Tag: 2015 recruiting

ESPN 300 for 2015 updated

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake wide receiver George Campbell

The ESPN 300 was updated for the class of 2015. Here’s what it looked like back in July.

Movement for Michigan commits:
– George Campbell jumps from #3 to #2
– Damien Harris jumps from #20 to #17
– Shaun Crawford drops from #49 to #73

1. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota
2. George Campbell – WR – Florida (Michigan)
3. Kevin Toliver II – CB – Florida (LSU)
4. Mitch Hyatt – OT – Georgia
8. Jeffrey Holland – OLB – Florida
9. Terry Beckner, Jr. – DE – Illinois
12. Shy Tuttle – DT – North Carolina
16. Josh Rosen – QB – California
17. Damien Harris – RB – Kentucky (Michigan)
34. Justin Hilliard – LB – Ohio
41. Iman Marshall – CB – California
42. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Ohio
43. Malik Jefferson – OLB – Texas
63. Devonaire Clarington – TE – Florida
71. Sterling Jenkins – OT – Pennsylvania
73. Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (Michigan)
83. Anthony Wheeler – DE – Texas
87. Jaason Lewis – ATH – Virginia
98. Jerome Baker – OLB – Ohio
105. Brian Cole – ATH – Michigan
126. Osa Masina – ATH – Utah
135. Darian Roseboro – DT – North Carolina
137. Jacques Patrick – RB – Florida
139. Joshua Alabi – DT – Michigan
167. Cameron Townsend – OLB – Texas
188. T.J. Wheatley, Jr. – TE – New York
195. Garrett Thomas – OT – Louisiana
196. Jordan Whitehead – CB – Pennsylvania
225. Mike Weber – RB – Michigan
265. John Reid – CB – Pennsylvania
269. Kamonte Carter – ATH – Maryland
272. DuWayne Johnson – CB – Washington, D.C.

Recruit Tracker: Damien Harris

November 15, 2013: Madison Southern beat Harlan (KY) Harlan by a score of 41-28. Harris had 21 carries for 341 yards and 6 touchdowns. He now has 207 carries for 2,530 yards and 41 total touchdowns on the year. Madison Southern is 10-1.

November 8, 2013: Madison Southern beat Lechter (KY) Central by score of 49-6. Harris had 6 carries for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns, caught 2 passes for 21 yards, and had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. Madison Southern is 9-1.

October 25, 2013: Madison Southern beat Stanford (KY) Lincoln County by a score of 49-14. Harris had 8 carries for 191 yards and 3 touchdowns (of 13, 18, and 70 yards). He now has 180 carries for 2,104 yards and 32 touchdowns.  Madison Southern is 8-1.

October 18, 2013: Madison Southern beat London (KY) North Laurel by a score of 56-28. Harris had 14 carries for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus a 70-yard interception return. That brings him to 172 carries for 1,913 yards and 29 touchdowns. Madison Southern is now 7-1.

October 11, 2013: Madison Southern lost to Pulaski (KY) Pulaski by a score of 21-18. Harris had 35 carries for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns. He now has 158 carries for 1,650 yards and 25 touchdowns for the year. This was Madison Southern’s first loss as they fell to 6-1.

October 4, 2013: Madison Southern beat Somerset (KY) Southwestern by a score of 44-6. Harris had 28 carries for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns. He now has 123 carries for 1,393 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season. Madison Southern is now 6-0.

September 27, 2013: Madison Southern beat London (KY) South Laurel by a score of 47-7. Harris had 8 carries for 114 yards and 4 touchdowns. He now has 95 carries for 1,119 yards and 19 touchdowns. Madison Southern is now 5-0.

September 13, 2013: Madison Southern beat Lexington (KY) Dunbar by a score of 21-19. Harris had 20 carries for 146 yards and 1 touchdown, along with a blocked extra point. He left the game around halftime due to what appeared to be a knee injury but did return. He now has 87 carries for 1,005 yards and 15 total touchdowns on the season. Madison Southern is now 4-0. Here’s a video of his 80-yard touchdown run.

September 6, 2013: Madison Southern beat Richmond (KY) Madison Central by a score of 34-27. Harris had 31 carries for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns. He now has 67 carries for 877 yards and 14 total touchdowns on the year. Madison Southern is 3-0.

August 30, 2012: Madison Southern beat Williamsburg (KY) Whitley by a score of 56-14. Harris had 13 carries for 352 yards and 5 touchdowns. He now has 36 carries for 562 yards and 11 total touchdowns on the year. Madison Southern is 2-0.

