Tag: Amara Darboh

Final Rivals 250 Released for 2012

Joe Bolden is the nation’s 111th-best player

Rivals released its Rivals 250 on Wednesday.  This comes on the heels of yesterday’s Rivals 100, which I discussed yesterday.  Here’s what it looked like in May 2011, August 2011, and then November 2011.

Michigan commits have made the following moves since November:

– Joe Bolden moved from #152 to #111
– James Ross dropped from #163 to #172
– Royce Jenkins-Stone dropped slightly from #182 to #184
– Amara Darboh dropped from #208 to #215
– Terry Richardson dropped from #217 to #224

There are still a couple weeks remaining to recruit class of 2012 kids, but at this point, Michigan has offered 115 of the top 250 (or 46%) players in the country.  During the last recruiting cycle, Michigan offered 84 of the top 250 players (or 33.6%).  Brady Hoke has sent out 190 reported offers this season, while Rodriguez (with a small dose of Hoke at the end) offered 195 kids in the 2011 recruiting class.  This supports my opinion that I’ve held since last spring that Brady Hoke is targeting a higher level of talent than Rich Rodriguez did during his tenure.

Here are the rest of Michigan’s 2012 offerees on the Rivals 250:

103. Aaron Burbridge – WR – Michigan (Michigan State)
105. Dillon Lee – LB – Georgia (Alabama)
111. Joe Bolden – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
113. Elijah Shumate – S – New Jersey (Notre Dame)
127. Peter Jinkens – LB – Texas (Texas)
128. Scott Starr – LB – California (USC)
130. Drae Bowles – WR – Tennessee (Tennessee)
133. Keith Brown – LB – Florida (Louisville)
137. John Michael McGee – OG – Texas (Oklahoma)
138. Bri’onte Dunn – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
147. Paul Thurston – OT – Colorado (Nebraska)
148. Evan Boehm – OG – Missouri (Missouri)
149. Dalvin Tomlinson – DT – Georgia
153. Dan Voltz – OT – Illinois (Wisconsin)
154. Pharaoh Brown – DE – Ohio (Oregon)
158. Sean Price – TE – Florida (South Florida)
159. David Perkins – ATH – Indiana (Ohio State)
161. Danny O’Brien – DT – Michigan (Tennessee)
163. Ty Darlington – C – Florida (Oklahoma)
164. Dwayne Stanford – WR – Ohio (Oregon)
165. Jake Rodrigues – QB – California (Oregon)
166. Leonte Carroo – WR – New Jersey (Rutgers)
167. Camren Williams – LB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
169. Deontay McManus – WR – Maryland (West Virginia)
170. Devonte Fields – DE – Texas (TCU)
171. Dominique Wheeler – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
172. James Ross – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
173. Jaleel Johnson – DT – Illinois (Iowa)
175. Michael Starts – DE – Texas (Texas Tech)
178. Kyle Dodson – OT – Ohio (Wisconsin)
184. Royce Jenkins-Stone – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
188. Wes Brown – RB – Maryland (Maryland)
189. Taylor McNamara – TE – California (Oklahoma)
190. Matt Jones – RB – Florida (Florida)
191. Michael Moore – DE – Maryland (Virginia)
192. Greg McMullen – DE – Ohio (Nebraska)
193. Warren Ball – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
195. Jonathan Williams – RB – Texas (Arkansas)
199. Jarron Jones – DT – New York (Notre Dame)
203. Adam Bisnowaty – OT – Pennsylvania (Pitt)
209. Ken Ekanem – LB – Virginia
212. Shane Callahan – OT – Colorado (Auburn)
215. Amara Darboh – WR – Iowa (Michigan)
216. Derrick Woods – WR – California (Oklahoma)
218. Latroy Pittman – WR – Florida (Florida)
219. Armani Reeves – CB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
221. Taylor Decker – OT – Ohio (Ohio State)
222. Kenny Lawler – CB – Washington, D.C.
224. Terry Richardson – CB – Michigan (Michigan)
226. Darius Powe – WR – California (Cal)
230. Jody Fuller – WR – North Carolina (South Carolina)
237. Reginald Davis – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
239. Troy Hinds – DE – Utah (BYU)
244. Sheldon Day – DT – Indiana (Notre Dame)
246. Jason Croom – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)
247. Avery Johnson – WR – Florida (LSU)
249. Faith Ekakitie – DT – Illinois (Iowa)

Michigan offerees who fell out of the top 250 are:
– Indiana QB Zeke Pike (Auburn)
– Arizona QB Connor Brewer (Texas)
– North Carolina OT Brock Stadnik (South Carolina)
– Louisiana OT Derek Edinburgh (LSU)
– South Carolina DE Martin Aiken (Clemson)
– Tennessee RB I’Tavius Mathers (Ole Miss)
– Colorado OG Alex Kozan

Final Scout 300 Released for 2012

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s Kyle Kalis is Michigan’s top-rated player to Scout

The Scout 300 was released on Wednesday.  For a refresher on where kids used to be ranked, check out this post from April.

Michigan commits are in the following slots:

• 35. Kyle Kalis
• 65. Ondre Pipkins
• 69. Joe Bolden
• 82. Erik Magnuson
• 83. James Ross
• 93. Tom Strobel
• 111. Royce Jenkins-Stone
• 162. Mario Ojemudia
• 164. Chris Wormley
• 183. Terry Richardson
• 205. Amara Darboh
• 221. Devin Funchess
• 225. A.J. Williams
• 249. Jarrod Wilson

Michigan has offered 133 of these 300 players (44.3%).  As is the custom ’round these parts, here’s a look at Michigan offerees in Scout’s final 300:

5-stars:
1. Dorial Green-Beckham – WR – Missouri
2. Arik Armstead – OT – California
3. Shaq Thompson – S – California (Cal)
4. Mario Edwards – DE – Texas (Florida State)
5. Noah Spence – DE – Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
6. Stefon Diggs – WR – Maryland
7. John Theus – OT – Florida (Georgia)
9. Ronald Darby – CB – Maryland
10. Adolphus Washington – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
11. D.J. Humphries – OT – Florida (Florida)
12. Keith Marshall – RB – North Carolina (Georgia)
14. Kyle Murphy – OT – California
19. Jordan Jenkins – DE – Georgia (Georgia)
20. Darius Hamilton – DE – New Jersey
23. Ellis McCarthy – DT – California (Cal)
25. Brian Poole – CB – Florida (Florida)
26. Eli Harold – DE – Virginia (Virginia)
27. Avery Young – OT – Florida
31. Eddie Goldman – DT – Washington, D.C.
32. Bri’onte Dunn – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
35. Kyle Kalis – OT – Ohio (Michigan)
38. Gunner Kiel – QB – Indiana (LSU)
39. Tee Shepard – CB – California (Notre Dame)
42. Joshua Garnett – OG – Washington
43. Bryce Treggs – WR – California (Cal)
45. Cyrus Jones – WR – Maryland (Alabama)
47. Jordan Diamond – OT – Illinois
48. Tommy Schutt – DT – Illinois
50. Sheldon Day – DT – Indiana (Notre Dame)

