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2023 Recruiting Grade: Quarterback

I’m going to start something that I haven’t done in a few years, and that’s handing out recruiting grades. As Michigan’s recruiting has dropped off a little bit in 2023 to the low teens, I want to share how I feel about Michigan’s efforts overall.

I’ll start off with the most important position on the football fied: quarterback.

2023 NEEDS: 1

2023 COMMITMENTS: Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle

2023 OFFERS

• Arch Manning – New Orleans (LA) Isidore Newman: Texas
• Dante Moore – Detroit (MI) King: UCLA
• Malachi Nelson – Los Alamitos (CA) Los Alamitos: USC
• William Watson III – Springfield (MA) Central: Virginia Tech
• Creed Whittemore – Gainesville (FL) Buchholz: Florida

GRADE: F

REASON FOR THE GRADE: First and foremost, Michigan completely whiffed on the quarterback position in the class of 2023 unless you count sixth year senior Jack Tuttle, who is a one-year backup rental. Technically, Michigan offered superstar recruits Arch Manning and Malachi Nelson, but both were extreme longshots and the Wolverines never really had a chance. Meanwhile, Watson and Whittemore are both undersized QB/ATH recruits who are probably likely to play a different position in college.

So really, Michigan put all of its eggs in the Dante Moore basket. Unfortunately, Moore had a desire to play immediately, and the presence of J.J. McCarthy blocked Moore at Michigan for at least the 2023 season, if not 2024. Moore is a 5-star prospect and could perhaps be the best quarterback in the class when all is said and done, and it hurt to lose him. It stings a little bit less since he didn’t end up at Michigan State or Ohio State, two programs he was also considering. But Michigan had a lot of connections and still couldn’t close the deal. Moore committed to Oregon initially, and when his future QB coach left for Arizona State, Moore flipped to UCLA. Personally, I think UCLA is an odd fit because head coach Chip Kelly does not have a strong record of developing pro-style quarterbacks.

Regardless, Michigan tried to land a quarterback in 2023 and failed. They could have potentially earned a commitment from Warren (MI) De La Salle’s Brady Drogosh (4-star, #20 QB, #317 overall) if they moved on him earlier, but they waited too long and burned that bridge. That leaves the cupboard relatively bare, since beyond McCarthy for the future, the Wolverines have only walk-on Davis Warren and projects Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji. That puts a lot of pressure on the staff to land a very good 2024 quarterback and/or explore the transfer portal for a future starter.

Kirk Campbell, Wolverine

In the wake of quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss getting fired from Michigan for something having to do with computers, Michigan hired Kirk Campbell to be the quarterbacks coach. Campbell spent the 2022 season as an offensive analyst for the Wolverines.

Here’s a brief timeline of Campbell’s career:

2009-2010: WR/TE graduate assistant at West Virginia Wesleyan
2011: WR/TE coach at Tiffin
2012-2016: OC at Alderson-Broaddus
2017-2019: Offensive analyst at Penn State
2020-2021: OC/QB coach at Old Dominion
2022: Offensive analyst at Michigan

One of my former players played offense for Campbell in college and had great things to say about him, even going on to become a high school and college coach himself. (Not that Campbell was the sole reason for that, but at least he didn’t make this kid hate football.)

Overall, it’s tough to glean much from Campbell’s coaching career, considering he’s been an analyst and coaching at smaller schools. It says something that he was reportedly the #1 choice for starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It also helps that he has spent seven seasons as a play caller. Even though he likely won’t be calling plays on Saturdays in the Big House, he’s at least qualified to be coaching the quarterback position itself if he can understand how to install and implement an entire offense.

Quarterback coaches under Jim Harbaugh have included Jedd Fisch in 2015-2016 (now head coach at Arizona), Pep Hamilton in 2017-2018 (now offensive coordinator for Houston Texans), Ben McDaniels (now passing game coordinator for Houston Texans), and Weiss. There are mixed reviews for some of those guys, but considering everyone but Weiss has moved up in the world, it’s probably safe to say that Jim Harbaugh can be trusted to find talented quarterback coaches.

Jacob Oden, Wolverine

Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods safety Jacob Oden, a 2024 prospect, committed to Michigan on Thursday evening. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, and others.

Oden is listed at 6’1″ and 188 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #13 S, #153 overall
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #22 S, #247 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #13 S, #132 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #24 ATH, #191 overall

Hit the jump for more.

2023 Recruiting Update: February 2, 2023

COMMITMENT

Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon defensive end Cameron Brandt committed to Michigan (LINK).

OFF THE BOARD

Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll tight end Nyckoles Harbor committed to South Carolina. Michigan put their version of the full-court press on Harbor, but NIL reportedly played a huge factor, and South Carolina offered the best deal. Oregon supposedly finished second with Maryland and Michigan following behind.

Altamonte Springs (FL) Lake Brantley linebacker twins Andrew and Michael Harris re-committed to UCF. They both took an official visit to Michigan last spring, but Michigan pulled back. They then committed to UCF, decommitted, and were considering Maryland, too.

Chicago (IL) Marist defensive tackle Jamel Howard re-committed to Wisconsin. Michigan appeared to lead back in December, but he pushed back his commitment date, which allowed Wisconsin to retake the lead.

Ole Miss transfer cornerback Davison Igbinosun committed to Ohio State after visiting both Columbus and Ann Arbor this past weekend. He may have been able to come in and start for the Wolverines in the fall, but now Michigan might have to look to the post-spring transfer portal for help at corner in the fall.

Folsom (CA) Folsom tight end Walker Lyons committed to USC. He had been committed to Stanford earlier in the process.

Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra cornerback Rodrick Pleasant committed to Oregon.

Jacksonville (FL) University Christian linebacker Desirrio Riles committed to Indiana.

2025 Recruiting Update: February 2, 2023

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2025

Carter Lowe – OT – Toledo (OH) Whitmer: Lowe is a 6’5″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. He has taken two visits to Michigan in the past.

Davon Mitchell – TE – Allen (TX) Allen: Mitchell is a 6’4″, 230-pounder with offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Texas, and more. He’s a 5-star, the #1 tight end, and #26 overall. As a sophomore in 2022, he caught 33 passes for 726 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Maxwell Roy – DT – Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s: Roy is a 6’5″, 265 lb. defensive lineman with a lone offer from Maryland.

Jayden Shelton – LB – Dallas (TX) South Oak Cliff: Shelton is a 6’1″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, SMU, USC, and Washington, among others. Though he’s currently built like a safety – and moves like one – he appears to have the frame to bulk up into an athletic linebacker prospect.

Marky Walbridge – OT – Hanover (MA) Hanover: Walbridge is a 6’6″, 255 lb. player with offers from Boston College, Michigan State, Pitt, and UMass, among others.

OFF THE BOARD