ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
New Castle (PA) New Castle athlete Malik Hooker was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Penn State, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others. Hooker may not even play football in college, because he’s also an accomplished basketball player (check out this dunk); maybe I’m biased, but at 6’2″ he should probably aim for a football career instead of basketball. Hooker looks more like a cornerback to me, but some schools are looking at him as a wide receiver.
Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School safety Quincy Wilson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and USC, among others. According to the 247 Composite ranking, he’s a 4-star, the #18 safety, and the #236 overall prospect. Wilson claims a 4.6 forty, but I think his physicality lends itself to playing safety at the next level. His father Chad played for the Miami Hurricanes.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Pittsburgh (PA) Baldwin offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’8″, 305 lb. prospect with offers from Virginia and West Virginia. He is obviously huge and he moves well for his size, but he needs to add some strength and improve his technique; as a sophomore in high school, those weaknesses are understandable.
Lincolnton (NC) Lincolnton defensive end Darian Roseboro was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 265 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, North Carolina, and North Carolina State.
Lexington (NC) North Davidson defensive tackle Shy Tuttle was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 308 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, and South Carolina, among others. There’s been some confusion over whether Tuttle was actually offered when Michigan’s coaches stopped by his school last week, but Rivals lists him with an offer, so I’m going with it. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 83 tackles, 16 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.
OFF THE BOARD
Duluth (GA) Peachtree Ridge offensive tackle Orlando Brown committed to Tennessee. Brown, the son of the late NFL offensive lineman by the same name, stands 6’7″ and 340 lbs. Michigan was in his final group of schools, but there was no expectation that he would commit to the Wolverines.
Grand Rapids (MI) Christian center Tommy Doles committed to Northwestern. For a long time, Doles appeared to be close to committing to Michigan. However, the longer he held off, it seemed Michigan just wasn’t quite his perfect destination. There has also been some suggestion that Michigan’s coaching staff started to cool on him.
Highlands Ranch (CO) Valor Christian wide receiver Christian McCaffrey committed to Stanford. Michigan was recruiting McCaffrey as slot receiver, but he is expected to play running back for the Cardinal. His father Ed was a long-time NFL wide receiver for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos (career: 565 catches, 7422 yards, 55 touchdowns). The two things I remember most about McCaffrey are a) people saying “Wow, he’s pretty fast for a tall white guy” and b) that ugly broken leg on Monday Night Football.
Woodbridge (VA) Woodbridge defensive end Da’Shawn Hand
Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6’4″, 245 lb. defensive tackle prospect with an offer from Michigan. He has visited Michigan numerous times this spring.
Kyle Berger – LB – Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius: Berger recently picked up an offer from Arkansas, but the battle for his services appears to be between Michigan and Ohio State. I put together a scouting report on him a few weeks ago.
Tommy Doles – C – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Doles is a 6’4″, 255 lb. center prospect with offers from Iowa State, Michigan, and Northwestern. Many analysts believe it’s just a matter of time before Doles commits to the Wolverines.
Michael Ferns III – LB – St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan last August. He has since turned into a recruiting juggernaut for Michigan and has started sending out “Team 135” t-shirts to each of the other commits in the 2014 class.
Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Woodbridge (VA) Woodbridge: You probably know about Hand already – one of the top few football recruits in the nation. I did a scouting report on him a few weeks ago.
Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris has offers from all over the country. He recently de-committed from Michigan State and has plans to visit Florida, Notre Dame, and other schools in the coming months. This would be four weeks in a row he has made it to Michigan’s campus. UPDATE: Harris is no longer planning to visit.
Gary Hosey – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Hosey is a 6’0″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, and Toledo. Michigan appears to be looking for just two linebackers in this class – Michael Ferns III is already committed to play middle linebacker, and they need a SAM linebacker. Hosey appears to be a long shot for a Michigan offer.
Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from all over the country. The two major players appear to Michigan and Notre Dame. I have read that McDowell’s parents aren’t letting him open his recruiting mail until the end of his junior year, so he can concentrate on school and avoid getting wrapped up in the recruiting circus.
Shane Morris – QB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris has already signed with Michigan as part of the 2013 class. Unable to enroll early, he is finishing out his senior year of high school.
Nic Weishar – TE – Chicago (IL) Marist: Weishar is a 6’5″, 225 lb. tight end with offers from Arkansas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others. Notre Dame is considered to be the leader for his services. He tore his labrum this past season, but should be fully recovered for his senior year. I did a scouting report on Weishar a few weeks ago.
Detroit (MI) Loyola defensive end Malik McDowell is one of the top prospects in Michigan
You can take a look back at my 2013 in-state recruiting preview, which offered mixed results. From a Michigan perspective, the Khalid Hill offer was a bit of a surprise, and we will see how he pans out for the Wolverines. This is a significantly more comprehensive list, going from 23 prospects last year to 44 this time around. In my opinion, the 2014 in-state class is a little bit deeper. Take a look and let me know what you think.
