Preview of 2017 In-State Recruiting: #16-20

Tag: in-state recruiting


14Jun 2016
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Preview of 2017 In-State Recruiting: #16-20

Donovan Johnson 21x

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech CB Donovan Johnson (image via 247 Sports)

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This is the fourth installment of my take on the top prospects in the state of Michigan for the 2017 class. You can take a look back at #1-5 (LINK), #6-10 (LINK), and #11-15 (LINK) if you haven’t seen them already. Hit the jump for #16-20, including a couple guys from Muskegon and West Bloomfield you probably haven’t heard of unless you’re a hardcore recruiting follower. Enjoy!

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28Jan 2016
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Keep an Eye On: Potential in-state offers for 2016, Defense

Clinton Township (MI) Chippewa Valley safety Stefan Claiborne (#21)

A few weeks ago, I posted a look at some in-state prospects who could be due for Michigan offers as the 2016 recruiting class wrapped (LINK). At this point the class is filling up with a lot of national recruits, so it’s not clear if any more local offers will be needed. Last year Michigan stole wide receiver Grant Perry from Northwestern late in the process, but that was as Jim Harbaugh was scrambling to fill out his first half of a class. With the final weekend of official visits coming up before National Signing Day, time is running short for Michigan to snake-oil someone.

DEFENSIVE END
Top option: Iowa has typically done a great job of identifying and developing under-the-radar talent, and they have a commit from Detroit (MI) East English Village Prep strongside end Cedrick Lattimore (3-star, #22 SDE, #493 overall). He’s 6’6″, 265 lbs. and could end up playing a few different positions in college. As for weakside ends, a guy getting some late attention is Southfield (MI) Bradford Academy prospect TaMarion Johnson (3-star, #135 WDE, #2571 overall). He decommitted from Miami-OH yesterday, and offers from Iowa State and Minnesota have come in lately.
Other options: Walled Lake (MI) Central outside linebacker Adetokunbo “Ade” Ogundeji (3-star, #42 WDE, #660 overall) is ranked higher than Johnson and committed to Notre Dame, but I think he’s a little less athletic. Southfield (MI) Southfield end Eyioma Uwazurike (3-star, #38 SDE, #832 overall) is 6’6″, 254 lbs. and flipped from Toledo to Iowa State when Matt Campbell was hired to coach the Cyclones.

Hit the jump for the rest of the defense.

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16Feb 2015
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In-State Preview of 2016 Recruiting

Detroit (MI) King wide receiver Donnie Corley

In past years I’ve listed the upcoming class’s prospects in alphabetical order, but this year I’m going to try something different. Based on their junior film, I’m going to rank the prospects in order of their talent level. Things can always changed based on spring/summer camps, fall performance, body maturation, etc., but this is how I see these guys here in the winter of 2015. Note that I ranked these players before compiling their recruiting rankings from other services, although I am aware of rankings peripherally since I cover recruiting quite a bit. There is also a dearth of linemen on the list, partly because linemen take a little longer to mature and pop up on the radar.

1. Donnie Corley – WR – Detroit (MI) King: King is 6’2″, 180 lbs. and a 247 Composite 4-star, the #24 wide receiver, and #111 overall. As a junior in 2014, he had 47 receptions for 1,087 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also made 9 picks on defense. So far he has offers from LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, among others. I do think he could play corner at the next level, but I think he’s such a strong north-south runner and a natural pass catcher that he would be best served playing offense.

2. Lavert Hill – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Hill is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect who committed to Penn State recently; he also holds offers from Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #21 cornerback, and #218 overall. He claims a 4.4 forty. He’s also the younger brother of Michigan sophomore safety Delano Hill. Lavert himself played at Detroit (MI) Cass Tech through his junior season, but he will be playing for King this coming fall. Lavert is an aggressive corner – perhaps too aggressive, since he gets called or should get called for lots of pass interference – who shows good speed, nice hips, and smooth ball skills.

3. Matt Falcon – RB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Falcon is a 6’1″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #15 running back, and #219 overall. He also claims a 4.41 forty. Maybe I’m imagining things, but as a junior, it still appeared that he a bit of a hitch in his giddyap after an ACL tear suffered as a sophomore. Falcon runs with good body lean, some violence, and good speed despite the knee injury.

Hit the jump for 35 more prospects from within the state.

4. Michael Jordan – OT – Plymouth (MI) Plymouth: Jordan is 6’6″, 285 lbs. and a 247 Composite 4-star, #17 offensive tackle, and #201 overall. He holds offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State. Jordan moves well and packs quite a punch when he stays low, but he needs to work on bending his knees and widening his base. Attending camps and continuing to work in the off-season would probably help him quite a bit with his technique.

5. Khalid Kareem – DE – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Kareem is 6’4″, 240 lbs. and a 247 Composite 4-star, the #21 strongside end, and #292 overall. He has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, and he was briefly committed to the Spartans at the beginning of February. Kareem has a good first step, claims a 4.8 forty, uses his hands pretty well, and shows a variety of moves to defeat blockers. He’s not an athletic freak, but he does not have any glaring weaknesses.

6. Stefan Claiborne – S – Clinton Township (MI) Chippewa Valley: Claiborne is 6’1″, 168 lbs. and a 247 Composite 3-star, the #25 safety, and #417 overall. He has offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, and a handful of MAC schools so far, although others are surely on their way. He claims a 4.44 forty and a 30″ vertical. For a while I liked him as a receiver, but as his body fills out, I’m thinking he looks more and more like a safety. He has decent speed, is a solid tackler, and knows how to take angles and find the football.

