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Shelton Johnson, Wolverine

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic defensive end Shelton Johnson (#7) on his official visit

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic defensive end Shelton Johnson committed to Michigan on Wednesday afternoon. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, and several others.

Johnson is a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect. He claims a 32″ vertical, a 200 lb. bench press, and a 520 lb. squat.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #36 DE
Rivals: 3-star, #37 WDE
Scout: 4-star, #27 DE, #291 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #16 SDE

Johnson was considered a Florida State lean throughout the process, and he was not even offered by Michigan until mid-January. Then new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin stepped in, and Johnson quickly scheduled an official visit for the weekend of January 16th. His response to the visit seemed rather lukewarm, so most Michigan fans – including myself – dismissed any likelihood of him joining the Wolverines’ class. Over the last couple days, though, rumors started bubbling that he might choose Michigan over the presumed favorite, and despite getting some cold feet late, he went ahead and signed with the Wolverines.

There’s a lot to like about Johnson. He looks a full 6’5″ and maybe more than 220 lbs., with the weight thing perhaps an optical illusion due to Johnson’s robust lower body. He’s thick in the legs and backside, which should mean that his body will fill out and add quite a bit of weight. He should have no problem carrying 270+ pounds. I really like his ability to play low, and he takes some good pursuit angles. Johnson is also a punishing hitter who will not be pleasant for running backs to block, and he could be an effective pass rusher.

I would like to see Johnson improve his stance and get-off. Depending on what position he plays, he might need to move his front foot a little farther back to avoid taking a false step. Partly because of that stance, he can be slow off the ball, even slower than the rest of his defensive line mates. He can make it work in high school, but that will get him beaten in college. He also needs to use his hands more often and keep his hands and elbows inside. These are technique issues and not questions of his physical skills.

Overall, Johnson has a good set of physical skills. He needs to get stronger, but that should come with a college S&C program. And aside from the technique issues, he has high upside. Johnson could be the steal of the class, because he has the body of a future NFL player. I said something similar about Logan Tuley-Tillman a couple years ago, but it all depends on how seriously Johnson takes football and how hard he works.

Johnson is the second defensive end in the class, joining fellow Floridian Reuben Jones. This helps out with depth at the position since Lawrence Marshall was the only defensive end in the 2014 class, and some of the older defensive ends look more like tackles. With Brennen Beyer and Frank Clark having graduated following the 2014 season, Johnson could find himself on the field this fall as a backup.

TTB Rating: 80 (ratings explanation)

Keith Washington, Wolverine

Prattville (AL) Prattville quarterback/cornerback Keith Washington

Prattville (AL) Prattville cornerback Keith Washington flipped to Michigan from Cal on Wednesday morning. He also had offers from Indiana, Louisville, Miami, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas Tech, among others. At one time Washington had been committed to Duke.

Washington is 6’2″, 170 lbs. and claims he can run the forty in the 4.3 range. He was primarily Prattville’s quarterback, so defensive stats are limited. As a senior in 2014, however, he was 92/162 passing for 1,718 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions; he also rushed 152 times for 1,201 yards and 20 touchdowns. He helped lead the team to an 11-3 record this past season, his third as a starting quarterback.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 75 grade, #117 ATH
Rivals: 3-star, #26 ATH
Scout: 3-star, #147 CB
247 Sports: 3-star, 82 grade, #118 ATH

Washington did not appear to be on Michigan’s radar until late January, even after he committed to Cal on January 25. With things looking bleak for other cornerback prospects, Michigan’s staff sold him on the program, despite the fact that Washington has never set foot in Ann Arbor.

The first thing to note is that Washington has been committed to Duke, Cal, and Michigan. Those are some of the better academic institutions in all of the whole FBS, so he must have a pretty decent head on his shoulders. He also looks like a pretty decent quarterback who could probably play the position at some FBS schools, so his understanding of the game should be better than the average guy corner entering college. He also has good speed, although the 4.3 thing is a little too low for belief. He is tall and lanky, which should help him when trying to defend jump balls and such.

I question whether Washington has the hips to be a big-time corner. He’s a little bit stiff in the upper and lower body, and he does not transition out of a backpedal very well. As one might expect of someone who’s primarily a cornerback, he also lacks tackling technique and doesn’t pack much of a punch. Some of these things are technique issues – and strength and conditioning issues – that can be helped with some time in college.

Overall, I look at Washington and I see Jeremy Clark, who’s a 6’4″ safety for Michigan. Clark also got a shot to play corner when he first arrived on campus, although he was a little more physical than Washington is. It’s a little bit difficult to project how a quarterback will transition to defense, but he has some physical skills, appears to have a good mental makeup, and should have some time to let his body and skills mature before Michigan needs him on the field. Washington is a guy who seems like he might not play significant time until he’s maybe a redshirt junior or so, but Michigan will need cornerbacks sooner than that. Blake Countess will graduate after 2015, and Jourdan Lewis will be a junior this year.

