25Feb 2015
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| Ke’Shawn Vaughn |
In something that I hope to make a semi-regular feature, I’m going to take occasional looks at recruiting around the Big Ten. Not only will this help keep an eye on what’s going on around the Big Ten, but it might introduce some of tomorrow’s Big Ten stars. Going in alphabetical order, we’ll start with the Illinois Fighting Illini. The next time the Wolverines play Illinois will be for Michigan’s homecoming in October 2016.
2015 Team Ranking: #45
Cream of the 2015 Crop: Illinois offensive tackle Gabe Megginson (#193) and Tennessee running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn (#314) were the Illini’s only 247 Composite 4-stars in the class. Illinois running back Dre Brown (#452) is also a solid player. Out of 24 signees, seven are junior college transfers. Head coach Tim Beckman seems to be taking the Bill Snyder approach of trying to make a quick turnaround with JUCO guys.
2016 Team Ranking: #60, one spot ahead of Eastern Michigan
Cream of the 2016 Crop: The only commit so far for the Illini is Illinois safety Juwuane Parchman (#931).
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| Devin Funchess (image via MLive) |
HIGH SCHOOL
Funchess was a Rivals 3-star and the #14 tight end in the 2012 class. Here’s my commitment post for him from April 2011 (LINK). I gave him a TTB Rating of 75. In addition to pulling in Funchess, Michigan reeled in high school teammate Mario Ojemudia, while wide receiver target Aaron Burbridge ended up going to Michigan State.
COLLEGE
When Funchess arrived at Michigan in 2012, he earned immediate playing time despite being an undersized tight end. In his second career game, he caught 4 passes for 106 yards and 1 touchdown against Air Force. He would finish the year with 15 catches for 234 yards and 5 touchdowns, and he was named to some Freshman All-America teams and even made Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. He became a part-time starter in 2013, serving as Michigan’s pass receiving tight end until the season’s second half, when he played wide receiver almost exclusively. He caught 7 passes for a career-high 151 yards against Minnesota, and he was named the Big Ten’s Tight End of the Year after finishing with 49 catches for 748 yards and 6 touchdowns. After playing second fiddle to Jeremy Gallon that year, he was given the #1 jersey. (He had worn #19 as a freshman and then was awarded the #87 Legends jersey as a sophomore.) The 2014 season started off with a bang when Funchess shredded Appalachian State for 7 catches, 95 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury the next week against Notre Dame, and never looked the same after that. Despite being quarterback Devin Gardner’s favorite target, Funchess ended his junior season with 62 catches for 733 yards and 4 touchdowns; his 11.8 yards/catch were the lowest of his career. The coaches in the conference voted him Second Team All-Big Ten, which was very generous of them.
CAREER STATISTICS
126 catches for 1,715 yards (13.6 yards/catch) and 15 touchdowns
8 carries for 23 yards (2.9 yards/carry)
2 tackles
AWARDS
2012: Freshman All-America, Big Ten All-Freshman Team
2013: First Team All-Big Ten, Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year, #87 Legends jersey
2014: Second Team All-Big Ten, #1 jersey
SUMMARY
Funchess was a very promising tight end, and he was a huge matchup nightmare in the passing game. Michigan had some questionable quarterback play throughout his career, and Denard Robinson – who was only Funchess’s quarterback for the first half of 2012 – seemed to have the best chemistry with him. Funchess looked the most impressive when he had Gallon taking pressure off of him in 2013, because Gardner and Gallon had unbelievable chemistry and defenses needed to account for Gallon on every play. When you have a 6’5″, 230 lb. receiver who can run, jump, catch, and gain yards after the catch going up against an individual corner or safety, that’s problematic for the defense. Unfortunately, the reason Michigan had to employ such a huge wide receiver was because Funchess basically refused to be an effective in-line blocker. What became clear throughout his career was that Funchess was okay bullying smaller players, but he shied away from trying to physically overmatch defensive ends and linebackers. Michigan suffered from poor tight end blocking for the past three years under Brady Hoke, but Funchess was quite possibly the worst of the bunch. After the ankle injury he suffered against Notre Dame, Funchess missed a game and then came back gimpy for a while. At some point the limping turned into a lack of effort, and Funchess appeared to be saving himself for an early departure to the NFL. Once the season was over, he announced that he would indeed forego his senior season for a chance to play professional football.
I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . .
