2015 Recruiting Grades: Offense

Tag: Zach Gentry


8Feb 2015
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2015 Recruiting Grades: Offense

Zach Gentry (image via Maxpreps)

With the 2015 class about wrapped up, I’ll offer some final takeaways from the recruiting cycle. With something like this, it’s difficult to separate Brady Hoke’s recruiting efforts through early December from Jim Harbaugh’s efforts over the last five weeks of the cycle. So the grades and feedback I provide are geared toward the program’s job of recruiting, not necessarily a specific coach.

Starters are listed in italics.

QUARTERBACK
Lost from 2014:
 Russell Bellomy (transfer), Devin Gardner (graduation)
Commits: Zach Gentry, Alex Malzone
Grade: A-
Comments: Michigan needed to add talent and numbers to the quarterback position to engender competition, and they did that. Gentry (#8 pro-style quarterback, #175 overall) is the raw talent at 6’7″, 230 lbs. with a reported 4.6 forty and a strong arm. Malzone (#13 pro-style quarterback, #295 overall) is the local field general with good skills all around but nothing that really stands out. Other than getting a truly elite prospect, Michigan did about as well as they could. Toss in the possible arrival of Houston transfer John O’Korn, and all these guys won’t finish their careers at Michigan, but at least one should emerge looking good.

RUNNING BACK
Lost from 2014:
 Justice Hayes (transfer)
Commit: Karan Higdon
Grade: C
Comments: The unfortunate thing here is that Michigan had two top-150 running back talents committed at different times, and the Wolverines let both of them slip through their fingers. The first one, Damien Harris, ended up signing with Alabama. The second one, Mike Weber, was darn close to flipping from Ohio State to Michigan at the last minute, but he ultimately stuck with the Buckeyes around 10:30 a.m. because Higdon had committed to Michigan at 8:00 a.m. Michigan stole Higdon (#40 running back, #479 overall) himself at the last minute from Iowa, so there’s something to be said for getting someone on the board, at least. Still, this could have looked better.

WIDE RECEIVER
Lost from 2014:
 Devin Funchess (early NFL draft entrant)
Commits: Brian Cole, Grant Perry
Grade: B+
Comments: Michigan might have hit a home run with Cole (#5 athlete, #75 overall), who was a jack-of-all-trades player in high school and will have to learn the receiver position in college. Perry (#109 wide receiver, #864 overall) is a solid role player plucked from Northwestern at the last minute. Otherwise, both Hoke and Harbaugh swung and missed at the big-timers in the class.

TIGHT END
Lost from 2014:
 Keith Heitzman (transfer)
Commit: Tyrone Wheatley, Jr.
Grade: B
Comments: Michigan let Chris Clark slip through their fingers, although Clark was wishy-washy and seemed to be all over the place with his recruitment. The Wolverines may have dodged a bullet, because Wheatley – as the son of a coach on staff – might be less likely to flake out if things don’t go smoothly from day one. Wheatley (#12 tight end, #313 overall) has a fair amount of talent himself, although some think he’s better suited for defense. It would have been nice to get two tight ends with Heitzman transferring, A.J. Williams being a senior in 2015, and starter Jake Butt a junior who could possibly go pro if he stays healthy.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Lost from 2014:
 Kyle Bosch (transfer)
Commits: Grant Newsome, Jon Runyan Jr., Nolan Ulizio
Grade: B
Comments: The offensive line recently went from being “way too young” to being “maybe too old” now that four projected starters will be fifth-year guys (2) or fourth-year guys (2), joined by sophomore left tackle Mason Cole and redshirt junior utility man Erik Magnuson. With a couple backups looking stuck there for a reason, Michigan needed to bring in some fresh talent. Newsome (#22 offensive tackle, #235 overall) is a possible star, whereas Runyan (#122 offensive tackle) and Ulizio (#137 offensive tackle) look like they could be passable players in a few years. This probably isn’t the class that will turn around Michigan’s fortunes immediately, but they’re functional. Michigan essentially ignored a national prospect with high interest (USC-bound Chuma Edoga) and a local, guru-approved guy with high interest (Wisconsin-bound David Moorman), so hopefully they picked the right ones to pursue. If Newsome pans out like I think he should, he’ll make this class look pretty good.

6Feb 2015
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2015 Recruiting Awards

Lawrenceville (NJ) School offensive tackle Grant Newsome

It’s that time of the year. The class has wrapped up (barring any last-minute changes), and it’s time to start judging. Here are the annual recruiting awards, chosen by yours truly. If you want to look at past years’ awards, here they are: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

And away we go!

Best Overall Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
I’m tempted to go with Brian Cole, who is Michigan’s top-rated recruit in the class. But I believe that this coaching staff will do a great job of developing offensive linemen, and I think Newsome is the cream of the crop. He has the size and the athleticism to be a very good left tackle, so without a true superstar recruit, I’ll put my metaphorical chips on Newsome.

Best Offensive Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
See above.

Best Defensive Recruit: DE Shelton Johnson
This is a bit of a gamble here, because I have bad memories of Rich Rodriguez-era Floridians. I’m attempting to put most of the Rodriguez years behind me, so I’m going with Johnson. He has a good body to work with, he can play low, he’s athletic, and he’s violent. But if he takes things seriously, I think he can be Michigan’s best defensive end since Brandon Graham.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: K Andrew David
Michigan enters the year having lost both their punter and placekicker from 2014. The punting job should go to walk-on Kenny Allen, but the placekicking job is there for the taking. Allen can do both, but he has reportedly been shaky. Meanwhile, David is the 247 Composite #9 kicker in the country and has a pretty clear path to the job. Add to that a dedicated special teams coach in John Baxter, and hopefully David’s impact will be a good one.

Fastest Recruit: CB Keith Washington
Michigan’s class is light on skill guys, with only Washington, WR Brian Cole, WR Grant Perry, RB Karan Higdon, and S Tyree Kinnel. While I doubt Washington’s claim that he can run a 4.3 forty, he does have impressive acceleration and earns this prestigious award by a hair over Cole.

Strongest Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
With a 305 lb. bench and a 465 lb. squat, Newsome edges out fellow offensive lineman Nolan Ulizio (315 and 410, respectively).

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: WR Grant Perry
My original criterion was going to be any guy who’s a 247 Composite 3-star or lower, but I just can’t bring myself to count Shelton Johnson – who fits that description – as an under-the-radar guy since he was wanted by some big-time schools. So my next choice is Perry. Perry is a guy who I don’t think will be a superstar, but I think he will reach the level of being a consistent possession target.

Most Overrated Recruit: QB Zach Gentry
Michigan doesn’t have many to choose from this year, so I’ll put Gentry here since I think of him as a boom-or-bust type of guy. Gentry has all kinds of physical tools, but his mechanics are raw. Having played very weak competition in New Mexico and being so far from home, Gentry has the type of profile where he might transfer away from Michigan if he doesn’t win the starting job within a couple years. The Wolverines are bringing in a lot of competition – especially if Houston transfer John O’Korn is official – and the quarterback position has a high turnover rate because those kids want to play. I do think Gentry has higher upside than classmate Alex Malzone and anyone else on the roster save perhaps Shane Morris, but Malzone is a hometown kid who might stick it out a little bit longer.

Most Likely to Redshirt: OG Jon Runyan, Jr.
Runyan did get bigger from his junior year to his senior season and looks more the part of a college lineman now, but he still looks the least ready of Michigan’s three offensive linemen in the class. The rest of the signees play positions where freshmen contribute regularly, except for quarterback – but Michigan has a wide-open quarterback position. My non-lineman pick would be RB Karan Higdon, who joins a team that includes three guys who have started games at Michigan (Derrick Green, Drake Johnson, and De’Veon Smith) and perhaps the best of the bunch coming off a transfer redshirt year (Ty Isaac).

Personal Favorite Recruit: WR Grant Perry
I’m picking the underdog here. Perry grew up a Michigan fan and you could tell throughout the process that he was dying for a Michigan offer. There were reasons for Michigan not offering, but Brady Hoke’s coaching staff told him to be patient and that an offer might come. Late in the process, Jim Harbaugh’s staff extended an offer. Perry, already committed to Northwestern by that point, flipped to the Wolverines almost immediately but not until he took the time to let the Wildcats’ coaches know. This is a feel-good story about hard work, perseverance, and love for the program.

25Jan 2015
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Zach Gentry, Wolverine

Albuquerque (NM) Eldorado quarterback Zach Gentry (image via abqjournal.com)

Albuquerque (NM) Eldorado quarterback Zach Gentry committed to Michigan on Saturday. He originally committed to Texas in May of 2014 and was solid to the Longhorns until recently. He chose Texas – and then Michigan – over offers from Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Tennessee, among others.

Gentry is a 6’6″, 230 lb. prospect whom I scouted (LINK) last January when Michigan was sorting through quarterbacks for the 2015 class.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #9 pocket quarterback, #118 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #4 pro-style quarterback, #105 overall
Scout: 4-star, #19 quarterback, #278 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #16 pro-style quarterback

Because he’s a quarterback, some statistics:
2012: 150/281 for 2,022 yards, 17 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 305 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns
2013: 160/286 for 1,587 yards, 9 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 617 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns

The story with Gentry is a little bit unclear at this point. Gentry was on Michigan’s radar early in the 2015 recruiting cycle and garnered a visit from then Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who watched Gentry throw and then took a pass on offering him. In the meantime, Michigan pulled in quarterback Alex Malzone, and Gentry committed to the Longhorns. He seemed solid to Texas and dismissed overtures from several schools, including Alabama. Then Harbaugh came calling, and it made Gentry rethink his decision. Depending on whom you believe, the Longhorns’ continued pursuit of 247 Composite 5-star Kyler Murray (committed to Texas A&M) and 4-star Kai Locksley (committed to Florida State) was off-putting to Gentry. Or there are rumors that Texas is looking to become more of a spread option team. Or it might be that Harbaugh has a reputation for coaching up quarterbacks, whereas Texas head coach Charlie Strong has a shorter resume (albeit one including Teddy Bridgewater). Regardless of the reason(s), Gentry accepted an invitation to Ann Arbor this week, and it paid off with a flip.

In case you’re wondering, Texas still has 3-star Brandon Merrick’s commitment, plus the potential for one of the aforementioned players.

In reviewing Gentry’s senior film, it’s clear that he has a lot of upside. He has a good arm – not great – and throws a catchable ball. Accuracy is tough to gauge from highlights, but he has a decent completion percentage and doesn’t throw many interceptions. It’s important to remember that good high school quarterbacks often suffer from poor receivers who can’t get open, drop a lot of balls, etc. (and some receivers are cursed by poor quarterback play, too, so it goes both ways). Gentry has a three-quarters delivery that might be more of a cause for concern if not for his 6’6″ frame, sometimes listed as big as 6’7″. In regard to throwing the ball, he looks very natural on the move and can push the ball down the field while getting out of the pocket, particularly going to his right. Moving is one of his big strengths. Gentry has very good speed, a little bit of shimmy, and some good instincts when it comes to running the ball. While he won’t be a threat to take it the distance very time, he’s every bit as mobile as a guy like Ohio State’s Cardale Jones, who moved the chains against some good defenses with some timely scrambles.

On the negative side, Gentry has some mechanical issues aside from the arm slot. He also tends to throw off his back foot or falling to the side without stepping toward his target, which causes the ball to hang a little bit. His footwork when taking shotgun snaps needs work, and he’s exclusively a shotgun/pistol guy, so getting him to drop back from under center might be a large undertaking. My biggest concern with him is that the ball rarely comes out “on time” within the framework of the play. He never plants his back foot and throws. I am not a fan of the way his team’s routes are designed and plays are run, and these are not the complicated route combinations he will be seeing in college. New Mexico is not known for its football, and it shows – not only in his own team, which lacks refinement, but also in the play of his opponents.

Overall, Gentry is a high-quality commitment for Michigan and Jim Harbaugh, but he’s also a boom-or-bust type. He’ll be a long way from home, learning an offense with pro-level reads and combinations, and competing with several other guys for playing time. At the same time, he will either be the most gifted (or second-most behind Shane Morris) athlete at the position. The whole playbook is open for a guy like this, who can throw it deep, throw it short, stand in the pocket, roll out, scramble, or do some designed runs. Fellow 2015 classmate Alex Malzone is more refined and ready right now, while Gentry has the better long-term potential. For better or worse, watching Gentry’s film reminded me of Utah quarterback Travis Wilson.

This gives Michigan eight commits in the 2015 class, and Gentry follows defensive end Reuben Jones as the only two guys (so far) to commit to Jim Harbaugh. Word has spread that Harbaugh could very well go after two quarterbacks in each class, and this starts off that trend with a bang. Five of the eight commits are offensive players. According to the Bentley Historical Library, this is just the second Michigan commit out of New Mexico in over a hundred years, with just defensive tackle Alan Branch coming out of Rio Rancho (NM) Cibola in that time.

TTB Rating: 84 (ratings explanation)

24Jan 2015
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Official Visitors: January 23-25, 2015

Gainesville (GA) Gainesville
cornerback Chris Williamson

Markel Bush – CB – Delray Beach (FL) American Heritage: Bush is a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He tweeted out that he would be taking an official visit to Michigan, so despite the lack of offers, apparently Michigan is pretty serious about recruiting him. On the plus side, Michigan has not used many of their official visits with such an in-flux season and off-season, plus a small recruiting class in general. So they’re in a position to host a few more visitors at this point and take some more risks than a lot of schools.

