Tag: Zeke Berry

Transfer Portal Shopping List

The transfer portal opens up on Tuesday, April 16, and lots of schools are going to be shopping. With spring games out of the way for many programs – and Michigan’s coming up this Saturday – we’re enough of the way through spring ball to be aware of some roster deficiencies going into the fall.

Here are the top three positions Michigan should be looking for in the transfer portal prior to August camp:

1. QUARTERBACK
I know there are some big Alex Orji fans out there, but . . . I’m not one of them. At least not yet. Orji was a project coming out of high school, and in his second season in a Michigan uniform, he did not attempt a single pass. Yes, he can run at 6’3″ and 236 pounds (15 carries, 86 yards, 1 touchdown in 2023), but I’m on the record as a Passing QB Enthusiast. While I’m not a proponent of statuesque quarterbacks, championship teams have good passers and decision-makers, not run-first quarterbacks. I don’t think Michigan has the roster to win an FBS championship in 2024, anyway, but I don’t think they’re going to hit their ceiling without finding a quarterback who can pass the ball efficiently. Some of the big names have already found a new home, but perhaps the Wolverines can find the 2024 version of Jake Rudock, a solid passing quarterback who led Michigan to ten wins back in 2015. Others in the running are seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle and redshirt sophomore Jayden Denegal, but Tuttle had shoulder surgery and Denegal needs some polish since he’s not quite as dangerous as a runner as Orji.

Hit the jump for more.

2023 Season Countdown: #43 Zeke Berry

Name: Zeke Berry
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 192 lbs.
High school: Concord (CA) De La Salle
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last year: I ranked Berry #79 and said he would be a backup safety (LINK). He played in two games and made 1 tackle for loss.
TTB Rating: 82

Zeke Berry flipped from Arizona to Michigan in the 2022 class. An athletic safety prospect, he was a player who could have played corner or safety. It appears that Michigan settled on safety, at least for the time being, and he got a couple cracks at playing last season. Fortunately, Michigan had solid depth at the position, which allowed Berry to maintain his redshirt.

He will get a chance to contribute a little more in 2023. R.J. Moten transferred to Florida once it became apparent that he couldn’t put a stranglehold on a starting job, leaving Rod Moore and Makari Paige to start at safety. Other contenders to play this season include Quinton Johnson, Keon Sabb, and Berry. I think Berry is probably the most athletic of the three, but Johnson is more experienced and Sabb has the size advantage, while Berry is still pretty small at 5’11” and 192 lbs. (down from a listed 6’0″, 195 last year). Johnson should be gone after this season, and there’s some talk that Moore might leave for the NFL, so it will be important for the coaching staff to get some experience for Berry and Sabb, who should both have a great opportunity to play in 2024.

Prediction: Backup safety

2022 Season Countdown: #79 Zeke Berry

Name: Zeke Berry
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Concord (CA) De La Salle
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Berry was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 25 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception.
TTB Rating: 82

Berry was a huge get for the Michigan program when he committed to the Wolverines in December. A solid 4-star prospect (he ended up at #171 in the 247 Composite), he was chosen for the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl. He also received offers from Oregon, UCLA, and USC, and frankly, I’m surprised he didn’t get more national offers from SEC, ACC, and Big 12 offers. It’s hard to say an All-American and top-200 player was flying under the radar, but his offer list doesn’t match his considerable talent.

I’ve seen some talk that Berry could be a nickel/outside linebacker prospect – perhaps a Viper in Don Brown’s defense – but I think that might be diminishing Berry’s skill set. To me he’s an every down player in the long run. He’s simply too fast, too aggressive, and too physical to make him a sub package player. I think he will be good down the road, but he didn’t enroll early and may take some time to adjust to college. Based on his film, he’s a guy who should be in consideration to start by year two.

Prediction: Backup defensive back

How Does the 2022 Class Match Up with Michigan’s All-Time Recruits?

Thanks to Ashley, Eric, Joe, and Stephen for the recent Paypal donations.

As much as we like to get excited about every single Michigan recruit, it’s important to keep perspective and realize that not every one of these players will be destined for stardom. This exercise can give us a range of what to expect from some of these players, even though star rankings can be very wrong.

Will Johnson – CB – Grosse Pointe (MI) South
2022 ranking: #14
Historical ranking: tied for #9 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: S Daxton Hill (2019) and DE LaMarr Woodley (2003)
Closest positional comparisons: Jabrill Peppers (#3 in 2014) and Donovan Warren (#27 in 2007)

Derrick Moore – DE – Baltimore (MD) St. Francis
2022 ranking: #49
Historical ranking: tied for #37 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: OG Kyle Kalis (2012) and RB Ty Isaac (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Pierre Woods (#43 in 2001) and Luiji Vilain (#56 in 2017)

Keon Sabb – S – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
2022 ranking: #84
Historical ranking: #64 all-time at Michigan
Flanked by: OT Cory Zirbel (#83 in 2005) and #87 Kyle Bosch (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Michael Williams (#72 in 2007) and Demar Dorsey (#87 in 2010)

Hit the jump for more.

Zeke Berry, Wolverine

Concord (CA) De La Salle safety Zeke Berry committed to Michigan on Friday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, and USC, among others.

Berry is listed at 6’0″ and 195 lbs. He claims a 4.55 forty.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #33 CB, #283 overall
On3: 4-star, 96 grade, #3 S, #59 overall
Rivals: 3-star CB, 5.6 grade
247 Sports: 4-star, 94 grade, #8 S, #64 overall

Hit the jump for more on Berry’s commitment.