Tag: Wilton Speight

Visitors: April 12-14, 2013

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake wide receiver Artavis Scott (image via Herald Tribune)

Here’s a list of visitors for the upcoming spring game.  I haven’t filled out the info for each prospect due to time constraints, but I will update it soon.

Brennan Bosch – OG – St. Charles (IL) East: Bosch is a 6’3″, 255 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with an offer from Illinois.  He is the younger brother of early enrollee freshman Kyle Bosch.

Ray Buford, Jr. – CB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Buford is a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers.  He visited Michigan last week.  He has played wide receiver previously, but Michigan is looking at him as a cornerback.

George Campbell – WR – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Campbell is a 6’3″, 184 lb. prospect for the class of 2015.  He has offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others.  His teammates include 2014 offensive line commit Mason Cole and 2014 wide receiver offeree Artavis Scott, both of whom will also make the trip.  Campbell visited Michigan back in February and has since been very high on the Wolverines.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 30 catches for 766 yards and 5 touchdowns; he also had 57 tackles from his safety position. UPDATE: Campbell did not visit this past weekend; he was at Vanderbilt instead.

Brian Cole – CB – Southfield (MI) Heritage: Cole is a 6’2″, 190 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State.

Mason Cole – OG – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: A teammate of Campbell, Cole committed to Michigan in February.

Reon Dawson – CB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Dawson committed to Michigan in January.

Jaron Dukes – WR – Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin: Dukes committed to Michigan in February 2012.

Matt Falcon – RB – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Falcon is a 6’0″, 200 lb. prospect for the class of 2016 with no offers right now.  He’s the teammate of 2014 defensive end Lawrence Marshall – who went to Michigan State’s campus instead of Michigan’s spring game – and 2015 cornerback Ray Buford, Jr.

Michael Ferns III – LB – St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: The first member of Michigan’s 2014 class, Ferns committed in August.

Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6’4″, 180 lb. receiver with offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, along with many others.  He was committed to MSU for several months because he wanted to play basketball, but he opened up his recruitment to concentrate more on football.  He has visited Michigan several times in recent months.  Harris’s 247 Composite ranking places him as a 5-star, the #2 wide receiver, and the #32 overall prospect.  He had 91 receptions for 2,015 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior in 2012.

Daniel Helm – TE – Chatham (IL) Glenwood: Helm is a 6’4″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.  He also visited Michigan back in February, and he looks to be heavily interested in the Wolverines.  As a junior in 2012, he had 44 receptions for 810 yards and 17 touchdowns.  Helm is a 4-star, the #6 tight end, and the #232 player overall, according to the 247 Composite rankings.

Maurice Hurst, Jr. – DT – Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers: Hurst committed to Michigan in June 2012.

Jake Johnson – QB – DeWitt (MI) DeWitt: Johnson is a 6’1″, 185 lb. quarterback for the class of 2015. He has no offers at this time.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,250 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, along with 400 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.

John Kelly – CB – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Kelly is a 5’11”, 184 lb. cornerback or safety prospect for the class of 2015.  He has no offers at this time.  Kelly visited Michigan back in November and then in February, too.

Ostell Martin – OG – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Martin is a 6’5″, 315 lb. prospect for the class of 2016 with no offers at this time.

Mike McCray II – LB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: McCray committed to Michigan in March 2012.

J.J. McGrath – K – Macomb (MI) Lutheran North: McGrath committed to Michigan as a walk-on in January 2013.

Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell has been discussed non-stop on Michigan boards.  He’s that 6’7″, 290 lb. guy who has offers from everyone and visits Michigan a lot.

A.J. Mial – CB – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Mial is a 5’9″, 170 lb. prospect who claims a 4.68 forty.  He’s a 2014 prospect with no offers at this time.

Garrett Moores – QB – Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Moores is a 6’4″, 200 lb. potential walk-on for the fall.  He’s a high school teammate of incoming running back Wyatt Shallman.

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

Stephen Mosley – WR – Akron (OH) Buchtel: Mosley is a 6’0″, 180 lb. prospect for the class of 2014 with no offers at this time.  Buchtel is the alma mater of sophomore safety Jarrod Wilson.  The head coach at Buchtel is former Michigan running back Ricky Powers.

Tymeon Ollison – CB – Akron (OH) Buchtel: Ollison is a 5’8″, 160 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers at this time.

Micheal Onwenu – OT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Onwenu is a 6’2″, 310 lb. defensive tackle prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers at this time.  He also visited Michigan a couple weekends ago.

Prince Onwenu – LB – Walled Lake (MI) Central: Onwenu is a 5’11”, 195 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time.  He plays defensive end in high school, but at his size, he’s more likely to become a contributor as a linebacker.

Trevor Ruhland – OG – Cary (IL) Cary-Grove: Ruhland is a 6’4″, 270 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers at this time.  He plays with good body lean and has a nasty disposition, and I think he’ll eventually be a fairly highly regarded prospect.

Dan Samuelson – OG – Plymouth (IN) Plymouth: Samuelson committed to Michigan back in January.

Artavis Scott – WR – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Scott is a 5’11”, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Oregon, among others.  Scott is teammates with Campbell and Cole (mentioned above).  During three seasons already on the varsity team, he has 135 receptions for 2,493 yards and 27 touchdowns.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 4-star wideout, the #10 wide receiver, and the #88 player overall.

Wyatt Shallman – RB – Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Shallman committed to Michigan in February 2012.

Wilton Speight – QB – Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight, a 2014 prospect, committed on National Signing Day 2013.

Ted Stieber – OG – Akron (OH) Archbishop Hoban: Stieber is a 6’6″, 285 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time.  He looks a little bit slow of foot and while he has the size to play tackle, he might be a better fit at guard or perhaps at right tackle.

Erik Swenson – OT – Downers Grove (IL) South: Swenson is a 6’7″, 285 lb. prospect for the class of 2016.  He has offers from Illinois and Notre Dame already.

Scott Sypniewski – LS – Ottawa (IL) Marquette: Sypniewski committed to Michigan in June 2012.

Jack Wangler – WR – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Wangler is a 6’2″, 195 lb. player who committed as a walk-on for Michigan.  He’s the brother of Jared (below).


Jared Wangler – LB – Warren (MI) De La Salle: Wangler is a 6’1″, 218 lb. prospect with offers from Penn State and a handful of MAC schools.  He’s the former teammate of incoming freshman Shane Morris, the son of former Michigan quarterback John Wangler, and the brother of incoming freshman walk-on Jack Wangler.  As a junior in 2012, Jared had 76 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception.

Maurice Ways – WR – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways is a 6’3″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Kansas, and bunch of MAC schools.  He had 51 catches for 957 yards and 9 touchdowns as a junior in 2012.  Ways has visited Michigan the past couple weekends, and I think there’s a good chance he’ll earn an offer at some point down the road.

Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. – DE – Manilus (NY) Fayetteville Manilus: Wheatley is a 6’6″, 235 lb. prospect who has picked up offers in recent weeks from Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, and Penn State.  His father is, of course, former Michigan running back and current Buffalo Bills running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley.

Chase Winovich – LB – Jefferson Hills (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Winovich is a 6’4″, 215 lb. outside linebacker with offers from Miami, Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, and Virginia Tech, among others.  He visited in March but did not earn an offer until Kyle Berger and Sam Hubbard committed to Ohio State.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 3-star, the #45 outside linebacker, and the #592 player overall.

Initial TTB Ratings for 2014

For the last few years, I’ve been putting together ratings for Michigan’s commitments.  When coming up with a rating, I generally try to picture how the player will fit into Michigan’s scheme and depth chart.  Certain wide receivers might be all-conference at one school but second-stringers at another.  Here’s a link to the explanation of the ratings.  I reserve the right to change these ratings throughout the recruiting cycle, but here’s where Michigan’s current four commits will start:

OG Mason Cole: 87 (commitment post)

LB Michael Ferns III: 83 (commitment post)

DT Bryan Mone: 79 (commitment post)

QB Wilton Speight: 77 (commitment post)

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.

Wilton Speight, Wolverine

Richmond (VA) Collegiate quarterback Wilton Speight (image via Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Richmond (VA) Collegiate quarterback Wilton Speight committed to Michigan on Tuesday morning.  He chose Michigan over . . . no one.  No other schools have offered up to this point.

Speight threw for 2,500 yards, 29 touchdowns, and a reported 17 interceptions as a junior in 2012, along with over 300 yards rushing and a few touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: Unranked
Scout: N/A
247 Sports: 3-star QB, 86 grade, #28 pro-style QB

Speight visited Michigan for the Michigan State game back in the fall.  He was recently stated to be one of Michigan’s top three quarterback targets for 2014, along with Oklahoma’s David Cornwell and Florida’s Michael O’Connor.  Wide receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski visited Speight’s school last Friday morning to see him throw in person, and Speight was told that he would find out whether he would get an offer this morning.  Well, he called the coaches at 8:00 a.m. and got the offer, then committed on the spot.

I evaluated Michigan’s quarterback targets last week.  Here’s what I said about him at the time:

The 6’6″, 217-pounder has no offers at this time. Speight might be the sleeper of the group. I like the way he throws the ball under pressure. Sometimes it’s unbelievable how accurate he is with guys in his face, but to be honest, it seems like he’s in a habit of throwing off his back foot because of a porous offensive line. He barely has a chance to breathe before two or three defenders are in his face. He’s a little too stiff in the pocket for my liking and will struggle to avoid college rushers; he lacks great arm strength and has a little bit of a hitch in his delivery. He just looks very unpolished. I could see him going somewhere like Texas Tech or Washington State and lighting it up a few years down the road, but I don’t think he’s a good fit for Michigan.

Well, it’s just a few days later, and nothing has really changed.  As I mentioned above, he has potential as a quarterback.  He does some really good things, and he has some issues to work on.  If Shane Morris pans out, that should give Speight plenty of time to work on some mechanical issues, improve his footwork, and just become a more fundamental football player.  While I stated that he doesn’t have great arm strength, he’s not noodle-armed, either.  He puts some air under the ball and puts it in a place where his receiver can catch it, rather than trying to throw a ball 100 miles per hour.  In some ways, he and Morris are complete opposites.  Morris is a smaller, thinner guy with a rocket arm and some accuracy issues; Speight is a tall, thick kid with a decent arm who puts a lot of touch on his throws.

Speight is the second commitment in the class of 2014, joining linebacker Michael Ferns.  The class will start out at about 18 players, although it will likely increase in size over the next year to a number north of 20.  Michigan also pulled running back Derrick Green out of Richmond (Heritage High School) in the class of 2013, joining fellow Richmond natives Marell Evans, Brandon Minor, and David Terrell.  Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson came out of Collegiate back in 2007, and Jake McGee (Virginia, converted to tight end) was another quarterback out of Collegiate.

TTB Rating: I’m going to hold off here until I finalize the ratings for the 2013 class.