ball skills.

3. Matt Falcon – RB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Falcon is a 6’1″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #15 running back, and #219 overall. He also claims a 4.41 forty. Maybe I’m imagining things, but as a junior, it still appeared that he a bit of a hitch in his giddyap after an ACL tear suffered as a sophomore. Falcon runs with good body lean, some violence, and good speed despite the knee injury.

Hit the jump for 35 more prospects from within the state.

4. Michael Jordan – OT – Plymouth (MI) Plymouth: Jordan is 6’6″, 285 lbs. and a 247 Composite 4-star, #17 offensive tackle, and #201 overall. He holds offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State. Jordan moves well and packs quite a punch when he stays low, but he needs to work on bending his knees and widening his base. Attending camps and continuing to work in the off-season would probably help him quite a bit with his technique.

5. Khalid Kareem – DE – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Kareem is 6’4″, 240 lbs. and a 247 Composite 4-star, the #21 strongside end, and #292 overall. He has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, and he was briefly committed to the Spartans at the beginning of February. Kareem has a good first step, claims a 4.8 forty, uses his hands pretty well, and shows a variety of moves to defeat blockers. He’s not an athletic freak, but he does not have any glaring weaknesses.

6. Stefan Claiborne – S – Clinton Township (MI) Chippewa Valley: Claiborne is 6’1″, 168 lbs. and a 247 Composite 3-star, the #25 safety, and #417 overall. He has offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, and a handful of MAC schools so far, although others are surely on their way. He claims a 4.44 forty and a 30″ vertical. For a while I liked him as a receiver, but as his body fills out, I’m thinking he looks more and more like a safety. He has decent speed, is a solid tackler, and knows how to take angles and find the football.

7. Thiyo Lukusa – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Lukusa is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect and a 247 Composite 4-star, the #30 offensive tackle, and #328 overall. He has offers from Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Ohio State, among others. Lukusa can sink his hips when engaged with defenders in run blocker, but he does not have the lateral foot quickness to remain at tackle, at least not on the left side, which is where he plays in high school.

8. Martell Pettaway – RB – St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Pettaway is a 5’10”, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan State. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #22 running back, and #308 overall. He claims a 4.45 forty. Pettaway has good vision, speed, and feet, but he runs a little upright and needs to get stronger in the lower body. He looks more like a change-of-pace guy than a feature back.

9. Demetric Vance – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Vance is a 6’1″, 193 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Pitt, and Purdue, among others. He claims a 4.5 forty. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #26 safety, and #421 overall. While he has some pass receiving skills, I think he has more of a feel for playing defense. From the safety position, he can come up and support the run, he can go up and get the ball, and he’s willing to hit receivers who come across the middle.

10. Desmond Fitzpatrick – WR – Farmington (MI) Farmington: Fitzpatrick is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #59 wide receiver, and #339 overall. He committed to Louisville back in the fall and has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue, among others. He claims a 4.5 forty. Fitzpatrick has average size, good speed, and good body control, but he is not particularly or elusive after the catch unless he beats the defense over the top.

11. Bailey Edwards – WR – Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Edwards is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect with an offer from Western Michigan. He’s the son of former Michigan running back Stan Edwards and the younger brother of both Braylon Edwards (Michigan) and Berkley Edwards (Minnesota). I doubt the 180 lb. thing because he’s rail-thin (he’s probably close to 170 lbs.), but he has very good acceleration and speed, and he has an advanced understanding of route running. He’s not the most natural pass catcher, but that may come with time.

12. Tony Poljan – TE – Lansing (MI) Catholic Central: Poljan is a 6’7″, 235 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Michigan to play football and one from Central Michigan to play basketball. At one point he was ranked in ESPN’s top 300 prospects for 2016 at #263, although he has since dropped off the list. He’s currently a 247 Composite 3-star, the #27 athlete, and #446 overall. He was a juggernaut as a junior in 2014, completing 65% of his passes for 2,802 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions; he also ran 1,017 yards and 22 touchdowns, giving him 56 touchdowns for the season, which is an incredible number. Granted, he does not play great competition, but it’s impressive what he can do at his size. He’s outrunning people and stiff-arming defenders from his quarterback position, and he also plays some linebacker, where he does a nice job of getting low and tracking the ball carrier. He looks most comfortable with the ball in his hands, so tight end seems a likely landing spot, but I could also see him as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end. You should definitely take a look at his linked highlights.

13. Cameron Kolwich – OG – Muskegon (MI) Orchard View: Kolwich is a 6’4″, 270 lb. prospect with an offer from Toledo. He has a good first step and a good initial punch, and while he has the feet to possibly play right tackle, he might be limited by his length. I’m a little surprised that he doesn’t have more offers than a few of the other linemen in Michigan, including a couple of the Traverse City West guys.

