Tag: 2012 Recruiting

Recruiting Update: October 19, 2011

California WR Jordan Payton

OFF THE BOARD

This guy was already off the board, but Fairless Hills (PA) Pennsbury OT J.J. Denman flipped his commitment from Penn State to Wisconsin.  The 6’6″, 305 lb. lineman would appear to fit in well at Wisconsin.  Frankly, I can’t think of a single reason for an offensive lineman not to choose to attend Wisconsin right now.  The Badgers have churned out solid offensive linemen over the last several years, including first round picks Joe Thomas (Cleveland Browns) and Gabe Carimi (Chicago Bears); they win all the time and put up all kinds of points; and they get to eat whatever they want.  What’s not to like?

POTENTIAL COMMITMENT

Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian WR Jordan Payton has set his announcement date for next Tuesday, October 25th.  Payton was formerly committed to USC, and has since been rumored to be a Cal or Michigan lean.  Most recent reports have him leaning toward Michigan.  The 6’2″, 199 lb. wideout will be visiting Notre Dame this coming weekend, but the fact that he set his announcement date for immediately following his visit to South Bend suggests that he has already made his decision.  Payton has decent speed, but perhaps more importantly, he knows how to catch the ball and get upfield.  He understands body positioning and body lean and will get every inch that’s available to him.  He probably won’t be a superstar at the next level, but he could be a very good #2 receiver.

ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL ROSTERS

Since the first waves of offers from the new coaching staff were sent out earlier this year, I noticed that Coach Hoke and Co. seemed to be offering elite players in higher quantities.  That observation has been borne out in numerous ways so far, including the Rivals 250, the Scout 300, the 24/7 Top 247, etc.  To add to the mounting list of evidence, I submit more data for the argument that Michigan is targeting higher quality players than they were under Rich Rodriguez:

Last year 25 of the Army All-American Bowl players sported Michigan offers.  While the 2012 game’s rosters have yet to be completed, 50 of the planned participants have offers to play football in Ann Arbor.  Only five of those 50 have committed to Michigan at this point (OG Kyle Kalis, OT Erik Magnuson, LB Royce Jenkins-Stone, LB James Ross, and DT Ondre Pipkins), but if AAB rosters are any indication of elite talent, then Michigan’s going after it in spades.

Aside from the four aforementioned players, Michigan still has a good shot at landing the following participants:

• OT Zach Banner
• WR Jordan Payton
• CB Yuri Wright

Visitors: Michigan at Michigan State

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison WR Gairus Coleman

Even though this weekend’s game is being played in East Lansing, some common recruits will be watching the game that might be keeping an eye on the Wolverines, too.  Here’s a list of some of the recruiting visitors who are planning to be in attendance at today’s in-state showdown:

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison ATH Gairus Coleman (2013) is the current teammate of Michigan commits TE Devin Funchess and DE Mario Ojemudia.  Coleman is a 5’9″, 180 lb. slot receiver/punt returner type who almost certainly would have been pursued by the previous coaching staff.  While the current staff clearly wants bigger wide receivers, Coleman could be offered as a punt returner; it seems like virtually every coaching staff needs that one guy who might not be a prototypical NFL-sized receiver but who can play in the slot and do some things on special teams.  Coleman doesn’t have any offers yet, but I’m sure they’ll be on their way soon.

Jeannette (PA) Jeannette SS Demetrious Cox (2012) doesn’t have an offer from the Wolverines and likely won’t get one due to Michigan’s scholarship situation.  He’s the #14 safety in the country, according to Rivals, and has offers from several solid programs around the country, although the powerhouse programs haven’t offered.  Jeannette is the alma mater of Terrelle Pryor who, if you didn’t know already, is a giant douchebag.  Michigan hasn’t recruited a single Jeannette product since Pryor.

Canton (MI) Canton OG Cameron Dillard (2013) has already visited Michigan a couple different times, and he’s one of those in-state kids angling for offers from U-M and MSU.  He’s a 6’3″, 280 lb. guard with offers from Buffalo and Eastern Michigan so far.  I’m not sure that he leans strongly toward either in-state school, but he seems like a kid who will choose either the Spartans or Wolverines if he’s offered.

Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc ILB/DE Luke Maclean (2013) will be in attendance.  Maclean visited Michigan earlier this season.  He’s a 6’3″, 233 lb. player who looks a little too stiff to remain at linebacker; it seems to me he’ll end up at defensive end in college.  His only current offer is from Buffalo and I’m not sure that Michigan will extend an offer.  Grand Blanc is the alma mater of freshman running back Justice Hayes.

Cadillac (MI) Cadillac OT Riley Norman (2013) has one offer currently, that being from the Spartans.  He’s a 6’7″, 315 lb. behemoth as a high school junior.  Although I have yet to see film on Norman, the general opinion seems to be that he’s one of the top three prospects in Michigan for 2013, along with Warren (MI) De La Salle QB Shane Morris and Midland (MI) Midland OT Steve Elmer.  Sooner or later, it looks like Norman will be a Spartan, too.

Cincinnati (OH) Taft DE Adolphus Washington (2012) has been recruited consistently by the Wolverines throughout the recruiting cycle.  Many assumed – and still assume – that he’s Columbus-bound.  However, the potential doom hanging over the Buckeyes’ heads leaves Washington checking out other options just in case.  Michigan State has a chance here, but the Buckeyes and Alabama Tide seem to be in the mix, too.

Southfield (MI) Southfield ATH Brandon Watkins (2012) has offers from Bowling Green, Iowa, and Toledo to play safety.  He’s a 5’11”, 185 lb. quarterback/cornerback in high school who, as recently as I can find, has 600 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns to go along with 2 interceptions on defense.  In recent years, it seems Michigan fans would have been wondering why Michigan doesn’t throw out an offer to Watkins; there likely won’t be a clamoring for that strategy this year.

Recruit Tracker (updated)

Anthony Standifer (#3) had a huge game on Friday night.

OL Blake Bars and Montgomery Bell Academy (3-5) were handily defeated by Ensworth, losing by a score of 52-10.

LB Joe Bolden and Colerain (6-1) edged past Lakota East on Friday by a score of 24-19.

OL Ben Braden and his team the Rockford Rams (6-1) rocked Grandville by a score of 45-0 to secure the program’s 17th consecutive playoff birth.

DE Pharaoh Brown and the Brush Arcs (2-5) defeated Normandy to record their second victory of the season, winning impressively by a score of 34-0. Brown had a 13-yard touchdown reception among his 7 receptions for 173 yards.  He also had 4 tackles and 1 sack.

S Jeremy Clark of North Hopkins (6-1) shutout Hopkins County Central on their way to a 61-0 victory.  Clark had 3 tackles and 2 pass breakups before leaving the game due to the blowout score.

TE Devin Funchess of Farmington Hills Harrison (7-0) pounded their Oakland County neighbor, Rochester Adams, winning by a score of 48-21. Funchess was Harrison’s leading receiver, catching 2 passes for 46 yards. He also made an impact on the other side of the by recording two sacks, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Harrison, and batting down a couple of passes.

S Allen Gant and the Southview Cougars (6-1) defeated Bowling Green by a score of 35-17 to claim a homecoming victory.  He had 6 tackles and 3 receptions for 50 yards.

DL Matt Godin and Detroit Catholic Central (6-0) took on Al Fracassa, Michigan’s most-winning high school coach, and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Brother Rice came away with the 21-19 victory in what appears to have been a damn good football game. Godin came in for an important sack on third and long during a late comeback drive by Brother Rice. “They doubled me and I made a quick move to the inside and slammed the center and I just flew through, ” said Godin. Matt texted me that he finished the evening with 6 tackles and 2 sacks.

FB Sione Houma’s Highland Rams (7-0) defeated Cyprus by a score of 55-10. Sione rushed for 69 yards and 1 touchdown.

LB Royce Jenkins-Stone and Detroit Cass Tech (5-2) rebounded from last week’s shutout, defeating Detroit Mumford by a score of 49-13.

OL Kyle Kalis and the Lakewood-St. Edward’s Eagles took on the defending New Jersey state champions the Don Bosco Prep Ironmen Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Kalis was among several top-flight recruits who took part in the contest, including fellow 5 star player DE Darius Hamilton, along with the likes of safety Elijah Shumate, wide receiver Leonte Carroo, and cornerback Yuri Wright. Unfortunately for Kalis and his team, Don Bosco Prep took Lakewood-St. Edwards out to the woodshed in a surprising 38-7 drubbing. Anyone who viewed the contest is encouraged to comment.

OL Erik Magnuson and his team the La Costa Canyon Mavericks (3-2) had a bye this week. They play at Carlsbad this coming Friday night.

2013 QB Shane Morris and Warren De La Salle (5-2) were defeated for the second time this season in a 35-10 loss to James Ross and Orchard Lakes St. Mary’s. Morris completed only five of his 13 attempts, which netted him just 61 yards through the air, although he did add another 30 yards on the ground, including a 21 yard TD scamper just before halftime.

DL Mario Ojemudia and Farmington Hills Harrison (7-0) rolled to a 48-21 victory over Rochester Adams. Ojemudia is seeing time at right tackle for FHH.  He had 6 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 blocked punt.

DT Ondre Pipkins and his Park Hill Trojans (4-3) took on Lee’s Summit West on Friday but unfortunately were on the losing end of an embarrassing 49-0 pounding.  Pipkins missed the game due to an ankle injury.

CB Terry Richardson and Detroit Cass Tech (5-2) won by a score of 49-13 against Detroit Mumford.  Richardson caught 2 passes for 56 yards, returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and made 3 tackles.

LB Kaleb Ringer and his Northmont High School squad (2-5) lost to Centerville by a score of 34-7. Ringer had 12 tackles in the loss.

LB James Ross and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (6-1) dominated the ground game and defeated Shane Morris and Warren De La Salle by a score of 35-10. Ross had at least 5 tackles (actually 13), including two for a loss.

CB Anthony Standifer and his Crete-Monee team (7-0) won by a score of 34-20 against Rich Central. Standifer had 13 tackles and 1 interception, which he returned 75 yards for a touchdown. Junior teammate LaQuon Treadwell, a receiver, had 7 receptions for 67 yards and 1 touchdown.

DE Tom Strobel and his Mentor team won (7-0) by a score of 44-20 against Solon to continue their perfect season while handing Solon their first loss of the season. Strobel contributed to his team’s victory by recording 3 sacks, a fumble recovery and a blocked PAT.

Recruiting Update: October 12, 2011



Laquon Treadwell (in red), Anthony Standifer (in black) (image via ESPN.com)

 ADDED TO THE BOARD

Castle Rock (CO) Valor Christian OG Alex Kozan was offered by Michigan this past week.  Kozan is a class of 2012 recruit, which seems to mean that the coaching staff isn’t confident about their chances with Puyallup (WA) Puyallup OG Joshua Garnett.  Garnett is clearly the superior player.  Kozan looks like an old school Michigan guard, the kind that Lloyd Carr and Gary Moeller would have loved but that Rich Rodriguez wouldn’t have touched.  He’s 6’4″, 295 lbs. and plays with a nice, wide base, but he’s a little bit stiff.  Rivals lists him as the #28 offensive tackle in the country, but he looks to me like a guard all the way.  He’s decently nasty and moves his feet pretty well, but he’s built for a team that wants to pound the ball.

Crete (IL) Crete-Monee WR Laquon Treadwell, a 2013 prospect, was offered by Michigan yesterday.  Treadwell is a 6’3″, 190 lb. receiver who is teammates with 2012 cornerback and Michigan commit Anthony Standifer.  This is Treadwell’s first offer and he has stated several times that Michigan would be his leader if they offered.  Of course, we heard that same type of comment from Chicago (IL) Simeon OL Jordan Diamond earlier this year, and Diamond has so far held off on committing to anyone and looks less and less likely to join Michigan’s class.  There’s very little video of Treadwell on the internet, so it’s tough to get a feel for where he stands as a prospect.  Crete-Monee’s competition level is fairly low when compared to some other areas that Michigan has recruited heavily, so while Treadwell has been very productive this season, his statistics should be taken with a grain of salt. 

OFF THE BOARD

Flint (MI) Powers Catholic DT Danny O’Brien committed to Tennessee.  Before Michigan offered O’Brien, Tennessee was the leader . . . and after Michigan offered, Tennessee never really took a back seat.  Michigan did seem to surpass the other schools that were recruiting him, but not the Volunteers.  O’Brien is a 6’3″, 293 lb. (or more) defensive tackle who could be a 1-tech or 3-tech on the line.  I think he’s a nose tackle all the way, but others feel he’s better suited to a position where he can penetrate.  Rumors have been swirling that Michigan’s coaches cooled on O’Brien and stopped pushing for his commitment; even before those rumors popped up, I had been hearing that he hadn’t been very impressive as a senior.  I will be surprised if this one turns out to haunt Michigan down the road.  While the Wolverines need another body on the interior to go along with Kansas City (MO) Park Hill DT Ondre Pipkins, I don’t imagine O’Brien will be terrorizing the SEC.

2012 Offer Board Update

Colorado OG Alex Kozan

The 2012 Offer Board has been updated:

Michigan DT Danny O’Brien committed to Tennessee.

Added Colorado OG Alex Kozan.