Recruiting Update: February 25, 2013

Tag: 2014 recruiting


25Feb 2013
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Recruiting Update: February 25, 2013

Naples (FL) Barron Collier defensive tackle Brady Pallante (right, making the tackle)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Paramus (NJ) Catholic offensive tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’6″, 310 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, and West Virginia, among others.  He’s the #25 offensive tackle to 247 Sports.  His teammate is big-time cornerback prospect Jabrill Peppers, who also holds a Michigan offer.

River Ridge (LA) John Curtis wide receiver Malachi Dupre was offered by Michigan.  Dupre is a 6’2″, 190 lb. wideout with offers from Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and UCLA, among others.  He claims a 4.55 forty and is the #59 overall player to 247 Sports.  As a junior in 2012, he had 36 catches for 816 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Greensboro (NC) Page defensive end Lorenzo Featherston was offered by Michigan.  Featherston is a 6’7″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 58 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.  He’s the #21 overall player to 247 Sports and #108 to Rivals.

Naples (FL) Barron Collier defensive tackle Brady Pallante was offered a grayshirt scholarship by Michigan.  Pallante is a 6’1″, 275 lb. prospect with no other offers at this time.  A grayshirt is a scholarship in which the player pays his own way through school for a semester before getting a scholarship once some current players graduate.  For example, as a part of the 2014 class, Pallante would pay his own way through school and not join the football team until January 2015, at which time he would join Michigan’s football team for spring practices and be on scholarship (potentially) from the 2015-2019 seasons.  Despite the lack of a great recruiting profile, Pallante is a solid nose tackle prospect.  What he lacks in size and athleticism, he makes up for in strength and technique.

New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine cornerback Jermaine Roberts was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 5’11”, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, and UCLA, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 47 tackles, 9 interceptions, 13 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery touchdown, and 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns.  Roberts has good speed and change of direction, and he also shows an ability to play physically.  His teammate is fellow Michigan offeree Leonard Fournette, one of the top running backs in the country for 2014.

Westlake (LA) Westlake tight end Jacory Washington was offered by Michigan.  Washington is a 6’5″, 210 lb. prospect who is committed to LSU, and he also has offers from Auburn, Alabama, Texas A&M, and UCLA, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 35 catches for 476 yards and 7 touchdowns.  Washington is keeping an open mind despite being committed to the Tigers.

Bethlehem (PA) Liberty wide receiver K.J. Williams was offered by Michigan.  Williams is a 6’2″, 190 lb. wideout with offers from UConn, Pitt, Rutgers, and South Carolina, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 59 receptions for 986 yards and 11 touchdowns.  He’s a big, physical kid with good speed who could also play safety at the next level.

River Ridge (LA) John Curtis linebacker Kenny Young was offered by Michigan.  Young is a 6’2″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, and numerous others.  He’s a 4-star prospect to both Rivals and 247 Sports.  John Curtis is the alma mater of former USC star Joe McKnight and former Michigan target Robby Green (Alabama).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Manlius (NY) Fayetteville-Manlius tight end Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. was offered by Michigan.  Wheatley is a 6’6″, 235 lb. rising junior who is the son of former Michigan (and New York Giants and Oakland Raiders) running back Tyrone Wheatley.  This is the younger Wheatley’s first offer.  His father is the running backs coach for the Buffalo Bills.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of Michigan’s weekend visitors.

23Feb 2013
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Mailbag: Is Michigan’s roster finally balanced?

Last year I wrote and asked you what you thought of Michigan’s recruiting in terms of needs and balance at each position group against what a prototypical team should expect without regard to the quality of the recruits.

So after another year, my question is the same; how is Michigan doing in terms of bolstering and balancing the team with numbers of players in each position group against a team model with the most desired number of players at each position? Are we getting there? Has Michigan restored the imbalance that existed in some areas (offensive line for example)? 

 Thanks, Mike.

