Tag: 2020 recruiting

Micah Mazzccua, Wolverine

Baltimore (MD) St. Frances offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua committed to Michigan on Monday evening. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Maryland, Syracuse, Temple, UMass, and Virginia Tech.

Mazzccua is listed at 6’5″ and 289 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 3-star, 5.6 grade
247 Sports: 3-star, 85 grade, #86 OT, #800 overall

Mazzccua was offered by Michigan in late January, and early indications were positive for the Wolverines, especially because he was not getting a ton of attention on the recruiting trail or from other programs. It also helped that St. Frances’s co-head coach is Biff Poggi, a former Michigan staffer and the father of former Michigan fullback/defensive lineman Henry Poggi. It doesn’t hurt that St. Frances linebacker Osman Savage is committed to the Wolverines. Mazzccua (and a bunch of other St. Frances prospects) visited Ann Arbor two weekends ago.

Mazzccua has a good frame, and even though I’ve seen him listed anywhere from 289 to 305 lbs., he looks like he could comfortably carry some more weight. He played in Philadelphia before transferring to St. Frances prior to his junior season, but as a junior, he played some left guard and some left tackle. He shows a willingness to be a relentless blocker, and he plays to the whistle. He’s good at fitting onto double-teams and driving his feet with short, choppy steps.

There are some shortcomings with Mazzccua; some of them are physical, and some of them are technical. He can be a little slow off the ball, especially when working to his outside (left side). That presents a problem with the ability to reach block, but it really presents a weakness when he’s asked to slide in pass protection. He needs to stay lower in both the running and passing game, but especially in pass pro, he opens up the gate too much because he’s slow out of his stance. He also needs to work on his pulling technique.

Overall, Mazzccua has potential as an offensive lineman, but he’s limited. I see him as an offensive guard or perhaps a center. He lacks the foot speed to play on the edge, even though I think he has enough length to play tackle. There are a lot of technical things that he needs to improve. He can get there, but it might take a few years. I see him roughly in the same vein as Stephen Spanellis, although Spanellis had a little more bulk coming out of high school.

Michigan now has seven commitments in the 2020 class, and Mazzccua is the first offensive lineman. The Wolverines took six offensive linemen in 2019. Savage and/or Mazzccua would be the first player(s) from Maryland to sign with Michigan since Spanellis in the 2016 class.

2020 Recruiting Capsule: Oak Park WR Maliq Carr

Name: Maliq Carr
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2020
Offers: Boston College, Central Michigan, FAU, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kent State, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wisconsin
Commitment: Uncommitted

Notes: Claims 4.72 forty, 4.32 shuttle, 29.7″ vertical…Also a standout basketball player…Son of Missouri assistant basketball coach Cornell Mann…Teammate of 2020 offensive lineman Justin Rogers and defensive back Enzo Jennings…247 Composite 3-star, #73 WR, #11 in-state, #405 overall as of 2/20/19

Stats: 21 catches for 815 yards and 9 touchdowns as a junior in 2018…Averaged 21.2 points/game, 12.4 rebounds/game, and 7.9 assists/game in basketball as a sophomore

Strengths: Excellent size…Thick lower body that indicates future growth…Excellent leaping ability…Shows ability to high-point football…Does a nice job of adjusting body to the football in mid-air…Powerful runner after the catch…Good but not elite speed

Weaknesses: Needs to improve quickness in and out of breaks…Needs to learn to sink hips…Needs to sell routes better

Overall: Carr insists that he’s a wide receiver and has no intention of playing tight end, but he may want to rethink that position. Similar statements have been made in the past (see: former Oklahoma Sooner Mark Andrews, who now plays tight end for the Baltimore Ravens) when the writing was on the wall. I don’t see Carr being an in-line, blocking tight end, but I think he would be best served as a flex tight end, which is how Andrews was used at Oklahoma and how Evan Engram was used at Ole Miss. If he accepts that future, his athleticism will carry him through to a successful career. If he insists on playing wide receiver, he will have to improve his game quite a bit, because he won’t create much separation if he doesn’t improve his route running.

