Ben Bredeson (#74) is Michigan’s top-ranked recruit for 2016
Rivals released its final list of top 100 prospects for the 2016 cycle (LINK). Here’s what it looked like back in December (LINK). Michigan has just one prospect on the list at this point.
- Ben Bredeson moved up from #65 to #60
- Kareem Walker fell from #41 to off the list
Hit the jump for the rest of the top 100.
5-stars:
1. Rashan Gary – DT – NJ
2. Dexter Lawrence – DT – NC (Clemson)
3. Shea Patterson – QB – FL (Ole Miss)
4. Greg Little – OT – TX (Ole Miss)
5. Ben Davis – LB – AL
6. Rahshaun Smith – LB – FL (Clemson)
7. Jacob Eason – QB – WA (Georgia)
8. Demetris Robertson – ATH – GA
9. Mique Juarez – LB – CA
10. Levonta Taylor – CB – VA (Florida State)
11. Mecole Hardman – ATH – GA
12. Jack Jones – CB – CA
13. Erick Fowler – LB – TX (LSU)
14. Caleb Kelly – LB – CA
16. Tre Lamar – LB – GA (Clemson)
19. Ed Oliver – DT – TX (Houston)
20. Terrell Hall – DE – DC
23. Isaac Nauta – TE – FL (Georgia)
24. Jonah Williams – OT – CA (Alabama)
25. Marlon Davidson – DE – AL (Auburn)
26. Lyndell Wilson – LB – AL
27. Antonneous Clayton – DE – GA (Florida)
28. Curtis Robinson – LB – TX (Stanford)
31. Daelin Hayes – LB – MI (Notre Dame)
4-stars:
34. Malik Henry – QB – CA (Florida State)
35. Nate Craig-Myers – WR – FL
37. Jarrett Guarantano – QB – NJ (Tennessee)
38. Theo Howard – WR – CA (UCLA)
39. Miles Sanders – RB – PA (Penn State)
40. Byron Murphy – CB – AZ
41. Tommy Kraemer – OT – OH (Notre Dame)
43. Landon Dickerson – OT – NC
46. Devin Asiasi – TE – CA
47. Sam Bruce – WR – FL (Miami)
49. Kaden Smith – TE – TX (Stanford)
51. Nigel Knott – CB – MS
52. Devin Duvernay – WR – TX (Baylor)
54. K.J. Costello – QB – CA (Stanford)
55. Josh King – DE – IL (Michigan State)
56. Elijah Stove – WR – FL (Auburn)
60. Ben Bredeson – OT – WI (Michigan)
61. Donnie Corley – WR – MI (Michigan State)
63. Brandon Bowen – DE – TX (Baylor)
64. Terrance Davis – OG – MD (Maryland)
65. Brian Burns – DE – FL
67. Scott Bracey – WR – VA (Duke)
68. Kellen Diesch – OT – TX (Texas A&M)
71. Jake Hausmann – TE – OH (Ohio State)
72. Naseir Upshur – TE – PA (Florida State)
74. Shaquille Quarterman – LB – FL (Miami)
76. Lamar Jackson – S – CA
79. Marquill Osborne – CB – NC (Tennessee)
81. David Long, Jr. – CB – CA
84. Deontay Anderson – S – TX
87. Michael Menet – OT – PA (Penn State)
91. Binjimen Victor – WR – FL (Ohio State)
96. Austin Mack – WR – IN (Ohio State)
97. Brandon Jones – S – TX
99. Michael Jordan – OT – MI (Ohio State)
100. Dwayne Haskins, Jr. – QB – MD (Maryland)
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People are going a little crazy with the class ranking right now. The fact that we have 1 guy in the top 100 (and only 3 even if thing close well with Gary and Long) should tell you all you need to know about the chances of Michigan finishing with the #1 class in the country.
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I don’t think Michigan will end up #1, but there is/was reason for optimism. Rashan Gary would obviously be a big boost, as would David Long and Lavert Hill. Then if you think Harbaugh can pull off a surprise big commitment (Terrance Davis, Mecole Hardman, Caleb Kelly, etc.), you’re right in the thick of things. I’m not saying I think those things will happen, but Michigan is in striking distance. If they maintained that lead for Davis, kept recruiting Kelly, etc., a #1 class was possible. However, by this point we’ve known for at least a couple weeks that a couple of those guys would end up elsewhere.
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It’s recruiting – there’s always reason for optimism.
I don’t think it’s realistic to think about a #1 class. Top 5 is possible, but I’m not sure it’s particularly likely either. Top 10 looks in play assuming they close with the rumored recruits and don’t lose any big fish.
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Rivals obviously thinks K Walker might not be all that good of a running back…
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Interesting that there are a few players the staff decided not to pursue or push hard for in the top 100. What do you think of Michael Jordan? Didn’t seem like Michigan went that hard after him.
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They offered. I don’t know that it had anything to do with not being pursued.
For whatever reasons, Michigan has done pretty badly in in-state recruiting over the last 4 years. By my count they’ve landed on 3 out of 10 elite in-state kids in that time frame and the year before they lost the top 2 kids too (Burbridge and Obrein). They did get Richardson, RJS, and Ross and they’ve landed a lot of 4-star type kids like Funchess, Ojemudia, Lewis, etc. But the elite guys…have been going elsewhere more often than not.
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They’ve done poorly because they have had far less stable and successful programs than the other two top 15 programs in the region. When Hoke was doing well they cleaned up instate and if Harbaugh prioritizes the top instate guys I can see it going back to that. You will always have 1 or 2 who want to blaze their own path or grew up a fan of MSU or ND but the 2012 and 2013 classes are what it could look like going forward if Harbaugh can deliver a great 2016 and beyond.
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When was the last time Michigan really “cleaned up” in state? They got 3 of the top 5 guys when they landed Richardson, Ross, and RJS in 2012 but none of them really panned out as difference-makers and the top 2 escaped (O’Brien and Burbridge).
In 2011, the top 3 recruits (Thomas, Arnett, Zettel went elsewhere).
In 2013, Michigan got a lot of guys but it was a down year for talent in the state and none of them, even Jourdan Lewis were recruits Michigan had to fend off OSU, Notre Dame, and USC for except for Steve Elmer who went to ND. They got some 4-star like Hill (plucked from Iowa), Dawson, Lewis (only other offer was Toledo) and Morris (busto) but this is hardly “cleaning up”.
In 2014, Michigan only got 1 of the top 5 recruits (Drake Harris, who decommitted from MSU)
Rodriguez got criticized for in-state recruiting but he landed Gardner, Campbell – arguably the top guys in both of his recruiting classes. Hoke let the vast majority of elite in-state recruits flee and Harbaugh is repeating that trend in 2015 and 2016. 2015 wasn’t a big deal because it was a terrible year for in-state talent, but 2016 is very strong and 2017 looks to be as well.
I do agree that the lack of stability and some bad years on the field combined with success at MSU and OSU have been huge factors in this but I really hope it turns around in 2017 and we go back to getting most of the guys we want in state on a consistent basis.
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You are being selective with your data on 2012 and 2013 to make your case. Using 247 composite:
2012: They got 4 of the top 5, and 8 of the top 12. There was talk at the time that they didn’t take Burbridge due to qualifying issues but otherwise he would likely have been a Wolverine.
2013: 3 of the top 5, 7 of the top 13 (and never offered or pursued several in that top 13)
As I said, there’s always a few who choose ND or MSU but overall they mostly got who they wanted those years. Once Meyer did well at OSU and Michigan struggled, the wheels came off. Until the recent rankings update(Corley jumped Onwenu), Michigan was set to have the top instate recruit 3 of the last 4 years.
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I was using Rivals and looking at players who are elite (top 100 type kids and/or offers from USC/Alabama/Ohio State/Notre Dame blue-blood programs).
The 8th to 12th ranked kids in the state – they aren’t national recruits and I don’t really care if we get those type of kids from in-state or from Ohio or from Saskatoon. It’s not “getting who you want” if you’re competing with MSU and Minnesota, it’s “getting who you want” if you’re competing with OSU & Alabama.
Elite in-state prospects by year. Using 247:
2016: Michigan is getting 1 of the top 6. (Hill would make 2)
2015: 1 of 2 (down year)
2014: 1 of 3
2013: 2 of 3 (I have to admit I should include Dawson but Morris never had the offers to back up his ranking – included him anyway)
2012: 3 of 5 (247 has Norfleet over O’Brien but look at their offers)
So OK – yeah – Hoke did do better in ’12 and ’13 than the years since but a lot of elite guys were still leaking out.
Top guy in the state. Looking at offers its hard to argue Cole over Weber in ’15. McDowell clearly was #1 in ’14. In ’13 Elmer was a bigger catch than Dawson from what I recall but the ranks put Dawson ahead. The biggest recruit was never Shane Morris. But ’12 is the only year that I think Michigan can argue it landed the biggest fish.
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I think Michigan went after Michael Jordan pretty hard early. Then he made his preference for Ohio State be well known. Jordan is a pretty quiet kid, and my guess is that he probably shut down communication with other coaches – didn’t answer messages, asked them not to call, etc. Also, he signed his financial aid agreement with OSU back in November or December, so he didn’t leave much doubt about whether he was fully committed or not.
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Does signing financial aid papers matter? Didn’t Hill do that at PSU already and yet everyone thinks he’s coming to MSU or UM…
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Well, it matters if you also are planning to enroll early at that particular school. Jordan signed them ASAP and enrolled at OSU already.
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