Posts under: Uncategorized

Blake O’Neill, Wolverine

Blake O’Neill

Weber State punter Blake O’Neill is transferring to Michigan. He has spent just one year playing American football and will be eligible as a fifth year senior graduate transfer in 2015.

As technically a redshirt junior in 2014, he punted 62 times for 2,737 yards (44.1 yards/punt). He had a career long of 74 yards, landed 25 punts inside the 20-yard line, and kicked 18 punts more than 50 yards. That punting average was #6 in the Football Championship Subdivision and #1 all-time at Weber State. Standing 6’2″ and 215 lbs., he ran a fake punt 20 yards and completed a 17-yard pass on another fake punt against Montana State.

O’Neill brings an array of punting talents to Michigan. He can deaden the ball near the goal line, punt directionally, boom it deep, and generally limit return yardage. The nice thing about punting is that it translates well from one level or team to the next, so regardless of whether he’s playing at Weber State or in the Big House, his kicks are going to travel a long way if that’s what he wants.

Michigan has had good punters for a while, including Zoltan Mesko and Will Hagerup in recent years. Unfortunately, Hagerup was inconsistent at times and even missed the entire 2013 season due to suspension. However, punt coverage was spotty last year, which should improve with the arrival of O’Neill as well as full-time special teams coach John Baxter.

O’Neill gives Michigan three scholarship specialists, including incoming freshman kicker Andrew David and redshirt sophomore long snapper Scott Sypniewski. However, O’Neill also puts Michigan at 87 scholarships for the upcoming season, which means that two players need to come off scholarship before the fall. There is at least one player who could become a medical casualty (Chris Fox), and there are a few walk-ons who have had scholarships in the past that might have to pay their own way (Graham Glasgow, Ryan Glasgow, Joe Kerridge).

TTB Rating: 86 (ratings explanation)

Matt Falcon, Wolverine

Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon

Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon committed to Michigan on Wednesday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Arizona State, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Oregon, among others.

Falcon is a 6’1″, 215 lb. prospect. As a junior in 2015, he had 75 carries for 1,109 yards and 7 touchdowns. He claims a 4.41 forty.

Hit the jump for more on Falcon and his commitment to Michigan.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star RB
Rivals: 4-star, #13 RB
Scout: 4-star, #8 RB, #149 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, #10 RB, #263 overall, #7 in-state

Falcon has been on the big-time recruiting radar for a long time, but an ACL tear during his sophomore year sort of delayed his true arrival. While he had been in contact with the previous coaching staff, they never offered. Shortly after National Signing Day 2015, Jim Harbaugh’s staff extended an offer. He visited Michigan several times, but on Monday, Alabama running back Kingston Davis committed to the Wolverines. With just one running back spot left, Falcon went ahead and picked Michigan two days later.

Back in February I ranked Falcon the #3 player in the state (LINK). Despite the knee injury, he was extremely productive in 2014. He has good straight-line speed, makes some nifty moves in the hole, and runs with good body lean. He shows a strong array of skills that should allow him to be a three-down back who can gain short yardage, make people miss, outrun people, and break tackles in the open field.

The only real concern I have about him is that knee injury. It seems like anyone who tears an ACL tears it again at some point, so it might not be a question of “if” but “when.” Of course, the hope is that he can be permanently healed, but we’ll see.

Overall, I really like the pickup of Falcon. He has the skills I want to see in a Michigan running back. Michigan has lacked a big-time running back for a while, although there are a couple guys with potential currently on the roster. The Wolverines have had a history of great running backs, but the last time they had a successful, prototypical back was perhaps Chris Perry in 2003. (I might argue that Brandon Minor had the potential, but he never had the production, for various reasons.) Falcon and a couple other backs on the roster represent an opportunity to return Michigan to the level they were at before the Rich Rodriguez years. For many years, Michigan was a running back factory, but now schools like Ohio State, Alabama, and Georgia have jumped well ahead of the pack.

Michigan is scheduled to need 15 players in the 2016 class, although that number will increase over time. He is the second running back, and that should fill up the class at the position. Regarding Southfield High School, they have churned out a lot of talent in the past few years, including sending defensive end Lawrence Marshall to Michigan in 2014. The 2015 class at Southfield was perhaps the best ever, but it would be a good school at which to build a pipeline.

TTB Rating: 85 (ratings explanation)

Jake Ryan, #47

HIGH SCHOOL
One of the few 2010 recruits to stick with Michigan for an entire college career, Ryan was a Rivals 3-star and the #30 inside linebacker coming out of Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius. He had a handful of MAC offers before committing to the Wolverines in January of 2010. Brady Hoke – who was at San Diego State – somewhat famously took a pass on recruiting Ryan, who would end up being perhaps Hoke’s best defensive player at Michigan. Here’s my commitment post on Ryan from January 2010 (LINK), and I named him the most underrated recruit in that class (LINK).

