2012 Michigan Summer Camp Participants
Here’s a rundown of the prospects I’ve gathered who were planning to camp at Michigan next week (June 17-21). This is not a comprehensive list, and certainly there are a lot more kids who will be visiting (and some of these kids might not make it). If you have any additions to make, please leave a name (and a link to a source that says he’s visiting), and I’ll try to incorporate some info and a brief analysis to the list. Thanks!
2013 PROSPECTS
Darren Carrington – WR – San Diego (CA) Horizon: Carrington is a 6’2″, 187 lb. quarterback and wide receiver. He’s the son of former San Diego Chargers safety Darren Carrington, who played in their Super Bowl loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He received an offer from Michigan last week, so his main reason for camping would seem to be for seeing the campus and meeting the coaching staff. (Highlights here.)
Johnny Daniels – DT – Chicago (IL) Foreman: Daniels is a 6’5″, 250 lb. defensive tackle with a single offer from North Illinois. He also participated in last week’s Sound Mind Sound Body camp, so he’s really trying to get exposure at these camps.
Caleb Day – ATH – Hilliard (OH) Darby: Darby is a 6’0″, 188 lb. athlete who could play lots of positions in college, including running back, wide receiver, cornerback, or safety. Michigan hasn’t offered yet, but he really seems to be hoping for one from the Wolverines. He does, however, have offers from Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio State, and several others. Day looks a little too stiff to play cornerback at a big-time program, but I could see him fitting in at any of those other positions. Michigan has bigger fish to fry at running back (Jordan Wilkins, Derrick Green) and wide receiver (LaQuon Treadwell), and they’re pretty set at safety. However, Day could be a backup option at any of those positions and reminds me of a slightly less skilled Dymonte Thomas.
Berkley Edwards – RB – Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Edwards is a 5’9″, 189 lb. running back prospect and the younger brother of Braylon Edwards. He started off with some MAC offers, but has more recently picked up offers from Cal, Iowa, and Minnesota. He reportedly ran a 4.32 forty at an Adidas Combine. Speed is not really an issue, but at his size, he might not be the running back for Michigan. He’s not exactly a clone of incoming freshman Dennis Norfleet, but both are small-ish and fleet of foot. I do not think Edwards will be receiving a Michigan offer anytime soon. (Highlights here.)
Kenton Gibbs – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Gibbs is a 6’2″, 290 lb. nose tackle prospect who has been angling for an offer from Michigan for some time. He has a steady stream of high school teammates going to Michigan, but without an offer from the Wolverines, he committed to Illinois last month. The coaches may still be looking for an impact nose tackle, so if they like what they see from Gibbs at the camp, we could see Gibbs switch his commitment. It’s a little early, but his recruitment reminds me a little of the Jonathon Hankins recruitment from a few years ago. (Highlights here.)
Heath Harding – RB – Dayton (OH) Christian: Harding is a 5’10”, 170 lb. running back with offers from Ohio and Toledo. As a junior in 2011, he rushed for 1,500 yards and 33 touchdowns. (Highlights here.)
Paul Harris – WR – Upper Marlboro (MD) Douglass: Harris is a 6’3″, 186 lb. wideout who has already been offered by Michigan, as well as Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and USC. As a junior in 2011, he had 38 catches for 875 yards (23.0 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns.
Taivon Jacobs – WR – District Heights (MD) Suitland: Jacobs is a 5’11”, 165 lb. wide receiver who already holds offers from Florida State, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, along with several others. He also wants to run track in college and has been timed at 4.35 seconds in the forty. As a junior in 2011, he had 35 receptions for 921 yards. He can absolutely fly and, unlike a lot of track guys, Jacobs has some shiftiness. (Highlights here.)
Clark Kissick – QB – Owingsville (KY) Bath County: Kissick is a 6’1″, 235 lb. lefty quarterback without any FBS offers yet. (Highlights here.)
De’Niro Laster – WR – Cleveland Heights (OH) Cleveland Heights: Laster is a 6’3″, 220 lb. jumbo receiver/tight end with offers from a few MAC schools and Cincinnati. He visited Michigan a few months ago and came away without an offer, and now he’ll be back looking for more exposure. He’s now teammates with national WR prospect Shelton Gibson and attends the same high school as class of 2012, Ohio State-bound Kyle Dodson. (Highlights here.)
Dan Monteroso – WR – St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Monteroso is a 6’3″, 180 lb. wide receiver with offers from Boston College, Iowa, Marshall, and some MAC schools. As a junior in 2011, he had 23 catches for 454 yards and 7 touchdowns. He’s the teammate of 2014 linebacker Michael Ferns, who has been offered by Michigan. (Highlights here.)
Jazz Peavy – WR – Kenosha (WI) Tremper: Peavy is a 6’1″, 170 lb. receiver. He had been planning to camp, but he committed to Washington on June 17, so he may decide not to show up after all.
