Tag: 2013 recruiting

Video: Elite 11 recap

Recruiting Update: July 2, 2012

Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna defensive tackle Khairi Clark (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2013
Long Beach (CA) cornerback John Ross was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 5’9″, 165 lb. corner with offers from Cal, Purdue, UCLA, Washington, and several others.  He was supposedly offered before Channing Stribling, so Michigan may not be actively recruiting him anymore.

Euless (TX) Trinity defensive end Gaius Vaenuku has a Michigan offer.  It’s unclear when he received the offer because Michigan does not appear to be recruiting more players at his position, so perhaps this is an old offer that was just reported.  Regardless, Vaenuku is a 6’6″, 260 lb. kid who could play either defensive end or offensive tackle at the next level.  He has offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, TCU, and UCLA, among others.  Trinity is the alma mater of offensive guard Hiva Lutui (Utah), whom Michigan offered for the 2012 class. (Highlights.)

ADDED TO THE BOARD:

2014
Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell Academy offensive tackle Alex Bars was offered by Michigan.  In case you haven’t figured it out, his older brother is incoming freshman Blake Bars, also an offensive tackle.  Alex is a 6’6″, 260 lb. athlete who could also play strongside end at the next level, but Michigan wants him as an OT.  He has also been offered by Kentucky and Tennessee.

Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna defensive tackle Khairi Clark was offered by Michigan.  Clark is a 6’3″, 311 lb. tackle with offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, among others.  As a junior in 2011, he had 60 tackles and 8 sacks.  If you remember when Rich Rodriguez was going all Ponce de Leon on Florida, he went after Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Curt Evans (Boston College) and quarterback Jerrard Randall (LSU) in the 2011 class.

La Mirada (CA) La Mirada tight end Tyler Luatua was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’4″, 230-pounder who could play either tight end or defensive end at the next level.  He has offers from Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC, among others.  His older brother Isaac plays offensive guard for Alabama, but Tyler indicated that he wants to stay closer to home.  Either way, he seems unlikely at this point to give Michigan heavy consideration. (Highlights.)

OFF THE BOARD
Damascus (MD) Damascus wide receiver Zach Bradshaw committed to Penn State.  He visited Michigan and Michigan State and was high on MSU to start, so this is a win if you’re rooting against the Spartans.  Penn State hasn’t done much in the way of developing wide receivers since, oh, Joe Jurevicius, so I won’t be concerned until the Nittany Lions prove me wrong.

Charlotte (NC) Vance linebacker Larenz Bryant committed to South Carolina.  Bryant never showed much interest in Michigan when they offered, and the linebacker position was filled shortly thereafter, anyway.  The Gamecocks also received a commitment from fellow linebacker target Matt Rolin a couple weeks ago.

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris committed to Michigan State.  Harris will probably be the first- or second-highest rated player in the state for 2014.  The 6’4″, 180-pounder hopes to play wide receiver while also playing shooting guard for the Spartans’ basketball team.

Pendleton (SC) Pendleton defensive tackle Michael Hill committed to Ohio State.  The 6’3″, 315 lb. defensive tackle was being recruited for the nose tackle position by Michigan, but never really voiced interest in playing for the Wolverines.

Concord (CA) De La Salle linebacker Michael Hutchings committed to USC.  This came as a surprise to exactly no one.

Petaluma (CA) Casa Grande defensive tackle Elijah Qualls committed to Washington.  Qualls could play several positions in college – running back, defensive end, or defensive tackle – but Michigan was recruiting him for the defensive tackle position.  The commitments of Henry Poggi and Maurice Hurst, Jr. soften the blow considerably.

Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde wide receiver Demorea Stringfellow committed to Washington.  He was slightly interested in Michigan and could have been the playmaking receiver that the coaches hope to get out of LaQuon Treadwell, so the window continues to narrow on guys who can make things happen after the catch.