7. Thiyo Lukusa – OG – Traverse City (MI) West:
 Lukusa is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect and a 247 Composite 4-star, the #30 offensive tackle, and #328 overall. He has offers from Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Ohio State, among others. Lukusa can sink his hips when engaged with defenders in run blocker, but he does not have the lateral foot quickness to remain at tackle, at least not on the left side, which is where he plays in high school.

8. Martell Pettaway – RB – St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Pettaway is a 5’10”, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan State. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #22 running back, and #308 overall. He claims a 4.45 forty. Pettaway has good vision, speed, and feet, but he runs a little upright and needs to get stronger in the lower body. He looks more like a change-of-pace guy than a feature back.

9. Demetric Vance – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Vance is a 6’1″, 193 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Pitt, and Purdue, among others. He claims a 4.5 forty. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #26 safety, and #421 overall. While he has some pass receiving skills, I think he has more of a feel for playing defense. From the safety position, he can come up and support the run, he can go up and get the ball, and he’s willing to hit receivers who come across the middle.

10. Desmond Fitzpatrick – WR – Farmington (MI) Farmington: Fitzpatrick is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #59 wide receiver, and #339 overall. He committed to Louisville back in the fall and has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue, among others. He claims a 4.5 forty. Fitzpatrick has average size, good speed, and good body control, but he is not particularly or elusive after the catch unless he beats the defense over the top.

11. Bailey Edwards – WR – Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Edwards is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect with an offer from Western Michigan. He’s the son of former Michigan running back Stan Edwards and the younger brother of both Braylon Edwards (Michigan) and Berkley Edwards (Minnesota). I doubt the 180 lb. thing because he’s rail-thin (he’s probably close to 170 lbs.), but he has very good acceleration and speed, and he has an advanced understanding of route running. He’s not the most natural pass catcher, but that may come with time.

12. Tony Poljan – TE – Lansing (MI) Catholic Central: Poljan is a 6’7″, 235 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Michigan to play football and one from Central Michigan to play basketball. At one point he was ranked in ESPN’s top 300 prospects for 2016 at #263, although he has since dropped off the list. He’s currently a 247 Composite 3-star, the #27 athlete, and #446 overall. He was a juggernaut as a junior in 2014, completing 65% of his passes for 2,802 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions; he also ran 1,017 yards and 22 touchdowns, giving him 56 touchdowns for the season, which is an incredible number. Granted, he does not play great competition, but it’s impressive what he can do at his size. He’s outrunning people and stiff-arming defenders from his quarterback position, and he also plays some linebacker, where he does a nice job of getting low and tracking the ball carrier. He looks most comfortable with the ball in his hands, so tight end seems a likely landing spot, but I could also see him as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end. You should definitely take a look at his linked highlights.

13. Cameron Kolwich – OG – Muskegon (MI) Orchard View: Kolwich is a 6’4″, 270 lb. prospect with an offer from Toledo. He has a good first step and a good initial punch, and while he has the feet to possibly play right tackle, he might be limited by his length. I’m a little surprised that he doesn’t have more offers than a few of the other linemen in Michigan, including a couple of the Traverse City West guys.

14. Eric Rogers – LB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Rogers is a 6’1″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Toledo, and Western Michigan. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 inside linebacker, and #324 overall. He also claims a 4.7 forty, benches 325 lbs., squats 500 lbs., and boasts a 34″ vertical. He shows good instincts and overall athleticism, but he does not jump off the screen as an athlete or a hitter. Rogers is the younger brother of former Michigan cornerback James Rogers and a teammate of one of 2017’s top prospects, RB Allen Stritzinger.

15. Kalebb Perry – WR – Mt. Pleasant (MI) Mt. Pleasant: Perry is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Miami-OH, and Western Michigan. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #103 wide receiver, and #678 overall. He claims a 36″ vertical and as a junior in 2014, he caught 36 passes for 900 yards and 9 touchdowns. Perry has decent height but needs to get stronger. He’s a good athlete who has good acceleration but lacks that extra gear to pull away from defensive backs.

16. Michael Onwenu – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Onwenu is a 6’2″, 340 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 offensive guard, and #191 overall. He claims a 5.5 forty and a 405 lb. bench press. Onwenu has surprisingly quick feet when moving in a straight line, and he obviously has a big body. My qualm with Onwenu is that even on his highlights, he does not go hard all the time. Part of this may be conditioning (after all, he’s 340 lbs. and not particularly tall), but he seems to lack some football instincts when it comes to finishing plays. That motivation has to come from somewhere.

17. Jalen Cochran – LB – Canton (MI) Canton: Cochran is a 6’4″, 225 lb. outside linebacker/defensive end with offers from Eastern Michigan and Iowa. He claims a 4.79 forty. I think you’re going to be impressed if you watch his film, where I see a guy who plays fast and aggressive. He has good length and a frame to carry a good deal more weight. He looks a little uncomfortable with his hand on the ground, which makes me project him as a linebacker for now, but his size will probably make him a defensive end eventually.

18. Trishton Jackson – QB – West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield: Jackson is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Purdue, Toledo, and Western Michigan. He’s unranked right now. Jackson is a dual-threat quarterback who’s extremely raw and might be more likely to end up playing wide receiver or defensive back at the next level. He does not have a strong arm, throws a wobbly ball, and does not have good mechanics. However, he is very elusive and has good speed. If he plays quarterback, I see him as a developmental guy who might take over in his fourth or fifth season. His older brother, Obbie, signed with Eastern Michigan in the 2015 class.

19. Tommy Roush – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Roush is a 6’3″, 270 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. Roush has not been heavily pursued yet, but I like this kid. One thing he lacks is ideal size, which may be holding some schools back from offering. But he is a very technical, aggressive player who I think could play center or guard for some programs, if not in the Big Ten then in the AAC, ACC, etc.

