Class of 2013 Wish List: Offense

Class of 2013 Wish List: Offense


February 14, 2012
One guy we both agreed on was Warren (MI) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris

Tremendous  and Touch the Banner  pooled together our information and came up with a wish list for the 2013 class.  This is purely a wish list based on guys who have either been offered by Michigan or, in a couple cases, are likely to get offered by Michigan at some point.

QUARTERBACK (Need = 1)

Touch the Banner: Warren (MI) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris  is already on board, and he’s one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the country.  Based on his talent and how much he loves Michigan, he’s my pick to fill this spot.
Tremendous: Shane Morris – Doesn’t really need much of an explanation. Turn to my interview if necessary. This kid has the physical and mental qualities to play quarterback for Michigan. The only question, and one that can’t be answered yet, is how he’ll respond to getting continuously hit throughout the long run of a full college football season.

RUNNING BACK (Need = 2)
Tremendous: Ty Isaac, Deveon Smith – Isaac is explosive and the type of home-run hitter that Michigan has lacked for quite some time now. He does run a bit upright, but the upside is too much to ignore here. He could contribute quickly, too. Deveon Smith is a tackle-breaking machine who has good vision/cuts in between the tackles. Both of his brothers struggled in college but I don’t expect that to be the case with Deveon. Keith Ford would look good here, too, but despite the recent update I did on him, I don’t expect him to end up at Michigan.
Touch the Banner: 
Michigan needs a big-play guy, and I think Stockton (CA) Lincoln’s Justin Davis  could be that guy.  He’s 6’1″, 195 lbs. and could be the lightning to Cypress (TX) Cypress Ranch’s Keith Ford‘s thunder.  Both can make big plays, unlike a couple offerees who look like pound-the-rock type guys only.

FULLBACK (Need = 0)

Michigan doesn’t need anyone here.

WIDE RECEIVER (Need = 2)
Touch the Banner: Louisville (KY) Trinity wideout James Quick  would be #1 on my list because of his gamebreaking ability.  He’s similar to former Michigan wide receiver Steve Breaston because he’s a skinny guy who can take it the distance at any given time.  Crete (IL) Crete-Monee’s Laquon Treadwell  is a big, physical kid who also has a little bit of speed and can stretch the field.  Michigan could use a couple big-time receivers to pair with Morris.
Tremendous: Jaron Dukes, Laquon Treadwell – Dukes loves Michigan and has the physical tools necessary to fit the old Michigan receiver mold. He’s a bit of a project, but kids who love the program and want to be here are the types of kids that tend to succeed at Michigan. Treadwell is a five-star talent. Not much else to be said about him.

TIGHT END (Need = 2)
Touch the Banner:  Camp Hill (PA) Cedar Cliff tight end Adam Breneman  is considered by many to be the nation’s top tight end for the 2013 class, and again it would be nice to find a good passing target for Morris.  Breneman is the type of tight end who could do damage as a traditional tight end or lined up in the slot.  Meanwhile, Pickerington (OH) North Pickerington’s Jake Butt  is a tough, physical kid who has some good athleticism.  And if things didn’t work out on offense, he has the athletic ability and demeanor to help out on defense, too.
Tremendous: Jake Butt, Adam Breneman – Butt is a likely commit who seems to be somewhat of a rising star within the rankings. I’d still say Breneman is better, but Butt has the frame to bulk up and remains quick enough on his feet for his size to do real damage in the passing game. Breneman is the real deal, a potential Gronk clone if he builds up properly. No reason not to choose a guy like him. Fast as hell for a TE, but more than big enough to block up front.

OFFENSIVE LINE (Need = 5)
Tremendous: Logan Tuley-Tillman, Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch, David Dawson, Laremy Tunsil – Four of these lineman are obvious choices based on ability alone. We really love Dawson though; he’s a pancake machine who would be an epic addition to the run blocking game. The good news? Outside of Tunsil, Michigan has a good shot at all four of these guys.
Touch the Banner: 
I’m going to take one guy for each position.  Give me Lake City (FL) Columbia’s Laremy Tunsil  at left tackle, Dallas (TX) Bishop Dunne left guard Ishmael Wilson, Parker (CO) Ponderosa right guard Chris Fox, and Lemont (IL) Lemont right tackle Ethan Pocic.  And then I’ll take Wheaton (IL) St. Francis’s Kyle Bosch  and move him inside to center, just because Michigan needs a center and I think Bosch could handle it.

25 comments

  1. Comments: 21379
    Feb 14, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    Any reason neither of you included Wyatt Shallman?

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 2:38 PM

      Quite simply, he's not one of the two best backs available. There are other guys Michigan is pursuing who have the ability to be short yardage backs, but also offer more in the way of making big plays. Shallman is pretty far down my list.