Ka’John Armstrong – OG – Detroit (MI) Loyola: The 6’5″, 270 lb. offensive lineman plays tackle in high school, but he looks like a guard to me. In the limited film I’ve seen of him playing with Malik McDowell, I do not think he will become a serious Michigan target. However, purely based on size and decent athleticism, he should get some attention from MAC-level programs at the very least. Lucas Bezerra – TE – Troy (MI) Athens: Bezerra is a 6’4″, 220 lb. tight end with no offers at this point. He claims a 4.95 forty. He does a little bit of everything for his high school team – running back, tight end, wide receiver, defensive end, and outside linebacker. I do not think he’s a Big Ten-caliber player. He doesn’t jump off the screen with his athleticism or his size.
Jalen Brady – QB – Grand Ledge (MI) Grand Ledge: Brady is a 5’11”, 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He lacks size, has inconsistent footwork, and isn’t the most mobile guy around. He also struggles to put zip on the ball. He does not appear to be a high Division I prospect.
Breon Briggs – WR – Detroit (MI) Consortium: Briggs is a 6’4″, 186 lb. receiver with FCS offers from Robert Morris and Youngstown State. He doesn’t have great speed, but he’s long and lanky with plenty of room to add weight. The speed thing will likely hold him back from high level offers, but his size could bring him some tenders from MAC-level programs.
Derek Brown – OG – Yale (MI) Yale: Brown is a 6’4″, 295 lb. lineman who looks like a guard or center at the next level. He does not have any offers at this point, and I do not think he is a Michigan-caliber prospect. He’s a little bit stiff and is more of a waist bender than a knee bender.
Byron Bullough – LB – Traverse City (MI) St. Francis: Bullough is a 6’2″, 195 lb. linebacker who committed to Michigan State last August. His brother Max is a rising senior linebacker for the Spartans, and his other brother Riley will be a redshirt freshman at MSU in the fall. Considering all the family connections, it’s extremely unlikely that Byron could be swayed from his decision.
Raquan Carter – CB – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Carter is a 5’10”, 155 lb. slot receiver/running back/cornerback. He has decent speed and good lateral movement, and I think he could play either cornerback or slot receiver at the next level. He does not appear to be a high level prospect, but he could play at a lower level BCS program. He attends the same high school as rising sophomore defensive end Mario Ojemudia.
Tim Cason II – CB – Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Cason is a 6’1″, 185 lb. cornerback/wide receiver with offers from Bowling Green and Toledo. He has good hips and hits well, so I think he would fit best at cornerback. He needs to work on his backpedal and wrapping up when tackling, but I would guess he’ll start to get some Big Ten-caliber offers in the coming months.
Lorenzo Collins – RB – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Collins is a 6’0″, 210 lb. tailback with no offers at this time. He’s a very violent runner who looks like a Big Ten fullback or perhaps a MAC tailback, and he also plays linebacker, where he’s a violent hitter. He looks better on offense and shows good lateral movement, but he lacks top-end speed.
Jordan Cry – LB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Cry is a 6’2″, 205 lb. linebacker with no offers at this time. He bounces back and forth between OLB and ILB, but I like him more as an attacking outside linebacker. Unfortunately, he’s a little bit undersized and doesn’t really win many of the physical battles. He has a hard time wading through trash and doesn’t deliver solid blows when he arrives at the ball carrier. He looks like an FBS prospect, but he’s not a Michigan-caliber player.
Jalen Dingle – LB – St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Dingle is a 6’2″, 218 lb. prospect who looks like a future outside linebacker or weakside defensive end. As a junior in 2012, he had 82 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 1 interception. He’s a big hitter with good speed, but he doesn’t have the best lateral movement or explosion when dealing with blockers. He looks like a lower level Big Ten or MAC outside linebacker, but he plays more like a weakside end, in my opinion. I think he would fit well as an OLB in a 3-4.
Dillon Dixon – WR – Detroit (MI) U-D Jesuit: Dixon is a 5’11”, 170 lb. wide receiver/cornerback with no offers at this point. He looks more comfortable on offense, where he runs fairly crisp routes and runs well with the ball in his hands. He does not seem like an aggressive defensive player and doesn’t show great hip flexibility, and he just generally looks less interested in playing cornerback. I could see him getting some offers from the Indianas and Purdues of the world, along with MAC-level schools.
Tommy Doles – C – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Boles is a 6’4″, 255 lb. high school offensive tackle who will move inside for college. He shows excellent feet and solid technique, but he lacks size and strength right now. Once he gains the requisite bulk for the interior line position, he could make an excellent center because of his quickness and footwork. His only offers right now are from Iowa State and Michigan, and there are some who think he might be the next player to commit to Michigan.
Curtis Doyle – OT – Alma (MI) Senior: Doyle is a 6’6″, 290 lb. offensive tackle with an offer from Central Michigan. He’s clearly a big body and shows some ability to run block, but I’m not a fan of his feet. He’s somewhat stiff and gets his feet crossed up. He looks like a right guard or right tackle at the next level, and I would be surprised if big-time offers come down the pike.
Deon Drake – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Drake is a 6’1″, 215 lb. running back/linebacker who picked Michigan State over offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, Nebraska, Pitt, Syracuse, and Wisconsin. He also plays running back and has some potential there, although 2015 prospect Mikey Weber seems to be the superior talent at that position. Michigan seems to be hoping to take only the best of the best at linebacker this year, and Drake doesn’t really fall in that category. In past years, however, I think Drake would have received an offer from the Wolverines. Cass Tech is also the alma mater of several current or future Michigan players, including Thomas Gordon, Terry Richardson, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Jourdan Lewis, David Dawson, and Delano Hill.
