Scout 300 updated for 2014

Tag: 2014 recruiting


9Jul 2013
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Scout 300 updated for 2014

Jabrill Peppers is now the #6 player in the nation

Scout released its updated top 300 prospects for the class of 2014. Here’s what it looked like in June.

Movement for Michigan commits:

– Jabrill Peppers jumped from #7 to #6
– Drake Harris dropped from #28 to #30
– Bryan Mone dropped from #94 to #96
– Lawrence Marshall dropped from #103 to #105
– Michael Ferns dropped from #146 to #149
– Chase Winovich dropped from #230 to #232
– Mason Cole dropped from #251 to #259

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana
2. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana
3. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia
5. Braden Smith – OT – Kansas
6. Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey (Michigan)
7. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California
8. John Smith – S – California
9. Jamal Adams – S – Texas
11. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia
15. Quin Blanding – S – Virginia (Virginia)
17. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
18. Joe Mixon – RB – California
21. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona
22. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia (Virginia)
25. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana

4-stars:
28. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, D.C.
30. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
31. Solomon Thomas – DE – Texas
33. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
34. Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan
35. Marshon Lattimore – WR – Ohio
36. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
37. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida (Florida)
41. Nyles Morgan – MLB – Illinois
45. Edward Paris – CB – Texas (LSU)
48. Kyle Berger – OLB – Ohio (Ohio State)
49. Jalen Brown – WR – Arizona
53. Jamarco Jones – OT – Illinois (Ohio State)
55. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas
57. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)
59. Nick Watkins – CB – Texas
64. Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona
66. Bo Scarbrough – RB – Alabama (Alabama)
70. Parrker Westphal – CB – Illinois
71. Sam Mustipher – OG – Maryland (Notre Dame)
76. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey
77. Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina (Notre Dame)
82. Tyler Luatua – TE – California
85. Sam Hubbard – OLB – Ohio (Ohio State)
89. Christian McCaffrey – RB – Colorado (Stanford)
92. Dravon Henry – CB – Pennsylvania
94. Brandon Simmons – S – Texas (Stanford)
96. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)
97. Andy Bauer – OG – Missouri (Mississippi)
102. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
103. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee
105. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
112. Demarre Kitt – WR – Georgia (Clemson)
117. Shai McKenzie – RB – Pennsylvania
119. Demetrius Knox – OG – Texas
126. Dwight Williams – OLB – California
138. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida (Clemson)
140. Bryson Allen-Williams – OLB – Georgia (South Carolina)
141. Dante Booker – OLB – Ohio (Ohio State)
149. Michael Ferns III – MLB – Ohio (Michigan)
150. Montae Nicholson – S – Pennsylvania
152. Ja’Von Harrison – S – Florida (Virginia Tech)
154. Erick Smith – S – Ohio
165. Kiy Hester – S – New Jersey (Rutgers)
166. Steven Parker – S – Oklahoma
170. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina
173. Garrett Dickerson – TE – New Jersey
174. Daniel Helm – TE – Illinois (Tennessee)
177. Dexter Wideman – DT – South Carolina
188. Jay Hayes – DT – New York (Notre Dame)
189. Devon Thomas – RB – Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
192. Richard Yeargin III – OLB – Florida
194. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia (South Carolina)
196. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee (Notre Dame)
199. Adarius Pickett – CB – California
203. Lorenzo Featherston – DE – North Carolina
205. Corey Holmes – WR – Florida
207. D’Andre Payne – CB – Washington, D.C. (Tennessee)
217. Conor Sheehy – DE – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
218. Marcus Allen – S – Maryland (Penn State)
221. Jacory Washington – TE – Louisiana (LSU)
224. Jeb Blazevich – TE – North Carolina (Georgia)
229. Petera Wilson – MLB – Tennessee
232. Chase Winovich – OLB – Pennsylvania (Michigan)
250. K.J. Williams – WR – Pennsylvania (Syracuse)
254. T’Kevian Rockwell – OLB – Texas (Baylor)
258. Juwann Winfree – WR – New Jersey
259. Mason Cole – OG – Florida (Michigan)
261. Jackson Barton – OT – Utah (Utah)
275. Troy Vincent, Jr. – CB – Maryland (Penn State)
294. Malik Hooker – WR – Pennsylvania

8Jul 2013
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Recruiting Update: July 8, 2013

Noah Furbush

COMMITMENT
Kenton (OH) Kenton linebacker Noah Furbush committed to Michigan. He was recently bumped up from a 3-star on ESPN and is now a 4-star and the #21 inside linebacker.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Tampa (FL) Jefferson linebacker Juwuan Brown was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, and South Florida, along with a couple others. This offer seems to have been extended a while ago, but I did not hear about it until recently. With Furbush committed, I doubt Michigan would accept a commitment from Brown.

OFF THE BOARD
Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake wide receiver Artavis Scott committed to Clemson at The Opening. Scott was long considered a Michigan lean, but leading up to his commitment, he seemed more enamored with Clemson after a visit there. After things started to go in Clemson’s direction, Michigan picked up a commitment from Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy wideout Freddy Canteen and Scott publicly eliminated Michigan.

Bethlehem (PA) Liberty wide receiver K.J. Williams committed to Syracuse. He declared Michigan his leader at one point, but Michigan stopped pursuing him once Canteen committed; Williams may have picked Syracuse either way. Here’s a scouting report that I wrote up on Williams a couple months ago. As you can tell, I wasn’t very high on him.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of expected visitors for the BBQ at the Big House, which is taking place at the end of the month.

5Jul 2013
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2014 Offer Board updates

With the 2014 recruiting class filling up fairly quickly, here’s a look at the uncommitted prospects and where they are likely to end up at this time. As always, things are subject to change. I used recent interviews, 247’s Crystal Ball, and a couple educated guesses to fill out the list. Feel free to discuss or cuss me out in the comments.

RUNNING BACK
Kalen Ballage (CO): Nebraska
Leonard Fournette (LA): LSU
Jonathan Hilliman (NJ): Ohio State
Shai McKenzie (PA): Florida State
Joe Mixon (CA): USC

WIDE RECEIVER
Mark Andrews (AZ): Oklahoma
Saeed Blacknall (NJ): LSU
Jalen Brown (AZ): Arizona
Malachi Dupre (LA): LSU
Corey Holmes (FL): Notre Dame
Marshon Lattimore (OH): Ohio State
Josh Malone (TN): Tennessee
Isaiah McKenzie (FL): Notre Dame
K.J. Williams (PA): Syracuse
Juwann Winfree (NJ): Rutgers

TIGHT END
Tyler Luatua (CA): Alabama

OFFENSIVE LINE:
Roderick Johnson (MO): Florida State
Demetrius Knox (TX): UCLA
Damian Prince (MD): Florida State
Cameron Robinson (LA): LSU
Braden Smith (KS): Texas A&M
Bentley Spain (NC): North Carolina
Casey Tucker (AZ): USC

DEFENSIVE END
Lorenzo Carter (GA): Alabama
Garrett Dickerson (NJ): Stanford
Lorenzo Featherston (NC): Clemson
Myles Garrett (TX): Texas A&M
Da’Shawn Hand (MI): Michigan
Malik McDowell (MI): Michigan
Ismael Murphy-Richardson (AZ): Oklahoma
Solomon Thomas (TX): Texas
Andrew Williams (GA): Notre Dame
Richard Yeargin III (FL): Notre Dame

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Nyquan Harris (VA): North Carolina State
Dexter Wideman (SC): South Carolina

LINEBACKER
Juwuan Brown (FL): South Florida
Melvin Keihn (MD): Virginia
Nyles Morgan (IL): Vanderbilt
Jimmie Swain (MO): Northwestern
Dwight Williams (CA): Florida
Petera Wilson (TN): Tennessee
Kenny Young (LA): LSU

CORNERBACK
Malik Hooker (PA): Penn State
Adoree’ Jackson (CA): Florida
Adarius Pickett (CA): USC
Lamont Simmons (FL): Virginia Tech
Jalen Tabor (DC): Florida
Nick Watkins (TX): Notre Dame
Parrker Westphal (IL): Vanderbilt
Quincy Wilson (FL): Ohio State

SAFETY
Jamal Adams (TX): Florida
Dravon Henry (PA): Pittsburgh
Mattrell McGraw (LA): Oregon
Montae Nicholson (PA): Michigan
Steven Parker (OK): Oklahoma
Erick Smith (OH): Ohio State
John Smith (CA): Michigan

1Jul 2013
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Noah Furbush, Wolverine

Kenton (OH) Kenton linebacker Noah Furbush
(image via Scout)

Kenton (OH) Kenton linebacker Noah Furbush committed to Michigan on Monday morning. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Tennessee, among others.

