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8-1-17 Recruiting Update: The Color Purple

Shayne Simon

A note on programming: Today marks the beginning of football practice for our program, which means I’m going to be super-busy for the remainder of the fall. I will be continuing to post, but my responsibilities have expanded, so don’t be offended or dismayed if I’m not around quite as much.

COMMITMENTS

Louisville (KY) Trinity defensive end Stephen Herron, Jr., a 2019 prospect, committed to Michigan (LINK).

Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central linebacker Cameron McGrone committed to Michigan. I haven’t had time to write up a commitment post yet.

Hamden (CT) Hamden Hall tight end Luke Schoonmaker committed to Michigan (LINK

).

OFF THE BOARD

Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei offensive tackle Tommy Brown committed to Alabama. He plays on the line for 2019 quarterback J.T. Daniels, who visited Michigan this past weekend. At one time Brown was thought to be a Michigan lean.

Hit the jump for several other guys who went off the board.

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2017 Season Countdown: #34 Donovan Peoples-Jones

Donovan Peoples-Jones (image via Bleacher Report)

Name: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 193 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #9
Last year: Peoples-Jones was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: 92

Peoples-Jones was perhaps the jewel of the 2017 class, as he was the most highly sought recruit in the State of Michigan, and one of the best in the country. He had the highest SPARQ score as an underclassman in the summer of 2016, and everyone raves about his speed and athleticism. Toss in the fact that he’s academics-oriented and wants to go to medical school someday, and Michigan seems to have pulled in a pretty solid all-around guy. He ended up playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl before enrolling early at Michigan.

Now Donovan Peoples-Jones is going to wear the #9 at Michigan. This is noteworthy, because he yoinked it from junior Grant Perry. (Perry may have yoinked it from himself with his alleged felonious behavior in East Lansing, but we’ll kind of ignore that for the purposes of this post.) Peoples-Jones impressed in the spring, though he doesn’t seem to have an otherworldly grasp on the game to the point where he’s going to be an immediate star in college. That’s a difficult task for almost anyone, but especially in a pro-style offense with lots of adjustments and virtually no emphasis on tempo. Kekoa Crawford will likely start at one receiver spot, so it seems to be a race between Peoples-Jones and fellow freshman Tarik Black for the open wideout position. My take based on practice rumblings and what I saw in the spring game is that Black might have the edge for now, but I think Peoples-Jones has the higher ceiling in the long run. Either way, both should play a considerable amount, but neither is destined for an all-conference year here in 2017.

Prediction: Backup split end

Stephen Herron, Wolverine

Louisville (KY) Trinity defensive end Stephen Herron, Jr. (image via 247 Sports)

Louisville (KY) Trinity defensive end Stephen Herron, Jr., a 2019 prospect, committed to Michigan on Saturday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, and Oregon, among others.

Herron is 6’3″ and 235 lbs. As a sophomore in 2016, he made 75 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks sacks.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 4-star WDE
Scout: 4-star, #5 WDE, #41 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 94 grade, #4 WDE, #34 overall

Hit the jump for more on Herron’s commitment.

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Nolan Rumler, Wolverine

Nolan Rumler (image via 247 Sports)

Akron (OH) Hoban offensive guard Nolan Rumler committed to Michigan this morning. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin, among others.

Rumler is 6’4″, 290 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 4-star OG
247 Sports: 4-star, #15 OT, #123 overall

Hit the jump for more on Rumler’s commitment.

read more

2017 Season Countdown: #35 Brandon Watson

Brandon Watson (#28, image via GBMWolverine)

Name: Brandon Watson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 203 lbs.
High school:

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #28
Last year: I ranked Watson #56 and said he would be a backup cornerback. He made 12 tackles.
TTB Rating: N/A

Watson has so far been strictly a backup cornerback, and no higher than fourth on the depth chart during his career. He has had a chance to take an open spot the past couple seasons, but he has not taken advantage of those opportunities. In two years of playing time, he has yet to make a play on the ball (no FF, FR, INT, or PBU); however, he made a great interception in the 2015 spring game, and he made a pick-six in this year’s spring game. While not very tall, he has long arms and plays receivers physically. He just lacks the quickness and speed to be an important cog in the defense. In addition to the pick-six, he also got outrun by Ty Isaac for a touchdown in the spring game.

Despite the uncertainty at the cornerback positions going into 2017, Watson isn’t thought to be a contender to start. He will almost certainly play a good deal as a nickel corner or backup safety. Lavert Hill, David Long, and Keith Washington look to be ahead of him, and Benjamin St-Juste (outside corner) and Ambry Thomas (slot corner) have a chance to pass him. Watson has value as a veteran presence, but his lack of athleticism makes him a liability against better passing offenses.

Prediction: Backup cornerback