Tag: 2011 Recruiting

Keith Heitzman, Wolverine

Keith Heitzman thinks helmets are unnecessary

Keith Heitzman, a tight end/defensive end from Hilliard, OH, committed to Michigan on Saturday.  A 3-star prospect to all three major recruiting services, Heitzman is a 6’3″, 237-pound prospect.  Previously committed to the Vanderbilt Commodores, Heitzman switched his commitment after being offered by Brady Hoke’s staff on Friday.  He also holds offers from Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Marshall, Miami (OH), Minnesota, and Toledo.

Heitzman played both ways as a high schooler.  According to him, his only discussions with Michigan coaches have been with defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and linebackers coach Mark Smith.  I do expect Michigan to get a tight end in the Class of 2011, so it’s unclear at this point what position Heitzman is destined to play.

As for defense, Heitzman finished his junior year with 60 tackles and 13 sacks.  To cap his career, he was named the defensive player of the year for the Central Division District I as a senior.

I’m not extremely impressed with Heitzman’s film, but as I said upon the commitment of Tamani Carter, Michigan has scholarships to give and might as well use them.  Heitzman has some physical skills, including a willingness to hit and some pretty quick feet.  But his footwork as a blocker and a defensive end are suspect.  He gets by on having superior athleticism and size, but those advantages will disappear somewhat at the next level. 

Regardless of what position Heitzman plays, he’ll likely redshirt.  Tight end is manned adequately by senior Kevin Koger, whose backup will be redshirt junior Brandon Moore.  Unless there’s an injury, Michigan won’t need a freshman’s services.  Defensively, Michigan has a fair number of options at end, all of whom have superior size and equal athleticism.  Even if the Wolverines suffer an injury or two at DE, Heitzman should rest easily on the sideline for a year or two.

TTB Rating: 63

2011 Offer Board Update

Ohio linebacker Antonio Poole

Commitments, offers, and new are coming fast and furious now.  The 2011 Offer Board has been updated:

Christian Westerman (OT) changed his commitment from Texas to Auburn.

Added Keith Heitzman (DE).

Added Antonio Poole (ILB).

Sheldon Royster (FS) committed to South Carolina.

Added Tamani Carter (CB) who committed to Michigan.

Added Max Issake (DE) who is committed to Pitt.

Added Leilon Willingham (ILB).

Jon Lewis (DT) changed his commitment from Texas Tech to TCU.

Added Chris Barnett (TE).

Woodson Greer (OLB) committed to Colorado.

Tamani Carter, Wolverine

Cornerback Tamani Carter (#3) digs pink.  And maize and blue.

Tamani Carter, a 6’0″, 175 lb. cornerback from Pickerington Central (Ohio) committed to Michigan on Wednesday.  He was offered a scholarship by new coach Brady Hoke on Sunday night and took a few days to mull it over, but ultimately decided to switch his commitment from Minnesota to Michigan.  And really, who wouldn’t rather be a Wolverine than a Gopher?

Carter is a 3-star to Scout and Rivals, and a 2-star to ESPN.  He had offers from Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, and Stanford, as well as a few others.  Carter’s Rivals profile also lists a bench max of 295, a 35-inch vertical jump, and a 4.48 forty yard dash.

Prior to Carter’s commitment, Michigan had only used 10 of its approximately 20 scholarships available for the Class of 2011.  Many fans and some analysts think that if Michigan can’t get elite prospects to fill out this recruiting class, then they should bank those unused scholarships for the next recruiting cycle.  I disagree with that theory.  As of now, approximately 16 players should be graduating after the 2011 season, leaving at least 16 scholarships open for next year.  More likely, that number will swell to 20 or so, which is a decent sized class.  This “banking scholarships” thing only really makes sense if next year’s class would be a very small number, say 10 or 12; that’s not the case.

Therefore, I’m not that concerned with Michigan using a scholarship on Carter.  Including Class of 2011 additions to the roster, Michigan could have nine cornerbacks on the roster.  I expect that at least one of those nine will move to safety, so the numbers are fluid.  The ultimate goal is to get talented players on the roster, and I’d rather Michigan use a scholarship on a guy like Carter than just handing it to a walk-on whose maximum contribution might be running down the field on kickoff coverage a few times.