20. Hunter Broersma – WR – Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Broersma is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from a handful of MAC programs. He claims a 4.5 forty. As a junior in 2014, he touched the ball 75 times and gained 1,038 total yards with 11 touchdowns, and he made 5 interceptions (including 1 return for a touchdown) and 8 pass breakups. He also had the benefit of catching passes from senior Tyree Jackson (Buffalo), so it will be interesting to see if he can have as much success for what has traditionally been an overlooked program. Broersma doesn’t have great speed but has some good balance. He could end up playing slot receiver or perhaps safety at the next level.

21. Jesse Johnson – S – Detroit (MI) King: King is a 5’11”, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois and Toledo. The most recent highlights I can find of Johnson come from his sophomore year, in which he looks like a strong safety or maybe an outside linebacker. He’s known as a good hitter and tackler, but he lacks the quickness to play much in deep coverage.

22. Joshua Jackson – QB – Saline (MI) Saline: Jackson is a 6’2″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Northwestern, West Virginia, and several MAC schools. He’s the son of former Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson and the brother of former Michigan wide receiver Jeremy Jackson. He started his high school career at Ann Arbor (MI) Huron but got pulled from the team in the middle of his sophomore year. While his older brother claimed some SEC and Big 12 offers, Joshua looks like a better athlete, although he’s not an elite quarterback prospect and probably doesn’t have the speed to play receiver.

23. Jalen Martin – WR – Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy: Martin is a 6’3″, 203 lb. prospect with offers from a handful of MAC programs. He claims a 4.53 forty. As a sophomore in 2013, he caught 44 passes for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns. My issue with Martin has always been a lack of explosiveness, and I have not seen a great improvement in that area. While he could stick at wide receiver, I would not be totally surprised to see him add weight and become an H-back or pass receiving tight end, because I believe he has the frame to do so.

24. Mike Robb – TE – Midland (MI) Dow: Robb is a 6’6″, 210 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Michigan. He claims a 4.7 forty. As a junior in 2014, he caught 58 passes for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns. While Dow uses him effectively as a go-to wide receiver who lines up split wide, he will almost certainly have to learn to play tight end position, but he has the speed and athleticism to make the transition as a pass receiving guy. His long-term future may be determined by how well he adjusts to blocking on the line of scrimmage.

25. Tim Walton – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Walton is a 6’1″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati and a couple MAC schools. He claims a 4.6 forty. Walton looks like a MAC-level inside linebacker. He plays some offense, but while his defensive instincts aren’t great, they’re better on that side of the ball.

26. Mikale Washington – QB – Detroit (MI) King: Washington is a 6’4″, 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #24 pro-style quarterback, and #475 overall. Washington has the advantage of throwing to some of the best skill players in the state, so some of his production and highlights should be taken with a grain of salt. He has decent running skills and fair arm strength, but he does not seem to have to make a lot of reads and his windup is reminiscent of Byron Leftwich’s elongated motion. I do think he’ll get some offers, but colleges are likely waiting until some of the bigger targets start to drop.

27. Cedrick Lattimore – DE – Detroit (MI) East English Village: Lattimore is a 6’5″, 241 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan. Lattimore also plays tight end, but he looks more comfortable on defense than he does running routes, catching, and running. With his size there’s a decent chance that he ends up playing defensive tackle in college, but he needs to use his hands better.

28. Marquis Smith – QB – Ypsilanti (MI) Ypsilanti: Smith is a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect who committed to Eastern Michigan this past weekend. Smith is very unpolished as a quarterback and even looks uncomfortable receiving the shotgun snaps, so I have doubts about whether he’ll ever play the position in college. As a runner, he shows good agility and vision and can run through some tackles, but he doesn’t have great speed. I would imagine he will end up playing running back or slot receiver in college.

29. Jacob Cerny – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Cerny is a 6’5″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan. He is unranked at this point. Cerny is a little bit thin right now and needs to add a lot of size and strength. He has decent feet when he chooses to use them, but ultimately, he does not appear to have a killer instinct when it comes to blocking and finishing plays.

30. Juanye Johnson – OG – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Johnson is a 6’4″, 275 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. Johnson plays tackle in high school, but I think his feet are too heavy to play on the outside in college. However, he has a nice frame to add weight and could be a punishing blocker if he can clean up some of his technical inconsistencies. He’s a developmental prospect but has significant upside if he can get things to click.

31. Lukas Thompson – CB – Grand Rapids (MI) Catholic Central: Thompson is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with an offer from Western Michigan.  He plays receiver, quarterback, cornerback, and kick returner for his high school, but he’s a tentative runner without a lot of strength. I see him more as a zone corner, but he has to get stronger and more aggressive.

32. Benji Marshall – CB – Macomb (MI) Dakota: Marshall is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he does have good quickness and athleticism that could lead some teams to look at him as either a corner or a slot receiver.
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UNRATED:
 The players listed alphabetically below might be very good players, but they either haven’t played much football recently or they simply don’t have much film posted on the internet. For example, Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline’s Daelin Hayes is committed to USC and considered by some to be a 5-star, but I can’t really rate him if I haven’t seen him play.

Brandon Allen – CB – Haslett (MI) Haslett: Allen is a 5’10”, 155 lb. prospect with a basketball offer from Central Michigan. There’s not much film to go on for Allen, and he is more likely to play basketball at the next level, but I’ll throw his name out there as a potential corner prospect.

Dontre Boyd – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Boyd is a 5’10”, 160 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, and Iowa, among others. Without junior film on him, it’s tough to make a judgment, but his sophomore highlights show a kid with good speed and nice hips. While he also plays receiver, I think he probably has the most upside at corner. Presuming he grows at least a little bit, I would guess he ends up somewhere in the middle of the Big Ten.