. . . being one of the most frustrating players within memory. I would love to remember Funchess for his acrobatic catches, leaping high in the air to avoid Hoosiers and Buckeyes, outmuscling a Penn State safety for a poorly thrown deep ball, etc. However, I can’t erase from my memory the idea of him refusing to improve as a blocker and seeming to mail it in after a high ankle sprain. Nor can I forget him saying “wins are just a statistic.” He is perhaps Michigan’s most impressive “tight end” athlete in history, but some of that potential seems to have been wasted. I don’t regret that I compared him to Carson Butler when he committed to Michigan.
PROJECTION
Funchess recently went to the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.7 forty, did 17 reps on the 225 lb. bench press, showed off a 38.5″ vertical, and broad jumped 10’2″. I have seen him projected anywhere from the middle of the first round to the early part of the second round. I’m not sure that he can play a traditional tight end role in the NFL because he lacks strength and effort in that department, but he can certainly be a pass receiving threat, even though his 4.7 time was a little disappointing. I think some questions about his effort and mentality will drop him to the early second round.
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| Brady Pallante is a fullback now. Brady Pallante is not #23. |
Michigan released its spring roster on Monday as the Wolverines begin spring practice on Tuesday (LINK). Here are some notable updates to the roster.
Ian Bunting: Bunting is up to 6’7″ and 243 lbs. Michigan needs help at tight end this fall, so 243 lbs. is a good sign of him developing physically. He should be up over 250 lbs. by the fall.
Brian Cole: Cole, a true freshman early enrollee, is wearing #81. He’s listed at 6’2″, 200 lbs.
Ross Douglas: Douglas was recruited as a cornerback, moved to slot receiver, moved to running back, and now is back at corner. Still wearing #29, he is now listed as Ross Taylor-Douglas.
Derrick Green: Green is listed at 5’11” and 234 lbs.
Ty Isaac: Isaac is listed at 6’3″ and 240 lbs.
Alex Malzone: Malzone, a true freshman early enrollee, is wearing #12. He’s listed at 6’2″, 218 lbs.
Brady Pallante: Pallante came to Michigan as a nose tackle prospect and is now listed as a redshirt freshman, 6’0″, 276 lb. fullback wearing #45.
Terry Richardson: Richardson is listed as a redshirt junior cornerback and is finally nearing close-to-acceptable weight at 174 lbs. at 5’9″.
Matt Thompson: Thompson is a new addition as a walk-on quarterback from Cincinnati (OH) Indian Hills. He’s listed at 6’5″, 214 lbs. as a redshirt freshman. Here are Thompson’s Hudl highlights from his senior year (LINK). His delivery is a little bit wonky, but he doesn’t look too bad for a walk-on. He’s not a bad guy to have available for running a scout team and such. It also looks like he’s hit a growth spurt since high school.
Ryan Tice: Tice is a 6’1″, 177 lb. walk-on who enrolled early out of Saline (MI) Saline. I mainly note this because Michigan graduated both their punter and kicker, so Tice might be competing for one of those jobs, along with walk-on Kenny Allen (punter) and 2015 signee Andrew David (kicker).
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| Viera (FL) Viera wide receiver Tre Nixon (image via 247Sports.com) |
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Houston (TX) Aldine MacArthur defensive end Isaiah Chambers was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 245 lb. prospect with offers from Baylor, Florida State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #10 strongside end, and #133 overall. Chambers is a big, thick player who uses his hands really well. As a junior in 2014, he made 32 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. His current Crystal Ball currently reads 80% in favor of the Aggies. I am generally not a fan of any recruit who emblazons the title “YOU ARE NOW A WITNESS!” or anything similar on his highlights, kind of like 2015 tight end Jalen Wilkerson (Florida State) titled his highlights “The Chosen One.”
Calhoun (GA) Calhoun offensive tackle Jack DeFoor was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Louisville, and Ole Miss, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #72 offensive tackle, #902 overall. DeFoor is a decent athlete who has a slightly odd habit of taking a small hop just before he gets to second-level defenders. The way he moves and blocks, he looks more like a center to me. One of his teammates is 2016 tight end Landon Rice, an Auburn commit who was offered by Michigan a couple weeks ago.
Sachse (TX) Sachse wide receiver Devin Duvernay was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, LSU, and Oregon, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #3 wide receiver, and #36 overall. As a junior in 2014, he caught 62 passes for 990 yards and 9 touchdowns, plus he carried the ball 33 times for 290 yards and 3 scores. He also claims a 4.46 forty. Duvernay is one of those solidly built slot guys who can be a combo running back/receiver, and he can also return kicks.
Hit the jump for a bunch more offers and some miscellaneous bits.
Mechanicsville (VA) Atlee safety Jaqui “J.J.” Givens was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #47 safety, and #678 overall. He claims a 4.46 forty. As a junior in 2014, he made 32 solo tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. Givens plays corner for his high school team but has the body of a future safety, and he’s not the smoothest athlete around but a guy who can be physical and support the run.
