Posts by: Thunder

Mario Eugenio, Wolverine

Clearwater (FL) Gaither outside linebacker Mario Eugenio committed to Michigan on Monday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Oregon, among others.

Eugenio is listed at 6’3″ and 240 lbs. As a junior in 2020, he made 42 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 5 pass breakups.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #20 DE, #209 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #14 WDE, #24 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 87 grade, #23 Edge

Hit the jump for more on Eugenio’s recruitment.

Colston Loveland, Wolverine

Gooding (ID) Gooding tight end Colston Loveland committed to Michigan on Sunday evening. He picked Michigan over Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and others.

Loveland is listed at 6’5″ and 230 lbs. As a junior, he caught 69 passes for 816 yards and 6 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star TE, 79 grade, #8 TE
Rivals: 3-star TE, 5.7 grade
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #13 TE

Hit the jump for more on Loveland’s commitment.

2021 Season Countdown: #73 Griffin Korican

Name: Griffin Korican
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 320 lbs.
High school: Seattle (WA) O’Dea
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #78
Last year: I ranked Korican #95 and said he would be a backup offensive guard (LINK). He played in four games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Korican made his biggest contribution last season playing on the field goal/extra point unit, while playing in one game on the offensive line, late in the blowout win over Minnesota. With most of Michigan’s offensive line returning this season, and plenty of talented younger players, Korican should once again be watching from the sideline for most of this season’s games. He may be on the FG/XP unit, but that appears to be the clearest path to playing time.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard, special teamer

2021 Season Countdown: #74 Tyler McLaurin

Name: Tyler McLaurin
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #27
Last year: McLaurin was a senior in high school (LINK). His senior year was canceled due to COVID.
TTB Rating: 75

McLaurin had the unfortunate luck of seeing his senior season canceled due to the pandemic, and he was one of the players in the class I was most looking forward to seeing. I was not a big fan of his game when he committed because he pledged to the Wolverines’ Don Brown-led defense, a scheme that didn’t seem to match McLaurin’s skills.

Fast forward to 2021, and I think McLaurin is in a better place. I always thought he was pegged for SAM in Brown’s 4-3 packages, but now I think McLaurin can play inside linebacker in Mike Macdonald’s 3-4 look. The 3-4 tends to prioritize bigger linebackers, and at 6’2″ – with a frame to get significantly heavier than 220 – this suddenly looks like a better personnel match. McLaurin could still end up at outside linebacker because of his length, but I believe he should start out inside due to a relative lack of depth there. Either way, he will probably redshirt this year unless injuries deplete the depth chart.

Prediction: Redshirt

2021 Season Countdown: #75 Eamonn Dennis

Name: Eamonn Dennis
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Worcester (MA) St. John’s
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: Redshirt freshman
Last year: I ranked Dennis #71 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 79

When Dennis committed to Michigan, he was the classic “athlete” whose positional destination constantly seemed to be up in the air. He played some running back in high school, but it was clear he would be playing wide receiver in college . . . or cornerback . . . or wideout. Or corner. Eventually, former defensive coordinator Don Brown won out, and Dennis ended up on that side of the ball. As a good athlete with no real home, it seemed like an obvious conclusion that he would redshirt unless there were a bunch of injuries.

Dennis once again appears to be headed for a bench role in 2021. With Gemon Green, Vincent Gray, and D.J. Turner appearing to be jockeying for starting roles at corner, all the other corners – including Dennis, Andre Seldon, and Darion Green-Warren – will probably be fighting for scraps of playing time. I still like Dennis’s potential, but he’s a player who probably has to be in college for three or four years until he fully blossoms.

Prediction: Backup cornerback