Highlights:

2020 Recruiting Update: February 21, 2019

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2020

Sammy Anderson – CB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Anderson is a 6’2″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Indiana, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #59 cornerback, and #799 overall. Michigan recruited Trotwood-Madison regularly several years ago, landing players such as Mike McCray II, but that relationship has dropped off in the last few years.

Landen Bartleson – RB – Danville (KY) Boyle: Bartleson is a 6’1″, 182-pounder with offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #47 running back, and #633 overall. He claims a 4.64 forty, a 4.51 shuttle, and a 35.7″ vertical. In his high school career so far, he has run the ball 318 times for 2,354 yards (7.4 YPC) and 37 touchdowns. He also plays cornerback and could play defense at the next level.

Clark Phillips III – CB – La Habra (CA) La Habra: Phillips is a 5’10”, 178 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and UCLA, among others. He has some fun film to watch with his speed and short-area quickness, and I think he could easily play slot receiver in college, too.

Jerrold Pough – S – Hollywood (FL) McArthur: Pough is a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from LSU, Maryland, and Miami, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #58 safety, and #1068 overall.

OFF THE BOARD

Mookie Cooper – RB – St. Louis (MO) Trinity Catholic: Cooper committed to Texas.

MISCELLANEY

Here’s a list of visitors for this coming weekend (LINK).

Catawissa (PA) Southern Columbia wide receiver Julian Fleming named a final six that does not include Michigan: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State (LINK). This is unfortunate, since Fleming is the #1 wide receiver in the country.

Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf defensive end Chantz Williams recently got a Michigan offer and promptly named a top five that doesn’t include the Wolverines. The list: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and Miami (LINK). I don’t think he’s coming north.

In better news, 2021 Virginia Beach (VA) Princess Anne cornerback Tony Grimes named Michigan to his top group:

Top 15 @RivalsFriedman @HamiltonESPN @Recruit757 pic.twitter.com/UQmGoQOHES

— Tony Gr1mes (@757EliteDB) February 18, 2019

This is Baltimore (MD) St. Frances running back Blake Corum, who visited Michigan last weekend:

Ann Arbor what you think..?〽️ pic.twitter.com/qBabQNmZt9

— #2⃣4⃣BeSavage (@blake_corum) February 18, 2019

Visitors: February 21-24, 2019

One way to support the blog is by making purchases through Amazon from here at TTB (LINK):

2020

Kalil Branham – WR – Columbus (OH) Northland: Branham is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Maliq Carr – TE – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Carr is a 6’6″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #75 wide receiver, and #414 overall. Only two crystal ball picks have come in so far, one for OSU and one for Notre Dame. He wants to play wide receiver in college, but his body may necessitate a move to tight end.

Deontae Craig – DE – Fort Wayne (IN) Culver: Craig is a 6’4″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #25 strongside end, and #522 overall.

Miles Fleming – WR – Columbus (OH) Bishop Hartley: Fleming is a 6’0″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from a few MAC programs. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #74 athlete, and #892 overall. He plays quarterback in high school but will probably be a wide receiver or safety in college.

Drake Heismeyer – OG – St. Charles (MO) Francis Howell: Heismeyer is a 6’3″, 283 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Iowa State, and Missouri, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #27 offensive guard, and #705 overall. He visited Michigan last weekend, but I didn’t find out about it until afterward.

Devin Hightower – LB – Akron (OH) Hoban: Hightower is a 6’2″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, and Michigan, along with a few MAC schools. He transferred from Lakewood (OH) St. Edward after his junior season.

Theo Johnson – TE – Windsor (Ontario) Holy Names: Johnson is a 6’5″, 235-pounder with offers from Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #7 tight end, and #312 overall. His crystal balls are all for Penn State right now.

Cameron Martinez – WR – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Martinez is a 5’11”, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and several others. He’s a 3-star, the #43 athlete, and #515 overall. Though he plays some QB at Muskegon, he is likely to be a receiver or defensive back if he comes to Michigan. His crystal ball is 100% on Michigan.

