Tag: ESPN rankings

ESPN 300 for 2015 updated

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake wide receiver George Campbell

The ESPN 300 was updated for the class of 2015. Here’s what it looked like back in July.

Movement for Michigan commits:
– George Campbell jumps from #3 to #2
– Damien Harris jumps from #20 to #17
– Shaun Crawford drops from #49 to #73

1. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota
2. George Campbell – WR – Florida (Michigan)
3. Kevin Toliver II – CB – Florida (LSU)
4. Mitch Hyatt – OT – Georgia
8. Jeffrey Holland – OLB – Florida
9. Terry Beckner, Jr. – DE – Illinois
12. Shy Tuttle – DT – North Carolina
16. Josh Rosen – QB – California
17. Damien Harris – RB – Kentucky (Michigan)
34. Justin Hilliard – LB – Ohio
41. Iman Marshall – CB – California
42. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Ohio
43. Malik Jefferson – OLB – Texas
63. Devonaire Clarington – TE – Florida
71. Sterling Jenkins – OT – Pennsylvania
73. Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (Michigan)
83. Anthony Wheeler – DE – Texas
87. Jaason Lewis – ATH – Virginia
98. Jerome Baker – OLB – Ohio
105. Brian Cole – ATH – Michigan
126. Osa Masina – ATH – Utah
135. Darian Roseboro – DT – North Carolina
137. Jacques Patrick – RB – Florida
139. Joshua Alabi – DT – Michigan
167. Cameron Townsend – OLB – Texas
188. T.J. Wheatley, Jr. – TE – New York
195. Garrett Thomas – OT – Louisiana
196. Jordan Whitehead – CB – Pennsylvania
225. Mike Weber – RB – Michigan
265. John Reid – CB – Pennsylvania
269. Kamonte Carter – ATH – Maryland
272. DuWayne Johnson – CB – Washington, D.C.

ESPN 300 for 2014 updated

Jabrill Peppers

ESPN updated its top 300 players for 2014. Here’s what it looked like back in June. Here’s the movement for the Michigan commits:

– Drake Harris dropped from #71 to #72
– Bryan Mone dropped from #73 to #76
– Lawrence Marshall dropped from #110 to #112
– Ian Bunting dropped from #116 to #118
– Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #121 to #122
– Michael Ferns dropped from #122 to #123
– Wilton Speight dropped from #127 to #128

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana
2. Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana
4. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia
5. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia (Virginia)
6. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California
7. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas
10. Quin Blanding – S – Virginia (Virginia)
11. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia

4-stars:
17. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, D.C.
20. Bo Scarbrough – ATH – Alabama (Alabama)
22. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
25. Jamal Adams – S – Texas
26. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana
27. Lorenzo Featherston – DE – North Carolina
31. Solomon Thomas – DE – Texas
38. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona
39. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)
41. John Smith – ATH – California
45. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
47. Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina (Notre Dame)
51. Marshon Lattimore – ATH – Ohio
52. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee (Notre Dame)
54. Edward Paris, Jr. – S – Texas (LSU)
57. Andy Bauer – OT – Missouri (Mississippi)
58. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
62. Nick Watkins – CB – Texas
64. Nyles Morgan – LB – Illinois
66. Jamarco Jones – OT – Illinois (Ohio State)
67. Malik McDowell – DT – Michigan
68. Tyler Luatua – TE – California
72. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
76. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)
77. Corey Holmes – WR – Florida (Notre Dame)
84. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida (Clemson)
88. Kevin Crosby – TE – South Carolina (South Carolina)
90. Ja’von Harrison – ATH – Florida (Virginia Tech)
92. Parrker Westphal – CB – Illinois
94. Jeb Blazevich – TE – North Carolina (Georgia)
99. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee
100. Joe Mixon – RB – California
104. Demarre Kitt – WR – Georgia (Clemson)
105. Kyron Watson – LB – Illinois (Kansas)
112. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
113. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey
115. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia (South Carolina)
118. Ian Bunting – TE – Illinois (Michigan)
121. Braden Smith – OT – Kansas
122. Juwann Bushell-Beatty – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
123. Micheal Ferns – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
128. Wilton Speight – QB – Virginia (Michigan)
131. Dravon Henry – ATH – Pennsylvania
134. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina (North Carolina)
139. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
146. Mason Cole – OT – Florida (Michigan)
156. Dante Booker – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
162. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida (Florida)
163. Jacory Washington – TE – Louisiana (LSU)
166. Demetrius Knox – OG – Texas (Ohio State)
168. Andrew Williams – DE – Georgia
172. Jermaine Roberts – CB – Louisiana (Texas)
174. Bryson Allen-Williams – LB – Georgia (South Carolina)
177. Dwight Williams – LB – California
179. Adarius Pickett – CB – California
180. Dexter Wideman – DT – South Carolina (Florida State)
181. Otaro Alaka – LB – Texas (Texas)
193. Mattrell McGraw – S – Louisiana
196. Kiy Hester – ATH – New Jersey (Rutgers)
203. Quincy Wilson – S – Florida
208. Devon Thomas – RB – Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
231. Erick Smith – S – Ohio
237. Steven Parker – S – Oklahoma
252. Montae Nicholson – S – Pennsylvania
264. Christian McCaffrey – RB – Colorado (Stanford)
271. Petera Wilson – LB – Tennessee
274. Brandon Simmons – S – Texas (Stanford)
278. D’Andre Payne – CB – Wahshington, D.C. (Tennessee)
279. Garrett Dickerson – TE – New Jersey
281. Kyle Berger – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
286. Jonathan Hilliman – RB – New Jersey
295. Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona (Oklahoma)

2015 ESPN Junior 300 released

Michigan is in pursuit of yet another top-ranked player in St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham Hall defensive end Jashon Cornell

ESPN released its Junior 300 today, which is the top 300 prospects for the 2015 class. Since Michigan has only sent out a little over 30 offers for 2015, I’ll list offerees and some other notable prospects:

1. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota (offered)
2. Kevin Toliver II – CB – Florida (offered, committed to LSU)
3. George Campbell – WR – Florida (offered)
6. Martez Ivy – OT – Florida (attends alma mater of Jeremy Gallon)
7. Tim Settle – DT – Virginia (friends with Da’Shawn Hand)
9. Terry Beckner, Jr. – DE – Illinois (offered)
13. Jeffrey Holland – LB – Florida (offered)
14. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Ohio (offered)
17. Josh Rosen – QB – California (offered)
18. Soso Jamabo – RB – Texas (offered)
20. Damien Harris – RB – Kentucky (offered)
21. Shy Tuttle – DT – North Carolina (offered)
29. Eric Glover-Williams – ATH – Ohio
37. Christian Kirk – WR – Arizona (visiting at end of July)
38. Minkah Fitzpatrick – CB – New Jersey (teammate of Jonathan Hilliman)
43. Iman Marshall – CB – California (offered)
49. Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (offered)
51. Joshua Alabi – DT – Michigan (offered)
54. Cordell Broadus – WR – California (son of Snoop Dogg/Lion)
61. Chuma Edoga – OG – Georgia (camped at Michigan)
72. Anthony Wheeler – LB – Texas (offered)
75. Sterling Jenkins – OT – Pennsylvania (offered)
89. Elijah Taylor – DT – Ohio
91. Chris Green – LB – Ohio
108. Jaason Lewis – WR – Virginia (offered)
112. James Morgan – QB – Wisconsin
122. Chris Warren – RB – Texas (visiting at end of July)
131. David Dowell – WR – Ohio (camped at Michigan)
139. Ricky DeBerry – LB – Virginia (visited this spring)
145. Justin Hilliard – LB – Ohio (offered)
147. Brian Cole – WR – Michigan (offered)
157. Jerome Baker, Jr. – LB – Ohio (offered)
163. Darian Roseboro – DE – North Carolina (offered)
168. Osa Masina – LB – Utah (offered)
169. Ryan Bates – OT – Pennsylvania
170. Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indiana
180. Garrett Taylor – CB – Virginia (visited this spring)
184. Kyonta Stallworth – OT – Michigan
186. Josh Adams – RB – Pennsylvania
191. Darrin Hall, Jr. – RB – Ohio
193. Anthony McKee – LB – Ohio (camped at Michigan)
202. Aaron Garza – OT – Texas (offered, committed to Texas)
208. George Brown, Jr. – OT – Ohio (attends alma mater of Antonio Poole)
212. Tyriq Thompson – S – Michigan (son of former Wolverine Clarence Thompson)
217. Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. – TE – New York (offered, son of former Wolverine)
230. Jordan Whitehead – CB – Pennsylvania
231. Jacques Patrick – RB – Florida (offered)
234. Simeon Lane – DT – Ohio
244. Larry Scott – RB – Ohio
245. Reagan Williams – LB – Ohio
248. Mykelti Williams – S – Indiana
266. Jimmy Fitzgerald – QB – Illinois
268. Brandon Tiassum – OG – Indiana
273. Jack Beneventi – QB – Illinois
275. Matthew Draper – LB – Ohio
283. Naterace Strong – RB – Illinois
294. Mike Weber – RB – Michigan (offered)

