2016 Recruiting Update: June 15, 2015

Tag: Erroll Thompson

15Jun 2015
Uncategorized 4 comments

2016 Recruiting Update: June 15, 2015

Norco (CA) Norco quarterback Victor Viramontes (image via Press Enterprise)

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COMMITMENTS
Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic cornerback Antwaine Richardson committed to Michigan on Friday (LINK).

Cooper City (FL) Cooper City defensive end Rashad Weaver committed to Michigan on Sunday (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Carson (CA) Calabasas safety Marquel Dismuke decommitted from Cal. He’s a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan and Nebraska, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #10 safety, and #246 overall. Dismuke was an early offer by the Jim Harbaugh staff, and he committed to Cal surprisingly early when Michigan thought they had a chance. The Wolverines still might be able to pull him in, but the decommitment came a couple weeks after Nebraska offered, and the Cornhuskers have 89% of the Crystal Ball votes.

Norco (CA) Norco safety Troy Dye was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado and Oregon, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #41 safety, and #634 overall. He earned his offer at the satellite camp in Mission Viejo. Listed as a safety, he moves like a linebacker and should probably be reclassified by 247 Sports. Regardless, he has some upside as an outside linebacker and still probably slots in as a 3-star prospect. Michigan was his favorite school growing up. His father was born in Michigan and played football at San Jose State (so why not go play for Al Borges and Greg Robinson?), where he also had a baseball career that led to the Houston Astros organization.

Cartersville (GA) Cartersville tight end Miller Forristall was offered by Michigan and then committed to Alabama. He’s a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #20 tight end, and #486 overall. As a junior in 2014, he caught 32 passes for 600 yards and 8 touchdowns. The home state Bulldogs never stepped forward with an offer.

Hit the jump for a couple more 2016 offers, some guys who committed elsewhere, and some random bits and pieces.

Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan safety/linebacker Devin Gil decommitted from Miami. He’s a 6’1″, 205 lb. prospect who also holds offers from Colorado, Louisville, and South Florida, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #63 safety, and #941 overall. Gil visited Michigan with a couple teammates this past weekend, and he decommitted from the Hurricanes during the visit, saying he wanted to see who else would show interest in him. He plays safety and that’s where 247 Sports has him pegged, but he looks like he’ll be a linebacker at the next level. His Crystal Ball is 100% in favor of Michigan right now.

Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan safety Josh Metellus decommitted from Georgia Southern. He’s a 6’0″, 187 lb. prospect with offers from Florida International, Miami-OH, Middle Tennessee State, and South Alabama. He’s a 247 Composite 2-star, the #139 safety, and #1957 overall. He is a teammate of Gil and 2016 linebacker Devin Bush, Jr. and visited Michigan this past weekend.

Norco (CA) Norco quarterback Victor Viramontes was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado, Nebraska, Washington State, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #48 athlete, and #676 overall. A teammate of Dye’s, Viramontes attended the second California satellite camp, in Fresno, and earned his offer after Harbaugh saw him run and throw. As a junior in 2014, he was 123/228 passing (53.9%) for 1,784 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions; more impressively, he ran the ball 214 times for 1,757 yards (8.2 yards/carry) and 18 touchdowns. Even better is that his nickname is “Vicious Vic,” so if he ever decides to pursue MMA, he’s got a pretty nice, alliterative name for it: Vicious Vic Viramontes. (You can hear Michael Buffer saying that name, can’t you?) Anyway, Viramontes is a veritable virtuoso on the field who has various valuable skills, like vision and a vibrant arm, to victimize a defense on his way to taking a viselike, victorious grip on a quarterback job. (That’s my way of saying that Vicious Vic can probably go somewhere and be The Man at quarterback in this class, rather than possibly playing second violin fiddle to Brandon Peters.) If quarterback doesn’t work out for him, he could probably play running back, fullback, H-back, linebacker, or maybe strong safety at the college level.

Fort Lauderdale (FL) Cooper City tight end Rashad Weaver was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 245 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois and Syracuse, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 2-star, the #112 defensive tackle, and #1803 overall. He claims a 4.9 forty. Weaver has decent speed but has a lot of technical holes in his game; he’s also a big body who could project anywhere from tight end to defensive end to defensive tackle to perhaps even offensive tackle. He reminds me of New Jersey athlete Jake Pickard from the 2015 class, who was committed to Wisconsin, earned a late offer from Michigan, and ended up signing with Syracuse. Weaver almost immediately named Michigan his top school. The Wolverines are recruiting him as an “athlete” but saying he can play tight end to start his career.