14. Eric Rogers – LB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Rogers is a 6’1″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Toledo, and Western Michigan. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 inside linebacker, and #324 overall. He also claims a 4.7 forty, benches 325 lbs., squats 500 lbs., and boasts a 34″ vertical. He shows good instincts and overall athleticism, but he does not jump off the screen as an athlete or a hitter. Rogers is the younger brother of former Michigan cornerback James Rogers and a teammate of one of 2017’s top prospects, RB Allen Stritzinger.

15. Kalebb Perry – WR – Mt. Pleasant (MI) Mt. Pleasant: Perry is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Miami-OH, and Western Michigan. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #103 wide receiver, and #678 overall. He claims a 36″ vertical and as a junior in 2014, he caught 36 passes for 900 yards and 9 touchdowns. Perry has decent height but needs to get stronger. He’s a good athlete who has good acceleration but lacks that extra gear to pull away from defensive backs.

16. Michael Onwenu – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Onwenu is a 6’2″, 340 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 offensive guard, and #191 overall. He claims a 5.5 forty and a 405 lb. bench press. Onwenu has surprisingly quick feet when moving in a straight line, and he obviously has a big body. My qualm with Onwenu is that even on his highlights, he does not go hard all the time. Part of this may be conditioning (after all, he’s 340 lbs. and not particularly tall), but he seems to lack some football instincts when it comes to finishing plays. That motivation has to come from somewhere.

17. Jalen Cochran – LB – Canton (MI) Canton: Cochran is a 6’4″, 225 lb. outside linebacker/defensive end with offers from Eastern Michigan and Iowa. He claims a 4.79 forty. I think you’re going to be impressed if you watch his film, where I see a guy who plays fast and aggressive. He has good length and a frame to carry a good deal more weight. He looks a little uncomfortable with his hand on the ground, which makes me project him as a linebacker for now, but his size will probably make him a defensive end eventually.

18. Trishton Jackson – QB – West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield: Jackson is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Purdue, Toledo, and Western Michigan. He’s unranked right now. Jackson is a dual-threat quarterback who’s extremely raw and might be more likely to end up playing wide receiver or defensive back at the next level. He does not have a strong arm, throws a wobbly ball, and does not have good mechanics. However, he is very elusive and has good speed. If he plays quarterback, I see him as a developmental guy who might take over in his fourth or fifth season. His older brother, Obbie, signed with Eastern Michigan in the 2015 class.

19. Tommy Roush – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Roush is a 6’3″, 270 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. Roush has not been heavily pursued yet, but I like this kid. One thing he lacks is ideal size, which may be holding some schools back from offering. But he is a very technical, aggressive player who I think could play center or guard for some programs, if not in the Big Ten then in the AAC, ACC, etc.

20. Hunter Broersma – WR – Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Broersma is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from a handful of MAC programs. He claims a 4.5 forty. As a junior in 2014, he touched the ball 75 times and gained 1,038 total yards with 11 touchdowns, and he made 5 interceptions (including 1 return for a touchdown) and 8 pass breakups. He also had the benefit of catching passes from senior Tyree Jackson (Buffalo), so it will be interesting to see if he can have as much success for what has traditionally been an overlooked program. Broersma doesn’t have great speed but has some good balance. He could end up playing slot receiver or perhaps safety at the next level.

21. Jesse Johnson – S – Detroit (MI) King: King is a 5’11”, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois and Toledo. The most recent highlights I can find of Johnson come from his sophomore year, in which he looks like a strong safety or maybe an outside linebacker. He’s known as a good hitter and tackler, but he lacks the quickness to play much in deep coverage.

22. Joshua Jackson – QB – Saline (MI) Saline: Jackson is a 6’2″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Northwestern, West Virginia, and several MAC schools. He’s the son of former Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson and the brother of former Michigan wide receiver Jeremy Jackson. He started his high school career at Ann Arbor (MI) Huron but got pulled from the team in the middle of his sophomore year. While his older brother claimed some SEC and Big 12 offers, Joshua looks like a better athlete, although he’s not an elite quarterback prospect and probably doesn’t have the speed to play receiver.

23. Jalen Martin – WR – Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy: Martin is a 6’3″, 203 lb. prospect with offers from a handful of MAC programs. He claims a 4.53 forty. As a sophomore in 2013, he caught 44 passes for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns. My issue with Martin has always been a lack of explosiveness, and I have not seen a great improvement in that area. While he could stick at wide receiver, I would not be totally surprised to see him add weight and become an H-back or pass receiving tight end, because I believe he has the frame to do so.

