Posts by: Thunder

2017 Season Countdown: #76 Donovan Jeter

Donovan Jeter (image via 247 Sports)

Name: Donovan Jeter
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 260 lbs.
High school: Beaver Falls (PA) Beaver Falls
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #95
Last year: Jeter was a senior in high school. He made 76 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery.
TTB Rating: 78

Jeter enrolled early this past January, and he made a bit of a splash during spring practices. He earned some positive reviews, and he played a good deal in the spring game. Despite my previous assertions that he looked like a future defensive tackle, he played defensive end and looked rather svelte. I suspect that he will continue to bulk up, and I still think there’s a good chance that he will end up as a 3-tech defensive tackle. However, for now he appears to be a depth player on the edge. I don’t think he’s strong enough to hold up at the point of attack, and he doesn’t offer a great pass rush right now. He may play as a developmental guy this season, but I don’t think he will have a great impact on the field.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2017 Satellite Camp Tour

Trey Dean

June 2, 2017 at Mercer in Macon, GA

• 2018: Trey Dean – S – Hampton (GA) Dutchtown, Kearis Jackson – WR – Fort Valley (GA) Peach County

June 2, 2017 at Carroll College in Cleveland, OH

• 2018: Chase Kline – LB – Chardon (OH) Chardon, Tyreke Smith – DE – Cleveland (OH) Heights

June 3, 2017 at Bowie State in Bowie, MD

• 2018: Eyabi Anoma – DE – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances, Mychale Salahuddin – RB – Washington (DC) H.D. Woodson
• 2019: DeMarcco Hellams – WR – Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha

June 3, 2017 at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, TX

June 4, 2017 at Old Dominion in Norfolk, VA

June 4, 2017 at Valdosta State in Valdosta, GA

• 2018: Michael Barrett – RB – Valdosta (GA) Lowndes

June 4, 2017 at Incarnate Word/Mary Hardin in San Antonio, TX

June 5, 2017 at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, FL

• 2018: William Barnes – OT – Apopka (FL) Apopka, Stanley Garner – CB – Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Dillard
• 2019: Jordan Battle – S – Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas, Tyler Davis – DT – Apopka (FL) Wekiva

June 9, 2017 at Tennessee State in Nashville, FL

June 9, 2017 at LaGrange in LaGrange, GA

June 10, 2017 at San Diego in San Diego, CA

June 10, 2017 at Sacred Heart in CT

• Josh Jobe – CB – Cheshire (CT) Academy (Miami)

June 11, 2017 at Charlotte in Charlotte, NC

2017 Season Countdown: #77 Ben Mason

Ben Mason (image via Twitter)

Name: Ben Mason
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 247 lbs.
High school: Newtown (CT) Newtown
Position: Fullback/linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #42
Last year: Mason was a senior in high school. He ran 80 times for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns; caught 15 passes for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns; and made 63 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions (1 for a TD), and 2 forced fumbles.
TTB Rating: 74

Mason is an impressive physical specimen, as evidenced by the fact that he was a relatively unknown prospect when he walked into Schembechler Hall for a recruiting visit . . . and walked out with an offer. He’s been a big deal in his home state for a couple years, but New England isn’t known for pumping out elite football players. But he fits what Jim Harbaugh wants, and that means he’s a versatile, tough football player.

Mason enrolled early in January and took part in spring practices. He spent most of his time as a linebacker, but Harbaugh revealed recently that he will probably be a fullback, which is what many expected when he came out of high school. Harbaugh also said that the running backs were lobbying for Mason to be a fullback, because after seeing him lead block a little bit during the spring, they saw what he could do. At 6’3″ and 247 lbs. with a violent streak, he could be devastating. This year there probably won’t be a ton of room for playing time, since there are two fifth-year seniors at the position (Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi). However, the spot will open up in 2018, and Michigan may want to groom Mason to be the starter.

Prediction: Backup fullback

6-5-17 Recruiting Update: Do small defensive backs even exist anymore?

Washington (DC) H.D. Woodson CB Noah Boykin (with ball, image via Washington Post)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2018

Washington (DC) H.D. Woodson cornerback Noah Boykin was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #45 cornerback, and #447 overall. He’s a tall corner prospect who could also play wide receiver or safety in college.

Jensen Beach (FL) Jensen Beach safety Jamien Sherwood was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, and Oregon, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #32 safety, and #392 overall. He’s a large safety prospect who might grow into an outside linebacker.

Hit the jump for several players who went off the board to other schools.

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Traffic and Income Report: April 2017

Many of you visit regularly, click on ads, buy things on Amazon, contribute via Paypal, etc. Here’s how that turns up on my end.

The following data comes from April of 2017:

Page views: 371,241.
This is a jump of about 116,000 page views. The reason is twofold, I believe: 1. I brought on some additional contributors, including Mike Knapp and umbig11. 2) My Google ranking stopped being affected so negatively by my stupid, crappy server.

Google AdSense revenue: $476.43

Amazon Affiliates revenue: $33.26

Sovrn revenue: $134.02
I mentioned last month that Sovrn had been screwy and I had to work out some kinks, so this represents almost a 400% increase in revenue from them.

Paypal donations: $0.00
Paypal is still not productive unless I’m specifically asking for donations, which is fine.

TOTAL INCOME: $643.71