Tag: 2012 Recruiting

Anthony Standifer, ex-Wolverine

2013 prospect LaQuon Treadwell and 2012 prospect Anthony Standifer

Back at the beginning of June, Crete (IL) Crete-Monee cornerback Anthony Standifer committed to Michigan.  At the time the recruiting services hadn’t really picked up on him yet, despite the fact that he had offers from decent schools like Iowa, Michigan, and Notre Dame.  As of this morning, Standifer is a 3-star to all four major recruiting services, and anywhere from the #28 to #46 cornerback.

He remained committed for the past several months and seemed strongly interested in coming to Ann Arbor, but a few days ago, it all started to fall apart.  Michigan and Standifer have made a mutual decision to part ways, although rumors suggest that it was due to some academic shortcomings on Standifer’s part.

To fill the open spot at cornerback, Michigan has recently re-established contact with West Roxbury (MA) Catholic Memorial’s Armani Reeves and continued to pursue Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep’s Yuri Wright.  Reeves is currently committed to Penn State but is wary of the coaching situation.  Wright has often said that Michigan is his dream school, but he has yet to visit.

It’s unclear where Standifer will end up playing ball, but there is another player who factors into the situation: 2013 wide receiver LaQuon Treadwell.  Treadwell is Standifer’s teammate and seemed like he would commit to Michigan at some point.  Without Standifer in Ann Arbor, that might make Treadwell’s commitment less likely.  While he has stated that the news about Standifer won’t affect his recruitment, I have to wonder if that will hold true or not.  Treadwell has picked up offers from Indiana, Nebraska, and Notre Dame to go along with his Michigan offer.

For other news on former Wolverines and ex-commitments, check out the Ex-Wolverine Encyclopedia.

Mailbag: How do you want the class to finish?

Stefon Diggs is the top overall player left on Michigan’s radar

I am an avid reader of your blog and also enjoy most of your comments on MGoBlog. I was hoping you could comment on your site about how you would like to see the recruiting class finish up. It is commonly believed that there are four spots left, and here’s what I’m wondering: 

RB – Being held for Dunn, unlikely to take another RB otherwise. Do you think there’s another candidate? 

OL – There are several OL still high on Michigan (Banner, Diamond, Garnett, etc.) Could you provide your rankings of those players, which you’d want to see in a M uniform the most, and any thoughts about which makes a better fit based on the rest of the roster? 

WR – Now that we have one already in the fold, of the remaining options left who would you most want to see sign with M and why? 

Other – This had hoped to be Yuri Wright, but that hasn’t developed much. Who else would you consider here? A TE? Thanks for your insight! 

AC1997

Thanks for the e-mail, AC.

Regarding running backs, I don’t think there are any other candidates right now.  Drake Johnson is a bit of an insurance policy in case Canton (OH) Glenoak’s Bri’onte Dunn doesn’t come over to the good side, but I don’t know that there’s a pressing need to find an elite running back in this class.  There’s an outside shot that Greg Garmon could come to Michigan, but I don’t foresee that coming to fruition.  Michigan has Fitzgerald Toussaint for another couple years and the coaches seem to like Thomas Rawls, who’s the heir apparent to Toussaint.  I don’t think it would kill Michigan to lose out on Dunn, but they must  get an elite running back in 2013 if that happens.

As for the offensive linemen, here are some thoughts about the linemen still high on Michigan:

1. Puyallup (WA) Puyallup OG Joshua Garnett is the most athletic and most versatile lineman on the board.  His technique isn’t quite as solid as that of Michigan commit Kyle Kalis, but Garnett is the better athlete. Garnett could play tackle as well, but putting Kalis at strongside guard and having Garnett as the pulling guard could be a seriously powerful combination.  Aside from Stefon Diggs, Garnett is probably the best player left on Michigan’s board.
2. Lakewood (WA) Lakes OT Zach Banner is a potentially dynamic offensive tackle.  He’s not the best prospect, but a 6’9″ guy with his athleticism is extremely intriguing.  His bloodlines are a positive, too (his father is former NFL offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy).  With those long arms, Banner could be an ideal blind-side protector.  I think 2012 commit Blake Bars is a future offensive guard, so Michigan could use another tackle in this class.
3. Chicago (IL) Simeon OT Jordan Diamond is a notch down from the other two prospects, in my opinion.  He has decent size, decent athleticism, and decent technique, but he doesn’t have the All-American potential of the above two players.
4. Lakeland (FL) Lakeland OT Evan Goodman has popped up on Michigan’s radar recently.  It’s unclear whether the Wolverines have offered Goodman, although he has plenty of other good offers.  He’s currently committed to Arizona State, but the coaching uncertainty has caused him to reconsider.  I’m not a huge fan of Goodman.  He’s certainly athletic – probably the second-most athletic kid in this grouping – but he lacks a punch and is a real project.  His technique will have to be overhauled completely before he can play at the next level, and even then, I’m not sure he has the requisite aggression to be successful.

Amara Darboh, Wolverine

Amara Darboh

West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic wide receiver Amara Darboh committed to Michigan on Sunday.  He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, among others.

Darboh is 6’2″ and 190 lbs. with a 4.42-second time in the forty yard dash and a 4.28-second time in the 20-yard shuttle.  As a senior he played in only seven games due to a shoulder injury, but he grabbed 48 passes for 765 yards and 11 touchdowns.  As a junior in 2010, Darboh had 49 receptions for 646 yards and 6 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 78 rating, #77 WR
Rivals: 4-star, #31 WR, #208 overall
Scout: 4-star, #33 WR, #206 overall
24/7 Sports: 4-star, 93 rating, #19 WR, #191 overall

Darboh visited unofficially back in the summer, but his official visit happened during Michigan’s 40-34 victory over Ohio State last week.  There was a time when Notre Dame looked to be the leader for his services, but he was reportedly turned off by some of head coach Brian Kelly’s antics early in the season when Kelly was seen blowing up on the sidelines.  (In case you’re counting, that’s at least two Michigan recruits who didn’t appreciate Kelly’s attitude; freshman running back Justice Hayes was the other.)

Darboh is a solid but unspectacular wide receiver prospect.  He has good size, which should serve him well in the Big Ten and in Al Borges’s pro-style offense.  He shows the ability to high point the ball and catch passes away from his body.  He shows some elusiveness and has above average speed, but viewers of his highlights should remember that he plays in the state of Iowa for a Catholic school with an enrollment of roughly 1,300.  The competition level in these highlights is somewhat questionable.  Darboh also looks like a willing and able blocker who should be helpful in the running game.

There are few glaring faults in Darboh’s game, at least not major ones that won’t be coached.  I would like to see him get off the line quicker; he needs to work on his footwork and explosion.  I would also like to see him create more separation on his routes.  He’s not a lazy route runner, but there are times when he could create more of a window for the quarterback to throw.  Once he realizes that college cornerbacks will be quick enough to stay with him, he should get a feel for those nuances.  Darboh also has a tendency to catch the ball with his body whenever possible.  I would like to see him snatch the ball out of the air with more consistency.

Overall, Darboh looks like he should be a productive wide receiver at Michigan.  As long as the Wolverines can field quarterbacks who can distribute the ball to their receivers with consistency, Darboh could very well be a 1,000-yard receiver in a few years.  The closest comparison I see is to Adrian Arrington, who just happens to be the last Iowan to come to Michigan.  Arrington had good size, good speed, and good leaping ability, but his best quality was the skill to make difficult, acrobatic catches.

Darboh is the 24th commitment in the 2012 recruiting class and the first wide receiver.  Michigan is expected to take one more receiver, perhaps coming from the pool of Jordan Payton, Jehu Chesson, and Stefon Diggs.

TTB Rating: 80 (ratings explanation)

Recruiting Update: December 3, 2011

ADDED TO THE BOARD

Pickerington (OH) North DE Jake Butt received an offer from Michigan last week.  Butt is a 6’6″, 220 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He has received several offers just this week and now has a list that includes Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, and UCLA.  Butt moves well and has the frame to grow significantly, and his size indicates a future at weakside defensive end for Michigan.  He attends the same high school as 2011 target Darien Bryant (Vanderbilt) and class of 2006 snowplow operator Justin Boren.

Akron (OH) Firestone WR Kevin Gladney received an offer from Michigan a couple days ago.  Gladney is a 6’3″, 180 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  Michigan is the first school to offer, but he has stated that West Virginia is his favorite school.  Below are some highlights from Gladney’s sophomore season.  He has nice size, good speed, smooth change of direction skills, and the ability to high point the ball.  I would like to see him refine his skills at catching high passes; while he’s willing and able to go up for them, sometimes he gets his body and hands in awkward positions.  Overall, he looks like a solid prospect.

