Tag: 2013 recruiting

2013 Top 247 Updated

Taco Charlton made a little leap while Shane Morris is Michigan’s top-rated recruit

The 247 Sports Top 247 was updated again recently.  They update their rankings more often than any other site, which keeps me pretty busy, I guess.  Here’s a list of committed Wolverines and their moving and shaking since February:

– Shane Morris dropped from #14 to #18
– Dymonte Thomas dropped from #40 to #41
– Kyle Bosch remained at #42
– Chris Fox dropped from #47 to #53
– Taco Charlton jumped from #99 to #86
– Mike McCray dropped from #168 to #173
– Patrick Kugler dropped from #190 to #192
– David Dawson dropped from #195 to #199
– Wyatt Shallman dropped out of the top 247

And here’s the entire list of Michigan targets:

3. Montravius Adams – DT – Georgia
4. Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida
5. Laremy Tunsil – OT – Florida
6. Jaylon Smith – LB – Indiana
8. Su’a Cravens – S – California
9. Robert Foster – WR – Pennsylvania
10. Jonathan Allen – DE – Virginia
18. Shane Morris – QB – Michigan (Michigan)
21. Keith Ford – RB – Texas (Oklahoma)
22. Kendall Fuller – CB – Maryland
24. Joey Bosa – DE – Florida
26. Adam Breneman – TE – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
30. Cameron Burrows – CB – Ohio (Ohio State)
36. Leon McQuay III – S – Florida
38. Alquadin Muhammad – DE – New Jersey
41. Dymonte Thomas – S – Ohio (Michigan)
42. Kyle Bosch – OG – Illinois (Michigan)
47. Jake Raulerson – OT – Texas (Texas)
48. Eddie Vanderdoes – DT – California
49. Kevin Olsen – QB – New Jersey
52. Priest Willis – CB – Arizona
53. Chris Fox – OT – Colorado (Michigan)
58. Darius Latham – OT – Indiana
60. Jake Oliver – WR – Texas (Texas)
62. Cole Luke – CB – Arizona
63. Marquez North – WR – North Carolina
64. James Quick – WR – Kentucky
67. Ty Isaac – RB – Illinois
72. Sebastian LaRue – WR – California
73. Justin Manning – DT – Texas
76. Ethan Pocic – OT – Illinois
79. LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Illinois
80. Hunter Bivin – OT – Kentucky (Notre Dame)
82. Logan Tuley-Tillman – OT – Illinois (Michigan)
85. Ishmael Wilson – OG – Texas (Texas A&M)
86. Taco Charlton – OLB – Ohio (Michigan)
94. Tray Matthews – S – Georgia (Georgia)
95. Eli Woodard – CB – New Jersey (Ohio State)
96. Alex Anzalone – OLB – Pennsylvania
100. Larenz Bryant – OLB – North Carolina
101. Henry Poggi – DT – Maryland
105. Steven Elmer – OT – Michigan (Notre Dame)
110. Tashawn Bower – DE – New Jersey
112. Greg Webb – DT – New Jersey (Penn State)
113. Tim Harris – CB – Virginia (Virginia
114. Elijah Daniel – DE – Indiana
115. Chris Hawkins – CB – California (USC)
119. Derrick Green – RB – Virginia
121. Matt Rolin – OLB – Virginia
129. Dorian O’Daniel – OLB – Maryland (Clemson)
138. Michael Hutchings – OLB – California
145. Jordan Wilkins – RB – Tennessee
155. Kyle Hicks – RB – Texas (Texas)
165. Jacob Matuska – TE – Ohio (Notre Dame)
173. Michael McCray – OLB – Ohio (Michigan)
174. Durham Smythe – TE – Texas (Texas)
185. Eldridge Massington – WR – Texas
192. Patrick Kugler – OG – Pennsylvania (Michigan)
195. Josh Augusta – DE – Illinois
196. Shaq Wiggins – CB – Georgia (Georgia)
197. Jason Hatcher – DE – Kentucky
199. David Dawson – OG – Michigan (Michigan)
200. Michael Hill – DT – South Carolina
201. Chase Abbington – S – Missouri (Missouri)
207. Billy Price – DT – Ohio (Ohio State)
208. Joe Mathis – DE – California
210. Demorea Stringfellow – WR – California
211. Wyatt Teller – DE – Virginia
216. Justin Davis – RB – California
220. Cameron Walker – CB – California
229. Eljah Qualls – ATH – California
235. E.J. Levenberry – OLB – Virginia
241. Uriah LeMay – WR – North Carolina