Nate Dalton – CB – Houston (TX) Cypress Falls: Dalton is a 6’2″, 185 lb. prospect who picked up an offer from Michigan earlier this week. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #89 cornerback, and #1014 overall. He has taken visits to Oklahoma, Kentucky, and and Arkansas, and he’ll be in Ann Arbor this weekend. He had 4 picks this past season and is a physical kid who could also play safety. UPDATE: Dalton is no longer planning to visit.

Zach Gentry – QB – Albuquerque (NM) Eldorado: Gentry is a 6’7″, 230 lb. prospect who has been committed to Texas since last May. Texas is also pursuing 5-star quarterback Kyler Murray, and that – combined with Jim Harbaugh’s reputation – is causing Gentry to explore his options. When I did scouting reports on 2015 quarterbacks a year ago, Gentry was #4 on my list (LINK). He’s now a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 pro-style quarterback, and #176 overall.


Reuben Jones – DE – Lakeland (FL) Lake Gibson: Gibson is a 6’3″, 223 lb. prospect who committed to Nebraska in November. He has also visited Michigan State and Louisville. Jones is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #45 strongside end, and #780 overall. Jones does not sound likely to stick with his commitment to the Cornhuskers. He is coached by former Michigan offensive guard Ricky Barnum, but considering the regime change, there aren’t many connections remaining between Barnum and the current staff.

Will Lockett – CB – Manvel (TX) Manvel: Lockett is a 6’0″, 182 lb. prospect who committed to UCLA in August. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #77 cornerback, and #849 overall. As a senior this past season, he made 48 tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions (1 for a touchdown), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 9 pass breakups. He claims a 34″ vertical and a 4.5 forty. Harbaugh secured a visit after visiting his school on Tuesday.

Hit the jump for a few more visitors.


Joshua McMillon – LB – Memphis (TN) Whitehaven: McMillon is a 6’3″, 239 lb. prospect who committed to Alabama last August. Michigan was in his top two but the Crimson Tide won out. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #14 outside linebacker, and #231 overall. UPDATE: About six hours after scheduling his visit, McMillon canceled the visit and said he’s “solid to Alabama.”

Jake Pickard – TE – Millburn (NJ) Millburn: Pickard is a 6’6″, 231 lb. prospect who committed to Wisconsin last July; he also has offers from Nebraska, Oregon, Rutgers, Syracuse, and several others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #58 tight end, and #1248 overall. Pickard was angling for a Michigan offer early in his recruitment, and he got one in the middle of this week, setting up an official visit immediately. Pickard could play tight end, defensive end, offensive tackle, or even defensive tackle in college, depending on how his body fills out.


Matt Snyder – TE – San Ramon (CA) California: Snyder is a 6’5″, 245 lb. prospect who committed to Nebraska in late December. He had been committed to head coach Mike Riley at Oregon State since October, but Riley moved from Beaverton to Lincoln after the season, and Snyder followed him. Snyder is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #28 tight end, and #820 overall. Snyer has good size and decent straight-line speed and looks like a decent tight end prospect but not an absolute game-changer. While Harbaugh is a wizard with tight ends, Riley did some good things at Oregon State; starting tight end Connor Hamlett had 104 catches, 1109 yards, and 10 touchdowns over the past three seasons. This is Snyder’s only other official visit he’s taking, so it appears the only team with a chance to flip him is Michigan.

Nolan Ulizio – OT – West Chester (OH) Lakota West: Ulizio is a 6’6″, 280 lb. prospect who committed to UConn in mid-December; he also has offers from Cincinnati and Kentucky. He’s a 247 Composite 2-star, the #222 offensive tackle, and #2326 overall. Michigan is obviously his biggest offer and he was very excited about it, so he might be the most likely to flip this weekend.


Reagan Williams – FB – Jackson (OH) Jackson: Williams is a 6’3″, 232 lb. prospect who committed to Stanford last July. He took his official visit to Stanford this past weekend and was offered by the Wolverines during that visit. Williams is being looked at as a middle linebacker by some schools, but Michigan wants him working out of the backfield. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #3 inside linebacker, and #690 overall. Williams visited Michigan a couple times prior to committing to Stanford, so the interest is not new.


Chris Williamson – CB – Gainesville (GA) Gainesville: Williamson is a 6’1″, 190 lb. prospect who has visited or will visit Cal, North Carolina, and Florida. Auburn also swooped in with a recent offer, and he’s heavily considering the Tigers. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #56 athlete, and #610 overall. Williamson could fill several roles in college, including corner, safety, wide receiver, and returner.