August 23, 2012: Harris’s Berea (KY) Madison Southern team beat Mt. Vernon (KY) Rockcastle by a score of 41-13. Harris had 23 carries for 210 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns, along with a 2-point conversion and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Madison Southern is 1-0.

Scouting Report: Justin Hilliard

Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier LB Justin Hilliard

Name: Justin Hilliard
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier
Position: Linebacker
Class:2015

Notes: Holds offers from Akron, Alabama, Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Toledo, Virginia, Western Michigan . . . ESPN 4-star, 81 grade, #8 OLB, #145 overall . . . Rivals 4-star . . . Scout 4-star, #6 OLB . . . 247 Sports 5-star, 98 grade, #1 OLB, #17 overall . . . As a junior in 2012, had 65 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble . . . Brother C.J. Hilliard is a class of 2014 running back who committed to Iowa in June

Strengths: Nice frame . . . Body that can hold additional weight . . . Very physical when taking on blockers . . . Has a powerful punch to separate himself from blockers . . . Keeps hands and elbows inside to generate leverage . . . Shows an effective swim move in pass rush . . . Protects his chest by swiveling upper body when side-stepping blockers . . . Very effective hitter . . . Hits with shoulders square and driving feet . . . Solid play recognition skills . . . Shows good field awareness in zone coverage drops . . . Takes good angles to football and stays out of the trash . . . Active hands to bat down passes, strip the football, etc.

Weaknesses: Good speed but not the fastest linebacker around . . . A little stiff in the hips and may not be a great man coverage defender

Projection: Linebacker. I know that’s vague, and it would depend on the system, but I could see Hilliard playing any of the three or four linebacker positions in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. He has good recognition skills, enough to play on the inside. He also has heavy enough hands and a good enough reach to take on tight ends and an occasional lineman as an outside linebacker. He has a relatively lean frame that could see him stay around 225-230 or bulk up to 240-245 lbs. if he wanted. In my opinion, he’s the best class of 2015 prospect in the state of Ohio I’ve seen so far. I see Hilliard as a guy who could come in to just about any program and play early, potentially growing into an All-American candidate and NFL draft pick.

Reminds me of: Clay Matthews

Likelihood of coming to Michigan: Hilliard likes Michigan, camped in Ann Arbor in June, and will visit for the game against Ohio State. The front runners appear to be Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Having a brother at Iowa might be a pull, and the Hawkeyes do develop very good defensive players, but I think he’ll have his sights set higher than that. I have a feeling that Hilliard will not pick the Wolverines in the end, but they’re not out of the running. If I had to take a stab right now, I would say Alabama because I think he would fit well with their defensive philosophy.

Highlights: Highlights can be found on Hudl.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Nebraska

Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central LB Darrin Kirkland, Jr. will be the biggest 2015 fish to fry this coming weekend.

Trevon Avery – CB – Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc: Avery is a 6’1″, 165 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time. Scout lists him as a 3-star quarterback. He’s the younger brother of Michigan defensive back Courtney Avery and attends the alma mater of redshirt sophomore running back Justice Hayes.

Sam Beal – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Ottawa Hills: Beal is a 6’2″, 170 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time.

Ray Buford – CB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Buford is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Toledo, and Western Michigan. He’s the teammate of 2014 Michigan defensive end commit Lawrence Marshall.

Stefan Claiborne – WR – Clinton Township (MI) Chippewa Valley: Claiborne is a 6’1″, 165 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers at this time.


C.J. Conrad – TE – La Grange (OH) Keystone: Conrad is a 6’5″, 225 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Akron, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Toledo. 247’s Composite ranking places him as a 4-star, the #8 tight end, and the #256 overall player for his class. As a junior in 2013, he had 59 receptions for 924 yards and 14 touchdowns. (Highlights.)

Noah Furbush – LB – Kenton (OH) Kenton: Furbush committed to Michigan in July. Here’s a look at his senior season.

Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris committed to Michigan in April. He suffered a hamstring injury in August and has not played yet in his senior season.

Jeremy Harris – DE – Temperance (MI) Bedford: Harris is a 6’3″, 230 lb. prospect for 2014 with no offers at this time. (Highlights.)

Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central: Kirkland is a 6’2″, 215 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Illinois, Indiana, and Louisville, among others. 247’s Composite ranking has him as a 4-star, the #8 inside linebacker, and the #250 player overall for 2015. (Highlights.)

Daelin Hayes – RB/LB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Hayes is a 6’2″, 210 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers at this time. He’s the younger brother of Michigan running back Justice Hayes and attends the alma mater of sophomore linebacker James Ross. (Highlights.)

Joshua Jackson – QB – Saline (MI) Saline: Jackson is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers at this time. He’s the younger brother of senior wide receiver Jeremy Jackson and the son of running backs coach Fred Jackson. Joshua himself transferred from Ann Arbor Huron to Saline in the middle of this 2013 season and was therefore ineligible to play for most of the year.

Thiyo Lukusa – OT – Traverse City (MI) West: Lukusa is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect for 2016 with a lone offer from Michigan State. (Highlights.)

Evan Mallory – OG – Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg: Mallory is a 6’5″, 295 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time. He camped at Michigan in June. (Highlights.)

Corey Malone-Hatcher – DE – St. Joseph’s (MI) St. Joseph’s: Malone-Hatcher is a 6’3″, 205 lb. prospect for 2017 with no offers at this time. (Highlights.)

Alex Malzone – QB – Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice: Malzone is a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect for 2015 with an offer from Bowling Green. He does not appear to be an upper echelon priority for the Wolverines, but he is rumored to be in the running for an offer from the staff if other options fall through. (Highlights.)

Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall committed to Michigan in May. Here’s a look at how his senior season went.

Malik McDowell – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from all over the country, but is generally considered a Michigan lean. 247’s Composite ranking places him as a 4-star, the #3 strongside end, and the #38 player overall.

David Moorman – OT – Northville (MI) Northville: Moorman is a 6’6″, 285 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Illinois. He was at Michigan State last weekend for their win over Michigan and is generally considered an MSU lean if he gets an offer from the Spartans. (Highlights.)

Brent Morris – WR – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect with no offers. He’s the younger brother of freshman quarterback Shane Morris and the teammate of 2014 Michigan commit Jared Wangler.

Giovanni Rescigno – QB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Rescigno is a 6’3″, 220 lb. prospect with no offers. He attends the same school as freshman quarterback Shane Morris and 2014 linebacker commit Jared Wangler. (Highlights.)

Joshua Ross – LB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Ross is a 6’0″, 194 lb. prospect for 2017 with offers from Michigan State and Oklahoma. He’s the younger brother of sophomore linebacker James Ross III.

Grant Sherman – QB – Kenton (OH) Kenton: Sherman is a 6’4″, 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s a teammate of 2014 Michigan linebacker commit Noah Furbush.

Jared Wangler – LB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Wangler committed to Michigan in August. Here’s a look at how his senior season is going, but a separate shoulder has limited him lately.

Maurice Ways – WR – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways committed to Michigan in April. Here’s a look at the recruit tracker post for his senior season.

Scouting Report: Sterling Jenkins

Pittsburgh (PA) Baldwin offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins (image via Twitter)

Name: Sterling Jenkins
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Pittsburgh (PA) Baldwin
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Toledo, Virginia, and West Virginia . . . ESPN 4-star, 82 grade, #6 OT, #75 overall . . . Rivals 4-star OT . . . Scout 4-star, #4 OT . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 95 grade, #6 OT, #84 overall . . . Attends alma mater of former Michigan All-Big Ten lineman Damon Denson

Strengths: Long, lean frame despite already being 305 lbs. . . . Pass protects with a nice, wide base and low center of gravity . . . Displays ability to kick set quickly and maintain good posture . . . Shows active feet and ability to shuffle laterally with defenders . . . Can be an overpowering blocker . . . Difficult for defenders to disengage from once he latches on

Weaknesses: Could improve initial punch to neutralize pass rushers . . . Needs to keep elbows tighter to body and inside frame to increase punch power . . . Run blocks with a rounded back . . . Bends at the waist when releasing to second-level blocks, decreasing his lateral mobility . . . Base can get narrow in run blocking mode

Projection: Left tackle. Jenkins has the natural ability to play blindside tackle at the next level, although he lacks the natural athleticism of the truly elite left tackle prospects. He struggles to bend at the knees consistently, which prevents him from gaining maximum leverage and turning into an absolutely dominant run blocker; that would likely prevent him from playing guard at the next level, especially in a power blocking scheme like Brady Hoke supposedly intends to run. At this stage, Jenkins is a more advanced pass blocker than run blocker. Once he develops his upper and lower body strength, he could turn into a 6’8″, 320 lb. all-conference-level tackle.

Reminds me of: Erik Magnuson.

Likelihood of choosing Michigan: 247’s Crystal Ball has him at 89% Michigan and 11% Ohio State. He visited Michigan in late July, and the coaches appear to be holding off a little bit in pursuit of other 2015 linemen because they seem fairly confident that Jenkins will choose the Wolverines.

Highlights: Jenkins has some highlights from his junior season up on Hudl.