Tag: Grant Newsome

2015 Recruiting Grades: Offense

Zach Gentry (image via Maxpreps)

With the 2015 class about wrapped up, I’ll offer some final takeaways from the recruiting cycle. With something like this, it’s difficult to separate Brady Hoke’s recruiting efforts through early December from Jim Harbaugh’s efforts over the last five weeks of the cycle. So the grades and feedback I provide are geared toward the program’s job of recruiting, not necessarily a specific coach.

Starters are listed in italics.

QUARTERBACK
Lost from 2014: Russell Bellomy (transfer), Devin Gardner (graduation)
Commits: Zach Gentry, Alex Malzone
Grade: A-
Comments: Michigan needed to add talent and numbers to the quarterback position to engender competition, and they did that. Gentry (#8 pro-style quarterback, #175 overall) is the raw talent at 6’7″, 230 lbs. with a reported 4.6 forty and a strong arm. Malzone (#13 pro-style quarterback, #295 overall) is the local field general with good skills all around but nothing that really stands out. Other than getting a truly elite prospect, Michigan did about as well as they could. Toss in the possible arrival of Houston transfer John O’Korn, and all these guys won’t finish their careers at Michigan, but at least one should emerge looking good.

RUNNING BACK
Lost from 2014: Justice Hayes (transfer)
Commit: Karan Higdon
Grade: C
Comments: The unfortunate thing here is that Michigan had two top-150 running back talents committed at different times, and the Wolverines let both of them slip through their fingers. The first one, Damien Harris, ended up signing with Alabama. The second one, Mike Weber, was darn close to flipping from Ohio State to Michigan at the last minute, but he ultimately stuck with the Buckeyes around 10:30 a.m. because Higdon had committed to Michigan at 8:00 a.m. Michigan stole Higdon (#40 running back, #479 overall) himself at the last minute from Iowa, so there’s something to be said for getting someone on the board, at least. Still, this could have looked better.

WIDE RECEIVER
Lost from 2014: Devin Funchess (early NFL draft entrant)
Commits: Brian Cole, Grant Perry
Grade: B+
Comments: Michigan might have hit a home run with Cole (#5 athlete, #75 overall), who was a jack-of-all-trades player in high school and will have to learn the receiver position in college. Perry (#109 wide receiver, #864 overall) is a solid role player plucked from Northwestern at the last minute. Otherwise, both Hoke and Harbaugh swung and missed at the big-timers in the class.

TIGHT END
Lost from 2014: Keith Heitzman (transfer)
Commit: Tyrone Wheatley, Jr.
Grade: B
Comments: Michigan let Chris Clark slip through their fingers, although Clark was wishy-washy and seemed to be all over the place with his recruitment. The Wolverines may have dodged a bullet, because Wheatley – as the son of a coach on staff – might be less likely to flake out if things don’t go smoothly from day one. Wheatley (#12 tight end, #313 overall) has a fair amount of talent himself, although some think he’s better suited for defense. It would have been nice to get two tight ends with Heitzman transferring, A.J. Williams being a senior in 2015, and starter Jake Butt a junior who could possibly go pro if he stays healthy.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Lost from 2014: Kyle Bosch (transfer)
Commits: Grant Newsome, Jon Runyan Jr., Nolan Ulizio
Grade: B
Comments: The offensive line recently went from being “way too young” to being “maybe too old” now that four projected starters will be fifth-year guys (2) or fourth-year guys (2), joined by sophomore left tackle Mason Cole and redshirt junior utility man Erik Magnuson. With a couple backups looking stuck there for a reason, Michigan needed to bring in some fresh talent. Newsome (#22 offensive tackle, #235 overall) is a possible star, whereas Runyan (#122 offensive tackle) and Ulizio (#137 offensive tackle) look like they could be passable players in a few years. This probably isn’t the class that will turn around Michigan’s fortunes immediately, but they’re functional. Michigan essentially ignored a national prospect with high interest (USC-bound Chuma Edoga) and a local, guru-approved guy with high interest (Wisconsin-bound David Moorman), so hopefully they picked the right ones to pursue. If Newsome pans out like I think he should, he’ll make this class look pretty good.

2015 Recruiting Awards

Lawrenceville (NJ) School offensive tackle Grant Newsome

It’s that time of the year. The class has wrapped up (barring any last-minute changes), and it’s time to start judging. Here are the annual recruiting awards, chosen by yours truly. If you want to look at past years’ awards, here they are: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

And away we go!

Best Overall Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
I’m tempted to go with Brian Cole, who is Michigan’s top-rated recruit in the class. But I believe that this coaching staff will do a great job of developing offensive linemen, and I think Newsome is the cream of the crop. He has the size and the athleticism to be a very good left tackle, so without a true superstar recruit, I’ll put my metaphorical chips on Newsome.

Best Offensive Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
See above.

