Tag: 2016 recruiting

Visitors: Michigan vs. Penn State

Keisean Lucier-South (image via MaxPreps)

2015
Brian Cole – WR – Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole committed to Michigan in July (LINK).

Javarius Davis – CB – Jacksonville (FL) Ed White: Davis, the country’s #40 running back according to 247’s Composite rankings, was scheduled to officially visit Michigan this weekend but canceled.

Jack Dunaway – DE – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice:

Tyree Kinnel – S – Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Kinnel committed to Michigan in August 2013 (LINK).

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

Keisean Lucier-South – DE – Orange (CA) Lutheran: Lucier-South is a 6’5″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 weakside end, and #23 overall. Lucier-South called Michigan a “dream offer” when he got it, but teams like Oklahoma and USC have been making a push since then. While both teams have been the victim of upsets this season, neither is going through a 2-4 season and/or potential coaching change. This is Lucier-South’s official visit.

Alex Malzone – QB – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Malzone committed to Michigan in May (LINK).

Grant Perry – WR – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice:

Mook Reynolds – CB – Greensboro (NC) Northern Guilford: Reynolds is a 6’0″, 175 lb. prospect who is committed to Virginia Tech. He also has offers from Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Tennessee, among others. He took an official visit to Knoxville last weekend, and this is his official visit to Ann Arbor.

Zach Robertson – OG – Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco: Robertson was originally scheduled to take an official visit to Ann Arbor for the Penn State game, but he has since canceled. He’s the #319 player in the class, according to the 247 Composite.

Auden Tate – WR – Tampa (FL) Wharton: Tate is a 6’4″, 215 lb. Florida State commit; he also has offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and numerous others. Michigan was an early favorite and was in his top group before he committed to the Seminoles, so there’s an outside shot that Michigan could flip him if things go in the right direction for Michigan. Unfortunately, he’s an early enrollee, so an iffy coaching situation would likely spell doom for Michigan’s chances.

Ahmad Wagner – WR – Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Wagner is a 6’6″, 190 lb. prospect with an offer from Kentucky. A teammate of Kinnel’s, he’s also a high level basketball prospect (Iowa and Minnesota have offered). He may fit the profile of the jumbo wide receiver Michigan likes if they find themselves scrounging for wideouts.


Mike Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber committed to Michigan in August (LINK), but he is looking to take other official visits, considering Michigan’s current situation.

Hit the jump for 2016 and 2017 prospects.

2016
Ben Bredeson – OT – Hartland (WI) Arrowhead:

Messiah DeWeaver – QB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: DeWeaver committed to Michigan in June (LINK).

Daelin Hayes – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech:

Lavert Hill – CB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Hill is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, and several others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #22 cornerback, and #228 overall. His older brother, Delano, is a sophomore safety at Michigan.

Elijah Holyfield – RB – Atlanta (GA) Woodward Academy: The son of boxer Evander Holyfield canceled his planned trip.

Joshua Jackson – QB – Saline (MI) Saline:

Khalid Kareem – DE – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison:

Austin Mack – WR – Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Luers: Mack is a 6’2″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #20 wide receiver, and #96 overall. He claims a 4.55 forty but looks more like a possession receiver. He originally had Michigan out front, but now it seems Notre Dame has pulled ahead.

Kalebb Perry – WR – Mt. Pleasant (MI) Mt. Pleasant:

Sean Rattay – C – Toledo (OH) St. John’s:
David Reese – LB – Farmington (MI) Farmington:

Max Richardson – LB – Atlanta (GA) Woodward Academy: Richardson was supposed to attend with teammate Holyfield.

Auston Robertson – DE – Fort Wayne (IN) Wayne:

Eric Rogers – LB – Warren (MI) De La Salle:

Erik Swenson – OT – Downers Grove (IL) South: Swenson committed to Michigan in November 2013 (LINK).

Demetric Vance – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech:

Clark Yarbrough – OT – Woodberry Forest (VA) Woodberry Forest: Yarbrough is a 6’5″, 255 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #17 offensive tackle, and #205 overall. Yarbrough had Michigan in his top couple schools, so Michigan’s coaching situation could have a big impact.

Abdullah Yaseen – CB – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park:


2017
Carter Dunaway – TE – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice:

Corey Malone-Hatcher – DE – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: Malone-Hatcher is a 6’3″, 235 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Ohio State. He’s considered one of the top few players in the state for his class.

Bruce Mann – QB – Bay City (MI) Western:

Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Peoples-Jones is a 6’1″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others.

Willie Rodgers – DE – Saginaw (MI) Arthur Hill:

2018
Jimmy Bell – OT – Saginaw (MI) Arthur Hill:

Recruiting Update: October 8, 2014

2015 tight end commit Chris Clark appears unlikely to stick to his Michigan commitment (image via USA Today)

STATUS OF 2015 RECRUITING CLASS
Here is where I’ll attempt to handicap Michigan’s chances of keeping each 2015 commit in the class:
OG Jon Runyan, Jr.: 99%
K Andrew David: 98%
QB Alex Malzone: 95%
OT Grant Newsome: 90%
S Tyree Kinnel: 80%
WR Brian Cole: 75%
RB Mike Weber: 60%
LB Darrin Kirkland, Jr.: 50%
CB Garrett Taylor: 30%
TE Chris Clark: 10%

OFF THE BOARD
Cincinnati (OH) Elder offensive tackle Tommy Kraemer committed to Notre Dame. Michigan was way late to offer him, so the Wolverines were playing from behind. Combine that with Michigan and Notre Dame’s diverging trajectories, and something like this was pretty much inevitable.

MISCELLANEOUS
Over on Recruiting Season, I’ve added a profile of Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice’s Brian Fortin and updated the profile of Detroit King’s Donnie Corley.

Recruiting Update: October 1, 2014

Theo Howard (image via 247Sports.com)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Lincolnton (NC) Lincolnton defensive end Darian Roseboro decommitted from Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Naples (FL) Naples running back Carlin Fils-Aime was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 175 lb. prospect with an offer from Miami. As a sophomore in 2013, he carried the ball 92 times for 873 yards and 15 touchdowns. He claims a 4.57 forty and a 38.5″ vertical.

Thousand Oaks (CA) Oaks Christian wide receiver Theo Howard was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from San Diego State, UCLA, and Washington State. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #77 wide receiver, and #471 overall. As a sophomore in 2013, he caught 22 balls for 400 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s a shifty receiver who lacks blazing speed.

Hit the jump for players who have committed elsewhere, plus some miscellaneous tidbits.

OFF THE BOARD
Virginia Beach (VA) Ocean Lakes athlete Jaason Lewis committed to Arizona State. Lewis was previously committed to UCLA. I have seen numerous suggestions that his highest upside would be as a linebacker, and I agree, but he reportedly wants to stay on offense. If that sticks, he would probably be an H-back type of player.

Pulaski (TN) Giles County cornerback Cameron Ordway committed to Ole Miss.

Lexington (NC) North Davidson defensive tackle Shy Tuttle committed to Tennessee. Tuttle was one of Michigan’s earliest offers in the class, but he was never particularly serious about exploring the option of coming north.

Coppell (TX) Coppell center Connor Williams committed to Texas. Williams is one of those players who could play any position on the line from tight end to center. Michigan was reportedly looking at him as an interior offensive lineman, and while he showed interest shortly after the offer, he never pursued it further.


MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of visitors from the Minnesota game (LINK).

Over on Recruiting Season, I have updated the profiles of St. Joseph defensive end Corey Malone-Hatcher and offensive tackle Wesley French.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Minnesota

Reisterstown (MD) Franklin offensive tackle Patrick Allen is a Georgia commit (image via 247Sports.com)

2015
Patrick Allen – OT – Reisterstown (MD) Franklin: Allen is a 6’5″, 286 lb. prospect who committed to Georgia in early August. He also holds offers from Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #27 offensive tackle, and #277 overall. This is his official visit to Michigan, the school that supposedly finished #2 to the Bulldogs, despite the fact that he has never been to Ann Arbor before.

Jack Dunaway – DE – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Dunaway is a 6’3″, 212 lb. prospect who committed to Michigan as a preferred walk-on. His father, Craig, is a former Michigan tight end.

Alex Malzone – QB – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Malzone committed to Michigan back in May (LINK).

Tyrone Miller – S – Saline (MI) Saline: Miller is a 6’0″, 178 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan, among others. He camped at Michigan back in June.


Grant Perry – WR – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Perry is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from several MAC schools. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #130 wide receiver, and #1054 overall. He would almost certainly commit to Michigan if an offer comes, but the Wolverines have a small projected class and a pretty good stable of receivers at this point. Statistically, he’s currently the state’s top receiver.


Mike Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber committed to Michigan in August (LINK).

Hit the jump for 2016 and 2017 prospects.

2016
Stefan Claiborne – WR – Clinton Township (MI) Chippewa Valley: Claiborne is a 6’1″, 168 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. Even so, he’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #4 safety, #54 overall, and #1 in the state, mainly due to his ESPN ranking. I have watched his sophomore film and came away impressed, so I think it’s only a matter of times before big schools throw their hats in the ring.

Bailey Edwards – WR – Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Edwards is a 6’0″, 145 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s the younger brother of Braylon Edwards and Berkley Edwards (Minnesota), and he’s the son of former Michigan RB Stan Edwards.

Daelin Hayes – LB – ???????: Hayes is a 6’3″, 225 lb. prospect who committed to USC in July. He originally went to school at Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s and was primed to commit to Michigan in April, but a fleeting move to California and a nice visit to USC earned his commitment. Now Hayes is returning to an as-yet-undecided school Michigan, though he will probably have to sit out his junior season due to transfer rules. That’s not a good thing for a kid who missed most of his sophomore year due to injury, but big schools will continue to pursue him because of his size and athleticism.

Josh Jackson – QB – Saline (MI) Saline: Jackson is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect with no offers right now. He’s the son of running backs coach Fred Jackson and the brother of former Michigan wideout Jeremy Jackson. Jackson sat out a portion of last season after transferring from Ann Arbor (MI) Huron.

Thiyo Lukusa – OT – Traverse City (MI) West: Lukusa is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #24 offensive tackle, #272 overall, and #8 in-state. Lukusa plans to commit on December 1, and Michigan has reportedly been his leader for most of the process.

Blake Roe – DT – Haslett (MI) Haslett: Roe is a 6’2″, 290 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.


2017
Corey Malone-Hatcher – DE – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: Malone-Hatcher is a 6’3″, 225 lb. prospect with an offer from Ohio State.

Josh Ross – LB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Ross is a 6’1″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #2 inside linebacker, #53 overall, and #2 in-state. He’s the younger brother of Michigan junior linebacker James Ross III.

Recruiting Update: September 24, 2014

Janarius Robinson (image via varsitypreps.com)

STATE OF 2015 RECRUITING CLASS
QB: Michigan is set with Alex Malzone.
RB: Michigan is set with Mike Weber, although he’s one to keep an eye on because of some questionable loyalty comments. The Wolverines also have Ty Isaac redshirt, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2015.
TE: Michigan is fine with Chris Clark in the mix, but he’s another guy with questionable loyalty issues.
WR: Michigan should be fine with Brian Cole, since the Wolverines have several receivers redshirting from the 2014 class.
OL: I would like to see the Wolverines add one more player to the mix, along with Grant Newsome and Jon Runyan, Jr.
DE: Michigan needs a weakside end in this class, but they should be set with strongside end Darian Roseboro. The most likely option is Keisean Lucier-South, who has several suitors (UCLA, Oklahoma, etc.). If he is no longer an option, Michigan will probably need to expand its offer board.
DT: Michigan does not need a true defensive tackle in this class, and Roseboro might fill that need in the long run, anyway.
LB: Michigan is stacked at linebacker, and Darrin Kirkland, Jr. adds depth at middle linebacker. Only elite options should be considered, and not many seem to have interest in Michigan at this point.
CB: Michigan is solid at cornerback with Garrett Taylor (though he tore his ACL) and the crew already on the roster, but Marcus Lewis remains a somewhat likely option.
S: Michigan has some good young players at safety, and Tyree Kinnel is having a solid senior year. The Wolverines could use a difference maker here, but otherwise, their numbers are solid.
K/P: Michigan’s kicker (Matt Wile) and punter (Will Hagerup) are both graduating, but the punting job will almost surely be taken over by walk-on Kenny Allen. Meanwhile, Andrew David should take Wile’s spot.

Summary: Michigan is set at most positions with a need at weakside end. Offensive line and cornerback are not needs but desires, and the tight end/running back positions are question marks because the two players committed at those spots are somewhat soft in their pledges.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Cedar Hill (TX) Cedar Hill wide receiver Damarkus Lodge decommitted from Texas A&M. Michigan has no chance here. Interestingly, in the aftermath of the decommitment, Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin talked about how they rotate receivers and publicly said “If you’re scared, you don’t need to play here.” It doesn’t sound like that fence will be mended anytime soon.

OFF THE BOARD
Panama City (FL) Bay defensive end Janarius Robinson committed to Florida State. You can’t really blame him after they win a national championship and then beat a pretty good Clemson team with their backup quarterback. Of course, it helps that you can go there, allegedly sexually assault women, allegedly shoplift crab legs, and still win a Heisman trophy with a staff that reluctantly suspends you – finally – for a game only because the national media crushes the staff. Not that young Mr. Robinson would ever be interested in doing those things, but . . . you know . . . those protections in place don’t hurt.

MISCELLANEOUS
Over on Recruiting Season – which has taken a bit of a back seat with football season in full swing – I updated the profiles of Wes French, Demetric Vance, and Donnie Corley. Corley, in particular, is one that Michigan fans should watch going forward. He’s a 2016 wide receiver prospect with very good skills, although he’s probably headed to MSU.

Here’s a list of visitors from the game against Utah (LINK).