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2016 Season Countdown: #54 Keith Washington

Keith Washington (image via Maize and Blue News)

Name: Keith Washington
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 170 lbs.
High school: Prattville (AL) Prattville
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #6
Last year: I ranked Washington #74 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.

Mostly a quarterback in high school, Washington was bound to redshirt as a freshman unless something drastic happened. Nothing drastic did happen, so he was afforded a chance to spend the year learning the position and getting ready physically. Now listed at 6’2″ and 170 lbs., he’s clearly taking the Reon Dawson- and Roy Roundtree-approved path to physical fitness. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cornerback at Michigan contribute with those dimensions.

However, Jim Harbaugh likes his attitude, and Washington may have edged past redshirt sophomore Brandon Watson this spring. With three senior corners returning and two blue-chippers entering the competition, I can’t put Washington any higher. He needs to bulk up and work on his technique, but I think he looked okay enough in the spring to start earning some late-game snaps this season if the situation is right. Keep him away from the other team’s best receiver, and maybe Michigan can groom him into a more prominent role for 2017.

Prediction: Backup cornerback

Video: Bailey feat. Jim Harbaugh on “Who’s Got It Better Than Us?”

I generally think raps/songs about football teams are pretty lame. This isn’t much of an exception, but it’s not out of the norm for Jim Harbaugh, who doesn’t look totally out of place in the video like a lot of 50-year-old football coaches would. I guess that Saved by the Bell acting experience came in handy yet again.

Scout 300 for 2017 updated

Luiji Vilain is the #138 player in the country

Scout released its updated top 300 for the 2017 class (LINK). Here’s what the list looked like back in February (LINK). Movement for Michigan commits:

• Dylan McCaffrey dropped from #39 to #101
• Luiji Vilain jumped from off the list to #138
• Kai-Leon Herbert jumped from off the list to #180
• Josh Ross fell from #128 to #228
• Ja’Raymond Hall fell from #198 to #248
• Corey Malone-Hatcher fell from #266 to #296

Hit the jump for the full rundown of Michigan targets on the list.

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Which conferences did Michigan recruit against most in 2016?

Last month I posted about which states Michigan recruited in the class of 2016 (LINK). This month it’s time to take a look at which confereces are stealing the most Michigan targets.

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2016 Season Countdown: #55 Joshua Uche

Joshua Uche (image via Maize and Blue News)

Name: Joshua Uche
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Miami (FL) Columbus
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last year: Uche was a senior in high school (LINK). He had 50 tackles, 14 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles.
Final TTB Rating: 82

Uche was committed to Miami at one point, and Don Brown was recruiting him to Boston College. By the time January rolled around, Uche was no longer committed to Miami and Don Brown was recruiting him to Michigan. Brown likes guys who can wreak havoc with their speed, and Uche is a guy who can do that, whether it’s from linebacker or defensive end.

Uche’s biggest asset is his ability to come off the edge and get to the quarterback, and he has that extra closing burst to make plays once he gets into the backfield. Michigan intends to start him off at SAM linebacker, where he would be backing up Jabrill Peppers. The two players are rather dissimilar, since Peppers is a converted corner/safety and Uche is viewed by some as a weakside end prospect. I think Uche will play a role this season because of his pass rushing abilities, but he might be limited by his size and some weaknesses in pass coverage. I imagine he might be used in some situations as a defensive end, somewhat like we saw Jake Ryan used at times during his Michigan career. I think Uche will have a good career, but defensive line and SAM linebacker are tough places to break through this season.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker