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Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 14

Tom Strobel (image via Ohio University College of Business)

Former RB commit Damien Harris: Harris had 8 carries for 86 yards in Alabama’s 54-16 SEC Championship Game win over Florida.

Former head coach Brady Hoke: Hoke awaits his fate after Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich was fired. It’s highly unlikely that the Ducks’ new coach will retain Hoke, but nothing has been decided yet.

Former FB/LB commit David Reese II: Reese made 1 tackle and returned a block extra point for a 2-point conversion in Florida’s 54-16 loss to Alabama.

Man, Reese returned this from Atlanta to his crib in Farmington! #Beastmodepic.twitter.com/Ghs3Foxhkk

— The D Zone (@TheD_Zone) December 3, 2016

Former LB Kaleb Ringer: Ringer made 4 tackles in Georgia State’s 37-12 loss to Idaho. Georgia State finishes 3-9. Ringer made 41 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup on the season.

Former OL/DL Tom Strobel: Strobel saved his best for (almost) last, making 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup in Ohio’s hard-fought loss to Western Michigan in the MAC Championship Game, 29-23. That’s a career-best game for Strobel, who has one chance to top it when Ohio plays Troy on December 23.

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Who’s enrolling early in 2017?

Brooklyn (NY) Poly OT Isaiah Wilson

Some class of 2017 prospects will be enrolling in January, which means there’s only a few weeks left for players to make college decisions. Here’s a look at the players Michigan is targeting who plan to enroll early, along with their scheduled commitment dates (if they have been announced).

Cam Akers – RB – Clinton (MS) Clinton: N/A

Aaron Banks – OT – El Cerrito (CA) El Cerrito: Committed to Notre Dame

Ja’Raymond Hall – OT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Committed to Michigan

Najee Harris – RB – Antioch (CA) Antioch: Committed to Alabama

Tarik Black – WR – Cheshire (CT) Academy: Committed to Michigan

Jaylen Kelly-Powell – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan

Alex Leatherwood – OT – Pensacola (FL) Washington: Committed to Alabama

Corey Malone-Hatcher – DE – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: Committed to Michigan

Tre’ McKitty – TE – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Committed to Florida State

Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan

Shanon Reid – LB – Ft. Myers (FL) Dunbar: Committed to Tennessee

Cesar Ruiz – C – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Committed to Michigan

Benjamin St-Juste – CB – Montreal (Canada) Vieux: Committed to Michigan

Ambry Thomas – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Committed to Michigan

Isaiah Wilson – OT – Brooklyn (NY) Poly: Committed to Georgia

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Recruiting Down the Stretch: Quarterback

With the regular season in the rear view mirror and only a bowl game (or maybe playoff) between now and National Signing Day, I thought I would do a rundown of the position groups. This should not be confused with my “If I Had My Druthers…” posts, which rank remaining recruits. With football season wrapping up and the holidays, I haven’t had a ton of time to pore over film. So here’s a look at Michigan’s quarterback recruiting situation in 2017.

COMMITMENTS

Littleton (CO) Valor Christian’s Dylan McCaffrey is a 6’5″, 196 lb. Army All-American. He’s a part of the famed McCaffrey clan. You might have heard of his brother, who won an Olympic medal. No, wait. His dad won an Olympic medal. Or was that his grandfather? Okay, okay, his brother was an NFL receiver for the Broncos. Right? No, that was the mom. The whole family’s just so athletic that I can’t keep things straight. Anyway, Dylan is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #4 pro-style quarterback, and #53 overall in the class. He can run a little bit and has a very similar athletic profile to that of last year’s QB recruit, Brandon Peters.

UNCOMMITTED PLAYERS

• Jackson Gibbs

COMMITTED ELSEWHERE

• Chase Brice (Clemson)
• Jack Coan (Wisconsin)
• Kasim Hill (Maryland)
• Bailey Hockman (Florida State)
• Hunter Johnson (Clemson)
• Tate Martell (Ohio State)
• Davis Mills (Stanford)
• Shawn Robinson (TCU)
• Jelani Woods (Oklahoma State)

RETURNING ROSTER PLAYERS

• Shane Morris (5th)
• John O’Korn (5th)
• Wilton Speight (RS Jr.)*
• Alex Malzone (RS So.)
• Brandon Peters (RS Fr.)

OUTLOOK FOR MICHIGAN

Generally, you want to aim to have about five scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, preferably one in each class to spread out the talent and experience. Including McCaffrey, six are scheduled to be on the roster in 2017. That will almost certainly not be the case when August rolls around. The most glaring reason is that Michigan would have two fifth-year seniors on the roster, neither of whom would likely be starting. With Speight locking down the starting job for the duration of 2016, it would be an upset for one of his elders to win the gig. Expect one or both of Morris and O’Korn to transfer, at the very least. As for the recruiting aspect, Michigan has not been pursuing quarterbacks for months and will stick with only McCaffrey unless something weird happens, like a mass transfer at the position. Gibbs isn’t a serious option for Michigan, and his only chance to join the team would be as a walk-on.

*Returning starter

Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 13

Damien Harris (#34, image via Maroon and White Nation)

Former CB commit Gareon Conley: Conley made 1 tackle and 1 pass breakup in Ohio State’s 30-27 win over Michigan.

Former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin: Durkin’s Maryland Terrapins moved to 6-6 and became bowl eligible with a 31-13 victory over the mighty Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Former RB Derrick Green: Green had just 1 carry for -5 yards in TCU’s 31-9 win over Texas. At 6-6 the Horned Frogs will probably end up in a bowl game, but right now, Green has 38 carries for 141 yards (3.71 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns on the season.

Hit the jump for several more updates.

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Big Ten Network: 2016 All-Freshman Team

Chris Evans

The Big Ten Network announced its All-Freshman team for the 2016 season (LINK), and there are several Michigan players included. Here’s a rundown of those players, along with those Michigan recruited a season or two ago (since it includes redshirt freshmen).

FIRST TEAM
Chris Evans – RB – Michigan
Mike Weber – RB – Ohio State
K.J. Hill – WR – Ohio State
Ben Bredeson – OG – Michigan
Michael Jordan – OG – Ohio State
Rashan Gary – DE – Michigan
Dre’mont Jones – DT – Ohio State

HONORABLE MENTION
Miles Sanders – RB – Penn State
Kekoa Crawford – WR – Michigan
Eddie McDoom – WR – Michigan
Terrance Davis – OG – Maryland
Connor McGovern – OT – Penn State
Josh King – DE – Michigan State
Carter Coughlin – LB – Minnesota
Justin Layne – CB – Michigan State