ESPN 150 Notables Comment Count

Brian

Gareon Conley[1]

ESPN likes them some Gareon Conley

ESPN is the last major ranking service to deposit a top X on us, which they've done today. The name that jumps off the page is OH CB commit Gareon Conley, who's 63rd overall after getting mostly meh three-star reactions. (Scout does have him in their top 300 but at the tail end where they're still giving out three stars for now.) Ten other Michigan commits make their 150:

  • #37 Shane Morris
  • #63 Gareon Conley
  • #75 Mike McCray
  • #92 David Dawson
  • #97 Logan Tuley-Tillman
  • #98 Dymonte Thomas
  • #105 Chris Fox
  • #107 Jourdan Lewis
  • #112 Kyle Bosch
  • #115 Taco Charlton
  • #121 Patrick Kugler

ESPN has also rated the rest of the class. All are four stars save Khalid Hill and Wyatt Shallman, and Shallman may be held back because he's rated at fullback (as the #1 FB) instead of on defense. The four stars:

  • Jaron Dukes is the #29 WR; the last 150 guy is #18 and the first three star is #41, indicating that ESPN may have been generous with the stars this year.
  • Jake Butt is the #4 "TE-Y"—ie, guy on the line instead of an H-back sort—and the first of those guys not in the 150. He's got the same rating as Marcus Baugh, the OSU commit who is, so he's probably just outside.
  • Ben Gedeon is the #32 ATH, an odd place to stash a guy clearly destined for linebacker. He's nowhere near the 150 or the three star drop.
  • Deveon Smith is the #28 RB, not near the 150 and about six slots from their three-star dropoff.

As for uncommitted players of note, with serious interest in bold:

  • #15 Su'a Cravens
  • #27 Kendall Fuller
  • #42 LaQuon Treadwell
  • #56 Eddie Vanderdoes
  • #68 Ty Isaac
  • #74 Demorea Stringfellow
  • #120 Joe Mathis (yeah, yeah, nevermind)
  • #149 Sebastian Larue

I was kind of hoping they'd throw a fourth star Hill's way so he wouldn't be lonely.

Comments

samuofm

April 17th, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^

I'm asking this question admittedly without a great knowledge of recruiting, but is it very strange that Rivals has E.J. Levenberry has the #15 recruit in the nation and espn does not have him listed in their top 150?

 

Magnus

April 17th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^

Where has he dropped?  I haven't seen him drop significantly in the rankings.  Most sites have just come out with one ranking so far.

Levenberry is a guy that was bigger than everyone else at a young age, and he's kind of hit a wall.  He's not really great at anything.  He's a solid overall player, but you don't really watch his film and say "wow" at any point.  

M-Wolverine

April 17th, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^

But he still had an offer from Ohio. And losing guys from your State that are ranked that high to your rival is never a good thing.

But no, it wasn't a position of need.  And they're going to have another really good class too. We're both loading up. It's going to be fun. :-)

DenverBuckeye

April 17th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^

And they're both ranked above Conley and have better size. I don't think it's that Urban didn't like Conley, the kid is a beast, but we already had two ridiculous corners committed. Also, Urban loves playing man-press with big corners, which Burrows and Woodard are. If we had missed on one, you can bet Urban would have given Conley a call. If I remember correctly, though, Conley grew up a Michigan fan and seemed all Wolverine from the start (or am I off?)

GoWings2008

April 17th, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^

"If I remember correctly, though, Conley grew up a Michigan fan and seemed all Wolverine from the start (or am I off?)"

I think you're right...I believe he did grow up a Michigan fan.  Seems like that is happening a lot more these days...  (or am I off?)

GoWings2008

April 17th, 2012 at 9:38 PM ^

Well then, I'd say that's to your (Urban's) detriment.  If you're saying that osu didn't offer him and UM by default is ending up with your table scraps, then it seems like you're trying to justify why he ended up Blue.  I know that's not what you SAID, but it really seems like that what's you're implying.  And that's juvenile. 

JeepinBen

April 17th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^

Just in case any running backs (Ty) read this list.... we just happen to have 5 committed OL this year. All 5 are in the ESPN top 150. We have the #1, 4, 5 G (one will play C) IN THE NATION.

I could get 1,000 yards behind these guys.

/probably not, but, c'mon, this line class is ridiculous.

jocular_jock

April 17th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^

The leaders and the best - 11!

Texas - 7

Florida - 7

Georgia - 6

Alabama - 6

Texas A&M - 5

Free Tattoo University - 5

USC - 4

Penn State - 3

Florida St - 3

Lower South Bend Evangelical College - 2

 

UMAFA08

April 17th, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^

Last year, Alabama had ESPN's top class and had 13 ESPNU commits and 15 4-star commits altogether. This year, we already have 11 ESPNU commits (in April!) and already 15 4-star commits. Granted, Alabama had 2 5-stars also sign, but with the offers we have on the board for the talent still available, it appears as if we're making a pretty good push for the top 2013 ESPN class. Sure, it's only April, but Hoke and Co. have shown a knack for holding onto Michigan recruits.

StephenRKass

April 17th, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^

I just went through the list, and there are a total of 19 recruits in the ESPN 150 who are listed at OT, OG, or OC. All five of Michigan's verbal OL commits are on the list.

This means that 26% of the best offensive linemen in the 2013 class have already committed to Michigan. Better than one out of four of the best OL recruits will be Wolverines. And Pocic probably wanted to commit, but there is no room.

The significance of this is huge. Don't overlook the difference made by a solid offensive line. In itself, I have to believe that a few skill players (Isaac? Treadwell? LaRue or Massington?) will come to Michigan to take advantage of playing behind such a strong line. 

The Wonderful 135

April 17th, 2012 at 3:20 PM ^

What's the word on ESPN #4, 5* Vernon Hargreaves III?  I remember him being profiled here, and I know he holds an M offer, but he wasn't on your uncommitted list.  Are we pretty confident he's not coming?

NoMoPincherBug

April 17th, 2012 at 4:30 PM ^

Huge jump for Conely, but based on his tape...he deserves it.  He may well be the best player in this class, or the one that will have the most impact on the field besides Morris...and that is saying a lot, I know.  A shutdown corner is one of the most valuable things a team can have. Its cool to see him jump up like that in the rankings.