Jalen Embry – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Embry is a 5’11”, 180 lb. corner with a lone offer from Toledo. He’s a bit of a long strider who doesn’t look like he’s running very fast, but there are clips of him beating Michigan-bound Jourdan Lewis and Ohio State-bound Damon Webb. I think there’s a good chance that he earns some Big Ten offers down the road, but with five cornerbacks in the previous class, Michigan can hopefully hold out for one or two blue-chippers.
Ian Eriksen – FB – Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Eriksen is a 5’10”, 185 lb. running back with no offers at this point. As a junior in 2012, he had 314 carries for 2,179 yards and 34 touchdowns. He shows decent speed and some ability to change direction, and though he runs rather upright, he shows a willingness to lower his shoulder and initiate contact. I do not see him as an option for Michigan, but he reminds me a little bit of Nebraska’s Rex Burkhead.
Zach Evans – DE – Grand Rapids (MI) Kenowa Hills: Evans is a 6’2″, 235 lb. defensive end with no offers at this time. I don’t see much special about Evans in his film. He’s not very big or explosive, and the most impressive play on his highlight film is the final one, in which he hustles for the entire play and chases down the runner about 70 yards downfield. He might be more of an FCS prospect. Kenny Finley – DT – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Finley is a 6’4″, 259 lb. defensive tackle with no offers at this point. He has a strong lower body with the ability to stay low, and he should be able to add significant weight to his current frame. He lacks a little bit of speed and initial quickness, so he looks like a college nose tackle. The lack of offers is going to change – this guy will get some looks from the lower half of the Big Ten at the least.
Josh Flye – WR – Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Flye is a 5’7″, 165 lb. wide receiver with no offers at this time. He has good speed, but not great. He dances a little too much for my liking, and he lacks the bulk to run through tackles. I do not believe he is a high level FBS prospect.
Carl Fuller – LB – Detroit (MI) King: Fuller is a 6’3″, 195 lb. inside linebacker with offers from Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, and Toledo. As a junior in 2012, he had 83 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception. I don’t think he has the football instincts and reaction skills to play inside linebacker at a high level, and he looks like he would fit in more as a SAM if he were to earn a Michigan offer. Michigan is likely going to be picky with linebacker offers, so he may not get one. He’s teammates with Embry and played with Michigan kick returner Dennis Norfleet.
Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6’4″, 180 lb. wide receiver with offers from Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State; he committed to Michigan State last June in the hopes of playing both football and basketball, but he has since backed off the intention to play both sports and wants to concentrate on football. He is unlikely to remain committed to the Spartans. As a junior in 2012, Harris had 91 receptions for 2,015 yards and 25 touchdowns. Harris has excellent size, good leaping ability, and very good speed. He’s a little bit more of a body catcher than I would expect from an elite basketball player, but that’s nitpicking. Harris has the chance to be an elite college receiver.
Connor Hayes – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Hayes is a 6’4″, 285 lb. offensive guard prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Duke, Indiana, Pitt, Syracuse, and Western Michigan. 247 Sports has him rated as a 3-star and the #29 offensive tackle, along with the #8 player in Michigan. He’s a mauler and a very good run blocker, but he doesn’t have the best feet and needs some work in pass protection. He looks like a right guard or perhaps a right tackle at a smaller school. He may get a Michigan offer down the road, but he’s not an elite prospect.
Raylan Hill – LB – St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Hill is a 6’0″, 220 lb. inside linebacker prospect with no offers at this time. He plays like one would expect from someone his size, a thick kid who lacks speed but provides a pop when he arrives. He is not a Big Ten-caliber prospect, in my opinion.
Gary Hosey – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Hosey is a 6’0″, 225 lb. inside linebacker with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Toledo, and Wisconsin. Hosey also plays running back for Cass Tech, and I think he could play a few positions in college. He could play tailback at a smaller school, or he could play fullback or linebacker at the bigger programs. He’s a big hitter with a strong lower body and decent short-area quickness, but I don’t think he has the long speed to be a big-time tailback. My guess is he’ll end up somewhere as a middle linebacker, but not likely at Michigan.
Jake Khoury – OG – Traverse City (MI) St. Francis: Khoury is a 6’3″, 285 lb. defensive tackle with no offers at this time. He is the cousin of former Michigan offensive lineman Rocko Khoury. The only highlights available are from his sophomore year, so he may have grown since then; however, he lacks ideal length to be a high level defensive lineman and does not use his hands well. He may have a better chance to play center or offensive guard at the next level.
Avonte Maddox – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Maddox is a 5’9″, 165 lb. cornerback with a lone offer from Toledo. As a junior in 2012, he had 1,133 all-purpose yards, 10 touchdowns, 24 tackles, and 3 interceptions. He claims a 4.38 forty, which is likely exaggerated, but he does have very good speed and acceleration. Maddox may not get big-time offers because of his slight body stature, but I would not be surprised to see him garner offers from Indiana, Purdue, and the like because of his playmaking ability. He could help out at slot receiver, cornerback, or returner.
Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6’3″, 225 lb. defensive end with offers from Bowling Green, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Pitt, San Diego State, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Toledo. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 79 tackles, 15 sacks, and 4 interceptions. 247 Sports has him ranked as a 4-star weakside end, the #6 player in the state, and the #246 player overall. I don’t know what it is about his highlights, but it’s play after play where the opposing team fails to even attempt to block him. He is definitely a Michigan-level prospect and has been rumored to be a Michigan lean. He reminds me of Mario Ojemudia.
Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. defensive end/defensive tackle with offers from Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Stanford, Syracuse, USC, and Wisconsin. It’s tough to get good film of McDowell because a) there isn’t much video of him, period and b) the teams he plays against are so poor that they don’t stand a chance of blocking him. As a junior in 2012, he had 63 tackles, 15 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He has impressive speed and agility for his size, and he also has the ability to stay fairly low. 247 Sports has him ranked as a 4-star strongside end, the #1 player in Michigan, the #2 SDE, and the #25 player nationally. Rivals has him as an early 4-star. Michigan and Notre Dame are the two front-runners.
Chukwuma Okorafor – OT – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Okorafor is a 6’5″, 270 lb. offensive lineman with an offer from San Diego State. He shows pretty good feet in pass protection, but he tends to get very high when run blocking and is inconsistent at finishing blocks. His size and nimble feet should earn him several offers, but he’s not a polished prospect in the least. I would be a little surprised if Michigan got involved, and he would likely have to move inside to guard for some of the bigger programs. Kyle Rachwal – TE – Lapeer (MI) East: Rachwal is a 6’3″, 220 lb. tight end with no offers at this point. He visited Michigan several times this past fall and seems to be angling for an offer. He’s an aggressive blocker who really needs to work on his technique, and he plays in a run-oriented offense, so he doesn’t catch many balls. He looks like an H-back prospect, but I would be a little surprised if a Michigan offer comes through.
Dylan Roney – DE – Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Roney is a 6’3″, 238 lb. defensive end with a lone offer from Toledo. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 75 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. He’s teammates with incoming running back Wyatt Shallman and played with redshirt freshman defensive lineman Matt Godin, and it looks like Roney would jump on the chance to play for the Wolverines. Roney is a high-effort player with decent speed (4.69 forty) and agility, but he plays a little high at times and doesn’t have great explosion off the ball. He appears somewhat limited athletically, but he should garner a number of FBS offers.
Sean Scullen – S – Rochester (MI) Stoney Creek: Scullen is a 6’3″, 205 lb. quarterback/wide receiver/safety, but he looks like a future college free safety or maybe wide receiver. He claims a 4.55 forty, but that’s probably exaggerated somewhat. Scullen isn’t a very aggressive tackler and looks like a MAC-level prospect. He recently transferred to Catholic Central, where he’ll be the teammate of Roney. (EDIT: Scullen has not and will not transfer to Catholic Central. I got some misinformation. I apologize for the error.)
Travis Smith – QB – Ithaca (MI) Ithaca: The 6’2″, 200 lb. prospect has a lone offer from Central Michigan. There’s a lot to like about this kid. He runs his offense very efficiently, seems to do a good job of making pre-snap reads, is a very accurate passer, and runs the ball well. A couple concerns I have are his size (if he lists 6’2″, he’s probably 6’0″ or 6’1″) and his arm strength. I don’t think he has the ability to drop straight back and hit a receiver streaking down the sideline 50 yards away. He also runs a shotgun spread offense, which might slow the learning curve in an offense like Michigan’s. Matthew Sokol – TE – Rochester (MI) Adams: Sokol is a 6’5″, 220 lb. high school quarterback with no offers at this time. He has some potential as a quarterback at the lower levels, but he looks like he’ll fill out to be 245 lbs. or so. I think it’s more likely that he turns into a tight end and becomes a MAC-level prospect.
Alec Stevens – OT – Ogemaw (MI) Ogemaw Heights: Stevens is a 6’4″, 265 lb. offensive tackle who lacks great length, so he might be more of an offensive guard at the next level. He’s an aggressive blocker who’s decently athletic, but his footwork needs tons of refinement. Someone with his size and strength will grab several offers before all is said and done, but I don’t think Michigan will be one of them. Jim Stefani said that some around the Ogemaw Heights program believe he could be a better prospect than class of 2011 lineman Anthony Zettel, who had 4 sacks this year for Penn State. Personally, I believe Zettel was the more impressive prospect.
Chance Stewart – QB – Sturgis (MI) Sturgis: Stewart is a 6’6″, 205 lb. quarterback who committed to Wisconsin over an offer from Western Michigan. As a junior in 2012, he had 1,500 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Stewart was very interested in Michigan, but he seemed to get the vibe that the coaches weren’t very interested. He’s a pure pocket passer who has decent arm strength, but he won’t offer much outside of that.
Jalen Watts-Jackson – CB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s: Watts-Jackson is a 5’11”, 172 lb. wide receiver/cornerback with a lone offer from Toledo. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 31 tackles and 7 interceptions. To be honest, I’m a little surprised that more schools haven’t offered, and I would bet they’ll come rolling in at some point, unless there are grade/character issues of which I’m unaware. He has good speed, decent hips, and nice ball skills, and I think he would make a pretty good corner.