OFF THE BOARD

Weston (FL) Cypress Bay OG Daniel Isidora committed to Miami.  Isidora is a 6’3″, 330 lb. guard who had offers from Illinois, West Virginia, and Wisconson, among others.  He’s a 3-star to both Rivals (#13 OG) and Scout (#49 OG).  Maybe nobody told him that Nevin Shapiro won’t be handing out any more money and strippers.

Athens (TX) Athens ATH Kendall Sanders decommitted from Oklahoma State and flipped to Texas.  The 6’1″, 175 lb. Sanders just opened up his recruitment a few days ago and then suddenly became a Longhorn. This comes a month after saying “I’m 110% committed to Oklahoma State.”  As if the whole “110%” thing weren’t dumb enough already.  Sanders is a 4-star to both Rivals (#4 ATH, #64 overall) and Scout (#22 WR).

New Rivals 250 Released

Terry Richardson is Rivals’ #217 overall players

Yesterday Rivals released the top 100 prospects for 2012, which I detailed yesterday afternoon.

Today Rivals released the rest of the Rivals 250.

Notable movement for Michigan commits since the August re-rank:

– Joe Bolden jumped from #184 to #152

– James Ross dropped from #158 to #163

– Royce Jenkins-Stone dropped from #97 to #182

– Terry Richardson dropped from #214 to #217

Here’s a look at Michigan targets from #101 to #250:

105. Dillon Lee – LB – Georgia (Alabama)
106. Cyrus Jones – ATH – Maryland
109. Ifeadi Odenigbo – DE – Ohio
120. Jordan Payton – WR – California
123. Peter Jinkens – LB – Texas (Texas)
125. LaDarrell McNeill – S – Texas (Tennessee)
127. Drae Bowles – WR – Tennessee (Tennessee)
128. Elijah Shumate – S – New Jersey
133. Ty Darlington – C – Florida (Oklahoma)
136. Bri’onte Dunn – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
141. Javonte Magee – DE – Texas
143. Dalvin Tomlinson – DT – Texas
144. Evan Boehm – OG – Missouri
145. Zeke Pike – QB – Kentucky (Auburn)
147. Paul Thurston – OT – Colorado (Nebraska)
152. Joe Bolden – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
153. Dan Voltz – OT – Illinois (Wisconsin)
156. Sean Price – TE – Florida (South Florida)
157. Danny O’Brien – DT – Michigan (Tennessee)
159. Jarron Jones – DT – New York (Notre Dame)
160. Jaleel Johnson – DT – Illinois (Iowa)
161. Jake Rodrigues – QB – California (Oregon)
162. Camren Williams – LB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
163. James Ross – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
165. Devonte Fields – DE – Texas (TCU)
166. Michael Starts – DE – Texas (Texas Tech)
167. Matt Jones – RB – Florida (Florida)
169. Dwayne Stanford – WR – Ohio (Oregon)
172. Deontay McManus – WR – Maryland (West Virginia)
174. Kyle Dodson – OT – Ohio (Wisconsin)
176. Connor Brewer – QB – Arizona (Texas)
182. Royce Jenkins-Stone – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
183. Brock Stadnik – OT – North Carolina (South Carolina)
186. Michael Moore – DE – Maryland (Virginia)
188. Greg McMullen – DE – Ohio (Nebraska)
197. Derek Edinburgh – OT – Louisiana (LSU)
198. Adam Bisnowaty – OT – Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)
202. Ken Ekanem – DE – Virginia
204. Shane Callahan – OT – Colorado (Auburn)
208. Amara Darboh – WR – Iowa
209. Martin Aiken – DE – South Carolina (Clemson)
211. Leonte Carroo – WR – New Jersey (Rutgers)
212. Latroy Pittman – WR – Florida (Florida)
213. Armani Reeves – CB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
215. Taylor Decker – OT – Ohio (Notre Dame)
217. Terry Richardson – CB – Michigan (Michigan)
227. Jody Fuller – WR – North Carolina (South Carolina)
228. Warren Ball – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
232. Troy Hinds – DE – Utah (BYU)
235. Reginald Davis – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
237. I’Tavius Mathers – RB – Tennessee (Mississippi)
239. Alex Kozan – OT – Colorado
242. Sheldon Day – DT – Indiana (Notre Dame)
248. Darius Powe – WR – California
249. Wes Brown – RB – Maryland