Posts by: Thunder

2017 Season Countdown: #73 Devin Gil

L to R: Josh Metellus, Devin Gil, Dredrick Snelson, Devin Bush, Nick Eubanks (image via Twitter)

Name: Devin Gil
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan
Position: Linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #36
Last year: I ranked Gil #87 and said he would redshirt. He made 6 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.
TTB Rating: 63

I thought Gil, who played a lot of safety in high school, would take a year to redshirt and learn a new position. But Jim Harbaugh and his staff don’t waste any time getting guys on the field. According to MGoBlue, Gil was Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week three times throughout the season, and 4 of his 6 tackles came on specials.

This spring Gli was behind the starting crew, at least, and rumors coming out of Schembechler Hall suggest that the coaching staff is looking to have a couple freshmen play some snaps at linebacker. I think Gil will continue to be a special teams player and get limited snaps at linebacker.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer

Visitors: June 12-18, 2017

Atlanta (GA) Carver safety Quindarious Monday (image via Rivals)

2018

Trey Dean – S – Hampton (GA) Dutchtown: Dean is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Oregon, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #22 safety, and #273 overall.

Quindarious Monday – S – Atlanta (GA) Carver: Monday is a 6’3″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Oregon, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #10 athlete, and #224 overall.

Hit the jump for a few more visitors.

read more

6-12-17 Recruiting Update: Renegades of Funk

Shocky Jacques-Louis (image via KSTV)

Please consider supporting the blog by making a purchase (or purchases!) through Amazon links such as this one:

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2018

Ft. Myers (FL) Dunbar wide receiver Shocky Jacques-Louis decommitted from Kentucky. He’s a 3-star, the #122 wide receiver, and #681 overall. Michigan just offered in late May, and the decommitment comes on the heels of visits to Tennessee and South Carolina. He has not visited Ann Arbor yet, but the Wolverines are involved. Fun fact: Shocky has a class of 2018 brother named Rocky Jacques-Louis.

Miami (FL) Carol City safety Randy Russell decommitted from Miami. The 5’11”, 180-pounder is a 3-star, the #44 safety, and #590 overall. All the Crystal Ball picks have him pegged for Florida now, and Michigan is not involved.

OFF THE BOARD

Angleton (TX) Angleton safety B.J. Foster committed to Texas. He’s a 5-star and the #16 overall player in the class. Michigan was going after him hard, but he was bound to stay close to home.

Paramus (NJ) Catholic defensive end Dorian Hardy committed to Penn State. Hardy is the #160 overall prospect in the 2018 class. Penn State just lost #4 overall player Micah Parsons, another defensive end prospect, in recent weeks. Michigan has obviously been hitting Paramus Catholic hard over the last several years, but it was rumored that Hardy was not being recruited very heavily by the Wolverines.

2017 Season Countdown: #74 Ryan Tice

Ryan Tice (#41, image via MLive)

Name: Ryan Tice
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 170 lbs.
High school: Saline (MI) Saline
Position: Kicker/punter
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I ranked Tice #88 and said he would be a backup punter. He was 0/1 on field goals and 7/7 on extra points.

Tice entered last year with a shot to a full-time something-or-other, but he didn’t earn any of the gigs. Kenny Allen pulled triple duty as the punter, placekicker, and kickoff specialist, but Michigan tried to save his energy by occasionally calling on other guys to do some duty. Tice drew in as a backup placekicker. He mostly played in blowouts, but he also missed a 40-yarder against Wisconsin.

Tice will probably continue to be a backup this season behind kicker Quinn Nordin and punter Brad Robbins. If either one struggles or gets hurt, Tice could outplay this ranking, but you never know with kickers. Tice is probably reliable as a backup, but he’s been inconsistent in practice.

Prediction: Backup placekicker

2017 Season Countdown: #75A Jared Wangler

Jared Wangler (image via MLive)

Name: Jared Wangler
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 229 lbs.
High school: Warren (MI) De La Salle
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #38
Last year: I ranked Wangler #77 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer. He played in five games and made 3 tackles.
TTB Rating: 59

Wangler did not make much of an impact last season, but he did make three tackles against Rutgers in Michigan’s 78-0 win. That was a game where Michigan just threw everybody on the field at random positions like a pee-wee game. Michael Onwenu took some Wildcat quarterback snaps, and Jon Falk caught a screen pass for a TD from James Earl Jones.

So Wangler’s moving up in the world a little bit, but will it translate to serious playing time? That’s doubtful. He was playing weakside linebacker in the spring game, and the leader of the pack there is fifth-year senior Mike McCray II. Younger guys have and probably will continue to pass up Wangler, including an incoming freshman or two. The 2017 season may be his swan song at Michigan, since it looks like a fifth year is unlikely. Still, Wangler is a guy who can help out here or there on special teams or playing some late-game snaps.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer