Recruiting Update: November 12, 2014

Tag: Darrin Kirkland Jr.


12Nov 2014
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Recruiting Update: November 12, 2014

How could Darrin Kirkland, Jr. pass on this? 

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central linebacker Darrin Kirkland, Jr. decommitted from Michigan. He committed to Michigan back in May (LINK), but the tenuous coaching situation obviously unnerved him. Michigan has a small chance to reel him back in if they hire the right guy, but players rarely re-commit. The loss of Kirkland in the class is somewhat mitigated by the combination of facts that a) Desmond Morgan is redshirting to return in 2015 and b) Michigan got a commitment from Dele’ Harding. If Notre Dame were to offer Kirkland, I would not be surprised to see him join his friend Asmar Bilal in South Bend.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph defensive end Corey Malone-Hatcher was offered by Michigan. Malone-Hatcher is a 6’3″, 227 lb. prospect with offers from Ohio State and Penn State; he has also visited Alabama, partly because his father is from the state. He claims a 5.08 forty, a 27″ vertical, a 315 lb. bench press, and a 535 lb. squat. He plays some linebacker for his high school team, but if his body continues to grow – and considering his current athletic skills – he should be a defensive end at the next level. Obviously, he’s at the end of his sophomore season, so lots of development should be expected – he’s a good athlete and a solid hitter who really needs to learn technique and how to use his hands. Right now he’s a totally raw prospect, but one of the top few players in the state for his class.


OFF THE BOARD

Evans (GA) Lakeside safety Rashad Roundtree committed to Georgia. Georgia was consistently the presumed leader, but he was also considering Ohio State, which would have been bad news for Michigan. He’s considered the #6 safety and the #95 player overall by 247’s Composite ratings.

MISCELLANEOUS
As always, check out Recruiting Season  for some updated profiles of players from within the state of Michigan.

10Sep 2014
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Recruit Tracker: Darrin Kirkland, Jr.

Darrin Kirkland, Jr. (image via 247Sports.com)

Injury: Kirkland suffered a stress fracture of his ankle on Wednesday, September 3. He will miss roughly the next month while recovering.

August 30, 2014: Kirkland, Jr. had 17 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception in a 28-21 loss to Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius. He now has 26 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass breakup, and 1 quarterback hurry on the year. Lawrence Central is now 0-2.

August 22, 2014: Kirkland, Jr. started off his senior year with 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup, and 1 quarterback hurry in Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central’s 38-31 loss to Avon (OH) Avon. Lawrence Central is 0-1.

20Aug 2014
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Rivals 250 updated for 2015

Mike Weber is the #104 player in the country

Rivals updated its top 250 players for 2015 on Tuesday (LINK). The Rivals 100 was updated yesterday (LINK).

101. John Reid – CB – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
102. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota (Ohio State)
104. Mike Weber – RB – Michigan (Michigan)
114. Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (Notre Dame)
140. Juwan Johnson – WR – New Jersey (Penn State)
147. Matt Burrell, Jr. – OT – Virginia
148. Devonaire Clarington – TE – Florida
151. Miles Boykin – WR – Illinois (Notre Dame)
160. Tim Settle – DT – Virginia
164. Auden Tate – WR – Florida (Florida State)
165. Kirk Merritt – WR – Louisiana
167. Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indiana (Michigan)
169. Keenan Walker – OT – Arizona (Arizona)
170. Pat Allen – OT – Maryland (Georgia)
175. Johnny Frasier – RB – North Carolina (Florida State)
192. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Florida (Arkansas)
195. Tyree Kinnel – S – Ohio (Michigan)
199. Grant Newsome – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
209. Josh Barajas – LB – Indiana (Notre Dame)
224. Devante Peete – WR – Florida
227. Ryan Bates – OT – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
228. Joshua McMillon – LB – Tennessee
236. William Sweet – OT – North Carolina (North Carolina)
237. Keaton Sutherland – OT – Texas (Texas A&M)
243. Jaylon Lane – CB – Texas (Oklahoma State)
244. Juval Mollette – WR – New Jersey (North Carolina)
246. Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. – DE – New York
247. Mook Reynolds – CB – North Carolina (Virginia Tech)
248. Jordan Whitehead – CB – Pennsylvania

29Jul 2014
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ESPN 300 for 2015 updated

Saginaw (MI) Heritage wide receiver Brian Cole is the #139 player in the country.

ESPN released their updated top 300 players for 2015. Here’s what it looked like back in June (LINK). Movement for Michigan commits:

– Chris Clark drops from #108 to #109
– Garrett Taylor drops from #110 to #111
– Brian Cole drops from #137 to #139
– Tyree Kinnel drops from #188 to #192
– Grant Newsome drops from #240 to #242
– Darrin Kirkland, Jr. drops from #263 to #266

5-stars:
1. Josh Sweat – DE – Virginia
4. Terry Beckner, Jr. – DE – Illinois
5. Kevin Toliver II – CB – Florida (LSU)
7. CeCe Jefferson – DE – Florida
8. Iman Marshall – CB – California
9. Kendall Sheffield – CB – Texas
10. George Campbell – ATH – Florida
11. Justin Hilliard – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
15. Tim Settle – DT – Virginia
16. Blake Barnett – QB – California (Alabama)
17. Mitch Hyatt – OT – Georgia (Clemson)
18. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota (Ohio State)