For the first time in several years, Michigan should be at or near the 85-scholarship limit going into the 2013 season.  There will probably be a departure or two between now and then, but this will probably be as close to the number 85 you can get without going over it and joining the ranks of the SEC.  Here’s a look at how the roster compares to an ideal one:

Quarterbacks: 4-5 desired, 3 currently (Devin Gardner, Russell Bellomy, Shane Morris)

Running backs: 6-7 desired, 8 currently (Fitzgerald Toussaint, Thomas Rawls, Justice Hayes, Dennis Norfleet, Drake Johnson, Derrick Green, DeVeon Smith, Wyatt Shallman)

Fullbacks: 1-2 desired, 1 currently (Sione Houma)

Wide receivers: 7-8 desired, 8 currently (Jeremy Gallon, Drew Dileo, Jeremy Jackson, Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, Jaron Dukes, Da’Mario Jones, Csont’e York)

Tight ends: 5-6 desired, 5 currently (Jordan Paskorz, Devin Funchess, A.J. Williams, Jake Butt, Khalid Hill)

Offensive linemen: 14-16 desired, 14 currently (Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield, Chris Bryant, Jack Miller, Blake Bars, Ben Braden, Kyle Kalis, Erik Magnuson, Kyle Bosch, David Dawson, Chris Fox, Patrick Kugler, Dan Samuelson, Logan Tuley-Tillman)

Defensive ends: 7-8 desired, 8 currently (Brennen Beyer, Frank Clark, Keith Heitzman, Mario Ojemudia, Matt Godin, Tom Strobel, Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton)

Defensive tackles: 7-8 desired, 8 currently (Quinton Washington, Jibreel Black, Richard Ash, Ken Wilkins, Ondre Pipkins, Willie Henry, Maurice Hurst Jr., Henry Poggi)

Linebackers: 10-11 desired, 10 currently (Cameron Gordon, Mike Jones, Jake Ryan, Desmond Morgan, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Joe Bolden, James Ross III, Kaleb Ringer, Ben Gedeon, Mike McCray II)

Cornerbacks: 8-9 desired, 10 currently (Courtney Avery, Delonte Hollowell, Raymon Taylor, Blake Countess, Terry Richardson, Reon Dawson, Ross Douglas, Delano Hill, Jourdan Lewis, Channing Stribling)

Safeties: 6-7 desired, 7 currently (Thomas Gordon, Marvin Robinson, Josh Furman, Jarrod Wilson, Jeremy Clark, Allen Gant, Dymonte Thomas)

Kickers/punters: 2 desired, 3 currently (Brendan Gibbons, Will Hagerup, Matt Wile)

Long snappers: 1 desired, 1-2 currently (Scott Sypniewski)

SUMMARY
As you can see from the numbers above, Michigan is at or above the ideal numbers for most positions.  Quarterback, tight end, offensive line, defensive end, and linebacker are a little on the low side, but not dangerously so.  The Wolverines go more than three-deep at almost every position except quarterback, which makes me scratch my head, considering it’s the most important position on the team.  But Coach Hoke said that he wants to take one quarterback per year, and he got his one in 2013 and 2014.  However, they’re still dangerously thin after not taking one in 2012.

On the flip side, Michigan is a little on the high side for running back, cornerback, and kicker/punter.  Coach Hoke has expressed a desire to take numerous running backs in each class, because they can help at other positions (fullback, linebacker, cornerback, safety).  Cornerbacks can help out at wide receiver or slip over to safety.  Ideally, you want to err on the side of caution by having one or two more guys than can play, because then you have some guys playing on the practice squad, redshirting, and being groomed for the future.

Michigan is in pretty good shape going into the 2014 class.  Hoke has not suffered from the attrition and poor recruiting that plagued Rich Rodriguez, so the retention during the last couple seasons has allowed Michigan to get near the scholarship limit.

22Feb 2013
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Visitors: February 22-24, 2013

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake offensive guard Mason Cole

Kyle Berger – LB – Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius: Berger is a 6’3″, 205 lb. outside linebacker with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.  Most analysts seem to think that Berger’s choice will come down to Michigan vs. Ohio State.  He attends the same high school – and is being recruited at the same position – as Michigan’s current starter at SAM linebacker, Jake Ryan.


George Campbell – WR – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Campbell, a 2015 prospect, is a 6’3″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and several others.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 30 catches for 766 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Brian Cole – WR – Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole, another 2015 prospect, is a 6’2″, 180 lb. cornerback with offers from Michigan and Michigan State.

Mason Cole – OG – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: I did a scouting report on Cole a few weeks ago.  Michigan is one of his leaders (along with Notre Dame), if not the outright front-runner.


Shaun Crawford – CB – Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s: Crawford, a 2015 prospect, is a 5’9″, 165 lb. corner with offers from Illinois and Tennessee.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 66 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.  He claims a 4.51 forty and a 10.8 time in the 100 meters.  Crawford attends the alma mater of Michigan offensive guard Kyle Kalis.


