Tag: Mike McCray

2013 Top 247 Updated

Taco Charlton made a little leap while Shane Morris is Michigan’s top-rated recruit

The 247 Sports Top 247 was updated again recently.  They update their rankings more often than any other site, which keeps me pretty busy, I guess.  Here’s a list of committed Wolverines and their moving and shaking since February:

– Shane Morris dropped from #14 to #18
– Dymonte Thomas dropped from #40 to #41
– Kyle Bosch remained at #42
– Chris Fox dropped from #47 to #53
– Taco Charlton jumped from #99 to #86
– Mike McCray dropped from #168 to #173
– Patrick Kugler dropped from #190 to #192
– David Dawson dropped from #195 to #199
– Wyatt Shallman dropped out of the top 247

And here’s the entire list of Michigan targets:

3. Montravius Adams – DT – Georgia
4. Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida
5. Laremy Tunsil – OT – Florida
6. Jaylon Smith – LB – Indiana
8. Su’a Cravens – S – California
9. Robert Foster – WR – Pennsylvania
10. Jonathan Allen – DE – Virginia
18. Shane Morris – QB – Michigan (Michigan)
21. Keith Ford – RB – Texas (Oklahoma)
22. Kendall Fuller – CB – Maryland
24. Joey Bosa – DE – Florida
26. Adam Breneman – TE – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
30. Cameron Burrows – CB – Ohio (Ohio State)
36. Leon McQuay III – S – Florida
38. Alquadin Muhammad – DE – New Jersey
41. Dymonte Thomas – S – Ohio (Michigan)
42. Kyle Bosch – OG – Illinois (Michigan)
47. Jake Raulerson – OT – Texas (Texas)
48. Eddie Vanderdoes – DT – California
49. Kevin Olsen – QB – New Jersey
52. Priest Willis – CB – Arizona
53. Chris Fox – OT – Colorado (Michigan)
58. Darius Latham – OT – Indiana
60. Jake Oliver – WR – Texas (Texas)
62. Cole Luke – CB – Arizona
63. Marquez North – WR – North Carolina
64. James Quick – WR – Kentucky
67. Ty Isaac – RB – Illinois
72. Sebastian LaRue – WR – California
73. Justin Manning – DT – Texas
76. Ethan Pocic – OT – Illinois
79. LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Illinois
80. Hunter Bivin – OT – Kentucky (Notre Dame)
82. Logan Tuley-Tillman – OT – Illinois (Michigan)
85. Ishmael Wilson – OG – Texas (Texas A&M)
86. Taco Charlton – OLB – Ohio (Michigan)
94. Tray Matthews – S – Georgia (Georgia)
95. Eli Woodard – CB – New Jersey (Ohio State)
96. Alex Anzalone – OLB – Pennsylvania
100. Larenz Bryant – OLB – North Carolina
101. Henry Poggi – DT – Maryland
105. Steven Elmer – OT – Michigan (Notre Dame)
110. Tashawn Bower – DE – New Jersey
112. Greg Webb – DT – New Jersey (Penn State)
113. Tim Harris – CB – Virginia (Virginia
114. Elijah Daniel – DE – Indiana
115. Chris Hawkins – CB – California (USC)
119. Derrick Green – RB – Virginia
121. Matt Rolin – OLB – Virginia
129. Dorian O’Daniel – OLB – Maryland (Clemson)
138. Michael Hutchings – OLB – California
145. Jordan Wilkins – RB – Tennessee
155. Kyle Hicks – RB – Texas (Texas)
165. Jacob Matuska – TE – Ohio (Notre Dame)
173. Michael McCray – OLB – Ohio (Michigan)
174. Durham Smythe – TE – Texas (Texas)
185. Eldridge Massington – WR – Texas
192. Patrick Kugler – OG – Pennsylvania (Michigan)
195. Josh Augusta – DE – Illinois
196. Shaq Wiggins – CB – Georgia (Georgia)
197. Jason Hatcher – DE – Kentucky
199. David Dawson – OG – Michigan (Michigan)
200. Michael Hill – DT – South Carolina
201. Chase Abbington – S – Missouri (Missouri)
207. Billy Price – DT – Ohio (Ohio State)
208. Joe Mathis – DE – California
210. Demorea Stringfellow – WR – California
211. Wyatt Teller – DE – Virginia
216. Justin Davis – RB – California
220. Cameron Walker – CB – California
229. Eljah Qualls – ATH – California
235. E.J. Levenberry – OLB – Virginia
241. Uriah LeMay – WR – North Carolina

