Posts under: Blog

Visitors: January 15-17, 2016

Nixa (MO) Nixa TE Chase Allen

Site note: If you want to create/use an avatar for posting and discussion purposes, check out my forum post on how you can create one (LINK).

Here’s a look at the next wave of visitors headed to Ann Arbor for the first weekend visit opportunity after the dead period.

GRADUATE TRANSFER
Texas center Jake Raulerson is a 6’4″, 295 lb. graduate transfer prospect. He was a backup this past season, and he started five games in 2014. As a redshirt sophomore this past season, he would have two years to play at his next destination. Michigan also recruited Raulerson out of high school in the 2013 class.

2016
Nixa (MO) Nixa tight end Chase Allen is a 6’7″, 221 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #26 tight end, and #571 overall. Michigan recently offered Allen, but the staff piqued his interest with their use of the tight end position. There’s a good chance that Allen ends up committing to Michigan soon. I posted a scouting report on Allen on Thursday (LINK).

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy linebacker Joel Dublanko is a 6’3″, 227 lb. prospect with offers from Akron, Mississippi State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #12 inside linebacker, and #359 overall. He does not have an offer from Michigan at this time, but since the Wolverines are in a questionable situation when it comes to linebacker depth, he could be in line for one. Dublanko is a teammate of 2016 tight end Isaac Nauta (Georgia). EDIT: Dublanko is now scheduled to come next weekend instead.

Hit the jump for several more visitors.

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Final Scout 300 for 2016

Brandon Peters has made a huge leap in Scout’s rankings

Scout released its top 300 prospects for the class of 2016 (LINK). Here’s what it looked like in June 2015 (LINK).

Movement for Michigan commits:

• Kareem Walker dropped from #21 to #28
• Ben Bredeson dropped from #24 to #36
• Brandon Peters jumped from #283 to #77
• Jordan Elliott fell from #100 to #105
• Ahmir Mitchell fell from #58 to #131
• Dylan Crawford fell from #90 to #134
• Devery Hamilton moved up from #144 to #139
• Michael Onwenu moved up from #168 to #140
• Chris Evans fell from #164 to #190
• Erik Swenson fell from #124 to #256
• Brad Hawkins fell from #224 to #269
• Carlo Kemp fell from #297 to being off the list

Hit the jump for the full list.

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Derrick Green, Ex-Wolverine

Derrick Green

As expected, rising senior running back Derrick Green is transferring from Michigan. Green will be a graduate transfer and eligible to play immediately wherever he goes. One potential destination is Florida, where he would be reunited with offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who made Green the team’s leading rusher when he was offensive coordinator at Michigan in 2014. At no other point before or since has Green approached that level of trust and playing time.

Hit the jump for more on Green’s career.

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Chris Partridge named linebackers/special teams coach

Chris Partridge (with Jim Harbaugh, Jabrill Peppers, and Ron Johnson)

Site note: If you want to create/use an avatar for posting and discussion purposes, check out my forum post on how you can create one (LINK).

Michigan recruiting coordinator Chris Partridge has been named Michigan’s linebacker/special teams coach. After filling in as linebacker coach for Michigan’s bowl preparation (former linebacker coach/defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin left for the Maryland head job), Partridge got the permanent job. He replaces John Baxter, the special teams coach who left for USC after one year in Ann Arbor. Partridge previously spent time coaching defensive line, secondary, and helping with special teams at both Lafayette and The Citadel before returning to the high school ranks.

Meanwhile, new defensive coordinator Don Brown spent the past three seasons coaching linebackers at Boston College. Prior to that, he was coaching cornerbacks. Something may have to give, as Michigan currently has the safeties covered (Greg Jackson), a cornerback coach (Mike Zordich), a linebacker coach (Partridge), and a defensive line coach (Greg Mattison). Perhaps Partridge and Brown will split linebacker duties, with one taking the outside guys and another taking the inside guys. It would be an odd step to replace a full-time special teams coach with a newbie who then has to coach linebackers and special teams. Another option would be to bring in a graduate assistant to help with the linebackers, much like Will Carr (defensive tackles) and Derron Montgomery (wide receivers) have helped Mattison and Jedd Fisch in the past.

This also opens up a spot for a recruiting coordinator. Matt Doherty has a similar role to Partridge’s old spot, and Erik Campbell has been helping out. There have been rumors that Devin Bush, Sr. – currently the coach at Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan and the father of early enrollee Devin Bush, Jr. – could come on board in some capacity. Also, Michigan hired Rick Finotti as a football operations guy out of northern Ohio, and he could also step in. However, Michigan has not focused much of its recruiting efforts in Ohio since Jim Harbaugh was hired, so Finotti’s connections may not pay off as well as Partridge’s have in New Jersey.

Scouting Report: Chase Allen

Nixa (MO) Nixa tight end Chase Allen (#16)

Name: Chase Allen
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 224 lbs.
High school: Nixa (MO) Nixa
Position: Tight end
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, UCF, UNLV, Western Kentucky . . . Rivals 3-star, #38 TE . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 87 grade, #30 TE, #702 overall . . . Claims 4.7 forty . . . 31″ vertical . . . 230 lb. bench press

Hit the jump for the rest of the scouting report.

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