Tag: 2015 recruiting

Visitors: June 13-15, 2014

St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham defensive end Jashon Cornell (image via 247 Sports)

Several of these players will be in Detroit for the Sound Mind Sound Body camp, but these ones in particular are planning trips up I-94 to see Michigan’s football facilities and meet with the coaching staff.

2015
Jashon Cornell – DE – St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham: Cornell is a 6’4″, 260 lb. prospect with a top five of Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #3 weakside end, and #37 overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 70 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries (1 returned for a touchdown). Cornell recently named Michigan State his #1, but Michigan has consistently been in his top few schools.

Javaris Davis – CB – Jacksonville (FL) Ed White: Davis is a 5’9″, 173 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #45 running back, and #611 overall. He also claims a 4.47 forty. His brother Bryan was a safety at Georgia.

Jeffery Holland – LB – Jacksonville (FL) Trinity Christian: Holland is a 6’2″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, UCLA, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #4 outside linebacker, and #40 overall. He’s committed to play in the Under Armour All-American Game. Holland traveled to Michigan with Davis (above).

Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central: Kirkland committed to Michigan in May (LINK).

Jacques Patrick – RB – Orlando (FL) Timber Creek: Patrick is a 6’3″, 233 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, and USC, along with many others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #2 running back, and #44 overall. As a junior in 2013, he ran the ball 231 times for 2,153 yards and 30 touchdowns. Patrick’s cousin is a coach for Detroit (MI) King whom Jacques visits fairly regularly. The 247 Sports Crystal Ball is 97% in favor of Florida State at this time, and chances are slim that Patrick comes up north to play football.

John Reid – CB – Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s: Reid is a 5’10”, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Rutgers, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #11 cornerback, and #109 overall. He claims a 4.43 forty. Reid is also the teammate of 2015 Michigan offensive guard commit Jon Runyan, Jr.

Auden Tate – WR – Tampa (FL) Wharton: Tate is a 6’4″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and South Carolina, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #38 wide receiver, and #302 overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 49 receptions for 815 yards and 5 touchdowns. He recently released a top group “in no particular order” that had Michigan as the team listed first, which may or may not mean anything. Either way, the Wolverines are in the thick of it, and the 247 Sports Crystal Ball has Michigan with a plurality of votes.

D’Andre Walker – DE – Fairburn (GA) Langston Hughes: Walker is a 6’2″, 218 lb. defensive end with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, USC, and numerous others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #12 weakside end, and #161 overall.


2016
Kjetil Cline – WR – St. Paul (MN) East Ridge: Cline is a 6’0″, 193 lb. prospect with offers from Pitt and Western Michigan. He claims a 4.45 forty. As a sophomore in 2013, he had 630 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

K.J. Costello – QB – Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic: Costello is a 6’4″, 213 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #5 pro-style quarterback, and #139 overall. Costello is one of five quarterbacks Michigan has offered so far in the 2016 class, and he seems the most likely to choose Michigan at this early juncture.

Dylan Crawford – WR – La Canada Flintridge (CA) St. Francis: Crawford is a 6’1″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, Oregon State, Tennessee, UCLA, and USC, among others. He is good friends and will be traveling with Costello, but seems less enthused about Michigan than some west coast schools.

Jovanny Garcia – DT – St. Paul (MN) East Ridge: Garcia is a 6’3″, 270 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State and Minnesota. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #16 defensive tackle, and #118 overall. He’s a teammate of Cline (above) and plays in the same league with Jashon Cornell.

Patrice Rene – S – Ottawa (Ontario) St. Peter: Rene is a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Ohio State, Rutgers, and Syracuse, among others. He is reportedly moving from Canada to Virginia before his junior year to attend Alexandria (VA) Episcopal. Rene camped at Michigan in 2013.

Naseir Upshur – TE – Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep: Upshur is a 6’3″, 232 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #5 tight end, and #166 overall. As a sophomore in 2013, he had 8 receptions for 240 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 40 tackles and 12 sacks as a defensive end.

2017
Jonathan Sutherland – WR – Ottowa (Ontario) Pearson: Sutherland is a 5’10”, 175 lb. prospect with an offer from Rutgers.

Luiji Villian – DE – Ottowa (Ontario) Pearson: Villian is a 6’3″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Minnesota and Rutgers. He attended the Sound Mind Sound Body football camp with teammate Sutherland (above).

Craig Yeast II – WR – Fremont (OH) Ross: Yeast is a 5’11”, 160 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati and Kentucky. He claims a 4.5 forty, a 36.5″ vertical, a 265 lb. bench, and a 415 lb. squat. Yeast is the son of former Kentucky wide receiver Craig Yeast, who at one time was the SEC’s all-time leader in receptions (208) and second-leading receiving yardage leader (2,899 yards) after teaming up with future #1 draft pick Tim Couch. Yeast went on to be a 3rd round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals and played for the Jets before moving on to the Canadian Football League.

