Tag: Braden Smith

Visitors: March 22-24, 2013

Olathe (KS) South offensive lineman Braden Smith is one of the top linemen in the nation (image via MaxPreps)

Danny Burns – OT – Fairfield (OH) Fairfield: Burns is a 6’7″, 308 lb. prospect with offers from Louisville, Nebraska, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others.  He lacks some of the athleticism that most Michigan offensive line offerees do, and I would be surprised if Michigan extends an offer anytime soon.*

Timothy Cason II – CB – Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Cason is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Bowling Green, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  With Michigan high on the lists of Adoree’ Jackson, Jabrill Peppers, and Parrker Westphal, it might be a while before Cason earns an offer.

Jalen Embry – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Embry is a 5’11”, 180 lb. corner with offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan.

Jonathan Hilliman – RB – Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep: I did a scouting report on Hilliman back in December.  Since then he has added offers from Arkansas and Tennessee, among others.  He’s a 3-star and the #34 running back to 247 Sports. UPDATE: Hilliman is no longer planning to visit this weekend and plans to reschedule a visit for May.

Jake Johnson – QB – DeWitt (MI) DeWitt: Johnson is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect from the class of 2015.  He currently has no offers.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,250 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, 400 rushing yards, and 6 rushing touchdowns.

Roderick Johnson – OT – Florissant (MO) Hazelwood Central: Johnson is a 6’7″, 310 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Missouri, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others.  He’s a 4-star to Rivals and the #183 overall player.

Braden Smith – OT – Olathe (KS) South: Smith is a 6’6″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Stanford, along with numerous others.  He’s very quiet about the recruiting process, so it’s tough to say who his leaders are, but it’s obviously a good sign that he’s taking the time to visit Ann Arbor.  He’s the #1 offensive guard to 247 Sports and the #19 overall player to both Rivals and 247.*

Darius West – S – Lima (OH) Central Catholic: West is a 5’11”, 197-pounder with offers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Penn State, West Virginia, and several others.  He claims a 4.4 forty and a 275 lb. bench press.  West camped at Michigan last summer.  He’s short-ish but thickly built, sort of in the mold of current Michigan safety Thomas Gordon; I would expect West also to play safety if he were to end up getting offered by and committing to Michigan, but he could play cornerback at some other schools.

*Burns and Smith are visiting midweek.

247 Sports: Top 100 for 2014 released

New Michigan offeree Bo Scarbrough is the #7 player in the country for 2014, according to 247 Sports

A couple weeks ago, 247 Sports released their top 25 players for the class of 2014.  Now they’ve expanded that list to 100.  Here are some notable recruits from the list for Michigan fans:

7. Bo Scarbrough – WR – Alabama: Offered by Michigan this past week.  It will be tough to pull him out of the south, particularly away from Alabama.

10. Edward Paris – S – Texas: Offered by Michigan this past week.  Michigan just offered his 2013 cornerback/safety teammate Maurice Smith, so perhaps that will grease the wheels a bit.

11. Braden Smith – OT – Kansas: Offered by Michigan this past week.

19. Dante Booker – LB – Ohio: Offered by Michigan yesterday.

35. Budda Baker – ATH – Washington: No offer or strong connection here, but Baker plays for the same high school as former Michigan lineman (and current San Diego Charger) Stephen Schilling.

41. Clifton Garrett – LB – Illinois: No offer yet, but Garrett’s highlight film is making the rounds and wowing some observers.  Considering how heavily Michigan has littered Illinois with offers during the 2013 cycle, I would not be surprised at all if Garrett gets offered in the near future.

66. K.C. Crosby – LB – South Carolina: Offered by Michigan several weeks ago.

67. Andy Bauer – OT – Missouri: Offered by Michigan several months ago, but committed to Missouri.

69. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona: Offered by Michigan this past week.

73. Davonte James – LB – Ohio: No offer yet, but a high profile prospect from the state of Ohio is sure to get a look by the coaching staff.

78. Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona: Offered by Michigan yesterday.

83. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan: Offered by Michigan already.  He has been offered by the basketball program, too, and is a high profile prospect on the hardcourt.  Some think he’s more likely to head to Michigan State.

85. Derek Kief – WR – Ohio: No offer yet, but receiver might yet again be a big need in 2014, depending on how the 2013 class shakes out.

91. DeShone Kizer – ATH – Ohio: No offer yet.  He plays quarterback but could also project to wide receiver or defensive back.

94. Michael Ferns – LB – Ohio: No offer yet, but likely to get a look despite living in the Worst State Ever.

96. Dareian Watkins – ATH – Ohio: No offer yet.  Much like Kizer, he could project to quarterback, wide receiver, or defensive back.

Recruiting Update: May 14, 2012

Six degrees of Kevin Bacon: Maurice Hurst, who spawned 2013 defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr., tries to tackle former Michigan running back Leroy Hoard

COMMITMENT
Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park wide receiver Csont’e York was offered by and committed to Michigan. (Commitment post here.)

ADDED TO THE BOARD (2013, 2014)
Seffner (FL) Armwood wide receiver Alvin Bailey was offered by Michigan.  The 5’11”, 170-pounder has also been targeted by Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, and South Carolina, among others.  He plays quarterback for Armwood, passing for 872 yards and 12 touchdowns, rushing for 872 yards and 6 touchdowns, and catching 22 passes for 404 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Bailey is the teammate of fellow Michigan target Leon McQuay III, a safety.

Piscataway (NJ) Piscataway cornerback Nadir Barnwell was offered by Michigan.  The 5’11”, 180-pounder is a lefty quarterback for his high school, but his quarterback days are likely over when he hits college.  He also holds offers from Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Rutgers, along with many others.  During his junior season, he passed for 1,364 yards, ran for 452, and made 40 tackles to go with 3 interceptions.  (Highlights here.)

Brooklyn (NY) Poly Prep offensive tackle Jay Hayes, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan last week.  The 6’5″, 270 lb. athlete, who could also play defensive line, holds offers from Connecticut, Rutgers, and UCLA, too.

Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr. was offered by Michigan.  Hurst is a 6’2″, 285 lb. lineman with offers from Nebraska, Ohio State, and many others.  He is the son of former New England Patriots cornerback Maurice Hurst, who had 27 career interceptions from 1989 to 1995.  As a junior in 2011, “Junior” had 65 tackles and 11 sacks.

Mansfield (TX) Timberview safety Edward Paris, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan.  He stands 6’2″ and 188 lbs. and claims a 4.4 forty.  Teams like Clemson, LSU, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma are already after him.  He carried the ball 12 times for 179 yards (14.9 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns, but he also broke up 20 passes and notched 8 interceptions.  That’s pretty good production for a sophomore defensive back. (Highlights here.)

Tuscaloosa (AL) Northridge athlete Bo Scarbrough, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan.  The 6’1″, 215 lb. is projected by some sites as a running back and as a linebacker by others, but after I watched his highlights, he looks like a running back to me.  He also doesn’t look like he’s 215 lbs. unless he’s put on some serious weight since football season, but oh well – he’s only a sophomore.  Scarbrough already holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, UCLA, and a few others, but since he’s in the Crimson Tide’s back yard, I won’t hold my breath that he’ll head to Michigan.

Olathe (KS) South offensive tackle Braden Smith, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan.  The 6’6″, 285 lb. lineman also shows offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Stanford. 

Chandler (AZ) Williams Field wide receiver Dionte Sykes, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan.  He’s currently about 6’1″ and 175 lbs.  As a freshman in 2010, he was timed at 4.69 seconds in the forty and had a 245 lb. bench press, both of which are very impressive numbers for a freshman (and maybe too good to believe).  He also has offers from Arizona State, Colorado, and UCLA.  (Highlights here.)

Saluda (SC) Saluda defensive tackle Dexter Wideman, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan.  He’s 6’3″, 276 lbs. as a sophomore and also holds offers from Clemson and South Carolina.  As a sophomore in 2011, he had 61 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.