Best Defensive Recruit: DE Shelton Johnson
This is a bit of a gamble here, because I have bad memories of Rich Rodriguez-era Floridians. I’m attempting to put most of the Rodriguez years behind me, so I’m going with Johnson. He has a good body to work with, he can play low, he’s athletic, and he’s violent. But if he takes things seriously, I think he can be Michigan’s best defensive end since Brandon Graham.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: K Andrew David
Michigan enters the year having lost both their punter and placekicker from 2014. The punting job should go to walk-on Kenny Allen, but the placekicking job is there for the taking. Allen can do both, but he has reportedly been shaky. Meanwhile, David is the 247 Composite #9 kicker in the country and has a pretty clear path to the job. Add to that a dedicated special teams coach in John Baxter, and hopefully David’s impact will be a good one.

Fastest Recruit: CB Keith Washington
Michigan’s class is light on skill guys, with only Washington, WR Brian Cole, WR Grant Perry, RB Karan Higdon, and S Tyree Kinnel. While I doubt Washington’s claim that he can run a 4.3 forty, he does have impressive acceleration and earns this prestigious award by a hair over Cole.

Strongest Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
With a 305 lb. bench and a 465 lb. squat, Newsome edges out fellow offensive lineman Nolan Ulizio (315 and 410, respectively).

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: WR Grant Perry
My original criterion was going to be any guy who’s a 247 Composite 3-star or lower, but I just can’t bring myself to count Shelton Johnson – who fits that description – as an under-the-radar guy since he was wanted by some big-time schools. So my next choice is Perry. Perry is a guy who I don’t think will be a superstar, but I think he will reach the level of being a consistent possession target.

Most Overrated Recruit: QB Zach Gentry
Michigan doesn’t have many to choose from this year, so I’ll put Gentry here since I think of him as a boom-or-bust type of guy. Gentry has all kinds of physical tools, but his mechanics are raw. Having played very weak competition in New Mexico and being so far from home, Gentry has the type of profile where he might transfer away from Michigan if he doesn’t win the starting job within a couple years. The Wolverines are bringing in a lot of competition – especially if Houston transfer John O’Korn is official – and the quarterback position has a high turnover rate because those kids want to play. I do think Gentry has higher upside than classmate Alex Malzone and anyone else on the roster save perhaps Shane Morris, but Malzone is a hometown kid who might stick it out a little bit longer.

Most Likely to Redshirt: OG Jon Runyan, Jr.
Runyan did get bigger from his junior year to his senior season and looks more the part of a college lineman now, but he still looks the least ready of Michigan’s three offensive linemen in the class. The rest of the signees play positions where freshmen contribute regularly, except for quarterback – but Michigan has a wide-open quarterback position. My non-lineman pick would be RB Karan Higdon, who joins a team that includes three guys who have started games at Michigan (Derrick Green, Drake Johnson, and De’Veon Smith) and perhaps the best of the bunch coming off a transfer redshirt year (Ty Isaac).

Personal Favorite Recruit: WR Grant Perry
I’m picking the underdog here. Perry grew up a Michigan fan and you could tell throughout the process that he was dying for a Michigan offer. There were reasons for Michigan not offering, but Brady Hoke’s coaching staff told him to be patient and that an offer might come. Late in the process, Jim Harbaugh’s staff extended an offer. Perry, already committed to Northwestern by that point, flipped to the Wolverines almost immediately but not until he took the time to let the Wildcats’ coaches know. This is a feel-good story about hard work, perseverance, and love for the program.

Rivals 250 for 2015 finalized

Saginaw (MI) Heritage wide receiver Brian Cole (image via 247Sports.com)

Rivals released their top 250 prospects at noon on Tuesday (LINK). The top 100 was revealed yesterday (LINK). Here’s what the top 250 looked like back in December (LINK). Movement for Michigan commits:

– Brian Cole fell from #91 to #101
– Grant Newsome jumped from #220 to #191
– Tyree Kinnel fell from #211 to #225

Here are the rest of the guys Michigan has offered:

101. Brian Cole – ATH – Michigan (Michigan)
108. Garrett Taylor – CB – Virginia (Penn State)
120. Dexter Williams – RB – Florida
123. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota (Ohio State)
135. Clelin Ferrell – DE – Virginia (Clemson)
152. Juwan Johnson – WR – New Jersey (Penn State)
155. Matt Burrell, Jr. – OG – Virginia (Ohio State)
156. Miles Boykin – WR – Illinois (Notre Dame)
158. Preston Williams – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)
162. John Reid – CB – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
167. Jaason Lewis – RB – Virginia (Arizona State)
168. Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indiana (Tennessee)
170. Dre’Mont Jones – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
174. Tim Settle – DT – Virginia (Virginia Tech)
180. Josh Barajas – LB – Indiana (Notre Dame)
191. Grant Newsome – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
193. Pat Allen – OT – Maryland
194. Auden Tate – WR – Florida (Florida State)
198. Ryan Bates – OT – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
202. Keaton Sutherland – OT – Texas (Texas A&M)
206. Zach Robertson – OG – California (Arizona State)
215. Johnny Frasier – RB – North Carolina (Florida State)
221. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Florida (Arkansas)
223. Connor Williams – C – Texas (Texas)
225. Tyree Kinnel – S – Ohio (Michigan)
243. Darrell Taylor – DE – Virginia (Tennessee)
246. Asmar Bilal – LB – Indiana (Notre Dame)
247. Arden Key – DE – Georgia
249. Joshua McMillon – LB – Tennessee (Alabama)

