2015 Season Countdown: #49 Chase Winovich

Chase Winovich

Name: Chase Winovich
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Jefferson Hills (PA) Thomas Jefferson
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #44
Last year: I ranked Winovich #74 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Winovich was lanky and undersized for the linebacker position last year. He was also his high school team's quarterback, so he had not been concentrating full-time on defense before last year. With Michigan's stable of experienced linebackers, it would have taken a rash of injuries to put Winovich on the field. Fortunately, everyone but Desmond Morgan stayed healthy, and Winovich was able to learn from the sideline.

Then this spring came along, and Winovich was moved to tight end. He was a standout runner in high school, and quarterbacks often have very good hands, so the move makes a little bit of sense. I have also heard through the grapevine that Michigan's coaches have high hopes for him at tight end, perhaps even more than what a lot of fans realize. However, he is only a redshirt freshman, he's light for a tight end, and he did not look very comfortable catching the ball in the spring game. Michigan would have to use him as an F-back (the new term for Al Borges's U-back or a standard H-back) to catch passes on crossing routes or in the flat, because he's just not ready for in-line blocking. Joe Kerridge is a solid blocker at fullback, but Winovich has some more dynamic abilities as a runner. And if the F-back thing doesn't work, he can still play special teams or move back to defense, since the Wolverines will be pretty thin at linebacker in 2016.

Prediction: Backup F-back

Spring Practice Bits and Pieces

Drake Harris

In the throes of spring practice, bits and pieces are leaking out. Here are some things to note that you may or may not have heard already.

The quarterbacks are a mixed bag. Various reports have suggested various things. Some people will tell you that Shane Morris looks the best. However, there's more chatter about Wilton Speight and Alex Malzone. The buzz on Malzone is that he's picking things up very quickly, which is impressive for a freshman early enrollee.

Jabrill Peppers is good and loud. Peppers is playing safety, and he has been raved about with regard to his athleticism and leadership. There will probably be growing pains, but Michigan hasn't had a great athlete at safety in a while. Furthermore, senior linebacker Joe Bolden says that Peppers screams the defensive calls louder than necessary. The kid is high-energy and loves the game of football. Michigan has the potential for their best safety combination in a long time with senior Jarrod Wilson and Peppers back there.

Chase Winovich is working at fullback/tight end. The redshirt freshman, who is listed at 6'3" and 230 lbs., has reportedly been playing some fullback and tight end this spring after being recruited as a linebacker. You may remember that he was a very effective running quarterback in high school, in addition to his defensive exploits. With the Wolverines failing to reel in Chris Clark (UCLA) in the 2015 class, the tight end position is a little thin. And with senior fullback Sione Houma missing spring practice due to injury, the team is limited there, too. Add in the fact that both of Michigan's experienced fullbacks - Houma and Joe Kerridge - are seniors, and maybe Winovich's move to offense will become permanent. He has supposedly been wearing #44, which is a change from his defensive number of #58. The catch here is that it thins the linebacking corps, which has four players with senior eligibility in 2015 (Desmond Morgan, James Ross III, Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone) and needs bodies in the coming years. If Winovich sticks on offense, that might take away a key option for the 2016 season.

Brady Pallante is also a fullback. This was addressed last week. He's a 6'0", 276 lb. fullback wearing #45.

Everybody is a fullback. Except Terry Richardson.

The guys are bigger. Pretty much across the board, players have added weight. In particular, defensive tackle Willie Henry is up to 311 lbs. and Bryan Mone is up to 325 lbs. Those are not typically the numbers you look for in a penetrating, 3-tech defensive tackle. I would look for those two guys to be playing some nose tackle. Furthermore, there are some other size improvements with offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman up to 309 lbs. and guard Graham Glasgow reaching 303 lbs. Tuley-Tillman was over 330 lbs. in high school, trimmed down to 285 at one point, and is now back up over the 300 lb. threshold. Linebackers Mike McCray II (242 lbs.), Ben Gedeon (241 lbs.), and Royce Jenkins-Stone (240 lbs.) are all larger than the typical Michigan linebacker over the last few years.

