Posts under: Blog

2017 Season Countdown: #75b Brad Hawkins, Jr.

Brad Hawkins, Jr. (image via Scout)

Note: I did a silly thing and left a guy off the countdown who’s up the list a bit, so I’ll have a 75A and a 75B.

Name: Brad Hawkins, Jr.
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: I ranked Hawkins #83 before we found out he was going to prep school.
TTB Rating: 79

Hawkins originally committed to Michigan in the summer of 2015 as a wide receiver prospect for the class of 2017. He was a teammate of Ron Johnson, Jr. at Camden (NJ) Camden, as well as center Cesar Ruiz before Ruiz transferred to Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy. Hawkins played on both sides of the ball, but I initially liked him more as a receiver. Then we found out that he was headed to prep school for a year, and he played receiver at Suffield Academy.

Ironically, I like him more now as a safety. I think he got a little more explosive since his original commitment, and his size and ball skills may lend themselves to playing the safety position well. Michigan doesn’t have much experience at safety – a true junior and a true sophomore, who have been backups until now, appear to be the starters – but there’s enough talent and depth to get Michigan through a season. I expect Hawkins to redshirt, especially after mainly focusing on wide receiver in 2016, but he has a chance to play a backup role.

Prediction: Redshirt

Video: Film Room – Taco Charlton

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