2014 recruiting

This week's scouting report, as promised, is on that one guy whose name is a future Chris Berman abomination: Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers. (LINK)

http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2013/05/scouting-report-jabrill-peppe...

This week's scouting report is on Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson linebacker Chase Winovich.  There seem to be some positive vibes about him as a potential Michigan commitment, although Ohio State and, to a lesser extent, Pitt are also options.  Michigan really needs some more options at the SAM position going forward.

http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2013/05/scouting-report-chase-winovic...

Somebody was going to do this sooner or later, right?  UPDATE: Unfortunately I have run out of time to work on this and was not able to prepare a composite chart; maybe when (i.e. if) I get a chance to update it.  Now with composite chart! UPDATE #2: Arkansas added

Composite Chart

Notre Dame (2014, 2015) – 9 commits, overall star average: 3.83

Utah (2014, 2015) – 5 commits, overall star average: 2.85

Arkansas (2018) – 4 commits, overall star average: 3.31

Brigham Young (2015) – 5 commits, overall star average: 2.6

Cincinnati (2017) – 3 commits, overall star average: 2.42

Hawaii (2016) 4 commits, overall star average: 2.19

Ball State (2016) 2 commits, overall star average: 2.13

Oregon State (2015) 1 commit, overall star average: 2.25

UNLV (2015) 1 commit, overall star average: 2.0

Appalachian State (2014)

                No Commits

Colorado (2016)

                No Commits

N.T. Miami (2014)

                No Commits

Michigan gets a commit and content is a little slow today, so recruiting rankings hit the front page. Plenty of movement this week with Big Ten schools picking up commitments in each of the last eight days. Changes since last rankings:

5-1-13: Rutgers picks up Pete Mokwuah.
5-2-13: Illinois picks up Chayce Crouch.
5-3-13: Penn State picks up Daquan Worley. Northwestern picks up Tommy Doles.
5-6-13: Nothwestern picks up Dareian Watkins.
5-8-13: Nebraska picks up Jason Hall.
5-9-13: Northwestern picks up Auston Anderson. Maryland picks up Johnathan Thomas.
5-10-13: Penn State picks up Marcus Allen and Jared Wangler.
5-11-13: Michigan picks up Lawrence Marshall.
5-12-13: Ohio State picks up Lonnie Johnson.
5-13-13: Michigan State picks up Matt Sokol.
5-14-13: Northwestern picks up Justin Jackson.
5-15-13: Michigan State picks up Chris Frey.

Chart? Chart:

^The average of the average rankings of the four recruiting services (the previous four columns). The figure is calculated based on the raw numbers and then rounded, so the numbers above may not average out exactly.

NOTE: Unranked recruits are counted as two-star players.

On to the full data after the jump.

This week's scouting report is on Southfield (MI) Southfield defensive end Lawrence Marshall.  Marshall is visiting Michigan this weekend, and he has narrowed down his top five schools to include Michigan State and Michigan, the former school being the presumed leader.  In him I see maybe a Craig Roh/Tim Jamison ceiling.

http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2013/05/scouting-report-lawrence-mars...

I'm interested to hear what you guys would like to see as a recruiting class. Here are the rules. I'm going to assume 18 as a class size. Guesses must be realistic. For instance, you can include Peppers or Hand because we have a real shot at them. Putting down something such as, say, Raekwon McMillian is not realistic. Current commits are in bold, along with my hopeful realistic finish. (Ranking is 247 composite)

QB (1): Wilton Speight, 367th overall

This position is done.

RB (1): Kallen Ballage, 454th

Other top option is Jon Hilliman. If the staff can't land one of these two, would they just wait until next year to take another? (Damien Harris, Jaques Patrick, Mike Weber are top 2015 options).

WR (3): Drake Harris, 45th

               Mo Ways, 615th

               Artavis Scott, 75th

I think they look just for one more WR here. KJ Williams and Corey Holmes are other top options, but Scott is the one I most want.

TE (1): Ian Bunting, 301st

This position is done.

OL (3): Mason Cole, 106th

             Juwann Bushell-Beatty, 284th

             Alex Bars, 92nd

Probably looking for one tackle to finish OL recruiting. Jamarco Jones and Rod Johnson are other possible options, though OSU and Mizzou probably currently lead for them.

DL (3): Bryan Mone, 73rd

             Da'Shawn Hand, 2nd

             Malik McDowell, 26th

This has the potential to be a monster year for DL recruiting. I feel like Michigan is 50/50 for Hand and currently leads for McDowell. Hand is probably versatile enough to play either SDE or WDE. McDowell could play SDE or DT. Mone is a NT. Brady Pallante gets moved to the 2015 class on a grayshirt.

EDIT: I forgot to include Lawrence Marshall on the list of potentials. He is visiting soon. I believe he's still an MSU lean, but there's a chance to sway him still.

LB (3): Michael Ferns, 90th

             Kyron Watson, 340th

             Chase Winovich, 551st

Ferns is a MIKE. Watson would be the WILL. Winovich would be the SAM. I believe OSU leads for Winovich, but we'll have a chance to change his opinion this weekend. If not, they'll target another SAM. It remains to be seen if the staff even wants 3 LB's and if they'd even accept Watson's commit if Winovich decided for M. That should be more clear after this weekend.

DB (3): Jabrill Peppers, 4th

              Parrker Westphal, 99th

              Montae Nicholson, 124th ???

Peppers and Westphal seem like good bets to take up the CB spots. Safety is so up in the air, more than any other position in this class. Nicholson seems like a decent bet. Others are bluechip prospects Adoree Jackson (9th) and JuJu Smith (40th). I suppose if DB recruiting goes really, really well, they could take four while only nabbing 2 LB's or 0 RB's.

If that class came to fruition, Michigan would have pulled in two of the top 5, four top 50's, nine top 100's, plus 11 top 150's.

What is everyone else's best guess list?