Maurice Ways – WR – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways is a 6’3″, 175 lb. receiver with offers from Bowling Green and Toledo. As a junior in 2012, he had 51 receptions for 952 yards and 9 touchdowns. Depending on how many receivers Michigan takes in 2014, I think there’s a chance that Ways gets offered. He’s not in the elite class of Drake Harris, but he’s a notch or two below. He has a big body, gets the ball at its highest point, and is faster than the two big guys Michigan took in 2013 (Csont’e York and Jaron Dukes).
Damon Webb – CB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Webb is a 5’11”, 180 lb. cornerback who picked Ohio State over offers from Illinois, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Toledo, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. As a junior in 2012, he had 42 tackles, 7 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles. 247 Sports ranks him as a 4-star, the #11 cornerback in the nation, and the #146 player overall. Despite Cass Tech normally being a pipeline to Michigan, he bucked the trend. Unlike most corners that come out of Cass Tech, though, he’s bigger and more solidly built. He could end up as the highest rated corner to come out of Cass Tech, a group that includes Terry Richardson, Jourdan Lewis, and Dior Mathis, among others.
William White – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: White is a 6’1″, 220 lb. linebacker with offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, and Toledo. As a junior in 2012, he had 145 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 5 forced fumbles. White is the son of former Detroit Lions safety William White and was the teammate of Wolverines Terry Richardson, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Jourdan Lewis, Delano Hill, and David Dawson. I do not think White is in the elite category of linebackers that Michigan is likely going to try to rake in for 2014, but he should rack up a few Big Ten offers by the time all is said and done. He’s a short but stout inside linebacker prospect with average speed.
Tyler Wiegers – QB – Detroit (MI) Country Day: The 6’4″, 200 lb. prospect has offers from Central Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan. He has a good, strong arm and stands tall in the pocket. When he’s in the pocket or on the move, he always has the ball cocked and ready to throw. He already plays in a pro-style offense, which is good, but his three-step drops in high school will turn into five- and seven-step drops in college. Wiegers is not a dynamic runner, but he’s stout enough to shake off some tacklers. One concern I have about him is his lack of progressions; he has a good receiver in 2014 prospect Maurice Ways, but Wiegers tends to pre-determine where the ball is going. There are few highlights where he really scans the field and makes check-downs, which is always a problem at the higher levels.
Richard Wilson – RB – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Wilson is a 5’11”, 197 lb. tailback with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.63 forty, which might be about accurate – he has good but not great speed. Wilson runs with good body lean and falls forward after contact, but he’s not very elusive. I would not expect Michigan to get involved, but he should get some FBS offers before too long.
Future teammates? Jourdan Lewis, Dymonte Thomas, Derrick Green, Jake Butt, and Chris Fox pose together
There aren’t many visitors coming to Michigan this weekend, so here’s a mini update on the week’s news:
VISITORS
Grand Rapids (MI) Christian offensive lineman Tommy Doles will be visiting Michigan tomorrow. The 6’5″, 255 lb. lineman holds two offers, one from Michigan and one from Iowa State. Doles would likely play center or perhaps guard at the next level. His teammate is wide receiver Drake Harris, a highly touted recruit who has pulled in offers from Alabama and Ohio State recently; however, there’s been no indication that Harris will join Doles on this trip.
Southfield (MI) Southfield defensive end Lawrence Marshall visited Ann Arbor for the basketball game against Purdue last night. Along with a Michigan offer, the 6’4″, 205-pounder has offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, Pitt, San Diego State, and Syracuse. He hasn’t talked about his recruitment a ton, but Michigan is presumed to be his leader.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Richmond (VA) Hermitage running back Derrick Green will be announcing his college decision at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow. Michigan has been his stated leader, and it sounds like Tennessee is running second with Auburn third. Green appears to be looking for a stable coaching staff; with Brady Hoke appearing to be in it for the long haul and running backs coach Fred Jackson entering his 22nd year with the program, Michigan looks pretty stable. Both Auburn and Tennessee replaced their coaches this offseason. Green has also stated that he wants to play in a pro-style offense, which neither of those schools offer. However, the major hangup for Green seems to be that he thinks the SEC will prepare him better for the NFL. The Big Ten has not produced elite running backs in recent years, and Green has always maintained that he wants to play at the next level. If he chooses Michigan, he’ll be choosing a school that hasn’t churned out a productive NFL back since Anthony Thomas, whose last college season was 2000. In approximately that same span, Tennessee has produced Travis Henry, Jamal Lewis, and Arian Foster; Auburn has the success stories of Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, and even Ben Tate, who rushed for 942 yards as Foster’s backup in 2011. I have no reason to think that Michigan won’t be the choice, since that’s his recently stated leader, but there are factors working against the Wolverines.
