Wednesday, February 12, 2014

In-state Preview of 2015 Recruiting

Saginaw (MI) Heritage wide receiver/defensive back Brian Cole is generally considered to be the top prospect in the state
Now a yearly tradition (see my 2014 list), here's my preview of in-state recruiting for the class of 2015. I have done my best to track prospects over the past year or two, and this is a list of nearly 70 rising seniors who have the potential to play Division I football. That number has jumped from 23 in 2013 to 44 in 2014 to its current number. As you can imagine, this was a pretty exhausting exercise, so I hope you enjoying reading/scanning the list, watching some of these guys play, and perhaps seeing some people you know or some kids who go to your alma mater. The state may not have the "star power" of guys like Drake Harris, Malik McDowell, and Damon Webb from the 2014 class, but I think this is a deeper group of players than the past couple seasons.

One note: I started compiling offer lists and such in mid-January, so some new offers may have come rolling in over the past couple weeks that are not noted for guys in the first quarter of the alphabet. Enjoy!

Joshua Alabi - DT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6'5", 270 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #37 offensive tackle, #293 overall, and the #4 player in the state. For such a big-time prospect, there's not much film on Alabi from beyond his sophomore year. I have read that he wants to play defense, but some people around him are trying to convince him that he has a higher ceiling as an offensive lineman. Personally, I agree with those who think he fits better on offense. Cass Tech has generally been a Michigan pipeline, but Michigan State and Tennessee are the two front-runners.



Brian Alsobrooks - QB - Livonia (MI) Churchill:
Alsobrooks is a 6'2", 215 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has impressive arm strength, but his mechanics are awkward and he's very raw as a passer. I see him as a potential FCS player, maybe working his way into the MAC.

Ja'Mar Antwine - WR/CB - Pontiac (MI) Pontiac: Antwine is a 5'11", 178 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He has decent speed but is somewhat of a long strider, and he doesn't really have that extra gear to set him apart. He looks like a MAC player to me.

Tre'von Avery - QB - Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc: Avery is a 6'1", 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's the younger brother of Michigan defensive back Courtney Avery. Avery is very thin and lacks polish as a quarterback. Not particularly strong-armed, fast, or elusive, he reminds me a lot of a kid I coached against who ended up at a D-II school. Avery's best shot at a college scholarship might be as a defensive back, but he lacks the speed to be an FBS cornerback, in my opinion.

Sam Beal - WR - Grand Rapids (MI) Ottawa Hills: Beal is a 6'2", 177 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. An accomplished sprinter, he should see some offers come his way from MAC-level programs.

Avonte' Bell - RB - Lansing (MI) Sexton: Bell is a 6'0", 216 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Western Michigan. As a junior in 2013, he had 143 carries, 1141 total yards, averaged 7.7 yards/carry, and scored 19 touchdowns. On defense, he forced 4 fumbles, recovered 2, and scored 1 touchdown. Bell is a tough, straight-ahead runner without much elusiveness or elite speed; I would expect him to end up as an inside linebacker or perhaps a fullback at the next level.

Shahid Bellamy - DT - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Bellamy is a 6'3", 265 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 68 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He claims a 4.89 forty, a 4.82 shuttle, a 305 lb. bench, and a 415 lb. squat. I see Bellamy as a 3-tech defensive tackle who could also play the nose in certain schemes.

Ryan Brand - QB - Detroit (MI) U of D Jesuit: Brand is a 5'10", 182 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He shows solid arm strength and mechanics, but his lack of height may hamper him from getting FBS offers as a quarterback.

Ray Buford II - WR - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Buford is a 6'0", 177 lb. prospect with offers from Boston College and a handful of MAC schools. He missed most of his junior season after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, but his sophomore highlights show a willowy player with good straight-line speed. Buford attends the same high school as Michigan incoming freshman Lawrence Marshall.