Kindel Richardson – CB – Canton (OH) GlenOak: Richardson is a 5’11”, 175 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Michigan.

Justin Rogers – OG – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Rogers is a 6’2″, 311 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 5-star, the #1 offensive guard, and #17 overall. He has 53% of his crystal balls for Ohio State and the other 47% for Georgia, but he has visited Michigan a lot lately, including last weekend.

Andre Seldon, Jr. – CB – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Seldon is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Branson Taylor – OT – Elyria (OH) Catholic: Taylor is a 6’6″, 290-pounder with offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Pitt, and Purdue, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #71 offensive tackle, and #670 overall.

Jaheim Thomas – LB – Cincinnati (OH) Princeton: Thomas isa 6’5″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #17 outside linebacker, and #253 overall, although with his size, I think he will probably end up at defensive end in college.

Cornell Wheeler – LB – West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield: Wheeler is committed to Michigan (LINK).

2021

Drapher Cribbs – RB – Kentwood (MI) East Kentwood: Cribbs is a 6’2″, 210 lb. prospect with no offers right now. He played for a very talented East Kentwood team in 2018, so he didn’t get a chance to shine on offense, but he is expected to be a solid prospect.

Branden Miller – QB – Kentwood (MI) East Kentwood: Miller is a 6’4″, 175-pounder with no offers at this time.

2022

Will Johnson – CB – Groose Pointe (MI) South: Johnson is a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a Michigan legacy, as his father Deon was a defensive back for the Wolverines in the early 1990s.

Myles Rowser – S – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Rowser is a 5’10”, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Michigan, Michigan State, and Western Michigan. He’s the younger brother of 2020 Michigan commit Andre Seldon.

Visitors: February 16-18, 2019

2020

Demon Clowney – DE – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Clowney is a 6’4″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #5 weakside end, and #78 overall. 

Blake Corum – RB – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Corum is a 5’9″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia, Maryland, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #18 running back, and #210 overall. 

Luke Hill – CB – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Hill is a 5’11”, 180-pounder with offers from Alabama, Clemson, and Florida, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #7 cornerback, and #59 overall. 

Traeshon Holden – WR – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Holden is a 6’3″, 195-pounder with offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and West Virginia, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #43 wide receiver, and #235 overall. His crystal ball is 100% for WVU right now.

KeAndre Lambert – WR – Norfolk (VA) Maury: Lambert is a 6’1″, 167 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, and others. He’s a 4-star, the #35 wide receiver, and #188 overall. He claims a 4.56 forty and a 36″ vertical. Right now both of his crystal ball picks are for Virginia Tech. He has named Michigan to his top 11.

Micah Mazzccua – OG – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Mazzccua is a 6’5″, 289-pounder with offers from Maryland, Michigan, Syracuse, and Temple. As a transfer from Philadelphia, he’s not quite as highly touted or well known as a lot of the other St. Frances Academy prospects.

Braiden McGregor – DE – Port Huron (MI) Northern: McGregor is a 6’5″, 248 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, and Notre Dame, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #20 strongside end, and #330 overall. His crystal ball is split between the Wolverines and the Fighting Irish.

Justin Rogers – OG – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Rogers is a 6’2″, 311-pounder with offers from Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 5-star, the #1 offensive guard, and #16 overall. His crystal ball is 53% for Georgia and 47% for Ohio State right now.

Osman Savage – LB – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Savage is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Michael Statham – OT – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Statham is a 6’6″, 300-pounder with offers from LSU, Maryland, Michigan, and Missouri, among others. 

Brandon Taylor – DE – Lima (OH) Lima: Taylor is a 6’4″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Michigan State, and South Florida, along with a bunch of MAC schools. 

2021

Clinton Burton, Jr. – CB – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Burton is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Maryland, and Michigan, among others. 

Jimmy Gillette – QB – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: Gillette is a 5’10”, 160 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Aaron Willis – LB – Baltimore (MD) St. Frances: Willis is a 6’0″, 200 lb. prospect who committed to Virginia Tech in September of 2018. He also has offers from Clemson, LSU, and Michigan.