COACHES ON THE ROAD
Here are the names I’ve gathered of whom the Michigan staff has visited this week (all prospects are 2014 guys unless otherwise noted):
Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech**
Dominique Booth – WR – Indianapolis (IN) Pike
Shane Evans – OG – Crystal Lake (IL) Prairie Ridge
Derrick Green – RB – Richmond (VA) Hermitage*
Damien Harris – RB – Berea (KY) Madison Southern**
Johnathan Hilliman – RB – Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep
Elijah Hood – RB – Charlotte (NC) Catholic
Jamarco Jones – OG – Chicago (IL) De La Salle
Derek Kief – WR – Cincinnati (OH) La Salle
Brandon Lee – LB – Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central
Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield
Mike McCray II – LB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison*
Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola
Peyton Newell – DE – Hiawatha (KS) Hiawatha Austin Roberts – TE – Carmel (IN) Carmel
Enoch Smith, Jr. – DE – Chicago (IL) Mt. Carmel
Durham Smythe – TE – Belton (TX) Belton*
Mikey Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech**
Parrker Westphal – CB – Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Mikale Wilbon – RB – Chicago (IL) De La Salle
This list is fluid, so names may be added or removed as the week goes along. I’ll add write-ups on some of these players as I find time during the week. (EDIT: Recent news suggests that some of the class of 2013 “official visits” will actually be unofficials because there are so many recruits in town; lots of recruits at one time means there’s less time for individual attention, obviously.)
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech DE Joshua Alabi: Alabi is a 6’4″, 245 defensive end/defensive tackle prospect from the class of 2015. He has no offers at this point, but he is likely to become a highly touted player as his career continues. He looks as if he’ll eventually end up as an interior player. Alabi visited Michigan for the game against Air Force earlier this fall. (Highlight at the end of this video.)
Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore LB Tinashe Bere: Bere is a 6’1″, 210 lb. inside linebacker prospect from the class of 2014. He has a lone offer from Illinois, and I doubt that he will be offered by Michigan. Michigan only seems to be going after elite linebacker prospects, and Bere doesn’t appear to fit into that category. He’s the former teammate of freshman tight end A.J. Williams. (Highlights.)
Indianapolis (IN) Pike WR Dominique Booth: Booth is a 6’1″, 195 lb. wideout from the class of 2014. He has offers from Cal, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Missouri, Purdue, and Wisconsin, among others. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 46 catches for 585 yards and 5 touchdowns. (Highlights.)
St. Charles (IL) East OG Brennan Bosch: Bosch is a 6’2″, 235 lb. offensive line prospect for the class of 2015, so he’s just a sophomore. He is the younger brother of 2013 Michigan offensive guard commit Kyle Bosch; the younger has an offer from Illinois already.
Columbus (OH) Walnut Ridge DE Robert Bowers: Bowers is a 6’6″, 210 lb. defensive end prospect from the class of 2014. He has a lone offer from Cincinnati. He’s very lanky and a good athlete, but he looks like he’ll need to develop physically a little bit if he wants to get big-time offers. This was Bowers’ second visit to Michigan. (Highlights.)
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech QB Jayru Campbell: Campbell is a 6’3″, 190 lb. quarterback from the class of 2015. He already has offers from Alabama and Notre Dame. As a freshman in 2011, he had 2,000 passing yards, threw 32 touchdowns, and had just 6 interceptions. Campbell is the teammate of 2013 commit Jourdan Lewis and the former teammate of freshman linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone and freshman cornerback Terry Richardson. (Highlights.)
Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake OT Mason Cole: Cole is a 6’5″, 275 lb. offensive line prospect from the class of 2014. He visited Ann Arbor for the BBQ at the Big House back in July, and he has offers from the likes of Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and USC. Some people have suggested that his previous visit to Michigan vaulted the Wolverines to the top of his list, and a good game against MSU could result in a commitment. (Highlights.)
Columbus (OH) Hamilton ATH Micky Crum: Crum is a 6’4″, 212 lb. prospect for the class of 2014 who already has an offer from Bowling Green. Ohio Preps named him the #19 in-state prospect for his class. He’s planning to play quarterback as a senior next season, but right now he’s playing tight end and linebacker. I could see him playing tight end or SAM at the next level. (Highlights.)
Massillon (OH) Washington OG Nathaniel Devers: Devers is a 6’3″, 265 lb. offensive guard prospect from the class of 2014. He has a lone offer from Toledo. Devers has visited Michigan previously, but did not earn an offer at the time. His teammate is Gareon Conley.(Highlights.)
Grand Rapids (MI) Christian OG Tommy Doles: Doles is a 6’5″, 245 lb. offensive line prospect from the class of 2014. He has already been offered by Iowa State and Michigan, though his lack of bulk might be preventing him from more offers. Being a highly coveted prospect might depend on how much weight he can add in the next several months, but he’s a very athletic kid with a high motor. Michigan is considered to be his leader.
Crystal Lake (IL) Prairie Ridge OT Shane Evans: Evans is a 6’4″, 250 lb. prospect from the class of 2014. He has no offers at this time.
Muskegon (MI) Muskegon DT Kenny Finley: Finley is a 6’3″, 265 lb. defensive tackle prospect from the class of 2014. Muskegon is the alma mater of former Michigan defensive tackle Terrance Taylor, and the school has produced several other FBS prospects in recent years.
Richmond (VA) Hermitage RB Derrick Green: Green is a 6’1″, 225 lb. running back who has been offered by Michigan, along with most of the big-time programs across the country. I did a couple scouting reports on Green (one live, one from video). Green has had several different teams high on his list (Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, etc.), but one constant has been Michigan. Both of his other presumed leaders at this point – Auburn and Tennessee – are having iffy or poor seasons, so a good performance against Michigan State this weekend could vault Michigan into the lead if he’s looking for a program headed in the right direct. This is his official visit.
Woodbridge (VA) Woodbridge DE Da’Shawn Hand: Hand is a 6’4″, 245 lb. prospect from the class of 2014. He already has offers from most of the big-time programs around the nation. He’s also generally considered to be the top overall recruit in his class. The fact that he’s driving up from Virginia during the season suggests that his interest in Michigan is strong, so hopefully the Wolverines can make a good impression on Saturday. UPDATE: Hand is no longer planning to attend Saturday’s game. (Highlights.)
Berea (KY) Madison Southern RB Damien Harris: Harris is a 5’11”, 201 lb. tailback prospect from the class of 2015. He’s one of just two current sophomores to have an offer from the Wolverines. As a freshman in 2011, he had 62 carries for 742 yards (12.0 yards/carry) and 12 touchdowns. This will be his second time visiting Michigan, and his highlights are very impressive from early in his sophomore season:
Huber Heights (OH) Wayne LB Dorian Hendrix: Hendrix is a 6’1″, 215 lb. linebacker prospect from the class of 2014. He attends the alma mater of former Michigan cornerback Terrence Talbott and defensive tackle Terry Talbott. Hendrix already has offers from Bowling Green, Illinois, and Toledo, among others. Ohio Preps lists him as the #11 player in the state of Ohio for 2014. He looks to me like a middle linebacker prospect, but I’m not sure that Michigan will be looking for many more linebackers in the 2014 class. (Highlights.)
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech RB/LB Gary Hosey: Hosey is a 6’0″, 225 lb. prospect from the class of 2014. He does not have any offers at this point. Michigan is looking at him as a potential running back recruit, but I don’t think he has the speed to be a BCS-level tailback; fullback might be more likely, but I’m not sure how many scholarships the Wolverines coaching staff will allot for fullbacks, with Sione Houma already on the roster and Wyatt Shallman coming in 2013.
Pickerington (OH) North RB Godwin Igwebuike: Igwebuike is a 5’11”, 185 lb. running back who’s the teammate of 2013 defensive end commit Jake Butt. He has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Nebraska, Pitt, and Wisconsin, and he’s currently committed to Northwestern, so he’s no slouch. If Michigan can’t reel in Derrick Green, Igwebuike might be a backup plan. (Highlights.)
Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison RB Ashton Jackson: Jackson is a 5’11”, 180 lb. running back from the class of 2014. He has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, and Purdue, among others. His teammate is 2013 Michigan linebacker commit Mike McCray. As a sophomore in 2011, Jackson had 1,100 yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns. (Highlights.)
Westland (MI) John Glenn WR Da’Mario Jones: Jones is a 6’2″, 185 lb. wide receiver who is currently committed to Central Michigan. He also has offers from Bowling Green and Toledo, but he appears to be a backup plan option in case the recruitment of Crete (IL) Crete-Monee wide receiver LaQuon Treadwell falls through. (Highlights.)
Cleveland (OH) Glenville OG Marcelys Jones: Jones is a 6’4″, 325 lb. offensive guard prospect from the class of 2014. He does not have a Michigan offer, but he has been offered by Indiana and Ohio State; a Michigan offer might not be too far in the future. Glenville is the alma mater of sophomore defensive end Frank Clark and freshman defensive tackle Willie Henry.
Cincinnati (OH) La Salle WR Derek Kief: Kief is a 6’5″, 185 lb. receiver from the class of 2014. He already has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, and Indiana, among others. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 48 catches for 680 yards (14.1 yards/catch) and 10 touchdowns. He’s a taller guy with good ball skills, sort of like Jaron Dukes with a little more speed. (Highlights.)
Muskegon (MI) Muskegon OG Malik King: King is a 6’4″, 275 lb. offensive guard.
Huber Heights (OH) Wayne CB Tyree Kinnel: Kinnel is a 5’11”, 170 lb. corner from the class of 2014. He does not have any offers at this time. He also visited Michigan last weekend for the Illinois game, and (Highlights.)
Red Oak (TX) Red Oak S Ronnie Larue: Larue is a 6’0″, 185 lb. high school quarterback who is being looked at by Michigan to play strong safety. The 2014 prospect claims a 4.58 forty and a 4.03 shuttle time, as well as a 280 lb. bench; those numbers are pretty impressive for a small-ish high school quarterback. (Highlights.)
Cleveland (OH) Glenville WR Marshon Lattimore: Lattimore is a 6’0″, 175 lb. wideout with offers from Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Michigan, and others. He attends Ohio State pipeline Glenville, but Michigan has made inroads at the school in the past couple recruiting classes. (Highlights.)
Westerville (OH) South TE Darryl Long: Long is a 6’4″, 220 lb. tight end from the 2014 class. He plays some wide receiver in high school, but he’ll likely move to tight end; at Michigan he would probably be a U-back like Devin Funchess. Long’s lone offer so far is from Ohio. (Highlights.)
Woodbridge (VA) Woodbridge QB Mike Majette: Majette is a 5’10”, 176 lb. quarterback from the class of 2015. He’s the teammate of 2014 defensive prospect of Da’Shawn Hand. He already has an offer from West Virginia, but he’s likely a little small (at this point) to be considered a legitimate prospect to play quarterback at Michigan. Michigan would likely look at him more as a defensive back. UPDATE: Majett is no longer planning to attend Saturday’s game. (Highlights.)
Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison WR Kendric Mallory: Mallory is a 6’2″, 174 lb. receiver in the class of 2014. He has an offer from Illinois and is the teammate of 2013 Michigan linebacker commit Mike McCray. (Highlights.)
Monroeville (PA) Gateway S Montae Nicholson: Nicholson is a 6’2″, 200 lb. safety from the class of 2014. He has visited Michigan previously and earned an offer at Michigan’s summer camp back in June; he also has offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others. Nicholson would likely play strong safety at a place like Michigan. (Highlight.)
Monroeville (PA) Gateway WR Ricky Rogers: Rogers is a 6’2″, 192 lb. receiver from the class of 2014. He already has offers from Pitt, Rutgers, and West Virginia. Rogers has some speed and the ability to go up and get the ball, but he’s not an upper echelon talent. He may earn an offer down the road, but I don’t think he’s a guy that Michigan will offer this early in the process. (Highlight.)
Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake WR Artavis Scott: Scott is a 5’11”, 180 lb. receiver from the class of 2014. His teammate is Mason Cole, an offensive tackle with a Michigan offer. So far Scott has offers from Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and West Virginia, among others. I think there’s a very strong chance that Michigan offers Scott on the visit, though I doubt he would jump on the opportunity to commit.
Marion (OH) Harding RB L.J. Scott: Scott is a 5’10”, 210 lb. running back prospect with an offer from Kent State; he also reportedly has an offer from the Wolverines, though that might not be a “committable” offer. He’s a 2014 prospect who had 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011. (Highlights.)
Cleveland (OH) Glenville S Erick Smith: Smith is a 6’1″, 185 lb. safety prospect for the class of 2014. His lone offer at this point is from Georgia Tech. I would not be surprised to see him earn a Michigan offer in the future, although he might not be a guy who needs to be offered right this instant. (Highlights.)
Middletown (OH) Middletown TE Chance Sorrell: Sorrell is a 6’6″, 229 lb. tight end prospect from the class of 2014. He has no offers at this point, and he suffered a broken ankle this season, so those offers might not come anytime soon. He’s a big kid who looks a bit like Craig Roh on the field, a good-but-not-great athlete. I don’t think he’ll be offered by Michigan at this stage, but he could be an option down the road. (Highlights.)
Sylvania (OH) Southview DT Ryan Stout: Stout is a 6’5″, 245 lb. defensive tackle prospect from the class of 2014. He has offers from Akron, Bowling Green, and Toledo. Southview is the alma mater of freshman safety Allen Gant. In his first five games this season, Stout had 45 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. (Highlights.)
Louisville (KY) Central S Donald Styles: Styles is a 5’10”, 180 lb. safety prospect without any offers at this time. However, he’s a solid hitter with decent speed, and he looks to me like an FBS prospect, though maybe not fast enough for elite level offers. (Highlights.)
Monroeville (PA) Gateway TE/LB Brenon Thrift: Thrift is a 6’3″, 230 lb. prospect for 2014. He already has offers from Pitt and West Virginia. He visited Michigan back in the summer, but WVU is his current leader. (Highlights.)
Crete (IL) Crete-Monee WR LaQuon Treadwell: I scouted Treadwell prior to the beginning of the 2012 season, and nothing he’s done as a senior has diminished my thoughts on him. He’s one of the top few receivers in the country and has the ability to be a possession guy or a big-play guy, whichever type is needed for the program. UPDATE: Treadwell did not make it to Ann Arbor.
Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan OT Denzel Ward: Ward is a 6’9″, 295 lb. offensive tackle from the class of 2014 who was offered by Michigan when he visited Ann Arbor last weekend. There’s some buzz about him possibly committing this weekend, although he said after last weekend’s visit that he wanted to consider his options and have a discussion with his parents. There’s no film on him yet, so I have no analysis on how he plays the game. He also has an offer from Purdue.
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech CB Damon Webb: Webb is a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect from the class of 2014. LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State are all major players in his recruitment, though LSU and Michigan seem to be out front. He could also play wide receiver at the next level, though his physicality suggests that he has a higher ceiling on defense.
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech RB Mikey Weber: Weber is a 5’10”, 195 lb. prospect from the class of 2015. He was hurt as a freshman and for part of this season, but there’s some buzz around him due to the speed he has showcased at times. He has no offers at this point, but a sophomore running back with his speed and physical development is likely to get some good looks at Cass Tech soon.
Detroit (MI) Country Day QB Tyler Wiegers: Wiegers is a 6’4″, 197 lb. quarterback from the class of 2014 who holds offers from Toledo and Western Michigan. He doesn’t have the best arm and isn’t a great athlete, but I like the way Wiegers commands the offense and his accuracy, and he also has a decent arm. If Michigan is going to take a guy in 2014 who’s a backup type, I think Wiegers could fill that role. He’s not a superstar and isn’t a guy who will unite the fan base like Shane Morris, but that might not be what the coaches are looking for in 2014. (Highlights.)
Minster (OH) Minster TE Ethan Wolf: Wolf is a 6’6″, 221 lb. prospect for the class of 2014. He has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, and Toledo, among others. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 20 receptions for 392 yards.
