Tag: unofficial visitors

Visitors: March 15-17, 2013

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.

Visitors: March 1-3, 2013

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris

Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6’5″, 245 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with offers from Michigan and Michigan State.  He and classmate Mikey Weber received Michigan offers in recent weeks.

Jayru Campbell – QB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Campbell is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect who recently added a Michigan State offer to his offers from Alabama, Eastern Michigan, and Notre Dame.  He has led Cass Tech to two straight state championships and still has two years left to go in high school.  I have heard that Michigan wants to see him improve some of his skills before offering, and at this time, it’s unclear whether he’ll receive one from the Wolverines.  Brady Hoke offered just three quarterbacks in the class of 2013 and just one (so far) in the class of 2014, so the coaching staff is very careful about whom they offer.


Rob Dowdy – OT – Westerville (OH) South: Dowdy is a 6’6″, 260 lb. offensive tackle from the class of 2015.  He actually visited on Wednesday, but I’m tossing him in this group anyway.  He has not been offered by Michigan yet, but he does hold an offer from Indiana.  You may remember that Michigan made a run at his teammate Marcus Ball, a safety/linebacker from the class of 2013 who was committed to Wisconsin before flipping to Arizona State.


Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6’4″, 180 lb. wideout who recently added Georgia and Penn State to his offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, etc.  As a junior in 2012, he had 91 receptions for 2,015 yards and 25 touchdowns.  He will likely be one of the top ten wide receivers in the 2014 class, and that’s probably a conservative statement.  This is the second time in three weeks that Harris will visit Michigan, despite the fact that he’s a soft commit to Michigan State.


Mikey Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber is a 5’10”, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, and Syracuse.  He had 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2012.  He attends the pipeline of Cass Tech, which has also sent guys like William Campbell, Thomas Gordon, Terry Richardson, Jourdan Lewis, and Delano Hill.

Chase Winovich – LB – Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Winovich is a 6’4″, 215 lb. outside linebacker with offers from Florida State, Northwestern, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others.  Michigan has not offered him, but they’re talking to him about the SAM linebacker position.

Visitors: February 22-24, 2013

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake offensive guard Mason Cole

Kyle Berger – LB – Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius: Berger is a 6’3″, 205 lb. outside linebacker with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.  Most analysts seem to think that Berger’s choice will come down to Michigan vs. Ohio State.  He attends the same high school – and is being recruited at the same position – as Michigan’s current starter at SAM linebacker, Jake Ryan.


George Campbell – WR – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Campbell, a 2015 prospect, is a 6’3″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and several others.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 30 catches for 766 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Brian Cole – WR – Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole, another 2015 prospect, is a 6’2″, 180 lb. cornerback with offers from Michigan and Michigan State.

Mason Cole – OG – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: I did a scouting report on Cole a few weeks ago.  Michigan is one of his leaders (along with Notre Dame), if not the outright front-runner.


Shaun Crawford – CB – Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s: Crawford, a 2015 prospect, is a 5’9″, 165 lb. corner with offers from Illinois and Tennessee.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 66 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.  He claims a 4.51 forty and a 10.8 time in the 100 meters.  Crawford attends the alma mater of Michigan offensive guard Kyle Kalis.


Michael Ferns III – LB – St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan late in last year’s regular season, becoming the first member of the 2014 class.  He put together some “Team 135” T-shirts that he plans to hand out/send to each of the other players who commits to Michigan, and he’s combining with quarterback commit Wilton Speight to head up Michigan’s recruiting efforts for the class.


Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6’4″, 180 lb. wideout with offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others.  He’s currently “committed” to Michigan State because he originally intended to play both basketball and football, but he will likely end up elsewhere because he has recently realized that football holds a better career future.


Elijah Hood – RB – Charlotte (NC) Catholic: Hood is a 6’0″, 205 lb. running back with offers from Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, and Virginia Tech, among others.  He will be visiting Michigan on Sunday right after a visit to Notre Dame, his current leader.  As a junior in 2012, he ran for 3,309 yards and 48 touchdowns on just 278 carries.  Hood is neck-and-neck with Joe Mixon for my most desired running back in the class of 2014.


Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6’3″, 225 lb. defensive end with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, and he was committed to Ohio State for a few days recently.  However, he followed that up with visits to the former two schools and decommitted.  As a sophomore in 2011, he had 79 tackles, 15 sacks, and 4 interceptions.

Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. strongside defensive end with offers from Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 63 tackles, 15 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.  Michigan and Notre Dame appear to be the two front-runners.


Wilton Speight – QB – Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight committed to Michigan on National Signing Day.

Visitors: February 15-17, 2013

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech running back Mikey Weber

Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi, a 2015 prospect, is a 6’5″, 245-pounder with offers from Michigan and Michigan State.  Cass Tech has also sent numerous players to Michigan in recent years, including 2013 prospects David Dawson, Delano Hill, and Jourdan Lewis. UPDATE: Alabi did not end up making the trip.

Jayru Campbell – QB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Campbell, a 2015 prospect, is a 6’3″, 190 lb. quarterback with offers from Alabama, Michigan State, and Notre Dame.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 2,000 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.  He led the Technicians to state championships in his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Daniel Helm – TE – Chatham (IL) Glenwood: Helm is a 6’5″, 220 lb. tight end with offers from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina State, Northwestern, and Tennessee.  Rivals recently ranked him the #201 player overall for the class of 2014.  As a junior in 2012, he had 44 receptions for 810 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Gary Hosey – RB/LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Hosey is a 6’0″, 225 lb. inside linebacker or fullback with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, and Toledo.