Lawrence Gordon – DE – Bridgeport (MI) Bridgeport:
 Gordon is a 6’6″, 260 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #52 weakside end, and #868 overall. He claims a 4.6 forty. Gordon transferred from Saginaw (MI) Arthur Hill to Bridgeport in his junior year. While Gordon reportedly has significant athletic talent, there have been consistent reports that he just hasn’t put it all together on the football field and looks somewhat lost. Still, at that size and with decent athleticism, he probably gets a chance somewhere.

Daelin Hayes – LB – Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline: Hayes is a 6’3″, 225 lb. prospect who committed to USC last July; he also has offers from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and numerous others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 outside linebacker, and #77 overall. He’s also ranked as the #1 player in the state. Unfortunately, there’s very little film on Hayes, who got hurt as a sophomore at Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s, transferred to California for his junior year but barely played, and then moved back to Michigan before his junior school year finished. He has barely played football over the past two years, but he must pass the eye test and look good at camps, because powerhouses around the country are gunning for him. I regret that I have to take a pass on ranking him, since no film exists.

Ade Ogundeji – DE – Walled Lake (MI) Central:
 Ogundeji was 6’5″, 209 lbs. as a sophomore and earned a scholarship offer from Western Michigan, although I have not heard much about him after his junior year. His sophomore film showed a kid who was extremely raw but had a nice frame and inconsistent – but intriguing – aggression. If he can add strength and regulate his aggression, he could be a prospect to watch for some bigger offers. As is, however, he seems to be the type of raw prospect that only MAC-level schools might take a risk on.

Leon Page – DE – Detroit (MI) King: Page is a 6’3″, 226 lb. prospect with an offer from Eastern Michigan. His sophomore film shows a kid who’s a little bit lanky but shows good quickness and can come off the edge as a pass rusher. He may be more of a 3-4 outside linebacker, depending on how his body develops.

2Feb 2015
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Whom might Michigan recruit before National Signing Day?

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice wide receiver Grant Perry (image via 247Sports.com)

Michigan has several spots remaining in the 2015 class, and time is running short to fill out the class. At this juncture options are generally limited to guys from the region (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, etc.) who may have visited Michigan on their own dime previously. Also, players committed to powerhouse schools generally won’t flip their commitment, so Michigan’s coaching staff has to consider players who have pledged to lower tier schools. All that being considered, here is at least one name from each position group to consider for a Michigan offer in the less than 48 hours before National Signing Day.

Quarterback: Michigan already has two quarterbacks in the 2015 class, but Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores’ Tyree Jackson is probably the next best option in the state behind Alex Malzone. Jackson is 6’4″, 210 lbs., has a fairly strong arm, and runs pretty well for his size. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star and #24 in the state.

Running back: Auburn Hills (MI) Avondale’s Joshuwa Holloman is a speedster, albeit one without a whole lot of wiggle. The 5’11”, 180 lb. back has reported a 40 time in the 4.3’s and is currently committed to Cincinnati. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star and #13 in the state.

Fullback: Michigan was able to get Detroit (MI) Cass Tech linebacker/fullback Michael Oliver on campus this past weekend, even though he’s a Central Michigan commit. While an offer has not yet been extended, he was Mike Weber’s fullback in high school and could play on either side of the ball or special teams. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star and #48 in the state.

Wide receiver: Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice wideout Grant Perry had been yearning for a Michigan offer, partly so he could play with the guy who threw him so many passes in high school, Alex Malzone. The former coaching regime had been keeping a close eye on him, but the new staff seemed to have put him on the back burner. A Northwestern commit, the 247 Composite 3-star and #12 in-state prospect stands 6’0″, 185 lbs. and could be a reliable possession receiver.

Hit the jump for the rest of the positions.

Tight end: Grand Rapids (MI) West Catholic tight end Bryce Witham committed to Minnesota recently, but I really like him as an H-back type of player and I’m surprised that he didn’t receive more recruiting attention. The 6’4″, 240 lb. prospect is a 247 Composite 3-star and #27 in-state. Since he’s committed to a decent Big Ten school already, I’ll also throw out Macomb (MI) Dakota’s Daniel Crawford, who is committed to Northern Illinois and also seems to fit the profile of a Jim Harbaugh tight end.

Offensive line: St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph offensive guard Wesley French is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect who’s committed to Western Michigan. He camped at U of M last summer and has a decent offer list. He could also potentially play defensive tackle. French is a 247 Composite 3-star and #15 in the state.

Defensive end: I don’t think he’s a legitimate option, but I have been impressed by the film on Romulus (MI) Romulus defensive end Immanuel Stinson. He has a quick first step and could be a good pass rusher. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star and #16 in the state.

Defensive tackle: West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield defensive tackle Eddy Wilson II is a big kid who moves pretty well. He’s currently committed to Purdue, and Michigan has a history of swiping Purdue commits. Wilson is a 6’4″, 265 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star and #26 in-state.

Linebacker: I think linebacker is a somewhat weak class within the state, but Lansing (MI) Sexton’s Rayshawn Wilborn is a 6’4″, 210 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, #17 in the state, and committed to Central Michigan. He could play a number of positions in college, including inside linebacker, outside linebacker, or defensive end.

Cornerback: Grand Rapids (MI) Ottawa Hills athlete Samuel Beal is an intriguing prospect. He’s speedy, 6’2″, and 177 lbs. He might have more upside as a receiver, but he could play either spot in college. He’s currently committed to Western Michigan and is a 2-star and #51 in the state.

Safety: Saline (MI) Saline’s Tyrone Miller has visited Michigan several times, committed to Central Michigan, and then recently flipped to Kansas. He probably does not have the speed to stick at corner, but he might be able to help out at safety. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star and #19 in the state.

12Feb 2014
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In-state Preview of 2015 Recruiting

Saginaw (MI) Heritage wide receiver/defensive back Brian Cole is generally considered to be the top prospect in the state

Now a yearly tradition (see my 2014 list), here’s my preview of in-state recruiting for the class of 2015. I have done my best to track prospects over the past year or two, and this is a list of nearly 70 rising seniors who have the potential to play Division I football. That number has jumped from 23 in 2013 to 44 in 2014 to its current number. As you can imagine, this was a pretty exhausting exercise, so I hope you enjoying reading/scanning the list, watching some of these guys play, and perhaps seeing some people you know or some kids who go to your alma mater. The state may not have the “star power” of guys like Drake Harris, Malik McDowell, and Damon Webb from the 2014 class, but I think this is a deeper group of players than the past couple seasons.

One note: I started compiling offer lists and such in mid-January, so some new offers may have come rolling in over the past couple weeks that are not noted for guys in the first quarter of the alphabet. Enjoy!

Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6’5″, 270 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #37 offensive tackle, #293 overall, and the #4 player in the state. For such a big-time prospect, there’s not much film on Alabi from beyond his sophomore year. I have read that he wants to play defense, but some people around him are trying to convince him that he has a higher ceiling as an offensive lineman. Personally, I agree with those who think he fits better on offense. Cass Tech has generally been a Michigan pipeline, but Michigan State and Tennessee are the two front-runners.


Brian Alsobrooks – QB – Livonia (MI) Churchill:
Alsobrooks is a 6’2″, 215 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has impressive arm strength, but his mechanics are awkward and he’s very raw as a passer. I see him as a potential FCS player, maybe working his way into the MAC.

Ja’Mar Antwine – WR/CB – Pontiac (MI) Pontiac: Antwine is a 5’11”, 178 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He has decent speed but is somewhat of a long strider, and he doesn’t really have that extra gear to set him apart. He looks like a MAC player to me.

Tre’von Avery – QB – Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc: Avery is a 6’1″, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s the younger brother of Michigan defensive back Courtney Avery. Avery is very thin and lacks polish as a quarterback. Not particularly strong-armed, fast, or elusive, he reminds me a lot of a kid I coached against who ended up at a D-II school. Avery’s best shot at a college scholarship might be as a defensive back, but he lacks the speed to be an FBS cornerback, in my opinion.

Sam Beal – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Ottawa Hills: Beal is a 6’2″, 177 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. An accomplished sprinter, he should see some offers come his way from MAC-level programs.

Avonte’ Bell – RB – Lansing (MI) Sexton: Bell is a 6’0″, 216 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Western Michigan. As a junior in 2013, he had 143 carries, 1141 total yards, averaged 7.7 yards/carry, and scored 19 touchdowns. On defense, he forced 4 fumbles, recovered 2, and scored 1 touchdown. Bell is a tough, straight-ahead runner without much elusiveness or elite speed; I would expect him to end up as an inside linebacker or perhaps a fullback at the next level.

Shahid Bellamy – DT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Bellamy is a 6’3″, 265 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 68 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He claims a 4.89 forty, a 4.82 shuttle, a 305 lb. bench, and a 415 lb. squat. I see Bellamy as a 3-tech defensive tackle who could also play the nose in certain schemes.

Ryan Brand – QB – Detroit (MI) U of D Jesuit: Brand is a 5’10”, 182 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He shows solid arm strength and mechanics, but his lack of height may hamper him from getting FBS offers as a quarterback.

Ray Buford II – WR – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Buford is a 6’0″, 177 lb. prospect with offers from Boston College and a handful of MAC schools. He missed most of his junior season after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, but his sophomore highlights show a willowy player with good straight-line speed. Buford attends the same high school as Michigan incoming freshman Lawrence Marshall.

Jayru Campbell – QB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Campbell is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin; he’s committed to Michigan State. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #16 dual-threat QB, and #474 overall, but I see him more as a pro-style quarterback. Campbell has had some off-the-field issues with postgame tirades and, more seriously, fighting a security guard at his high school.

Keontae Carpenter – CB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: I don’t have much information on Carpenter, but he has earned a little bit of buzz as a potential FBS recruit.

Brandon Childress – QB – Baldwin (MI) Baldwin: Childress is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 1,081 passing yards, 1,185 rushing yards on 10.6 yards/carry, and 31 total touchdowns. Childress is a big fish in a small pond who outclasses the other athletes on the field. He’s raw as a quarterback and there’s not much evidence of him making quick decisions and getting rid of the ball in a timely manner, but he has pretty good arm strength and very good speed. Also a pretty good basketball player, Childress seems like a kid who could go to a small-ish FBS program, disappear for three years, and re-emerge as a dangerous dual-threat quarterback. Or he could make an adjustment to another position, such as wide receiver. It will be interesting to see how his career develops, as he’s a guy who could do some big things if he develops.

Brian Cole – WR – Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole is a 6’2″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 ATH, and the #59 player overall. Cole is well put together and could play a number of positions in college, from wide receiver to cornerback to safety. He’s likely the top in-state player for 2015.

Cameron Cole – WR – Saline (MI) Saline: Cole is a 6’2″, 200 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. Cole does not look like a dynamic receiver, but I believe he could be a possession-type receiver at a MAC school. He runs good routes, has a good feel for settling down in open spaces, and adjusts well to the ball in the air.

