Mantrez Walker, Wolverine

Posts under: Blog


12Feb 2023
Blog, homepage no comments

Mantrez Walker, Wolverine

Buford (GA) Buford linebacker Mantrez Walker

Buford (GA) Buford linebacker Mantrez Walker, a class of 2025 prospect, committed to Michigan on Saturday evening. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.

Walker is listed at 6’1″ and 215 lbs. He benches 305 and squats 405.

RANKINGS
ESPN: N/A
On3: N/A
Rivals: N/A
247 Sports: N/A

Hit the jump for more on Walker’s commitment.

read more
10Feb 2023
Blog, homepage no comments

Chris Ewald, Jr., Wolverine

Chris Ewald, Jr.

Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna cornerback Chris Ewald, Jr., a 2025 prospect, committed to Michigan on December 16, 2022. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma, Penn State, and USC, among others.

Ewald is listed at 6’0″ and 160 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: N/A
On3: 4-star CB, 90 grade
Rivals: 4-star CB, #23 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #6 CB, #75 overall

Hit the jump for more.

read more
10Feb 2023
Blog, homepage no comments

2023 Recruiting Grades: Offensive Line

LaDarius Henderson (image via Twitter)

Previously: QUARTERBACK, RUNNING BACK, TIGHT END

2023 DEPARTURES: 2 (Ryan Hayes, Olu Oluwatimi)

2023 NEEDS: 1

2023 COMMITMENTS: Cumming (GA) South Forsyth OT Nathan Efobi, Arizona State transfer OG LaDarius Henderson, West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield C Amir Herring, Stanford transfer OT Myles Hinton, Washington (DC) Gonzaga OT Evan Link, Stanford transfer C Drake Nugent

NOTEWORTHY 2023 OFFERS

  • Kade Eldridge – Lynden (WA) Christian: USC
  • D.J. Chester – McDonogh (GA) Eagle’s Landing: LSU
  • Cole Dellinger – Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Michigan State
  • Spencer Fano – Provo (UT) Timpview: Utah
  • Cayden Green – Lee’s Summit (MO) North: Oklahoma
  • Landen Hatchett – Ferndale (WA) Ferndale: Washington
  • Logan Howland – Princeton (NJ) The Hun School: Oklahoma
  • Caleb Lomu – Gilbert (AZ) Highland: Utah
  • Luke Montgomery – Findlay (OH) Findlay: Ohio State
  • Paul Mubenga – Buford (GA) Buford: LSU
  • Dylan Senda – Dearborn (MI) Divine Child: Northwestern

GRADE: A

REASON FOR THE GRADE: Despite losing just two players to the NFL, the starting offensive line appeared to be in pretty good shape going into 2023. Of course, having a good offensive line is typically predicated on experience, so we have to look at what players are behind them and how ready they will be in 2024 and beyond. Michigan’s numbers were solid enough that they didn’t have to snag too many linemen in the class of 2023 to maintain a healthy overall number at the position (~15), but they hit it out of the park in the transfer portal, if not the high school ranks.

Starting with the transfer portal guys, Michigan landed Arizona State offensive guard/tackle LaDarius Henderson, Stanford center Drake Nugent, and Stanford right tackle Myles Hinton. All three are starters, and in particular, Henderson was a captain and Nugent was a Rimington Award finalist. While offensive guards Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter return, Henderson could end up playing left or right tackle, depending on who steps up at those positions. Nugent should slot in as the starting center, and Hinton will probably be in a battle to start at one of the tackle spots, as injuries and inconsistency have hampered him a little bit so far. However, Hinton was a top-100 prospect and has great potential if he can put everything together.

Link improved as a senior to the point where I think he can be a solid player at the next level, especially in the run game; he has limited pass pro reps on his senior highlights, but there’s potential if he can stay consistent with his technique. Efobi still plays too high for my liking, and he doesn’t really win enough blocks even on his highlights. Meanwhile, interior lineman Herring could play guard or center – some think center is his best spot because of a lack of height – and is the type of kid who should be a good locker room presence while he waits for his opportunity for a few years, and he could step in as an upperclassman and start for a couple years.

Overall, Michigan did a good job of not only plugging a hole at center, but creating immediate competition at the tackle positions. Link, Herring, and Efobi are all guys with potential down the road, though I don’t think any of them are headed for stardom in college. If the Wolverines can maintain their solid offensive line play and use the transfer portal to their advantage on a yearly basis, this could be a recipe for great annual success even if the high school recruiting is so-so.

9Feb 2023
Blog, homepage no comments

2026 Recruiting Update: February 9, 2023

Newbury Park (CA) Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel (image via Los Angeles Daily News)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2026

Naeem Burroughs – WR – Jacksonville (FL) Bolles: Burroughs is a 6’0″, 155 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, and Georgia, among others.

Simeon Caldwell – S – Jacksonville (FL) Bolles: A teammate of Burroughs, Caldwell is a 6’3″, 185 lb. safety with a 4.65 forty time as a freshman.

Messiah Mickens – RB – Camp Hill (PA) Trinity: Mickens is a 5’11”, 185-pounder with offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas A&M at an early juncture.

Brady Smigiel – QB – Newbury Park (CA) Newbury Park: Smigiel is a 6’5″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia, and Penn State, among others. As a freshman in 2021, he had 3,467 passing yards with 46 passing touchdowns and 5 rushing scores.

Chaston Smith – CB – Knoxville (TN) Bearden: Smith is a 6’1″, 151-pounder with offers from Kentucky, Louisville, and Ole Miss, among others.

8Feb 2023
Blog, homepage no comments

Chris Partridge, Wolverine (again)

Chris Partridge

Former Ole Miss co-defensive coordinator Chris Partridge has been officially re-hired by the first FBS program to give him a job, and that’s the Michigan Wolverines.

Partridge was the head coach at Paramus (NJ) Catholic for five years, a school that sent the likes of Jabrill Peppers, Rashan Gary, and Juwann Bushell-Beatty to Michigan. He was then hired in a recruiting role in 2015 before becoming an on-field coach from 2016-2019, working with the safeties, linebackers, and special teams. He was hired away by Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss to be the co-defensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021, but after being let go by the Rebels after the 2022 season, he was in search of a new job.

Partridge’s next role at Michigan is undetermined as of yet . . . or at least Michigan hasn’t released their plans for him. He was announced on Twitter as having joined Michigan’s staff, and while that could be at an analyst position, rumblings suggest that he will be replacing a current coach on the staff. Since he has only ever coached defense, most likely there will be movement on the defensive side of the ball.

Partridge’s most noteworthy asset is probably his recruiting prowess. While at Michigan, he was the primary recruiter for three 5-star players (Gary, Chris Hinton, and Aubrey Solomon) and seventeen 4-star guys (too many to list). Michigan’s recruiting efforts in New Jersey have tailed off some since he left, but I would imagine some of those connections will be renewed now that Partridge is back on the staff.