(image via MGoBlue)
The 2018 recruiting class has wrapped up, and it ended with a resounding thud. While I have yet to assign final TTB Ratings for the class, I will dare to give a grade for the position groups.
Nicholas Petit-Frere (image via 247 Sports)
With the early signing period that took place over three days in December, there’s a lot less hype about this year’s “National Signing Day” on February 7. Personally, I’m not a fan of hyping up the early signing period a week before Christmas, because there’s so much else going on at that time of year. Of course, the NCAA shouldn’t make their rules based on the lives of bloggers, but my personal preference would lean toward a time in February when not much else is happening.
Anyway, for those of you still paying attention to the few players who are still left on the board, here’s a look at some of Michigan’s top targets:
Kevin Doyle
Washington (DC) St. John’s quarterback Kevin Doyle decommitted from Michigan on Sunday afternoon. He had been committed to Michigan since September. Doyle is a 3-star, the #23 pro-style quarterback, and #555 overall. He has other offers from Arizona, Boston College, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Pitt, Syracuse, and West Virginia, among others.
I gave Doyle a TTB Rating of 76 (LINK), comparing him to the likes of Wilton Speight and John Navarre – decent quarterbacks, but not stars.
Doyle did not sign during the early signing period in December, and Michigan had been talking to him about going to prep school for a year and reclassifying to the 2019 class. Doyle had been aware of that plan for a while, but with a decent offer list, it always seemed like it might be difficult to convince him to spend an extra year in school when he doesn’t need it academically. He will presumably sign with another FBS school, although it’s unclear at this moment which program is in the driver’s seat.
Michigan’s depth chart for 2018 now looks like this (listed in order of experience):
Zeeland (MI) East DE Adam Berghorst (image via 247 Sports)
Tariq Reid – RB – Davison (MI) Davison: Reid is a 5’10”, 205 lb. prospect who is committed to Grand Valley State University. He’s a 247 Sports 2-star, the #159 running back, and #2589 overall. He has been offered a preferred walk-on spot at Michigan. As a senior in 2017, Reid ran 141 times for 1,149 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Adam Berghorst – DE – Zeeland (MI) East: Berghorst is a 6’7″, 245 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Michigan State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #38 strongside end, and #469 overall. His brother, Johnathan Berghorst, just finished his freshman year as a defensive end at Central Michigan. Adam Berghorst also visited Michigan last weekend.
Marcel Lewis – LB – Clinton Township (MI) Chippewa Valley: Lewis is a 6’1″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, and Purdue, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #17 inside linebacker, and #519 overall. This is his first visit to Michigan as an offered prospect.
Nolan Rumler – OG – Akron (OH) Hoban: Rumler is committed to Michigan (LINK).
Mazi Smith – DT – Kentwood (MI) East Kentwood: Smith is a 6’3″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #8 defensive tackle, and #120 overall. While Notre Dame has 50% of the Crystal Ball picks right now, I’ve heard Michigan is the leader for him.
Paul Tyson – QB – Trussville (AL) Hewitt Trussville: Tyson is a 6’4″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #6 pro-style quarterback, and #293 overall. He was offered by Pep Hamilton on Wednesday and plans to visit this weekend. As a junior in 2017, he threw for 3,392 yards and 36 touchdowns with just 4 interceptions. As an Alabama native, right now 100% of the Crystal Ball picks are in favor of the Crimson Tide.
Caden Clark – TE – Akron (OH) Hoban: Clark is a 6’4″, 241 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, West Virginia . . . and now Michigan, who offered during his visit. Clark is a teammate of Rumler (see above).
Justin Rogers – OG – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Rogers is a 6’2″, 289 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona and Ohio State, along with several others. He picked up an offer from Michigan on this weekend’s visit.
DeaMonte Trayanum – LB – Akron (OH) Hoban: Trayanum is a 6’0″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and West Virginia. He’s another teammate of Rumler (see above).
Valdosta (GA) Lowndes athlete Michael Barrett
COMMITMENTS
Valdosta (GA) Lowndes running back/quarterback/linebacker Michael Barrett committed to Michigan (LINK). It sounds like Michigan wants him at Viper, where he has a similar frame to the guys who have played that position before him, namely Jabrill Peppers and Khaleke Hudson.
Rochester (MI) Adams cornerback Vincent Gray committed to Michigan (LINK).
Hit the jump for several guys who went off the board, along with some random bits.