24. Mike Robb – TE – Midland (MI) Dow: Robb is a 6’6″, 210 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Michigan. He claims a 4.7 forty. As a junior in 2014, he caught 58 passes for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns. While Dow uses him effectively as a go-to wide receiver who lines up split wide, he will almost certainly have to learn to play tight end position, but he has the speed and athleticism to make the transition as a pass receiving guy. His long-term future may be determined by how well he adjusts to blocking on the line of scrimmage.

25. Tim Walton – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Walton is a 6’1″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati and a couple MAC schools. He claims a 4.6 forty. Walton looks like a MAC-level inside linebacker. He plays some offense, but while his defensive instincts aren’t great, they’re better on that side of the ball.

26. Mikale Washington – QB – Detroit (MI) King: Washington is a 6’4″, 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #24 pro-style quarterback, and #475 overall. Washington has the advantage of throwing to some of the best skill players in the state, so some of his production and highlights should be taken with a grain of salt. He has decent running skills and fair arm strength, but he does not seem to have to make a lot of reads and his windup is reminiscent of Byron Leftwich’s elongated motion. I do think he’ll get some offers, but colleges are likely waiting until some of the bigger targets start to drop.

27. Cedrick Lattimore – DE – Detroit (MI) East English Village: Lattimore is a 6’5″, 241 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan. Lattimore also plays tight end, but he looks more comfortable on defense than he does running routes, catching, and running. With his size there’s a decent chance that he ends up playing defensive tackle in college, but he needs to use his hands better.

28. Marquis Smith – QB – Ypsilanti (MI) Ypsilanti: Smith is a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect who committed to Eastern Michigan this past weekend. Smith is very unpolished as a quarterback and even looks uncomfortable receiving the shotgun snaps, so I have doubts about whether he’ll ever play the position in college. As a runner, he shows good agility and vision and can run through some tackles, but he doesn’t have great speed. I would imagine he will end up playing running back or slot receiver in college.

29. Jacob Cerny – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Cerny is a 6’5″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan. He is unranked at this point. Cerny is a little bit thin right now and needs to add a lot of size and strength. He has decent feet when he chooses to use them, but ultimately, he does not appear to have a killer instinct when it comes to blocking and finishing plays.

30. Juanye Johnson – OG – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Johnson is a 6’4″, 275 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. Johnson plays tackle in high school, but I think his feet are too heavy to play on the outside in college. However, he has a nice frame to add weight and could be a punishing blocker if he can clean up some of his technical inconsistencies. He’s a developmental prospect but has significant upside if he can get things to click.

31. Lukas Thompson – CB – Grand Rapids (MI) Catholic Central: Thompson is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with an offer from Western Michigan.  He plays receiver, quarterback, cornerback, and kick returner for his high school, but he’s a tentative runner without a lot of strength. I see him more as a zone corner, but he has to get stronger and more aggressive.

32. Benji Marshall – CB – Macomb (MI) Dakota: Marshall is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he does have good quickness and athleticism that could lead some teams to look at him as either a corner or a slot receiver.
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UNRATED: The players listed alphabetically below might be very good players, but they either haven’t played much football recently or they simply don’t have much film posted on the internet. For example, Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline’s Daelin Hayes is committed to USC and considered by some to be a 5-star, but I can’t really rate him if I haven’t seen him play.

Brandon Allen – CB – Haslett (MI) Haslett: Allen is a 5’10”, 155 lb. prospect with a basketball offer from Central Michigan. There’s not much film to go on for Allen, and he is more likely to play basketball at the next level, but I’ll throw his name out there as a potential corner prospect.

Dontre Boyd – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Boyd is a 5’10”, 160 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, and Iowa, among others. Without junior film on him, it’s tough to make a judgment, but his sophomore highlights show a kid with good speed and nice hips. While he also plays receiver, I think he probably has the most upside at corner. Presuming he grows at least a little bit, I would guess he ends up somewhere in the middle of the Big Ten.

Lawrence Gordon – DE – Bridgeport (MI) Bridgeport: Gordon is a 6’6″, 260 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #52 weakside end, and #868 overall. He claims a 4.6 forty. Gordon transferred from Saginaw (MI) Arthur Hill to Bridgeport in his junior year. While Gordon reportedly has significant athletic talent, there have been consistent reports that he just hasn’t put it all together on the football field and looks somewhat lost. Still, at that size and with decent athleticism, he probably gets a chance somewhere.

Daelin Hayes – LB – Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline: Hayes is a 6’3″, 225 lb. prospect who committed to USC last July; he also has offers from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and numerous others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 outside linebacker, and #77 overall. He’s also ranked as the #1 player in the state. Unfortunately, there’s very little film on Hayes, who got hurt as a sophomore at Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s, transferred to California for his junior year but barely played, and then moved back to Michigan before his junior school year finished. He has barely played football over the past two years, but he must pass the eye test and look good at camps, because powerhouses around the country are gunning for him. I regret that I have to take a pass on ranking him, since no film exists.

Ade Ogundeji – DE – Walled Lake (MI) Central: Ogundeji was 6’5″, 209 lbs. as a sophomore and earned a scholarship offer from Western Michigan, although I have not heard much about him after his junior year. His sophomore film showed a kid who was extremely raw but had a nice frame and inconsistent – but intriguing – aggression. If he can add strength and regulate his aggression, he could be a prospect to watch for some bigger offers. As is, however, he seems to be the type of raw prospect that only MAC-level schools might take a risk on.

Leon Page – DE – Detroit (MI) King: Page is a 6’3″, 226 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Michigan. His sophomore film shows a kid who’s a little bit lanky but shows good quickness and can come off the edge as a pass rusher. He may be more of a 3-4 outside linebacker, depending on how his body develops.

Scouting Report: 2016 Quarterbacks

Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist quarterback Shea Patterson (#1)

Every year I put together a list of potential quarterbacks from Michigan and rank their desirability. This year’s list includes only players Michigan has offered, since more offers have gone out than in the past. Brady Hoke was very stingy with quarterback offers and generally didn’t offer guys until National Signing Day of the preceding class, but he went a little crazy with 2016 guys and offered some of them early. Jim Harbaugh has reaffirmed some of those offers and added one name to the list (Brandon Peters), plus he has gotten in the ear of Georgia commit Jacob Eason, whom I also included. Remember that this is a look at which players fit Michigan’s personnel, coaching staff, and system best, not necessarily who will be the best college football player overall.

If additions to the list are needed later, I’ll do a separate post at that time. Otherwise, these are the guys Michigan has offered and pursued at one point or another for the 2016 cycle. Enjoy!

1. Jacob Eason – QB – Lake Stevens (WA) Lake Stevens: Eason is a 6’5″, 205 lb. quarterback who committed to Georgia last summer; he also holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Washington, and Washington State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #1 pro-style quarterback, and #4 overall. As a junior in 2014, he completed 197/287 passes for 2,829 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Eason is a tall kid who can easily see over the line, and he does a good job of standing in the pocket and finding his man. He keeps his feet active and is always in a position to throw, which is helped out by the fact that he has the arm strength to make all the throws. I believe he has an NFL arm as a high schooler, and he can put the ball on a line even when he’s running and can only use his arm. In that way he reminds me a little bit of some throws I saw Jameis Winston make this past year, but overall, I see Sam Bradford when I look at Eason. Eason can put some nice touch on the deep ball, and he can find small windows in the secondary. He also gets rid of the ball quickly and seems in command of the offense, understanding where to go with the football and when. He gets through his reads in a hurry and can scan the whole field, which is impressive for a high schooler. There’s not much to criticize, but he is not a dynamic runner, lacking great speed or elusiveness but with enough athleticism right now to keep the chains moving. Also, when he has to hold onto the ball, he starts to drop his throwing arm and he can be a little careless by keeping only one hand on the ball at times, which might lead to turnovers. He also appears to operate exclusively out of a shotgun spread, which means that playing from under center might be a tricky adjustment.

Hit the jump for seven more quarterback breakdowns.

2. Shea Patterson – QB – Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist: Patterson is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #3 pro-style quarterback, and #18 overall. He has offers from Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Baylor, Clemson, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Texas, Texas A&M, and USC, among others. As a junior in 2014, he completed 129/199 passes for 2,428 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Right off the bat, I get a Johnny Manziel type of vibe from Patterson when watching his film. He has somewhat of a nondescript frame, and neither his speed or his arm strength jump off the screen. However, he is someone who seems to be good at just about everything. The most impressive thing about him is his pocket awareness, ability to move within the pocket, and ability to find throwing lanes. He also shows nice touch on some deep throws. He can be careless with the football, carrying it one-handed when scrambling and dropping it to waist level, and those habits will eventually lead to fumbles if not corrected. Manziel did the same thing and got himself a Heisman trophy, so it’s not a death knell for a quarterback’s career. Patterson is not the quickest decision maker of this group, but he does seem to have a good grasp of what the defense is doing and finds his receiver fairly quickly. Mechanically, Patterson does a good job with his footwork getting himself ready to throw, and other than dropping his throwing hand when scrambling, he is pretty polished. Patterson runs a shotgun passing spread offense that does not see him dropping back from under center, which may be a significant adjustment if he goes into a pro-style offense in college.