4-stars:
51. Andrus Peat – OT – Arizona
52. Kwon Alexander – LB – Alabama
55. Elijah Shumate – LB – New Jersey (Notre Dame)
58. Se’von Pittman – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
61. Nelson Agholor – S – Florida
62. Jordan Simmons – OG – California (USC)
63. Aaron Burbridge – WR – Michigan (Michigan State)
65. Ondre Pipkins – DT – Missouri (Michigan)
68. Michael Starts – OG – Texas (Texas Tech)
69. Joe Bolden – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
72. Zach Banner – OT – Washington
73. Kent Taylor – TE – Florida (Florida)
75. Ifeadi Odenigbo – DE – Ohio (Northwestern)
76. Jonathan Taylor – DT – Georgia (Georgia)
77. Taylor Decker – OT – Ohio (Notre Dame)
78. Javonte Magee – DE – Texas
79. Armani Reeves – CB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
82. Erik Magnuson – OT – California (Michigan)
83. James Ross – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
84. Leonte Carroo – WR – New Jersey (Rutgers)
85. LaDarrell McNeil – S – Texas (Tennessee)
88. Devin Fuller – QB – New Jersey
91. Wes Brown – RB – Maryland (Maryland)
92. Marcus Maye – S – Florida (Florida)
93. Tom Strobel – DE – Ohio (Michigan)
95. Jordan Payton – WR – California (Cal)
96. Max Tuerk – OG – California (USC)
99. Dan Voltz – OG – Illinois (Wisconsin)
100. Jaquay Williams – WR – Georgia (Auburn)
104. D.J. Foster – RB – Arizona
105. Durron Neal – WR – Missouri (Oklahoma)
111. Royce Jenkins-Stone – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
116. Evan Boehm – C – Missouri (Missouri)
119. Devonte Fields – DE – Texas (TCU)
122. Geno Smith – CB – Georgia (Alabama)
123. Zach Kline – QB – California (Cal)
124. Greg Garmon – RB – Pennsylvania (Iowa)
127. J.J. Denman – OT – Pennsylvania (Wisconsin)
128. Ryan Watson – OG – Maryland (Virginia)
129. Brock Stadnik – OT – North Carolina (South Carolina)
130. Paul Thurston – OT – Colorado (Nebraska)
135. Peter Jinkens – LB – Texas (Texas)
137. Matt Jones – RB – Florida (Florida)
139. Jabari Ruffin – LB – California (USC)
145. Scott Starr – LB – California (USC)
146. Yuri Wright – CB – New Jersey
153. Reginald Davis – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
159. Monty Madaris – WR – Ohio
162. Mario Ojemudia – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
164. Chris Wormley – DE – Ohio (Michigan)
167. John Michael McGee – OG – Texas (Oklahoma)
170. Dillon Lee – LB – Georgia (Alabama)
172. Camren Williams – LB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
173. Jonathan Williams – RB – Texas (Arkansas)
175. Sean Price – TE – Florida
176. Raphael Kirby – LB – Georgia (Miami)
178. Faith Ekakitie – DT – Illinois (Iowa)
181. Kyle Dodson – OT – Ohio (Wisconsin)
182. Dalton Santos – LB – Texas (Tennessee)
183. Terry Richardson – CB – Michigan (Michigan)
185. D.J. Singleton – S – New Jersey (Wisconsin)
188. Troy Hinds – DE – Utah (BYU)
191. Aziz Shittu – DT – California
192. Nick Davidson – OT – Minnesota (Stanford)
193. Deaysean Rippy – LB – Pennsylvania
196. Warren Ball – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
198. Derrick Woods – S – California (Oklahoma)
199. Martin Aiken – DE – South Carolina (Clemson)
200. Connor Brewer – QB – Arizona (Texas)
202. Ken Ekanem – DE – Virginia
205. Amara Darboh – WR – Iowa (Michigan)
209. Keith Brown – LB – Miami (Louisville)
212. David Perkins – LB – Indiana
214. Jalen Overstreet – S – Texas (Texas)
217. Deontay McManus – WR – Maryland (West Virginia)
219. Kendall Sanders – CB – Texas (Texas)
221. Devin Funchess – TE – Michigan (Michigan)
222. Dominique Wheeler – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
223. Vince Biegel – LB – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
225. A.J. Williams – OT – Ohio (Michigan)
229. Jarron Jones – OT – New York (Notre Dame)
231. Deon Bush – S – Florida (Miami)
232. Derek Edinburgh – OT – Louisiana (LSU)
236. Evan Baylis – TE – Colorado (Oregon)
240. Maty Mauk – QB – Ohio (Missouri)
242. Tyler Orlosky – OG – Ohio (West Virginia)
243. J.P. Holtz – TE – Pennsylvania
244. Tyriq McCord – DE – Florida (Miami)
245. Jarrod Wilson – S – Ohio (Michigan)
247. Drew Harris – RB – Pennsylvania
250. Dalvin Tomlinson – DT – Georgia
251. Michael Moore – DE – Maryland (Penn State)
255. Danny O’Brien – DT – Michigan (Tennessee)
264. Ty Darlington – C – Florida (Oklahoma)
270. Avery Johnson – WR – Florida (LSU)
277. Kenny Lawler – CB – Washington, D.C.
278. Jaleel Johnson – DT – Illinois (Iowa)
280. Jason Croom – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)
282. Zeke Pike – QB – Kentucky (Auburn)
285. Jake Rodrigues – QB – California (Oregon)
286. Pharaoh Brown – TE – Ohio (Oregon)
287. Hiva Lutui – C – California
292. Devan Bogard – S – Ohio (Ohio State)
297. Vonte Jackson – RB – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
298. Ron Thompson – TE – Michigan (Syracuse)
299. Shane Callahan – OT – Colorado (Auburn)

