Tag: 2014 recruiting

Maxpreps 2012 Junior All-American Team

Detroit (MI) Loyola defensive end Malik McDowell

Maxpreps released its 2012 Junior All-American team, and it includes numerous Michigan targets.

FIRST TEAM
Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan State)
Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona
Nic Weishar – TE – Illinois
Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
K.C. McDermott – OG – Florida
Braden Smith – OT – Kansas
Demetrius Knox – OG – Texas (Texas)
Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee
Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina
Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana
Jabrill Peppers – ATH – New Jersey

Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan
Edward Paris – S – Texas
Quin Blanding – S – Virginia

SECOND TEAM
Jeb Blazevich – TE – North Carolina
Cameron Robinson – OG – Louisiana
Andy Bauer – OT – Missouri
Mason Cole – OG – Florida

Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia
Dante Booker – LB – Ohio
Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, D.C.

Recruiting Update: December 24, 2012

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake wide receiver George Campbell, Jr. (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2013
Philadelphia (PA) West Catholic offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith was offered by Michigan.  Jones-Smith is a 6’7″, 300 lb. tackle with offers from North Carolina State, Pitt, Virginia, and Wisconsin.  Michigan just offered him in the last few weeks, around the same time they started pursuing Cameron Hunt, Kenny Lacy, and Dan Samuelson.  Since that time Michigan won a re-commitment from offensive guard David Dawson, but the Wolverines are looking to add another lineman, so it makes sense that they would be pursuing guys who can play tackle at this point.  Also, his nickname is “Hamburger.”

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Olney (MD) Good Counsel offensive guard Sam Mustipher was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’4″, 286 lb. prospect with offers from Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and others.  Good Counsel is the alma mater of sophomore cornerback Blake Countess and also the home of former Michigan targets Wes Brown (Maryland), Stefon Diggs (Maryland), Kendall Fuller (committed to Virginia Tech), Jelani Jenkins (Florida), and Dorian O’Daniel (committed to Clemson). (Highlights.)

Pickerington (OH) Central outside linebacker/defensive end Jae’Sean Tate was offered by Michigan.  Tate is a 6’6″, 200 lb. prospect who is committed to Ohio State to play basketball.  The Wolverines are also pursuing him for basketball, so perhaps the coaches are hoping that the opportunity to play both sports could entice him to come north.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
East Lake (FL) Tarpon Springs wide receiver George Campbell, Jr. was offered by Michigan.  Campbell is the younger teammate of a couple class of 2014 offerees, offensive tackle Mason Cole and wide receiver Artavis Scott.  He’s a 6’5″, 198 lb. receiver who had 30 catches for 766 yards (25.5 yards/catch) and 5 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2012.  Campbell also has offers from North Carolina State, South Florida, UCF, and Vanderbilt.  I really like this kid’s film, and I think he’ll be one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2015 class.  (Highlights.)

OFF THE BOARD
Monaca (PA) Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster committed to Alabama.  Foster is widely considered to be an elite talent, but it sounds like he’ll have to spend a year at prep school before qualifying to play for the Crimson Tide.

Mesquite (TX) West Mesquite wide receiver Eldridge Massington

committed to UCLA.  Massington had previously been committed to USC, but they sort of pulled the rug out from under him because of his early-season ACL tear.  He must have really wanted to be in Los Angeles, though, because he committed to their cross-town rival.

USA Today All-USA Football Team

Michigan commit Henry Poggi is First Team All-USA

USA Today selected its All-USA team, and there are several Michigan commits and targets who are receiving national recognition.  Here’s a list of the Michigan targets:

FIRST TEAM
Robert Foster – WR – Pennsylvania (Alabama)
LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Illinois
Evan Lisle – OT – Ohio (Ohio State)
Ethan Pocic – OT – Illinois (LSU)
Laremy Tunsil – OT – Florida
Su’a Cravens – S – California (USC)
Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey*
Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida (Florida)
Peter Kalambayi – LB – North Carolina (Stanford)
Jaylon Smith – LB – Indiana (Notre Dame)
Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia*
Montravius Adams – DT – Georgia
Henry Poggi – DT – Maryland (Michigan)