Michael Ferns III – LB – St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan late in last year’s regular season, becoming the first member of the 2014 class.  He put together some “Team 135” T-shirts that he plans to hand out/send to each of the other players who commits to Michigan, and he’s combining with quarterback commit Wilton Speight to head up Michigan’s recruiting efforts for the class.


Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6’4″, 180 lb. wideout with offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others.  He’s currently “committed” to Michigan State because he originally intended to play both basketball and football, but he will likely end up elsewhere because he has recently realized that football holds a better career future.


Elijah Hood – RB – Charlotte (NC) Catholic: Hood is a 6’0″, 205 lb. running back with offers from Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, and Virginia Tech, among others.  He will be visiting Michigan on Sunday right after a visit to Notre Dame, his current leader.  As a junior in 2012, he ran for 3,309 yards and 48 touchdowns on just 278 carries.  Hood is neck-and-neck with Joe Mixon for my most desired running back in the class of 2014.


Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6’3″, 225 lb. defensive end with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, and he was committed to Ohio State for a few days recently.  However, he followed that up with visits to the former two schools and decommitted.  As a sophomore in 2011, he had 79 tackles, 15 sacks, and 4 interceptions.

Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. strongside defensive end with offers from Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 63 tackles, 15 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.  Michigan and Notre Dame appear to be the two front-runners.


Wilton Speight – QB – Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight committed to Michigan on National Signing Day.

21Feb 2013
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Scouting Report: Andrew Brown

Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith defensive tackle Andrew Brown
(image via Recruit 757)

Name: Andrew Brown
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 292 lbs.
High school: Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia,  Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, South Florida, Syracuse, Tennessee, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and West Virginia . . . Rivals 5-star, #6 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #5 DE . . . 247 Sports 5-star, 99 grade, #1 DT, #4 overall

Strengths: Big body but not sloppy at all . . . Could carry another 30 lbs. comfortably . . . Quick first two steps . . . Shows effective pass rush moves (club, spin, etc.) . . . Speed and quickness to beat interior offensive linemen consistently . . . Violent tackler who could create turnovers in backfield . . . Shows speed to chase plays down from behind

Weaknesses: Does not use hands well to defeat blockers . . . Needs to improve inside hand placement . . . Has ability to stay low, but does not play low consistently . . . Does not move feet well when engaged with run blockers . . . If he does not beat you with his first two steps, he lacks proper technique and drive to fight through blockers

Projection: Defensive tackle.  He could play defensive end in a 3-4, but he looks more like a 3-tech defensive tackle to me.  Eventually, he should be playing at 310-320 lbs.  He will have to learn some technique, but the athleticism is there to be an elite college defensive tackle.  Wherever he ends up, he will likely play and make an impact early in his career.  I do have concerns about his maturity (he flexes and poses too much, and there have been incidents of his cockiness at camps, too), but that won’t stop schools from recruiting him.

Reminds me of: Delvon Simmons (Texas Tech)

18Feb 2013
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Recruiting Update: February 18, 2013

Arlington (TX) Martin defensive end Myles Garrett

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Ellenwood (GA) Cedar Grove linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams has been offered by Michigan.  Allen-Williams is a 6’2″, 218 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, USC, and lots of others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 99 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.

Arlington (TX) Martin defensive end Myles Garrett was offered by Michigan.  Garrett is a 6’4″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others.  Early in the process, he’s the #36 overall player to Rivals and #81 overall to 247 Sports.  Garrett attends the alma mater of Michigan quarterback Russell Bellomy, 2012 defensive end target Devonte Fields (TCU), and 2013 running back target Kyle Hicks (TCU).

Lithonia (GA) Martin Luther King cornerback Wesley Green was offered by Michigan.  Green is a 5’11”, 168 lb. corner with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and USC, among others.  As a sophomore in 2011, he had 30 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery.

Southfield (MI) Southfield defensive end Lawrence Marshall decommitted from Ohio State.  He committed on Sunday, then visited Michigan State and Michigan, and was de-committed by Wednesday night.  The 6’4″, 215 lb. defensive end has offers from all those schools and several others.  I reported just prior to his commitment that he was a Michigan lean, which I thought to be the case.  Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer supposedly told him that he may not have an offer from the Buckeyes if he left campus without committing, so it sounds like they really put on the full court press.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of 2014 and 2015 prospects who visited Michigan this past weekend.