As a junior in 2012, Furbush had 115 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble. This spring he attended a combine where he measured in at 6’4″, 236 lbs. He also ran a 4.78 forty, had a 31″ vertical, ran a 4.22 shuttle, had an 8’10” broad jump, ran a 7.37 L-cone, and threw a Powerball 36’9″.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #21 ILB
Rivals: N/A
Scout: 3-star, #59 OLB
247 Sports: 3-star, 87 grade, #53 OLB

Furbush was offered by Michigan back in April. He visited Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, and Tennessee in the meantime, and he camped at Ohio State, but no offer came from the Buckeyes.

Furbush is obviously a big-bodied kid, and he’s a heavy hitter. He does a good job of getting extension and using his hands to shed blocks. That long reach also helps him wrap up ball carriers. He does a good job of staying low and using leverage against blockers, which is pretty impressive for someone as tall as he is. There’s one highlight where he shows nice awareness to get his hand up to bat down a pass and makes the interception after the deflection; otherwise, his pass coverage abilities aren’t really highlighted.

I see good see-ball-get-ball instincts out of Furbush, but he’s a half step slow with his read-and-react skills. Michigan is reportedly recruiting him for the middle linebacker position, so that might be an issue. I also don’t see great change-of-direction skills from Furbush, which is a bit of a concern in pass coverage or if he has to redirect in traffic.

Overall, I’m a bit torn on Furbush. As mentioned above, he’s supposedly being recruited for middle linebacker, and I don’t think he’s a good fit there. I don’t see the play recognition skills to play there, and once he adds more muscle to his frame, he would be very  big for a MIKE. We would be looking at a Brian Urlacher-sized linebacker without as much athleticism. In my opinion, Furbush is a strongside linebacker or a weakside end. He might be one of those guys who should start off at SAM and eventually put his hand down once he develops. I would have a higher opinion of him as a prospect if he weren’t slotted to play in the middle.

This gives Michigan fourteen commitments in the class of 2014, plus grayshirt defensive tackle Brady Pallante. Furbush joins MIKE recruit Michael Ferns III and SAM prospect Chase Winovich in the class. Furbush is the first player from Kenton since Tony Osbun in 1977. Michigan also pursued Kenton quarterback Maty Mauk in the class of 2012, but Mauk chose Missouri instead.

TTB Rating: 64 (ratings explanation)

1Jul 2013
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Recruiting Update: July 1, 2013

Cleveland (OH) Benedictine linebacker Jerome Baker

COMMITMENTS
Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy wide receiver Freddy Canteen committed to Michigan.

Massillon (OH) Washington kicker Andrew David committed to Michigan.

Natrona Heights (PA) St. Joseph’s offensive tackle Jon Runyan, Jr. committed to Michigan.

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy cornerback Brandon Watson committed to Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Cleveland (OH) Benedictine linebacker Jerome Baker was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, and West Virginia, among others. According to 247 Sports, he’s a 4-star, the #2 athlete, and the #50 player overall for 2015. He plays running back in addition to linebacker, but I think he has more of a future on defense. His leader appears to be Ohio State, so you may not want to get your hopes up too much.

OFF THE BOARD
Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith defensive tackle Andrew Brown committed to Virginia. Brown mentioned wanting to visit Michigan a couple months ago, but nothing ever transpired. This is Virginia’s third Rivals 5-star commitment in the last two classes, joining Quin Blanding and Taquan Mizzell.

Wayne (NJ) De Paul Catholic wide receiver Kiy Hester committed to Rutgers. Hester could play wide receiver or safety in college.

Chicago (IL) De La Salle offensive guard Jamarco Jones committed to Ohio State. This was somewhat expected, and unless there’s some unexpected attrition, it looks as if Michigan might stick with just two offensive line commits in the 2014 class.

Baltimore (MD) Gilman cornerback Troy Vincent, Jr. committed to Penn State. In case you don’t remember, he’s the son of former Wisconsin, Philadelphia Eagles, and Miami Dolphins cornerback Troy Vincent. He also attends the same high school as incoming freshman defensive tackle Henry Poggi.

VISITORS
The coaches were mostly on vacation, so there weren’t many visitors this past week. However, Huntersville (NC) SouthLake Christian running back Robert Washington and wide receiver Connor O’Donnell swooped through Ann Arbor for a visit. Both are 2016 prospects who are committed to Mississippi State. They camped at Michigan a couple weeks ago, went to Notre Dame for a camp, and then visited Michigan again. It was Washington’s third trip to Ann Arbor in the past few months, despite no offer just yet.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of prospects attending Nike’s The Opening this week.