2011 Michigan Football Recruiting Board

Be sure to read the official mgoblog recruiting philosophy before committing suicide over anything you read here.

A Note on "Stars": These are my guesstimates. Players don't have stars associated with them yet. When the recruiting services add them I'll adjust my ratings. Half-stars appear to provide some additional accuracy. Generally a 4.5 star is a guy solidly in the top 100 on Scout/Rivals/ESPN and really highly rated by one. A 3.5 star is either a guy who is is a 3 on one site and a 4 on the other or a four-star that no one seems particularly excited about.

A Note on Premium Info: No illicit sharing of said material will appear on this site. Players are listed with interested schools in their profiles; this information is public. Commitments are by definition public. Any assertions as to schools in the mix, decision dates, or leaders I will back up with links to public information.

Projected Class Size:

Total: Michigan has 14 to give right now and will probably see that swell to around 20 with normal attrition. More detail on the scholarship situation can be found at the depth chart by class.

The Board

Legend:

Icon	Name	Meaning
	Sad Josh	The genre of player with unrequited interest in Michigan. Unlikely to receive offers; most will eventually fade off the list and go to Duke or Michigan State or something.
	Nefarious Eduardo	Player is a longshot. Either they've declared someone else a leader publicly or popular opinion holds that they're likely to go to another school.
	Data	Either no opinion or Michigan is one of a fairly even group of chasing schools. Players in this category maintain no leader or change their leader frequently. The default category for players that we don't know much about yet.
	Happy Teeth	Players who have Michigan in a small leading group or have Michigan as a tenuous favorite. Should be regarded as a good shot, not a slam dunk.
	Mr. Blue	Player is either a verbal or is expected to be one sooner or later. Players with this designation are 65%+ to be Michigan commits.

Additional note: (EE) next to a Michigan commit indicates the player intends to enroll early.

Quarterback

Needs: Minor. Michigan has three 4-star QBs in the past two classes, plus another 3-star in Conelius Jones. HOWEVA, the offense requires a number of (healthy) QBs on the roster, so another top-rated guy would do just fine, thank you. Barring that, a couple lesser-rated guys who can be given a shot at QB then moved to a different position if it doesn't work out are the goal.

Status: Michigan has offered a few guys very early in the process. I'd be surprised if they landed a top guy, unless they hid the depth chart from him.

Projected Commits: 1.5

Quarterback

Commitments
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Braxton Miller	OH	****.5	OSU, M, Cincinnati,OSU,OSU		Likes Michigan a bit, but is considered all but a mortal lock to Ohio State. His dad doesn't want him in an offense where he'd "have to run around all the time." For the record, Terrelle Pryor has more rushes than Forcier through 5 games. Teammate of the Talbott brothers. Paul and I scouted in August.
Christian LeMay	NC	*****	UF, M, UNC, others		Not a runner who can throw so much as a true QB with wheels. Will probably be the nation's top 2011 QB. Probably Florida's to lose. He has camped at M, and been offered.
Unoffered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Teddy Bridgewater	FL	*****	Miami, UF, FSU, Bama, M, UGa		The Christian Green of 2011, he's a talented QB that would rather play wideout in college. That means Michigan is likely out of luck unless they can convince him he has a future at QB.
Everett Golson	SC	***.5	UNC leads the field		UNC might be a prohibitive favorite. He's the perfect "maybe QB, but we can switch him later" sort of guy.
Ashton Broyld	NY	***	Maryland, Pitt, M		Visited for M summer camp in 2009. Might be more of a big dropback type than a true dual-threat.
Josh Grady	FL	***	open		Traveled to Ann Arbor in his pre-junior summer.
Chris Brown	CA	***	M, USC, UCLA, West Coast		Teammate of 2010 safety prospect Sean Parker. He's a high school QB that could play as an athlete in college (perfect for M's situation).
Jake Thompson	MI	**.5	M, MSU, MAC schools		Probably not worthy of a scholarship offer. Michigan will probably give him a chance to be a preferred walkon though. Listed as both a 2010 and 2011 prospect, not sure which is accurate.