Initial ESPN 150 Released for 2013

Massillon (OH) Washington cornerback Gareon Conley surprised many by being ranked #63

ESPN released its top 150 players on Tuesday.  Here’s a list of all the Michigan offerees that made the cut:

– Shane Morris starts at #37
– Gareon Conley starts at #63
– Mike McCray starts at #75
– David Dawson starts at #92
– Logan Tuley-Tillman starts at #97
– Dymonte Thomas starts at #98
– Chris Fox starts at #105
– Jourdan Lewis starts at #107
– Kyle Bosch starts at #112
– Taco Charlton starts at #115
– Patrick Kugler starts at #121

3. Laremy Tunsil – OT – Florida
4. Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida
12. Eli Woodard – CB – New Jersey (Ohio State)
14. Montravius Adams – DT – Georgia
15. Su’a Cravens – S – California
21. Cameron Burrows – CB – Ohio (Ohio State)
23. Robert Foster – WR – Pennsylvania
27. Kendall Fuller – CB – Maryland
34. Leon McQuay III – S – Florida
36. Keith Ford – RB – Texas (Oklahoma)

39. Adam Breneman – TE – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
41. Joey Bosa – DE – Florida
42. LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Illinois
46. Jaylon Smith – LB – Indiana
52. Darrell Daniels – WR – California
56. Eddi Vanderdoes – DT – California
57. Michael Hutchings – LB – California
59. James Quick – WR – Kentucky
62. Priest Willis – S – Arizona

68. Ty Isaac – RB – Illinois
69. Chris Hawkins – CB – California (USC)
72. Ethan Pocic – OT – Illinois
73. Dorian O’Daniel – LB – Maryland (Clemson)
74. Demorea Stringfellow – WR – California

77. Kevin Olsen – QB – New Jersey
78. Jake Raulerson – OT – Texas (Texas)
82. Jonathan Allen – DE – Virginia
83. Derrick Green – RB – Virginia
85. Justin Manning – DT – Texas
86. Shaq Wiggins – CB – Georgia (Georgia)
88. Elijah Daniel – DE – Indiana
91. Colin McGovern – OT – Illinois (Notre Dame)

95. Hunter Bivin – OT – Kentucky (Notre Dame)

104. Matt Rolin – LB – Virginia

119. Tashawn Bower – DE – New Jersey
120. Joe Mathis – DE – California

123. Greg Webb – DT – New Jersey (Penn State)
130. Marquez North – WR – North Carolina
131. Standish Dobard – TE – Louisiana (Miami)
142. Evan Lisle – OT – Ohio (Ohio State)
145. Alquadin Muhammad – DE – New Jersey
147. Antwuan Davis – CB – Texas
149. Sebastian Larue – WR – California

Recruiting Update: April 16, 2012

Hudson (OH) Hudson linebacker Ben Gedeon committed to Michigan last week.

COMMITMENT
Hudson (OH) Hudson linebacker Ben Gedeon committed to Michigan.

OFF THE BOARD
Snellville (GA) South Gwinnett linebacker Reginald Carter committed to Georgia.  Michigan offered Carter early, well before his junior season began.  However, Carter tore his ACL in South Gwinnett’s first game of the year and missed the rest of the season.  A high school defensive end, Carter is supposed to play inside linebacker for the Bulldogs.