2014 Sound Mind Sound Body Camp Attendees

St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham defensive end Jashon Cornell (image via MGoBlog)

The Sound Mind Sound Body Camp will be taking place on June 12th and 13th at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, MI. This event continuously attracts a lot of the top talent in the midwest and some big-time prospects from around the country, too. Lots of college coaches will be in attendance, and the two head coaches of the in-state powers (Michigan’s Brady Hoke and Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio) will both be speaking. Several of these prospects will capitalize on the opportunity to head up the road and see the local universities.

This list includes players who intend to visit. There are too many to profile each one, but an asterisk denotes an offer from the Wolverines.

2015
Joshua Alabi – DE – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech*
Brian Alsobrooks – QB – Livonia (MI) Churchill
Kei Beckham – QB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison
Avonte’ Bell – RB – Lansing (MI) Sexton
Levante Bellamy – RB – Indianapolis (IN) Brebeuf Jesuit
Shahid Bellamy – DT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: committed to Central Michigan
Jamal Brown – S – Chicago (IL) Phillips: committed to Western Michigan
Ray Buford – CB – Southfield (MI) Southfield
Jayru Campbell – QB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: committed to Michigan State
Jordan Colbert – LB – Griffin (GA) Griffin: committed to Auburn
Brian Cole – ATH – Saginaw (MI) Heritage*
Jashon Cornell – DE – St. Paul (MN) Cretin Derham*
Daniel Crawford – TE – Macomb (MI) Dakota: committed to Northern Illinois
Anton Curtis – WR – Detroit (MI) East English Village
Paul Engram – LB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: committed to Western Michigan
Wesley French – OG – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph
Neville Gallimore – DT – St. Catharines (Ontario) Canada Prep Football Academy
Davontae Ginwright – S – Southfield (MI) Southfield
Eric Glover-Williams – CB – Canton (OH) McKinley: committed to Ohio State
Alex Grace – RB – Saginaw (MI) Swan Valley
DaQuan Hawkins – DT – Atlanta (GA) Westlake
Joshuwa Holloman – RB – Avondale (MI) Avondale
Obbie Jackson – WR – West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield
Abdallah Jaffal – LB – Dearborn (MI) Fordson: committed to Western Michigan
Dior Johnson – S – Southfield (MI) Southfield
Shaq Jones – Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep
John Kelly – RB – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central*: committed to Michigan
Alex Malzone – QB – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice*: committed to Michigan
Carter Masek – LB – Grand Rapids (MI) East Grand Rapids: committed to Miami-OH
Armani McNulty – CB – Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Tyrone Miller – S – Saline (MI) Saline
D.J. Moore – WR – Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep
David Moorman – OT – Northville (MI) Northville: committed to Wisconsin
James Morgan – QB – Green Bay (WI) Ashwaubenon
Alec Murphy – RB – Nixa (MO) Nixa*
Alex Mussat – QB – Troy (MI) Troy
Riley Neal – QB – Yorktown (IN) Yorktown
Stanley Norman – CB – Junipero (CA) Serra
Michael Oliver – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Jacques Patrick – RB – Orlando (FL) Timber Creek*
Grant Perry – WR – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice
Kyle Pugh – LB – Chicago (IL) Bloom
T.J. Rahming – WR – Powder Springs (GA) McEachern
Reggie Rogers – S – Massillon (OH) Washington
Romello Ross – RB – Detroit (MI) Western
Matt Skibinski – OT – Livonia (MI) Churchill: committed to Miami-OH
Tyson Smith – CB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: committed to Michigan State
Equanimeous St. Brown – WR – Anaheim (CA) Servite
Kyonta’ Stallworth – OT – Detroit (MI) King: committed to Michigan State
Jayson Stanley – WR – Fairburn (GA) Creekside
Immanuel Stinson – DE – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Damon Terry – WR – Lansing (MI) Everett: committed to Central Michigan
Tyriq Thompson – LB – Detroit (MI) King*
Brandon Tiassum – DT – Indianapolis (IN) Park Tudor: committed to Notre Dame
D’Andre Walker – DE – Fairburn (GA) Langston Hughes
Mike Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech*
Delvin Weems – RB – Tucker (GA) Tucker: committed to Marshall
Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. – TE – Canisius (NY) Manlius*
Darryl Williams – OT – Bessemer (AL) City
Preston Williams – WR – Hampton (GA) Lovejoy*

