Posts under: Blog

Poll results: Which Michigan pay site is your favorite?

Sam Webb (right) with Brady Hoke (image via AnnArbor.com)

Several weeks ago, I posed this question in a poll on the sidebar: Which Michigan pay site is your favorite?

When I went to collect the votes in the poll yesterday morning, there were exactly 666 votes. I usually abstain from voting in the polls I post, since they’re supposed to reflect readers’ opinions. But I decided to click on 247 Sports this time, just to bump it up to 667 and remove the Devil’s involvement.

Hit the jump for the results and some discussion.

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247 Sports Top 247 for 2017 updated

Highlands Ranch (CO) Valor Christian QB Dylan McCaffrey

Following The Opening, 247 Sports updates its top 247 prospects for 2017 (LINK). Note that this is different from the 247 Composite rankings, which take into account all four major recruiting services. Notable movement for Michigan commits includes:

• QB Dylan McCaffrey dropped from #26 to #30
• OT Ja’Raymond Hall has dropped from #81 to #138 since April 2015
• DE Corey Malone-Hatcher has moved up from #183 to #169 since April 2015
• LB Joshua Ross has dropped from #111 to #177 since April 2015

Hit the jump for the full rundown of Michigan targets on the list.

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2016 Season Countdown: #59 Ben Bredeson

Ben Bredeson (image via Rivals)

Name: Ben Bredeson
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 293 lbs.
High school: Hartland (WI) Arrowhead
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Bredeson was a senior in high school (LINK). He was chosen for the Under Armour All-American Game.
Final TTB Rating: 88

Bredeson eventually surprised a lot of people. Most big-time offensive linemen in the state of Wisconsin go to Wisconsin because, well, the Badgers have done an excellent job of producing hogs over the years. It wouldn’t be a bad choice at all. But he ended up looking more at Michigan and Notre Dame, eventually choosing the Wolverines in June of 2015. By the end of his senior year, he was a USA Today All-American, an Under Armour All-American, and a Maxpreps First Team All-American. He also won Gatorade Player of the Year in Wiconsin.

Michigan has had a three-year run of playing a true freshman offensive lineman. Last year it was Grant Newsome, before that it was Mason Cole, and in 2013 it was Kyle Bosch. Bredeson seems the most likely to carry on that tradition. The coaching staff said they wanted him to start off his career at offensive guard. He won’t pass Ben Braden or Kyle Kalis to start this year, but he could press for playing time behind them. The next guard has been David Dawson, but Dawson has struggled and had an upper body injury this spring that caused him to miss some time. Jim Harbaugh likes to use an extra lineman or two in certain personnel packages, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Bredeson is one of those guys this season. He’s the most polished incoming lineman, and the staff could be grooming him for a starting job in 2017 when there will be at least three new starters on the line.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

Visitors: July 15-17, 2016

Calabasas (CA) Calabasas CB Brendan Radley-Hiles (image via USA Today HS)

Please consider using the links here at TTB to make purchases on Amazon (LINK).

2018

Brendan Radley-Hiles – CB – Calabasas (CA) Calabasas: Also known as “Bookie,” Radley-Hiles is a 5’10”, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and UCLA, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #7 cornerback, and #63 overall. He’s transferring from Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman.

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2016 Season Countdown: #60 Eddie McDoom

Eddie McDoom

Today is Amazon Prime Day (LINK), so if you’re visiting Amazon to get some deals, please consider using the links here at TTB. Thanks!

Name: Eddie McDoom
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 182 lbs.
High school: Winter Garden (FL) West Orange
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #13
Last year: McDoom was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 29 passes for 653 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Final TTB Rating: 89

I am pretty unabashed about my high hopes for McDoom, who not only has an awesome name, but can also play football pretty well. He originally committed to Oregon, even though I heard that Michigan was his leader. He then decommitted from the Ducks over the winter to flip to the Wolverines. In the meantime, he played in the Under Armour All-America Game, scoring a touchdown against other elite talents.

I’m only putting McDoom down at #60 because Michigan has some other talented receivers, many of whom are more experienced. The two primary guys are Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh, but Grant Perry, Maurice Ways, and Drake Harris have also played a significant number of snaps. Add in the multiple-tight end sets and a large crew of incoming receivers, and the need for McDoom isn’t that great. Freshman receivers often contribute, and I think McDoom has the talent to do so. I think he could play in the slot, he’s a good route runner, and he might be able to help out on kickoff returns. But I think his chances to contribute will increase significantly in 2017, after Chesson and Darboh have moved on.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver