5 Defensive Players to Watch in Michigan’s Spring Game

Tag: 2016 spring game


31Mar 2016
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5 Defensive Players to Watch in Michigan’s Spring Game

Mike McCray 792x

LB Mike McCray II

Michigan held some open practices in Florida and another at Ford Field last Saturday, but for many, the spring game will be the first opportunity to see the Wolverines in person or at least in action. I posted some notes on the defense earlier this week (LINK), and here are the top five defensive players I’ll be watching at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night:

LB/S Jabrill Peppers
It’s no surprise that Peppers would be first on my list. He might not be Michigan’s best defensive player, but his athletic abilities outstrip those of everyone else on the team. Peppers spent most of his time doing drills at SAM linebacker last Saturday at Ford Field, but when the Wolverines lined up for scrimmage action, he also played safety. The 6’1″, 208-pounder will line up at the line of scrimmage in a 9-technique, over slot receivers, or back deep in coverage. There’s reason to believe he will be a big-time playmaker, so prepare to be impressed when things go live.

Hit the jump for four more players to watch.

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29Mar 2016
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Visitors: April 1-3, 2016

Robert Hainsey 765x

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy offensive lineman Robert Hainsey

Please consider helping the blog by purchasing items on Amazon (LINK) or donating via Paypal (LINK). Thanks for your support!

Here’s an early list of visitors for the 2016 spring game, which will take place on April 1. There will be lots of additions (and probably some subtractions), and I expect a good number of local recruits to visit Michigan Stadium for the event. However, local recruits are less vocal about these types of things, because they can hop in a car and drive an hour or two to the stadium, whereas players from far away have to make travel plans ahead of time. It’s shaping up to be a pretty good group so far.

2016 SIGNEES
Camaron Cheeseman
Kekoa Crawford
Nick Eubanks
Chris Evans
Devin Gil
Brad Hawkins, Jr.
Lavert Hill
Nate Johnson
Ron Johnson, Jr.
David Long
Elysee Mbem-Bosse
Eddie McDoom
Josh Metellus
Quinn Nordin
Michael Onwenu
Simeon Smith
Joshua Uche
Tru Wilson

2017
Jordan Anthony – LB – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Anthony is a 6’0″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 outside linebacker, and #133 overall. Anthony is now at IMG Academy with some other Michigan prospects – including Robert Hainsey – but he started off his high school career at Olney (MD) Good Counsel. He is a “maybe” for the spring game if he can arrange transportation.

Markquese Bell – WR – Bridgeton (NJ) Bridgeton: Bell is a 6’3″, 200 lb. prospect who released a top ten that includes Michigan and Rutgers, among others. He also has offers from Florida and Georgia. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #30 athlete, and #364 overall.

Corey Bolds – DE – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Bolds is a 6’3″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Rutgers, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #18 defensive tackle, and #305 overall. He was a teammate of 2016 signee Rashan Gary and is a current teammate of 2017 linebacker Drew Singleton (see below) and 2018 quarterback Allan Walters.

Ellis Brooks – LB – Richmond (VA) Benedictine: Brooks is a 6’2″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #25 outside linebacker, and #292 overall. As a junior in 2015, he made 117 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. He is expected to stay in ACC country to play ball, but shortly after being offered by the Wolverines, he said he would visit for the spring game. That indicates he does have some serious interest in Michigan. UPDATE: Brooks committed to Duke on Thursday, so this visit may not occur.

Hit the jump for several more visitors.
read more

29Mar 2016
Blog, homepage 10 comments

Visitors: April 1-3, 2016

Robert Hainsey 765x

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy offensive lineman Robert Hainsey

Please consider helping the blog by purchasing items on Amazon (LINK) or donating via Paypal (LINK). Thanks for your support!

Here’s an early list of visitors for the 2016 spring game, which will take place on April 1. There will be lots of additions (and probably some subtractions), and I expect a good number of local recruits to visit Michigan Stadium for the event. However, local recruits are less vocal about these types of things, because they can hop in a car and drive an hour or two to the stadium, whereas players from far away have to make travel plans ahead of time. It’s shaping up to be a pretty good group so far.

2016 SIGNEES
Camaron Cheeseman
Kekoa Crawford
Nick Eubanks
Chris Evans
Devin Gil
Brad Hawkins, Jr.
Lavert Hill
Nate Johnson
Ron Johnson, Jr.
David Long
Elysee Mbem-Bosse
Eddie McDoom
Josh Metellus
Quinn Nordin
Michael Onwenu
Simeon Smith
Joshua Uche
Tru Wilson

2017
Jordan Anthony – LB – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Anthony is a 6’0″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 outside linebacker, and #133 overall. Anthony is now at IMG Academy with some other Michigan prospects – including Robert Hainsey – but he started off his high school career at Olney (MD) Good Counsel. He is a “maybe” for the spring game if he can arrange transportation.

Markquese Bell – WR – Bridgeton (NJ) Bridgeton: Bell is a 6’3″, 200 lb. prospect who released a top ten that includes Michigan and Rutgers, among others. He also has offers from Florida and Georgia. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #30 athlete, and #364 overall.

Corey Bolds – DE – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Bolds is a 6’3″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Rutgers, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #18 defensive tackle, and #305 overall. He was a teammate of 2016 signee Rashan Gary and is a current teammate of 2017 linebacker Drew Singleton (see below) and 2018 quarterback Allan Walters.

Ellis Brooks – LB – Richmond (VA) Benedictine: Brooks is a 6’2″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #25 outside linebacker, and #292 overall. As a junior in 2015, he made 117 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. He is expected to stay in ACC country to play ball, but shortly after being offered by the Wolverines, he said he would visit for the spring game. That indicates he does have some serious interest in Michigan. UPDATE: Brooks committed to Duke on Thursday, so this visit may not occur.

Hit the jump for several more visitors.
read more

9Mar 2016
Blog, homepage no comments

Visitors: April 1-3, 2016

Robert Hainsey 765x

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy offensive lineman Robert Hainsey

Here’s an early list of visitors for the 2016 spring game, which will take place on April 1. There will be lots of additions (and probably some subtractions), and I expect a good number of local recruits to visit Michigan Stadium for the event. However, local recruits are less vocal about these types of things, because they can hop in a car and drive an hour or two to the stadium, whereas players from far away have to make travel plans ahead of time. It’s shaping up to be a pretty good group so far.

2017
Ellis Brooks – LB – Richmond (VA) Benedictine: Brooks is a 6’2″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #25 outside linebacker, and #292 overall. As a junior in 2015, he made 117 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. He is expected to stay in ACC country to play ball, but shortly after being offered by the Wolverines, he said he would visit for the spring game. That indicates he does have some serious interest in Michigan.

D’Antne Demery – OT – Brunswick (GA) Brunswick: Demery is a 6’6″, 308 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #24 offensive tackle, and #158 overall. Georgia is the heavy favorite, but Michigan is trying to make headway in the Peach State.

Neil Farrell – DT – Mobile (AL) Murphy: Farrell is a 6’4″, 295 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, LSU, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #32 defensive tackle, and #499 overall. He has not named any favorites, and Michigan has made a pretty strong foray into Alabama since Jim Harbaugh arrived.

Hit the jump for several more visitors.

read more