2014 Scout Recruiting Rankings
The 2014 rankings are out. Malik McDowell is at 15 while Damon Webb comes in at 33. Drake Harris checks in at 39. That's a lot of impressive in state talent. I can't remember a time when Michigan had that many prospects so highly regarded.
Michael Ferns is at 76 and is the #6 MLB
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:55 AM ^
Michael Ferns is at 76 overall and the #6 MLB. Hopefully we can add McDowell and Webb as well.
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^
Harris is 39
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:01 AM ^
Thanks. I changed it and put Ferns in the post as well.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^
Good lord the recruiting arms race is really getting riduculous. I understand watch lists at this point, but lets let these kids at least finish their junior year or something. I wonder if recruiting rankings are going to get less and less predictive with the earlier and earlier evaluations.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
Football recruiting rankings will still be dealing with a problem basketball doesn't have: top football players don't play each other that often in real-world settings. Until that changes, there's going to be an inherent margin of error in them that I'm not sure additional scouting opportunities will make up for.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^
but the recruiting sites have to keep up with the times, so if players from the 2014 class are starting to commit, then the sites are going to want to be able to post information about them. I don't necessarily agree with it, but recruiting is big business these days and competition from the 4 major sites is at an all-time high.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
Cass Tech QB Jayru Campbell got offers from ND, alabama and EMU.....as a sophomore.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
Hell, look at the handful of 8th graders getting verbal offers. There's that David Sills kid who is a 2015 like Campbell and has been committed to USC since February 2010.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
I'm really curious about McDowell. I know he's getting all kinds of big-time looks, but there's not much film on him. I wish we had more to go on, because being the #15 player in the nation is a pretty lofty rating.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
Yeah, I just don't put a lot of stock in camp performances from linemen... Not much film seems to get out from Loyola games.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
Plus, those drills in camps are pretty heavily tilted in favor of the defensive lineman. Life is a lot different with pads and other offensive lineman to deal with.
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
Than say 1-14, or 16-30 or something? Don't know, asking. Because the whole silliness of the game is they have to have someone ranked for each spot, and I wouldn't think there's extensive film on many juniors halfway through their season.
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:21 PM ^
I've seen more film on several of these guys than on McDowell, yes. I'm not sure about all of them, but several.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
Brian Mone, d-lineman from Utah at 111. Was our first 2014 offer.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^
Just don't freak out when, about a year from now, only one of these guys is still in the top 100.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
Eh, I bet about half or more of these guys are still there, whether that is right or wrong of course.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
Check out the wig on WR Kd Cannon..
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
Weird hair, but that kid can play some football. I've been keeping an eye on him for a while...
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:34 PM ^
He has interest in Michigan; we've talked to him a couple times and he's hoping to get an offer. Full intro will be coming relatively soon.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
Interesting that it appears that we have offered only one RB in the Scout 300, and he is all the way down at #27 RB.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
We have offered four running backs in the top 50, I'm not sure what you are referring to.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:44 AM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^
I'd throw Kyle Trout (#99) and Mason Cole (#112) in there, too (among others).
We're in especially good shape with some elite OTs and CBs.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
Dante Booker, St. Vincent-St. Mary's in Akron, OH = #47, #2 OLB (offered)
Nyles Morgan, teammate of Laquon Treadwell at Crete-Monee HS in IL, = #50, #4 MLB. (No offer yet)
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^
You're right, Booker is at #110. 47 is his jersey number. Fail.
October 3rd, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
in order for MIchigan to take any more LB's in 2014, he would have to be a very, very good one. Assuming one more max, Booker would certainly fill that bill.
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
Makes me think UM might have a down year in recruiting
- that was sarcasm by the way
October 3rd, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 12:03 PM ^
How big will our 2014 class be? about 18 or so?
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
Well we thought this class was going to be small too. It's too early to determine class size.
October 3rd, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
Another kid to keep an eye on who I believe will blow up---Lawrence Marshall, DE, Southfield.
Kid is about 6'4 215...reminds me a lot of Mingo from LSU.
I watched Ojemudia last year, and this kid is bigger, faster, and stronger.
October 3rd, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 PM ^
I just saw him in person last week, and Fred Jackson was sitting in the stands to see him (Mike Hart too). Allen Trieu verbatim today said "top 5-10 kid in the state", listed him at 6'4 215. I aksed him what he thought when he saw him "loved him, the real deal". That doesn't sound like just an MSU/Illinois type.
The tackle he played against was 6'1 and he towered over him. His recruiting film also lists him at 6'4. The roster I saw listed him at 6'4, 215. Not sure why you want to debate something inconsequential as 1 inch and 10 pounds.
This kid is not a sleeper. Michigan doesn't send coaches to watch sleepers in the 14 class on their off week.
Kid is an absolute stud.
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:20 PM ^
Marshall might be bigger, he might be faster, and he might even be stronger...
...but Ojemudia looked/looks like a better football player.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:30 PM ^
Based on what exactly?
I watched them both in person, Marshall's impact on the game was much greater than Mario's in the game I watched him against another d1 tackle in person.
There is two games of film on Lawrence so far, and he blows up both teams. Not sure what conclusion you have drawn from 1---not actually seeing him in person, and 2---two games worth of film of his junior season.
Like I said, Jackson doesn't just show up an anyone's game on an off week. The kid will be a stud, and when the guy who ranks him calls him "the real deal", you better believe he is a little better than just a "sleeper".
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^
Just because Jackson watched him in person doesn't mean Marshall is better than Ojemudia.
Are you certain that Jackson wasn't there to watch anyone else? Such as wide receiver Brandon Bean?
October 3rd, 2012 at 6:32 PM ^
I ma not saying because Jackson was there that makes Marshall better than Mar'io, I am saying that I, me, myself, have seen both, at the very same point in their high school careers, and Mario wasn't very disruptive in the two games I saw him in person. He was only about 6'3, maybe 200-205 his junior year. Lawrence is much thicker, and far more disruptive.
I spoke to his coach after the game, he told me verbatim that he was told Hart and Jackson were both there to see Marshall. When I spoke to Trieu, he said the same thing. On GBW, Mr. Beav also said Jackson is at Southfield to see Lawrence Marshall. I don't know what more you are looking for?
All I can tell you is what I have seen, in person, and what I have been told, by actual coaches, writers, and AD's. If you have something more, please feel free to share from Ohio.
Marshall will blow up, just wait. When he does, I hope we are on that train.
October 3rd, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
I haven't seen them in person, but from what I've seen on video, I think Ojemudia was the superior player.
October 3rd, 2012 at 9:36 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:00 PM ^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGu0Qh9jf2o
You're the one who started the debate about "which really good player is better" with your comment about Marshall being better than Ojemudia. You're basically upset with yourself.
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:56 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:48 PM ^
We all appreciate bringing up new kids that maybe aren't on our radar. I think the way you broached it was what got the push back. You made a lot of absolute type comments, and came off as Marshall's dad or something. It's received by us poorly, because this kid has no offers and despite you telling us how in love Trieu is with him, he didn't make Scout's 300 list today.
Had you said something along the lines of "I've seen this kid Marshall in person, and I thought he looked as good or better than Ojemudia, who I've also seen play in person. When I was there, not only was Allen Trieu there saying many positive things, but coaches Fred Jackson and Mike Hart were there to recruit him. It sounds like he's a real riser in-state, so don't be surprised if his offer list starts to build fast" it would have gone over much better.
You can even throw in a "you heard it here first" if you want some credit.
October 4th, 2012 at 6:13 AM ^
I don't make a habit of regurgitating scouting reports from elsewhere.
October 3rd, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^