Practice tempo has increased. The practice tactic that's en vogue these days is to maximize reps. Reports have said that Michigan has two lineups going in practice, and a play is being run every 25-35 seconds. Rather than making corrections on the field, corrections are made in film. This has been made easier in recent years with film able to be disseminated over the internet through Hudl and the like. It's especially big for spread teams who like to run hurry-up, anyway. It's not surprising that Harbaugh is adopting spread strategies even though he won't run a typical spread offense; he seems to be the type of coach who is always looking for an edge.

Running back is still a question mark. While I believe the running game will improve this season, a number of factors go into that - coaching, experience on the offensive line, experience at running back, and the addition of Ty Isaac. However, Isaac has reportedly been limited due to a cast on his hand, and none of the running backs are sticking out right now. Of course, early practices are always dominated by the defense, so this doesn't necessarily mean much. Personally, I believe Isaac will come out on top at some point.

Wide receivers have promise. Most of the buzz has been about redshirt freshman Maurice Ways, Jr., whose body is ready for playing at this level. One question mark about Ways has always been his hands, so that will be something to watch. Regardless, he might have the best combination of receiving qualities at this point - size, leaping ability, speed, etc. As I've mentioned before, he has some of those same traits that we saw in some of the greats of yesteryear (Marquis Walker, David Terrell, Braylon Edwards). That's not to say Ways will add his name to that list, but he at least has a chance, in my opinion. Fellow redshirt freshman Drake Harris has also been impressive at times. Harris has missed most of the past two seasons due to injuries, and he's listed at just 174 lbs. People express concern about his size, but I am not worried about that facet of his game. If he's as good as his high school hype when it comes to speed and leaping ability, playing under weight won't hamper him from having an effect on the team. Wide receiver size is overrated. It might be the one spot on the field where you find successful guys ranging from 5'8" to 6'5", and you have skinny guys (Roy Roundtree, Tavon Austin, DeSean Jackson) doing well just like big guys (Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Devin Funchess). If Harris is 6'4", 174 lbs., and can ball, the most important part of that is the third part.

2014 Season Countdown: #74 Chase Winovich

Chase Winovich

Name: Chase Winovich
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Winovich was a senior in high school. He was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #24 outside linebacker, and #287 overall.
Final TTB Rating: 79

Winovich committed in June of 2013 over the likes of Florida State and Ohio State. A somewhat rare combination of quarterback and linebacker, he made 85 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 907 yards on the ground, and 11 touchdowns. Winovich is a long kid with good straight-line speed that seemed molded to play SAM linebacker until the coaches switched from the 4-3 Under to the 4-3 Over defense.

I don't think Winovich will be needed on defense this year with all but Cameron Gordon returning at linebacker. Michigan did well enough at the position that a freshman probably isn't going to work his way past the experienced guys. Furthermore, Winovich looks more like an underweight MIKE linebacker in the 4-3 Over, and Michigan is pretty set at that spot with fifth year senior Jake Ryan and sophomore Ben Gedeon. A place Winovich might be able to help is on special teams, where it seems like at least one linebacker or safety burns a redshirt every year. He has the speed to help out on kickoff coverage, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him out there this year, but it makes more sense to redshirt him.

Prediction: Redshirt

Final TTB Ratings for 2014

Michael Ferns, Wilton Speight, Jabrill Peppers, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Bryan Mone, and Jared Wangler

Drum roll, please.

It's that time of year, time for the final TTB Ratings of the 2014 recruiting cycle. Everyone signed his National Letter of Intent back in February, you say? Pshaw. Not Malik McDowell. Nope. McDowell is still holding out and likely to be attending Michigan State in the fall. I was waiting to see if he would compromise with his parents and sign a NLI to Michigan, but that window passed on April 1st.

So here they are. Check out the rating scale (LINK) if you're unfamiliar or just want a refresher. Keep in mind that these ratings take into account the other players on the roster. So for example, the second-best middle linebacker on the roster might find himself sitting on the bench for several years not because he's terrible but because the other guy is really good.