2016
Hassan Belton – LB – Blythewood (GA) Bluthewood
Messiah DeWeaver – QB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison
Matt Falcon – RB – Southfield (MI) Southfield
Jojo Garcia – DT – Woodbury (MN) East Ridge
Seth Green – QB – Woodbury (MN) East Ridge
Dele’ Harding – LB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy
Mecole Hardman – CB – Elberton (GA) Elbert County
Daelin Hayes – LB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s*
Jesse Johnson – S – Detroit (MI) King
Juanye Johnson – OG – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon
Thiyo Lukusa – OT – Traverse City (MI) West*
Jalen Martin – WR – Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy
Ostell Martin – OT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Michael Onwenu – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Kalebb Perry – WR – Mount Pleasant (MI) Mount Pleasant
Martell Pettaway – RB – St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake
David Reese – LB – Farmington (MI) Farmington
Patrice Rene – S – Ottawa (Ontario) St. Peter
Naseir Upshur – WR – Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep*

2017
Donovan Johnson – CB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Emani Mason – OT – Detroit (MI) East English Village
Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Joshua Ross – LB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s*
Jamyest Williams – RB – Archer (GA)

Grant Newsome, Wolverine

Grant Newsome (image via 247 Sports)

Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School offensive tackle Grant Newsome committed to Michigan this morning. His other top choice was Penn State, and he also held offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others.

Newsome is listed at 6’6″ or 6’7″ and 280-290 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #25 OT, #235 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #21 OT, #199 overall
Scout: 4-star, #20 OT, #215 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #22, #192 overall

Newsome, who is originally from McLean, VA, attends private school in New Jersey. He was offered just before National Signing Day 2014, which immediately catapulted the Wolverines up near the top of his list. In the meantime, he took visits to some east coast and midwest schools, including a couple to Ann Arbor and a couple to Penn State. His most recent visit to Penn State allegedly included a message from head coach James Franklin that Brady Hoke would not be Michigan’s coach by 2015, which rubbed Newsome the wrong way a little bit. He went ahead and publicly committed to Michigan via Twitter, where he posted a letter thanking various family members and coaches.

I wrote up an in-depth scouting report on Newsome back in March (LINK), so there’s not much to add regarding his playing style.

As for how he fits at Michigan, the Wolverines are somewhat low on tackles. Redshirt sophomore Erik Magnuson will presumably hold the job for the remainder of his career, which takes us through 2016. After him on the left tackle depth chart is redshirt freshman Logan Tuley-Tillman or true freshmen Juwann Bushell-Beatty and Mason Cole. I believe Bushell-Beatty and Cole will be best suited playing guard or right tackle, but they are possibilities to succeed Magnuson. Tuley-Tillman could also play right tackle. Out of that group, Newsome fits the blind-side tackle prototype best, and he could be starting by his redshirt sophomore year in 2017.

Newsome gives Michigan seven commits in the class of 2015, which is currently scheduled to consist of twelve players. He is also the second lineman, joining guard/center prospect Jon Runyan, Jr. The Wolverines have been handing out several offers along the offensive line over the past couple months, so I would expect them to continue recruiting the line.

TTB Rating: 84 (ratings explanation)

Highlights are available on Hudl.

Recruiting Update: June 9, 2014

Warren (OH) Harding center James Daniels (image via 247 Sports)

COMMITMENT
USC transfer Ty Isaac committed to Michigan (LINK). MGoVideo put together a reel of all of Isaac’s touches at USC last year (LINK), and it’s tough not to be impressed with what Isaac brings to the table. He had a better offensive line at USC last year than what Michigan’s backs had in 2013, but he still has a knack for breaking tackles and falling forward.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Corona (CA) Santiago quarterback Blake Barnett decommitted from Notre Dame. The 247 Composite #65 player in the nation is likely to choose Oregon sooner or later.

Warren (OH) Harding center James Daniels was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 282 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and UCLA, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #9 center, and #584 overall. Daniels is that rare center prospect who actually plays center in high school, and he looks like a good one for Michigan’s style of offense. His brother, Leshun Daniels II, is a running back for the Hawkeyes, and James’s father played for Iowa, too. Despite Michigan having a good amount of success at Harding (Mario Manningham, Prescott Burgess, Carl Diggs), it looks like James will pick the Buckeyes or Hawkeyes.

