Posts under: Blog

2018 Recruiting Update: November 23, 2016

Seattle (WA) Garfield wide receiver Tre’shaun Harrison (image via Seattle Times)

With Black Friday and holiday shopping coming up, please consider using the Amazon link(s) here at TTB to do your shopping. It’s an easy way to contribute to the website with no additional cost to yourself. Thanks!

With all the hype surrounding the season, it’s been a while since I have updated you on Michigan’s recruiting situation, including the 2018 class. Here’s a look at the new faces of juniors who are wrapping up their seasons at this time of year.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2018

Columbus (OH) St. Francis DeSales linebacker Brian Asamoah was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Penn State, Pitt, and UCLA, among others. He’s an aggressive outside linebacker type who would probably fit what Michigan wants as a SAM linebacker. He attends the alma mater of former Michigan lineman Patrick Omameh.

Stafford (VA) North Stafford offensive tackle Nana Asiedu was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’6″, 265 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #11 offensive tackle, and #99 overall. A lithe left tackle prospect, Asiedu moves really well, finishes blocks, but generally does a good job of destroying people and then just calmly jogging away.

Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei offensive tackle Tommy Brown was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’7″, 315 lb. prospect with offers from Cal, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, and UCLA, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #7 offensive tackle, and #57 overall. He’s a teammate of a couple of fellow recent Michigan offerees, 2019 quarterback J.T. Daniels and 2019 wide receiver Bru McCoy.

Hit the jump for several more new offers in the 2018 class.

read more

Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 12

Darrin Kirkland, Jr. (image via 247 Sports)

Former CB commit Gareon Conley: Conley made 1 tackle and 1 interception in Ohio State’s 17-16 win over Michigan State.

Former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin: Durkin’s Maryland Terrapins suffered a 28-7 loss to Nebraska to fall to 5-6. They have a chance to become bowl-eligible with a game against Rutgers this coming weekend.

Former RB commit Damien Harris: Harris made 13 carries for 91 yards and 1 touchdown in Alabama’s 31-3 win over Chattanooga.

Hit the jump for many more updates, including Brady Hoke, Ondre Pipkins, and Mike Weber, among others.

read more

Michigan vs. Indiana Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Ty Isaac catching the ball, Wilton Speight, and Jabrill Peppers. I have three suggestions going into Ohio State. First, Isaac has been underutilized as a pass receiver. Coming out of high school, there were some who thought he might be best suited to play wide receiver or tight end based on his hands. Saturday’s catch on a screen pass was just his second reception of the year, but it went for 21 yards – just like his first catch of the year (against Colorado). He has 8 catches for 111 yards in his career. Michigan has not used the tailbacks in the passing game much this year, but Isaac could be an asset for a team that might have a dinged up or backup quarterback. Second, let’s see Wilton Speight. He’s the starting quarterback, and Michigan needs him if the Wolverines want to play in the Big Ten championship game or the College Football Playoff. He’s still not 100% after getting injured against Iowa, but I think you have to at least give him a shot and try to keep him upright as long as you can against OSU. Otherwise, a lot of your other team goals go down the drain. Lastly, Peppers is a potential difference-maker. I heard last week that he would probably play more running back against Indiana, but then he only saw one snap there, perhaps because it was such a tight game in cold, windy, snowy weather. Michigan has been deploying Peppers on offense throughout the season, to varying effects, but they need to use him effectively against a solid Ohio State defense. That includes using him as a decoy, handing off the ball, and then keeping it at times.

Hit the jump for more awards from the Indiana game.

read more

Michigan 20, Indiana 10

De’Veon Smith (image via The Comeback)

Phew! Michigan is a better team than Indiana, but the combination of wind, snow, and the backup quarterback made this one questionable. My game preview failed to take into account the weather, but if I had realized the weather was going to be that nasty, I would have throttled down my 31-17 prediction. Backup quarterback John O’Korn grew up in Pennsylvania, but he played his high school football in Florida, played most of his college football in Houston, practices indoors at Michigan sometimes, and played most of this season in balmy weather. This would have been tough weather for starter Wilton Speight to excel in, so O’Korn did about as well as should have been expected.

Hit the jump for more on the win over Indiana.

read more

Preview: Michigan vs. Indiana

Options are limited. She’s wearing red and white, so she counts, I guess.

RUSH OFFENSE vs. INDIANA RUSH DEFENSE

Despite a rough outing against Iowa last week, Michigan is still #19 nationally with 236 yards/game and #23 with 5.31 yards/carry. Some fans are getting antsy with De’Veon Smith after he averaged just 2.3 yards/carry last week and failed to burrow out of the endzone, resulting in an Iowa safety. Meanwhile, freshman Chris Evans is averaging 7.82 yards/carry through ten games. The Wolverines offensive line struggled, too, and right guard Kyle Kalis was largely to blame for the safety on Smith. Michigan is #55 nationally in Adjusted Line Yards. On the other side, Indiana is #72 in Defensive Adjusted Line Yards. They’re #52 in rushing yards allowed (156 per game) but a respectable #31 in yards allowed per carry (3.74). Maryland, Michigan State, and Ohio State are the only three teams to top even 3.7 yards/carry on them, and Penn State with Saquon Barkley averaged a measly 1.71 last week. Linebacker Tegray Scales (6’0″, 230 lbs.), linebacker Marcus Oliver (6’1″, 240), and strong safety Marcelino Ball (6’0″, 210) lead the team with 94, 74, and 68 tackles, respectively. Scales (15.0) and Oliver (10.5) lead the team in tackles for loss. Statistically, it seems like Michigan would have an edge, but based on last year’s inability to run against the Hoosiers and the struggles last week, I’m not sure about that.
Advantage: Indiana

Hit the jump for more on Indiana.

read more