The 2015 TTB Ratings will be coming soon, now that the 2014 cycle is finished.

CB Jabrill Peppers - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: 100
I'm keeping Peppers right where I ranked him initially. He still looks like the best player at his position in the class, and his versatility (he could play safety, return punts and kicks, and perhaps play some offense) makes him an even more valuable commodity. (Commitment post.)

WR Drake Harris - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: 93
I have no reason to downgrade Harris from where I ranked him after his junior year, except for the fact that he missed his entire senior season with a hamstring injury. The injury concerns me and is still nagging him this spring, but it's impossible for me to say whether that will affect him going forward in his career. Considering injuries can derail anyone's career, I'm going to leave Harris at this rating and hope that he recovers and develops fully. (Commitment post.)

DT Bryan Mone - Salt Lake City (UT) Highland: 79 88
Watching Mone from his junior to his senior year, he looked to have added some weight and lost a step. When he played in the Under Armour All-America Game, I thought he looked slow and a little lethargic, but that was roughly two months after his season ended, so maybe he was just out of shape. Either way, I see a guy on film who can stay low and who uses a violent hand strike to disengage from blockers. While he can probably be whipped into shape a little bit, he's not a nose tackle who will amaze people with his athleticism, but he should be an active clogger up the middle. (Commitment post.)

OG Mason Cole - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: 87
Another guy who has already received some practice hype as an early enrollee, I like the way Cole bends and I like his lateral quickness. He has been playing some tackle this spring, but I'm not sure if that's his long-term position because he's not the longest guy around. Wherever he ends up, I think he'll be a good player down the road. (Commitment post.)

LB Michael Ferns - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: 83 85
Ferns can be slightly hesitant to diagnose plays, but otherwise, I think he has almost everything the coaches would want in a linebacker. He could be more physical when shedding blocks, but I think that's something that can be taught for him. Otherwise, he runs well, does a good job in space, and is a forceful tackler. (Commitment post.)

WR Freddy Canteen - Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: N/A 83
Film on Canteen is scarce, and what I saw of him early basically came from his quarterback's (David Sills') highlight tape. I can't say whether spring practice hype has altered my viewpoint on him, but it has been positive. Regardless, I commented on his quickness and route-running ability when he committed, and that seems to be giving Michigan defensive backs problems so far, too. He reminds me of Wes Welker with his quick feet and could be effective in the slot like Roy Roundtree was back in 2010. (Commitment post.)

WR Maurice Ways - Detroit (MI) Country Day: 77 81
I might be a little higher on Ways than the recruiting services, but I really like all three wide receiver recruits in the 2014 class. Ways has reportedly had problems with his hands at certain points, but he didn't concentrate solely on football until his junior year. His hands improved as a senior, and he reminds me of a Marquise Walker type who has good enough speed and size to threaten deep but won't be a big-play machine. (Commitment post.)

LB Chase Winovich - Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: 79
The more I've seen of Winovich, the more I've become convinced that he'll be a solid player. I really see him as a SAM in an Under defense, so I'm not sure exactly how he fits if Michigan goes to an Over look semi-permanently. He definitely needs to get stronger, because he's a willing hitter but ball carriers just don't go down with the ease they should when he hits them. (Commitment post.)

QB Wilton Speight - Richmond (VA) Benedictine: 77
I feel comfortable with this rating. I still don't see "star" written all over Speight, but he should have a couple years under offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier (who will probably be a head coach somewhere by the time Speight graduates), sit behind Devin Gardner and Shane Morris, and then have a couple years to compete for the starting position. He has good arm strength and has improved his mechanics over the past year, and he has already shown good leadership skills with the way he helped recruit in the 2014 class. (Commitment post.)

TE Ian Bunting - Hinsdale (IL) Central: 78 75
Bunting played more tight end as a senior than he did as a junior, when he was exclusively a wideout. He still has a lot to learn about blocking, so it would probably behoove him to redshirt, add some weight, and learn blocking techniques. He doesn't have the physical mentality that I saw out of Butt, so I have some questions about whether he can break tackles and block like a Big Ten Y tight end would need to do. He doesn't have the speed to split out like Devin Funchess has done. (Commitment post.)