Demetrius Stinson – RB – Detroit (MI) Douglass: Stinson is a 5’10”, 190 lb. running back whose lone offer comes from Toledo. As a sophomore in 2011, he ran for 1,462 yards and 22 touchdowns, to go along with 35 tackles and 4 interceptions from his cornerback position. He will probably not get a Michigan offer at the camp because he’s small-ish and not extremely fast, but he could come away having earned offers from other schools. (Highlights here.)
Poet Thomas – DT – Beverly Hills (MI) Country Day: Thomas is a 6’6″, 295 lb. offensive or defensive tackle with offers from Colorado and Florida, along with a few MAC schools. He was recently ranked as the #30 prospect in the state of Michigan, so I doubt he’ll earn an offer from Michigan. For being such a big kid, he plays a little soft and might be better off playing offense in college. (Highlights here.)
2014 PROSPECTS
Brian Allen – C – Hinsdale (IL) Central: Allen is a 6’1″, 245 lb. center prospect with offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. He’s a little undersized right now, but he’s a very aggressive player who reminds me a little bit of redshirt freshman center Jack Miller. I would probably rank Allen ahead of Miller in overall talent. He seems like a kid that Iowa will turn into an All-Big Ten player if they get ahold of him. (Highlights here.)
Brendan Ballard – OT – Sebawaing (MI) Unionville-Sebawaing: Ballard is a 6’6″, 300 lb. offensive tackle prospect. He does not hold any FBS offers yet, but at that size, he has a good chance of earning some.
Drew Barker – QB – Burlington (KY) Conner: Barker is a 6’3″, 204 lb. quarterback with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Louisville, and Purdue. As a sophomore in 2011, he threw for 1,473 yards and 7 touchdowns, and also ran for 1,570 yards and 22 touchdowns. (Highlights here.)
Ty Barrett – OG – Dallas (TX) Skyline: Barrett is a 6’5″, 290 lb. offensive guard prospect with offers from Texas Tech and West Virginia so far. He has family in Michigan, so perhaps that would make the distance from Texas a little easier to handle.
Mike Barwick – DT – Cincinnati (OH) Summit Country Day: Barwick is a 6’2″, 255 lb. defensive tackle prospect who holds no offers at this point. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 68 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery. Barwick plays fullback and linebacker in high school, but his future clearly lies on the defensive line. (Highlights here.)
Tinashe Bere – LB – Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore: Bere is a 6’1″, 210 lb. inside linebacker prospect with a single offer from Illinois. He attends the same school as incoming freshman tight end A.J. Williams. As a sophomore in 2011, Bere had 65 tackles and 4.5 sacks. His sophomore highlights show a kid who’s a decent hitter and athlete, but the game is moving too fast for him. He’ll have to develop fundamentally to earn more elite offers. (Highlights here.)
Dante Booker, Jr. – LB – Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary’s: Booker is a 6’3″, 210 lb. linebacker with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Penn State already. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 157 tackles, 11 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries. St. Vincent-St. Mary’s is generally considered to be an Ohio State feeder, and that seems to be the way Booker is leaning right now, although his father played defensive line at Auburn. (Highlights here.)
Dominique Booth – WR – Indianapolis (IN) Pike: Booth is a 6’1″, 195 lb. wideout with offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Mississippi, Purdue, and Wisconsin. He had 46 catches for 585 yards and 5 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011. Booth is a slithery kid with good size who could play on the outside or in the slot. (Highlights here.)
Robert Bowers – DE – Columbus (OH) Walnut Ridge: Bowers is a 6’5″, 210 lb. weakside end prospect with a single offer from Cincinnati. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 49 tackles and 8 sacks. He’s teammates with class of 2013, Wisconsin-bound receiver Rob Wheelwright, whom Michigan offered. (Highlights here.)
Justin Brent – WR – Indianapolis (IN) Speedway: Brent is a 6’3″, 193 lb. wideout who holds no offers at this point. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 40 catches for 819 yards and 10 touchdowns. He claims a 4.6 forty and a 270 lb. bench press, which is pretty impressive for a high school sophomore. He has the speed and athleticism to be a well regarded prospect, but he’s a little bit raw when it comes to route running and catching the ball. (Highlights here.)
Orlando Brown – OT – Duluth (GA) Peachtree: Brown is a 6’9″, 376 lb. (not a typo) offensive tackle with offers from just about every school in the country. His father is the late Orlando Brown, who played offensive tackle in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens (and who was famous for shoving an NFL referee to the ground after Brown was hit in the eye with a penalty flag).
Daniel Cage – DT – Cincinnati (OH) Winton Woods: Cage is a 6’3″, 265 lb. defensive tackle with offers from Cincinnati and Illinois. He attends the alma mater of Michigan linebacker Antonio Poole.
