2017 Recruiting Update: June 8, 2016

Tag: KJ Hamler


8Jun 2016
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2017 Recruiting Update: June 8, 2016

Michael Harley 975x

Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas WR Michael Harley (image via 247 Sports)

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ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Michael Harley was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’9″, 155 lb. prospect with offers from Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #68 wide receiver, and #488 overall. He’s a shifty guy with great acceleration who maybe doesn’t have the greatest top-end speed, but he could work in the slot, return punts, etc. Michigan offered him after his performance at the St. Thomas Aquinas satellite camp, and they’re also going after several of his teammates, not only in the 2017 class but in the upcoming years, as well.

Miami (FL) Columbus cornerback Christopher Henderson, a Miami commit, was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #14 athlete, and #247 overall. Henderson plays running back for his high school team, and he has some serious speed. He’s a bit thin at 175 lbs., so I have him listed as a cornerback, but he could play anywhere from running back to wide receiver to corner to safety. He attends the alma mater of incoming freshman Joshua Uche.

Orlando (FL) Bishop Moore defensive end Donovan Winter was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 235 lb. prospect with offers from Pitt, South Florida, Tennessee, and Western Michigan, among others. He’s currently unranked. Winter earned a Michigan offer after attending a satellite camp last week, and he earned the Tennessee offer after camping in Knoxville. He has some decent junior film, but it’s nothing exceptional. However, he doesn’t look 6’5″, 235 in his film, so maybe a recent growth spurt and/or some work in the weight room has contributed to an uptick in interest recently. Winter is the son of former Syracuse defensive end Blaise Winter, who was a 2nd round pick in 1984 and went on to play for the Colts, Chargers, and Packers.

Hit the jump for a bunch of miscellaneous bits and pieces.

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31May 2016
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Preview of 2017 In-State Recruiting: #6-10

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Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s WR K.J. Hamler (image via MLive)

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Last week I started a series of posts on the top recruits in the state of Michigan for the class of 2017 (LINK). These posts are coming a little bit later than I usually like to do them, but that’s okay. After the top ten to fifteen prospects, you’ll probably come across some brand new names, maybe from your hometown or your rival school. I’m presenting these posts in groups of five. The top five were:

1. Donovan Peoples-Jones
2. Ambry Thomas
3. Antjuan Simmons
4. Ja’Raymond Hall
5. Joshua Ross

6. K.J. Hamler – WR – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 155 lbs.
Notable offers: Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Commitment: Uncommitted
247 Composite: 3-star, #47 WR, #326 overall, #10 in-state
Analysis: I discussed Hamler at length here. He recently got invited to The Opening. I think Hamler has to end up in the right spot for him to reach his potential, a place where he can work in a wide-open offense. Oregon and West Virginia would be good landing places, but not the more pro-style offenses like Michigan, MSU, Pitt, etc.

Hit the jump for #7-10.

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9May 2016
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2017 Recruiting Update: May 9, 2016

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Waxahachie (TX) Waxahachie WR Kenedy Snell (image via DFW.com)

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ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Warren (OH) Harding safety Lynn Bowden decommitted from Indiana. He’s a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Penn State, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #10 athlete, and #197 overall. It was surprising to me when he initially committed to the Hoosiers because he’s more talented than even the best of Indiana’s recruits most years, so it does not surprise me at all that he’s looking elsewhere. Michigan is holding a satellite camp at his school this summer (LINK).

Fayetteville (AR) Fayetteville defensive tackle Akial Byers was offered by Michigan in late March and I missed that news. He’s a 6’4″, 275 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Arkansas State, Florida State, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #15 defensive tackle, and #263 overall. As a junior in 2015, he made 69 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 3 sacks. Don Brown visited him in late April, so the Wolverines are actively recruiting him. He’s a big body with some impressive quickness, and he uses his hands pretty well. Arkansas two of the three Crystal Ball picks, but he has yet to pick up an offer from the home-state Razorbacks.

Lewisville (TX) Lewisville wide receiver Tyrell Shavers was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’6″, 202 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Oregon, Stanford, and Texas, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #26 wide receiver, and #207 overall. As a junior in 2015, he caught 36 passes for 667 yards and 10 TDs. He claims a 4.38 forty. A lot of 6’6″ receivers look like they might grow into tight ends, but Shavers is pretty lanky and looks like he’ll stick on the outside.