Clark is the only cornerback in Michigan’s 2015 class and joins safety Tyree Kinnel as the two defensive backs. He is also the first player to come out of Alabama since Max Martin in 2004. Perhaps coincidentally, Michigan has already extended an offer to Washington’s backfield mate Kingston Davis, a 2016 running back who’s a powerhouse at 6’1″, 230 lbs. The presence of Washington might help the Wolverines in their pursuit of Davis.

TTB Rating: 68 (ratings explanation)

You can see his offensive highlights here (LINK) but here are his defensive highlights:

Karan Higdon, Wolverine

Sarasota (FL) Riverview running back Karan Higdon (image via 247Sports.com)

Sarasota (FL) Riverview running back Karan Higdon committed to Michigan on National Signing Day after previously being committed to Iowa. He also had offers from Arizona, Arkansas, and Tennessee, among others, and he was committed to South Florida from January 2014 through October 2014.

Higdon is a 5’10”, 190 lb. back who claims a 4.5 forty.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 78 grade, #70 RB
Rivals: 3-star, #45 RB
Scout: 3-star, #84 RB
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #29 RB

Higdon was not on Michigan’s radar heavily until late in the process. Two highly touted running backs – Damien Harris and Michael Weber – had both decommitted from Michigan, and the Wolverines were uncertain in their pursuit of flipping Weber from Ohio State back to Michigan. Late in the process, they extended an offer to Hawkeye commit Higdon. He was offered on January 31, set up a flight for that afternoon, and took an official to Michigan that weekend. He intimated that he was fully committed to Iowa upon return, but that was either a smoke screen or he changed his mind over the last couple days. On Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m., he announced that he would be signing with the Wolverines.

The first thing that sticks out about Higdon is his physicality. Despite being under 200 lbs., he packs a wallop when he runs and does not shy away from contact. He also churns his legs after contact, which helps him break tackles and fall forward. Higdon shows nice vision and cutback ability, and he has the ability to make jump cuts similar to Fitzgerald Toussaint. Higdon also shows patience waiting for the line’s blocks to develop, but he hits the hole hard when it opens.

The biggest concern I have with Higdon is his lack of top-end speed. Michigan has had success with backs like him before, like Michael Hart. But I keep waiting for Michigan to recruit a breakaway threat, and it has been a while since the Wolverines have had someone who could take it the distance on any given play. He also takes (and gives) a beating, so you wonder if his body is going to break down from so much punishment.

Ultimately, just like when Brady Hoke was the coach, I think a lot of the running backs in Michigan’s stable can be successful because of the way the Wolverines have recruited the offensive line. The development up front was not where it needed to be under the direction of Darrell Funk, but there was some improvement in 2014. There should be even more with a better offensive line coach, more consistent schemes, and more experience in 2015 and beyond. That bodes well for all of the running backs, including Higdon. He has a chance to be a solid running back for the Wolverines, but he’s probably not a superstar.

It looks as if Higdon will be the only running back in the 2015 class after Michael Weber went ahead and signed with Ohio State. Michigan will have several juniors at the position in 2015, plus redshirt sophomore Ty Isaac, and now Higdon as a true freshman. His contributions will probably not be needed this coming season, so he should be able to redshirt as long as the group remains mostly healthy. He is the first player to come to Michigan out of Riverview since offensive lineman David Baas in 2000.

TTB Rating: 73 (ratings explanation)

National Signing Day Updates

When I have a chance, I’ll post the National Letters of Intent that have been faxed in to Michigan:

DE Reuben Jones

CB Keith Washington

QB Zach Gentry

RB Karan Higdon

OT Grant Newsome

S Tyree Kinnel

WR Grant Perry

OT Nolan Ulizio

OG Jon Runyan, Jr.

K Andrew David
————————————————————————————————-

Additionally, I’ll be updating the names of Michigan offerees who commit elsewhere:

DE CeCe Jefferson to Florida

LB Roquan Smith to UCLA

LB Jeffery Holland to Auburn

OT Drew Richmond to Tennessee

RB Michael Weber signs with Ohio State

WR Ryan Davis to Auburn

RB Soso Jamabo to UCLA

OT Pat Allen to Georgia

TE Chris Clark to UCLA

National Signing Day Preview

Avon (CT) Old Farms tight end Chris Clark will decide early on Wednesday morning

At least three prospects who are strongly considering Michigan have nationally televised official announcements scheduled for National Signing Day, which is today, February 4th. All times are Eastern Standard Time. They include:

• Chris Clark – TE – Avon (CT) Old Farms: Clark is announcing on ESPNU at 8:30 a.m. between Michigan and UCLA.
• Roquan Smith – LB – Montezuma (GA) Macon: Smith is announcing at 11:00 a.m. between Georgia, Michigan, Texas A&M, and UCLA.
• Iman Marshall – CB – Long Beach (CA) Poly: Marshall is announcing on ESPNU at 4:00 p.m. between Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, UCLA, and USC.