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