Daniel Crawford – TE – Macomb (MI) Dakota

Jonathon Dobie – LB – Grand Ledge (MI) Grand Ledge

Sheldon Doss – CB – Detroit (MI) U-D Jesuit: Doss is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers yet. Doss has good size and decent straight-line speed, but he lacks the agility and flexibility to play cornerback at a high level, in my opinion. I think he could potentially play in the lower levels of the Big Ten on offense.

Jack Dunaway – DE – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Dunaway is a 6’3″, 212 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 67 tackles, 15 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. He does not have the explosiveness to be a high FBS recruit, but he could be a preferred walk-on player at Michigan if he does not accept some lower-level offers that will likely surface. His father, Craig Dunaway, was a tight end at Michigan from 1979-1982. For his career, Craig had 55 receptions for 775 yards (14.1 yards/catch) and 8 touchdowns, including 5 catches and 110 yards in the 1983 Rose Bowl.

Myrick El – CB – Warren (MI) Michigan Collegiate: El is a 5’10”, 175 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has very good lateral agility and solid speed. I could see him playing running back as a change-of-pace guy at the lower levels of Division I, but he could also play corner.

Austin Ervin – TE – St. Johns (MI) St. Johns: Ervin is a 6’6″, 245 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan right now. As a junior in 2013, he had 17 catches for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ervin looks like a high school tackle, and he could earn some mid-level FBS offers as a blocking tight end, but he’s not the athletic pass receiving type that will rise through the ranks.

Wesley French – OT – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: French is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. A big body already, I have heard some discussion of French playing the defensive line, but I fully believe his future is at right tackle or offensive guard. He will likely see some MAC and perhaps lower-level Big Ten offers come across the table.

Keshawn Gilmore – ATH – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Gilmore is a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I have yet to see video on Gilmore, but his coaches speak highly of him as a very athletic type, which gives me an initial presumption of an athlete like Michigan sophomore safety Delano Hill. Gilmore plays wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback, and free safety for Cass Tech.

Alex Grace – RB – Saginaw (MI) Swan Valley: Grace is a 6’1″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan and Tennessee. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 276 carries for 2,163 yards and 27 touchdowns. He may not have the speed to play running back at a high level, and he runs a little upright, but he does not have quick feet and is very tough to bring down. He may develop into a short yardage type of runner or I could see him playing linebacker at the next level.

Anthony Gunn – S – Pontiac (MI) Notre Dame Prep: Gunn is a 6’1″, 200 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 22 catches for 779 yards (37.9 yards/catch) and 8 touchdowns, and he had 5 interceptions on defense. He has good speed but is a little stiff in the hips, so I would expect him to play safety or perhaps wideout at the next level.

Anthony Herbert – OG – Lapeer (MI) East: Herbert is a 6’4″, 310 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s a pretty powerful blocker who lacks the ideal athleticism to play tackle, so I believe he will be a guard at the next level, perhaps a center. He has visited Michigan State several times.

Shane Holler – WR – Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Holler is a 6’0″, 175 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He has a little bit of a Drew Dileo feel to him – will be useful on short routes, crossing routes, and such, but not a whole lot of speed.

Joshuwa Holloman – RB – Avondale (MI) Avondale: Holloman is a 5’11”, 180 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. He claims a 4.29 forty and is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #43 running back, and the #462 player overall in his class. As a junior in 2013, he ran the ball 111 times for 1,104 yards and 18 touchdowns. Holloman has blazing speed and may be the in-state sleeper of the year. He’s not the shiftiest runner, but if he gets in the open field, very few people are going to be able to catch him.

Joe Ivan – S – Bay City (MI) Western: Ivan is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I have heard him talked about as a potential safety prospect, but he was limited to offense as a junior because he’s the starting quarterback. On that side of the ball, he was 68/141 for 923 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

Tyree Jackson – QB – Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Jackson is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Western Michigan. Jackson has a nice, strong arm and enough speed to keep plays alive, although he’s not a dynamic runner. This recruiting cycle is a strong one for quarterbacks, but at least in 2014, I think he would have received some offers from pretty big programs.

Keagan James – QB – Stanton (MI) Central Montcalm: James is a 6’2″, 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has decent arm strength but isn’t particularly strong in any one area of the position. I believe he would likely be an FBS prospect.

Jake Johnson – QB – DeWitt (MI) DeWitt: Johnson is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,243 yards passing and 16 touchdowns in six games before suffering an injury. Johnson is a little on the short side, has adequate arm strength, and is not much of a runner. I think he’ll likely be limited to MAC-level options.

Juanye Johnson – OG – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Johnson is a 6’5″, 270 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. Johnson is inconsistent with his technique, but I would not be surprised to see him get offered by a team like Michigan State down the road.

Keith Jones – DE – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Jones is a 6’0″, 237 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He’s an aggressive kid who lacks explosion and length. I think he might be the type to end up at an FCS level.

John Keenoy – OG – East Kentwood (MI) East Kentwood: Keenoy is a 6’4″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo and Central Michigan. He’s probably a guard at the next level, but he supposedly performed well at tackle during a recent camp.

John Kelly – S – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Kelly is a 5’10”, 187 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State, Minnesota, and Western Michigan. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #67 athlete, and the #666 player overall (yikes!). Kelly is built like a running back but could also play safety at the next level. I do not see him as a high level FBS prospect, but he could be a mid-level Big Ten prospect.

Joeviair Kennedy – WR – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Kennedy is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 18 catches, 356 yards (20 yards/catch), and 4 touchdowns. Also a quality basketball player, Kennedy has good speed and body control, and he runs pretty good routes. I would expect him to get some looks from MAC schools and the like.