Richmond (VA) Varina cornerback Tim Harris committed to Virginia.  He had been talking about visiting Ann Arbor this summer, but I would expect that visit to be canceled.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel linebacker Dorian O’Daniel committed to Clemson.  Michigan was high on O’Daniel’s list earlier in the recruiting cycle, perhaps even sitting atop it.  But O’Daniel was told that the Wolverines were full at his position so he canceled what was supposed to be a visit for this weekend’s spring game with cornerback teammate Kendall Fuller.  Clemson doesn’t ever produce much in the way of linebackers, but Kavell Conner (Indianapolis Colts) had a decent season in 2011.

SPRING GAME VISITORS
You can find more details in the weekend visitors list, but here’s a bare-bones list of the guys who were at Saturday’s spring game:

Fenton (MI) Fenton P Kenny Allen
Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell DE Alex Bars
Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell OT Blake Bars
Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas DE Joey Bosa
Wheaton (IL) St. Francis OG Kyle Bosch
Rockford (MI) Rockford OT Ben Braden
Pickerington (OH) North TE Jake Butt
Pickerington (OH) Central DE Taco Charlton
West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic WR Amara Darboh
Lake Forest (IL) Lake Forest WR Bo Dever
Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin WR Jaron Dukes
Parker (CO) Ponderosa OT Chris Fox
Olney (MD) Good Counsel CB Kendall Fuller
Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison TE Devin Funchess
Sylvania (OH) Southview S Allen Gant
Aurora (IL) Marmion Academy OG Ryan Glasgow
Novi (MI) Catholic Central DE Matt Godin
Cleveland (OH) Glenville DT Willie Henry
Detroit (MI) Crockett TE Khalid Hill
Detroit (MI) Crocket CB Khalil Hill
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech LB Gary Hosey
Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer RB Drake Johnson
Bloomington (IL) Normal QB Josh Kirshenbaum
College Station (TX) A&M DT Christian LaCouture
Grand Rapids (MI) Forest Hill Eastern LB Mark Lawson
Woodbridge (VA) C.D. Hylton LB E.J. Levenberry, Jr.
Fenton (MI) Fenton TE Quinton Mandle
Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison LB Mike McCray
Detroit (MI) Loyola DE Malik McDowell
Toledo (OH) St. John’s DE Matt Miller
Warren (MI) De La Salle QB Shane Morris
Detroit (MI) King RB Dennis Norfleet
Duluth (GA) Northview DB A.J. Pearson
Mentor (OH) Mentor DE Tom Strobel
Crete (IL) Crete-Monee WR Laquon Treadwell
Peoria (IL) Manual OT Logan Tuley-Tillman
Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore TE A.J. Williams
Toledo (OH) Whitmer DE Chris Wormley

QUICK HITS
Joey Boas named Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, and Ohio State as his top four after the visit.

Christian LaCouture named LSU, Nebraska, and Michigan as his top three after the visit.

Scouting Report: Joey Bosa

Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas defensive end Joey Bosa

Name: Joey Bosa
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 260 lbs.

Class: 2013
Position: Defensive end
School: Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Florida, West Virginia, and Wisconsin . . . As a junior in 2011, had 52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks . . . Rivals 4-star SDE, #2 SDE, #14 overall . . . Scout 5-star DE, #2 DE . . . 247 Sports 4-star SDE, 96 grade, #2 SDE, #22 overall

Strengths: Uses hands well . . . Very good initial punch . . . Gets good extension and sheds blocks . . . Solid edge rusher with good balance . . . Dips inside shoulder and takes direct route to quarterback . . . Gets hands up to bat down passes . . . Fires off low and hard . . . Quick off the line . . . Sometimes beats blocks in first one or two steps . . . Solid footwork . . . Takes good pursuit angles . . . Breaks down well when tackling in open field, especially for someone his size . . . Has a nasty streak when taking on blockers and finishing plays . . . High energy, emotional player