Amara Darboh, Wolverine

Amara Darboh

West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic wide receiver Amara Darboh committed to Michigan on Sunday.  He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, among others.

Darboh is 6’2″ and 190 lbs. with a 4.42-second time in the forty yard dash and a 4.28-second time in the 20-yard shuttle.  As a senior he played in only seven games due to a shoulder injury, but he grabbed 48 passes for 765 yards and 11 touchdowns.  As a junior in 2010, Darboh had 49 receptions for 646 yards and 6 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 78 rating, #77 WR
Rivals: 4-star, #31 WR, #208 overall
Scout: 4-star, #33 WR, #206 overall
24/7 Sports: 4-star, 93 rating, #19 WR, #191 overall

Darboh visited unofficially back in the summer, but his official visit happened during Michigan’s 40-34 victory over Ohio State last week.  There was a time when Notre Dame looked to be the leader for his services, but he was reportedly turned off by some of head coach Brian Kelly’s antics early in the season when Kelly was seen blowing up on the sidelines.  (In case you’re counting, that’s at least two Michigan recruits who didn’t appreciate Kelly’s attitude; freshman running back Justice Hayes was the other.)

Darboh is a solid but unspectacular wide receiver prospect.  He has good size, which should serve him well in the Big Ten and in Al Borges’s pro-style offense.  He shows the ability to high point the ball and catch passes away from his body.  He shows some elusiveness and has above average speed, but viewers of his highlights should remember that he plays in the state of Iowa for a Catholic school with an enrollment of roughly 1,300.  The competition level in these highlights is somewhat questionable.  Darboh also looks like a willing and able blocker who should be helpful in the running game.

There are few glaring faults in Darboh’s game, at least not major ones that won’t be coached.  I would like to see him get off the line quicker; he needs to work on his footwork and explosion.  I would also like to see him create more separation on his routes.  He’s not a lazy route runner, but there are times when he could create more of a window for the quarterback to throw.  Once he realizes that college cornerbacks will be quick enough to stay with him, he should get a feel for those nuances.  Darboh also has a tendency to catch the ball with his body whenever possible.  I would like to see him snatch the ball out of the air with more consistency.

Overall, Darboh looks like he should be a productive wide receiver at Michigan.  As long as the Wolverines can field quarterbacks who can distribute the ball to their receivers with consistency, Darboh could very well be a 1,000-yard receiver in a few years.  The closest comparison I see is to Adrian Arrington, who just happens to be the last Iowan to come to Michigan.  Arrington had good size, good speed, and good leaping ability, but his best quality was the skill to make difficult, acrobatic catches.

Darboh is the 24th commitment in the 2012 recruiting class and the first wide receiver.  Michigan is expected to take one more receiver, perhaps coming from the pool of Jordan Payton, Jehu Chesson, and Stefon Diggs.

