Steve Lorenz at 247 Sports has a list of players to look for in the next few classes. Each of these players has a father, brother, or cousin who has played at Michigan. I’ll let you click on through for more informative updates on each, but here’s a list of the names:
2015
Jon Runyan, Jr. – OT – Philadelphia (NJ) St. Joseph’s
Tyriq Thompson – S – Detroit (MI) King
Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. – TE – Buffalo (NY) Canisius
2016
Bailey Edwards – RB – Pinckney (MI) Northville
Cal Grbac – WR – Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius
Daelin Hayes – RB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s
Lavert Hill – CB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Joshua Jackson – QB – Ann Arbor (MI) Huron
Terius Wheatley – RB – Buffalo (NY) Canisius
2017
Joshua Ross – LB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s
Canyon Tuman – TE – Sewickley (PA) North Allegheny
Runyan is the son of former Michigan offensive tackle Jon Runyan, who played college ball in the early- to mid-1990’s, earning All-Big Ten accolades, getting selected in the 4th round of the NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, and becoming a Pro Bowler in his years with the Oilers, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles. The younger Runyan camped at Michigan last week, where he earned an offer from the Wolverines’ staff. He said at the time that it was basically a guarantee he would commit, so this is about as surprising as another bout of Mark Dantonio constipation. Previously, Runyan had camped at Ohio State and visited Penn State for their junior day.
Runyan is a very technical player, which one should expect as the son of such a high-level football player. He keeps a nice, wide base and moves his feet well after contact. He does a good job with hand placement and does not get over-extended. He bends well at the knees and can roll his hips to get extension. I like the way he zone blocks and works in combination with his linemate on the right side, because he’s quick enough to cut off penetration and strong enough to get movement.
Obviously, Runyan needs to add bulk to his 245 lb. frame. He seems to lack some upper body strength, which will come with added bulk. I would also like to see him get a little bit nastier. He finishes blocks to the extent that the defender is out of the play, but he doesn’t block to the whistle in order to demoralize defenders or get them off their game. I would like to see him drive guys into the ground or until the echo of the whistle.
Overall, I would have no problem playing Runyan at offensive tackle if he adds a little bit of length. He has the foot speed and coordination to be a blind side tackle if necessary. He may have to move inside to guard if he doesn’t hit that growth spurt. So much depends on size that it’s tough to project him far down the road, but based on his genes, athleticism, and technique, I think he could be a very good college player.
This is Michigan’s second commitment for the class of 2015.
TTB Rating: N/A. I am not assigning TTB Ratings until the 2014 class wraps.
Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s offensive tackle Jon Runyan, Jr.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian wide receiver Freddy Canteen was offered by Michigan at camp last week. He’s a 6’1″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Maryland, Rutgers, and Tennessee, among others. 247 Sports’ Composite ranking places him as a 3-star, the #69 wide receiver, and #551 player overall. He’s teammates with Brandon Watson (see below) and catches passes from quarterback David Sills, who committed to USC as a seventh-grader several years ago. Canteen is known for his impressive route running, but he’s not the most explosive athlete you’ll see.
Plantation (FL) American Heritage wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’8″, 160 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others; he named Notre Dame his leader recently. As a junior in 2012, he had 30 receptions for 842 yards and 15 touchdowns. 247’s Composite ranking places him as a 3-star and the #148 wide receiver in the country.
Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian cornerback Brandon Watson was offered by Michigan at camp last week. He’s a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Connecticut and Rutgers, along with a couple others. According to 247’s Composite ranking, he’s a 3-star and the #115 cornerback in the class.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s Prep offensive guard Jon Runyan, Jr. was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 250 lb. prospect with no other offers. According to 247 Sports, he’s a 3-star and the #37 offensive tackle in the class. His father was an All-Big Ten offensive tackle at Michigan in the early/mid-1990s and went on to be a fourth round pick of the Houston Oilers, who turned into the Tennessee Titans; he also played for the Philadelphia Eagles. The elder Runyan is now a Congressman in New Jersey, and the younger Runyan has said he will most likely commit to Michigan. He could very possibly be the first commit for the 2015 class.
OFF THE BOARD
Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna defensive tackle Khairi Clark committed to Florida. Michigan never really had a shot at Clark.
Lithonia (GA) Martin Luther King cornerback Wesley Green committed to South Carolina. Green never showed much interest in his Michigan offer.
Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf linebacker Darrion Owens committed to Miami. Owens, who played strong safety last year, was being recruited for the SAM linebacker position. Georgia seemed to be the front-runner with Michigan and Miami in the next tier, so it’s a bit of a surprise that he picked the Hurricanes. In my opinion, Owens was the best SAM prospect on the board if Michigan wants another in 2014.
Wylie (TX) Wylie safety T’Kevian Rockwell committed to Baylor. This would have been a fun name for Michigan fans to say over the next several years, but it was not meant to be.
Gilbert (AZ) Chandler wide receiver Dionte Sykes committed to UCLA. Sykes visited Michigan and voiced strong interest early, but he’s more of a big possession receiver, and the Wolverines have plenty of those in the fold for the next few years.
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy offensive tackle Denzel Ward committed to Purdue. Ward almost committed to Purdue when they were his first offer, and then he almost immediately jumped on his Michigan offer. He moved to Florida without telling the coaching staff – which is a little odd – and hoped for bigger offers while training with IMG Academy, a high school campus renowned for getting athletes ready for the next level. After all that . . . he went ahead and committed to the Boilermakers.