That being said, nothing about Carter really stands out on film. He has decent size (unlike many cornerbacks Rich Rodriguez recruited), he has decent speed, he’s not afraid of contact, etc.  It’s not a wasted scholarship.  At the same time, I don’t see the suddenness and change of direction that I’d like to see from a cornerback.  This is not an “elite” player, but Michigan can’t exactly hold out for elite players when the class has ten guys and less than two weeks until National Signing Day.  I would like Carter more if he were going to be playing in a Cover 2 defense and sitting in the flat most of the day, but that’s not what I’m expecting from new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison.

At this point, Michigan needs to secure the commitments of a few linemen (Jake Fisher, Tony Posada, Chris Bryant, and maybe a fifth guy), a quarterback, a tight end, a linebacker, a safety, and hopefully a couple defensive linemen.  That would bring the class to approximately 19.  I’m hopeful that Michigan can also convince a highly touted cornerback like Stefan McClure or Floyd Raven to join the squad.  Michigan lacks a true free safety outside of Ray Vinopal, in my opinion, and while McClure is purely a corner, I think Raven has the instincts, speed, and tackling ability to be an outstanding free safety. 

TTB Rating: 62

Final Recruiting Rankings



Justice Hayes (Rivals #85, Scout #131) is Michigan’s highest-ranked recruit

 Players offered by Michigan in the final Rivals 250 (the top 26 were given 5-star rankings, the rest 4-stars):

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE
2. Curtis Grant, LB
3. George Farmer, WR
4. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT
6. La’El Collins, OT
7. Ha’sean Clinton-Dix, S
8. Karlos Williams, S
9. Ray Drew, DE
11. James Wilder, Jr., RB
15. Sammy Watkins, WR
18. Jarvis Landry, WR
19. Demetrius Hart, RB
20. Kris Frost, LB
25. Mike Bellamy, RB

27. Christian Westerman, OT
29. Timmy Jernigan, DT
34. Braxton Miller, QB
36. Marqise Lee, S
40. Mike Blakely, RB
41. Michael Bennett, DT
44. Anthony Chickillo, DE
45. Lamar Dawson, LB
55. Lawrence Thomas, LB
56. Jay Rome, TE
58. Savon Huggins, RB
64. Aundrey Walker, OG
65. Anthony Zettel, DE
66. Brandon Shell, OT
67. Tyler Moore, OG
70. Matt Hegarty, OT
72. Brett Hundley, QB
77. Bobby Hart, OG
80. Delvon Simmons, DT
83. Charone Peake, WR
84. DeAnthony Arnett, WR
85. Justice Hayes, RB
88. Christian LeMay, QB
89. Kiehl Frazier, QB
90. Gregory Robinson, OT
92. Demetrious Nicholson, CB
97. Trey DePriest, LB
100. Charles Jackson, CB
102. Doran Grant, CB
107. Wayne Lyons, S
109. Quan Bray, RB
110. Cyrus Hobbi, OG
114. Andre Yruretagoyena, OT
117. Nick Waisome, CB
118. Stefan McClure, CB
127. Miles Shuler, WR
129. Andrew Buie, RB
132. Ray Hamilton, TE
133. Blake Countess, CB
136. A.J. Johnson, LB
139. Giorgio Newberry, DE
151. Floyd Raven, CB
153. Garrett Greenlea, OT
155. Brian Miller, TE
158. Deion Barnes, DE
161. Josh Turner, CB
162. Brandon Fulse, TE
165. Sheroid Evans, S
166. Kiaro Holts, OG
167. Steve Miller, DE
171. Travis Hughes, LB
175. Kyshoen Jarrett, CB
178. Davaris Daniels, CB
179. Jordan Walsh, OG
181. Avery Walls, S
189. Sheldon Royster, S
190. Devin Lucien, WR
191. Darius Jennings, WR
192. Nick Vannett, TE
195. Mickey Johnson, DT
199. Tre Mason, RB
201. Brennen Beyer, LB/DE
203. Chris Bryant, OG
213. Remound Wright, RB
214. Dondi Kirby, S
225. Austin Traylor, TE
234. Bill Belton, RB
241. Shawn Oakman, DE
245. Josue Matias, OG
247. Marquise Williams, QB