Recruiting Update: June 26, 2012

La Porte (TX) La Porte LB/DE Hoza Scott (image via Beaumont Enterprise)

COMMITMENT

Matthews (NC) Butler cornerback Channing Stribling was offered at Michigan’s camp on Wednesday and committed to Coach Hoke on Thursday morning.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian offensive tackle Tommy Doles was offered by Michigan.  Doles is a 6’5″, 260 lb. lineman whose only offer comes from Michigan.  He attends the same high school as a fellow 2014 offeree, wide receiver Drake Harris.  So far Michigan’s coaches are recruiting Doles as an athlete and are looking at him for offensive line, defensive line, or perhaps even as a tight end. (Highlights.)

New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine running back Leonard Fournette was offered by Michigan.  Fournette is a 6’0″, 210 lb. tailback with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, and many others.  As a freshman in 2010, he had 174 carries for 1,735 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Shaker Heights (OH) Shaker Heights defensive end Joe Henderson was offered by Michigan. Henderson is a 6’4″, 215 lb. high school defensive end who looks like he would play weakside end if he chooses Michigan, the only team to have offered so far.  (Highlights.)

Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Corey Holmes camped at Michigan and earned an offer. Holmes is a 6’1″, 175 lb. receiver with offers from Florida, South Florida, and Wisconsin.  He stated that Michigan sits atop his list, but it’s early in the process.  Holmes is the teammate of defensive end Joey Bosa, whom Michigan offered for the 2013 class before he committed to Ohio State.  (Highlights.)

Monroeville (PA) Gateway safety Montae Nicholson was offered during camp.  He’s a 6’2″, 195 lb. safety who could play either strong or free, and he has already been offered by Penn State and Pitt.  Gateway consistently puts out FBS talent, including guys like Shayne Hale (Pitt), Cam Saddler (Pitt), Corey Brown (Ohio State), and Dorian Bell (Ohio State). (Highlights.)

La Porte (TX) La Porte linebacker Hoza Scott was offered by Michigan.  At 6’2″ and 205 lbs., he already holds offers from Alabama, Florida, LSU, Texas, and USC, among others.  Last month he named his top five; four of them are in the SEC, and the other one is Cal.  He appears to be a long shot to come to Michigan, but you can see in the highlights that the kid is a playmaker, pulling off outside linebacker plays that I normally see only in NCAA Football ’12.

Mansfield (TX) Timberview safety Brandon Simmons was offered by Michigan.  Simmons is a 6’0″, 170 lb. free safety or cornerback prospect with offers from LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and several others.  His teammate is fellow safety prospect Edward Paris, who has also been offered by the Wolverines.  As a sophomore in 2011, Simmons had 100 tackles, 15 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. (Highlights.)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015

Sherman (TX) Sherman offensive tackle Aaron Garza was offered by Michigan.  Garza is a 6’4″, 300 lb. lineman.

Berea (KY) Madison Southern running back Damien Harris was offered by Michigan. And yes, I’ve started a 2015 offer board, and Harris was the first name on that list.  That means 2011 was Harris’s freshman season, but he ran the ball 62 times for 742 yards (11.4 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns while playing in just six games on varsity.  He’s already 6’0″ and 200 lbs. (Highlights.)


OFF THE BOARD

San Diego (CA) Horizon wide receiver Darren Carrington committed to Oregon. He was just recently offered by Michigan and mentioned plans to attend camp but never made it to Ann Arbor.

 Hilliard (OH) Darby athlete Caleb Day committed to Illinois. Day didn’t have a Michigan offer but camped at Michigan last week in an effort to earn one. He could play several positions in college, including running back, wide receiver, cornerback, or safety.

Wide receiver Sebastian LaRue committed to USC. Michigan had a shot to win over LaRue until the Trojans offered. Then it was game over.

VISITORS
Seffner (FL) Armwood wide receiver Alvin Bailey will be visiting Michigan this week.  Bailey has already been offered by Michigan and is the teammate of highly touted defensive back Leon McQuay III, who has Michigan in his top three after visiting last month.

Cordova (TN) St. Benedict running back Jordan Wilkins is visiting Michigan today.  He already visited Auburn and almost committed there, and he mentioned that he wants to play early.  That may be difficult with all the other running backs on Michigan’s roster.  I have doubts about whether a visit will sway Wilkins, but at least he’s coming to campus.  I wrote up a scouting report on him a month ago.