3. K.J. Costello – QB – Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic: Costello is a 6’4″, 213 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Michigan, Stanford, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #4 pro-style quarterback, and #41 overall. Costello is a tall kid who looks like he’s hit a bit of a growth spurt since his sophomore season. When he steps into his throws, he has a cannon for an arm and throws with a nice, high elbow. Otherwise, he tends to fall off to his left side and drop his arm slot, which can cause the ball to sail a bit. His standard delivery is somewhat Phillip Rivers-like. Also like Rivers, Costello throws a very good deep ball and can place it where only his receiver can catch it. He sometimes shows a hitch in his delivery where the ball drops too low and takes too long to come out, but that’s not a consistent problem and seems to be something he can correct. On short throws, he is quick to identify blitzes and attack the area the blitzer vacated, which often gives his receiver time to make the catch and gain some additional yardage. He often releases the ball on outs or hitches before they come out of their break, so he has developed a good rapport and good timing with his guys. He can slide around in the pocket well, and he keeps his eyes downfield when rolling out of the pocket. Costello shows some nice touch on the run, and he can get out and move a little bit to scramble for first downs, but he won’t be much of a threat to break long runs or have plays designed for him to keep the ball. Costello runs mostly a shotgun spread offense, and he does not look particularly adept at dropping back from under center or handling play fakes where he turns his back to the defense. One thing to note is that Costello seemed to have a favorite receiver, who is #5 in the highlights and appears to have been Kyle Sweet, a 2015 prospect who signed with Washington State. Also, while not wildly successful last season (RSM Catholic went 6-5), they played against some excellent programs in California.

4. Dwayne Haskins, Jr. – QB – Potomac (MD) Bullis: Haskins is a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, and UCLA, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 pro-style quarterback, and #64 overall. As a junior in 2014, he was 159/259 (61.4%) for 1,953 yards passing and 24 total touchdowns. Haskins is one of the shorter guys Michigan is pursuing, but he still has decent height. He appears to be rather polished with his ball handling, play fakes, etc., even on the few occasions where he is lining up under center. He has a nice, compact delivery and releases the ball up high where it will be tougher for defenders to bat down. He stands nice and high with a proud chest and on the balls of his feet, so he is always ready to throw. He does a good job of throwing when rolling to his right, but he could use some work going to his left, as he tends to fall off to the side and not square his shoulders. Haskins is fully in command of the offense and knows where to go with the ball, so there’s not a whole lot of wasted time in the pocket looking for guys to come open. His arm strength is good, and he can push the ball down the field, but he also shows nice touch on short and intermediate throws. He’s not afraid to work the middle of the field, either, which is something a lot of high school quarterbacks (and coaches) avoid. Haskins is just a so-so athlete on the move, and he probably will not be a dynamic runner at the next level, but he has the speed to keep defenses honest and move the chains.

5. Malik Henry – QB – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Henry is a 6’3″, 180 lb. prospect who transferred from Westlake Village (CA) Westlake to IMG Academy after his junior season. IMG Academy has become a haven for burgeoning prospects and produced quarterback Deondre Francois (FSU) in the 2014 class. Henry himself committed to Florida State in November 2014 and also held offers from Arizona State, Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, and UCLA. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 pro-style quarterback, and #9 overall. His Michigan offer came from the Brady Hoke regime, and that offer has not been reaffirmed by the new coaching staff, as far as I know. Henry has decent height and a slight build, so he will need to get stronger. Somewhat like Haskins as an athlete, he won’t wow you with his running ability but has enough speed and escapability to be effective at moving the chains and can keep a defense honest with the occasional option play. Henry has a live arm and can really sling the ball when he sets himself up properly. His throwing motion is reminiscent of Denard Robinson to me with the way he follows through, and I’m not sure if that’s a compliment. Henry seems to be a split second late on a lot of his throws, which negates his receivers’ ability to run after the catch. Some of his completions are also high, which has the same effect. This is another quality that reminds me of Robinson, who was not known for his pinpoint accuracy. Henry does a nice job of reaching back with his right foot to gain depth, and he remains balanced in his drop.

