Tag: Shelton Johnson

2015 Recruiting Awards

Lawrenceville (NJ) School offensive tackle Grant Newsome

It’s that time of the year. The class has wrapped up (barring any last-minute changes), and it’s time to start judging. Here are the annual recruiting awards, chosen by yours truly. If you want to look at past years’ awards, here they are: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

And away we go!

Best Overall Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
I’m tempted to go with Brian Cole, who is Michigan’s top-rated recruit in the class. But I believe that this coaching staff will do a great job of developing offensive linemen, and I think Newsome is the cream of the crop. He has the size and the athleticism to be a very good left tackle, so without a true superstar recruit, I’ll put my metaphorical chips on Newsome.

Best Offensive Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
See above.

Best Defensive Recruit: DE Shelton Johnson
This is a bit of a gamble here, because I have bad memories of Rich Rodriguez-era Floridians. I’m attempting to put most of the Rodriguez years behind me, so I’m going with Johnson. He has a good body to work with, he can play low, he’s athletic, and he’s violent. But if he takes things seriously, I think he can be Michigan’s best defensive end since Brandon Graham.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: K Andrew David
Michigan enters the year having lost both their punter and placekicker from 2014. The punting job should go to walk-on Kenny Allen, but the placekicking job is there for the taking. Allen can do both, but he has reportedly been shaky. Meanwhile, David is the 247 Composite #9 kicker in the country and has a pretty clear path to the job. Add to that a dedicated special teams coach in John Baxter, and hopefully David’s impact will be a good one.

Fastest Recruit: CB Keith Washington
Michigan’s class is light on skill guys, with only Washington, WR Brian Cole, WR Grant Perry, RB Karan Higdon, and S Tyree Kinnel. While I doubt Washington’s claim that he can run a 4.3 forty, he does have impressive acceleration and earns this prestigious award by a hair over Cole.

Strongest Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
With a 305 lb. bench and a 465 lb. squat, Newsome edges out fellow offensive lineman Nolan Ulizio (315 and 410, respectively).

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: WR Grant Perry
My original criterion was going to be any guy who’s a 247 Composite 3-star or lower, but I just can’t bring myself to count Shelton Johnson – who fits that description – as an under-the-radar guy since he was wanted by some big-time schools. So my next choice is Perry. Perry is a guy who I don’t think will be a superstar, but I think he will reach the level of being a consistent possession target.

Most Overrated Recruit: QB Zach Gentry
Michigan doesn’t have many to choose from this year, so I’ll put Gentry here since I think of him as a boom-or-bust type of guy. Gentry has all kinds of physical tools, but his mechanics are raw. Having played very weak competition in New Mexico and being so far from home, Gentry has the type of profile where he might transfer away from Michigan if he doesn’t win the starting job within a couple years. The Wolverines are bringing in a lot of competition – especially if Houston transfer John O’Korn is official – and the quarterback position has a high turnover rate because those kids want to play. I do think Gentry has higher upside than classmate Alex Malzone and anyone else on the roster save perhaps Shane Morris, but Malzone is a hometown kid who might stick it out a little bit longer.

Most Likely to Redshirt: OG Jon Runyan, Jr.
Runyan did get bigger from his junior year to his senior season and looks more the part of a college lineman now, but he still looks the least ready of Michigan’s three offensive linemen in the class. The rest of the signees play positions where freshmen contribute regularly, except for quarterback – but Michigan has a wide-open quarterback position. My non-lineman pick would be RB Karan Higdon, who joins a team that includes three guys who have started games at Michigan (Derrick Green, Drake Johnson, and De’Veon Smith) and perhaps the best of the bunch coming off a transfer redshirt year (Ty Isaac).

Personal Favorite Recruit: WR Grant Perry
I’m picking the underdog here. Perry grew up a Michigan fan and you could tell throughout the process that he was dying for a Michigan offer. There were reasons for Michigan not offering, but Brady Hoke’s coaching staff told him to be patient and that an offer might come. Late in the process, Jim Harbaugh’s staff extended an offer. Perry, already committed to Northwestern by that point, flipped to the Wolverines almost immediately but not until he took the time to let the Wildcats’ coaches know. This is a feel-good story about hard work, perseverance, and love for the program.