Sacramento (CA) Grant Union offensive guard Darrin Paulo was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 344 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #41 offensive guard, and #593 overall. Paulo plays tackle in high school, but several schools see him as a guard, which is where I also think he fits best. He has stated that he wants to stay close to home, so Michigan’s chances are slim.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist quarterback Shea Patterson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect who committed to Arizona in December 2012; he now has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Clemson, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #2 pro-style quarterback, and #57 overall in his class. As a sophomore in 2013, he completed 138/223 passes for 2,655 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions while running 74 times for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns. Patterson plays in a spread offense that emphasizes his passing skills, which include good arm strength and very good accuracy. He’s not a great runner, but he’s athletic enough to move the chains when necessary. Patterson plans to visit Michigan this summer and seems excited about the offer. Where he ends up is anybody’s guess, but I do not believe he will remain committed to Arizona.

Virginia Beach (VA) Ocean Lakes cornerback Levonta Taylor was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #3 cornerback, and #46 overall. He claims a 4.32 forty, a 40″ vertical, a 4.09 shuttle, a 275 lb. bench, a 520 lb. deadlift, a 405 lb. squat, and a 10’6″ broad jump, all of which add up to make him quite an impressive athlete if those numbers are close to being true. As a sophomore in 2013, he made 48 tackles, 7 interceptions (1 touchdown), 10 pass breakups, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble. On film Taylor is a blazer with good ball skills and hitting ability.

Suffolk (VA) Lakeland linebacker Jaquan Yulee was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 258 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #9 outside linebacker, and #142 overall. He claims a 4.92 forty, a 275 lb. bench, and a 500 lb. squat. Yulee played inside linebacker for his high school team last year, but he looks to me like a LaMarr Woodley or Brandon Graham type of player who will transition to defensive end in college.

OFF THE BOARD
Richmond (VA) Benedictine defensive end Clelin Ferrell committed to Clemson. This is a bit of a blow to Michigan’s recruit efforts as they have developed a foothold in Virginia over the past couple years, including guys like Derrick Green, Wilton Speight, and Garrett Taylor. The Wolverines are also in need of weakside end types unless they plan to put Noah Furbush there, because Frank Clark graduates after the upcoming season, leaving just Mario Ojemudia (a senior in 2015) and Lawrence Marshall (sophomore or redshirt freshman) at the position. Ferrell is also a teammate of 2016 wide receiver Scott Bracey, who holds a Michigan offer.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of visitors from this past week (LINK).

The Rivals 100 Five-Star Challenge took place in Baltimore this past weekend (LINK).

Orlando (FL) Timber Creek running back Jacques Patrick is in town for the week leading up to the Sound Mind Sound Body camp next week. Patrick’s cousin is a coach at Detroit (MI) King and perhaps the biggest reason that Michigan might have a shot at Jacques, who is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #2 running back, and #44 overall in the 2015 class. As a junior in 2013, he carried the ball 231 times for 2,153 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Visitors: June 6-8, 2014

Ty Isaac

TRANSFER
Ty Isaac – RB – Joliet (IL) Catholic: Isaac, who is visiting on Tuesday, is a transfer prospect from USC. He was offered as part of the 2013 class and was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 all-purpose back, and #54 overall. As a true freshman, he carried the ball 40 times for 236 yards (5.9 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns, but there are three Trojan running backs returning who were ahead of him on the depth chart last season. Furthermore, Isaac has an ill mother, so he wants to play closer to home. Northwestern and Northern Illinois are both within the 100-mile radius the NCAA has established for players hoping to get a waiver to play immediately; otherwise, he would have to sit out the 2014 season. Illinois, Michigan, and Notre Dame are the other three schools supposedly in competition, but he would have to sit out the 2014 season and wait until 2015 to be eligible. Michigan nabbed Derrick Green and De’Veon Smith in the 2013 class, but more competition would be welcome for a team that is still looking for someone to step up and grab the starting running back job by the horns. Here is my scouting report on Isaac from when he was in high school (LINK). He’s now up to 6’3″, 225 lbs. UPDATE: Isaac committed to Michigan (LINK).

2015
Grant Newsome – OT – Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School: I wrote up a scouting report on Newsome back in March (LINK). He has since picked up an offer from Tennessee, but the general line of thinking is that he is currently trying to decide between Michigan and Penn State. This will be Newsome’s second visit to Michigan.

Michael Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber has been on Michigan’s radar for a long time. The 247 Composite 4-star, #9 running back, and #90 overall player recently named a top five that included Michigan, but he also listed a top three inside the top five that did not include the Wolverines.

2016
Justin Layne – WR – Cleveland (OH) Benedictine: Layne is a 6’3″, 173 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, and West Virginia. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #18 wide receiver, and #88 overall. He claims a 4.44 forty time. Layne will be visiting Ann Arbor for a basketball camp, but he will also be visiting Michigan’s football facilities with the coaches. The Wolverines are pursuing Layne’s teammate, 2015 linebacker Jerome Baker, but Baker is thought to be leaning toward Ohio State.