DE Lawrence Marshall - Southfield (MI) Southfield: 72 74
Marshall's highlights are a series of plays on which he is unblocked or has to fend off terrible attempts at chop blocks. He does have good speed and leaping ability, but disengaging from blockers is a question mark. For that reason, he reminds me a bit of Mario Ojemudia coming out of high school. I rated Ojemudia as a 78, and he's still looking like he'll be a backup to Frank Clark with two years of eligibility left. I liked Marshall's senior film better than his junior year, but not by a ton. (Commitment post.)

DT Brady Pallante - Naples (FL) Barron Collier: 70 69
I've said before that Pallante reminds me of a slower Mike Martin. He's got the leverage, the hand violence, and the knack for shedding blocks. He won't be the biggest guy, and his lack of explosiveness will prevent him from being the TFL machine that was Martin. I don't see Pallante as a star, but I do see him as a solid rotation player down the road. I'm knocking him down just one peg because I don't see him having much NFL draft potential with his size. (Commitment post.)

OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: 68
After watching his senior highlights and seeing him in the Under Armour All-America Game, Bushell-Beatty looks like a guy who might be more suited to playing inside at guard. I would have concerns about him being quick enough to play on the edge, and he's more of a waist bender than a knee bender. With the other talent surrounding him, I think he might get pushed to the back of the pack, although he could be one of those guys who emerges as an upperclassmen to fill a void. (Commitment post.)

LB Noah Furbush - Kenton (OH) Kenton: 64
Furbush reminds me an awful lot of Brennen Beyer, who has played linebacker and defensive end at Michigan. I was fairly high on Beyer coming out of high school, but his play in college has been somewhat forgettable. Furbush was recruited as MIKE, but he looks like a future defensive end or maybe a SAM linebacker if Michigan runs the Under front. (Commitment post.)

LB Jared Wangler - Warren (MI) De La Salle: 59
Wangler, who played defense mostly as a safety in high school, lacks the foot speed to be a safety in college. He will probably bulk up a little bit and play linebacker. Initially, I thought that he played like a SAM linebacker in a WILL's body, but with Michigan's supposed move to the Over front, I think Wangler fits well as a SAM, period. I think he is limited athletically and doesn't have the biggest frame, but he has a chance because he's a heady, aggressive player. Regardless, the Wolverines have brought in some good talent at linebacker over the past couple years, so it may be tough for Wangler to move past them. (Commitment post.)

S Brandon Watson - Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Incomplete
I still have not seen enough of Watson to offer an opinion here. He has been playing safety this spring and reports have been positive, but practice reports are to be taken with a grain of salt. (Commitment post.)

National Signing Day schedule for Michigan commits

Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers

Here's a list of approximate signing/faxing times for Michigan's commits. When the National Letters of Intent are confirmed to have been sent/received, I will update the post.

Brady Pallante - DT - Naples (FL) Barron Collier: Signed at 7:39 a.m.

Maurice Ways - WR - Detroit (MI) Country Day: Signed at 8:07 a.m.

Ian Bunting - TE - Hinsdale (IL) Central: Signed at 9:40 a.m.

Noah Furbush - LB - Kenton (OH) Kenton: Signed at 8:01 a.m.

Lawrence Marshall - DE - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Signed at 10:53 a.m.

Jared Wangler - LB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Signed at 9:00 a.m.

Jabrill Peppers - CB - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Signed at 8:00 a.m.

Chase Winovich - LB - Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Signed at 7:03 a.m.

Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Signed at 8:27 a.m.

Unless Michigan pulls any surprises late in the day (or after today, which is rare), that wraps it up for the 2014 recruiting class.

Final Scout 300 for 2014 released

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris moved up two spots in the Scout 300 despite missing his senior season due to injury.