Shelton Johnson, Wolverine

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic defensive end Shelton Johnson (#7) on his official visit

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic defensive end Shelton Johnson committed to Michigan on Wednesday afternoon. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, and several others.

Johnson is a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect. He claims a 32″ vertical, a 200 lb. bench press, and a 520 lb. squat.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #36 DE
Rivals: 3-star, #37 WDE
Scout: 4-star, #27 DE, #291 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #16 SDE

Johnson was considered a Florida State lean throughout the process, and he was not even offered by Michigan until mid-January. Then new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin stepped in, and Johnson quickly scheduled an official visit for the weekend of January 16th. His response to the visit seemed rather lukewarm, so most Michigan fans – including myself – dismissed any likelihood of him joining the Wolverines’ class. Over the last couple days, though, rumors started bubbling that he might choose Michigan over the presumed favorite, and despite getting some cold feet late, he went ahead and signed with the Wolverines.

There’s a lot to like about Johnson. He looks a full 6’5″ and maybe more than 220 lbs., with the weight thing perhaps an optical illusion due to Johnson’s robust lower body. He’s thick in the legs and backside, which should mean that his body will fill out and add quite a bit of weight. He should have no problem carrying 270+ pounds. I really like his ability to play low, and he takes some good pursuit angles. Johnson is also a punishing hitter who will not be pleasant for running backs to block, and he could be an effective pass rusher.

I would like to see Johnson improve his stance and get-off. Depending on what position he plays, he might need to move his front foot a little farther back to avoid taking a false step. Partly because of that stance, he can be slow off the ball, even slower than the rest of his defensive line mates. He can make it work in high school, but that will get him beaten in college. He also needs to use his hands more often and keep his hands and elbows inside. These are technique issues and not questions of his physical skills.

Overall, Johnson has a good set of physical skills. He needs to get stronger, but that should come with a college S&C program. And aside from the technique issues, he has high upside. Johnson could be the steal of the class, because he has the body of a future NFL player. I said something similar about Logan Tuley-Tillman a couple years ago, but it all depends on how seriously Johnson takes football and how hard he works.

Johnson is the second defensive end in the class, joining fellow Floridian Reuben Jones. This helps out with depth at the position since Lawrence Marshall was the only defensive end in the 2014 class, and some of the older defensive ends look more like tackles. With Brennen Beyer and Frank Clark having graduated following the 2014 season, Johnson could find himself on the field this fall as a backup.

TTB Rating: 80 (ratings explanation)

2015 Recruiting Update: January 19, 2015

Official visitors (L to R): Andrew David, Roquan Smith, Shelton Johnson, Chris Clark, Damon Arnette, and Tyree Kinnel

Normally I’m happy to throw all notable recruiting developments into the mix in one post, but this week begs for two posts. So today you will see what’s up with the 2015 class, which has a lot going on. Tomorrow (or maybe Wednesday) will have a wrap-up of all the rest of what’s going on in recruiting.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Palm Beach Gardens (FL) Dwyer cornerback Jarius Adams was offered by Michigan. Adams, who committed to Rutgers last July, took an official visit to Florida Atlantic this past weekend, will head to Rutgers next weekend, and will conclude his officials with one to Ann Arbor on January 30. He’s a 5’11”, 180 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #128 cornerback, and #1418 overall. He won’t blow you away with his speed or athleticism, but he appears to have good ball skills and is a very aggressive tackler. Adams could also be a safety at the next level, and that’s where I see him fitting best.

Athens (OH) Athens quarterback Joe Burrow‘s Rivals profile started listing a Michigan offer a few days ago, and Scout’s Sam Webb started implying that Michigan is pursuing a highly rated (Scout lists Burrow as a 4-star) quarterback who is committed to another Big Ten team. Burrow is a 6’4″, 200 lb. prospect who committed to Ohio State in May 2014, and he is rumored not to have a strong affinity for new Ohio State offensive coordinator Tim Beck, who chose not to recruit him while at Nebraska. Overall, Burrow is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #12 dual-threat quarterback, and #379 overall. He was Ohio’s Mr. Football this past season and Gatorade Player of the Year in the Buckeye State, and his stats are astounding. As a senior in 2014, he completed 72% of his passes for 4,445 yards, 63 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions on 346 attempts; he also ran for 642 yards and 5 touchdowns. Burrow does not have a great arm and he’s not the most athletic guy around, but he has a good combination from skills and can be a run-pass threat. While Michigan already has Alex Malzone as an early enrollee, Ohio State has three guys with starting experience returning for at least one year (unless one transfers, which does seem likely) and then the overall #74 player committed in the form of Torrance Gibson, a dual-threat quarterback who some have projected to change positions in college but who impressed analysts with his play at quarterback this year. Burrow might find himself buried in Columbus, while the quarterback competition in Ann Arbor is wide open. He has stated that he is solid to the Buckeyes.