Jayru Campbell - QB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Campbell is a 6'3", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin; he's committed to Michigan State. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #16 dual-threat QB, and #474 overall, but I see him more as a pro-style quarterback. Campbell has had some off-the-field issues with postgame tirades and, more seriously, fighting a security guard at his high school.

Keontae Carpenter - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: I don't have much information on Carpenter, but he has earned a little bit of buzz as a potential FBS recruit.

Brandon Childress - QB - Baldwin (MI) Baldwin: Childress is a 6'3", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 1,081 passing yards, 1,185 rushing yards on 10.6 yards/carry, and 31 total touchdowns. Childress is a big fish in a small pond who outclasses the other athletes on the field. He's raw as a quarterback and there's not much evidence of him making quick decisions and getting rid of the ball in a timely manner, but he has pretty good arm strength and very good speed. Also a pretty good basketball player, Childress seems like a kid who could go to a small-ish FBS program, disappear for three years, and re-emerge as a dangerous dual-threat quarterback. Or he could make an adjustment to another position, such as wide receiver. It will be interesting to see how his career develops, as he's a guy who could do some big things if he develops.

Brian Cole - WR - Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 ATH, and the #59 player overall. Cole is well put together and could play a number of positions in college, from wide receiver to cornerback to safety. He's likely the top in-state player for 2015.

Cameron Cole - WR - Saline (MI) Saline: Cole is a 6'2", 200 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. Cole does not look like a dynamic receiver, but I believe he could be a possession-type receiver at a MAC school. He runs good routes, has a good feel for settling down in open spaces, and adjusts well to the ball in the air.

Daniel Crawford - TE - Macomb (MI) Dakota

Jonathon Dobie - LB - Grand Ledge (MI) Grand Ledge

Sheldon Doss - CB - Detroit (MI) U-D Jesuit:
Doss is a 6'1", 185 lb. prospect with no offers yet. Doss has good size and decent straight-line speed, but he lacks the agility and flexibility to play cornerback at a high level, in my opinion. I think he could potentially play in the lower levels of the Big Ten on offense.

Jack Dunaway - DE - Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Dunaway is a 6'3", 212 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 67 tackles, 15 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. He does not have the explosiveness to be a high FBS recruit, but he could be a preferred walk-on player at Michigan if he does not accept some lower-level offers that will likely surface. His father, Craig Dunaway, was a tight end at Michigan from 1979-1982. For his career, Craig had 55 receptions for 775 yards (14.1 yards/catch) and 8 touchdowns, including 5 catches and 110 yards in the 1983 Rose Bowl.

Myrick El - CB - Warren (MI) Michigan Collegiate: El is a 5'10", 175 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has very good lateral agility and solid speed. I could see him playing running back as a change-of-pace guy at the lower levels of Division I, but he could also play corner.

Austin Ervin - TE - St. Johns (MI) St. Johns: Ervin is a 6'6", 245 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan right now. As a junior in 2013, he had 17 catches for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ervin looks like a high school tackle, and he could earn some mid-level FBS offers as a blocking tight end, but he's not the athletic pass receiving type that will rise through the ranks.

Wesley French - OT - St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: French is a 6'5", 300 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. A big body already, I have heard some discussion of French playing the defensive line, but I fully believe his future is at right tackle or offensive guard. He will likely see some MAC and perhaps lower-level Big Ten offers come across the table.

Keshawn Gilmore - ATH - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Gilmore is a 6'2", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I have yet to see video on Gilmore, but his coaches speak highly of him as a very athletic type, which gives me an initial presumption of an athlete like Michigan sophomore safety Delano Hill. Gilmore plays wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback, and free safety for Cass Tech.

Alex Grace - RB - Saginaw (MI) Swan Valley: Grace is a 6'1", 200 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan and Tennessee. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 276 carries for 2,163 yards and 27 touchdowns. He may not have the speed to play running back at a high level, and he runs a little upright, but he does not have quick feet and is very tough to bring down. He may develop into a short yardage type of runner or I could see him playing linebacker at the next level.

Anthony Gunn - S - Pontiac (MI) Notre Dame Prep: Gunn is a 6'1", 200 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 22 catches for 779 yards (37.9 yards/catch) and 8 touchdowns, and he had 5 interceptions on defense. He has good speed but is a little stiff in the hips, so I would expect him to play safety or perhaps wideout at the next level.

Anthony Herbert - OG - Lapeer (MI) East: Herbert is a 6'4", 310 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's a pretty powerful blocker who lacks the ideal athleticism to play tackle, so I believe he will be a guard at the next level, perhaps a center. He has visited Michigan State several times.

Shane Holler - WR - Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Holler is a 6'0", 175 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He has a little bit of a Drew Dileo feel to him - will be useful on short routes, crossing routes, and such, but not a whole lot of speed.

Joshuwa Holloman - RB - Avondale (MI) Avondale: Holloman is a 5'11", 180 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. He claims a 4.29 forty and is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #43 running back, and the #462 player overall in his class. As a junior in 2013, he ran the ball 111 times for 1,104 yards and 18 touchdowns. Holloman has blazing speed and may be the in-state sleeper of the year. He's not the shiftiest runner, but if he gets in the open field, very few people are going to be able to catch him.

Joe Ivan - S - Bay City (MI) Western: Ivan is a 6'0", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I have heard him talked about as a potential safety prospect, but he was limited to offense as a junior because he's the starting quarterback. On that side of the ball, he was 68/141 for 923 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

Tyree Jackson - QB - Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Jackson is a 6'2", 180 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Western Michigan. Jackson has a nice, strong arm and enough speed to keep plays alive, although he's not a dynamic runner. This recruiting cycle is a strong one for quarterbacks, but at least in 2014, I think he would have received some offers from pretty big programs.

Keagan James - QB - Stanton (MI) Central Montcalm: James is a 6'2", 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has decent arm strength but isn't particularly strong in any one area of the position. I believe he would likely be an FBS prospect.

Jake Johnson - QB - DeWitt (MI) DeWitt: Johnson is a 6'1", 185 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,243 yards passing and 16 touchdowns in six games before suffering an injury. Johnson is a little on the short side, has adequate arm strength, and is not much of a runner. I think he'll likely be limited to MAC-level options.

Juanye Johnson - OG - Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Johnson is a 6'5", 270 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. Johnson is inconsistent with his technique, but I would not be surprised to see him get offered by a team like Michigan State down the road.

Keith Jones - DE - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Jones is a 6'0", 237 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He's an aggressive kid who lacks explosion and length. I think he might be the type to end up at an FCS level.

John Keenoy - OG - East Kentwood (MI) East Kentwood: Keenoy is a 6'4", 280 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo and Central Michigan. He's probably a guard at the next level, but he supposedly performed well at tackle during a recent camp.

John Kelly - S - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Kelly is a 5'10", 187 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State, Minnesota, and Western Michigan. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #67 athlete, and the #666 player overall (yikes!). Kelly is built like a running back but could also play safety at the next level. I do not see him as a high level FBS prospect, but he could be a mid-level Big Ten prospect.

Joeviair Kennedy - WR - Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Kennedy is a 6'3", 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 18 catches, 356 yards (20 yards/catch), and 4 touchdowns. Also a quality basketball player, Kennedy has good speed and body control, and he runs pretty good routes. I would expect him to get some looks from MAC schools and the like.

Cameron Lewis - WR - Detroit (MI) Consortium: Lewis is a 5'10", 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he had 1,423 receiving yards, 2 kickoff return touchdowns, 52 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 5 forced fumbles. Lewis has good speed and excellent change-of-direction skills. I see him as a cornerback at the next level, but I believe he intends to play wide receiver, where he is likely to play in the slot due to his skills and size. I think Lewis might be a sleeper prospect who starts getting some attention from some Big Ten schools as the process goes on.