SECOND TEAM

Derrick Green – RB – Virginia
Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana*
Kyle Bosch – OG – Illinois (Michigan)
Cameron Hunt – OG – California (Cal)
Jonathan Allen – DE – Virginia (Alabama)
Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia*
Joey Bosa – DE – Florida (Ohio State)
Eddie Vanderdoes – DT – California (USC)
Michael Hutchings – LB – California (USC)
Leon McQuay III – S – Florida

*2014 prospect

Scouting Report: Dionte Sykes

Dionte Sykes (image via East Valley Tribune)

Name: Dionte Sykes
Height: 6’4″

Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Gilbert (AZ) Williams Field
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2014

Recruiting Update: December 17, 2012

Westerville (OH) South safety/linebacker/receiver/quarterback Marcus Ball (image via This Week News)

COMMITMENTS
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech offensive guard David Dawson re-committed to Michigan.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech cornerback/safety Delano Hill changed his commitment from Iowa to Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2013
Westerville (OH) South linebacker Marcus Ball

was offered by Michigan.  Ball is a 6’3″, 205 lb. prospect who is being recruited by Michigan as a linebacker, though most other schools have told him they want him as a safety.  Back in November he committed to Wisconsin, where his brother Ray is an offensive tackle (and was recruited by Michigan a couple years ago).  He also has offers from Arizona State, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, West Virginia, and others.  As a junior in 2011, he threw for 1,300 yards, ran for 500 yards, and had 7 interceptions on defense.  He played safety in high school but appears to be a SAM linebacker prospect, and no matter where he ends up playing, I think he would outgrow the safety position. (Highlights.)

Spotsylvania (VA) Chancellor cornerback Chris Holmes was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’2″, 187 lb. prospect who could play boundary corner or safety.  Holmes committed to North Carolina State back in July and holds offers from Clemson, Illinois, South Carolina, and West Virginia.  The Wolfpack just replaced head coach Tom O’Brien with former Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren, so there might be an opening to create a relationship. (Highlights.)

Brantford (Ont.) Pauline Johnson offensive tackle David Knevel was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’8″, 290 lb. prospect who is supposed to announce his college decision on Tuesday, which is reported to be between Alabama, Nebraska, and West Virginia.  It’s unclear whether Michigan’s offer will change that announcement date or factor into his decision, but he has not visited Ann Arbor and has already used all five of his official visits allowed (to the three above schools along with Washington State and Wisconsin).  Of course, Ontario is significantly closer than any of those other schools, so a 3.5- or 4-hour car ride might be feasible.

Arvada (CO) Ralston Valley offensive tackle Dan Skipper was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’10”, 295 lb. prospect who would likely be limited to tackle.  Skipper committed to Tennessee back in June and holds offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Northwestern, and Oregon State, among several others.  Tennessee and the home state Colorado Buffaloes are going through coaching transitions, which might open the door for Skipper to join the class.  Despite the re-commitment of Dawson, Michigan appears to be considering taking a sixth offensive lineman in the class, likely a tackle. (Highlights.)

Belton (TX) Belton tight end Durham Smythe

decommitted from Texas.  Michigan does not appear to be back in the hunt, but it looks like a re-commitment to Texas is probably out the window.  Florida, Stanford, and Notre Dame all appear to be strong possibilities as of now.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Broken Arrow (OK) Broken Arrow running back Devon Thomas was offered by Michigan.  Thomas is a 5’10”, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and others, but he committed to Oklahoma State on Saturday.  Thomas is the teammate of 2014 quarterback Coleman Key, who has visited Michigan and is supposedly on the short list of quarterbacks being evaluated for an offer. (Highlights.)

OFF THE BOARD
Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School defensive tackle Maquedius Bain committed to LSU.  Bain never visited Michigan and was not a serious option at this point, although I do really like him as a prospect.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of players who visited this past weekend.

St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville linebacker Michael Ferns, a 2014 commit, released his junior season highlights.