Hit the jump for a bunch more offers and tidbits from the 2015 class.

St. Petersburg (FL) Lakewood wide receiver Ryan Davis was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’9″, 167 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, UCLA, etc. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #22 wide receiver, and #180 overall. Davis is a high school quarterback, but for several reasons (especially size), he will have to change positions in college. Davis is extremely gifted when it comes to acceleration and elusiveness, although his top-end speed is not top-notch. Still, he looks like a very good run-after-catch guy and perhaps a returner at the next level.

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic defensive end Shelton Johnson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Miami, and Virginia Tech, among others. Johnson had a pre-existing relationship with new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, and as soon as he was offered, he set up an official visit to Ann Arbor this past weekend. Johnson is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #16 strongside end, and #351 overall. He lacks an explosive first step, and with his body composition (thick lower body but undeveloped in the upper body), I do think he will be limited to the strongside end position or perhaps even a defensive tackle role down the road.

Lakeland (FL) Lake Gibson defensive end Reuben Jones, a Nebraska commit, was offered by Michigan. Jones is a 6’3″, 223 lb. prospect who has taken official visits to Nebraska, Central Florida, Louisville, and Michigan State. He has one official remaining, which he might use to go to Ann Arbor. Nebraska insiders believe that he is perhaps the most likely of the Cornhuskers’ commits to end up elsewhere. Jones is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #45 strongside end, and #776 overall. One of his coaches is former Michigan offensive guard Ricky Barnum, also an alum of Lake Gibson. Jones is not particularly big or athletic, but he stays low off the ball and is aggressive; furthermore, if the second play in the above-linked highlights is any indication, the kid has a serious motor.

Jacksonville (FL) Trinity defensive tackle Kendrick Norton was offered by Michigan. Norton is a 6’3″, 305 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, Miami, North Carolina, and Ole Miss, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #20 offensive guard, and #292 overall. Norton has a couple teammates who were also offered by Michigan in the 2015 cycle (LB Jeffrey Holland, who is uncommitted, and CB Kevin Toliver II, an LSU commit). I have Norton listed as a defensive tackle, but he looks to have more upside as an offensive guard, in my opinion. He’s a thick kid who’s very light on his feet. Also, his nickname is “Big Thick” which is pretty fantastic.

San Ramon (CA) California tight end Matt Snyder, another Nebraska commit, was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 245 lb. prospect who was previously committed to Oregon State; he followed head coach Mike Riley from Oregon State to Nebraska. Snyder has also visited Cal, and he’s considering visiting Michigan over the last couple weekends in January, although he says that would be his final visit if it does indeed happen. Snyder is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #28 tight end, and #815 overall. Snyder is a big kid who runs hard and has decent long speed.

West Chester (OH) Lakota West offensive tackle Nolan Ulizio was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’6″, 280 lb. prospect who committed to UConn in December; he also has offers from Cincinnati and Kentucky. The 247 Composite ranking has him as a 2-star, the #207 offensive tackle, and #2236 overall. Ulizio isn’t a great athlete and may be best served by moving inside to guard, but he’s aggressive and finishes his blocks.

Gainesville (GA) Gainesville cornerback Chris Williamson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’1″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Notre Dame, all of which have come in recent weeks. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #73 athlete, and #829 overall. He has taken visits to Cal and North Carolina, and he has plans to see Michigan next weekend and then Florida on the last weekend of January. He has some very impressive film where he shows off some excellent leaping ability, ball skills, speed, and elusiveness. He’s a pretty aggressive tackler and could play on either side of the ball.