OFF THE BOARD
Manor (TX) Manor defensive end Erick Fowler committed to LSU. He initially showed some interest in the Wolverines, but nothing had transpired in recent weeks between the two parties.

Cranford (NJ) Cranford offensive tackle Will Fries committed to Penn State. He had recently visited Michigan and put the Wolverines in his top group, but that seemed like a formality before a looming commitment to the Nittany Lions.

Mechanicsville (VA) Atlee safety Jaqui “J.J.” Givens committed to South Carolina. The co-defensive coordinator at South Carolina is Jon Hoke, the older brother of former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke.

Converse (TX) Judson defensive end Alton Robinson committed to Texas A&M.

Byesville (OH) Meadowbrook offensive guard Josh Sills committed to West Virginia.

New Orleans (LA) Brother Martin tight end Irvin Smith committed to Texas A&M on an unofficial visit. He is the son of former Notre Dame and NFL tight end Irv Smith. He is also a teammate of 2016 tight end Peyton Aucoin and 2017 linebacker Bruce Jordan-Swilling, both of whom have Michigan offers.

Chesapeake (VA) Indian River linebacker Jaquan Yulee committed to Alabama. Despite listing Michigan early as one of his top schools, he never visited. Recently, the Wolverines dropped out of his top five, and then he became a Crimson Tide. Which sounds weird.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of some (but not nearly all) of the participants in Michigan’s Exposure U camp (LINK).

Here are the notable prospects who took part in Michigan’s 2015 Summer Swarm tour, which ended last week (LINK).

Here’s yet another list, this one of visitors from this past weekend and Sound Mind Sound Body campers (LINK).

Scout released a new top 300 for 2016 (LINK).

Houston (TX) Aldine MacArthur defensive end Isaiah Chambers named Michigan to his top ten.

Abbotsford (BC) Abbotsford tight end Chase Claypool named Michigan to his top three.

Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Rancho Santa Margarita wide receiver Dylan Crawford named Michigan to his top ten.

Los Angeles (CA) Loyola cornerback David Long, Jr. named Michigan to his top ten. The guys at 247 Sports have said at times that Long is the staff’s top cornerback target.

Avon (IN) Avon quarterback Brandon Peters, a Michigan commit, was named a finalist for the 2015 Elite 11.

Florence (AL) Florence fullback/linebacker Erroll Thompson named Michigan to his top five. Michigan is recruiting him to play both positions. He is believed to be a strong Alabama lean, however.

Over on Recruiting Season, I updated profiles for:

2Mar 2015
Uncategorized 2 comments

Recruiting Update: March 2, 2015

Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville defensive end A.J. Epenesa (image via 247Sports.com)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Livonia (LA) Livonia defensive end Willie Baker was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #33 weakside end, and #523 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 112 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles. I do not see Baker as a weakside end at all, and in fact, he looks like a 3-4 defensive end, a strongside end, or even a defensive tackle after he adds weight. He is somewhat stiff and does not use his hands well, but he is very physical and likes to hit.

Kentwood (LA) Kentwood cornerback Shyheim Carter, an Alabama commit, was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect who also holds offers from Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and Mississippi State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #3 cornerback, and #33 overall. He claims a 4.38 forty. Chances are slim that Michigan will be able to flip Carter out of the deep south, so this is more likely a case of the coaches trying to build relationships in the area.

Elk Grove (CA) Franklin cornerback Lamar Jackson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Boise State, Colorado, and UCLA. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #32 cornerback, and #328 overall. He claims a 4.46 forty. Jackson is a jack-of-all-trades type of player for his high school, where he also plays some quarterback. At his size he is probably most likely to play safety, wide receiver, or maybe even linebacker eventually.

Charlotte (NC) Victory Christian tight end Thaddeus Moss was offered by Michigan. Moss is a 6’4″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Boston College, Duke, Marshall, and Wake Forest, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #24 tight end, and #686 overall. He is also the son of former all-world wide receiver Randy Moss, who grew up in West Virginia, attended Marshall, and went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots, among other teams. The younger Moss is not the physical freak that his dad was, but he seems to have a high football IQ and makes some excellent plays in his own right. Thaddeus is a bit of a lumbering tight end, but he knows how to release from the line and can make some acrobatic catches. He also flashes some talent as a defensive end, where he makes some nice hustle plays, picks off a couple passes, etc. I don’t see a huge talent difference between him and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. – who was ranked higher – except for the fact that Wheatley is a couple inches taller and 20-30 lbs. heavier.

