Tag: 2014 recruiting

ESPN 150 for 2014 released

The ESPN 150 for 2014 was released on Thursday, and it includes several Michigan commits and prospects.  Here’s the list of Michigan offerees:

2. Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey
3. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia
4. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia
5. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California
6. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas
7. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana
14. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia
17. Bo Scarbrough – ATH – Alabama (Alabama)
19. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, D.C.
23. Jamal Adams – S – Texas
26. Lorenzo Featherston – DE – Georgia
29. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana
30. Solomon Thomas – DE – Texas
33. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
37. Tyler Luatua – TE – California
38. Andy Bauer – OT – Missouri (Mississippi)
40. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona (USC)
41. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)
49. Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina
51. Marshon Lattimore – ATH – Ohio
52. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
53. Edward Paris, Jr. – S – Texas (LSU)
55. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee
57. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
62. John Smith – S – California
63. Nick Watkins – CB – Texas
65. Nyles Morgan – LB – Illinois
67. Jamarco Jones – OT – Illinois
69. Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan
72. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)
75. Corey Holmes – WR – Florida
83. Kevin Crosby – TE – South Carolina
84. Ja’Von Harrison – ATH – Florida (Virginia Tech)
85. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida
87. Parrker Westphal – CB – Illinois
90. Jeb Blazevich – TE – North Carolina
96. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
99. Demarre Kitt – WR – Georgia
100. Kyron Watson – LB – Illinois
107. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan
108. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey
110. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia
112. Michael Ferns III – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
118. Braden Smith – OT – Kansas
119. Jacory Washington – TE – Louisiana (LSU)
120. Juwann Bushell-Beatty – OT – New Jersey
122. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina
124. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee
125. Wilton Speight – QB – Virginia (Michigan)127. Dravon Henry – S – Pennsylvania
135. Joe Mixon – RB – California
137. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
145. Mason Cole – OG – Florida (Michigan)
146. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida

Visitors: April 19-21, 2013

Scottsdale (AZ) Desert Mountain wide receiver/tight end Mark Andrews (image via 247 Sports)

Mark Andrews – TE – Scottsdale (AZ) Desert Mountain: Andrews is a 6’6″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others.  He’s taking a trip through the midwest to see Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, even though Arizona appears to be his leader.  As a junior in 2012, he had 81 receptions for 1,590 yards and 22 touchdowns; his quarterback is Kyle Allen, a highly regarded player with offers from several Pac-12, Big 12, and SEC schools.  Andrews plays wide receiver and has a desire to play wideout in college, but he will most likely end up at tight end in college.


Ian Bunting – TE – Hinsdale (IL) Central: Bunting is a 6’6″, 210 lb. prospect with recent offers from Florida State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and USC, to go along with his Michigan offer and numerous others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 16 catches for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns.  He would probably play the U-back position like Devin Funchess, since he is long, lean, and rather athletic.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 4-star and the #11 tight end in the class.

Ricky DeBerry – DE – Richmond (VA) St. Christopher’s: DeBerry is a 6’2″, 235 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with offers from Arizona State, Clemson, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others.  He is considered to be one of the top few prospects for the 2015 class and plays in the same league as 2014 quarterback commit Wilton Speight.

Garrett Taylor – CB – Richmond (VA) St. Christopher’s: Taylor, standing 6’0″ and 180 lbs., is a classmate of DeBerry’s.  He plays wide receiver and cornerback and has offers from Clemson, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others.


Kyron Watson – LB – East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis: Watson is a 6’1″, 220 lb. prospect who picked up a Michigan offer last week.  He may not make it to Michigan this weekend, but he does want to visit Ann Arbor soon.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 3-star, the #44 outside linebacker, and the #592 player overall.  UPDATE: Watson is rescheduling his visit.


Parrker Westphal – CB – Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook: Westphal is a 6’2″, 186 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Vanderbilt, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 51 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.  He has visited Michigan numerous times and is coached by former Michigan cornerback Todd Howard.  247 Sports’ Composite rankings place him as a 4-star, the #12 cornerback, and the #127 player overall.