Running Back / Fullback

Needs: Miniscule. Michigan is taking a bunch of guys in the 2010 class, and though they graduate 3 after 2009, there is nobody whose eligibility will expire following the 2010 season. They'll take 1 versatile speedy guy, and who knows after that.

Status: Demetrius Hart sounds like a Locky McLockerstein. We'll have to see if they keep offering guys in the case he actually commits.

Projected Commits: 1 RB, 1 FB?

Commitments
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Demetrius Hart	FL	****.5	M has a cavernous lead on the rest of the field		Has repeatedly said he'll eventually commit to Michigan. Game visitor in 2008 and 2009. Friends with former teammate Ricardo Miller. Coach doesn't want offers to distract him. Video. More video, this one kinda crappy. Player of the year candidate.
Unoffered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Aaron Green	TX	*****	Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, others		One of the nation's top backs. Speedy guy with exceptional quickness. Older brother plays at Nebraska.
Javares McRoy	FL	****	open		Speedy little guy. Track star. Friends with Marvin Robinson and co.
Justice Hayes	MI	****	M, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern		Northwestern is his only early offer. Top instate RB in 2011. Grew up a State fan, but is a better fit for the M offense.
Trayion Durham	OH	***	OSU, Cincy, M		A bigger back. If Michigan took him, it might be for a defensive switch.
Jamal Abrams	MI	***	open		One of the top true running backs in the state.

Wide Receiver

Needs: Low, depending on position changes from the 2010 class. With 5 wide receivers currently committed for 2010, they can't need too many more, even if a couple make a switch.

Status: Arnett is considered a Michigan lean, but there

Projected Commits: 2. Maybe one inside guy and one outside guy?

Now blowin' up with offers.

Wide Receiver

Commitments
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
DeAnthony Arnett	MI	****	M, MSU, EMU, Tenn, Florida, others		#2 instate 2011 prospect. Considered an early Michigan lean, but he claims to be open. I talked to him in August. 3 official offers.
Jarvis Landry	LA	****	LSU, Oklahoma, M, others		Michigan offered shortly after September 1, '09.
Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Tacoi Sumler	FL	****.5	FSU, WVU, Tulane, MIss, Iowa		Prototypical tiny speedy slot guy. Mother is a teacher so "academics are important" may actually mean something.
AJ Jordan	OH	****	OSU, M, others		Top WR in Ohio, that probably means he's OSU's to lose. A big outside WR, he has Michigan's Trotwood-Madison connection.
Ashton Gaines	MI	***	open		A big instate prospect. How many WRs does Michigan need?
Willie Snead IV	MI	***	M, others		Son of Muskegon Heights coach Willie Snead. A high school QB who is probably a WR at the next level.
Jermal Hosley	MI	***	M, MSU, others		Visited Michigan a couple times in 2009 season. A member of the Highland Park team that I saw Devin Gardner make fools of, and he didn't really impress me. Top 12 instate guy.

Tight End

Needs: Small. 0 if the Wolverines pick up a TE in the 2010 class.

Status: Eh.

Projected Commits: 0-1.

Tight End

Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Jay Rome	GA	****	M, UGa, others		Michigan offered as soon as they could on September 1.
Unoffered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Kelvin Benjamin	FL	****	FSU, Miami, WVU, others		In high school, he's a monstrously large wide receiver. In college, he could be a pass-catching threat at TE.

Offensive Line

Needs: High. It's looking like Michigan is going to mostly strike out on their targets in the 2010 class, with the obvious exception of Christian Pace (and there's always the possibility of picking up a sleeper or two). High-potential guys who will take longer to see the field should be OK with Michigan's good 2008 and 2009 OL classes.

Status: Zettel is considered a lock if he's offer-worthy, other than that, Michigan will probably have its work cut out for a good OL class.

Projected Commits: 3-4.

Commitments
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Christian Westerman	AZ	*****	USC, ASU, UCLA, M, others		Offered. Basically everyone is chasing this guy. He's pretty close to where Lewan and Roh are from, but I don't think he knows those guys.
Tyler Moore	FL	*****	Nebraska commit, UF, OSU, ND, others		He's committed to be a Husker, but his dad said that commitment might not be a final decision. M offer. Wolverines outside his top 4.
Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Cyrus Kouandjio	MD	****.5	MD, others		M briefly recruited his brother, Arie, along with the entire DeMatha High School Class of 2010 (Seniors Rule!).
Aundrey Walker	OH	****	OSU, others		Expected by many to end up better than Marcus Hall (Glenville c'09). Michigan will likely never land a Glenville kid that OSU wants.
Kairo Holts	IN	****	open		From the traditionally-loaded Warren Central program.
Trey Pettis	FL	****	UF, others		A top tackle prospect in Florida.
Aaron Kramer	MA	***.5	open		Camped at M in summer '09, but his father is a Notre Dame alum. He's a tackle prospect.
Anthony Zettel	MI	***	M, MSU, others		A lifelong M fan, he's been to most home games in 2009. If he's offer-worthy, there's a good chance he ends up in blue. Strictly an interior OL prospect.
Bryan Bell	MI	***	MSU, M others		Grew up an M fan, but hasn't heard from them as much as from MSU and the like. Tackle prospect. Top 12 instate.
Willie Beavers	MI	***	open		Tackle prospect. Top 12 instate.

Defensive Tackle

Needs: Moderate, depending on Michigan's ability to land a second one in the 2010 class.

Status: Nobody favors M, but there are a couple offers out there to top prospects.

Projected Commits: 1-2.

Committed Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Tim Jernigan	FL	****.5	UF, M, FSU, UNC		Michigan was one of his first offers, in the spring of 2009. He's one of the top DTs in the 2011 class.
Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Kevin McReynolds	DC	****	M, Big Ten, others		Visited Michigan in summer 2009, and has professed a love for the Big Ten.
Ben Duffie	OH	***.5	open		He's performed well at combines and such, so he may become a serious prospect down the road.
Donte Phillips	WI	**.5	M, Wisc, others		He grew up a Michigan fan, but the Wolverines haven't come calling in fall 2009.

Defensive End

Needs: High. Need pass rushers.

Status: Michigan doesn't look as good as I'd hope for OH DE Steve Miller. With everyone else, they're on a level playing field, as far as I know.

Projected Commits: 2.

Defensive Ends

Commitments
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Steve Miller	OH	****.5	OSU, M, MSU, others		Offered, but OSU really leads. Probably the top prospect in Ohio (if it's not QB Braxton Miller).
Jalen Grimble	NV	****	open		M has offered. I believe his older brother is a 2010 commit to USC.
Chris Rock	OH	***.5	M, OSU, others		M has offered. Grew up an Ohio State fan.
Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Jermauria Rasco	LA	****.5	LSU, others		An elite, elite pass rusher. The hometown Tigers are probably the favorite.
BJ Dubose	FL	****	UF, USF, Miami, others		Currently undersized, but he has the frame to grow. No early word on favorites. "One to watch."
Nathan Hughes	TX	****	TX, others		A top prospect in Texas, which probably means a lock for the 'Horns. From the same high school as Terrence Robinson and Mark Ortmann.
Kenny Hayes	OH	****	OSU commit, M, others		Committed to Ohio State, but hails from Kevin Koger's high school. One of Ohio's top juniors.
Sascha Craig	PA	***.5	OSU, M, Pitt, PSU		From Monroeville Gateway, a former M pipeline that has been kind to OSU of late. Could also be an MLB.

Linebacker

Needs: High. Michigan has filled the past couple classes with bodies, but not elite players who are natural to the linebacker position. Let's get some of those, K?

Status: If Michigan doesn't land one of Trey DePriest or Lawrence Thomas (or other options that are similarly-rated), I'll be a little disappointed.

Projected Commits: 2.

Commitments
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Trey DePriest	OH	****.5	OSU, M, Cincy, others		Grew up an M fan, but the Buckeyes have an iron curtain around that state, so who knows? One of the top juniors in Ohio. M has offered. Will take his time deciding.
Lawrence Thomas	MI	****	MSU, M, UF, PSU		He's been offered, but MSU is the heavy favorite, despite his childhood fandom of the Wolverines. Top instate guy.
James Wilder	FL	****	UF, Miami, WVU, M		M offered on September 1st.
Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Arrington Jenkins	FL	*****	Miami, UF, others		MLB prospect who may have the ability to grow into a weakside DE. One of Florida's top prospects.
Anthony Wallace	TX	****	TX, OU, M, others		A top LB in Texas, he's a teammate of 2010 Michigan commit Tony Drake.
Keith Lewis	FL	***.5	open		Has M in a super-early top 5.
James Lucas	OH	***	open		HS teammate of Jerald Robinson. A high school WR/LB who might be a linebacker at the next level.
Quentin Gause	NY	***	open		Interested in everyone, but has specifically mentioned M as a school he'd like to hear from.
Dwight Trammer	MI	***	M, others		From the emerging Inkster pipeline. Rod Smith was scouting him earlier this year.

Safety

Needs: Moderate. Elite guys would be great. Michigan's safety situation is fluid with several position switches possible among current players.

Status: Michigan has a few offers out, and could be in the mix for some serious players.

Projected Commits: 2.

Safety

Commits
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Karlos Williams	FL	*****	UF, Bama, ND, OSU, M, others		He's been offered by Michigan and just about everyone else. It'll be a tough land. He also plays WR in high school.
Ron Tanner	OH	****	OSU, M others		Visited M in fall 2009 and enjoyed himself. Apparently offered at that time.
Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Sheroid Evans	TX	*****	Texas, A&M, Baylor, LSU, M		From the alma mater of Brandon Herron, Troy Woolfolk, and Darryl Stonum. A top-top safety with speed to burn.
Jabari Gorman	FL	****	UF, Miami, Oregon, M		A speedy, slightly undersized player. Likes the Florida schools early.
Pat Martin	SC	***.5	SC, M, others		Visited Michigan in summer 2009. From the same high school as JT Floyd.
Jeremy Cash	FL	***.5	Wisc, Neb, UL, M, BC, others		A good-sized safety who could grow into a linebacker. High school teammate of Vlad Emilien.
LaQuentin Smith	FL	***.5	M, FSU, CoSt, others		Former teammate of Ricardo Miller, current teammate of Demetrius Hart. A Michigan offer may be coming soon.

Cornerback

Needs: Low-to-moderate. Michigan has taken a ton of corners in the past couple classes. They might take some S/CB hybrid types though.

Status: With Greg Brown already committed, it could be a situation where Michigan doesn't accept any commits (except from top guys) until the end.

Projected Commits: 2.

Commitments
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Greg Brown	OH	***.5	Michigan		Committed to Michigan shortly after receiving his official offer in September '09.
Offered Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Delonte Hollowell	MI	***.5	M, MSU, others		The latest in a long line of little corners to come out of Cass Tech. Michigan and CMU are his only offers, and he currently favors M.
Doran Grant	OH	***.5	OSU, M, MSU, others		St. Vincent-St. Mary has been friendly to OSU in the past. Would Michigan even want a bunch of smaller corners in this class? Offered. M visit in fall '09.
Prospects
Name	State	Stars	Schools	Y/N	Notes
Demetrious Nicholson	VA	****	open		Has said he wants to hear more from M.

Kickers

Needs: Very low. Freshman starters at both specialist positions.

Projected commits: 0.

Projected Commits: 0, though if someone wants to walk on they'll take him.

A reminder: the Star Scale for Rumor Credibility.

• 0-star: incoherent ravings.
• 1-star: clearly biased speculation without backing.
• 2-star: Some guy saying something on some board that claims insider info due to a chance occurence.
• 3-star: Information from someone less established as an insider but a frequent poster who seems sane and useful.
• 4-star: recognized insider-type person with no ax to grind who has established his bonafides on past recruits.
• 5-star: actually verified by an article and a quote from the player, a family member, or a coach.

So. Cutoff is two stars... sometimes three. Played by feel. In the future there will be denotations as follows:

UV: the information in sum(star rating).

Links will be provided so you can judge for yourself; posts that will fall into the memory hole will be copied for posterity.