Alex Malzone - QB - Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: I did a scouting report on Alex Malzone (and some other quarterbacks) in January.

Kamahl March - LB - Detroit (MI) East English Village

Nick Marosi - WR - Grand Rapids (MI) Catholic Central:
Marosi is a 6'2", 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He lacks the explosiveness one would look for in an FBS prospect, and he looks more like a D-II or perhaps an FCS prospect.

Carter Masek - LB - Grand Rapids (MI) East Grand Rapids: Masek is a 6'2", 210 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Western Michigan. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #25 inside linebacker, #643 overall, and the #9 player in the state. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 86 tackles and 4 sacks. He's a heavy hitter but likely lacks the foot speed for big-time offers.

Greg McDade - S - Sterling Heights (MI) Stevenson: McDade is a 6'2", 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. All I could find were his sophomore highlights, but those do not indicate to me an FBS prospect. He has decent speed but looks tentative at times. I would like to see his junior highlights, though.

Junior McMullen - LB - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: McMullen is a 6'1", 220 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I couldn't find much on him, but the couple highlights I've seen suggest that he would be an outside linebacker prospect. However, at 6'1" he might find it difficult to find offers at the higher levels. I like his athleticism, though.

Jacob Miller - DE - Detroit (MI) Northwestern: Miller is a 6'6", 220 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's a big kid who looks like a jumbo tight end in the mold of A.J. Williams, or he could be a strongside end. He looks tentative from what I see, so he may be a project, but some coach is going to see his size and athleticism and take a flyer. I see him playing at the MAC level.

Tyrone Miller - S - Saline (MI) Saline: Miller is a 6'0", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.52 forty, a 33" vertical, a 205 lb. bench, and a squat of 320 lbs. Miller is one of the faster football players I've seen in the state, and while he has the size to play safety, he's not particularly physical and plays more like a corner. I think some FBS teams will come calling.

Ross Moore - CB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Moore is a 5'9", 160 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He claims a 4.46 forty, a 4.0 shuttle, a 31" vertical, a 240 lb. bench, and a 320 lb. squat. He's very small, and while he has decent speed and change of direction skills, they're not elite. His size will probably prevent him from getting interest from big schools.

Martez Morton - DE - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Morton is a 6'4", 225 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. I have read that he is a prospect to watch, but from what little video I've found available, I do not see the ability to warrant Division I offers.

DeKurtis Murphy - OG - St. Joseph (MI) Lake Michigan Catholic: Murphy is a 6'5", 295 lb. prospect with no offers. He might be the biggest sleeper in the state, literally and figuratively. I have not heard a lot of buzz about Murphy, but he jumps off the film with his size and quickness. He does play high and with a narrow base, but the potential is there to be a very good right tackle or guard prospect.

Alex Mussat - QB - Troy (MI) Athens: Mussat is a 6'2", 185 lb. prospect with no offers yet. I have seen him listed everywhere from 6'0" to 6'2", so height may be an issue, although he looks taller than 6'0". Regardless, he has decent arm strength, some mobility within the pocket, and the makings of good mechanics. Although the numbers don't bear it out (86/200 for 1,078 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions), I have heard that his biggest strength is his accuracy. I would guess that some FCS schools will come calling if MAC schools don't.

Michael Ojemudia - LB - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Ojemudia is a 6'2", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's the younger brother of Michigan junior defensive end Mario Ojemudia. Michael lacks the same size, but he is faster and more athletic. As a linebacker, he is still undersized for the position and looks more like a safety. However, if he can pack on some weight over the summer, I believe he might start fielding some interest because he shows good instincts, speed, and hitting ability. He lacks the speed and athleticism to play safety, though, so added weight will be key.

Mike Oliver - RB/LB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Oliver is a 5'11", 220 lb. prospect with no offers yet. He was mentioned by Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher as a guy who might get recruited by big schools, but I would rank Oliver a notch below class of 2014 linebacker William White, who signed with Buffalo.

