Recruiting Update: April 7, 2015
Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg quarterback Hunter Johnson (image via 247Sports.com) |
Thank you to the previous donors toward the TTB redesign effort. If anyone else would like to chip in, you can use Paypal (on the left sidebar) or donate by purchasing items on Amazon (LINK). Thanks for reading and helping out!
—————
COMMITMENTS
Prattville (AL) Prattville running back Kingston Davis committed to Michigan (LINK).
Avon (IN) Avon quarterback Brandon Peters committed to Michigan (LINK).
Farmington (MI) Farmington fullback David Reese committed to Michigan (LINK).
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg running back Toks Akinribade was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and a bunch of MAC schools. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #62 running back, and #781 overall. As a junior in 2014, he had 220 carries for 1,579 yards and 15 touchdowns. Akinribade is a solidly built running back with pretty decent speed and some good power, a solid all-around back. His teammate is 2017 quarterback Hunter Johnson (see below).
Hit the jump for several new 2016 offers, some 2017 offers, some commitments elsewhere, and some random tidbits.
Vero Beach (FL) Vero Beach defensive end Patrick Bethel was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 243 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, and Miami, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #18 strongside end, and #300 overall. Despite being listed at a very average 6’3″, he is long-limbed and lanky. He’s pretty aggressive, though, and packs quite a punch.
Sachse (TX) Sachse cornerback Donovan Duvernay was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Baylor, Boise State, and TCU, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #69 athlete, and #974 overall. As a junior in 2014, he caught 20 passes for 452 yards and 5 touchdowns, plus he had 2 kickoff return touchdowns. His brother, Devin, is a slightly bigger receiver who’s the #38 overall prospect in the country. The twins plan to play together in college, so while Devin was offered a few weeks ago, the Wolverines basically have to take a shot with Donovan to get Devin.
Rockford (MI) Rockford kicker Quinn Nordin was offered by Michigan. Nordin is a 6’1″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Penn State, and several others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #1 kicker, and #1045 overall. Nordin, who also punts, could potentially be Michigan’s second scholarship kicking specialist since 2015 recruit Andrew David is coming in, but David is likely limited to placekicking in college. Nordin could do either job or both. Since the time he was offered, several 247 Sports Crystal Ball predictions have come in for Michigan, and it now stands 75% in favor of the Wolverines.
Byesville (OH) Meadowbrook offensive guard Josh Sills was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 319 lb. prospect with offers from a few MAC schools. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #71 offensive guard, and #1280 overall. Sills plays tackle for his high school team, but he plays way too high and does not have the feet to remain on the perimeter in college. In fact, he seems rather slow-footed and appears to be a bit of a reach at this juncture in the recruiting cycle.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice tight end Carter Dunaway was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’6″, 225 lb. prospect whose lone offer comes from the Wolverines. He is not ranked in the 2017 class. Dunaway is the brother of defensive end Jack Dunaway, who will be a preferred walk-on in the fall; both are the sons of Craig Dunaway, who played tight end for Michigan in the mid-1980s. They are also the former teammates of quarterback Alex Malzone and wide receiver Grant Perry, both of whom will be freshmen in the fall. I have been unable to find football highlights of Carter, but here’s a short video of him dunking (after missing his first attempt) as a scrawny eighth grader (LINK).
Brownburg (IN) Brownsburg quarterback Hunter Johnson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 197 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 5-star, the #1 pro-style quarterback, and #9 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he completed 122/226 passes for 1,434 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He claims a 4.6 forty. Johnson has good arm strength and a compact, high delivery, and he also makes quick decisions. He would be an excellent pickup. Johnson was offered on campus this past weekend when he visited with 2016 running back teammate Toks Akinribade (see above). Michigan’s only other quarterback offer for 2017 so far is Coloradoan Dylan McCaffrey.
Hinesville (GA) Liberty cornerback Richard LeCounte was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 174 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #4 athlete, and #22 overall. LeCounte could also play wide receiver or safety at the next level.
Lithia Springs (GA) Jonesboro wide receiver James “M.J.” Walker, Jr. was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 210 lb. prospect who might be better known for his basketball exploits, where he’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 shooting guard, and #16 overall in the 2017 class. Walker is a jumbo wide receiver with good speed, but not great. His biggest advantage is obviously his size and ability to go up and catch the ball. It’s unclear whether he will pursue basketball or football (or both) in college.
OFF THE BOARD
North Ridgeville (OH) North Ridgeville running back Demario McCall committed to Ohio State last week. He did not hold an offer from Michigan, but he was the top guy on my list of guys that I wanted the Wolverines to offer. McCall has an element of speed that is lacking in most of the guys on Michigan’s roster. With the Buckeyes already having two 2016 running backs committed, I had hoped he might get squeezed out and end up in Ann Arbor.
Lawrenceville (GA) Archer offensive tackle E.J. Price committed to Georgia. Price grew up in Michigan, recently named the Wolverines his #1 choice, and then committed to the Bulldogs a couple weeks later. He may yet visit Michigan, which would give Jim Harbaugh a chance to flip him, but this is a disappointing development since Price is #10 offensive tackle and #77 overall player in the 2016 class.
Virginia Beach (VA) Ocean Lakes cornerback Levonta Taylor committed to Florida State. The 247 Composite 5-star and #2 cornerback expressed passing interest in the Wolverines’ offer, but he never visited, seemingly destined for the Seminoles for a while.
Folsom (CA) Folsom offensive tackle Jonah Williams committed to Alabama. Williams was offered by the Wolverines back in February and seemed excited about the offer at the time, but he had not mentioned Michigan in recent weeks.
Pompano Beach (FL) Coconut Creek cornerback Malek Young committed to Georgia. Young was offered by Michigan’s previous staff but was not pursued by the new regime.
MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of visitors from this past week/weekend (LINK). One late addition to that list is Fayetteville (NC) Sanford cornerback Mark Gilbert, who visited campus yesterday. Gilbert is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #45 cornerback, and #498 overall. He also has offers from Duke, North Carolina State, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others.
Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon, who holds a Michigan offer, announced a top five that includes Arizona State, Arkansas, Michigan, Oregon, and Tennessee. With the Wolverines taking a commitment from Kingston Davis, it appears they are still interested in another runner. Falcon is a little faster than Davis, although the Southfield product is still good-sized at 6’1″, 215 lbs.
Over on Recruiting Season, I added/updated profiles for:
- Muskegon Mona Shores WR Kobe Burse
- Southfield RB Matt Falcon
- Oak Park OT JaRaymond Hall
- Battle Creek Central LB Brandon Randle