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2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Cameron McGrone

The 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl will be taking place on January 6, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EST in San Antonio, TX. It will be broadcast on NBC. For a look at past participants who chose Michigan, click here (LINK). Here’s a look at the Michigan offerees who will be participating:

EAST

• QB Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), #16
• RB James Cook (Georgia), #4
• RB Jaelen Gill (Ohio State), #21
• WR Josh Vann (South Carolina), #14
• TE Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State), #88
• OL Nana Asiedu (Penn State), #76
• OL William Barnes, #64
• OL Jackson Carman (Clemson), #74
• OL Trey Hill (Georgia), #55
• OL Cade Mays (Georgia), #68
• OL Jamaree Salyer (Georgia), #69
• OL Rasheed Walker, #53
• DE Justin Mascoli (Clemson), #17
• DE Micah Parsons (Penn State), #23
• DE Xavier Thomas (Clemson), #19
• DT Jayson Ademilola (Notre Dame), #57
• DT Alim McNeill (North Carolina State), #50
• DT Taron Vincent (Ohio State), #54
• LB Dallas Gant (Ohio State), #24
• LB Shayne Simon (Notre Dame), #33
• CB Tyson Campbell, #8
• CB Josh Jobe (Alabama), #6
• CB Kyler McMichael (Clemson), #42
• CB Patrick Surtain, Jr., #2
• CB Christian Tutt (Auburn), #22
• S Derrik Allen (Notre Dame), #20
• S Tyreke Johnson (Ohio State), #13

WEST

• QB Matt Corral (Ole Miss), #2
• QB J.T. Daniels (USC), #18
• RB T.J. Pledger (Oklahoma), #25
• WR Kamryn Babb (Ohio State), #85
• WR Jalen Hall, #81
• WR Brian Hightower (Miami), #7
• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, #8*
• TE Luke Ford (Georgia), #45
• OL Emil Ekiyor (Alabama), #72**
• OL Jalen Mayfield (Michigan), #77
• OL Darrell Simpson (Oklahoma)
• OL Penei Sewell, #61
• OL Brey Walker (Oklahoma), #70
• DE Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan), #97
• DE Ronnie Perkins, #11
• DT Michael Thompson, #92
• DT Tommy Togiai (Ohio State), #71
• LB Palaie Gaoteote (USC), #10
• LB Cam McGrone (Michigan), #22
• LB Ray Scott (USC), #26
• LB Solomon Tuliaupupu, #55
• CB Anthony Cook (Texas), #17
• CB Brendan Radley-Hiles, #44
• CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart, #6
• S Talanoa Hufanga (USC), #15
• S Leon O’Neal, Jr., #9
• S Joshua Proctor (Ohio State), #3
• S Caden Sterns (Texas), #13
• S Jaiden Woodbey (Florida State), #1

*Announcing at the game
**Previously committed to Michigan

Greg Frey, Ex-Wolverine

Greg Frey

Offensive tackles/tight ends coach Greg Frey is off to Florida State to be Willie Taggart’s offensive line coach. This isn’t a surprise at all, nor is it a disappointment. When Frey was hired at Michigan, many – including me – assumed Michigan would be changing its style to a more zone-oriented scheme. It was also thought that Michigan might go more up-tempo, since Frey has spent much of his career with Rich Rodriguez (at WVU and Michigan) and Kevin Wilson (at Indiana). Additionally, Frey has done a great job of coaching up offensive linemen in the past, including tall, lanky tight end/tackle types.

The zone stuff didn’t work, the up-tempo thing never materialized, and Michigan doesn’t have any tall, lanky tackles on the roster. Oddly, it’s slightly reminiscent of Rich Rodriguez hiring a 4-3 proponent in defensive coordinator Scott Shafer when the rest of the staff was geared toward a 3-3.

It sounds like Tim Drevno will also not return, so Michigan could be looking at an entirely new coaching crew on the offensive line.

Frey is from Clearwater, and he played at Florida State and was a national champion there in the early 1990s, so it’s understandable why he would want to return to his old stomping grounds. He also coached at South Florida before he moved on to WVU.

Rumors about staff changes

Dan Enos

I am not fully plugged in to the coaching search, but with the bowl game in the rear view mirror, here are some thoughts on how the coaching staff could play out. Keep in mind that safeties coach Brian Smith has already left to be Rice’s defensive coordinator, tackles/tight ends coachGreg Frey is headed for Florida State, and all teams will get a tenth assistant coach.

#1: HEAD COACH: I am fairly confident that the head coach for 2018 will be Jim Harbaugh.

#2: RUNNING BACKS COACH: Jay Harbaugh was the RB coach this past season, but he has more experience with tight ends. With Frey gone, there appears to be an opening with tight ends. I think a different person will be coaching running backs, and it might be former Boston College and Cincinnati coach Al Washington, who coached with Don Brown at BC. Washington has experience coaching running backs, defensive line, and special teams. Update on January 4, 2017: Some are reporting that this is a done deal.

#3: TIGHT ENDS COACH: To replace the departed Walder Frey, I think we’ll see the return of Jay Harbaugh

here.