Weaknesses: Plays a little high at times . . . Like most kids he’s ineffective when he stands too high . . . Bull rush may prove less effective until he adds significant weight . . . Perhaps too emotional at times

Projection: Strongside defensive end.  I like Bosa the player.  He’s quick off the ball, shows good lateral movement, and is a refined football player.  There’s not much to dislike except he needs to add weight, which is the case for 90% of high schoolers entering college.  I could do with less of the posing and showmanship, but that type of behavior can be reined in a bit.  I also can foresee some issues arising from his nasty streak, which causes him to get involved with some “extracurricular activity” after some plays.  We have seen how Taylor Lewan struggled with the same type of attitude early in his career, but Lewan has learned to control himself better, so it’s possible.  Overall, Bosa seems to be a college ready player who could step in from day one and make an impact on a BCS level team.

Reminds me of: Aaron Lynch (Notre Dame)

Ben Gedeon, Wolverine

Hudson (OH) Hudson linebacker Ben Gedeon committed to Michigan

Hudson (OH) Hudson linebacker Ben Gedeon committed to Michigan.  He chose the Wolverines over offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Stanford, Tennessee, and Virginia, among others.

Gedeon is 6’3″ and 215 lbs.  As a junior in 2011, he rushed for 1,600 yards and 27 total touchdowns, and made 120 tackles on defense to go with 5 tackles for loss.

Ratings:
ESPN: Unranked LB
Rivals: 4-star ILB, #8 ILB, #224 overall
Scout: 4-star OLB, #13 OLB, #159 overall
247 Sports: 4-star ATH, 90 grade, #21 ATH, #255 overall

Gedeon’s highlights are a little sparse.  He has two highlight videos available.  One shows only special teams and offense from his sophomore year.  The other has a few clips of offense and defense from his junior season. There’s not a whole lot to glean from those two for a kid who’s destined to play linebacker.

The kid is a pretty good overall athlete.  He has played a lot of positions at Hudson, including quarterback, tailback, slot receiver, tight end, and linebacker.  When he was first offered by Michigan, I thought it was as a tight end, and I thought he would be a very good U-back prospect.  It was soon revealed that he was being recruited as a linebacker instead, and his future there is a little murkier.  Highlights show a kid who runs pretty well, hits pretty hard, and plays downhill.  His skill set suggests that he could fit at WILL, but if he’s truly 6’3″, then he might end up being a little too big to play that weakside spot.  He seems more likely to play the MIKE linebacker position.

There are no significant weaknesses to be found in his highlights, although his college coaches will have to work a little bit on his initial stance.  I would also be interested in taking a look at Gedeon’s coverage abilities.  Considering his abilities as a receiver and his running ability, I would think that coverage should be a strength or at least something that he can turn into a strength.

Overall, I like Gedeon as a prospect.  He’s a throwback linebacker who does a little bit of everything.  He reminds me of a couple other guys who seem to be turning into good college players – Desmond Morgan and Joe Bolden.  Both of those guys were versatile high school players who don’t necessarily wow observers with their athleticism, but they’re just good football players.  I like the fact that Gedeon, like Morgan, is an integral part of his high school team’s offense.  It gives defensive players a little extra understanding of how the game works.

Michigan won’t lose a ton after this season (Kenny Demens is the only senior starter; Brandin Hawthorne is a senior backup; Mike Jones is a redshirt junior third-stringer who may not return in 2013).  Gedeon will have a chance to see the field as a backup in 2013, but I would expect him to redshirt.  If there is no attrition at the inside linebacker positions, he will have two or three guys ahead of him at both spots (Morgan, Bolden, Antonio Poole, James Ross, and Royce Jenkins-Stone).

Gedeon is commitment #17.  There are technically only two spots remaining in the 2013 class, but most analysts expect the class to reach 23 or 24 players.

TTB Rating: 82 (rating system)