Grant Perry - CB - Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice: Perry is a 5'11", 170 lb. prospect with no offers yet. Malzone's top target at Brother Rice, Perry has good hands and decent speed, but he won't run away from many people at the college level. He is a good blocker, and his physicality may lend itself to the cornerback position a little better.

Caleb Richard - WR - Midland (MI) Dow

Caldin Rogers - OLB - St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Rogers is a 6'4", 210 lb. prospect with no offers yet. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 57 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. He has a lithe body and good athleticism, but he's very raw as a pass rusher and relies more on speed than technique.

Romello Ross - RB - Detroit (MI) Western International: Ross is a 5'10", 170 lb. prospect without any offers at this time. He has good speed and agility, though not outstanding, and he runs with more power than one would expect from someone with his frame. I don't see him as a feature back at the FBS level, but he could potentially be a change-of-pace back or play defensive back, though I like him best on offense.

Dakota Scholten - TE - Grant (MI) Grant: Scholten is a 6'4", 225 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 5.0 forty, a 28" vertical, a 220 lb. bench, and a 340 lb. max. He plays a little bit of everything (tight end, running back, defensive end, middle linebacker), but he doesn't seem to excel at any one position. Whichever position he plays in college, he will need to be coached to a significant degree. He is a heavy hitter, but I do not see a great deal of athleticism and view him as an FCS-level prospect.

Matt Skibinski - OT - Livonia (MI) Churchill: Skibinski is a 6'5", 259 lb. prospect with no offers. He claims a 285 lb. bench, a 380 lb. squat, and a 220 lb. clean. Skibinski may be limited to the interior offensive line, as he lacks some foot speed, plays a little high, and can be slow out of his stance. However, he is a big body who has a fair amount of athleticism, so I imagine some MAC-level schools will come calling.

Logan Slaughter - OG - Mendon (MI) Mendon: Slaughter is a 6'4", 265 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Central Michigan. I have seen him listed as a defensive end or defensive tackle at various sights, but I envision him as an offensive guard, since he appears to lack the quick-twitch ability to play on the defensive line. He is an aggressive blocker who could turn into a pretty solid player with some added size and strength.

Ricardo Smith - DE - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Smith is a 6'2", 250 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He plays some offensive tackle, defensive end, and even linebacker for Oak Park, but he would be too slow to play linebacker at the next level, and likely too short for the offensive line. I like his mentality as a defensive player, so I see him as a short-ish strongside end or an undersized 3-tech defensive tackle at the next level.

Tyson Smith - CB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Smith is a 5'11", 175 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Michigan State, a program to which he committed in December 2013. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #34 cornerback, the #438 player overall, and the #8 player in the state. Smith has fluid hips, very good body control, and gets to top speed quickly, but he lacks the extra gear to make him an elite prospect. Michigan State does a good job of coaching up their defensive backs, though, so he may outperform his recruiting ranking.

Kyonta Stallworth - OG - St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Stallworth is a 6'4", 265 lb. prospect who picked Michigan State last August over schools like Florida, Tennessee, and UCLA. He claims a 4.95 forty, a 31" vertical, a 300 lb. bench, and a 395 lb. squat. Stallworth is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #24 offensive tackle, the #229 player overall, and #3 in the state. I've had my eye on Stallworth for a while as perhaps the sleeper pick for top player in the state. He could play a number of positions, from offensive guard to defensive tackle to defensive end in the right system. He has the speed, agility, and aggressiveness to be a very good prospect.

Immanuel Stinson - DE - Romulus (MI) Romulus: Stinson is a 6'3", 230 lb. prospect with offers from Akron and Central Michigan. He claims a 4.59 forty and a 225 lb. bench. The most impressive thing about Stinson is his quickness off the ball. You don't need an arrow or a circle to identify who he is on the defensive line - when the ball is snapped, he's the first one on either team to get out of his stance. Romulus doesn't play the best competition, but there are plenty of FBS teams who would like that quickness out of a defensive end. He does not show explosive power or great top-end speed, but the first two steps are the most important for a defensive lineman.

