Wednesday Recruitin' 6-9-10
2011 Michigan Football Recruiting Board.
Assume The Position: Quarterback
With a few targets coming off the board over the past couple weeks (most recently FL QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was never actually offered), we have a little more clarity on what the coaching staff will do with the quarterback position in this recruiting class. First things first: It's obvious that they want one. I don't think they'll be freaking out if they don't land a signal-caller, but they're aiming for one. This might mean a position switch for 2010 commit Conelius Jones earlier than fans expected.
First, let's take a look at offered prospects who remain on the board:
NC QB Marquise Williams (pictured at right)
6-3, 215, 4.7 [Video]
NR Rivals, 4* (#17 QB) Scout, 4* 79 (#13 QB) ESPN, #25 Overall (#5 QB) Tom Lemming.
Williams may be the best system fit for Michigan among the offered guys, and the Wolverines are in his top group, guaranteed an official visit. North Carolina seems to be the strongest competition at this point. He plans a Michigan official visit for the MSU game.
OH QB Cardale Jones
6-5, 220, 4.9 [Video]
NR Rivals, 3* (#31 QB) Scout, 3* 79 (#17 QB) ESPN.
Though, as a Glenville product, he is probably inclined to pick Ohio State, he told Tom that he actually grew up a Michigan fan. He also couldn't play QB in Columbus:
The Buckeyes are done at QB for 2011. The Buckeyes may end up adding Glenville's Cardale Jones to this recruiting class, but if they do it won't be as a quarterback.
He has many options outside of Michigan (including the Spartans, and even Penn State), so no Buckeye offer doesn't necessarily push him toward Ann Arbor.
FL QB Jerrard Randall
6-2, 190, 4.5 [Video]
4* 5.8 Rivals, 3* (#19 QB) Scout, 4* 80 (#8 QB) ESPN.
Randall, a teammate of FL WR Curt Evans and S Jonathan Aiken, is one of the longer shots among the guys already holding offers, along with Hundley. The Chaminade-Madonna trio seems to be very hot-and-cold on Michigan - and they all appear to like Ohio State much more than the Wolverines. It seems, however, that Columbus is not longer an option for Randall.
AZ QB Brett Hundley
6-4, 210, 4.7 [Video]
4* 5.8 (#216 Overall) Rivals, 4* (#5 QB) Scout, 4* 81 (#5 QB) ESPN, #40 Overall (#4 QB) Sporting News.
I hadn't realized he's an Arizona legacy. He's more of an athletic pocket guy than a true dual-threat, but he can move. Michigan will have to fight with a number of top programs for his signature, especially West Coast teams.
...And then there are a few guys who aren't holding offers, but could be receiving one down the road, including FL QB Kevin Sousa, who's been openly hoping for one.
Receivin'
Last week, Sam Webb talked wide receiver recruiting in the Detroit News, and this week he follows that up with a look at three more prospects looking to fill that second outside spot in the Michigan recruiting class. We'll start with OH WR Devin Smith:
"Smith shows all the things you want from a young receiver projected to become a big-time player," said Scout.com Ohio analyst Dave Berk. "It's the deep routes where Smith can really excel, as he's got the quickness to elude and accelerate with a burst to separate from a defender and release deep." ...
"Most of the college coaches have told me they like the way I come off the ball, the way I use my explosiveness and quickness," he told Scout.com. "My route running is pretty good. Most of all, the way I attack the football in the air (is really good). I make sure that thing is mine and only mine. I'll fight any defensive back for the football."
The former teammate of JT Turner plans to take all of his official visits before coming to a final decision. Moving along to FL WR Ja'Juan Story (at right):
"The first thing that jumps out at you about Story is the way he's built," said Scout.com Florida analyst Mike Bakas. "At 6-4 and close to 200 pounds already, he has the look of a major Division I receiver right now. He's a mismatch nightmare at this level because of his size. Unfortunately for him, his team doesn't throw the ball a whole lot, so he really hasn't been able to dominate games at this level like his talent level indicates. He's a playmaker, though, who has found other ways to make a difference. He's not a speed burner, but is plenty fast enough and has good enough ball skills to be a major BCS-caliber prospect."
Story wants to major in sports medicine, which should help Michigan out. Webb also had a Story update on GoBlueWolverine, and Michigan is "gaining ground" ($, info in header). Finally, SC WR Hakeem Flowers is also a candidate for that spot:
"Physically, Hakeem Flowers has all the tools to be a top-flight prospect," said Scout.com South Carolina analyst Kerry Fair. "College coaches will love his height and athleticism. Hakeem is also a track star and he shows that speed on the football field as well, especially considering his long stride and top end speed."
Flowers hopes to get to Ann Arbor over the summer.
Happy Trails
...The Receivin' category segues nicely into Happy Trails, as one of the fine young gentlemen featured in last week's receiver update is now off the board.
MI WR DeAnthony Arnett has released a top six without Michigan, and says he will now consider only seven schools, including USC, Cal, Oklahoma, MSU, Tennessee, Iowa, and seventh-place Miami (Yes That Miami). Arnett told Tom that he likes Michigan, but thinks the only college spread that will get him to the NFL is found in Norman, Oklahoma. Percy Harvin and Arrelious Benn couldn't be reached for comment. For the whole scoop, check out DeAnthony Arnett Top 6.
OH QB Braxton Miller's commitment to Ohio State doesn't mean that OH LB Trey DePriest is necessarily bound for the Buckeyes as well. Still, he missed the last several UM recruiting events, and has narrowed his list to Ohio State, Alabama, and Florida.
A number of prospects come off the board because they committed to other schools:
- FL QB Teddy Bridgewater to Miami (as mentioned above).
- FL RB Mike Bellamy to Clemson.
- IN DT Joel Hale to Ohio State.
- MD DT Vincent Croce to Virginia.
- PA LB Ben Kline to Pitt.
Some of this stuff will help with paring down the list to 70 or so serious prospects.
Future Visits, Near And Far
AZ OL Andre Yruretagoyena has scheduled his Michigan official visit ($, info in header), and according to The Wolverine Blog, that will be for the Michigan State game. Though Michigan has a number of factors working in its favor for his recruitment (including his closeness to Taylor Lewan, and the fact that he likes playing in the cold), it's not all sunshine and roses - Andre likes the Pac-10 the most.
OH OL Ryan Kelly plans to visit Michigan again this summer, according to a VolNation article.
Ryan has already been active with visits, and has several more planned for this summer. “Well I’m 20 minutes from Cincinnati so distance wise that one works out. I will visit Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and Florida State all within a month period. I’m also hoping to go to Michigan again as well. I’ve already visited Purdue, Indiana, Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Alabama.”
Michigan is the only school that he's already visited that is in for a repeat trip, which is a positive sign. The Under Armour All-American hopes to commit before his senior year, but is not set on that timeframe.
FL DT Tim Jernigan is still mentioning Michigan in his top group, and says he wants to visit Ann Arbor sometime this summer.
Spring game: Tim Jernigan interview from Michael Langston on Vimeo.
Rod Smith and Rich Rodriguez are his primary contacts in Ann Arbor.
PA DE Desimon Green, who has been close to an offer for a while, received that offer last week. He plans to use an official visit to check out Ann Arbor during the football season.
OH LB Sean Duggan grew up a Wisconsin fan ($, info in header). According to Tom, he'll visit Michigan this week.
Last week, we learned that GA CB Avery Walls plans to take an official visit to Michigan. A midseason commitment ($, info in header) would keep the Wolverines fresh in his mind at decision time.
Other
IN RB Remound Wright has picked up a verbal Michigan offer, and plans a summer decision ($, info in header). There's an MGoBoard thread with a little more info on him, including the tidbit that his dad is a Michigan fan, from Indiana Wolverine.
ESPN.com's Steve Wiltfong embarks on an in-depth profile of MI RB Justice Hayes (pictured at right), comparing him to another Flint-area running back - reigning Heisman winner Mark Ingram. His top list is surprising, given that he'd recently seemed to cool on Michigan:
Four years later, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Hayes is one of the most sought-after recruiting targets in the Midwest. Iowa, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee make up the four-star prospect's top four, with Michigan State and Northwestern still strongly in the mix.
I wonder whether the author of the article inadvertently switched the Spartans and Wolverines. However, since the Wolverines may be strongly back in the picture, let's take a look at his game:
"The way he starts and stops is phenomenal," said Delaney, who has been at Grand Blanc for 18 seasons. "He makes people miss with that side-to-side stuff, and he goes from stop to full speed very quickly. But probably the best thing is his hands out of the backfield. He catches the ball better than any kid I've ever had out of the backfield, and that includes Mark Ingram, who had great hands. Justice runs great routes out of the backfield, and hardly ever drops the ball."
I still think Hayes will only end up in Michigan's class if FL RB Demetrius Hart opts to go elsewhere.
CA WR Desman Carter is hearing from Michigan.
NJ Ath/WR Miles Shuler now holds a Florida offer. He is also the second-fastest high schooler in New Jersey history.
Michigan, Pitt, and Florida are the favorites for NJ TE Taques Franklin (H/T On the Banks).
I added (unoffered) MI TE Nate Dreslinski, who impressed at Michigan's camp and seems to be interested in the Wolverines.
Michigan leads for MI OL Anthony Zettel ($, info in header), but his Penn State offer came through late last week, so that might shake up his leaderboard. He told ESPN he wants to visit the remainder of his top six schools that he hasn't yet seen. He won the State Championship in shotput over the weekend.
MI OL Jake Fisher is starting to gain some D-1 interest. He reportedly impressed at Michigan's Elite Camp, so keep an eye on him.
SC DT Phillip Dukes plans to visit Michigan. The Wolverines currently stand in about his #6 spot.
Though there are some positive signs for Michigan in the recruitment of NC LB Kris Frost, he's still visiting Auburn on what seems like a regular basis ($, info in header).
MD S/WR Brandon Phelps has apparently been offered by Michigan, to go along with tenders from the likes of LSU, Notre Dame, and Alabama.
Etc.
MI WR Commit Shawn Conway may have trouble being eligible to play high school ball this fall (NOOOOOOOOOOO nearby Friday Night Lights roadtrips jeopardized!), because of a residency issue. Due to a family issue, his high school coach at Seaholm has become his guardian. However, said coach lives outside the Seaholm district, in Clarkston. Conway, then, would have to play for Clarkston - except he would have to sit out the fall semester due to transferring schools. I'll have more on Conway coming soon.
Tom's new weekly recruiting update features AZ OL Andre Yruretagoyena, LA DT Mickey Johnson, MI LB Ed Davis, IN LB Nick Temple, and FL OL Tony Posada. Check it out to get the latest on those prospects.
2012
OH RB William Mahone "came away extremely impressed" with Michigan ($, info in header) after hitting campus for the Wolverines' Elite Camp over the weekend.
This post is totally freaking invalid as it has neither a mention of Demar Dorsey, nor even a tag with his name!!!
Seriously, thanks for giving me something non-Dorsey related to read.
Nice work as always, Tim
"OH LB Sean Duggan grew up a Wisconsin fan..."
I realize Wisconsin football has been solid for many years now, but I've never heard anything like that from an Ohioan. Interesting...
With regard to the RB position, might it be possible to land both Hayes and Hart? I can understand each wanting to be "the man", but it seems like we used to bring in multiple stud RBs each year. Am I just "misremembering" or have things changed in recruiting the position?
We've brought in boatloads of RBs over the past 2+ classes. There's no need for two in this class, and there are much more pressing needs elsewhere, especially in such a small class.
Wow I have always been skeptical of Jernigan's true interest in us. But after watching that video, whenever he was asked to discuss his favorite teams, he always mentioned Michigan first (besides the initial list). Looking too much into, I know, but can't hate me for hoping!
I don't mean to be the harbinger of doom, but I'm almost positive Marquise Williams knows where he wants to go, and it's not Michigan.
The Oregon recruiting guys are also saying Jerrard Randall is going to commit to Oregon on his visit, since Chip Kelly doesn't allow people to commit who haven't visited. I asked him, and he said it's a possibility. I'm not sure if that's 100%.
Yeah, the rumor is that Williams is about ready to commit to UNC. He hasn't said anything publicly, so on the board he stays.
Yeah . . . on the heels of Forcier, Robinson, Gardner, I think Michigan is going to have to accept a commitment from a guy that might not excite the masses . . .
Oh well. I'm not too worried about the QB position right now.
I would be totally OK with landing only Kevin Sousa. As new to the game as he is (he's always been a soccer player and last year was his first on the gridiron), he's all potential right now. He's a bit of a project, but he has the potential to be very good down the road, and Michigan has time to let him develop.
Potential.
Cardale Jones would move to if he ends up at OSU. What do you do with someone who's 6'5" and somewhat slowish 4.9 at 220 lbs.? TE? DE? I wouldn't expect him to get faster putting on weight for a different position.
Tight end is the only position I can think of. He doesn't seem like a DE to me, and I don't think he's fast enough to play receiver.
Either way, I don't really see him getting an OSU offer. They can afford to be picky with how they fill out their class, since they only have 5-6 spots left and it's only June.
Though, as a Glenville product, he is probably inclined to pick Ohio State, he told Tom that he actually grew up a Michigan fan. He also couldn't play QB in Columbus:
The Buckeyes are done at QB for 2011. The Buckeyes may end up adding Glenville's Cardale Jones to this recruiting class, but if they do it won't be as a quarterback.
Is it just me or is it OBVIOUS that OSU would only want Cardale Jones to keep him away from UM? They don't need anymore 2011 QBs, but would still consider taking Cardale. Tressel is a jerk.
Tress would never recruit Jones to "keep him away from UM", TG Sr might push that direction but that's a different story. You don't have to go back very far to see two qb's in the same class, a 5 start and a 3 star "ATH". That 5 star imploded spectacularly. It happens. That said, unless JT has word of a transfer, I don't see the offer coming anytime soon. JT doesn't have a lot of schollys to work with at this point.
If OSU were to offer Cardale Jones just to keep him away from us, I would pray that he commits to them. He would likely do nothing but take up a scholarship, and we don't need him that badly.
"I still think Hayes will only end up in Michigan's class if FL RB Demetrius Hart opts to go elsewhere."
I'm probably reading into this too much... but is this some type of sign that Demetrius is going blue? The last update I remember was that he was stressed out by the recruiting process and was torn between schools. Any info would be much appreciated.
Hart has long been considered a Michigan lean.
The transfer rules for Birmingham high school sports are nowhere near as delineated as described above. From this observer (and onetime beneficiary of this process), the only foolproof way to tell how a decision will come down on a transfer situation is based on "will the player help the team?"
If the answer is yes, then he sits. If the answer is "no" (e.g. when I decided to go to Groves rather than Seaholm, and then went out for the ski team) the answer is "yes."
Things might have changed since 1994 of course. But if they haven't, my own experience is a bad sign for Conway. Having little in the way of athletic talent (I am capable of getting a spoonful of cereal into my mouth without any trouble but beyond that...), never having even played football in Middle School, never attended Seaholm, having very clear non-athletic reasons for the transfer, and transferring within the same district, my application for a waiver was "pending" for all of fall (I didn't push the issue but it was the death-knell to me going out for football as a freshman) and wasn't approved until eary February, very very deep into the Skiing season. The only reason I was able to ski until then was that we had a drunkard, oblivious coach whose sole coaching contribution was setting up the gates before heading back to the Brighton Ski 'Resort' bar, and didn't pay attention to little things like elibility forms (or, fortuitously, the fact that I was bad at skiing).
The only reason it was finally approved was that my family knew the old superintendent (my dad is the guy who makes the call as to whether Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington and a few others have a snow day), and they called with a giant "WTH" after my ski team captain uncovered my eligibility problem.
I can only imagine if a political shitstorm came along with this. Then again, it was also 16 years ago, so I guess I'm just venting 16-year-old crap.
Omigod -- babies who were born when I was in high school are driving now.
Everytime I hear descriptions of Ja'Juan's play I automatically jump to Dez Bryant (minus the extracurricular activities and the Deion connection). Both are tall WR (Story 6'4 Bryant 6'3), both are skinny strong, and both seem in their element when they run15-20 yard routes behind the LBs and in front of the safeties. Neither will blow by the secondary but both will always get 5 yards after the catch and break the first tackle.
Personally I'd much rather have him than Arnett. Put him and Conway out there in the redzone 1 on 1 with 5'10 corners and we wouldn't have to be stopped at the 1 ever again.
I'm really liking how much Tim Jernigan has been taking about us lately. Definitely needs to come up and visit soon so we can pique his interest.
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