Poll results: Which recruiting site do you prefer overall?

This has been an issue brought up more often recently now that 247 Sports seems to be making a strong push in the recruiting world. I have to admit that I used to be strongly entrenched in Rivals’ camp, at least as far as Michigan-related sites go. Lately, I have been looking to 247 Sports more and more. Underneath the votes I have some pros and cons for each sites:

Rivals: 34%
Rivals has shown to be the best when it comes to recruiting rankings. The guys who go on to NFL careers were generally rated higher by Rivals than ESPN or Scout (247 Sports is too new for this to be relevant). The site is also easily navigable, and it’s simple to sort through positions, recruiting classes, schools, cities, etc. The Wolverine, which is the Michigan-specific site, lost a lot when Josh Helmholdt got promoted to midwest analyst. His replacement, Tim Sullivan, doesn’t have the contacts or the football acumen to fill Helmholdt’s shoes, so content on The Fort (the premium message board) has been lacking and/or slow.

247 Sports: 30%
247 Sports popped onto the scene with some technological advancements that sped past its competitors. If you go to a recruit’s profile, it has a timeline that reports dates of offers, camp visits, campus visits, official visits, commitments, etc. It also links highlights from various other sites (Youtube, Hudl, etc.) and shows a Twitter feed with mentions about that particular player. The two newest features are the 247 Composite ranking (which averages together a recruit’s rankings from the four major sites) and the Crystal Ball, which shows updated predictions on where the prospect will go. The message board can be a little unwieldy, but writer/moderator Steve Lorenz does a good job of keeping up with recruits, even some that are just barely on the fringe of Michigan’s radar.


Scout: 15%
Scout seems to have been most affected by the arrival of 247 Sports. The website is very difficult to navigate and looks like it was designed by amateurs. (By the way, I freely admit that I’m an amateur when it comes to site design, so I’m not handing out criticism I’m unwilling to take – but this is a hobby for me, and it shouldn’t be for them.) The best thing Scout’s Michigan site has going for it is Sam Webb, who seems to be the guy most plugged in to Michigan’s coaching staff and the program. Finding rankings by position, state, etc. can be difficult with Scout, so I mostly avoid the site, except when a) a player commits and I need his Scout ranking or b) they update their top 300.

None of the above: 11%
These people probably either don’t care about recruiting or they just care about the free stuff that filters over to free sites, message boards, etc. To each his own.


ESPN: 8%
As far as recruiting goes, Wolverine Nation’s Tom VanHaaren does a great job of keeping up with recruiting news. He and 247’s Lorenz both seem to be on a fairly even plane. The message board gets updated regularly, and the moderators spend plenty of time online. Chantel Jennings adds some feature-like items and Michael Rothstein handles mostly basketball recruiting stuff and then some features on current and former Michigan players, so it’s pretty much VanHaaren’s show. ESPN is slower to rate players and updates its rankings less often; whether that’s good or bad might be up to its audience to decide. Personally, I think rankings are updated too often by some other sites (especially 247), but ESPN could probably start earlier with their initial rankings. Individual recruiting profiles lack highlights or links to highlights, so the site relies solely on ESPN videos of camps and such, which load slowly and are full of commercials. I would expect a better product for all the money ESPN has to throw around.