247 Sports Top 247 for 2014 updated

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris is the #37 player in the nation

The Top 247 for 2014 was updated today.  Here’s what it looked like back in March.  Movement for Michigan’s commits looks like this:

– Drake Harris dropped from #36 to #37
– Mason Cole dropped from #103 to #105
– Michael Ferns III dropped from #174 to #175

5-stars:
1. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia

2. Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana

3. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia

4. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia

6. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana

7. Quin Blanding – S – Virginia (Virginia)

9. Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey

10. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas

11. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)

15. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland

16. Edward Paris – S – Texas (LSU)

19. John Smith – ATH – California

21. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California

24. Bo Scarbrough – ATH – Alabama (Alabama)

4-stars:
28. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, DC

30. Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan

31. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana
32. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
33. Lorenzo Featherston – DE – Georgia

34. Marshon Lattimore – CB – Ohio

37. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
43. Jamarco Jones – OG – Illinois

48. Braden Smith – OG – Kansas

49. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida

51. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)

53. Nyles Morgan – LB – Illinois
62. Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona

69. Demetrius Knox – OG – Texas (Texas)
76. Joe Mixon – RB – California

77. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina

80. Andy Bauer – OT – Missouri (Mississippi)

83. Dante Booker – LB – Ohio

84. Tyler Luatua – TE – California
86. Jamal Adams – S – Texas

90. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee
91. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
99. Dwight Williams – LB – California
105. Mason Cole – OG – Florida (Michigan)

109. Devon Thomas – RB – Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)

114. Garrett Dickerson – DE – New Jersey

115. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida
127. Elijah Hood – ATH – North Carolina
128. Dexter Wideman – DT – South Carolina

130. Jalen Brown – WR – Arizona
135. Nick Watkins – CB – Texas
140. Jay Hayes – DT – New York (Notre Dame)

149. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona (USC)

155. Bryson Allen-Williams – LB – Georgia (South Carolina)
157. K.J. Williams – WR – Pennsylvania
162. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
163. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey
168. Otaro Alaka – LB – Texas (Texas)
169. Parrker Westphal – CB – Illinois
170. Kyle Berger – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
175. Michael Ferns III – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
176. D’Andre Payne – CB – Washington, D.C. (Tennessee)
181. Demarre Kitt – WR – Georgia
183. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee
184. Montae Nicholson – S – Pennsylvania
192. Andrew Williams – DE – Georgia
201. Steven Parker – S – Oklahoma
207. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan
209. Adarius Pickett – CB – California
211. Kenny Young – LB – Louisiana
215. Juwann Bushell-Beatty – OT – New Jersey
216. Sam Hubbard – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
220. Nic Weishar – TE – Illinois
222. T’Kevian Rockwell – LB – Texas
223. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia
231. Juwann Winfree – ATH – New Jersey
239. Dravon Henry – S – Pennsylvania
242. Petera Wilson – LB – Tennessee
243. Christian McCaffrey – RB – Colorado
245. Erick Smith – S – Ohio
246. Brandon Simmons – S – Texas (Stanford)

Scouting Report: K.J. Williams

Bethlehem (PA) Liberty wide receiver K.J. Williams

Name: K.J. Williams
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 lbs.
Position: Wide receiver, safety
Class: 2014
High school: Bethlehem (PA) Liberty

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin . . . As a junior in 2012, had 59 receptions for 986 yards and 11 touchdowns . . . Rivals 4-star, #22 WR, #193 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #35 WR . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 92 grade, #12 ATH, #163 overall

Strengths: Thick-bodied kid with frame to add significant weight . . . Should easily reach 210 lb. range if he’s 190 now . . . Good speed but won’t blow people away . . . Able to catch passes outside frame of body . . . Good leaping ability . . . Should turn into a good blocker with his frame

Weaknesses: Not particularly elusive . . . Should run with a little more attitude and physicality . . . A bit of a long strider . . . Mediocre route runner . . . Does not set up routes well . . . Does not use hands well to beat press . . . May be susceptible to press man coverage

Projection: Wide receiver. Williams is a good high school athlete but lacking refinement in some areas.  Basically, he looks like a good-sized, fairly fast player in a somewhat simple offense that runs him on a lot of fly routes, a few fades, and a few slants.  He appears to be a physically mature player, which makes me wonder a little about how much room for development there is; the technical things can certainly improve, but he might be closer to his peak as an athlete than some other players.  I think he can be a serviceable player at the BCS level with potential to be more if he can play with more physicality.