Hit the jump for a few more 2016 offers, some 2017 offers, a commit elsewhere, and a few miscellaneous bits.

Cornelius (NC) Hough cornerback Marquill Osborne, a Tennessee commit, was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 185 lb. prospect who also holds offers from Duke, LSU, and North Carolina State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #23 cornerback, and #239 overall. Osborne is a speedy corner with good hips, and I think he’s deserving of his ranking. I do not think Michigan has much of a chance to flip him, although I would not be surprised if he signs with someone other than the Volunteers.

Laurinburg (NC) Scotland linebacker Jonathan Smith was offered by Michigan. Smith is a 6’1″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, North Carolina, and North Carolina State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #31 linebacker, and #397 overall. He claims a 315 lb. bench press. Smith is probably strictly an inside linebacker at the next level because of some size and speed limitations, but he seems to make quick reads and is a solid hitter.

Eden Prairie (MN) Eden Prairie cornerback J.D. Spielman was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’9″, 175 lb. prospect whose lone offer comes from the Wolverines. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #80 athlete, and #1003 overall. He claims a 4.45 forty. Spielman is the adopted son of Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, who is Chris Spielman’s brother. J.D. has decent speed and is a pretty solid tackler for his size, but he does not have the outstanding burst you ideally look for in a return man.

Florence (AL) Florence linebacker Erroll Thompson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Louisville, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #30 inside linebacker, and #911 overall. Thompson is a hulking inside linebacker prospect with NFL size already, and he’s a very good hitter and tackler. Michigan has told him he might also be able to play both ways as a fullback/linebacker. It’s notoriously difficult to pull players out of the deep south, but he does not hold offers from home-state Alabama or Auburn yet.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville defensive end A.J. Epenesa was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Iowa, Michigan State, Missour, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UCLA, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 5-star, the #1 strongside end, and #2 overall. There does not appear to be much film out there on Epenesa, but obviously he is considered a top prospect. From what I have seen out of his sophomore clips, he looks like a sure-fire strongside end who already does a good job of playing with leverage.

Pittsburgh (PA) Seton-La Salle safety Paris Ford was offered by Michigan. Ford is a 6’2″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Penn State, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others. As a sophomore in 2014, he caught 29 passes for 537 yards and 11 touchdowns while also making 56 tackles and 4 interceptions. Ford’s brother is Darrin Walls, whom Michigan offered before he went on to play for Notre Dame and is now a corner for the New York Jets. Ford said his three favorite schools growing up were Michigan, Penn State, and Pitt. He’s a solid tackling safety who also shows some nice ball skills and running skills, and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin said there’s a possibility he could play both sides of the ball at Michigan.

Hollywood (FL) Flanagan cornerback Stanford Samuels III was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, and South Carolina, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #3 cornerback, and #25 overall. He’s a solid-hitting corner with good speed, hips, and ball skills, and he’s very physical in press coverage. He is the son of former Florida State cornerback Stanford Samuels, who went to play for a few years in the CFL.

Westerville (OH) South cornerback Marcus Williamson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’10”, 178 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #6 cornerback, and #67 overall. Williamson has good quickness and is decently physical, and he reminds me somewhat of fifth year senior corner Blake Countess.

OFF THE BOARD
Carson (CA) Calabasas safety Marquel Dismuke committed to Cal. Dismuke expressed strong interest in visiting Michigan right after he was offered, but he took a visit to Cal and committed immediately. There’s still time for things to change, but this is why those offer reaction reports are overrated.

MISCELLANEOUS
I posted a scouting report on Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon (LINK).

Orlando (FL) Oak Ridge inside linebacker Jonathan Jones set an official visit date for September 25, which is the game against BYU. Despite receiving several new offers, he maintains that Michigan is #1 on his list.

Fresno (CA) Clovis West outside linebacker Caleb Kelly set an unofficial visit date for March 13. Kelly, who holds a Michigan offer, is the 247 Composite #14 player in the country and #1 in California.

Over on Recruiting Season, I added/updated profiles for: