Tag: unofficial visitors

Visitors: Last week of March 2013

Huber Heights (OH) Wayne safety Tyree Kinnel

Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6’4″, 245 lb. defensive tackle prospect from the class of 2015.  He has offers from Michigan and Michigan State and has visited Michigan numerous times.

Alex Bars – OT – Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell: Bars is a 6’6″, 287 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and Stanford, among others.  He has an older brother at Penn State and an older brother at Michigan (offensive guard Blake).  The younger Bars is a 4-star prospect to ESPN, Rivals, and Scout.

Jayru Campbell – QB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Campbell is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Alabama and Notre Dame, among others.  He has led Cass Tech to state championships during both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Orlando Carter – OT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Carter is yet another Cass Tech product, in this case a 2015 lineman who’s already near 300 lbs.

Jalen Embry – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Embry is a 5’11”, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He’s a 3-star and the #64 cornerback to 247 Sports.

Carl Fuller – LB – Detroit (MI) King: Fuller is a 6’3″, 195 lb. linebacker with offers from Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He’s a 3-star and the #28 inside linebacker to 247 Sports.  As a junior in 2012, he had 83 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.

Keith Jones – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Jones is a 6’1″, 235 lb. prospect from the 2015 class.  He has no offers at this time.  He’s classmates with Joshua Alabi and Michael Weber, both of whom have Michigan offers.

John Kelly – CB – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Kelly is a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time.

Tyree Kinnel – S – Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Kinnel is a 6’1″, 190 lb. safety with no offers at this time.  He’s a 2015 prospect who has visited Michigan multiple times, including last fall and earlier this month.  He once again visited campus on Tuesday, and he seems to be expecting an offer sooner or later.  Kinnel claims a 4.5 forty time.

Avonte Maddox – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Maddox is a 5’9″, 160 lb. corner with offers from Ball State, Eastern Michigan, and Toledo.  He’s a 3-star and the #72 athlete to 247 Sports.

Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6’3″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others.  He was recently rated the #12 weakside end and the #206 overall prospect by 247 Sports, although Rivals initially ranks him as a 3-star. UPDATE: Marshall was unable to make it to campus.

Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC, among others.  He’s the #2 strongside end and the #30 overall player to 247 Sports.

Michael Ruf – DE – Darlington (WI) Darlington: Ruf is a 6’4″, 240 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Chance Sorrell – TE – Middletown (OH) Middletown: Sorrell is a 6’6″, 250-pounder with offers from Bowling Green, Indiana, Kent State, and Ohio.  He has visited Michigan several times, but he’s more of a blocking TE prospect and may be a ways down the pecking order for a Michigan offer.

Tyriq Thompson – S – Detroit (MI) King: Thompson is a 6’1″, 220 lb. prospect who’s a part of the 2015 class.  As a sophomore that size, he will likely grow into a linebacker before all is said and done.  He’s also the son of former Michigan defensive back Clarence Thompson, who was All-Big Ten in 1995.  The younger Thompson transferred from Missouri after his sophomore season.

Maurice Ways – WR – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways is a 6’3″, 193 lb. wideout with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Iowa, and Toledo.  As a junior in 2012, he had 51 receptions for 952 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Michael Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber is a 5’10”, 195 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Michigan and Michigan State.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns.  He has visited Michigan numerous times.

I will be adding to this list if any players trickle in throughout the week.  Some high schoolers are on their spring break, so they can make midweek visits before Easter.

Visitors: March 22-24, 2013

Olathe (KS) South offensive lineman Braden Smith is one of the top linemen in the nation (image via MaxPreps)

Danny Burns – OT – Fairfield (OH) Fairfield:

 Burns is a 6’7″, 308 lb. prospect with offers from Louisville, Nebraska, Pitt, and West Virginia, among others.  He lacks some of the athleticism that most Michigan offensive line offerees do, and I would be surprised if Michigan extends an offer anytime soon.*

Timothy Cason II – CB – Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Cason is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Bowling Green, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  With Michigan high on the lists of Adoree’ Jackson, Jabrill Peppers, and Parrker Westphal, it might be a while before Cason earns an offer.

Jalen Embry – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Embry is a 5’11”, 180 lb. corner with offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan.

Jonathan Hilliman – RB – Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep: I did a scouting report on Hilliman back in December.  Since then he has added offers from Arkansas and Tennessee, among others.  He’s a 3-star and the #34 running back to 247 Sports. UPDATE: Hilliman is no longer planning to visit this weekend and plans to reschedule a visit for May.

Jake Johnson – QB – DeWitt (MI) DeWitt: Johnson is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect from the class of 2015.  He currently has no offers.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,250 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, 400 rushing yards, and 6 rushing touchdowns.

Roderick Johnson – OT – Florissant (MO) Hazelwood Central: Johnson is a 6’7″, 310 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Missouri, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others.  He’s a 4-star to Rivals and the #183 overall player.

Braden Smith – OT – Olathe (KS) South: Smith is a 6’6″, 280 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Stanford, along with numerous others.  He’s very quiet about the recruiting process, so it’s tough to say who his leaders are, but it’s obviously a good sign that he’s taking the time to visit Ann Arbor.  He’s the #1 offensive guard to 247 Sports and the #19 overall player to both Rivals and 247.*

Darius West – S – Lima (OH) Central Catholic: West is a 5’11”, 197-pounder with offers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Penn State, West Virginia, and several others.  He claims a 4.4 forty and a 275 lb. bench press.  West camped at Michigan last summer.  He’s short-ish but thickly built, sort of in the mold of current Michigan safety Thomas Gordon; I would expect West also to play safety if he were to end up getting offered by and committing to Michigan, but he could play cornerback at some other schools.

*Burns and Smith are visiting midweek.

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.