Top 247 for 2015 finalized

Saginaw (MI) Heritage wide receiver Brian Cole

247 Sports released their final list of the top 247 prospects of 2015 (LINK). Here’s what it looked like in March of 2014 (LINK).

Movement for Michigan commits:
– Brian Cole dropped from #34 to #65
– Grant Newsome fell from #181 to #220

5-stars:
5. Iman Marshall – CB – California
6. Josh Sweat – DE – Virginia (Florida State)
8. Terry Beckner, Jr. – DE – Illinois
9. Kevin Toliver II – CB – Florida (LSU)
11. CeCe Jefferson – DE – Florida
12. Malik Jefferson – LB – Texas (Texas)
13. Jarrett Stidham – QB – Texas (Baylor)
15. Rasheem Green – DT – California
16. Josh Rosen – QB – California (UCLA)
20. Justin Hilliard – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
23. Blake Barnett – QB – California (Alabama)
25. Osa Masina – LB – Utah
27. Mitch Hyatt – OT – Georgia (Clemson)
29. Preston Williams – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)
31. Kendall Sheffield – CB – Texas (Alabama)

33. Keisean Lucier-South – DE – California (UCLA)
35. George Campbell – WR – Florida (Florida State)
37. Arden Key – DE – South Carolina
38. Jalen Dalton – DE – North Carolina (North Carolina)
39. Tyron Johnson – WR – Louisiana (LSU)
41. Christian Kirk – WR – Arizona (Texas A&M)
42. Ronald Jones II – RB – Texas (USC)
44. Johnny Frasier – RB – North Carolina (Florida State)
45. Damien Harris – RB – Kentucky (Alabama)
49. Minkah Fitzpatrick – CB – New Jersey (Alabama)
54. Jacques Patrick – RB – Florida (Florida State)
57. DaMarkus Lodge – WR – Texas
61. Jerome Baker – ATH – Ohio (Ohio State)
64. Shy Tuttle – DT – North Carolina (Tennessee)
65. Brian Cole – ATH – Michigan (Michigan)
67. Keaton Sutherland – OT – Texas (Texas A&M)
68. Dre’Mont Jones – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
71. Roquan Smith – LB – Georgia
76. Abdul Bello – OT – Florida (Florida State)
81. Soso Jamabo – RB – Texas
87. Garrett Taylor – CB – Virginia (Penn State)
90. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Florida (Arkansas)
91. Clelin Ferrell – DE – Virginia (Clemson)
93. Matt Burrell – OG – Virginia (Ohio State)
97. Drew Richmond – OT – Tennessee (Ole Miss)
98. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota (Ohio State)
106. Henry Roberts – OT – Washington (Washington)
107. Ray-Ray McCloud III – ATH – Florida (Clemson)
108. Josh Barajas – LB – Indiana (Notre Dame)
112. Jeffery Holland – LB – Florida
115. Juwan Johnson – WR – New Jersey (Penn State)
116. Darian Roseboro – DE – North Carolina (North Carolina State)
123. Kirk Merritt – RB – Louisiana
131. Mike Weber – RB – Michigan (Ohio State)
133. Deondre Francois – QB – Florida (Florida State)
136. Anthony Wheeler – LB – Texas (Texas)
139. Dexter Williams – RB – Florida
142. Isaiah Prince – OT – Maryland
143. Ryan Bates – OT – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
156. John Reid – CB – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
157. Hale Hentges – TE – Missouri (Alabama)
162. Tim Settle – DT – Virginia (Virginia Tech)
163. Jordan Whitehead – CB – Pennsylvania (Pitt)
175. Keenan Walker – OT – Arizona (Arizona)
178. Jake Fruhmorgen – OT – Florida (Clemson)
179. Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (Notre Dame)
182. Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indiana (Tennessee)
184. Marcus Lewis – CB – Washington, DC
187. Asmar Bilal – LB – Indiana (Notre Dame)
205. Adonis Thomas – LB – Georgia (Alabama)
209. Chris Clark – TE – Connecticut
210. Joe Burrow – QB – Ohio (Ohio State)
213. Darrin Paulo – OT – California
219. Auden Tate – WR – Florida (Florida State)
220. Grant Newsome – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
226. Darrell Taylor – DE – Virginia (Tennessee)
229. Mook Reynolds – CB – Virginia (Virginia Tech)
239. Rashad Roundtree – S – Georgia (Georgia)
241. Devonaire Clarington – TE – Florida (Texas)

Final ESPN 300 for 2015 released

Saginaw (MI) Heritage wide receiver Brian Cole is Michigan’s top ranked commit.