Hit the jump for a couple more offers, a player who went off the board, and a brief recap of some in-state accolades at the Nike’s Columbus Regional combine.

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14Oct 2015
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Visitors: Michigan vs. Michigan State

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy tight end Isaac Nauta is one of many elite players scheduled to be in town.

I have shortened down some of the writeups this week for the sheer number of prospects visiting. It’s a huge recruiting opportunity for Michigan.

2016
Korey Banks – WR – Tyrone (GA) Sandy Creek: Banks committed to North Carolina in July after being offered by the Wolverines. He unofficially visited in the spring and reportedly had a great visit, but the Tarheels pulled him in, anyway. Michigan was initially recruiting him as a wide receiver, although he could also play cornerback.

Donnie Corley – WR – Detroit (MI) King: Corley said he will probably make it. He is strongly considering both Michigan and Michigan State, so it would make sense for him to check out the game.

Dylan Crawford – WR – Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic: This is Crawford’s official visit.

Hit the jump for lots and lots more visitors.

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20Jun 2015
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2015 Michigan Summer Camp Participants

Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg quarterback Hunter Johnson

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The Exposure U camp (for most positions) is from June 14-17th, and the Aerial Assault camp (for quarterbacks) is on June 20th (LINK). Aerial Assault participants are denoted with an asterisk.

2016
*Jacob Baldwin – QB – Wateford (MI) Mott: Baldwin is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He will be throwing to Desmond Fitzpatrick this fall after Fitzpatrick transferred from Farmington.

*Wade Buckman – QB – Holland (MI) Holland: Buckman is a 6’6″, 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Jacob Cerny – OG – Traverse City (MI) West:

*Reagan Cotton – QB – Traverse City (MI) Central:

Bailey Edwards – WR – Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Edwards is a 6’1″, 177 lb. prospect with offers from Minnesota and a handful of MAC programs. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #183 wide receiver, and #1234 overall. He’s the younger brother of former Wolverine wide receiver Braylon Edwards, as well as Minnesota running back Berkley Edwards.

Trenton Fincher – OT – East Kentwood (MI) East Kentwood: Fincher is a 6’6″, 280 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Ezra Gray – WR – Lynn Haven (FL) Mosley: Gray is a 5’9″, 175 lb. prospect with no FBS offers at this time. He claims a 4.31 forty.

Dele’ Harding – LB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Harding committed to Michigan in October 2014 (LINK). He’s current a 247 Composite 3-star, the #21 inside linebacker, and #568 overall.

*Joshua Jackson – QB – Saline (MI) Saline: Jackson, the son of former Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson and the brother of former wide receiver Jeremy, committed to Virginia Tech in early June (LINK).

Trishton Jackson – QB/WR – West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield: Jackson, coached by former Wolverine Ronald Bellamy, has earned a bunch of MAC offers and Big Ten teams are starting to ramp up their interest (Iowa and Michigan State have offered).

Daniel Joseph – DE – Lake Forest (IL) Lake Forest: Joseph is a 6’3″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #15 strongside end, and #262 overall. Michigan State’s 247 writer Sean Scherer has him headed to the Wolverines, while a Vandy writer pegs him for the Spartans; however, Michigan State has picked up several defensive line commits in the past week or two, so they’re running low on spots.

Jalen Martin – WR – Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park:

Sean McKeon – TE – Dudley (MA) Shepherd Hill: McKeon committed to Michigan on Monday (LINK).

Jai Nunn-Liddell – WR – Mableton (GA) Pebblebrook: Nunn-Liddell is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

*Brandon Peters – QB – Avon (IN) Avon: Peters committed to Michigan in April (LINK).

Jalen Phelps – S – Powder Springs (GA) Hillgrove: Phelps is a 5’10”, 175 lb. prospect with an offer from Kent State.

David Reese – LB – Farmington (MI) Farmington: Reese committed to Michigan in April (LINK).

Nathan Skene – TE – Hartland (MI) Hartland: Skene is the son of former Michigan lineman Doug Skene.

Devin Taylor – CB – Lansing (MI) Sexton: Taylor is a 6’1″, 175 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.5 forty.

Eyioma Uwazurike – DE – Southfield (MI) Lathrup: Uwazurike is a 6’6″, 254 lb. prospect with offers from seven MAC programs. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #59 strongside end, and #1139 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 74 tackles, 14 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.

Andrew Vastardis – OG – Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge:

*Kurt Walding – QB – West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic: Walding is a 6’1″, 206 lb. prospect with no offers right now. He attends the alma mater of redshirt junior wide receiver Amara Darboh.

Devin Waldon – LB – Detroit (MI) East English Village:

Kendrew Wynn – S – Norcross (GA) Norcross: Wynn is a 6’1″, 185 lb. prospect with no offers right now.

Hit the jump for a bunch of 2017, 2018, and 2019 prospects.

2017
*Jake Allen – QB – Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas: Allen is a 6’3″, 197 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Florida, Iowa, Miami, Pitt, and Rutgers, among others. He’s a high school teammate of several Michigan targets, including 2017 wide receiver Trevon Grimes and a couple 2018 cornerbacks. St. Thomas Aquinas is also the alma mater of Michigan quarterbacks Jake Rudock and John O’Korn. Allen is likely to end up as a Gator.


Jafar Armstrong – WR – Mission (KS) Bishop Miege: Armstrong is a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Johnathan Berghorst – DE – Zeeland (MI) East: Berghorst is a 6’3″, 245 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has visited Michigan many times. Some expect him to grow into a defensive tackle.

*Austin Burton – QB – Newton Center (MA) Newton South: Burton is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Keegan Cossou – TE – Greenville (MI) Greenville: Cossou is a 6’5″, 225 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. As a sophomore in 2014, he caught 15 passes for 342 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Conor Doyle – OT – Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s:

Carter Dunaway – TE – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice:

Blake Gallagher – LB – Needham (MA) St. Sebastian’s:


Ja’Raymond Hall – OT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Hall is a 6’5″, 255 lb. prospect with offers from Miami-OH and Michigan. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #13 offensive tackle, and #82 overall. He has visited Michigan several times, and at this time, he is considered a Michigan lean.


K.J. Hamler – WR – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Hamler is a 5’9″, 155 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #45 wide receiver, and #283 overall. He has visited Michigan multiple times but is considered a Michigan State lean.

Kasim Hill – QB – Baltimore (MD) Gilman: Hill is a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State, Syracuse, and Virginia, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #10 pro-style quarterback, and #265 overall. He plays for the father of Michigan tight end/defensive end Henry Poggi. He is also a teammate of 2016 offensive linemen Stephen Spanellis and Devery Hamilton, both of whom have Michigan offers.

Derrick Hubbard – LB – Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer: Hubbard is a 6’2″, 202 lb. prospect who just picked up his first scholarship offer from Toledo. He claims a 4.67 forty.

Hunter Johnson – QB – Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg: Johnson is a 6’3″, 197 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #1 pro-style quarterback, and #9 overall. He transferred away from Avon (IN) Avon, the home of Brandon Peters, and is now a teammate of 2016 running back Toks Abinrade, who holds a Michigan offer. Johnson is considered to be a Notre Dame lean.

Chris Kolarevic – LB – Traverse City (MI) St. Francis:

Solon Page III – LB – Marietta (GA) Kell: Page is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2014, he made 71 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.

Jaylen Kelly-Powell – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Kelly-Powell is a 6’0″, 183 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Carolina, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #13 safety, and #189 overall. A teammate of 2016 offensive guard commit Michael Onwenu, Kelly-Powell’s Crystal Ball is 100% in favor of Michigan.

Carter Lynch – OT – Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s:

*Tyler Lytle – QB – Anaheim (CA) Servite: Lytle is a 6’4″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado State and Miami. He was teammates with 2017 wide receiver Osiris St. Brown, who holds a Michigan offer, and 2018 wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, although the St. Brown brothers are transferring.

Corey Malone-Hatcher – DE – St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph:

Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Peoples-Jones is a 6’2″, 192 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #2 wide receiver, and #12 overall. I believe I mistakenly identified him as the son of a former Michigan player in the past, which I had read in an article some months back, so I apologize for the misidentification. Peoples-Jones recently ran a 4.45 forty and showed off a 38″ vertical. His recruitment is considered to be wide open.

Trey Pratt – CB – Suwanee (GA) Peachtree Ridge:

Antjuan Simmons – RB – Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer: Simmons is a 6’1″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Akron, Eastern Michigan, Miami-OH, and Western Michigan. He claims a 4.55 forty. He probably lacks the speed to be an elite running back, but he’s an excitable player and a heavy hitter who could be a strong safety or outside linebacker at the next level.

Allen Stritzinger – RB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Stritzinger is a 6’0″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Michigan, and a few MAC schools. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #25 running back, and #303 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he ran for 1,356 yards and 20 touchdowns. He recently named Michigan his leader.

David Terrell, Jr. – WR – Wilmette (IL) Loyola: Terrell is a 5’11”, 165 lb. prospect with no offers right now. He is the son of former Michigan and Chicago Bears wide receiver David Terrell.

*Cameron Thomas – QB – Chicago Heights (IL) Marian Catholic:

C.J. Turner – CB – Rochester (NY) Eastridge:

Edward Verdree – DE – Atlanta (GA) Holy Innocents Episcopal: Verdree is a 6’1″, 240 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.91 forty, a 315 lb. bench press, and a 435 lb. squat.

Jamyest Williams – CB – Lawrenceville (GA) Archer: Williams is a 5’9″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #14 cornerback, and #111 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he made 60 tackles and 2 interceptions, along with 1,152 total yards and 13 touchdowns on offense. He appears to have sincere interest in Michigan, although it will be difficult to pull him out of the south. Michigan also has offers out to Archer prospects E.J. Price, a 2016 offensive tackle committed to Georgia, and 2017 safety Isaiah Pryor.

Justice Williams – DE – Belleville (MI) Belleville:


2018
Blake Bacevich – LB – Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Bacevich is a 6’3″, 215 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. St. Xavier is a pretty steady producer of talent, so he’ll be one to watch in the future.

Leddie Brown – RB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Brown is a 6’1″, 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He will be a teammate of Michigan commit Dele’ Harding this fall. At least one source had Brown as the #1 prospect in his class, although those things are very fluid this early.

Emil Ekiyor – OG – Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral: Ekiyor is a 6’3″, 285 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan and South Florida. He is the son of a former South Florida Bull and Atlanta Falcon. He also attended Michigan’s satellite camp in Indiana.

*Kaden Frost – QB – Naples (FL) Gulf Coast:

Isaiah Gaynor – CB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Gaynor is a 5’9″, 175 lb. prospect who holds no offers. He is another upcoming teammate of Dele’ Harding.

Nick Henkel – QB – Greenwich (CT) Brunswick: Henkel is a 6’1″, 161 lb. prospct with no offers right now. As an eighth grader, he completed 71/103 passes for 1,011 yards and 14 touchdowns.

*Brandon Leach – QB – Pinckney (MI) Pinckney: Leach is a 6’8″, 220 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

*Michael Lynn III – QB – Lansing (MI) Sexton:

Phillip Pfaffman – CB – Fayetteville (GA) Whitewater: Pfaffman is a 5’9″, 160 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Tyrone Sampson, Jr. – C – Detroit (MI) East English Village: Sampson’s Hudl page lists him at 6’4″, 304 lbs. but I have heard that he is not close to being that height. Regardless, he has been earning some buzz as one of the top in-state linemen in this 2018 class.

2019
Dale Chesson – WR – Olivette (MO): Chesson is the younger brother of Michigan redshirt junior wide receiver Jehu Chesson. The younger Chesson is entering high school and I’m not sure where he will play, but Jehu went to St. Louis (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins.

Christian Ford – WR – Lima (OH) Shawnee:

*Sam Johnson III – QB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Johnson is a 6’3″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Akron and Ohio. He is said to be the youngest player in Michigan history to be offered a full scholarship to an FBS program. A rising freshman, Johnson will likely be Southfield’s starter quarterback this fall.

*Dwan Mathis – QB – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Mathis is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Akron and Cincinnati.

Jacardia Wright – RB – Decatur (IL) St. Theresa’s: