Tag: Tyriq Thompson

Recruiting Update: August 12, 2014

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech running back Michael Weber

COMMITMENT
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech running back Michael Weber committed to Michigan (LINK).

OFF THE BOARD
Princeton (NJ) Princeton running back Johnny Frasier committed to Florida State. Frasier had developed a solid relationship with area recruiter Roy Manning, but he was not expected to come to Michigan even before Weber’s commitment.

Brooksville (FL) Nature Coast offensive tackle Christian Pellage committed to South Carolina. He never gave Michigan serious consideration.

Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s cornerback John Reid committed to Penn State. He’s a teammate of Michigan offensive guard commit Jon Runyan, Jr. Michigan had been named to Reid’s top group, but he never seemed particularly interested. Reid was a possible replacement of Shaun Crawford in the class, but the coaching staff will continue to look elsewhere, such as D.C.’s Marcus Lewis or North Carolinian Mook Reynolds.

Detroit (MI) King linebacker Tyriq Thompson committed to Michigan State. Thompson is the son of former Michigan safety Clarence Thompson, so this is a bit of a blow from a legacy perspective. However, I spent some time studying his game film and wrote up a scouting report in March (LINK), and I was not particularly high on Thompson’s game.

Sumter (SC) Crestwood running back Ty’Son Williams committed to North Carolina. He committed to the Tarheels before Weber committed to the Wolverines, but now that Weber has pledged, Michigan will probably not recruit another running back in the class.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s a list of some visitors from last week (LINK).

Scouting Report: Tyriq Thompson

Tyriq Thompson with his father, Clarence

Name: Tyriq Thompson
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) King
Position: Linebacker
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, and Wisconsin . . . Claims a 4.7 forty . . . As a junior in 2013, had 142 tackles, 10 sacks, 7 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles . . . ESPN 3-star safety . . . Rivals 3-star, #29 OLB . . . Scout 4-star, #21 OLB . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 88 grade, #21 OLB . . . Son of former Michigan safety Clarence Thompson . . . Moved from Missouri prior to junior year

Strengths: Good build for a weakside linebacker . . . Starts off in a good stance on balls of feet with knees bent . . . Adequate blitzer . . . Decent straight line speed . . . Physical tackler . . . Does a good job of wrapping up ball carriers

Weaknesses: Somewhat stiff in the hips . . . Lacks great explosion . . . Takes false steps out of standard linebacker stance . . . Does not change direction well . . . Does not use hands well to shed blockers . . . Takes poor angles at times . . . Needs to run feet better on contact . . . Tries to outmuscle too many players

Projection: Weakside linebacker. Thompson plays like a middle linebacker, but his body seems more suited to the weakside linebacker position, where he might be able to get away with being 6’1″ and fairly light. I do not see him as a dynamic player at the next level, and he seems like someone who would be a depth player or a developmental prospect who might be able to step into a role later in his career. Thompson lacks ideal closing speed and does not show the necessary instincts to make up for a lack of elite athleticism. For whatever reason, I envision him playing for a team like Cincinnati.

Reminds me of: Obi Ezeh. Ezeh was one of those guys who often seemed to be a hair late or a step too slow to make the play, and I’m not sure if Thompson is that guy who can lasso running backs in the hole. He appears to be more successful when he attacks rather than reacts, but college coordinators won’t blitz him on every down. I did think Ezeh was miscast as a middle linebacker when he should have been playing on the strong side, whereas Thompson is a little lighter and should probably stay on the weak side, either in a 4-3 Under or perhaps as a weak outside ‘backer in a 3-4.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: As mentioned above, Tyriq’s father was a Michigan safety in the mid-1990’s. Michigan State was taking the lead prior to Michigan’s offer, but now certain insiders believe that Michigan can and will pull ahead for his commitment. Either way, it appears to be a two-horse race between the in-state schools.

Highlights:

Recruiting Update: January 20, 2014

Tyriq and Clarence Thompson (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Sarasota (FL) Booker running back Marlon Mack (offense, defense) was offered by Michigan. Mack is a 6’0″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Louisville, South Florida, and UCLA, among others; he was committed to the Bruins until a few days ago. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #98 athlete, and the #1,117 player overall. Mack claims a 4.5 forty and shows the speed on film, but he’s not a polished running back and more of an athlete who runs the ball. The reason I linked his offensive and defensive highlights separately above is that he has a chance to play safety or maybe even corner in college, and I would lean toward him having higher upside at safety. He has good range and is a very physical hitter from the defensive back position. However, he appears to prefer running back, and that’s the position where Michigan is recruiting him at this time. The Wolverines are also in hot pursuit of Minneapolis (MN) Washburn running back Jeff Jones, and while signs are positive for Jones to Michigan, Mack decommitted from UCLA as soon as he was offered by Michigan assistant coach Jeff Hecklinski. Both running backs are planning January 31st official visits to Ann Arbor, so it will be a very interesting race to see who commits first. I believe Michigan will get at least one of the two, but Mack’s versatility could mean that he has a spot whether Jones commits or not.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Tampa (FL) Plant offensive tackle Jake Fruhmorgen was offered by Michigan. Fruhmorgen is a 6’5″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, along with lots of others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #6 offensive tackle, and #75 overall, and he’s already committed to playing in the 2015 Under Armour All-American Game. Fruhmorgen has the feet to play tackle at the next level, but really, I think he could play either guard or tackle position. His father John was an offensive tackle at Alabama in the late 1980’s and went on to play professionally, most notably for the Miami Dolphins.

Memphis (TN) Whitehaven linebacker Joshua McMillon was offered by Michigan. McMillon is a 6’3″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #13 outside linebacker, and #186 overall. McMillon is being recruited as a SAM linebacker by the Wolverines, but he looks like a guy who might be more likely to end up at weakside end in the future. On the plus side for Michigan, his head coach is a Michigan graduate and he’s interested in early playing time, which could work out for him with starter Jake Ryan graduating after 2014 and no heir apparent. On the negative side, McMillon has stated that his “dream school” is Alabama.

Detroit (MI) King linebacker Tyriq Thompson was offered by Michigan on Thursday. Thompson is a 6’2″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State, North Carolina State, Northwestern, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #23 outside linebacker, and the #448 player overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 142 tackles, 10 sacks, 7 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles. Thompson moved from Missouri to Michigan prior to the 2013 season. His stature and stance make him look a little like James Ross, but Thompson plays a little slower. Michigan State was presumed to be the leader until Michigan offered, so this new development makes things interesting. Thompson’s father Clarence was a safety at Michigan in the mid-’90s, when he made 154 tackles, 7 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 4 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble from 1993-1995.

OFF THE BOARD
Baltimore (MD) Gilman cornerback Troy Vincent, Jr. flipped from Penn State to North Carolina State. Obviously, he’s the son of Troy Vincent, whom you may or may not remember as a Wisconsin Badger, Miami Dolphin, and Philadelphia Eagle. Michigan seems set at cornerback, and there was some question about how heavily the Wolverines pursued him in the first place.

MISCELLANEOUS
The recruiting sites all updated their final rankings for the 2014 class:

• ESPN
• Scout
• 247 Sports