Here’s a look at the final ESPN 300 for the 2015 class (LINK), which I have been tracking over the last couple years. Here’s what it looked like back in July (LINK). Movement for Michigan commits is here:

– Brian Cole fell from #139 to #148
– Tyree Kinnel fell from #192 to #196
– Grant Newsome fell from #242 to #253

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

4-stars:
22. Keisean Lucier-South – DE – California (UCLA)
24. Arden Key – DE – South Carolina
27. Minkah Fitzpatrick – CB – New Jersey (Alabama)
28. Soso Jamabo – RB – Texas
29. Roquan Smith – LB – Georgia
30. Tyron Johnson – WR – Florida (LSU)
31. Malik Jefferson – LB – Texas (Texas)
33. Jashon Cornell – DE – Minnesota (Ohio State)
34. Ronald Jones II – RB – Texas (USC)
35. Christian Kirk – WR – Arizona (Texas A&M)
36. Damien Harris – RB – Kentucky (Alabama)
37. Jarrett Stidham – QB – Texas (Baylor)
38. Preston Williams – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)
39. Shy Tuttle – DT – North Carolina (Tennessee)
41. Rasheem Green – DT – California
42. Deondre Francois – QB – Florida (Florida State)
46. Jeffery Holland – LB – Florida
49. Jacques Patrick – RB – Florida (Florida State)
50. Josh Rosen – QB – California (UCLA)
54. Adonis Thomas – LB – Georgia (Alabama)
55. Abdul Bello – OT – Florida (Florida State)
57. DaMarkus Lodge – WR – Texas
58. Drew Richmond – OT – Tennessee (Ole Miss)
64. Jalen Dalton – DE – North Carolina (North Carolina)
66. Anthony Wheeler – LB – Texas (Texas)
67. Jerome Baker – LB – Ohio (Ohio State)
75. Rashad Roundtree – S – Georgia (Georgia)
77. Osa Masina – LB – Utah
78. Dexter Williams – RB – Florida
80. Johnny Frasier – RB – North Carolina (Florida State)
89. Jake Fruhmorgen – OT – Florida (Clemson)
91. Keenan Walker – OT – Arizona (Arizona)
94. Matt Burrell, Jr. – OG – Virginia (Ohio State)
98. Hjalte Froholdt – DT – Florida (Arkansas)
109. Hale Hentges – TE – Missouri (Alabama)
111. Chris Clark – TE – Massachusetts
112. Devonaire Clarington – TE – Florida (Texas)
125. Sterling Jenkins – OT – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
129. Ryan Bates – OT – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
136. Clelin Ferrell – DE – Virginia (Clemson)
138. Christian Pellage – OT – Florida (South Carolina)
139. Garrett Taylor – CB – Virginia (Penn State)
140. Mike Weber – RB – Michigan (Ohio State)
142. Jordan Whitehead – CB – Pennsylvania (Pitt)
145. Ty’Son Williams – RB – South Carolina (North Carolina)
146. Kirk Merritt – ATH – Louisiana
148. Brian Cole – ATH – Michigan (Michigan)
157. Ray-Ray McCloud III – RB – Florida (Clemson)
158. Tyler Jordan – C – Florida (Florida)
159. Marcus Lewis – CB – Washington, DC
161. Dre’Mont Jones – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
168. Kendrick Norton – DT – Florida
169. Shaun Crawford – CB – Ohio (Notre Dame)
171. Joshua McMillon – LB – Tennessee (Alabama)
173. John Reid – CB – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
184. Darian Roseboro – DE – North Carolina (North Carolina State)
195. Juwan Johnson – WR – New Jersey (Penn State)
196. Tyree Kinnel – S – Ohio (Michigan)
210. Pat Allen – OT – Maryland
213. Devante Peete – WR – Florida
223. Isaiah Prince – OT – Maryland
242. Ryan Davis – WR – Florida
247. Rashard Causey, Jr. – CB – Florida (Florida International)
253. Grant Newsome – OT – New Jersey (Michigan)
255. Cameron Townsend – LB – Texas (Texas)
273. Cameron Ordway – CB – Tennessee (Ole Miss)
276. Darrin Kirkland, Jr. – LB – Indiana (Tennessee)
278. Zach Robertson – OG – California (Arizona State)
298. Joe Burrow – QB – Ohio (Ohio State)