TTB Rating: 80 (ratings explanation)

Visitors for the Ohio State Game

Shane Morris, Bri’onte Dunn, and Dymonte Thomas were in attendance for last week’s victory against Nebraska and will be in town again for the Ohio State game. (image via Twitter)

Fenton (MI) Fenton P Kenny Allen: A preferred walk-on who’s committed to Michigan.

Terre Haute (IN) North Vigo TE Calvin Blank: Blank is a 6’4″, 226 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds an offer from Toledo.

Pickerington (OH) North DE Jake Butt: Butt is a 6’6″, 220 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue, and UCLA.

St. Louis (MI) Ladue Horton Watkins WR Jehu Chesson: Chesson is a 6’3″, 182-pounder who holds an offer from Michigan, along with several other BCS schools.

West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic WR Amara Darboh: Darboh is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect who will be taking his official visit to Ann Arbor this weekend.  It has long been rumored that Darboh would probably commit to Michigan shortly after his official visit, so he’s on commitment watch.

Chicago (IL) Simeon OT Jordan Diamond: Diamond is a 6’6″, 289 lb. prospect with an impressive offer list.  His teammate Chris Bryant is a true freshman guard for the Wolverines, and Michigan held an early lead before Diamond slowed down his recruitment and visited other schools.  At this point there is no clear leader.

Canton (OH) Glenoak RB Bri’onte Dunn: Dunn is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect who’s current committed to Ohio State.  The potential sanctions in Columbus might be problematic for Dunn, who would fit in well in a power running offense.  The rumor mill suggests that the hiring of Urban Meyer would be a negative for Dunn, since Meyer doesn’t have much of a track record for developing backs like him.

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison TE Devin Funchess: Funchess is committed to Michigan.

Sylvania (OH) Southview S Allen Gant: Gant is committed to Michigan.

Puyallup (WA) Puyallup OG Joshua Garnett: Garnett is a 6’5″, 275 lb. prospect with offers from all over the country.  He is friendly with Michigan commit Erik Magnuson, who has been working on Garnett to get him to Ann Arbor.

Hudson (OH) Hudson LB Ben Gedeon: Gedeon is a 6’2″, 215 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Tennessee.

Birmingham (MI) Seaholm OT Dan Gibbs: Gibbs is a 6’7″, 320 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State and Eastern Michigan.

Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer RB Drake Johnson: Johnson is committed to Michigan.

Shaker Heights (OH) Shake Heights WR/TE De’Niro Laster: Laster is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Akron, Bowling Green, and Temple.

Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon OT Erik Magnuson: Magnuson is committed to Michigan.

Warren (MI) De La Salle QB Shane Morris: Morris is committed to Michigan for the class of 2013.

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison DE Mario Ojemudia: Ojemudia is committed to Michigan.

Austintown (OH) Fitch DE Billy Price: Price is a 6’4″, 280 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, UCLA, and West Virginia, among others.

Cincinnati (OH) Oak Hills OG Caleb Stacey: Stacey is committed to Michigan.

Crete (IL) Crete-Monet CB Anthony Standifer: Standifer is committed to Michigan.

Alliance (OH) Marlington S Dymonte Thomas: Thomas is committed to Michigan for the class of 2013.

Toledo (OH) Central Catholic S Jayme Thompson: Thompson is a 6’2″, 184 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Bowling Green, Buffalo, and Temple.

Crete (IL) Crete-Monee WR LaQuon Treadwell: Treadwell is a 6’3″, 183 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Michigan and Notre Dame.

Peoria (IL) Manual OT Logan Tuley-Tillman: Tuley-Tillman is a 6’7″, 280 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Illinois and Indiana.

Tyrone (GA) Sandy Creek CB Shaq Wiggins: Wiggins is a 5’10”, 160 lb. prospect from the class of 2013.  He holds offers from Cincinnati, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Wake Forest, among others.

Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore TE A.J. Williams: Williams is committed to Michigan.

*Attendees are subject to change.