The Opening

Good and bad reviews of the Michigan recruits. 

First the bad:

Taco Charlton (Bear Market Award)

This award goes to the player who lowered his stock the most from the camp. While Pickerington (Ohio) Central defensive end Taco Charlton looks the part, he really struggled. He has great size, long arms and he is very athletic. However, he is also very upright, only has an outside move and when coaches tried to teach him misdirection or crossover, he didn't grasp it well at all. He was beaten on almost every 1-on-1 rep he took.

The not so bad:

Shane Morris (Honorable Mention - Tunnel Vision Award)

Honorable mention:Warren (Mich.) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris was clearly one of the top three quarterbacks at the event, but his team was the favorite to win it all with weapons like O.J. Howard, Taquan Mizzell and Ahmad Fulwood. However, his Land Sharks team was eliminated early mainly because Morris focused on one side of the field and locked in on certain players. He has a cannon of an arm and a ton of upside, but his field vision needs to improve.

The Good:

Shane Morris (Spin It Award)

It was very clear that Warren (Mich.) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris had the best arm at the event. He has a cannon of an arm and there's not a throw he can't make. With some of the other quarterbacks showing funky mechanics or not spinning the ball that well, it was fun to see him rear back and let it rip. He has a hose, as they say in the quarterback business.

Also an interesting part on Joe Mathis and his poor attitude.  

http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1383918

The Opening just released the awards for the weekend event. Jourdan Lewis won the Skills Challenge competition, and Lewis and Jake Butt both made the 7on All-Tournament team.

The full list of honors:

RecruitingNation ‏@RecruitingESPN

The all-tourney 7-on-7 team from #TheOpeing: O.J. Howard, Larenz Bryant, Jaylon Smith, Jourdan Lewis, Ryan Green, Max Browne, Jake Butt..

RecruitingNation ‏@RecruitingESPN

(all-tourney continued): Cam Burrows, Matt Thomas, Ryan Switzer and MVP Torii Hunter Jr.

RecruitingNation ‏@RecruitingESPN

#TheOpening offensive line MVP is Denver Kirkland.

RecruitingNation ‏@RecruitingESPN

#TheOpening defensive line MVP is Eddie Vanderdoes.

RecruitingNation ‏@RecruitingESPN

#TheOpening defensive line one-on-one MVP is A'Shawn Robinson.

RecruitingNation ‏@RecruitingESPN

#TheOpening offensive line one-on-one MVP is Ira Denson.

The Opening ‏@TheOpening2012

#Nike+ Skills Challenge Champion goes to Jourdan Lewis (@jourdanjd)

7on All Tournament Team (Jake Butt rocking the M Swag shirt...nice):

Jourdan Lewis with Shane Morris & Laquon Treadwell:

Jourdan Lewis in action:

Jake Butt:

I thought I would start a new thread to discuss the action at the Opening today.

1. 7-on-7 pool play is going on today.  Shane Morris opened on fire today as Land Sharks team rolled over Brice Ramsey's (UGa) squad.

Tom VanHaaren ‏@TomVH

Shane Morris' team RT @RecruitingESPN Land Sharks beat Vapor Carbon, 27-6

Steve Wiltfong ‏@SWiltfong247

Michigan QB commit Shane Morris is on fire in game one. Making all the right throws.

Jake Butt caught the game winning TD as his team (also Mike McCray) won their opener.

The Opening ‏@TheOpening2012

Tyrone Swoopes to Jake Butt as time expires to lift #AlphaTalon over #SuperBad 18-13 #THEOPENING

2. Linemen 1-on-1 took place earlier this morning.  Unfortunately due to HS regulations in MI and OH, David Dawson and Taco Charlton could not participate with pads and had limited reps.  But Taco still got rave reviews:

Chad Simmons ‏@ChadSimmons_

#Michigan commit Taco Charlton is a very athletic DE - quick and long.

Greg Biggins ‏@GregBiggins

Ohio players can't pad up here but Taco Charlton, wearing just a helmet, is one of the quickest ends here #Michigan

247sports: The guys from states where you can't wear pads are going now. Taco Charlton has been dominant.

3. Kyle Bosch went home sick today. Wish we could have seen him participate and hope he gets better soon.

Steve Wiltfong ‏@SWiltfong247

Michigan commit Kyle Bosch headed home from #TheOpening per his family. Illness.

Not sure of the accuracy (Laquon tweeted Shane is his QB the other day.) but Scout has posted a listing of The Opening’s 7on7 rosters: here

M recruits seem to be spilt up:

Shane QB’s the “Land Sharks”.

McQuay, McCray, and Butt are on “Alpha Talon”, QB'd by Swoopes.

Kendall Fuller and Derrick Green are with Cooper Bateman on “Super Bad”.

Laquon is on “Alpha Speed”, QB is Hackenberg.

Jourdan Lewis, Alvin Bailer are with Max Browne on “Field Generals”.

Logan Tuley-Tillman was invited to the Opening yesterday, making it 7 Michigan commits invited (Shane Morris, David Dawson, Taco Charlton, Mike McCray, Jourdan Lewis, Jake Butt, & LTT) and tying it with USC and Florida with most commits invited.  Michigan targets who will also be in attendance: Laquon Treadwell, Kendall Fuller, Leon McQuay III, Alvin Bailey, Paul Harris, & Joe Mathis.

The Opening ‏@TheOpening2012

S/O and congrats to Peoria Manuel (Ill.) OL Logan Tuley-Tillman (@LoganTillman), who was invited to the 2012 #THEOPENING today #Team134

As linked by TomVH's twitter, there are lots of good 1 on 1 drill videos that you can check out featuring many Michigan commits and prospects. 

There's a run blocking 1 on 1, pass rush 1 on 1, RB vs LB, and WR vs DB.

The Michigan interest is mainly in the linemen drills, as we had no commits in the WR or RB video, and no targets with the exception of Dwayne Stanford.

In the linemen drills, however, Mario is small but impressive. He blows by Zach Banner at one point, who is about double his size. Aziz Shittu, Danny O'Brien, and Sheldon Day are other DL that were impressive in the drills. Joshua Garnett, Banner, and Erik Magnuson are the main targets on OL. 

Just some fun videos to check out of some of the best high school players in the country

http://rise.espn.go.com/Football/Videos.aspx?id=121c20dd-0e9d-40f5-bd9f-...