Reminds me of: LaTerryal Savoy

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Williams visited Michigan a couple weekends ago and, according to reports, was close to committing.


Highlights: Check out Williams’ highlights on Hudl.

Recruiting Update: April 16, 2013

East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis linebacker Kyron Watson (#32)

COMMITMENT
Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris committed to Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Sugar Land (TX) Fort Bend Austin running back Vic Enwere was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’0″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado, Houston, Michigan State, and Utah, along with a few others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 210 carries for 1,509 yards and 16 touchdowns.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 3-star, the #55 running back, and the #723 player overall.  He’s a big back who I could easily see reaching 225-230 lbs., but he has a little bit of a herky jerky running motion and isn’t a very smooth athlete.

Kenton (OH) Kenton outside linebacker Noah Furbush was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’4″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Bowling Green and Toledo, too.  Furbush’s offer came after a couple outside linebacker targets picked Ohio State, so Furbush appears to be a backup plan.  He’s not currently rated by any of the sites, and in my opinion, he looks more like a Brennen Beyer-style weakside end instead of an outside linebacker.  Kenton is the alma mater of former Michigan target Maty Mauk, a 2012 quarterback who’s now at Missouri.

Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf safety Darrion Owens was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’3″, 225 lb. player with offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina State, South Florida, and West Virginia, among others.  In the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 3-star, the #45 safety, and the #558 player overall.  As a junior in 2012, he had 101 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.  He’s too thick and stiff to be a strong safety in college, in my opinion, but he does have some significant potential as an outside linebacker with his speed and vicious hitting ability.

East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis linebacker Kyron Watson was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’1″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Missouri, Purdue, and TCU, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 142 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.  The offer was extended in the days after Sam Hubbard and Kyle Berger committed to Ohio State, but Watson does not appear to be a SAM prospect like them.  He’s a stout kid with the size and hitting ability of a middle linebacker, or perhaps a WILL.  This may indicate that the coaches are looking for a third linebacker in this class, when it was previously assumed that Michigan would look for just one more guy to pair with Michael Ferns III.

Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson outside linebacker Chase Winovich was offered by Michigan.  He stands 6’4″ and 215 lbs. with offers from Florida State, Miami, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, among others.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 3-star, the #44 outside linebacker, and the #588 player overall.  Winovich has visited Michigan a couple times previously, but it has been presumed that Ohio State and Pitt, at the least, were ahead of the Wolverines.

Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School outside linebacker Richard Yeargin III was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’4″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.  247’s Composite ranking places him as a 3-star, the #34 outside linebacker, and the #458 player overall.  He played at Hollywood (FL) Chaminade, the home of 2014 defensive tackle target Khairi Clark and a few 2012 targets, including QB Jerrard Randall (LSU), WR Curt Evans (Boston College), and safety Jonathan Aiken (Rutgers).  Now Yeargin is transferring to the University School, which Michigan previously targeted with 2013 WR Jordan Cunningham (Vanderbilt) and DT Maquedius Bain (LSU).

OFF THE BOARD
Houston (TX) Cypress Falls outside linebacker Otaro Alaka committed to Texas.  Alaka had not visited Michigan and was not expected to factor into his recruiting process.

Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius outside linebacker Kyle Berger committed to Ohio State.  When Cincinnati (OH) Moeller outside linebacker Sam Hubbard committed to Ohio State last week, that was thought to have helped Michigan with Berger, since both play the same position and the Buckeyes have limited scholarships. However, Berger quickly made his decision to be a Buckeye before he truly ran out of chances, since players like Winovich are also high on Ohio State and play the same position.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel offensive guard Sam Mustipher committed to Notre Dame.  Mustipher had visited Michigan and was seriously considering the Wolverines, partly because of a friendship with the Countess family.

New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine cornerback Jermaine Roberts committed to Texas.  Roberts is a solid prospect, but the prize player from St. Augustine is running back Leonard Fournette, who has offers from just about every noteworthy school across the country.

Mansfield (TX) Timberview safety Brandon Simmons committed to Stanford.  He had a passing interest in the Wolverines, but he had not visited and was expected to stay out west.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of visitors for Michigan’s spring game.