Jackson (OH) Jackson fullback Reagan Williams was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 232 lb. prospect who committed to Stanford last July. He also has offers from Boston College, Indiana, Purdue, and a bunch of MAC schools. While he has been listed in various places as a tight end or linebacker, the Wolverines are looking at him as a fullback, which is the only realistic place I see him fitting at a Big Ten school. He does not have the athleticism or speed to play other positions, but he does show soft hands and a willingness to block, which could be useful for a team that likely intends to utilize the fullback quite often. His Hudl film says he made 53 pancake blocks and made 8 catches for 152 yards and 1 touchdown as a senior.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of Michigan’s official visitors from this past weekend (LINK).

ESPN finalized their 2015 rankings, a list that currently includes three Michigan commits (LINK).

Rumors are circulating that Detroit (MI) Cass Tech running back Michael Weber might be leaning toward re-committing to Michigan now that Jim Harbaugh has been hired and with superstar 2016 running back Kareem Walker committing to the Buckeyes last Monday.

I did a whole bunch of updates on Recruiting Season this past week, including:

• East English Village WR Anton Curtis
• Belleville LB Carlos Clark
• Brother Rice CB DeLano Madison
• Bloomfield Hills DT Eddy Wilson II

Official Visitors are on Campus

Michigan prospects on their official visits to Ann Arbor (from left to right): Ohio K Andrew David, Georgia LB Roquan Smith, Florida DE Shelton Johnson, Massachusetts TE Chris Clark, Florida CB Damon Arnette, and Ohio S Tyree Kinnel.

It looks like it’s a fun official visit weekend in Ann Arbor.

Official Visitors: January 16-21, 2015

Long Beach (CA) Poly cornerback Iman Marshall

Damon Arnette – CB – Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas: Arnette is a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect who’s committed to South Carolina. He’s a soft commit with a visit scheduled to Ohio State later this month, too. The 247 Composite rankings show him as a 3-star, the #60 cornerback, and #649 overall. D.J. Durkin called him up when he was hired, and Arnette immediately responded that he wanted to visit. Arnette is a good sized corner who would be good against the run.


Chris Clark – TE – Avon (CT) Old Farms: Clark is a 6’6″, 247 lb. prospect who has been committed to both North Carolina and Michigan in the past. Now he says it’s down to Michigan and UCLA with the Bruins having the lead. Even so, he was enthused about Michigan hiring Jim Harbaugh, and some people think the Wolverines will win out. Clark is also close to quarterback Alex Malzone, who enrolled early this semester and will be on campus. Clark is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #2 tight end, and #79 overall in the 2015 class.

Andrew David – K – Massillon (OH) Washington: David is a 5’9″, 165 lb. prospect who committed to Michigan in June of 2013. He’s a 247 Composite 2-star, the #7 kicker, and #2031 overall. Michigan’s starting punter and placekicker both graduated after the 2014 season, so he will have a chance to compete for a starting gig right off the bat.

Shelton Johnson – DE – Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic: Johnson is a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Miami, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #16 strongside end, and #351 overall. He visited Virginia Tech in December and has visits remaining to the other schools, with Florida State holding the final shot; right now the Crystal Ball is 100% for the Seminoles (based on 10 votes).

Tyree Kinnel – S – Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Kinnel committed to Michigan in August of 2013 (LINK). He is currently a 247 Composite 4-star, the #10 safety, and #181 overall. Once Michigan’s coaching situation got rocky, Alabama and Notre Dame both came forward with offers, but Kinnel has remained committed throughout.


Iman Marshall – CB – Long Beach (CA) Poly: Marshall is a 6’1″, 190 lb. prospect with a top group that includes Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, UCLA, and USC. He is using January officials for the out-of-state schools, and the visit to Ann Arbor will be right on the heels of one to FSU this weekend. So while the rest of these players will be in town over the weekend, Marshall will be there from Monday through Wednesday. Marshall is considered a USC lean (the Trojans are at 98% on the 247 Sports Crystal Ball), but he has expressed interest in playing college ball with his summer workout partner, Michigan sophomore wide receiver Freddy Canteen. Marshall is a 247 Composite 5-star, the #1 cornerback, and #4 overall in the class.

Roquan Smith – LB – Montezuma (GA) Macon: Smith is a 6’1″, 205 lb. prospect who’s considered to be a heavy lean toward the Georgia Bulldogs, but he’s another guy who’s visiting because of D.J. Durkin. Smith is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 outside linebacker, and #49 overall. He had 173 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions as a senior in 2014. He has visited Georgia and USC, and he has visits scheduled for Ole Miss and UCLA.