Malik Swain - DT - Grand Rapids (MI) Kenowa Hills: Swain is a 6'3", 315 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 300 lb. bench and a 500 lb. squat. While he has pretty good straight-line speed, Swain is slow out of his stance, which perhaps is a function of his level of strength and conditioning at this age. However, he looks most like a space-eating nose tackle.

Leondre Damon Terry - WR - Lansing (MI) Everett: Terry is a 5'11", 178 lb. prospect with no offers currently. As a junior in 2013, he had 40 catches for 888 yards (22 yards/catch) and 12 touchdowns. Terry isn't the biggest receiver around, but he shows good acceleration, looks to get upfield, and can break some tackles with his running style. He's a good prospect for a smaller FBS school.

Tyriq Thompson - S - Detroit (MI) King: I did a scouting report on Thompson at the end of January.

Parker Underwood - TE - East Lansing (MI) East Lansing: Underwood is a 6'4", 235 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He claims a 4.7 forty. Underwood shows good blocking technique, plus footwork, and a thick lower body that will likely support a growing frame up top. He is also a high motor player, and while I don't see him as a pass receiving threat, I think he should be a good blocking tight end down the road.

Chase Van Hoef - OG - Grand Haven (MI) Grand Haven: Van Hoef is a 6'4", 275 lb. prospect with no offers right now.  He claims a 5.3 forty, a 24" vertical, a 265 lb. bench, and a 415 lb. squat. He is pretty lean and could still add a significant amount of good weight. He doesn't move his feet as well as you might look for in a tackle, and he also has a tendency to shoulder block, which will have to be coached out of him at the next level. To me he looks like a MAC-level offensive guard.

Jon Wassink - QB - Grand Rapids (MI) South Christian: Wassink is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect without any offers. Wassink can move in the pocket a little bit and shows some nice touch on the ball, but he has some issues with mechanics and does not have the arm strength FBS colleges covet, in my opinion. I believe that he will find himself at the FCS or Division II level.

Michael Weber - RB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech:
Weber is a 5'10", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #11 running back, the #113 overall player, and the #2 player in the state. Weber has a good combination of speed and power, shows nice balance, and is a slashing style of runner who could be successful in a number of offensive systems.

Evan Welch - TE - Fenton (MI) Fenton: Welch is a 6'2", 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He lacks the size of Division I tight ends and defensive ends, and I'm not sure he has the athleticism to play linebacker. Perhaps his best chance of being an FBS player would be at a fullback position, but he may have to look at the lower levels for scholarship offers.

Bryce Wilker - OT - Belding (MI) Belding: Wilker is a 6'5", 280 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has a wide frame that can take some more weight, and while he's not the most athletic guy around, I do think he could stick on the outside and play tackle at a MAC-level program. He moves his feet fairly well, but he will have to lower his pad level to get movement at the next level.

Khari Willis - RB - Jackson (MI) Lumen Christi: Willis is a 6'0", 189 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Michigan State. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #87 athlete, the #883 overall player, and #14 in the state. Willis is an interest prospect, because while he has good size and speed, he lacks refinement and instincts on both sides of the ball. He's the type of player who will be good evidence of whether a coach is worth his salary or not, because some elements are there but he's a project. Based on a lack of vision as a ball carrier, I think Willis's best chance at the next level might be as an outside linebacker.

18 comments:

  1. Thunder, in balance, what do you think of this crop? From the untrained eye, my thoughts are avg to subpar, and that is considering our state is not known as a hot bed for talent.

    We'd be smart to continue our efforts down south and out west. Don't shoot the messenger!

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    1. I agree that Michigan should continue looking outside of the state, but as I mentioned at the top of the piece, I think this is a pretty quality class on average. The top-end talent is lacking because I think there's a drop-off after Cole, Alabi, Weber, and Stallworth (and I haven't really seen enough of Alabi to be convinced he belongs in that group, anyway), but there seem to be more guys in that second group of potential 3-star prospects who could, say, go to Iowa and turn into All-Big Ten corners.

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    2. Point taken, we need to start developing the talent we have like as you say Iowa (and MSU) seem well versed in doing.

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  2. Thank you for this exhaustive review. It was a fascinating read. I have a couple questions if you have time to answer them. Who do you think Michigan will offer from this list that they haven't already? And who do you think they should offer? Judging from what you said, I'm pretty sure your second answer will include Kyonta Stallworth. Is there any reason why the coaches have chosen not to offer him?

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    1. I don't really think they WILL offer anyone who hasn't been offered already. These coaches seem to respect the whole rivalry/local aspect of the school, so I think they look hard at in-state guys before moving outside the region. It's a small class (roughly 12 right now), so they could very well fill up on guys from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Florida, California, Virginia, etc. without digging deeper into in-state prospects.

      I think they should offer Stallworth as a defensive tackle. Beyond him, the other guys who I think have a shot at Michigan offers are Malzone, Stinson, Murphy, Lewis, Gilmore, Buford, and Childress. But those offers might depend entirely on whether Michigan can land some of the guys who already have offers or who are higher on the board.

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  3. Good run down. It look's like we have a bunch of really undersized recruits in Michigan this year. Don't their parent's feed them ?

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  4. Great piece -- I'm hoping this tradition continues.

    Seeing the name Dunaway reminded me of the earliest days of Michgan football I can remember. When Bo was coaching, I swear there were instances (or phases in games) when the tight ends had instructions to collapse into a ball as soon as they made the third-down reception (presumably, to avoid the risk, however small, of a fumble). Interestingly, Dunaway's '83 Rose Bowl stats suggest that he had some yards after his catches in that game.

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  5. I know our class size is very low 12 - 13. I bet MSU has additional openings and therefore will reel in more of these top in state recruits.
    I frankly don't like that because the in state blood comes boiling out in our annual battle on the field which MSU has been owning as of late. I think there is a direct effect.

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  6. great read, keep up the good work!

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  7. Def should try to reel in Stallworth. We need him.

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  8. Logan Slaughter latest camp highlights: Had him at 280 lbs at the camp.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrJIrrGhbMA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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  9. He matched up with John Keenoy, didn't win the rep but moved pretty well.

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  10. Really very great info, but the presentation needs work. You should really consider breaking this out into a series, maybe by position groups, maybe highlighting the top guys that Michigan has (or should target), maybe even some list/rankings. Tthere are better options than a long alphabetical list.

    This is at least 5 posts worth of solid content... Just my 2 cents.

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  11. Logan Slaughter Junior Season Highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWsUVarb4cY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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  12. Any thoughts on Offensive Lineman: David Moorman from Northville?

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  13. Just seen the Antwine kid over the weekend at both the Nike Sparq combine and Best of Midwest in Indiana. He's a very athletic kid with great cover skills. He also clocked a 4.47 in Indiana. While that's not blazing speed, it's kinda fast. And looking at his highlights, that kid can flat out play football. Blocked field goals on a regular? Who does that in HS? Oh yeah. Him and Tyson Smith (OLSM) had the 2nd & 3rd best Sparq Ratings from Michigan. #Sleeper

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  14. Good list but Stinson is not the best on Romulus team look at the Rb Oscar Brown or the wide reciever Darius Jackson....both have garnish attention from the big ten new entries Maryland and Rutgers.....the MAC have beenin the school constantly from Toledo,Kent,Bowling Green, Akron,Eastern, Western and Central Michigan. Romulus is not only a Basketball School anymore this school has talent

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