Cameron Lewis – WR – Detroit (MI) Consortium: Lewis is a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 1,423 receiving yards, 2 kickoff return touchdowns, 52 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 5 forced fumbles. Lewis has good speed and excellent change-of-direction skills. I see him as a cornerback at the next level, but I believe he intends to play wide receiver, where he is likely to play in the slot due to his skills and size. I think Lewis might be a sleeper prospect who starts getting some attention from some Big Ten schools as the process goes on.


Alex Malzone – QB – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: I did a scouting report on Alex Malzone (and some other quarterbacks) in January.

Kamahl March – LB – Detroit (MI) East English Village

Nick Marosi – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Catholic Central: Marosi is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He lacks the explosiveness one would look for in an FBS prospect, and he looks more like a D-II or perhaps an FCS prospect.

Carter Masek – LB – Grand Rapids (MI) East Grand Rapids: Masek is a 6’2″, 210 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Western Michigan. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #25 inside linebacker, #643 overall, and the #9 player in the state. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 86 tackles and 4 sacks. He’s a heavy hitter but likely lacks the foot speed for big-time offers.

Greg McDade – S – Sterling Heights (MI) Stevenson: McDade is a 6’2″, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. All I could find were his sophomore highlights, but those do not indicate to me an FBS prospect. He has decent speed but looks tentative at times. I would like to see his junior highlights, though.

Junior McMullen – LB – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: McMullen is a 6’1″, 220 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I couldn’t find much on him, but the couple highlights I’ve seen suggest that he would be an outside linebacker prospect. However, at 6’1″ he might find it difficult to find offers at the higher levels. I like his athleticism, though.

Jacob Miller – DE – Detroit (MI) Northwestern: Miller is a 6’6″, 220 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s a big kid who looks like a jumbo tight end in the mold of A.J. Williams, or he could be a strongside end. He looks tentative from what I see, so he may be a project, but some coach is going to see his size and athleticism and take a flyer. I see him playing at the MAC level.

Tyrone Miller – S – Saline (MI) Saline: Miller is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.52 forty, a 33″ vertical, a 205 lb. bench, and a squat of 320 lbs. Miller is one of the faster football players I’ve seen in the state, and while he has the size to play safety, he’s not particularly physical and plays more like a corner. I think some FBS teams will come calling.

Ross Moore – CB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Moore is a 5’9″, 160 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He claims a 4.46 forty, a 4.0 shuttle, a 31″ vertical, a 240 lb. bench, and a 320 lb. squat. He’s very small, and while he has decent speed and change of direction skills, they’re not elite. His size will probably prevent him from getting interest from big schools.

Martez Morton – DE – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Morton is a 6’4″, 225 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I have read that he is a prospect to watch, but from what little video I’ve found available, I do not see the ability to warrant Division I offers.

DeKurtis Murphy – OG – St. Joseph (MI) Lake Michigan Catholic: Murphy is a 6’5″, 295 lb. prospect with no offers. He might be the biggest sleeper in the state, literally and figuratively. I have not heard a lot of buzz about Murphy, but he jumps off the film with his size and quickness. He does play high and with a narrow base, but the potential is there to be a very good right tackle or guard prospect.

Alex Mussat – QB – Troy (MI) Athens: Mussat is a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers yet. I have seen him listed everywhere from 6’0″ to 6’2″, so height may be an issue, although he looks taller than 6’0″. Regardless, he has decent arm strength, some mobility within the pocket, and the makings of good mechanics. Although the numbers don’t bear it out (86/200 for 1,078 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions), I have heard that his biggest strength is his accuracy. I would guess that some FCS schools will come calling if MAC schools don’t.

Michael Ojemudia – LB – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Ojemudia is a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He’s the younger brother of Michigan junior defensive end Mario Ojemudia. Michael lacks the same size, but he is faster and more athletic. As a linebacker, he is still undersized for the position and looks more like a safety. However, if he can pack on some weight over the summer, I believe he might start fielding some interest because he shows good instincts, speed, and hitting ability. He lacks the speed and athleticism to play safety, though, so added weight will be key.

Mike Oliver – RB/LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Oliver is a 5’11”, 220 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He was mentioned by Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher as a guy who might get recruited by big schools, but I would rank Oliver a notch below class of 2014 linebacker William White, who signed with Buffalo.

Grant Perry – CB – Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice: Perry is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with no offers yet. Malzone’s top target at Brother Rice, Perry has good hands and decent speed, but he won’t run away from many people at the college level. He is a good blocker, and his physicality may lend itself to the cornerback position a little better.

Caleb Richard – WR – Midland (MI) Dow

Caldin Rogers – OLB – St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Rogers is a 6’4″, 210 lb. prospect with no offers yet. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 57 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. He has a lithe body and good athleticism, but he’s very raw as a pass rusher and relies more on speed than technique.

Romello Ross – RB – Detroit (MI) Western International: Ross is a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect without any offers at this time. He has good speed and agility, though not outstanding, and he runs with more power than one would expect from someone with his frame. I don’t see him as a feature back at the FBS level, but he could potentially be a change-of-pace back or play defensive back, though I like him best on offense.

Dakota Scholten – TE – Grant (MI) Grant: Scholten is a 6’4″, 225 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 5.0 forty, a 28″ vertical, a 220 lb. bench, and a 340 lb. max. He plays a little bit of everything (tight end, running back, defensive end, middle linebacker), but he doesn’t seem to excel at any one position. Whichever position he plays in college, he will need to be coached to a significant degree. He is a heavy hitter, but I do not see a great deal of athleticism and view him as an FCS-level prospect.

Matt Skibinski – OT – Livonia (MI) Churchill: Skibinski is a 6’5″, 259 lb. prospect with no offers. He claims a 285 lb. bench, a 380 lb. squat, and a 220 lb. clean. Skibinski may be limited to the interior offensive line, as he lacks some foot speed, plays a little high, and can be slow out of his stance. However, he is a big body who has a fair amount of athleticism, so I imagine some MAC-level schools will come calling.