Keith Jones – DE – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Jones is a 6’0″, 240 lb. defensive end with no offers at this time.  He claims a 4.74 forty time and a 315 lb. bench press, both of which are impressive numbers for someone his age.  He’s somewhat short for an FBS defensive end prospect, but he still has a couple years to grow.

Mikey Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber, a 2015 prospect, is a 5’10”, 190 lb. back with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, and Syracuse.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,700 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.

Parrker Westphal – CB – Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook: Westphal is a 6’0″, 186 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 51 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. He’s a thick-bodied corner who is being recruited as a boundary corner and potentially a slot corner, but I think he also has the size to potentially play either safety position.  While he doesn’t have great speed, he’s fast enough to be a quality player at the next level.  Westphal has maintained throughout most of the recruiting process that Michigan is his leader, so it would not surprise me if he commits at any time.  His high school coach Todd Howard had 151 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 33 pass breakups as a cornerback for Michigan from 1998-2001.

Several class of 2013 signees are visiting campus, including Derrick Green.

Visitors: December 14

2014 defensive end Lawrence Marshall (image via 247 Sports)

I was asked for a list of prospects who are planning to visit on the huge recruiting weekend of December 14.  This is when most of the 2013 class is planning to take their official visits.

2013
Marcus Ball – LB – Westerville (OH) South: Ball is a 6’3″, 205 lb. prospect who is committed to Wisconsin.  He also holds offers from Arizona State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others.  He has only been committed to Wisconsin since late November, so the bond with the rest of the Wisconsin class likely isn’t extremely strong.  As a junior in 2011, he had 1,300 yards passing, 500 yards rushing, and 7 interceptions on defense.  His brother Ray is an offensive tackle who was offered by Michigan in the 2011 class but now plays at Wisconsin.  Michigan hadn’t offered Marcus prior to the visit, but they could while he’s in town.  They are recruiting him for the SAM linebacker position. UPDATE: Ball claims to have been offered by Michigan. (Highlights.)

Kyle Bosch – OG – Wheaton (IL) St. Francis: Bosch committed to Michigan in February.

Jake Butt – TE – Pickerington (OH) North: Butt committed to Michigan in February.

Taco Charlton – DE – Pickerington (OH) Central: Charlton committed to Michigan in February.


Gareon Conley – CB – Massillon (OH) Washington: Conley decommitted from Michigan shortly after Thanksgiving.

David Dawson – OG – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Dawson decommitted from Michigan in mid-October.

Ross Douglas – CB – Avon (OH) Avon: Douglas committed to Michigan in July.


Jaron Dukes – WR – Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin: Dukes committed to Michigan in February.

Ben Gedeon – LB – Hudson (OH) Hudson: Here’s a look at how Gideon’s senior season progressed.  He appears to be headed for WILL linebacker at Michigan.

Delano Hill – S – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Hill was offered this past week and is the teammate of several Michigan players, along with 2013 commit Jourdan Lewis.  He’s a 6’1″, 198 lb. prospect who could play safety or boundary corner.  He is currently committed to Iowa.

Khalid Hill – TE – Detroit (MI) East English Village: Hill committed to Michigan in February.

Cameron Hunt – OG – Corona (CA) Centennial: I wrote up a scouting report on Hunt recently. UPDATE: Hunt will be playing in the state championship game next weekend, so he’ll visit in January instead.

Maurice Hurst, Jr. – DT – Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers: Hurst committed to Michigan in June.

Kenny Lacy – OT – Phoenix (AZ) Mountain Pointe: I wrote up a scouting report on Lacy recently.  UPDATE: Lacy has rescheduled his visit for January 18.

Jourdan Lewis – CB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Lewis committed to Michigan in February.

Mike McCray II – LB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: McCray committed to Michigan in March.

Shane Morris – QB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris committed to Michigan all the way back in May 2011.


Henry Poggi – DT – Baltimore (MD) Gilman: Poggi committed to Michigan in June.

Dan Samuelson – OG – Plymouth (IN) Plymouth: Samuelson is a 6’5″, 290 lb. guard who’s committed to Nebraska.  He also has offers from Illinois, Minnesota, and Pitt.

Wyatt Shallman – RB – Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Shallman committed to Michigan in February.

Dan Skipper – OT – Arvada (CO) Ralston Valley: Skipper is a 6’10”, 295 lb. tackle who’s currently committed to Tennessee.  He has been offered by Michigan, along with Arizona State, Colorado, Missouri, Ole Miss, and several others. (Highlights.)

DeVeon Smith – RB – Warren (OH) Howland: Smith committed to Michigan in March.


Dymonte Thomas – S – Alliance (OH) Marlington: Here’s a look at how Thomas’s senior season progressed.


Logan Tuley-Tillman – OT – Peoria (IL) Manual: Here are some highlights of Tuley-Tillman’s senior season.


Csont’e York – WR – Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park: York committed to Michigan in May.


2014
Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6’4″, 210 lb. prospect who received a Michigan offer in recent weeks. UPDATE: Marshall did not come. (Highlights.)

Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’6″, 292 lb. prospect with offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, and several others. (Highlights.)