    • Comments: 21379
      Anonymous
      Feb 14, 2012 at 5:28 PM

      What if he was recruited for a position other than running back? Do you think he has more potential on defense or tight end?

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 6:09 PM

      Shallman hasn't played much defense, and when he did last season, he was nursing an injury. The jury is out on his defensive abilities. I do think Shallman would have potential as a tight end/H-back more so than as a tailback, but he has been told repeatedly that he's wanted as a tailback.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 7:13 PM

      Didn't our coaches offer him pretty early? Is that because he's right in our backyard or because the staff actually wants him badly?

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 10:25 PM

      Yeah, our staff offered him early. I think it's because he's in Michigan's backyard and because they want a short yardage tailback. They want him to be their Mike Alstott.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 16, 2012 at 1:22 PM

      Gotcha. Thanks for your insight.

  2. Comments: 21379
    Anonymous
    Feb 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    kalid hill is a te already committed

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 4:02 PM

      Yeah…that doesn't mean he's on my wish list. I don't think he's a bad player, but there are better tight ends out there.

  3. Comments: 21379
    imdeng
    Feb 14, 2012 at 4:32 PM

    Wow – I am shocked to see just one in-state recruit (and we already have him) in your wish list. So many from IL there though. What is going on? Really weak MI recruit class? How many have we offered in-state?

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 4:41 PM

      This year's class isn't as good as last year's class, and there are also just flat-out better players elsewhere. It's rare that the best player at any given position comes from Michigan, although Shane Morris has a chance to earn that distinction. Michigan has only offered 5 in-state players, and one of them (Steve Elmer) is already committed to Notre Dame.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 7:14 PM

      IL is stacked this year. Expect a lot of teams that don't usually recruit Illinois to try to get in there this season.

  4. Comments: 21379
    Anonymous
    Feb 14, 2012 at 5:47 PM

    My spidy sense is up with Isaac. I get no sense of his ability to run through people… cause he doesn't on his film. Every play is a youth football sprint. His speed, size, and acceleration are there – and he can catch too. That was not a good team he racked those yards up against in the championship game. I have trouble seeing that frame being able to power anybody. I would bet more in favor of Smith.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 6:11 PM

      I definitely agree that his stats are inflated due to the competition level. I have heard concerns elsewhere, from people who have jobs scouting players, that he lacks some toughness, both physical and mental. That's why I don't have him in my top two.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 7:15 PM

      He goes to Joliet Catholic, right? That's usually a pretty good program in IL. They used to be a pipeline to Notre Dame. Almost like how Cass Tech is to us, so yeah they usually turn out pretty good players.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 10:21 PM

      Yeah, he goes to Joliet Catholic.

  5. Comments: 21379
    Anonymous
    Feb 14, 2012 at 7:29 PM

    Thunder/Magnus,
    Thanks for the summary. Tremendous is high on Jaron Dukes but he doesn't make your top two. Do you think he has the potential to be an elite receiver?

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 10:24 PM

      That depends on what you mean by "elite." Can he become the next Braylon Edwards or Justin Blackmon? No, I don't think so. He doesn't have the speed or athleticism to be that kind of receiver. Does he have some NFL potential? Sure. I see him as kind of an Ernest Wilford-type receiver, a tall guy who can catch jump balls and be a physical possession receiver. But he's not going to be a danger to take a pass 80 or 90 yards.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 14, 2012 at 10:50 PM

      I'd be pretty happy if he was just the next Junior Hemingway.

  6. Comments: 21379
    Feb 20, 2012 at 2:24 AM

    So, now that we have gotten 4 of the 5 O-linement on your wish list, and 1 of the TEs, how do you feel about how this class is shaping up? haha

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 20, 2012 at 11:30 AM

      Yeah…it's going well so far. I'm glad the coaches are listening to me.

      (Hint for those who can't detect sarcasm: The coaches don't give a damn what I think.)

  7. Comments: 21379
    Anonymous
    Feb 23, 2012 at 7:23 PM

    Thunder, I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't totally on board with ty isaac. What is your best guess on who we want or has interest to come to Michigan? I LOVE derrick greens highlight tape and deveon smith also looks great running through tackles. They are my number one and two choice with ty coming in third. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on this, since it seems to me you have the best ability to evaluate recruits on the Michigan blogs.

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 23, 2012 at 10:15 PM

      It seems like Ty Isaac and Deveon Smith are wanted most by the coaching staff, and those two seem the most likely to end up at Michigan. I like Derrick Green, but to me he's more of a power/inside runner. I just don't see a lot of big runs out of him.

  8. Comments: 21379
    Anonymous
    Feb 24, 2012 at 11:49 PM

    How are our chances with Treadwell?

    • Comments: 21379
      Feb 25, 2012 at 11:33 AM

      Michigan is at or near the top of his list, but there's a long way to go until National Signing Day.

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