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6-12-17 Recruiting Update: Renegades of Funk

Shocky Jacques-Louis (image via KSTV)

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ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2018

Ft. Myers (FL) Dunbar wide receiver Shocky Jacques-Louis decommitted from Kentucky. He’s a 3-star, the #122 wide receiver, and #681 overall. Michigan just offered in late May, and the decommitment comes on the heels of visits to Tennessee and South Carolina. He has not visited Ann Arbor yet, but the Wolverines are involved. Fun fact: Shocky has a class of 2018 brother named Rocky Jacques-Louis.

Miami (FL) Carol City safety Randy Russell decommitted from Miami. The 5’11”, 180-pounder is a 3-star, the #44 safety, and #590 overall. All the Crystal Ball picks have him pegged for Florida now, and Michigan is not involved.

OFF THE BOARD

Angleton (TX) Angleton safety B.J. Foster committed to Texas. He’s a 5-star and the #16 overall player in the class. Michigan was going after him hard, but he was bound to stay close to home.

Paramus (NJ) Catholic defensive end Dorian Hardy committed to Penn State. Hardy is the #160 overall prospect in the 2018 class. Penn State just lost #4 overall player Micah Parsons, another defensive end prospect, in recent weeks. Michigan has obviously been hitting Paramus Catholic hard over the last several years, but it was rumored that Hardy was not being recruited very heavily by the Wolverines.

2017 Season Countdown: #74 Ryan Tice

Ryan Tice (#41, image via MLive)

Name: Ryan Tice
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 170 lbs.
High school: Saline (MI) Saline
Position: Kicker/punter
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I ranked Tice #88 and said he would be a backup punter. He was 0/1 on field goals and 7/7 on extra points.

Tice entered last year with a shot to a full-time something-or-other, but he didn’t earn any of the gigs. Kenny Allen pulled triple duty as the punter, placekicker, and kickoff specialist, but Michigan tried to save his energy by occasionally calling on other guys to do some duty. Tice drew in as a backup placekicker. He mostly played in blowouts, but he also missed a 40-yarder against Wisconsin.

Tice will probably continue to be a backup this season behind kicker Quinn Nordin and punter Brad Robbins. If either one struggles or gets hurt, Tice could outplay this ranking, but you never know with kickers. Tice is probably reliable as a backup, but he’s been inconsistent in practice.

Prediction: Backup placekicker

2017 Season Countdown: #75A Jared Wangler

Jared Wangler (image via MLive)

Name: Jared Wangler
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 229 lbs.
High school: Warren (MI) De La Salle
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #38
Last year: I ranked Wangler #77 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer. He played in five games and made 3 tackles.
TTB Rating: 59

Wangler did not make much of an impact last season, but he did make three tackles against Rutgers in Michigan’s 78-0 win. That was a game where Michigan just threw everybody on the field at random positions like a pee-wee game. Michael Onwenu took some Wildcat quarterback snaps, and Jon Falk caught a screen pass for a TD from James Earl Jones.

So Wangler’s moving up in the world a little bit, but will it translate to serious playing time? That’s doubtful. He was playing weakside linebacker in the spring game, and the leader of the pack there is fifth-year senior Mike McCray II. Younger guys have and probably will continue to pass up Wangler, including an incoming freshman or two. The 2017 season may be his swan song at Michigan, since it looks like a fifth year is unlikely. Still, Wangler is a guy who can help out here or there on special teams or playing some late-game snaps.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer

2017 Big Man Camp

Emil Ekiyor with Jim Harbaugh (image via MLive)

Michigan’s 2017 Big Man Camp will take place on June 24, 2017. Here are some of the expected attendees:

2018

Emil Ekiyor – OG – Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral: Ekiyor is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jalen Mayfield – OT – Grand Rapids (MI) Catholic Central: Mayfield is committed to Michigan (LINK).

2019

Spencer Brown – OT – Walled Lake (MI) Western: Brown is a 6’6″, 295 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Pitt, among others.

2017 Rivals100 5-star Challenge Roster

Aidan Hutchinson

The Rivals100 5-star Challenge is taking place this weekend. Less ballyhooed than Nike’s The Opening, it’s still a who’s-who of elite prospects across the country. Here are some players on Michigan’s radar to keep an eye on. All prospects are 2018 players unless otherwise noted.

Harrison Bailey – QB – GA**
Matt Corral – QB – CA (USC)
Grant Gunnell – QB – TX (Texas A&M)*
Trevor Lawrence – QB – GA (Clemson)
James Cook – RB – FL (Florida State)
Jaelen Gill – RB – OH (Ohio State)
Asa Martin – RB – AL
Jadon Haselwood – WR – GA (Georgia)*
Kearis Jackson – WR – GA
Elijah Moore – WR – FL
Trey Palmer – WR – LA*
Alontae Taylor – WR – TN
Amon-Ra St. Brown – WR – CA
Theo Wease – WR – TX*
Xavier Williams – WR – FL (Alabama)
Nana Asiedu – OT – VA (Penn State)
John Campbell – OT – FL
Pierce Quick – OT – AL (Alabama)
Penei Sewell – OT – UT
Rasheed Walker – OT – MD
Trey Hill – OG – GA
Keiondre Jones – OG – GA
Jowon Briggs – DT – OH*
Rick Sandidge – DT – NC
Michael Thompson – DT – MO
Aidan Hutchinson – DE – MI (Michigan)
K.J. Henry – DE – NC
Stephen Herron – DE – KY*
Ronnie Perkins – DE – MO
Tyreke Smith – DE – OH
De’Gabriel Floyd – LB – CA (USC)
Teradja Mitchell – LB – VA (Ohio State)
Alston Orji – LB – TX (Vanderbilt)
David Reese – LB – FL
Raymond Scott – LB – CA (USC)
Drake Thomas – LB – NC*
Solomon Tuliaupupu – LB – CA
Al Blades – CB – FL
Anthony Cook – CB – TX
Kalon Gervin – CB – MI
D’Shawn Jamison – CB – TX
Christopher Smith – CB – GA (Georgia)
Isaac Taylor-Stuart – CB – CA
Derrik Allen – S – GA (Notre Dame)
Trey Dean – S – GA
Josh Proctor – S – OK (Oklahoma State)
Jamien Sherwood – S – FL
Jaiden Woodbey – S – CA (Ohio State)

*2019 prospect
**2020 prospect