Full disclosure: I currently have Rivals and 247 Sports subscriptions. I let my ESPN subscription expire. I have never been a member of Scout.

ESPN 300 released for 2014

Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers is the #2 player in the country

ESPN, which had already released its top 150 players, posted its top 300 players on Monday.

Movement for Michigan commits:

– Drake Harris jumped from #96 to #71
– Bryan Mone dropped from #72 to #73
– Lawrence Marshall dropped from #107 to #110
– Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #120 to #121
– Michael Ferns dropped from #112 to #122
– Wilton Speight dropped from #125 to #127
– Mason Cole dropped from #145 to #146

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana
2. Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia
4. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia
5. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California
6. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas
7. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana
10. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia
11. Quin Blanding – S – Virginia (Virginia)

4-stars:
16. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, D.C.
18. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
19. Bo Scarbrough – ATH – Alabama (Alabama)
24. Jamal Adams – S – Texas
26. Lorenzo Featherston – DE – North Carolina
28. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana
33. Solomon Thomas – DE – Texas
37. Tyler Luatua – TE – California
39. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona
40. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)
45. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
49. Marshon Lattimore – ATH – Ohio
50. Andy Bauer – OT – Missouri (Mississippi)
51. Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina (Notre Dame)
52. Edward Paris, Jr. – S – Texas (LSU)
55. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee (Notre Dame)
57. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
60. John Smith – ATH – California
62. Nick Watkins – CB – Texas
64. Nyles Morgan – LB – Illinois
66. Jamarco Jones – OT – Illinois
68. Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan
71. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
73. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)
77. Corey Holmes – WR – Florida
87. K.C. Crosby – TE – South Carolina (South Carolina)
88. Ja’von Harrison – ATH – Florida (Virginia Tech)
89. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida
91. Parrker Westphal – CB – Illinois
94. Jeb Blazevich – TE – North Carolina (Georgia)
102. Demarre Kitt – WR – Georgia (Clemson)
103. Kyron Watson – LB – Illinois (Kansas)
110. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
111. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey
113. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia
116. Ian Bunting – TE – Illinois (Michigan)
119. Braden Smith – OT – Kansas
120. Jacory Wahsington – TE – Louisiana (LSU)
121. Juwann Bushell-Beatty – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
122. Michael Ferns III – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
126. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee
127. Wilton Speight – QB – Virginia (Michigan)
130. Dravon Henry – ATH – Pennsylvania
131. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina
137. Joe Mixon – RB – California
139. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
146. Mason Cole – OT – Florida (Michigan)
147. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida
156. Dante Booker – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
163. Andrew Williams – DE – Georgia
165. Jermaine Roberts – CB – Louisiana (Texas)
169. Dexter Wideman – DT – South Carolina
170. Dwight Williams – LB – California
172. Otaro Alaka – LB – Texas (Texas)
186. Mattrell McGraw – S – Louisiana
189. Kiy Hester – ATH – New Jersey
193. Demetrius Knox – OG – Texas
194. Adarius Bennett – CB – California
197. Quincy Wilson – S – Florida
202. Devon Thomas – RB – Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
227. Erick Smith – S – Ohio
233. Steven Parker – S – Oklahoma
248. Montae Nicholson – S – Pennsylvania
261. Christian McCaffrey – RB – Colorado (Stanford)
269. Petera Wilson – LB – Tennessee
272. Brandon Simmons – S – Texas (Stanford)
276. D’Andre Payne – CB – Washington, D.C. (Tennessee)
277. Garrett Dickerson – TE – New Jersey
279. Sam Mustipher – OG – Maryland (Notre Dame)
285. Jonathan Hilliman – RB – New Jersey
295. Mark Andrews – TE – Arizona
299. Kyle Berger – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)