COLLEGE
When Ryan entered college, he was considered a bit of a project after missing a chunk of his junior year in high school due to injury. It was assumed he would redshirt, and redshirt he did while Rich Rodriguez and Greg Robinson played around with the 3-3 stack. When Hoke was hired and brought in Greg Mattison, Ryan became a SAM outside linebacker and changed from #37 to #90. He made an immediate wow play in the 2011 spring game when he jumped in front of a Devin Gardner pass and returned it for a touchdown while wearing the #37 jersey. That fall he switched to #90 and earned the starting SAM job, and he would finish the season with 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries. That redshirt freshman season earned him some hype for a 2012 in which he did not disappoint. He made 88 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 pass breakups, earning Second Team All-Big Ten. With expectations shooting through the roof, he promptly tore his ACL in the spring of 2013. It was early enough that he was not ruled out for the entire season, so he returned mid-year and made 30 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 1 pass breakup in an understandably mediocre campaign. Fully healed by his fifth year, Ryan moved to middle linebacker in a revamped defense and finished the 2014 season with 112 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, and his first career interception. He was named First Team All-Big Ten as a senior.

CAREER STATISTICS
267 tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 7 pass breakups, 1 interception (returned for 2 yards)

AWARDS
2011: ESPN and Big Ten Network Freshman All-Big Ten
2012: Second Team All-Big Ten, Roger Zatkoff Award (team’s top linebacker), #47 Legends jersey
2013: Team Captain, #47 Legends jersey
2014: Team Captain, Roger Zatkoff Award, First Team All-Big Ten, #47 Legends jersey

SUMMARY
For his career, Ryan ranks #17 in solo tackles, #3 in tackles for loss, and tied for #4 in forced fumbles. While he never had a truly dominant year, he was a very consistent player for Michigan every year except in 2013, when he hurried back after tearing that ACL. But “consistent” is not really what I think of when I think of Ryan. While he was reliable, he was one of Michigan’s best playmakers on defense – from blitzing to deflecting passes to keeping outside contain to forcing fumbles, he was the one guy that offenses generally had to worry about on a play-to-play basis. He has never wowed anybody with his measurables, but he simply found a way to make plays over and over again. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Greg Mattison said several times throughout Ryan’s career that he had an unorthodox way of playing the linebacker position, but he got the job done. Ryan would sometimes get his lower body out of position but find a way to redirect and make the tackle, or he might leap over a blocker, or he might sidestep a blocker instead of taking him on directly. Michigan’s defense has been lacking stars in recent years, which you realize when you think about walk-on safety Jordan Kovacs being the biggest fan favorite since Brandon Graham wore the winged helmet in 2009. Ryan is the closest thing to a bona fide stud for the Wolverines since Graham terrorized Big Ten opponents in Rich Rodriguez’s second year.

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . .
. . . his very first college game when he started at SAM linebacker, moved inside occasionally to blitz, and destroyed Western Michigan’s quarterback while causing an interception that was returned 94 yards for a touchdown by Brandon Herron. That was the first sign – and it happened immediately – that we might have something special in Ryan.

PROJECTION
Ryan projects to linebacker in the NFL, although it’s unclear exactly where he will play. He could be a 3-4 outside linebacker, a SAM linebacker in a 4-3, a middle linebacker in a 4-3, or an inside linebacker in a 3-4. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.65 forty, did 20 reps on the bench at 225 lbs., broad jumped 10′, showed off a 34.5″ vertical, and had a 4.2 shuttle time. I think he’s best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 look because he can rush the passer and has a knack for hemming guys in on the edge, and I think he fits as a SAM in a 4-3 look. I do not think he has the athleticism to be a star in the NFL, but I do think he can carve out a long career if he stays healthy.

Video: Jim Harbaugh on “Saved by the Bell”

Just for funsies:

Recruiting Update: April 7, 2015

Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg quarterback Hunter Johnson (image via 247Sports.com)

Thank you to the previous donors toward the TTB redesign effort. If anyone else would like to chip in, you can use Paypal (on the left sidebar) or donate by purchasing items on Amazon (LINK). Thanks for reading and helping out!
—————

COMMITMENTS
Prattville (AL) Prattville running back Kingston Davis committed to Michigan (LINK).

Avon (IN) Avon quarterback Brandon Peters committed to Michigan (LINK).

Farmington (MI) Farmington fullback David Reese committed to Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg running back Toks Akinribade was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and a bunch of MAC schools. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #62 running back, and #781 overall. As a junior in 2014, he had 220 carries for 1,579 yards and 15 touchdowns. Akinribade is a solidly built running back with pretty decent speed and some good power, a solid all-around back. His teammate is 2017 quarterback Hunter Johnson (see below).

Hit the jump for several new 2016 offers, some 2017 offers, some commitments elsewhere, and some random tidbits.

Vero Beach (FL) Vero Beach defensive end Patrick Bethel was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 243 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, and Miami, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #18 strongside end, and #300 overall. Despite being listed at a very average 6’3″, he is long-limbed and lanky. He’s pretty aggressive, though, and packs quite a punch.