Players offered by Michigan in the final Scout 300 (the top 50 were given 5-star rankings, the rest 4-stars):

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE
2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT
6. Trey DePriest, LB
7. Ha’sean Clinton-Dix, S
8. Karlos Williams, S
11. La’El Collins, OT
13. Anthony Chickillo, DE
15. Delvon Simmons, DT
17. Christian Westerman, OT
18. Kiaro Holts, OG
19. Curtis Grant, LB
23. Savon Huggins, RB
24. Bobby Hart, OG
27. George Farmer, WR
29. Jarvis Landry, WR
30. Timmy Jernigan, DT
33. Ray Drew, DE
35. Brandon Shell, OT
36. Braxton Miller, QB
37. Lawrence Thomas, LB
39. Brett Hundley, QB
41. Sammy Watkins, WR
42. Steve Miller, DE
47. James Wilder, Jr., RB
48. Jalen Grimble, DE

51. Charles Jackson, CB
52. Garrett Greenlea, OT
57. Michael Bennett, DT
59. Travis Hughes, LB
60. Mike Bellamy, RB
61. Demetrious Nicholson, CB
63. Demetrius Hart, RB
64. DeAnthony Arnett, WR
66. Jordan Walsh, OG
68. Jay Rome, TE
69. Stefan McClure, CB
70. Doran Grant, CB
73. Charone Peake, WR
76. Brennen Beyer, DE/OLB
78. Marqise Lee, S
81. Ryan Shazier, LB
85. Bill Belton, WR
86. Mike Blakely, RB
88. Josh Turner, CB
92. Nick Waisome, CB
101. Christian LeMay, QB
105. Matt Hegarty, OT
112. Andre Yruretagoyena, OT
115. Tyler Moore, OG
116. Cyrus Hobbi, OG
121. Miles Shuler, WR
129. Lamar Dawson, LB
131. Justice Hayes, RB
132. Damiere Byrd, WR
133. Gregory Robinson, OG
143. Corey Marshall, DE
144. Anthony Zettel, DE
146. Giorgio Newberry, DE
149. Sheldon Royster, S
151. Valdez Showers, CB
153. Wayne Lyons, S
154. Quan Bray, RB
161. DaVaris Daniels, WR
165. Darian Cooper, DT
169. Ron Tanner, S
178. Remound Wright, RB
182. Kyshoen Jarrett, CB
183. Ryan Kelly, OC
187. Devin Smith, WR
193. Sheroid Evans, S
195. Shawn Oakman, DE
196. Jabriel Washington, CB
200. Javares McRoy, WR
204. Aundrey Walker, OG
210. JaJuan Story, WR
213. Blake Countess, CB
216. Mickey Johnson, DT
217. Jerrard Randall, QB
222. Quinta Funderburk, WR
226. Kellen Jones, LB
241. Brandon Phelps, CB
248. Jake Fisher, OT
250. Dexter Staley, LB
253. A.J. Johnson, LB
254. Everett Golson, QB
263. Marquise Williams, QB
268. Kris Frost, LB
275. Brandon Fulse, TE
279. Darius Jennings, WR
282. Tre Mason, RB
283. Devin Lucien, WR
290. Josue Matias, OT
291. Nick Vannett, TE
292. Zach DeBell, OT

2011 Offer Board Update

Vista, CA cornerback Stefan McClure (#21)

The 2011 Offer Board has been updated:

Added Stefan McClure (CB).

Added Floyd Raven (CB).

Added Trevarris Saulsberry (DT) who is committed to Tennessee.

Added Jordan Williams (DE) who is committed to Tennessee.

Dallas Crawford (CB) decommitted from Michigan.

Jake Fisher (OT) decommitted from Michigan.

Added Matt Wile (K).

Matt Goudis (K) changed his commitment from Michigan to Miami.

Jack Tabb (TE) committed to North Carolina.