Tag: Kareem Walker

Recruiting Update: November 4, 2015

McKeesport (PA) McKeesport athlete Khaleke Hudson

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
McKeesport (PA) McKeesport safety Khaleke Hudson was offered by Michigan. Hudson is a 5’11”, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #40 outside linebacker, and #391 overall. He is committed to play in the 2016 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. Hudson is one of those kids who stands out because of his physicality more than his pure speed or athleticism, although he does have some of those skills as well. Michigan is recruiting him as an “athlete” and he falls into the same category of someone like Devin Gil, a current Michigan commit who might be too slow for safety and too small for linebacker. Penn State and West Virginia are also heavily in the mix for Hudson. McKeesport regularly produces FBS talent, perhaps the biggest of whom in recent years was Delvon Simmons in the class of 2011.

Wayne (NJ) De Paul running back Kareem Walker decommitted from Ohio State. He’s a 6’1″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #1 running back, and #34 overall. Walker had committed to Ohio State in January, but he started to have second thoughts this fall. He did take a visit to Michigan and said that cornerback Jabrill Peppers is like his big brother, so Michigan obviously has some things in its favor. However, Walker said that he wants to take other visits, so Michigan is not a slam dunk choice. The Wolverines are in the market for a bona fide running back since the current roster options are somewhat underwhelming, and Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon is no longer considered a football commit. De Paul is also the home of defensive end Quayshon Alexander (Nebraska) and offensive guard Thiyo Lukusa (Michigan State), although the latter is a transfer from Traverse City, Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Brunswick (GA) Glynn cornerback DeeJay Dallas was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect who committed to Georgia in July; he also has offers from Auburn, Florida, and South Carolina, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #26 athlete, and #258 overall. Dallas is a speedy, compact athlete who looks like a corner or maybe a safety. He has good speed and strength for an underclassman, and I could see him as a potential replacement for Jabrill Peppers at that nickel corner spot if he were to reconsider his commitment.

Suwanee (GA) Peachtree Ridge defensive back DeAngelo Gibbs was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 204 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #1 cornerback, and #4 overall. His offer from Michigan came a couple weeks ago, although it looks like I forgot to include it in the last update or two. He moves very well and could play cornerback, safety, or wide receiver at the next level. With his current size, it seems like he might outgrow the cornerback position, so I’m guessing he ends up at safety. Georgia is the favorite, but they are having some struggles on the field. Gibbs is looking at visiting Michigan for the Ohio State game on November 28th.

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

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Recruiting Update: October 14, 2015

Ten-year veteran NFL safety, or high school senior Kareem Walker?

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline linebacker Daelin Hayes decommitted from USC. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 outside linebacker, and #105 overall.He recently took a visit to Notre Dame, has set one up for Ohio State, and is also looking at Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Texas. Michigan does not appear to be on the list, and I’m not sure they should be. Hayes – the cousin of former Michigan running back Justice Hayes – went to Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s as a youngster, transferred to California for his junior year, and then returned to the state of Michigan for his senior season. In the meantime, he has suffered multiple season-ending injuries and played only a handful of total games. At 6’3″, 254 lbs., recruiting analysts rave about his athleticism when he’s healthy, but he might just be one of those guys who can never stay healthy. He also has some people trying to steer him away from staying within the state.

Torrance (CA) North linebacker Mique Juarez also decommitted from USC. He’s a 6’2″, 222 lb. prospect who has seen a number of Crystal Ball predictions go in favor of UCLA over the past couple months. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 outside linebacker, and #17 overall. The U.S. Army All-American said before he decommitted from the Trojans that he wanted to take an official visit to Michigan, so the Wolverines may be able to get in the race. However, the Bruins are having a pretty solid season (4-1 so far), and Juarez seems like a guy who wants to stay pretty close to home.

Hit the jump for some 2017 and 2018 offers, some guys who went off the board, and some random bits.

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Recruiting Update: January 13, 2015

Montezuma (GA) Macon linebacker Roquan Smith

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas cornerback Damon Arnette, a South Carolina commit, was offered by Michigan and plans an official visit to Ann Arbor for this upcoming weekend. He’s a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #60 cornerback, and #649 overall. He was being recruited by defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin at Florida. Other schools to offer include Florida State, Louisville, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Wisconsin, among others. Michigan has attempted to dip into St. Thomas Aquinas several times in recent years, but players like Lamarcus Joyner (Florida State), Joey Bosa (Ohio State), and Corey Holmes (Notre Dame) have spurned the Wolverines’ efforts. Arnette is a big, physical corner.

Lithonia (GA) Hapeville Academy defensive end Arden Key decommitted from South Carolina. Key is a 6’5″, 230 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 weakside end, and #103 overall. Most analysts believe Auburn will be the recipient of his commitment sometime in the next few weeks.

Rowlett (TX) Rowlett defensive end Charles Omenihu, a Texas commit, was offered by Michigan. Like Arnette, he had been pursued by Durkin at Florida. Omenihu is a 6’5″, 232 lb. 3-star, #21 weakside end, and #469 player overall. Unfortunately, he has decided not to stir things up and stated that he would not take an official visit to Michigan despite some early excitement about the offer.

Montezuma (GA) Macon linebacker Roquan Smith was offered by Michigan. Smith is a 6’2″, 205 lb. prospect and another Durkin connection. Smith is also a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 outside linebacker, and #49 overall. He also has offers from Alabama and USC, but he’s considered to be a Georgia lean with Ole Miss and UCLA visits scheduled for the final two weeks of January. He will be visiting Michigan this coming weekend, but the Wolverines are playing from behind. As a senior in 2014, he made 173 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions, plus he scored 12 touchdowns. Smith could probably play running back for a lot of teams in college football, but he’s a speedy guy who could play outside in a 3-4 or as a weakside guy in a 4-3. At this point he’s the best prospect considering Michigan, in my opinion, so a celebration would be in order if the Wolverines were able to pull him away from Georgia and his other suitors.

Monrovia (CA) Monrovia cornerback Octavius Spencer, a UCLA commit, picked up an offer from Michigan. Spencer is a 6’2″, 175 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #64 cornerback, and #684 overall. He could be poachable if UCLA head coach Jim Mora, Jr. takes an NFL job somewhere, but otherwise, he probably sticks with the Bruins.

Hit the jump for players who went off the board and some miscellaneous bits and pieces.

OFF THE BOARD
Berea (KY) Madison Southern running back Damien Harris committed to Alabama. Harris was, of course, committed to Michigan at one time. Michigan dodged a bullet when the 5-star Under Armour All-American did not choose the Ohio State Buckeyes, and he was also heavily weighing the option of staying in the state with the Kentucky Wildcats. Instead, he’s the second running back to flip from Michigan to Alabama in the last four years (Demetrius Hart, 2011).

Jacksonville (FL) Trinity cornerback Shaun Wade committed to Ohio State on the morning of Ohio State’s national championship game against Oregon. It’s too early to see how the 2017 recruiting class will shake out, but Wade had a litany of offers (Clemson, Georgia, UCLA, etc.) and a couple years remaining to allow Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, USC, and the like to get involved.

Wayne (NJ) De Paul running back Kareem Walker committed to Ohio State during the national championship game. He called Urban Meyer in the afternoon prior to the game, and then he made it public during their win over Oregon. Walker, a 2016 prospect, is considered to be the best or one of the top few running backs in his class.

MISCELLANEOUS
Gilmer (TX) Gilmer quarterback McLane Carter is being visited by Jim Harbaugh this week, presumably to add to the class as a preferred walk-on or late addition to the class. Carter is completely under the radar and unranked by the recruiting services. He’s a soft-tossing lefty who completed 74% of his passes for 3,969 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 1 interception on the way to a state title. Carter’s film is impressive in his ability to run a passing spread, but his ability to fit into a pro-style system and play from under center is not on display.

Atlanta (GA) Woodward Academy safety Arrington Farrar recently decommitted from Stanford, and Michigan may make a run at him. He’s a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #20 safety, and #262 overall. He also has offers from Clemson, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, among others. Farrar is a teammate of 2016 running back Elijah Holyfield, who has an offer from the Wolverines.

Over on Recruiting Season, I posted profiles for Chippewa Valley WR Sean Bunting and Southfield DE Charles Harris. I also updated profiles for Cass Tech WR Demetric Vance, Muskegon Mona Shores WR Hunter Broersma, Southfield S Dior Johnson, and Traverse City West OG Jacob Cerny.

Visitors: August 8-10, 2014

Wayne (NJ) DePaul Catholic running back Kareem Walker (image via NorthJersey.com)

2015

Recruiting Update: January 13, 2014

Wayne (NJ) DePaul running back Kareem Walker

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Clemmons (NC) West Forsyth defensive end Jalen Dalton was offered by Michigan. Dalton is a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 weakside end, and #96 overall. Dalton is a long, athletic kid who makes a lot of plays with his speed, knocking down passes, etc. and I like the enthusiasm and energy I see in his highlights. He could afford to be more physical, and that could happen as his frame fills out, but he looks like a weakside end all the way.

Randleman (NC) Randleman wide receiver Juval Mollette was offered by Michigan. Mollette is a 6’4″, 187 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #25 wide receiver, and the #209 player overall. Mollette is a tall, long-striding receiver who’s in the mold of a physical, jump ball type of guy rather than a burner. He appears to be leaning toward North Carolina at this point in his recruitment, despite a pretty good offer list.


ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Traverse City (MI) West offensive tackle Thiyo Lukusa was offered by Michigan. Lukusa is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect with offers from Akron, Michigan State, and Wisconsin; all but the Michigan State offer came on Thursday of last week. While he plays left tackle in high school, he looks to me like a future offensive guard. Lukusa camped at Michigan in June 2013 and was considered to be a Michigan lean if they offered, but the Spartans’ early offer had him considering committing to the bad guys. The Wolverines might be playing from behind, but a spate of new offers could slow down the process.

Wayne (NJ) De Paul running back Kareem Walker was offered by Michigan. Walker is a 6’1″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Penn State, Rutgers, and Temple. As a sophomore in 2013, he had 115 carries for 1,164 yards and 12 touchdowns. Not just because of his dreadlocks, but if you watch his highlight film, his acceleration and stride are reminiscent of Denard Robinson. Walker is a different style of runner overall, but watching him burst upfield brings back good memories.

OFF THE BOARD
Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate cornerback Jalen Tabor stiffed Arizona and former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez when he flipped from the Wildcats to the Florida Gators. Tabor had just committed to Arizona less than a week before flipping, so they didn’t have much time to celebrate the recruiting victory. An early enrollee, Tabor is planning to start classes today, so Rodriguez won’t have a chance to sway him back before National Signing Day.

MISCELLANEOUS
This isn’t worth putting in its own post, but some of the early enrollees posted on Twitter the jersey numbers they’ll wear to start their careers. Quarterback Wilton Speight will wear #19, wide receiver Drake Harris #14, defensive tackle Bryan Mone #90, and linebacker Michael Ferns #46.