Initial ESPN 150 Released for 2013

Massillon (OH) Washington cornerback Gareon Conley surprised many by being ranked #63

ESPN released its top 150 players on Tuesday.  Here’s a list of all the Michigan offerees that made the cut:

– Shane Morris starts at #37
– Gareon Conley starts at #63
– Mike McCray starts at #75
– David Dawson starts at #92
– Logan Tuley-Tillman starts at #97
– Dymonte Thomas starts at #98
– Chris Fox starts at #105
– Jourdan Lewis starts at #107
– Kyle Bosch starts at #112
– Taco Charlton starts at #115
– Patrick Kugler starts at #121

3. Laremy Tunsil – OT – Florida
4. Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida
12. Eli Woodard – CB – New Jersey (Ohio State)
14. Montravius Adams – DT – Georgia
15. Su’a Cravens – S – California
21. Cameron Burrows – CB – Ohio (Ohio State)
23. Robert Foster – WR – Pennsylvania
27. Kendall Fuller – CB – Maryland
34. Leon McQuay III – S – Florida
36. Keith Ford – RB – Texas (Oklahoma)

39. Adam Breneman – TE – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
41. Joey Bosa – DE – Florida
42. LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Illinois
46. Jaylon Smith – LB – Indiana
52. Darrell Daniels – WR – California
56. Eddi Vanderdoes – DT – California
57. Michael Hutchings – LB – California
59. James Quick – WR – Kentucky
62. Priest Willis – S – Arizona

68. Ty Isaac – RB – Illinois
69. Chris Hawkins – CB – California (USC)
72. Ethan Pocic – OT – Illinois
73. Dorian O’Daniel – LB – Maryland (Clemson)
74. Demorea Stringfellow – WR – California

77. Kevin Olsen – QB – New Jersey
78. Jake Raulerson – OT – Texas (Texas)
82. Jonathan Allen – DE – Virginia
83. Derrick Green – RB – Virginia
85. Justin Manning – DT – Texas
86. Shaq Wiggins – CB – Georgia (Georgia)
88. Elijah Daniel – DE – Indiana
91. Colin McGovern – OT – Illinois (Notre Dame)

95. Hunter Bivin – OT – Kentucky (Notre Dame)

104. Matt Rolin – LB – Virginia

119. Tashawn Bower – DE – New Jersey
120. Joe Mathis – DE – California

123. Greg Webb – DT – New Jersey (Penn State)
130. Marquez North – WR – North Carolina
131. Standish Dobard – TE – Louisiana (Miami)
142. Evan Lisle – OT – Ohio (Ohio State)
145. Alquadin Muhammad – DE – New Jersey
147. Antwuan Davis – CB – Texas
149. Sebastian Larue – WR – California

Initial Tom Lemming Top 100 released for 2013

Shane Morris is Tom Lemming’s top-rated Michigan commit

The Tom Lemming Top 100 for 2013 was released today, and six Michigan commitments can be found on the list.  Here are those six, along with Michigan’s other offerees on the list:

5. Su’a Cravens – S – California
7. Laremy Tunsil – OT – Florida
8. Ty Isaac – RB – Illinois
13. Adam Breneman – TE – Pennsylvania (Penn State)
15. Robert Foster – WR – Pennsylvania
18. Marquez North – WR – North Carolina
22. E.J. Levenberry – LB – Virginia
23. Shane Morris – QB – Michigan (Michigan)
25. Henry Poggi – DT – Maryland
26. Tray Matthews – S – Georgia (Georgia)
28. Leon McQuay III – S – Florida
29. Vernon Hargreaves – CB – Florida
30. Laquon Treadwell – WR – Illinois
33. Peter Kalambayi – LB – North Carolina
35. Jaylon Smith – LB – Indiana
36. Jonathan Allen – DE – Virginia
38. Montravius Adams – DT – Georgia
40. Cam Burrows – CB – Ohio (Ohio State)
42. Kendall Fuller – CB – Maryland
43. Derrick Green – RB – Virginia
44. James Quick – WR – Kentucky
48. Ethan Pocic – OT – Illinois
50. Logan Tuley-Tillman – OT – Illinois (Michigan)

54. Jake Raulerson – OT – Texas (Texas)
57. Elijah Daniel – DE – Indiana
63. Mike McCray – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
67. Joey Bosa – DE – Florida
69. Priest Willis – CB – Arizona
74. Steve Elmer – OT – Michigan (Notre Dame)
75. Colin McGovern – OT – Illinois (Notre Dame)
78. David Dawson – OG – Michigan (Michigan)
83. Rod Crayton – DT – Alabama
87. Chris Fox – OT – Colorado (Michigan)
89. Kyle Bosch – OG – Illinois (Michigan)
95. Uriah LeMay – WR – North Carolina

Initial Scout 300 Released for 2013

Patrick Kugler is Michigan’s top-rated 2013 recruit, according to Scout

The initial Scout 300 was released on Wednesday.  Twelve of Michigan’s current commits appear on the list, with three of them nabbing 5-star ratings.  A total of 84 (or 28% of them) have been on the receiving end of Michigan offers. Here you’ll find the Michigan commits (highlighted in blue) along with the rest of the 2013 offerees:

5-stars:
3. Robert Foster – WR – Pennsylvania
4. Laremy Tunsil – OT – Florida
6. Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida
9. Su’a Cravens – S – California
11. Montravius Adams – DT – Georgia
13. Ty Isaac – RB – Illinois
14. Keith Ford – RB – Texas (Oklahoma)
15. Eddie Vanderdoes – DT – California
16. Jaylon Smith – LB – Indiana
17. Justin Davis – RB – California
21. Justin Manning – DT – Texas
22. Adam Breneman – TE – Pennsylvania
24. Joey Bosa – DE – Florida
25. Patrick Kugler – OG – Pennsylvania (Michigan)
26. James Quick – WR – Kentucky
27. Michael Hutchings – LB – California
28. Shane Morris – QB – Michigan (Michigan)
31. Kendall Fuller – CB – Maryland
33. Priest Willis – S – Arizona
35. Dymonte Thomas – S – Ohio (Michigan)

4-stars:
37. Jason Hatcher – DE – Kentucky
39. Darrell Daniels – WR – California
40. Elijah Daniel – DE – Indiana
42. Jake Raulerson – OT – Texas (Texas)
47. Sebastian LaRue – WR – California
49. Kyle Bosch – OT – Illinois (Michigan)
50. John Montelus – OG – Massachusetts
53. Jake Oliver – WR – Texas (Texas)
57. Ethan Pocic – OT – Illinois
58. DeVeon Smith – RB – Ohio
68. Evan Lisle – OT – Ohio (Ohio State)
73. Marquez North – WR – North Carolina
74. Cam Burrows – CB – Ohio (Ohio State)
76. Laquon Treadwell – WR – Illinois
77. Greg Webb – DT – New Jersey
79. Standish Dobard – TE – Louisiana
80. E.J. Levenberry – LB – Virginia

82. Colin McGovern – OT – Illinois
86. Alquadin Muhammad – OLB – New Jersey
90. Eli Woodard – CB – New Jersey (Ohio State)
92. Chris Hawkins – CB – California
93. Peter Kalambayi – LB – North Carolina
94. Joe Mathis – DE – California
96. Leon McQuay – S – Florida
99. Steve Elmer – OT – Michigan (Notre Dame)
102. Jonathan Allen – DE – Virginia
104. Tray Matthews – S – Georgia (Georgia)
110. Michael Hill – DT – South Carolina
111. Billy Price – DT – Ohio (Ohio State)
113. Cole Luke – CB – Arizona
116. Kyle Hicks – RB – Texas (Texas)
118. Kevin Olsen – QB – New Jersey
124. Derrick Green – RB – Virginia
131. Devon Allen – WR – Arizona
132. Larenz Bryant – LB – North Carolina
134. Henry Poggi – DT – Maryland
136. Rob Wheelwright – WR – Ohio
137. Chris Fox – OG – Colorado (Michigan)
141. Shaq Wiggins – CB – Georgia (Georgia)
142. Tashawn Bower – DE – New Jersey
144. Elijah Qualls – DT – California
147. Jake Butt – TE – Ohio (Michigan)
149. Alex Anzalone – LB – Pennsylvania
152. Dorian O’Daniel – LB – Maryland
153. Logan Tuley-Tillman – OT – Illinois (Michigan)
159. Ben Gedeon – LB – Ohio
167. Hunter Bivin – OT – Kentucky
171. Ishmael Thomas – OG – Texas (Texas A&M)
173. Ryan White – CB – Kentucky (Louisville)
177. Eldridge Massington – WR – Texas
179. Wyatt Shallman – FB – Michigan (Michigan)
182. J.J. Gustafson – OT – Texas (Texas A&M)
193. Chase Abbington – OLB – Missouri (Missouri)
202. Mike McCray – OLB – Ohio (Michigan)
204. Christian Lacouture – DT – Texas
208. Darius Latham – DT – Indiana
223. Mike McGlinchey – OT – Pennsylvania
227. Gareon Conley – CB – Ohio
230. Matt Rolin – LB – Virginia

3-stars:
251. Jourdan Lewis – CB – Michigan (Michigan)
258. James Onwualu – WR – Minnesota
264. David Dawson – OG – Michigan (Michigan)
265. Marcell Ateman – WR – Texas
267. Cameron Walker – CB – California
283. Demorea Stringfellow – WR – California
287. Jaron Dukes – WR – Ohio (Michigan)
294. Tim Harris – CB – Virginia
300. Josh Augusta – TE – Illinois

Mike McCray, Wolverine

Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison linebacker Mike McCray

Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison linebacker Mike McCray committed to Michigan on Tuesday.  He chose the Wolverines over offers from Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and several others.

McCray is a 6’4″, 230-pounder who claims a 4.61 forty.  As a junior in 2011, he made 132 tackles, 5 interceptions (3 of which he returned for touchdowns), 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.  As a sophomore he made 65 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.

Ratings:
ESPN: 4-star LB
Rivals: 4-star LB, #44 overall
Scout: Unranked
247 Sports: 4-star ATH, 92 grade, #10 ATH, #168 overall

McCray’s father, as you all probably know by now, played linebacker at Ohio State in the 1980s.  Ohio State has yet to offer the Buckeye legacy, which is reportedly a thorn in the McCrays’ side and perhaps a reason why Mike the Younger has decided to choose the Wolverines.  It might not be wise to close the door on Ohio State making a run at him, but at this point, he seems solidly committed to Michigan and convinced that Ann Arbor is the place for him to be.  There were rumblings recently that Tennessee was his leader, but he canceled a scheduled trip to Rocky Top and instead visited the Michigan campus, where he pledged to the coaching staff.

McCray is a very good athlete with excellent straight line speed for a guy his size.  As a receiver and interceptor, he shows soft hands, makes good breaks on thrown footballs, and is hard to catch in the open field.  However, I tend to disagree with a lot of the scuttlebutt out there that he’s destined for the MIKE linebacker.  He does say that he’s being recruited as an inside linebacker, but he doesn’t have the requisite skill set for the position, in my opinion.  He needs to play downhill more and read run plays quicker.  There are times when he takes poor angles in run pursuit, and he’s also not as aggressive of a hitter as I would expect from a kid his size.  I don’t think his highlight clips are that impressive for a linebacker who’s supposedly the 44th-best player in the country (to Rivals), aside from the interception returns.  Defensive touchdowns are great, but a middle linebacker needs to make his biggest impact as a run stopper.

I also don’t think he should play defensive end.  Do you really want to take a guy who had eight interceptions in his sophomore and junior seasons (at least three of which were returned for touchdowns?) and make him a defensive end, where he’ll only drop into coverage on a rare zone blitz?  That doesn’t make much sense, either.

The way I see it, McCray looks like a future SAM linebacker.  He could still be used in coverage at times, and since he’s not the most instinctive run stopper, rushing him off the edge would force him to play downhill and take some of that indecision out of the process.  I see some similarities at this point between McCray and outgoing senior J.B. Fitzgerald.

For people who didn’t like my Logan Tuley-Tillman scouting report, stop reading here.  There is a monster at the end of this book.

I don’t see McCray as a truly instinctive linebacker, at least not to the same level as James Ross and Joe Bolden.  He doesn’t seem to be a real “finisher” when it comes to tackling.  He leaps at a bunch of guys and drags them to the ground with his weight, rather than wrapping up and driving his feet; on the numerous highlights I’ve seen, I think I’ve seen one impressive tackle.  There are times where he almost gets a guy to the ground and needs somebody else to come and clean up.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I don’t like it when dudes jog into the end zone, and he does it multiple times.  This is a kid with all kinds of athletic potential  but he’s not college ready from the perspective of technique and football maturity.

Cue the nasty e-mails.

Trotwood-Madison High School is the alma mater of current Wolverines Roy Roundtree and Brandon Moore.  McCray, commitment #14 for Michigan in 2013, is also teammates with former Michigan target Cam Burrows, a cornerback who is committed to Ohio State.

TTB Rating: 74