#4: OFFENSIVE LINE COACH: There are rumors about Greg Roman returning to the side of Jim Harbaugh, and it will be curious to see if Roman does come. If he does, he has mostly been with tight ends and the offensive line.

#5: WIDE RECEIVERS COACH: Former NFL wide receiver coach Scott Turner, the son of Norv Turner, spent the 2017 season as an analyst at Michigan. Michigan did not have a dedicated wide receivers coach this past season, and this might make sense as the additional assistant coach. Update on January 4, 2017: It sounds like Dan Enos (see below) may coach receivers.

#6: QUARTERBACKS COACH: It sounds like former Michigan State and Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos may replace passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton. He’s from the state of Michigan and has coached at CMU, MSU, and Arkansas.

#7: DEFENSIVE LINE COACH: I believe Greg Mattison will be returning in 2018.

#8: DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/LINEBACKERS COACH: The man, the myth, the legend: Don Brown.

#9: CORNERBACKS COACH: Unless Mike Zordich gets poached by someone who can pay him more money, I expect him to stick around. He’s done an excellent job.

#10: SAFETIES COACH: Analyst, dad of Devin Bush, Jr., and former NFL safety, Devin Bush, Sr. spent time coaching the safeties during the bowl practices. The safeties didn’t make any great leaps forward, but that’s more a matter of personnel. As a young-ish guy with NFL experience and time spent coaching high school ball in Florida, he should be a good recruiter.

#11: SPECIAL TEAMS/LINEBACKERS COACH: It sounds like other teams are trying to steal Chris Partridge, who has been Michigan’s ace recruiter. It would be a loss for Michigan unless they can get another great recruiter, although Enos is supposed to be a good recruiter. There’s a good chance Partridge leaves, but I’m keeping him here for now.

IN SUMMARY

I’m leaning toward the belief that Pep Hamilton and Tim Drevno will be gone from Michigan’s coaching staff. I will be shocked if both stay, though I won’t be too surprised if Drevno sticks, since he and Harbaugh have been joined at the hip for years.

2018 Recruiting Update: January 3, 2018

Rochester (MI) Adams CB Vincent Gray (image via MI Prep Zone)

COMMITMENTS

Kansas City (MO) Park Hill wide receiver Ronnie Bell committed to Michigan (LINK).

Essexville (MI) Garber fullback Ben VanSumeren flipped from Iowa to Michigan (LINK).

Bayern (Germany) defensive end Julius Welschof flipped from Georgia Tech to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for a couple new offers and a bunch of guys who went off the board.

read more

2018 Under Armour All-American Game

Myles Sims (image via Detroit News)

The 2018 Under Armour All-American Game will take place on January 4, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. EST. Played in Orlando, FL, it will be broadcast on ESPN. Below are the Michigan offerees who will be participating.

TEAM HIGHLIGHT

• QB Jacob Sirmon (Washington), #22
• QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA), #14
• RB Keaontay Ingram (Texas), #28
• RB Brian Snead (Ohio State), #7
• WR Tommy Bush, #11
• WR Ja’Marr Chase, #10
• WR Jacob Copeland, #5
• WR Jalen Preston (Texas A&M), #15
• WR Alontae Taylor (Tennessee), #13
• TE Malcolm Epps (Texas), #8
• TE Brevin Jordan (Miami), #9
• OL Jaelyn Duncan (Maryland), #70
• OL Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota), #77
• OL Daniel Fa’alele (Minnesota), #72
• DE Eyabi Anoma (Alabama), #9
• DE Tyreke Smith (Ohio State), #14*
• DT Keondre Coburn (Texas), #99
• CB Kalon Gervin (Michigan State), #11
• CB Olaijah Griffin (UCLA), #2
• S Trey Dean (Florida), #3
• S B.J. Foster (Texas), #25

TEAM SPOTLIGHT

• QB Joey Gatewood (Auburn), #2
• QB Jack West (Stanford), #12
• WR Matt Hill (Auburn), #17
• WR Elijah Moore (Ole Miss), #11
• WR Joshua Moore, #6
• WR Justin Ross, #5
• WR Anthony Schwartz, #10
• WR Justin Shorter (Penn State), #15
• WR Xavier Williams (Alabama), #4
• TE Mustapha Muhammad (Michigan), #80
• OL Tommy Brown (Alabama), #75
• OL Verdis Brown (Illinois), #58
• OL Richard Gouraige (Florida), #77
• OL P.J. Mustipher (Penn State), #55
• OL Nicholas Petit-Frere, #78
• DE K.J. Henry (Clemson), #5
• DE Jayson Oweh, #22
• DE Stephon Wynn (Alabama), #90
• DT Robert Cooper (Florida State), #8
• DT Austin Fontaine (Maryland), #79
• DT Coynis Miller (Auburn), #30
• LB Nik Bonitto, #15*
• CB Al Blades, Jr. (Miami), #7
• CB Houston Griffith (Notre Dame), #3
• CB Anthony Lytton (Florida State), #2
• CB Asante Samuel, Jr. (Florida State), #13
• CB Myles Sims (Michigan), #6
• S Quindarious Monday (Auburn), #21

*Announcing his college decision during game