Posts under: Blog

2016 Season Countdown: #80 Josh Metellus

Josh Metellus (image via Scout)

Name: Josh Metellus
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Metellus was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 50 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Final TTB Rating: 71

Metellus was at one time a Georgia Southern commit who earned a Michigan offer at a satellite camp during the summer of 2015. Along with teammate Devin Gil – who was committed to Miami – he decommitted from his former team in favor of the Wolverines. Some believed that Michigan recruited Metellus and Gil in part to lure teammate and prized recruit Devin Bush, Jr., and I think there may be at least some truth to that. However, Metellus has some decent skills as a strong safety and isn’t without value.

I don’t think Metellus has a great chance to contribute this season. Michigan’s two starting safeties will be Delano Hill and Dymonte Thomas. Options behind them include sophomore Tyree Kinnel, freshman Khaleke Hudson, and potentially Jabrill Peppers or Jeremy Clark if an injury forced a position switch. Michigan might play Metellus in garbage time or on special teams just to gain him some experience for when Hill and Thomas graduate, but he shouldn’t be a major factor this season.

Prediction: Redshirt

Preview of 2017 In-State Recruiting: #16-20

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech CB Donovan Johnson (image via 247 Sports)

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This is the fourth installment of my take on the top prospects in the state of Michigan for the 2017 class. You can take a look back at #1-5 (LINK), #6-10 (LINK), and #11-15 (LINK) if you haven’t seen them already. Hit the jump for #16-20, including a couple guys from Muskegon and West Bloomfield you probably haven’t heard of unless you’re a hardcore recruiting follower. Enjoy!

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2016 Season Countdown: #81 Garrett Moores

Perhaps the highlight of Garrett Moores’s career will be meeting Derek Jeter (image via MLive)

Name: Garrett Moores
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 214 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #15
Last year: I didn’t rank Moores. He did not see game action.

During the spring practice session at Ford Field, Moores was working almost exclusively as the holder for extra points and field goals. He has yet to see the field as a backup quarterback, and Michigan has a fair amount of depth at that position. What they don’t have is an experienced holder. It may be that Moores was holding because the other quarterbacks were busy doing, you know, quarterback stuff, but I’ll put Moores here, anyway. Truthfully, it might not be a bad idea to have a dedicated holder who just becomes an expert at that one task, although it wouldn’t necessarily be the most exciting job.

Prediction: Starting holder

BONUS:

You can also apparently buy a Garrett Moores t-shirt, because why not? Actually, I’m guessing this stems from his solid high school career at Novi (MI) Catholic Central, but still. Anyway, you can purchase it here (LINK).

Recruiting from Tomorrow: June 13, 2016

Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2018

Allen (TX) Lovejoy linebacker Bumper Pool was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State, among others. Yes, his real name is indeed Bumper James Morris Pool. In six games with stats reported in 2015, he made 68 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.

Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, and Utah, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #4 dual-threat quarterback, and #73 overall. As a sophomore on 2015, he was 11/17 for 179 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT; he also ran 21 times for 179 yards and 3 TDs, and he made 5 catches for 54 yards. Those are pretty paltry numbers for a star quarterback, but that’s because he was a backup to 2017 prospect Tate Martell, a former Texas A&M commit who is likely to end up signing with Ohio State (EDIT: after I scheduled this post, Martell committed to OSU last night). The Wolverines are also recruiting 2017 wideout Tyjon Lindsey, 2017 cornerback Alex Perry, and 2018 linebacker Palaie Gaoteote from Bishop Gorman. Thompson-Robinson’s mother is a Michigan graduate, he has visited previously, and he plans to come back for the Aerial Assault QB Camp in a week.

Hit the jump for a new 2019 offer, the first 2020 offer, and some other bits.

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Luiji Vilain, Wolverine

Alexandria (VA) Episcopal DE Luiji Vilain (image via Canada Football Chat)

Alexandria (VA) Episcopal defensive end Luiji Vilain committed to Michigan on Sunday afternoon. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, and Virginia Tech, among others.

Vilain is 6’4″, 238 lbs. and claims a 4.8 forty. He also has a 30.5″ vertical and a 4.33 shuttle time. He will play in the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game in January.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #11 DE, #95 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #10 WDE, #180 overall
Scout: 4-star, #10 DE, #138 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, #5 WDE, #94 overall

Hit the jump for more on Vilain’s commitment.

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