Channing Stribling, Wolverine

Channing Stribling (in white) (image via MGoBlog)

Matthews (NC) Butler cornerback Channing Stribling committed to Michigan last week.  He chose the Wolverines over an offer from Ball State.

Stribling is a 6’2″, 170 lb. cornerback and wide receiver who claims a 4.5 forty.  As a junior in 2011, he had 37 tackles, 14 pass breakups, and 6 interceptions.  On offense he made 37 receptions for 636 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Ratings:
ESPN: Unranked CB
Rivals: 2-star S
Scout: 2-star CB
247 Sports: 3-star ATH, #95 ATH

Stribling is the teammate of several fellow 2013 Michigan offerees: quarterback Riley Ferguson (Tennessee), wide receiver Uriah LeMay (Georgia), and linebacker Peter Kalambayi (Stanford).  Butler consistently churns out FBS talent, many of whom have been offered by Michigan in recent years.  But Stribling didn’t have an offer until he camped at Michigan last week, where he wowed the staff enough to earn an offer on Wednesday.  He committed to Brady Hoke on Thursday morning.

Stribling is a pretty physical player, especially for playing his junior season at 160 lbs. or so.  He’s a willing tackler who wants to come up and hit, but he gets overpowered a little bit at times.  That should change as his body matures and he starts to add weight.  Where he currently lacks the confidence to wrap up ball carriers and instead chooses to go low and dive at legs, he should eventually be a solid run supporter.  Stribling has decent hips and ability to change direction, but his mental discipline helps him there.  He seems to read plays well and recognize developing route combinations.  When the ball is in the air, he shows an ability to go after it, timing his leaps well and using his length to disrupt receivers and bat the ball.  As a receiver, one of Stribling’s key attributes is his ability and willingness to fight for extra yardage after the catch.

On the negative side, Stribling has somewhat limited speed.  He doesn’t accelerate extremely well and even when he gets to top speed, he won’t leave opponents in the dust.  His length and anticipation make up for that lack of speed at times, but in a flat-out foot race, he might not win against opposing players with elite speed.  He also has some footwork and body position issues to work out, but those seem fixable.

By several accounts and what I see on film, Stribling has a solid, hardworking attitude and is a competitive player.  He might not be the best athlete on the field at any given time, but he should work to shore up most of the above weaknesses.  His lack of elite speed and playmaking ability might prevent him from being a nationally elite player at the next level, but he has the potential to be an eventual starter at the boundary corner.  When I look at Stribling, he seems like almost an exact replica of fellow 2013 cornerback commit Gareon Conley.  However, Stribling seems to have a little more position flexibility and could play free safety or perhaps wide receiver if needed.

Stribling is Michigan’s 22nd commit in the class of 2013, a class that is expected to reach 24 or so.  Michigan wants another receiver and possibly another defensive lineman, although they will probably continue to recruit Florida defensive back Leon McQuay III.

TTB Rating: 77

Rivals: Illinois pre-season top 30 for 2013

LaQuon Treadwell is the #3 player in Illinois

I won’t do this for every state, but since Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois have turned into recruiting hotbeds for Brady Hoke and company, this will be the last rundown (at least for now) of state rankings.  Here’s a look at the top ten in Illinois, after which it becomes somewhat irrelevant to Michigan:

1. Ty Isaac – RB – Joliet (IL) Catholic (USC)
2. Ethan Pocic – OT – Lemont (IL) Lemont (LSU)
3. LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Crete (IL) Crete-Monee
4. Kyle Bosch – OG – Wheaton (IL) St. Francis (Michigan)
5. Aaron Bailey – QB – Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook (Illinois)
6. Matt Alviti – QB – Park Ridge (IL) Main South (Northwestern)
7. Logan Tuley-Tillman – OT – Peoria (IL) Manual (Michigan)
8. Josh Augusta – DE – Peoria (IL) Peoria
9. Colin McGovern – OT – New Lenox (IL) Lincoln-Way West (Notre Dame)
10. Darius Mosley – CB – O’Fallon (IL) O’Fallon