Posts by: Thunder

2017 BBQ at the Big House Visitors

Myles Sims (image via Twitter)

Michigan will be hosting numerous football prospects on July 29, 2017, for the BBQ at the Big House. Last year there were travel issues for many prospects, who were unable to visit in August after their high school teams’ practices started. This year the BBQ is a week earlier, which should make for fewer conflicts. Here’s an early look at several players who plan to attend:

2018

Bryan Addison – S – Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra: Addison is a 6’4″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #4 athlete, and #146 overall. Michigan does not have any Crystal Ball picks right now, with USC leading the way at 50%.

Eyabi Anoma – DE – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Anoma is a 6’5″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #3 weakside end, and #54 overall.

Jerome Carvin – OT – Cordova (TN) Cordova: Carvin is a 6’4″, 325 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #30 offensive tackle, and #368 overall.

Hit the jump for more 2018 and 2019 recruits who plan to attend the BBQ.

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Sorta Too Early 2017 Depth Chart: July 2017

Chris Evans (image via 247 Sports)

Back in August of 2016, I took a look at how the depth chart might look in 2017 (LINK), and then I updated it in September (LINK), November (LINK), January (LINK), February (LINK), March (LINK), April (LINK), and May (LINK). Of course, things are always fluid, there will be early departures, there will be injuries, etc. Fall camp begins on Monday, and we are excited.

Hit the jump for a look at 2017.

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2017 Season Countdown: #36 Karan Higdon

Karan Higdon (image via 247 Sports)

Name: Karan Higdon
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 189 lbs.
High school: Sarasota (FL) Riverview
Position: Running back
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #22
Last year: I ranked Higdon #72 and said he would be a backup running back. He had 72 carries for 425 yards (5.9 YPC) and 6 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 73

Higdon was not very productive in limited time as a true freshman (1.7 YPC), so his 2016 season could be considered a bit of a breakout. He averaged 5.9 yards/carry and moved up the depth chart to #3, behind De’Veon Smith and Chris Evans. He had his first career 100-yard game against Rutgers (108 yards, 2 TDs), and followed that up with a 106-yard effort (1 TD) against Illinois the following week. In fact, in a string of three consecutive games in which he participated, he totaled 295 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns, with that third game coming against Penn State. Unfortunately, his production dropped off during the second half of the season, when he averaged just 2.2 yards/carry over the final six contests.

There have been rumblings that he was not 100% healthy going into the 2016 season, and maybe that explains the fact that he was lingering below 190 lbs. He showed an improved burst in 2016, but he still needs to break more tackles. With Smith graduated and Drake Johnson out of the picture, the depth chart seems to have cleared up a little bit and now it seems likely that Higdon will be the #2 guy going into the season. With Chris Evans slotted to be the starter, Higdon will be the second back in at times (with Ty Isaac likely rotating in regularly, too). If the offensive line can open holes for the running game, then Higdon has enough burst to make some chunk plays.

Prediction: Backup running back; 80 carries, 440 yards, 5 TDs

2017 Freshman Jersey Numbers

Ambry Thomas (image via 247 Sports)

Determined:

#1 Jordan Anthony
#1 Ambry Thomas
#2 Oliver Martin
#3 Brad Robbins
#4 Nico Collins
#5 Aubrey Solomon
#5 Kurt Taylor
#7 Tarik Black
#8 Drew Singleton
#9 Donovan Peoples-Jones
#10 Dylan McCaffrey
#12 Joshua Ross
#16 Jaylen Kelly-Powell
#18 Luiji Vilain
#19 Kwity Paye
#20 Brad Hawkins, Jr.
#23 O’Maury Samuels
#25 Benjamin St-Juste
#26 J’Marick Woods
#28 Deron Irving-Bey
#31 Phillip Paea
#33 Corey Malone-Hatcher
#42 Ben Mason
#51 Cesar Ruiz
#55 James Hudson III
#59 Joel Honigford
#66 Chuck Filiaga
#71 Andrew Stueber
#73 Ja’Raymond Hall
#95 Donovan Jeter

This was originally posted on April 23, 2017.

2017 Season Countdown: #37 Noah Furbush

Noah Furbush (image via Twitter)

Name: Noah Furbush
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 238 lbs.
High school: Kenton (OH) Kenton
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #59
Last year: I ranked Furbush #39 and said he would be the backup SAM linebacker. He made 15 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.
TTB Rating: 64

Furbush did a good job on special teams in 2015 and worked his way into the good graces of the coaching staff. Going into 2016 he was in line for a more prominent role. He was slated to be the backup SAM linebacker, with Jabrill Peppers as the starter. After missing the first few games due to injury, he returned to make 15 total tackles throughout the year. In Don Brown’s defensive scheme, he’s not the type of player who gets a ton of snaps at SAM unless a team is using a tight end and fullback regularly.

This year there are rumors that Brown might line up Furbush as a weakside end, along with having him play SAM. The depth at weakside end is thin, with Chase Winovich being the only player with any noteworthy experience. Jabrill Peppers is gone, but a similar player in Khaleke Hudson has been inserted in his place. Furbush is still the best option as a traditional SAM linebacker, but Brown’s blitz-heavy scheme may lean more toward fellow backup Joshua Uche on passing downs. Furbush has several roles he can fill – SAM, WDE, special teams – but he’s unlikely to break out at any spot.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker, backup WDE, special teamer