Tag: 2012 Recruiting

New Rivals 100 Released

Kyle Kalis (#67 above) got his fifth star from Rivals

The new Rivals 100 has been released.  A few Michigan commits have seen their rankings change from the last re-ranking:

– Kyle Kalis got his fifth star and moves from #22 to #21 overall

– Erik Magnuson drops from #44 to #49 overall

– Ondre Pipkins drops from #53 to #59 overall

– Royce Jenkins-Stone drops from #97 to out of the top 100

Below is a list of Michigan offerees who appear on the list:

5-stars:
1. Dorial Green-Beckham – WR – Missouri
2. Eddie Goldman – DT – Washington, DC
3. D.J. Humphries – OT – North Carolina (Florida)
4. Mario Edwards – DE – Texas (Florida State)
5. Darius Hamilton – DE – New Jersey
7. Shaq Thompson – S – California
8. Stefon Diggs – WR – Maryland
9. Noah Spence – DE – Pennsylvania
11. John Theus – OT – Florida (Georgia)
12. Nelson Agholor – WR – Florida
14. Andrus Peat – OT – Arizona
17. Ellis McCarthy – DT – California
18. Gunner Kiel – QB – Indiana
21. Kyle Kalis – OT – Ohio (Michigan)
22. Kyle Murphy – OT – California
25. Jordan Simmons – OG – California (USC)
27. Aziz Shittu – DT – California

4-stars:
28. Joshua Garnett – OG – Washington
29. Arik Armstead – DE – California
31. Keith Marshall – RB – North Carolina
34. Devin Fuller – ATH – New Jersey
36. Adolphus Washington – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
40. Zach Banner – OT – Washington
44. Eli Harold – DE – Virginia (Virginia)
47. Durron Neal – WR – Missouri (Oklahoma)
49. Erik Magnuson – OT – California (Michigan)
51. Marcus Maye – S – Florida (Florida)
52. Tommy Schutt – DT – Illinois (Penn State)
53. D.J. Foster – ATH – Arizona
55. Jonathan Taylor – DT – Georgia (Georgia)
56. Kent Taylor – TE – Florida (Florida)
57. Yuri Wright – CB – New Jersey
58. Jabari Ruffin – LB – California (USC)
59. Ondre Pipkins – DT – Missouri (Michigan)
60. Avery Young – OT – Florida
61. Geno Smith – CB – Georgia (Alabama)
63. Zach Kline – QB – California (Cal)
64. Kendall Sanders – ATH – Texas (Oklahoma State)
65. Jordan Jenkins – DE – Georgia
68. Deon Bush – CB – Florida
72. Ronald Darby – CB – Maryland (Notre Dame)
73. Bryce Treggs – WR – California (California)
74. Tyriq McCord – DE – Florida
75. Avery Johnson – WR – Florida (LSU)
77. Dominique Wheeler – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
78. JaQuay Williams – WR – Georgia (Auburn)
79. Chris Muller – OT – Pennsylvania (Rutgers)
81. Se’von Pittman – DE – Ohio (Michigan State)
82. Tee Shepard – CB – California (Notre Dame)
85. Brian Poole – CB – Florida (Florida)
87. Joey O’Connor – OT – Colorado
89. Raphael Kirby – LB – Georgia (Miami)
92. Vince Biegel – LB – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
97. Taylor McNamara – TE – California
98. Derrick Woods – WR – California
100. Aaron Burbridge – WR – Michigan (Michigan State)

Additional Visitors for Ohio State Game

DeVeon Smith

Last week I posted the expected visitors for the Ohio State game.  In addition, the following recruits showed up in Ann Arbor on Saturday:

Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell Academy OL Blake Bars: Bars will sign with Michigan in February.

Southfield (MI) Southfield WR Brandon Bean: Bean is a 6’2″, 200 lb. prospect for 2013.  He attends the same high school as class of 2012 tight end Ron Thompson, whom Michigan offered early in the recruiting cycle.

Owensboro (KY) Apollo OT Hunter Bivin: Bivin is a 6’7″, 288 lb. prospect for 2013.  Apollo is a rival of Madisonville (KY) North Hopkins, where 2012 commit Jeremy Clark played.  Bivin’s only current offer is from Kentucky.

Mason (MI) Mason FB/LB Blake Cook: Cook is a 6’3″, 226 lb. prospect for 2012.  He currently has zero FBS offers and could be a walk-on prospect for Michigan.

Warren (OH) Howland ATH Brendan Cope: Cope is a 6’4″, 185 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers, but with that size and a reported 4.45 time in the 40, that will likely change soon.

Lansing (MI) Eastern OL Josh Crim: Crim is a 6’6″, 270 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers.

Cincinnati (OH) Wyoming DT Terry Davis: Davis is a 6’4″, 270 lb. prospect who’s currently committed to North Carolina State.  He attends the alma mater of Michigan defensive end Jibreel Black.  Davis also has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, and South Florida, among others.

Lake Forest (IL) Lake Forest WR Bo Dever: Dever is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect who has already committed to walk on at Michigan in 2012.

Cincinnati (OH) Moeller OG Alex Gall: Gall is a 6’5″, 295 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers.

Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary WR Jordan Hargrove: Hargrove is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect for 2013.

Traverse City (MI) West OG Connor Hayes: Hayes is a 6’3″, 260 lb. prospect for 2014.

Muskegon (MI) Muskegon RB Juwan Lewis: Lewis is a 5’11”, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He was hoping for a Michigan offer, but the commitment from Drake Johnson and the potential for Bri’onte Dunn to commit have presumably squashed most of that hope.

Canton (OH) Glenoak OG Steve Mathie: Mathie is a 6’5″, 270 lb. prospect for 2013.  He already holds an offer from UCLA.

Youngstown (OH) Cardinal Mooney SS Marcus McWilson: McWilson is a 6’0″, 195 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers, but that will likely change in the coming months.  He attends the alma mater of former Michigan safety Ray Vinopal.

Saline (MI) Saline LS Taybor Pepper: Pepper is a 6’5″, 180 lb. prospect who one “expert” considers to be the #6 high school long snapper in the country.  Michigan’s starting long snapper is Tom Pomarico, who graduates after this season.  Pepper may walk on in Ann Arbor and battle with starting short snapper Jareth Glanda for snapping duties.

Kansas City (MO) Park Hill DT Ondre Pipkins: Pipkins will sign with Michigan in February.

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice LB Jon Reschke: Reschke is a 6’2″, 210 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently holds offers from Michigan State and Toledo; the Spartans are considered to be the leader, with Notre Dame somewhere close to the front, too.

Holland (MI) Holland LB Nathan Ricketts: Ricketts is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan.

Warren (OH) Howland RB DeVeon Smith: Smith is a 5’11”, 215 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers, but he’s the younger brother of former Wisconsin running back Lance Smith (who was booted from the Badgers a few seasons ago because of a domestic violence charge).

Holland (MI) Holland ATH Corey Willis: Willis is a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect for 2013.  He could play wide receiver or cornerback in college, but he currently has zero FBS offers.

Visitors for the Ohio State Game

Shane Morris, Bri’onte Dunn, and Dymonte Thomas were in attendance for last week’s victory against Nebraska and will be in town again for the Ohio State game. (image via Twitter)

Fenton (MI) Fenton P Kenny Allen: A preferred walk-on who’s committed to Michigan.

Terre Haute (IN) North Vigo TE Calvin Blank: Blank is a 6’4″, 226 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds an offer from Toledo.

Pickerington (OH) North DE Jake Butt: Butt is a 6’6″, 220 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue, and UCLA.

St. Louis (MI) Ladue Horton Watkins WR Jehu Chesson: Chesson is a 6’3″, 182-pounder who holds an offer from Michigan, along with several other BCS schools.

West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic WR Amara Darboh: Darboh is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect who will be taking his official visit to Ann Arbor this weekend.  It has long been rumored that Darboh would probably commit to Michigan shortly after his official visit, so he’s on commitment watch.

Chicago (IL) Simeon OT Jordan Diamond: Diamond is a 6’6″, 289 lb. prospect with an impressive offer list.  His teammate Chris Bryant is a true freshman guard for the Wolverines, and Michigan held an early lead before Diamond slowed down his recruitment and visited other schools.  At this point there is no clear leader.

Canton (OH) Glenoak RB Bri’onte Dunn: Dunn is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect who’s current committed to Ohio State.  The potential sanctions in Columbus might be problematic for Dunn, who would fit in well in a power running offense.  The rumor mill suggests that the hiring of Urban Meyer would be a negative for Dunn, since Meyer doesn’t have much of a track record for developing backs like him.

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison TE Devin Funchess: Funchess is committed to Michigan.

Sylvania (OH) Southview S Allen Gant: Gant is committed to Michigan.

Puyallup (WA) Puyallup OG Joshua Garnett: Garnett is a 6’5″, 275 lb. prospect with offers from all over the country.  He is friendly with Michigan commit Erik Magnuson, who has been working on Garnett to get him to Ann Arbor.

Hudson (OH) Hudson LB Ben Gedeon: Gedeon is a 6’2″, 215 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Tennessee.

Birmingham (MI) Seaholm OT Dan Gibbs: Gibbs is a 6’7″, 320 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State and Eastern Michigan.

Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer RB Drake Johnson: Johnson is committed to Michigan.

Shaker Heights (OH) Shake Heights WR/TE De’Niro Laster: Laster is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Akron, Bowling Green, and Temple.

Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon OT Erik Magnuson: Magnuson is committed to Michigan.

Warren (MI) De La Salle QB Shane Morris: Morris is committed to Michigan for the class of 2013.

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison DE Mario Ojemudia: Ojemudia is committed to Michigan.

Austintown (OH) Fitch DE Billy Price: Price is a 6’4″, 280 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, UCLA, and West Virginia, among others.

Cincinnati (OH) Oak Hills OG Caleb Stacey: Stacey is committed to Michigan.

Crete (IL) Crete-Monet CB Anthony Standifer: Standifer is committed to Michigan.

Alliance (OH) Marlington S Dymonte Thomas: Thomas is committed to Michigan for the class of 2013.

Toledo (OH) Central Catholic S Jayme Thompson: Thompson is a 6’2″, 184 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Bowling Green, Buffalo, and Temple.

Crete (IL) Crete-Monee WR LaQuon Treadwell: Treadwell is a 6’3″, 183 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Michigan and Notre Dame.

Peoria (IL) Manual OT Logan Tuley-Tillman: Tuley-Tillman is a 6’7″, 280 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Illinois and Indiana.

Tyrone (GA) Sandy Creek CB Shaq Wiggins: Wiggins is a 5’10”, 160 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Cincinnati, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Wake Forest, among others.

Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore TE A.J. Williams: Williams is committed to Michigan.

*Attendees are subject to change.

Pharaoh Brown, ex-Wolverine

Pharaoh Brown

So much for making it through a recruiting cycle without losing a commitment.  Lyndhurst (OH) Brush TE/DE Pharaoh Brown (commitment post here) will no longer be attending Michigan next year.  The 6’7″, 220 lb. tight end seemed slightly disgruntled and headstrong during a late-season interview in which he said that he was starting to enjoy playing offense and that he might have to talk with Michigan’s coaches about switching from defense to offense.  I started to wonder about his attitude toward Michigan when I saw that interview.  Sometimes kids say things like that and laugh; Brown wasn’t laughing.

Brown talked to Michigan’s coaches about playing on the offensive side of the ball, and they allowed him to flip to tight end.  But apparently that wasn’t good enough.  Brown took an official visit to Oregon this past weekend and, by all accounts, failed to mention it to U of M’s coaching staff.  The reason?  It’s a definite no-no to Brady Hoke and his staff.  Fellow class of 2012 player Terry Richardson had plans to visit elsewhere this fall, but he was talked out of it also.  Hoke believes that if a player commits to a school, he shouldn’t visit elsewhere.  And if he does, then he’s risking his chance to play for the Wolverines.

I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of Hoke’s tactics here.  While I understand that he only wants players who strongly want to attend Michigan, I also believe that players should have the opportunity to explore their options.  Especially when the coaching staff is trying to get so many commits early in the recruiting cycle (for example, there are two already in the fold for February 2013), they ought to give kids a little leeway.

This is not to say that Brown should still be considered a commit by Hoke.  But in my opinion, Hoke should say, “Okay, you’re clearly not committed to Michigan at this time.  Go explore your options and I hope you sign with us in February, but in the meantime, I’m not going to hold your spot and it might not be here if or when you want it.”  Of course, it’s entirely possible that Hoke sent that message to Brown, but the prevailing thought seems to be that Michigan will no longer be recruiting Brown.

Brown is a 4-star prospect to Rivals and 247 Sports, and a 3-star to both ESPN and Scout.  While it’s disappointing to lose someone with his raw talent and skill level, his loss probably won’t be an extremely damaging blow to this recruiting class.  Michigan has two other tight ends in this class (Devin Funchess, A.J. Williams) and four defensive ends (Matt Godin, Mario Ojemudia, Tom Strobel, Chris Wormley).  Meanwhile, the Wolverines have needs at defensive tackle, offensive line, wide receiver, running back, and quarterback.  With the recruiting class down from 24 to 23, this leaves five open slots to pursue guys who might have been squeezed out of the class by pure numbers, such as perhaps Jordan Diamond or Yuri Wright.  There’s also the possibility that Michigan will try to pursue San Diego (CA) Westview TE Taylor McNamara, who recently re-opened his recruitment; however, considering Michigan was content with two tight ends prior to Brown’s flip from defense to offense, I’m assuming they won’t go hard after another tight end.

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

Recruit Tracker: The Remaining Few

Royce Jenkins-Stone carries the ball against Eisenhower (image via here)