New in-state offer: 2025 WR Elijah Dotson
Michigan offered 2025 Detroit (MI) University of Detroit Jesuit wide receiver Elijah Dotson. He's a 6'2", 175 lb. 3-star and the #45 athlete to 247 Sports. Louisville, Penn State, Pitt, and Wisconsin had previously offered. Last year he had 40 catches for 750 yards and 5 touchdowns, plus a kickoff return TD.
I'm not a coach but he looks pretty talented for a HS sophomore.
Really good stats for a sophomore, and amazing measurables already.
Michigan also offered 2027 athlete Dakota Guerrant, but I can't find much information on him. He's listed at 5'11" and 168 lbs. on The D Zone and has just two offers, from Michigan and UMass. Apparently, he will be headed to Harper Woods to play his high school ball. In that case, he would be playing in the same program as Jacob Oden this fall.
Per Oden’s Twitter this is his cousin fwiw.
Just curious Mangus or anyone who might be in the know:
I haven't heard much chatter on the edge guy out of Chicago named Marquis Lightfoot (love his film). I saw an interview with Webb and him a few months back and was wondering is he a priority for us? Are we throwing everything we have at him? Is there mutual interest? Same with Dylan Stewart, and Darien Mayo and Dominic Nichols. Assuming we get Jacob Smith, Aaron Chiles and Brian Robinson, who, if any of the other 3 guys do you think we get or have a legit shot at. Assuming if all are in play, how many is our limit? Is there someone I missed and how would you rank the 7 players in this edge group?
I just think Michigan has been at the top of the list for other guys and it wasn’t worth the extra effort for Lightfoot in what was a national recruitment. Michigan has been at the top of the list for Robinson for months, Jacob Smith seems likely with Jerod already on board, Nichols has crystal balls for UM and might even be more likely than Robinson at this point. Not to mention Michigan has others on board who are potential “edge” guys despite not being ranked as such.
Idk if I’d include Chiles in that edge grouping either. He’s listed as a linebacker and that seems to be where his skill set matches best. Mason Curtis and Cole Sullivan are guys the staff seems to see in the Harrell LB/EDGE role, maybe even growing into true edges. Beasley and Chiles seem to be more traditional linebackers.
Seems like if we are competing for national championships, competing for nationally recruited guys against other national contenders goes with the territory. It dawned on me that we really don't want Ohio to get him. Chicago is close, his tape was insane, so we may as well compete. I put Chiles in there because his weight is listed at or around where the edge guys are listed. Brayden Platt is another guy who's weight is listed around where edge guys are and his tape is ridiculous. Plus we could use him at FB. Thanks for your take on it.
It’s not that Michigan has a problem competing in those national recruitments, it just has to be something they view as worth the effort. Again, Michigan is high on the board for multiple other EDGE rushers. There’s no need to go head to head with USC, OSU and Miami for Lightfoot when we essentially have our pick between Robinson, Smith and Nichols.
Coaches don’t have unlimited time and resources to recruit these kids. They evaluate each scenario and each recruitment and decide the best use of their time. Lightfoot just doesn’t seem like a wise investment of their limited time.
I get it. I like all of those guys as well (adding Mayo). Any thoughts on how many edge guys we have room for? and what do you think of Braden Platt? Film looks great. I know he's listed at LB but he looks good as a FB and could grow into an edge, judging by his current weight. Thanks again.
He’s an 8th grader, so game film is limited to his mom’s IPhone videos from his middle school games.
Well, I did find Hudl film from 8 years ago when he was listed at 4'4" and 50 lbs.
I did not think it would be particularly useful to watch, though.
Fun and useful don’t always have to be the same.
I'm reminded of Dug McDaniel's old football days:
Those are really unusual measurables for a four year old, Magnus.
I give a 4-4 50 6 fakes out of 5.
I’ve been waiting for the day when one of the Friday Night Tykes kids would become a big name prospect and film from the show would be casually brought up.
2027?! are we scouting his flag football games??
The PAL circuit is pretty intense (and shady may I add). They identify kids real early down there. Dante Moore, Bryce Underwood, Cory Sadler, and Andrew Knight II were all known as future FBS QBs by the time they were in 8th grade.
I'm not sure if C.J. Sadler will be a QB in college, but your point still stands. I think Sadler will be better off playing WR/DB.
I don't know anything about the PAL circuit (or much about anything else, really). But I'm curious what goes on to make it shady?
Also, how shady are we talking? Like, on a scale from 0 (Harbaugh buying burgers) to 10 (Ed Martin scandal).
My cousin is over 50 years old now but when he was a kid, his high school coach at a school that no longer exists, told his mother he would pay part of his tuition at a Catholic school. He of course didn’t pay it.
Sounds like Deporres
Yeah, it's delightfully humanism-crushing to hear boys are getting evaluated as collegiate athletes while still in the front half of puberty.
Like, even setting aside how creepy that is, you literally can't know when they'll stop growing.
Seems way too young.
It is. Being an athletic middle school player is great, but kids need to be kids. It doesn't last long.
Go Cubs!
Here’s to U of D High School…
I've seen this kid play and know one of his coaches pretty well. This kid is going to be a riser. Expect a solid 4* and probably will end up being around 3rd or 4th in the state.
For those that don't know, Q is pretty/very plugged in to the SE Michigan prep football scene. His word is legit.
If this kid is related to Jahan Dotson in any way, it's a no-brainer to take him.
Hoping Elijah's able to visit Ann Arbor "informally" many times on Saturday this fall. And, wishing him well as he reaches his decision.
There is one "overarching" thing on my mind - that is - development. Is any staff in the country doing a better job of developing their players than Michigan is right now?
Overall, it would be hard to say many teams are better at developing players. However, it has been 18 years since Michigan developed a 1st round draft pick at wide receiver. Braylon Edwards was the last one in 2005.
Fair point. And, my fingers are crossed that will change soon…
I mean, after that spring game from Peyton O'Leary, he and Marvin Harrison, Jr. will probably be battling to be the first receiver taken off the board next April.
O'Leary looked incredible in spring game against the converted WR turned DB and and we knew Walker had worked to do. Not ready to reach and say he's on Marvin's level yet. I need to see him against Will Johnson or against more polished DB's.
We at least "identified" Xavier Worthy who will be a first rounder. Until Gattis unleashed his apparatus, he would have been here.
/allegedly
Go Cubs!