4-stars:
19. Josh Rosen – QB – California (UCLA)
22. Rasheem Greene – DT – California
27. Minkah Fitzpatrick – CB – New Jersey (Alabama)
28. Keisean Lucier-South – DE – California
30. Damien Harris – RB – Kentucky
31. Shy Tuttle – DT – North Carolina
32. Soso Jamabo – RB – Texas
33. Preston Williams – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)
36. Christian Kirk – WR – Arizona
38. Jarrett Stidham – QB – Texas (Texas Tech)
39. Malik Jefferson – LB – Texas
41. Jeffery Holland – LB – Florida
45. Keenan Walker – OT – Arizona (Arizona)
46. Jacques Patrick – RB – Florida
54. Arden Key – DE – Georgia
55. Deondre Francois – QB – Florida
58. Ronald Jones II – RB – Texas (Oklahoma State)
61. Matt Burrell, Jr. – OT – Virginia
63. Adonis Thomas – LB – Georgia
64. Drew Richmond – OT – Tennessee
69. Abdul Bello – OT – Florida (Florida State)
70. DaMarkus Lodge – WR – Texas (Texas A&M)
72. Jerome Baker – ATH – Ohio (Florida)
73. Hale Hentges – TE – Missouri (Alabama)
75. Devonaire Clarington – TE – Florida
79. Jaylon Lane – CB – Texas (Oklahoma State)
80. Rashad Roundtree – S – Georgia
82. Anthony Wheeler – LB – Texas
84. Dexter Williams – RB – Florida (Miami)
86. Johnny Frasier – RB – North Carolina
90. Jalen Dalton – DE – North Carolina
95. Jake Fruhmorgen – OT – Florida (Clemson)
98. Christian Pellage – OT – Florida
99. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Florida
103. Sterling Jenkins – OT – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
105. Ryan Bates – OT – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
106. Clelin Ferrell – DE – Virginia (Clemson)
108. Tyler Jordan – OG – Florida (Florida)
109. Chris Clark – TE – Connecticut (Michigan)
111. Garrett Taylor – CB – Virginia (Michigan)
124. Osa Masina – LB – Utah
135. Ty’Son Williams – RB – South Carolina
136. Kirk Merritt – ATH – Louisiana
138. Jordan Whitehead – CB – Pennsylvania
139. Brian Cole – ATH – Michigan (Michigan)
141. Devante Peete – WR – Florida
150. Ray-Ray McCloud III – ATH – Florida (Clemson)
152. Marcus Lewis – CB – Washington, D.C.
161. Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (Notre Dame)
163. Joshua McMillon – LB – Tennessee
165. Darian Roseboro – DE – North Carolina
168. John Reid – CB – Pennsylvania
169. Michael Weber – RB – Michigan
191. Juwan Johnson – WR – New Jersey (Penn State)
192. Tyree Kinnel – S – Ohio (Michigan)
227. Rashard Causey, Jr. – CB – Florida (Florida Atlantic)
236. Isaiah Prince – OT – Maryland
238. Pat Allen – OT – Maryland
242. Grant Newsome – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
256. Cameron Townsend – LB – Texas
259. Cameron Ordway – CB – Tennessee
266. Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indiana (Michigan)

6Jul 2014
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Nike’s The Opening 2014 roster

Alex Malzone will be recruiting for Michigan while in Oregon

The Opening will take place with various events from July 5-11. Here’s a rundown of the various Michigan targets who will be participating. Quarterbacks will be distributed for the 7-on-7 tournaments at the event, so they are not currently assigned to squads.

QUARTERBACKS
Blake Barnett – QB – California (Alabama)
Ryan Brand – QB – Michigan**
Deondre Francois – QB – Florida
Alex Malzone – QB – Michigan (Michigan)
Josh Rosen – QB – California (UCLA)
Jarrett Stidham – QB – Texas (Texas Tech)

ALPHA PRO
George Campbell, Jr. – WR – Florida
Marcus Lewis – CB – Washington, D.C. (Florida)
Osa Masina – LB – Utah
Josh Sweat – DE – Virginia

APOCALYPSE
Matt Burrell, Jr. – OT – Virginia
Rasheem Green – DT – California
Damien Harris – RB – Kentucky
Malik Jefferson – LB – Texas
Jaylon Lane – CB – Texas (Oklahoma State)
Josh McMillon – LB – Tennessee
Jacques Patrick – RB – Florida
Mook Reynolds – CB – North Carolina (Virginia Tech)

FLY RUSH
Chris Clark – TE – Connecticut (Michigan)*
Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indiana (Michigan)
DaMarkus Lodge – WR – Texas (Texas A&M)
Drew Richmond – OT – Tennessee
Kendall Sheffield – CB – Texas
Dexter Williams – RB – Florida (Miami)

LAND SHARKS
Justin Hilliard – LB – Ohio
Soso Jamabo – RB – Texas
Tyron Johnson – WR – Louisiana
Keisean Lucier-South – DE – California
Kevin Tolliver II – CB – Florida (LSU)

MACH SPEED
Terry Beckner, Jr. – DE – Illinois
Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (Notre Dame)
Minkah Fitzpatrick – CB – New Jersey (Alabama)
Mitch Hyatt – OT – Georgia (Clemson)
Ray-Ray McCloud III – RB – Florida
Auden Tate – WR – Florida
Levonta Taylor – CB – Virginia#
Adonis Thomas – LB – Georgia
Mike Weber – RB – Michigan
Preston Williams – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)

VAPOR CARBON
Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota
Rashan Gary – DT – New Jersey#
Juwan Johnson – WR – New Jersey (Penn State)
Christian Kirk – WR – Arizona
Iman Marshall – CB – California
Tim Settle – DT – Virginia
Keenan Walker – OT – Arizona (Arizona)

*Recently chose not to attend
**Does not hold a Michigan offer but is an in-state prospect
#2016 prospect