Madison (MS) Germantown cornerback Nigel Knott was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #11 cornerback, and #129 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 112 tackles, 4 interceptions, 16 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. He claims a 4.33 forty. Knott is an extremely aggressive corner who has the physicality to be a safety at the next level, too. Unfortunately, he lives in Mississippi, which is a notoriously difficult state to invade from the north.
Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei offensive tackle Frank Martin II was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 301 lb. prospect with offers from LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and UCLA, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #13 offensive tackle, and #111 overall. Martin is a mauling right tackle prospect who could also end up as a guard, and he is a teammate of linebacker offeree Curtis Robinson. Martin has expressed significant interest in visiting Michigan.
Sachse (TX) Sachse cornerback Jared Mayden was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 cornerback, and #96 overall. He claims a 4.58 forty. Mayden is another boundary corner type who could also play safety at the next level. Having announced a top group shortly before receiving some big-time offers, he now says he’s wide open in his selection process.
Viera (FL) Viera wide receiver Tre Nixon was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Miami, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #52 wide receiver, and #300 overall. Nixon also claims a 4.38 forty. As a junior in 2014, he caught 43 passes for 1,065 yards and 13 touchdowns. That 4.38 time might be stretching it a bit, but Nixon has legitimate deep speed and I imagine he’ll climb in the rankings before all is said and done.
Arlington (TX) Lamar offensive guard Chris Owens was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Oklahoma, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the the #31 offensive guard, and #594 overall. Owens plays right tackle but may not have the length to do so in college, where he will likely have to move inside. However, he is very mobile and could be an excellent pulling guard.
Auburn (AL) Auburn safety Spencer Perry was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida State, and Mississippi State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #29 safety, and #424 overall. Perry is well built right now, and I think there’s a very good chance that he grows into a linebacker before his college career is over. Much like any prospect Michigan tries to pull out of the deep south, anyone coming from Alabama is a serious long shot unless they’re not coveted by the regional schools.
Hermitage (PA) Hickory safety Andrew Pryts was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #47 safety, and #678 overall. Pryts has pretty decent athleticism, but the most impressive thing about his film is the way he hits. Pryts could be an enforcer in the middle of the field, and he can come up to support the run really well. He is likely to stay home and play for the Nittany Lions.
West Hartford (CT) Kingswood-Oxford linebacker Koby Quansah was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 212 lb. prospect with offers from Connecticut, Pitt, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 inside linebacker, and #322 overall. He claims a 4.58 forty. As a junior in 2014, he made 122 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He also averaged over 10 yards/carry as a running back with 120 carries for 1,245 yards. Quansah looks like an inside linebacker through and through, and while he’s the #1 player in the state, you may notice that the competition level is not particularly impressive.
Folsom (CA) Folsom offensive tackle Jonah Williams was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 272 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Cal, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, and UCLA, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #11 offensive tackle, and #91 overall. He also claims a 4.96 forty, which makes him slightly faster than potential #1 draft pick Jameis Winston! Williams has a nice frame and looks like a college lineman already. He also has a nasty disposition when blocking, although I’d like to see him play through the whistle a little more often.
Tiger (GA) Rabun tight end Charlie Woerner was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, and Oregon, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #19 wide receiver, and #98 overall with a 4.76 forty. Woerner has a pretty impressive all-around highlight film where he lines up at running back, slot receiver, and wide receiver on offense. His team gets him the ball any way they can, and that’s probably a good choice. He’s probably not quick enough to line up as a wide receiver in college, but he could be a very versatile tight end or H-back type of player.
Clovis (CA) Buchanan defensive end Bryson Young was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Fresno State and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #27 weakside end, and #456 overall. Young plays outside linebacker for his high school team and shows some nice speed, especially a couple times when he chases down running backs on the opposite sideline. He will probably play with his hand in the dirt in college, or at least as a 3-4 rush linebacker.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Littleton (CO) Valor Christian quarterback Dylan McCaffrey was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 200 lb. prospect whose only other offer has come from Colorado. McCaffrey the son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and the younger brother of Stanford rising sophomore Christian McCaffrey, a running back Michigan pursued in the 2014 class. Dylan looks like a prototypical pocket quarterback with a little bit of athleticism to escape the rush. His offer list should expand significantly in the near future.
MISCELLANEOUS
I put together a list of players who visited Michigan for the basketball game against Ohio State on Sunday (LINK).
Several recruiting top lists were updated:
Over on Recruiting Season, I posted/update profiles on:
