International Bowl participants Devin Funchess, Terry Richardson, James Ross, and Royce Jenkins-Stone
International Bowl
February 1, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Austin, TX
USA Team targets:
Ronald Darby - RB - Maryland
J.J. Denman - OT - Pennsylvania (Rutgers) Devin Funchess - TE - Michigan (Michigan)
Greg Garmon - RB - Pennsylvania (Iowa)
Mark Harrell - OT - North Carolina (Notre Dame) Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
Trey Keenan - OT - Texas (Texas Tech)
Marcus Maye - S - Florida (Florida)
Ifeadi Odenigbo - DE - Ohio (Northwestern)
Moana Ofahengaue - LB - Utah
Jordan Payton - WR - California (Washington)
Se'von Pittman - DE - Ohio (Ohio State) Terry Richardson - CB - Michigan (Michigan) James Ross - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
Tee Shepard - CB - California (Notre Dame)
D.J. Singleton - S - New Jersey (Wisconsin)
Caleb Stacey - OG - Ohio (Michigan)
World Team target:
Faith Ekakitie - DT - Illinois (Iowa)
Detroit (MI) King running back/returner committed to Michigan
on Tuesday evening
Detroit (MI) King running back Dennis Norfleet was offered a scholarship on Tuesday night and committed almost on the spot. He had previously been committed to Cincinnati, and he also held offers from Michigan State, Pitt, and Tennessee.
Norfleet is 5'8", 175 lbs. and lists a 4.34 time in the forty. As a junior he had 1,880 yards and 31 touchdowns. He followed that up with 2,033 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior.
Norfleet is solidly built despite being quite short. He stated on Tuesday night that Michigan offered him a chance to play running back, slot receiver, kick returner, and punt returner. Michigan hasn't had a consistent punt returner since Steve Breaston, and there hasn't been a solid kickoff return guy since Darryl Stonum in 2009. Norfleet has the short-area quickness and the breakaway speed to be effective at both of those positions. He also could be used as a zone read option guy in the backfield with Denard Robinson or Devin Gardner, or as a pass receiver in the mold of Vincent Smith.
Aside from the obvious concern about his size - his chances of being the full-time back are very slim - I'm not a big fan of the way Norfleet finishes plays. He jogs into the endzone too often, which rubs me the wrong way and makes me question how disciplined he is. Still, it's better to take an athletic guy whom you might have to instill with some discipline than to bank the scholarship for next year.
Norfleet is Michigan's 25th commitment in the class of 2012. He's also the first guy from Martin Luther King High School since defensive tackle Larry Harrison and safety Ernest Shazor left after the 2004 season.
As stated in his "Ask a Question" post, Adam Breneman is a class 2013 tight end prospect out of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania who holds offers from more than 20 FCS schools, including Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Miami (FL). He recently took time to answer reader questions on a variety of topics.
Academics: "I was raised my whole life to put academics first. I realize that at some point football is going to end, and I'll get a job and support a family, and that's the reason why academics are so important to me. There's a lot more to life than just football . . . I'm going to major in Business. Michigan's obviously one of the best academically. They have a great history, a great business school. They might not be on-par with the Stanfords and the Notre Dames and the schools like that, but they're one of the best options academic-wise out there."
NFL Ambitions: "One of my goals is to play in the NFL; there's no doubt about that, but very few people have the chance to play in the NFL. I don't want to take anything for granted. If you just slide by and assume you're going to play in the NFL, you might be in for a rude awakening by the time you graduate college . . . My two favorite players are [New England Patriot] Rob Gronkowski and [Philadelphia Eagle] Brent Celek. He [Celek] is actually the reason I started to wear number 87."
Factors in Recruitment: "When I'm looking at a school, the first thing is academics and where they stand as far as their academic reputation. And then I'm looking at the way I'm going to be used in the offense. I like catching the ball; I like being a play maker - I want to be able to do that in college. And then it's the relationships that you have with the coaching staff. You're going to be around those guys a lot, so if you don't like 'em, it'll make for a long four years . . . Football is football no matter how hot it is outside or how cold it is, but location will play a little bit of a factor. It's not a huge thing but a school that is closer to home will have a little bit of an advantage over a school that is farther away . . . I do look at depth charts; I do look at who they have, but the bottom line is that you're going to have to compete wherever you go . . . ."
Where Michigan Stands: "Right now I'm open to everyone, no matter where they are or what conference they're in. I mean, I have some opinions on some schools so obviously I have some favorites in my mind, but I'm staying open and I don't have a top schools list or anything yet . . . But yeah, let's just say if I had a top schools list, then Michigan would be in it. I really like the coaches, and I think they'll be in it to the end with me . . . When you have guys like the guys who are at Michigan who are trying to recruit me, it says a lot about U of M and how much they want me. Shane Morris is a great example. He's been trying to recruit me just as hard as the coaches are. So when there's an especially developed player like Shane Morris who I know will be throwing me the ball, that's another advantage . . . ."