Sachse (TX) Sachse cornerback Donovan Duvernay was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Baylor, Boise State, and TCU, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #69 athlete, and #974 overall. As a junior in 2014, he caught 20 passes for 452 yards and 5 touchdowns, plus he had 2 kickoff return touchdowns. His brother, Devin, is a slightly bigger receiver who’s the #38 overall prospect in the country. The twins plan to play together in college, so while Devin was offered a few weeks ago, the Wolverines basically have to take a shot with Donovan to get Devin.

Rockford (MI) Rockford kicker Quinn Nordin was offered by Michigan. Nordin is a 6’1″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Penn State, and several others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #1 kicker, and #1045 overall. Nordin, who also punts, could potentially be Michigan’s second scholarship kicking specialist since 2015 recruit Andrew David is coming in, but David is likely limited to placekicking in college. Nordin could do either job or both. Since the time he was offered, several 247 Sports Crystal Ball predictions have come in for Michigan, and it now stands 75% in favor of the Wolverines.

Byesville (OH) Meadowbrook offensive guard Josh Sills was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 319 lb. prospect with offers from a few MAC schools. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #71 offensive guard, and #1280 overall. Sills plays tackle for his high school team, but he plays way too high and does not have the feet to remain on the perimeter in college. In fact, he seems rather slow-footed and appears to be a bit of a reach at this juncture in the recruiting cycle.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice tight end Carter Dunaway was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’6″, 225 lb. prospect whose lone offer comes from the Wolverines. He is not ranked in the 2017 class. Dunaway is the brother of defensive end Jack Dunaway, who will be a preferred walk-on in the fall; both are the sons of Craig Dunaway, who played tight end for Michigan in the mid-1980s. They are also the former teammates of quarterback Alex Malzone and wide receiver Grant Perry, both of whom will be freshmen in the fall. I have been unable to find football highlights of Carter, but here’s a short video of him dunking (after missing his first attempt) as a scrawny eighth grader (LINK).

Brownburg (IN) Brownsburg quarterback Hunter Johnson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 197 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 5-star, the #1 pro-style quarterback, and #9 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he completed 122/226 passes for 1,434 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He claims a 4.6 forty. Johnson has good arm strength and a compact, high delivery, and he also makes quick decisions. He would be an excellent pickup. Johnson was offered on campus this past weekend when he visited with 2016 running back teammate Toks Akinribade (see above). Michigan’s only other quarterback offer for 2017 so far is Coloradoan Dylan McCaffrey.

Hinesville (GA) Liberty cornerback Richard LeCounte was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 174 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #4 athlete, and #22 overall. LeCounte could also play wide receiver or safety at the next level.

Lithia Springs (GA) Jonesboro wide receiver James “M.J.” Walker, Jr. was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 210 lb. prospect who might be better known for his basketball exploits, where he’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 shooting guard, and #16 overall in the 2017 class. Walker is a jumbo wide receiver with good speed, but not great. His biggest advantage is obviously his size and ability to go up and catch the ball. It’s unclear whether he will pursue basketball or football (or both) in college.

OFF THE BOARD
North Ridgeville (OH) North Ridgeville running back Demario McCall committed to Ohio State last week. He did not hold an offer from Michigan, but he was the top guy on my list of guys that I wanted the Wolverines to offer. McCall has an element of speed that is lacking in most of the guys on Michigan’s roster. With the Buckeyes already having two 2016 running backs committed, I had hoped he might get squeezed out and end up in Ann Arbor.

Lawrenceville (GA) Archer offensive tackle E.J. Price committed to Georgia. Price grew up in Michigan, recently named the Wolverines his #1 choice, and then committed to the Bulldogs a couple weeks later. He may yet visit Michigan, which would give Jim Harbaugh a chance to flip him, but this is a disappointing development since Price is #10 offensive tackle and #77 overall player in the 2016 class.

Virginia Beach (VA) Ocean Lakes cornerback Levonta Taylor committed to Florida State. The 247 Composite 5-star and #2 cornerback expressed passing interest in the Wolverines’ offer, but he never visited, seemingly destined for the Seminoles for a while.

Folsom (CA) Folsom offensive tackle Jonah Williams committed to Alabama. Williams was offered by the Wolverines back in February and seemed excited about the offer at the time, but he had not mentioned Michigan in recent weeks.

Pompano Beach (FL) Coconut Creek cornerback Malek Young committed to Georgia. Young was offered by Michigan’s previous staff but was not pursued by the new regime.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of visitors from this past week/weekend (LINK). One late addition to that list is Fayetteville (NC) Sanford cornerback Mark Gilbert, who visited campus yesterday. Gilbert is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #45 cornerback, and #498 overall. He also has offers from Duke, North Carolina State, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others.

Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon, who holds a Michigan offer, announced a top five that includes Arizona State, Arkansas, Michigan, Oregon, and Tennessee. With the Wolverines taking a commitment from Kingston Davis, it appears they are still interested in another runner. Falcon is a little faster than Davis, although the Southfield product is still good-sized at 6’1″, 215 lbs.

Over on Recruiting Season, I added/updated profiles for:

• Muskegon Mona Shores WR Kobe Burse
• Southfield RB Matt Falcon
• Oak Park OT JaRaymond Hall
• Battle Creek Central LB Brandon Randle