6. Messiah DeWeaver – QB – Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: DeWeaver is a 6’3″, 202 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and others. He was at one time committed to Michigan. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #12 pro-style quarterback, and #325 overall. After his junior season, he transferred from Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison to Wayne High School. DeWeaver has good enough size to be successful, although he needs to add some weight in order to absorb the physical nature of the college game. He shows good pocket awareness and generally keeps the ball at chest level and ready to throw when scrambling. He can shuffle left or right and still keep his eyes downfield. One of his best qualities is his ability to get the ball out on time, which reduces the chance of sacks, fumbles, batted down passes, etc. That also seems to be somewhat out of necessity because of an inability to really push the ball down the field. Mechanically, DeWeaver does a nice job when he throws downhill, and he has a short, compact delivery on all of his throws. However, corner routes, out routes, go routes, etc. are potentially troublesome. The ball tends to flutter and does not have much zip, which suggests that he’ll be more of a short-to-intermediate thrower. Athletically, DeWeaver has decent speed but is not an adept or physical runner. He can take what the defense offers on the ground, but he’s not going to run through tackles or beat many guys to the edge. Overall, DeWeaver is a decent prospect but not the best one Michigan can find.

7. Brandon Peters – QB – Avon (IN) Avon: Peters is a 6’5″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #10 pro-style quarterback, and #305 overall. The first vibe I got from Peters was that of Steve Threet, whom you might remember from the 2008 Michigan team. Those memories are not positive, although Threet was a square peg in a Rodriguez hole (that sounds dirty). Anyway, despite that reminiscence, I tried to push it out of my mind for objectivity’s sake. Peters has a good frame for a pro-style quarterback, the frame of Michigan quarterbacks of yesteryear – Tom Brady, Elvis Grbac, John Navarre, etc. He runs fairly well for a quarterback that size, but that should be taken with a grain of salt, because guys like him generally get slower as they pack on weight. However, he will be a load to bring down and is a physical runner, so he could end up being a guy who won’t break the huge runs but can run through arm tackles of linebackers often enough to get you some first downs. As far as throwing goes, Peters is a little bit deliberate in his motion and sometimes looks like he’s trying to guide the ball rather than throw it. He can throw from different arm slots, but he can be a little sloppy when it comes to mechanics overall. On the plus side, he has a strong arm and throws a good deep ball. He also runs a pro-style offense that plays him under center at times. His highlight film is one of the few that shows his receivers dropping balls, which might be indicative of not only the talent on his team, but the talent in Indiana overall. Indiana is not a football hotbed, and the cream of the crop from the Hoosier state includes names like Jay Cutler, Rick Mirer, Rex Grossman, and Jeff George. Talent-wise, that’s not a terrible group, but it’s not an inspiring list, either.

8. Jarrett Guarantano – QB – Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic: Guarantano is a 6’4″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #6 pro-style quarterback, and #98 overall. The offer from Michigan popped up during the Brady Hoke regime, and I have not heard whether the new staff continues to recruit him or not. Either way, I will include him here. First of all, Guarantano has good height but is very skinny at this point, and on the run, he almost looks like a Devin Gardner or Terrelle Pryor – long strides that make him look a gliding runner. That running ability might be his best asset, as he show the speed, nifty feet, and toughness to be a consistent threat on the ground. In fact, I’m very surprised he’s listed as a pro-style quarterback, because I think he’s the definition of a dual-threat guy. As a dropback passer, however, his feet are a little bit questionable mechanically, and he does not always seem to be in rhythm. He has a very strong arm, despite often throwing off his back foot. Guarantano can push the ball down the field, and he can also fit short throws into tight spaces. I question his ability to make passes requiring touch, because his highlights don’t showcase that skill. My big question mark about Guarantano is the slowness of his decision making. He  often makes throws late and he holds onto the ball too long in the pocket, which will be tougher to get away with in college. In my opinion, he looks like the quintessential Ohio State quarterback, a guy who probably requires a running element to the offense and some simple reads.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.

2016 Recruiting Needs

Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic quarterback K.J. Costello is one of Michigan’s top targets

As of this moment in February of 2015, Michigan has 14 spots scheduled to open up in the 2016 class (LINK). Michigan also took 14 players in the class of 2015, but the numbers for 2016 should grow by the time a year goes past, and the class will probably be close to 20. Based on the current number, though, here’s how things should start off.

QUARTERBACK
Seniors in 2015: None
Needs: 1
Comments: With no seniors on the roster in 2015 but a slew of scholarship guys in their freshman to junior years, Michigan does not need to take two quarterbacks like they did this past Signing Day. Jim Harbaugh has taken two quarterbacks consistently in past classes, which is a stark contrast to Brady Hoke taking zero or one in each class. While Harbaugh could continue his own trend of taking multiple quarterbacks, the true need is only one.
Top targets: K.J. Costello, Messiah DeWeaver, Jacob Eason, Brandon Peters

RUNNING BACK
Seniors in 2015: None
Needs: 1
Comments: Michigan has three juniors and a sophomore on the roster, plus true freshman Karan Higdon. This is not a strong need, but Michigan needs to keep stocking the roster for a couple years in the future, when all of those juniors leave at once (or earlier if they want playing time elsewhere).
Top targets: Kingston Davis, Elijah Holyfield, Kareem Walker

FULLBACK
Seniors in 2015: Sione Houma, Joe Kerridge
Needs: 0
Comments: Harbaugh likes to use fullbacks quite a bit in his offense, and the two guys with significant playing time will both be gone after the upcoming season unless Houma somehow takes a redshirt year. The only fullback-type player left on the roster afterward will be Wyatt Shallman, a redshirt sophomore this year. The coaches could settle for having a walk-on back him up if they find someone who can get the job done.
Top targets: None identified yet

WIDE RECEIVER
Seniors in 2015: Dennis Norfleet
Needs: 1
Comments: Michigan will have nine receivers left on the roster after Norfleet leaves, which is a good number. The coaches may choose to recruit more players at the position depending on what they see out of the current guys on the roster. None of them seem like possibly early entrants to the NFL, so that should help maintain some continuity and allow the younger guys time to develop.
Top targets: Dylan Crawford, Demetric Felton, Theo Howard

TIGHT END
Seniors in 2015: A.J. Williams
Needs: 1
Comments: Michigan wanted to take both Chris Clark and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. in 2015, but only Wheatley committed, and his long-term ceiling might be highest at defensive end. Taking one tight end likely assures that Wheatley stays on offense, whereas taking two could allow the coaching staff some more position flexibility. Starter Jake Butt will be a junior with the ability to depart early if Michigan is able to showcase his talents, so the coaches must have a contingency plan in place. Also, Harbaugh’s use of multiple tight ends requires several to be ready to play at any given time.
Top targets: Devin Asiasi, Luke Farrell

OFFENSIVE LINE
Seniors in 2015: Graham Glasgow, Jack Miller
Needs: 2
Comments: Glasgow and Miller are both projected starters in 2015, and while they likely won’t be replaced by freshmen in 2016, Michigan does need to replenish their numbers very soon. Most linemen redshirt, so the 2016 class is essentially addressing the 2017 team. Michigan has four redshirt juniors, at least three of whom should be starting in 2016 and will need to be replaced. Michigan took just one lineman in 2014 and three in 2015, most of whom are projects and not blue-chippers. The Wolverines need to address the center and left tackle positions.
Top targets: Alex Akingbulu, Michael Jordan, E.J. Price, Erik Swenson (commit)

DEFENSIVE END
Seniors in 2015: Mario Ojemudia
Needs: 1-2
Comments: The Wolverines appear to be going to more of a 3-4 look with a rush linebacker playing one of the defensive end spots, so this position can be folded into linebacker somewhat. The team brought in two freshman defensive ends in the past class and loses just Ojemudia, so the remaining group should be able to hold down the one true defensive end position.
Top targets: Quayshon Alexander, Terrell Hall, Khalid Kareem, Connor Murphy, Rahshaun Smith

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Seniors in 2015: Ondre Pipkins
Needs: 1-2
Comments: Michigan has a good number of defensive tackles spread across the years, although they did not take one in 2015. Pipkins has not played up to his recruiting ranking, so the younger guys have taken over and played fairly well. This is another position where 2016 defensive tackles address the 2017 team because so many young guys redshirt, although the Wolverines are in on a couple guys who could contribute early, such as Rashan Gary.
Top targets: Rashan Gary, Ed Oliver

LINEBACKER
Seniors in 2015: Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Desmond Morgan, James Ross III
Needs: 2
Comments: Michigan is very top-heavy at the linebacker position, where four guys are seniors and another two are juniors. Luckily, all three remaining linebacker recruits in 2014 (Michael Ferns III already transferred) were able to redshirt, but the position group needs to be replenished a little bit, and with Michigan looking to put four linebackers on the field instead of three, the group itself needs to expand.
Top targets: Camilo Eifler, Dele’ Harding (commit), Dontavious Jackson, Caleb Kelly, Jeffrey McCulloch,

CORNERBACK
Seniors in 2015: Blake Countess
Needs: 2
Comments: Michigan wanted two corners in the 2015 class, and they only got one. With Countess graduating the Wolverines will likely take at least two, if not more. There’s also a chance that junior corner Jourdan Lewis gets the urge to leave early. The coaching staff has already been sending out lots of offers, so they consider this a position of priority.
Top targets: Jordan Fuller, David Long Jr., Trayvon Mullen

