Best Guess List - Michigan Recruiting - 5/7/2013

Submitted by MichFan1997 on

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?

Magnus

May 7th, 2013 at 7:26 PM ^

It's quicker to reload, but I also like veteran RB's as potential backups/role players. If you can spell a young guy with someone who can pass block and hit the holes, it's advantageous rather than throwing in another youngster who might screw up royally.

810steveo

May 7th, 2013 at 6:27 PM ^

QB Wilton Speight

RB Kalen Ballage

WR Drake Harris

WR Mo Ways

WR Artavis Scott

TE Ian Bunting

LT Roderick Johnson

G Mason Cole

RT JBB

WE D'shawn Hand

SE Malik McDowell

DT Bryan Mone

WLB Kyron Watson 

MLB Michael Ferns

SLB Noah Furbush

CB Jabrill Peppers

CB Parrker Westphal 

S JuJu Smith

Noah i think could be sleeper addition if  Chase Winovich doesnt join. Roderick might be go to tackle if Alex goes to ND.  

Jeff09

May 7th, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^

So I think most of you guys have filled in lists with the players most likely to end up occupying each spot, but doing that leaves an overly rosy picture of what the class will look like. After following this on the blog for a few years, it seems like saying a kid is a strong lean to Michigan is usually at best a 50-50 proposition, unless there are rumors that he is on the verge of committing. That's because it's Michigan vs the field, not Michigan vs the number 2 school. For instance - I would say our prob of landing McDowell is about 50%, with hand closer to 30%.

WolvinLA2

May 7th, 2013 at 8:34 PM ^

It probably depends on how the numbers shake out, in terms of scholarships available.  If it stays low (sub-19 or 20) then I'd say no, and Ferns might be slotted at the SAM.  If it grows though, I'm sure the coaches will try to get a third LB, who would most likely be a SAM.  

Boom Goes the …

May 7th, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^

QB- SPEIGHT

TB- Hilliman/Balledge

TE- BUNTING

WR- HARRIS, WAYS Scott/Williams

OT- JBB, Bars

OG- COLE

N- MONE

T-McDowell

SDE- Hand

Rush- Marshall or none

LB- FERNS, Winovich/Watson

S- Nicholson

CB- Westphal, Peppers

18 total

 

dRich

May 7th, 2013 at 9:42 PM ^

Take one of winovich or Watson the take Robinson and play him as a DE/LBer combo guy?

OMG Shirtless

May 7th, 2013 at 10:01 PM ^

Signature pictures are annoying to me, regardless of how awesome the picture is.

EDIT: By the way, I am in no means telling you to change it.  It's a personal thing.  I just wanted to explain the neg.