Lorenzo Collins – RB – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Collins is a 6’0″, 210 lb. tailback prospect without any FBS offers yet. Many people assume that he will commit to Michigan State if the Spartans offer. (Highlights here.)
Nathaniel Devers – OG – Massillon (OH) Washington: Devers is a 6’3″, 265 lb. guard prospect whose sole offer so far comes from Toledo. He attends the same high school as 2013 cornerback commit Gareon Conley, as well as former Michigan players Justin Turner and Shawn Crable. Devers visited last month but came away without an offer, so he’ll be trying to earn one with his camp performance. (Highlights here.)
Deon Drake – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Drake is a 6’1″, 215 lb. running back/linebacker with an offer from Cincinnati, Pitt, Syracuse, and Western Michigan. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 42 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 4 fumble recoveries. Cass Tech has been a Michigan pipeline for the last several years and Drake is the teammate of Terry Richardson, Royce Jenkins-Stone, and Jourdan Lewis from the 2012 and 2013 classes. (Highlights here.)
Daniel Gresham – RB – Fort Worth (TX) All Saints Episcopal: The teammate of Michigan offeree Demetrius Knox, Gresham is a 5’11”, 226 lb. tailback/fullback prospect with no offers yet. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 62 carries for 584 yards (7.1 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. He has pretty good feet for his size and decent speed, but he has very good balance and is tough to bring down. As with Knox, there’s a chance he visits for camp but it’s not likely. (Highlights here.)
Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6’4″, 175 lb. wide receiver who has already been offered by Michigan, but he could end up playing basketball in college. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 57 catches for 1,118 yards and 14 touchdowns. (Highlights here.)
Caleb Henderson – QB – Burke (VA) Lake Braddock: Henderson is a 6’4″, 223 lb. quarterback with offers from Maryland, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. He’s currently considered to be leaning toward the Hokies.
James Hendren – OT – Brookline (MA) Dexter: Hendren is a 6’7″, 305 lb. sophomore with no offers yet. Hendren moves pretty darn well for his size, and I’m very surprised that he has no offers at this point. (Highlights here.)
Brandon Hines – DT – Mequon (WI) Homestead: Hines is a 6’2″, 280 lb. defensive tackle with no FBS offers yet. He has visited Michigan previously and seems to be angling for a Michigan offer, so a good camp performance could put him on their offer board.
Jeremy Holley – QB – Elyria (OH) Catholic: Holley is a 6’5″, 210 lb. passer with no offers yet. He threw for 1,925 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011. Holley grew up as an Ohio State fan, but he’s a pocket passer, so Urban Meyer might not be very interested. He doesn’t exactly have a Howitzer for an arm, but he definitely looks like an FBS prospect. (Highlights here.)
Corey Holmes – WR – Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas: Holmes is one of the more established recruits planning to camp at Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 172 lb. wideout who already holds offers from Florida, Rutgers, South Florida, and Wisconsin. St. Thomas Aquinas consistently puts out top-notch athletes (Joey Bosa, Jelani Hamilton, Bryan Cox Jr., Marcus Roberson, Bobby Hart, Lamarcus Joyner, Cody Riggers, Giovanni Bernard, Duron Carter, etc.). I would be surprised if Holmes doesn’t earn an offer at camp or shortly afterward.
Gary Hosey – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Hosey is a 6’0″, 230 lb. inside linebacker without any FBS offers yet. He transferred in the offseason from Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison to Cass Tech and will now be playing at Michigan pipeline. In my opinion, Hosey is the least talented of Cass Tech’s three main linebacker prospects and somewhat unlikely to be offered by Michigan.
Ricardo Johnson III – QB – St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham: Johnson is a 6’0″, 175 lb. quarterback with a single offer from Hawaii. Cretin-Derham has put out some excellent athletic prospects in recent years, including Notre Dame-bound wide receiver James Onwualu and former Irish receiver Michael Floyd.
Coleman Key – QB – Broken Arrow (OK) Broken Arrow: Key is a 6’5″, 210 lb. quarterback prospect. He was a backup to his older brother Kason last year, so he doesn’t have any film or notable statistics.
Jake Khoury – DT – Traverse City (MI) St. Francis: Khoury is a 6’3″, 268 lb. defensive tackle prospect. And before you ask, yes, he’s related to former Michigan center Rocko Khoury . . . but they’re cousins, not brothers. Jake doesn’t hold any offers yet. He’s a pretty stout kid with decent athleticism, and I’m guessing he’ll have some Big Ten offers by the time all is said and done. (Highlights here.)
DeShone Kizer – QB – Toledo (OH) Central Catholic: Kizer is a 6’4″, 205 lb. quarterback with offers from Boston College, Illinois, Louisville, and Nebraska, along with a bunch of MAC schools. He’s on the record as being high on Michigan, but Kizer is a dual-threat kid who might not be exactly what Michigan’s coaches want. With Shane Morris in the class before Kizer, though, the coaches might be able to take a developmental guy like Kizer and see what he can add to the team. (Highlights here.)
Demetrius Knox – OT – Fort Worth (TX) All Saints Episcopal: Knox is a 6’5″, 300 lb. lineman with an offer from Michigan, as well as ones from Alabama, Ohio State, and Texas. As with any elite kid from Texas, he’s going to be tough to pull out of the south. Knox mentioned an interest in visiting for the camp, but chances are slim that he actually makes it. (Highlights here.)
Darryl Long – TE – Westerville (OH) South: Long is a 6’4″, 220 lb. tight end. He played defensive end as a sophomore in 2011 and made 35 tackles, so playing tight end will be a new adventure for him. He doesn’t hold any offers yet, but he reminds me a little bit of former Michigan tight end Martell Webb.
Montae Nicholson – S – Monroeville (PA) Gateway: Nicholson is a 6’3″, 200 lb. safety prospect with offers from Penn State, Pitt, and a couple MAC schools. Gateway has sent a few kids to Pitt and a few kids to Ohio State in recent years, so even if Michigan offers, it will likely be an uphill battle.
D’Andre Payne – CB – Washington (DC) H.D. Woodson: Payne is a 5’9″, 172 lb. cornerback with offers from around the country, including one from Michigan. (Highlights here.)
Gelen Robinson – DE/LB – St. John (IN) Lake Central: Robinson is a 6’1″, 230 lb. high school defensive end who will probably have to play linebacker in college. He’s the son of former Purdue and Milwaukee Bucks basketball player Glenn Robinson and the brother of incoming freshman basketball player Glenn Robinson III. He’s an aggressive kid who looks like he could play MIKE at Michigan, but playing defensive end in high school might stunt his development for college. (Highlights here.)
Conor Sheehy – DE – Milwauke (WI) Marquette University: Sheehy is a 6’4″, 255 lb. defensive end or defensive tackle without any offers yet. He’s a pretty fundamentally sound player, but he lacks the athleticism of an elite defensive end prospect. (Highlights here.)
Enoch Smith – DT – Chicago (IL) Mt. Carmel: Smith is a 6’3″, 260 lb. defensive tackle with offers from Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois.
Thaddeus Snodgrass – WR – Springfield (OH) Springfield: Snodgrass is a 6’1″, 175 lb. wideout with offers from Michigan State and Toledo. (Highlights here.)
Chance Stewart – QB – Sturgis (MI) Sturgis: Stewart is a 6’6″, 205 lb. quarterback whose lone offer right now comes from Western Michigan. As a sophomore in 2011, Stewart threw for 1,361 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. I’ve stated before that Stewart reminds me a little bit of John Navarre, with a pretty big arm and not a ton of mobility. Out of Kizer and Stewart, I would probably prefer Kizer in the 2014 class, mainly because of Kizer’s position flexibility and mobility, which Al Borges has proven to use well. (Highlights here.)
Jordan Van Dort – OT – Zeeland (MI) West: Van Dort is a 6’5″, 280 lb. high school tight end who will probably move to the offensive line in college. He has no FBS offers at this point.
Damon Webb – ATH – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Webb is a 5’11”, 180 lb. athlete whom Michigan is recruiting as a cornerback. He received an offer after camping at the Sound Mind Sound Body camp, and there’s a strong likelihood that he carries on the tradition of Cass Tech kids coming to Michigan. (Highlights here.)
Darius West – CB – Lima (OH) Central Catholic: West is a 5’11”, 189 lb. cornerback or safety with a lone offer from Illinois. West does not look to me like a Michigan-caliber prospect, as he’s not particularly sudden or fast. I think his best position appears to be at safety. (Highlights here.)
William White – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: White is a 6’1″, 215 lb. linebacker without any FBS offers at this point. Along with teammates Deon Drake and Gary Hosey, Cass Tech has a very formidable linebacker trio. White’s father is former Detroit Lions safety William White. (Highlights here.)
2015 PROSPECTS
Josh Kirshenbaum – QB – Bloomington (IL) Normal: Kirshenbaum is a 6’2″, 175 lb. quarterback with no FBS offers yet.
Michael O’Connor – QB – Chattanooga (TN) Baylor: O’Connor is a 6’5″, 205 lb. quarterback with offers from Michigan State and Mississippi State, along with a couple MAC schools. He’s moving from Ottawa (Canada) to Tennessee to gain more exposure and improve his football skills, since coaching and competition in Canada are poor. As a freshman in 2011, he threw for 51 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions against that poor competition. (Highlights here.)