SAFETY
Seniors in 2015: Jarrod Wilson
Needs: 1
Comments: The coaching staff does not appear to be confident in their options at safety, because a large number of offers went out early in the cycle. Wilson is the only proven player at the position, and so far the group lacks a guy who can play center field. They will be helped out at least temporarily by Jabrill Peppers, who moves from corner to safety for 2015, but he’s a guy who could be an early NFL draft entrant or who could play corner.
Top targets: Deontay Anderson, Marquel Dismuke, C.J. Pollard

KICKER/PUNTER/LONG SNAPPER
Seniors in 2015: None
Needs: 0
Comments: The coaches have kicker Andrew David and long snapper Scott Sypniewski on scholarship, both of whom are young guys with at least three years remaining. The punting duties should be handled by Kenny Allen, a redshirt junior, but punting can often be handled by walk-ons who earn scholarships. If there’s no suitable replacement waiting in the wings by 2016, expect the coaches to address it in 2017.

2015 Recruiting Grades: Defense, Special Teams

Tyree Kinnel

I posted the recruiting grades for the offensive side of the ball (LINK), so here are the grades for the defense. Rankings used are from the 247 Composite.

DEFENSIVE END
Lost from 2014: Brennen Beyer (graduation), Frank Clark (suspension/graduation)
Commits: Shelton Johnson, Reuben Jones
Grade: B+
Comments: Michigan didn’t land the highest value targets, and the two guys they brought in were last-minute fixes who don’t provide a huge speed rush that Michigan has been lacking in recent years. But Michigan does need numbers at the position, where the graduations of Beyer and Clark left the team with few viable replacements and a couple guys who perhaps should be playing defensive tackle instead of on the edge. Johnson (3-star, #20 SDE) has some high upside and Jones (3-star, #44 DE) has potential, too, so at least one of these guys should pay dividends sooner or later.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Lost from 2014: None
Commits: None
Grade: C
Comments: Neither coaching staff deemed defensive tackle as a priority. Hoke only offered a handful of guys and actually backed off several targets last summer, and Harbaugh hardly made an attempt aside from offering defensive tackle Kendrick Norton, who never visited. Michigan is in a situation where they have a lot of guys in their middle years of football, but they will need to renew their efforts in 2016 to avoid a huge age gap.

LINEBACKER
Lost from 2014: Michael Ferns III (transfer), Jake Ryan (graduation)
Commits: None
Grade: D
Comments: Jake Ryan was a Butkus Award finalist and a stud at middle linebacker for Michigan last season, but the Wolverines should not miss him too awfully much with four senior linebackers scheduled to be on the roster in 2015 (Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Desmond Morgan, James Ross). However, the only non-senior to have played much so far is junior Ben Gedeon, which means Michigan will be searching for answers in 2016. It would have been a good idea to land at least one guy to redshirt and adjust to the college game, because that guy could have been deployed in 2016. Assuming the five aforementioned guys suck up most of the playing time in 2015, the Wolverines will be very green in 2016.

CORNERBACK
Lost from 2014: Delonte Hollowell (graduation), Raymon Taylor (graduation)
Commits: Keith Washington
Grade: C-
Comments: Much like the running back position, Michigan had two highly touted guys committed at different junctures – Shaun Crawford (Notre Dame) and Garrett Taylor (Penn State) – and both of them slipped out of their grasp. Cornerback is a spot where guys can contribute early, but with Jabrill Peppers moving to safety, the Wolverines are very thin at the position. Washington (3-star, #77 ATH) was a high school quarterback who did not play a ton of defense, so he’s a project. If anyone higher in the pecking order gets hurt, the Wolverines could be in serious trouble, although Peppers has the ability to move back to corner if necessary.

SAFETY
Lost from 2014: None
Commits: Tyree Kinnel
Grade: A-
Comments: I don’t see Kinnel (4-star, #11 S)as a huge playmaker in college, but he’s a good field general with some respectable athletic skills. The only safety scheduled to depart after 2015 is starter Jarrod Wilson, and most of the other safeties on the roster are good athletes without a great understanding for the game. So if new safeties coach Greg Jackson can coach those guys up, Michigan should be in very good shape here.

KICKER/PUNTER
Lost from 2014: Will Hagerup (graduation), Matt Wile (graduation)
Commits: Andrew David
Grade: A
Comments: Punter is a position that can often be filled by walk-ons, which is likely what will happen in 2015 with Kenny Allen expected to take over the punting job. With no walk-on kickers daring to take the job, Michigan offered one guy and one guy only to be their placekicker, and they got him. David (3-star, #9 K) will be in a situation where he has a special teams coach in John Baxter, which should speed his development at least a little bit. Michigan got exactly whom they wanted.