Goodbye, John O’Korn

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31Jan 2018
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Goodbye, John O’Korn

John O’Korn (image via MLive)

HIGH SCHOOL

O’Korn, who was originally from Huntingdon (PA) Huntingdon, started five games as a sophomore in high school before moving to play at Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas. He had 2,552 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions as a senior and led Aquinas to a state title; he also ran 95 times for 576 yards and 15 touchdowns. In the state title game, he had 339 passing yards, 95 rushing yards, and 4 total touchdowns. He was a 3-star, the #32 pro-style quarterback, and #645 overall in the 2013 recruiting class and earned offers from Houston, Mississippi State, and Wisconsin, among others.

Hit the jump for more on O’Korn’s career at Michigan.

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30Jan 2018
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Ian Bunting, Ex-Wolverine

Tight end Ian Bunting, who just finished his redshirt junior season, announced that he intends to transfer for his fifth and final season of college football.

Bunting committed to Michigan in April of 2013 as a part of the 2014 recruiting class (LINK). I gave him a final TTB Rating of 75 (LINK). After redshirting initially, he caught 5 passes for 72 yards in 2015. He followed that up with 5 receptions for 46 yards in 2016 and 1 catch for 6 yards in 2017. Altogether, he totaled 11 catches for 124 yards during his time in Ann Arbor.

Following a year behind Jake Butt, he was always expected to take some time to get a featured spot. He also played a lot of wide receiver in high school, which probably slowed his development a bit. Regardless, I predicted in the off-season that he would have a breakout season this year and lead Michigan’s tight ends in production. Obviously, that never materialized. After a career-best game in the Orange Bowl against Florida State (3 catches, 40 yards), he fell off the map to the point where he was behind several younger guys.

Bunting’s departure had been expected for a while, and I had heard this would happen during the end of the fall semester. Redshirt sophomore Zach Gentry and true sophomore Sean McKeon had moved past him as receiving targets, and redshirt sophomore Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. was used in a blocking role. I am a bit puzzled at the playing time allotted, because I think Bunting is a superior player to Wheatley at the least. For whatever reason, it seemed like Bunting found himself in the doghouse a little bit. It may (or may not) be a coincidence that his place on the depth chart changed for the worse when Jay Harbaugh moved to coaching the running backs, while a new face in Greg Frey came in to coach the tight ends.

Michigan now goes into 2018 with Zach Gentry (RS Jr.), Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. (RS Jr.), Sean McKeon (Jr.), Nick Eubanks (RS So.), Mustapha Muhammad (Fr.), and Luke Schoonmaker (Fr.) on the roster. Here’s a look at the roster numbers for 2018 (LINK).

30Jan 2018
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2018 Recruiting Update: January 30, 2018

Valdosta (GA) Lowndes athlete Michael Barrett

COMMITMENTS

Valdosta (GA) Lowndes running back/quarterback/linebacker Michael Barrett committed to Michigan (LINK). It sounds like Michigan wants him at Viper, where he has a similar frame to the guys who have played that position before him, namely Jabrill Peppers and Khaleke Hudson.

Rochester (MI) Adams cornerback Vincent Gray committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for several guys who went off the board, along with some random bits.

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29Jan 2018
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Visitors: January 26-28, 2018

Calvin Anderson (image via Daily Telegraph)

UPDATE: I originally posted this list last week, but several new names were added over the weekend, so I’m reposting it. Enjoy!

TRANSFERS

Calvin Anderson – OT – Rice: Anderson is a 6’5″, 300-pounder who has been honorable mention all-conference for the past couple seasons as Rice’s starting left tackle. As a graduate transfer, he would be eligible to play immediately in 2018.

2018

Abraham Alce – RB – Immokalee (FL) Immokalee: Alce is a 6’0″, 224 lb. prospect with offers from Boston College, Miami, Pitt, and several MAC schools. He’s a 3-star prospect. This is an official visit.

George Caratan – K/P – Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More: Caratan is a 6’2″, 210 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He could be a backup option (or preferred walk-on) if Northville (MI) Northville kicker Jake Moody says no to his grayshirt offer from Michigan.

Mustapha Muhammad – TE – Missouri City (TX) Ridge Point: Muhammad signed with Michigan in December (LINK). This is his official visit.

Rick Sandidge – DT – Concord (NC) Concord: Sandidge is a 6’5″, 288 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #10 defensive tackle, and #131 overall. Michigan is considered to be a longshot, but if he’s taking a visit, there’s always a chance. This is his official visit. UPDATE: Sandidge is visiting South Carolina instead, and it does not appear he will reschedule his visit to Michigan.

2019

Karsen Barnhart – OG – Paw Paw (MI) Paw Paw: Barnhart is a 6’4″, 282 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, and a few others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #42 offensive tackle, and #337 overall.

Adam Berghorst – DE – Zeeland (MI) East: Berghorst is a 6’7″, 245 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Minnesota, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #40 strongside end, and #517 overall.

Devontae Dobbs – OT – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Dobbs is a 6’4″, 270 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 5-star, the #1 offensive tackle, and #7 overall. Right now his Crystal Ball picks are 91% in favor of Michigan State.

John Emery, Jr. – RB – Destrehan (LA) Destrehan: Emery is a 6’0″, 194 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #6 running back, and #82 overall. He is considered to be a heavy LSU lean.

Michael Fletcher – DE – Flint (MI) Carman-Ainsworth: Fletcher is a 6’6″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #31 strongside end, and #415 overall. He has twelve Crystal Ball predictions so far, all for Michigan State.

Hudson Henry – TE – Little Rock (AR) Pulaski Academy: Henry, who visited Michigan on Friday, is a 6’5″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, and Stanford, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #1 tight end, and #34 overall. He is the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry, who was a 2nd round draft pick, and he comes from a family of Razorbacks – his father and two older brothers played football at Arkansas.

Jalen Hunt – DE – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Hunt is a 6’3″, 256 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, and Pitt, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #37 strongside end, and #528 overall.

2020

Kenny Mestidor – LB – St. Peter Catholic School (Ontario): Mestidor is a 6’2″, 220 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.5 forty.

2021

Josh Baka – CB – (Ontario): Baka is a 6’1″, 155 lb. prospect.

Damon Payne – DE – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Payne is a 6’4″, 255 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, and Minnesota, among others. He’s a teammate of Dobbs and Hunt (see above).

Christian Veilleux – QB – (Ontario): Veilleux is a 6’2″, 163 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.