Adam holds a 3.9 GPA and is currently 6'5'' and 225 lbs. Although he acknowledges that he's a bit "undersized weight-wise" for a tight end right now, Adam expects to fill out naturally and "go into college around 235-240 lbs." His hand-timed 40 yard-dash times range between "the high 4.5s and the high 4.6s." During his discretionary time, Adam enjoys reading - sports books in particular - yet his "favorite book of all time" is To Kill a Mockingbird.
Showing phenomenal perspective throughout the interview, Adam closed our conversation with this thought regarding his demanding schedule and relentless recruitment: "It can be overwhelming and I get stressed out with it sometimes, but then I think about all the kids in the world who dream of being in this position, and I get to live it; it's a reality for me . . . . This whole process is just such a big blessing."
Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry
(image via 247 Sports)
Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry has given his verbal commitment to the Michigan Wolverines. The 6'2", 270-pounder picked Michigan over Hawaii, Illinois, Louisville, Marshall, Pitt, Syracuse, and others.
Henry earned an offer this past weekend when he took an official visit to Ann Arbor. He had previously visited Eastern Michigan, Hawaii, and Pittsburgh, and the pick was probably going to be Pitt until Michigan jumped into the fray. When Michigan came forward with an offer after it became clear that at least a few of their high-profile targets would choose other schools, Henry didn't take long to decide.
The quick defensive tackle boasts a 4.78 forty yard dash, and that is indeed his biggest strength - speed. I'm particularly impressed with how quickly Henry gets off the ball and penetrates into the backfield. There are multiple highlights where he sprints downfield when blocking. Not only does that show his speed, but it also shows effort. You can't teach speed, and when you combine that with desire, it's hard to stop. I like how hard he works and the way he celebrates after making good plays. It's pure excitement, but not the "look at me" variety.
Henry does not come without flaws, however. He's a very raw prospect when it comes to technique. He doesn't use his hands well consistently, and too often he allows offensive linemen to get into his body. As a small-ish defensive linemen, he can't afford to lose that technical advantage. He also tends to play a little high at times, which will get him blasted out of position against bigger, more powerful offensive lines. I would also like to see Henry show a little better play recognition.
Overall, I love the offer to and commitment from Henry. He's exactly the type of prospect that is ripe for the picking at this time of year - an athletic project who, if he pans out, has a chance to be a real difference maker at the next level. He needs to add weight and will likely redshirt, but his ability to get off the ball and chase from behind makes him a potential TFL machine. While he reminds me of a slightly larger Terry Talbott (a 2010 commit who never played a down for Michigan), I think Henry has a higher ceiling. He's likely headed for the 3-tech position that Will Heininger occupied this past season. I think he even has the ability to play the 5-tech defensive end position, but Michigan should have that position well covered with the other recruits in the class.
Henry is the 24th commitment of Michigan's class. Glenville is the alma mater of Michigan defensive end Frank Clark, and also the home of fellow 2012 Michigan target De'van Bogard, who is headed to Ohio State.
It's always satisfying to hear the President of the United States talk about Michigan football and say, "Go Blue!" so here's full video of Barack Obama's address at the Al Glick Field House in Ann Arbor on Friday. Please be advised to stop watching at the 3:18 mark if you're only interested in hearing about Michigan athletics.
Phoenix (AZ) Brophy Prep wide receiver Devon Allen (#85)
(image via The Roundup)
ADDED TO THE BOARD (2012, 2013, 2014)
Phoenix (AZ) Brophy Prep wide receiver Devon Allen, a 2013 prospect, received a Michigan offer last week. Allen is a 6'1", 190 lb. wideout who claims 4.5 speed but appears not to be a huge breakaway threat. However, he's an excellent route runner, shifty enough to make somebody miss here or there, and a very good blocker for a wide receiver. As a junior, he had 44 receptions for 844 yards and 17 touchdowns and 26 carries for 228 yards. He also holds offers from Arizona (where he's being recruited by former Michigan coach Tony Dews), Arizona State, Oregon State, Purdue, Stanford, and a few others.
Woodbridge (VA) Woodbridge defensive end Da'Shawn Hand, a 2014 prospect, was offered by Michigan. Hand is 6'5", 245 lbs. as a high school sophomore, so it's likely that he grows into a defensive tackle by the time he finishes high school. He had 84 tackles and 21 sacks during his sophomore season.
Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry visited Michigan's campus this past weekend and received a Michigan offer. He's a 6'2", 270 lb. athlete with offers from Hawaii, Illinois, Louisville, Pitt, and a bunch of MAC (or MAC-level) schools. You can see in Henry's film that he's an athletic kid with a pretty good motor (witness him chasing down running plays on defense and sprinting downfield to throw blocks on offense). However, he's a little light, needs to add some strength, and really needs to learn the fundamentals of defeating blocks.
Bealeton (VA) Liberty defensive end Wyatt Teller, a 2013 prospect, was offered by Michigan last week. He's a 6'5", 250 lb. kid with offers from Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and several other programs. He also claims a 325 lb. bench and a 400 lb. squat, which are pretty good measurables for a high school junior.
OFF THE BOARD
Elk Grove (CA) Pleasant Grove jumbo athlete Arik Armstead committed to Oregon. The 6'8", 280 lb. Armstead was originally committed to USC, but his older brother Armond, who was on USC's roster, was upset about some issues with the program. Arik decommitted and has gone on a months long journey looking for another school. As the season and all-star games wore on, scouts' feelings on Arik started to wane because he insisted on a desire to play defensive end. At his size he looks like nothing other than an offensive tackle.
Fairless Hills (PA) Pennsbury offensive tackle J.J. Denman changed his commitment from Wisconsin to Rutgers. Denman had previously been committed to Penn State. He's 6'7", 305 lbs. and extremely indecisive, apparently, which makes him potentially dangerous if you ever run into him on the street. My advice: Don't run into him on the street.
Scottsdale (AZ) Saguaro running back/wide receiver D.J. Foster committed to Arizona State on Friday. As a senior in 2011, he had over 3,000 yards rushing and 60 touchdowns, including 508 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in one playoff game. Saguaro is the alma mater of David Spade, who was born in Michigan.
Old Tappan (NJ) Old Tappan QB/ATH Devin Fuller committed to UCLA on Sunday. The 6'0", 185 lb. Fuller was being recruited by Michigan to play quarterback at the beginning of the cycle, but then the Wolverines started trying to reel him in as a defensive back. Fuller, who wants to play quarterback in college, was considered to be Rutgers lean until Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano jumped ship for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New Bruins head coach Jim Mora must have convinced Fuller he could be the next Michael Vick, despite the fact that Vick wasn't a very good quarterback when he was with Mora's Atlanta Falcons.
Puyallup (WA) Puyallup offensive guard Joshua Garnett committed to Stanford on Thursday. Garnett was down to Stanford and Michigan, and lots of people thought Garnett would choose Michigan. Unfortunately, his connections to Michigan - and especially Erik Magnuson - just weren't quite strong enough. Approximately 83% of voters on this here blog said Garnett would pick Michigan, so you guys are boogers.
Shaler (PA) Shaler Area tight end J.P. Holtz committed to Pitt. He was once committed to Penn State, but . . . well . . . strange things happened there. Holtz appeared on Michigan's radar when Lyndhurst (OH) Brush tight end Pharaoh Brown decommitted from Michigan in favor of Oregon, but it was a fleeting romance.
Castle Rock (CO) Valor offensive guard/center Alex Kozan committed to Iowa, according to Sam Webb. Kozan is a 6'4", 295-pounder who could have filled the hole left by Caleb Stacey's decommitment and played center. Now Michigan is down to fifth year senior Rocko Khoury, redshirt freshman Jack Miller, and position changers to play center in the fall, with very little depth for 2013.
Cincinnati (OH) Moeller wide receiver Monty Madaris committed to Michigan State. The 6'2", 190 lb. wideout eliminated Michigan a while ago and was down to the Spartans and Cincinnati. He had 56 receptions for 1,137 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior.
West Roxbury (MA) Catholic Memorial cornerback Armani Reeves committed to Ohio State. The 5'9", 185 lb. defensive back followed his best friend, linebacker Camren Williams, in becoming a Buckeye. The Williams family has essentially adopted Reeves, so it was difficult to see this going in any direction other than toward Columbus.
Van (TX) Van linebacker Dalton Santos changed his commitment from Tennessee to Texas. Several months ago, I mistakenly typed "Texas" on Twitter instead of "Tennessee" and everyone was like "YOU MEAN TENNESSEE, YOU MORON!!!" Well . . . who's laughing now? I was just predicting the future. Santos originally committed to Oklahoma State before flipping to Tennessee, so what I'm taking away from this is . . . he really likes the color orange.
Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep cornerback Yuri Wright committed to Colorado. The Buffaloes seemed to be his third or fourth choice behind Michigan and Notre Dame, but his tweets about wanting to get laid got him expelled from his private school and dropped by some schools, including Michigan.
Charles Woodson will be Michigan's only representative in tonight's Pro Bowl
Tonight's Pro Bowl will be a little light on former Wolverines (rosters here), but not due to poor performance. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was selected, but he'll miss the game since the Patriots will be in next week's Super Bowl. Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long was selected, too, but he's missing the game due to an injury. That leaves Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson as the lone player representing the Wolverines. Woodson made 74 tackles, 2 sacks, and 7 interceptions for the Packers this past season.
The lone Detroit Lions representative is wide receiver Calvin Johnson, despite the fact that quarterback Matt Stafford threw for over 5,000 yards . . . but Johnson is sitting out the game due to injury, too. He had 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011.
The game will be broadcast on NBC at 7:00 p.m. EST.