Logan Slaughter – OG – Mendon (MI) Mendon: Slaughter is a 6’4″, 265 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. I have seen him listed as a defensive end or defensive tackle at various sights, but I envision him as an offensive guard, since he appears to lack the quick-twitch ability to play on the defensive line. He is an aggressive blocker who could turn into a pretty solid player with some added size and strength.

Ricardo Smith – DE – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Smith is a 6’2″, 250 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He plays some offensive tackle, defensive end, and even linebacker for Oak Park, but he would be too slow to play linebacker at the next level, and likely too short for the offensive line. I like his mentality as a defensive player, so I see him as a short-ish strongside end or an undersized 3-tech defensive tackle at the next level.

Tyson Smith – CB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Smith is a 5’11”, 175 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Michigan State, a program to which he committed in December 2013. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #34 cornerback, the #438 player overall, and the #8 player in the state. Smith has fluid hips, very good body control, and gets to top speed quickly, but he lacks the extra gear to make him an elite prospect. Michigan State does a good job of coaching up their defensive backs, though, so he may outperform his recruiting ranking.

Kyonta Stallworth – OG – St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Stallworth is a 6’4″, 265 lb. prospect who picked Michigan State last August over schools like Florida, Tennessee, and UCLA. He claims a 4.95 forty, a 31″ vertical, a 300 lb. bench, and a 395 lb. squat. Stallworth is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #24 offensive tackle, the #229 player overall, and #3 in the state. I’ve had my eye on Stallworth for a while as perhaps the sleeper pick for top player in the state. He could play a number of positions, from offensive guard to defensive tackle to defensive end in the right system. He has the speed, agility, and aggressiveness to be a very good prospect.

Immanuel Stinson – DE – Romulus (MI) Romulus: Stinson is a 6’3″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Akron and Central Michigan. He claims a 4.59 forty and a 225 lb. bench. The most impressive thing about Stinson is his quickness off the ball. You don’t need an arrow or a circle to identify who he is on the defensive line – when the ball is snapped, he’s the first one on either team to get out of his stance. Romulus doesn’t play the best competition, but there are plenty of FBS teams who would like that quickness out of a defensive end. He does not show explosive power or great top-end speed, but the first two steps are the most important for a defensive lineman.

Malik Swain – DT – Grand Rapids (MI) Kenowa Hills: Swain is a 6’3″, 315 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 300 lb. bench and a 500 lb. squat. While he has pretty good straight-line speed, Swain is slow out of his stance, which perhaps is a function of his level of strength and conditioning at this age. However, he looks most like a space-eating nose tackle.

Leondre Damon Terry – WR – Lansing (MI) Everett: Terry is a 5’11”, 178 lb. prospect with no offers currently. As a junior in 2013, he had 40 catches for 888 yards (22 yards/catch) and 12 touchdowns. Terry isn’t the biggest receiver around, but he shows good acceleration, looks to get upfield, and can break some tackles with his running style. He’s a good prospect for a smaller FBS school.

Tyriq Thompson – S – Detroit (MI) King: I did a scouting report on Thompson at the end of January.

Parker Underwood – TE – East Lansing (MI) East Lansing: Underwood is a 6’4″, 235 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.7 forty. Underwood shows good blocking technique, plus footwork, and a thick lower body that will likely support a growing frame up top. He is also a high motor player, and while I don’t see him as a pass receiving threat, I think he should be a good blocking tight end down the road.

Chase Van Hoef – OG – Grand Haven (MI) Grand Haven: Van Hoef is a 6’4″, 275 lb. prospect with no offers right now.  He claims a 5.3 forty, a 24″ vertical, a 265 lb. bench, and a 415 lb. squat. He is pretty lean and could still add a significant amount of good weight. He doesn’t move his feet as well as you might look for in a tackle, and he also has a tendency to shoulder block, which will have to be coached out of him at the next level. To me he looks like a MAC-level offensive guard.

Jon Wassink – QB – Grand Rapids (MI) South Christian: Wassink is a 6’2″, 190 lb. prospect without any offers. Wassink can move in the pocket a little bit and shows some nice touch on the ball, but he has some issues with mechanics and does not have the arm strength FBS colleges covet, in my opinion. I believe that he will find himself at the FCS or Division II level.

Michael Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech:
Weber is a 5’10”, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #11 running back, the #113 overall player, and the #2 player in the state. Weber has a good combination of speed and power, shows nice balance, and is a slashing style of runner who could be successful in a number of offensive systems.

Evan Welch – TE – Fenton (MI) Fenton: Welch is a 6’2″, 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He lacks the size of Division I tight ends and defensive ends, and I’m not sure he has the athleticism to play linebacker. Perhaps his best chance of being an FBS player would be at a fullback position, but he may have to look at the lower levels for scholarship offers.

Bryce Wilker – OT – Belding (MI) Belding: Wilker is a 6’5″, 280 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has a wide frame that can take some more weight, and while he’s not the most athletic guy around, I do think he could stick on the outside and play tackle at a MAC-level program. He moves his feet fairly well, but he will have to lower his pad level to get movement at the next level.

Khari Willis – RB – Jackson (MI) Lumen Christi: Willis is a 6’0″, 189 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Michigan State. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #87 athlete, the #883 overall player, and #14 in the state. Willis is an interest prospect, because while he has good size and speed, he lacks refinement and instincts on both sides of the ball. He’s the type of player who will be good evidence of whether a coach is worth his salary or not, because some elements are there but he’s a project. Based on a lack of vision as a ball carrier, I think Willis’s best chance at the next level might be as an outside linebacker.