Scout released its final list of top 300 prospects for the class of 2014. Here's what it looked like through last month. Movement for Michigan commits:

- Jabrill Peppers moved up from #4 to #3
- Drake Harris moved up from #54 to #52
- Bryan Mone moved up from #90 to #88
- Lawrence Marshall moved up one spot from #105 to #104
- Freddy Canteen dropped one spot from #171 to #172
- Michael Ferns dropped one spot from #178 to #179
- Mason Cole dropped from #249 to #253
- Chase Winovich dropped from #281 to #291

Here are the rest of Michigan's offerees:

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana (LSU)
2. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana (Alabama)
3. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
5. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas (Texas A&M)
6. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
8. Jamal Adams - S - Texas (LSU)
10. John Smith - S - California
12. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia (Alabama)
15. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
17. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
18. Joe Mixon - RB - California (Oklahoma)
20. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
22. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
23. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
25. Bo Scarbrough - RB - Alabama (Alabama)
26. Braden Smith - OG - Kansas
27. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
29. Sam Hubbard - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
31. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
34. Nyles Morgan - ILB - Illinois (Notre Dame)
36. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan

4-stars:
41. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, DC (Florida)
42. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
43. Erick Smith - S - Ohio (Ohio State)
47. Edward Paris - CB - Texas (LSU)
49. Jalen Brown - WR - Arizona (Oregon)
51. Marshon Lattimore - CB - Ohio (Ohio State)
52. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
55. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (North Carolina)
59. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
61. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona (Oklahoma)
63. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois (Ohio State)
66. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
67. Kyle Berger - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
69. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
75. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
76. Dante Booker - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
78. Jeff Jones - RB - Minnesota (Minnesota)
81. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado (Stanford)
83. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
86. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
88. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
102. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida (Clemson)
103. Parrker Westphal - S - Illinois (Northwestern)
104. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
107. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas (Ohio State)
112. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
134. Sam Mustipher - OG - Maryland (Notre Dame)
138. Bryson Allen-Williams - OLB - Georgia (South Carolina)
143. Adarius Pickett - CB - California (UCLA)
144. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
150. Kenny Young - MLB - Louisiana
158. Daniel Helm - TE - Illinois (Tennessee)
159. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina (North Carolina)
170. Shai McKenzie - RB - Pennsylvania (Virginia Tech)
172. Freddy Canteen - WR - Maryland (Michigan)
177. Dravon Henry - CB - Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
179. Michael Ferns - MLB - Ohio (Michigan)
180. Otaro Alaka - OLB - Texas (Texas)
187. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
191. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
195. Richard Yeargin - OLB - Florida (Notre Dame)
200. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
202. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
204. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania (Michigan State)
205. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas (Notre Dame)
206. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
209. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
222. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
227. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, DC (Tennessee)
233. Jay Hayes - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
239. Marcus Allen - S - Maryland (Penn State)
247. Ja'Von Harrison - WR - Florida (Virginia Tech)
253. Mason Cole - OT - Florida (Michigan)
258. Malik Hooker - WR - Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
266. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (South Carolina)
268. Jackson Barton - OT - Utah (Utah)
272. Kiy Hester - S - New Jersey (Miami)
281. Chase Winovich - OLB - Pennsylvania (Michigan)
283. K.J. Williams - WR - Pennsylvania (Syracuse)
296. Juwann Winfree - WR - New Jersey (Maryland)
298. Conor Sheehy - DE - Wisconsin (Wisconsin)

2014 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl rosters

Lawrence Marshall

The Offense-Defense All-American Bowl will be taking place on Friday, January 3 at 5:00 p.m. and will be streamed online. There are a few guys playing who were offered by Michigan, including two Michigan commits.

OFFENSE
Juwann Winfree - WR - New Jersey (Maryland)
Daniel Helm - TE - Illinois (Tennessee)

DEFENSE
Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
Petera Wilson - LB - Tennessee
Chase Winovich - LB - Pennsylvania (Michigan)

Scout 300 for 2014 updated

Freddy Canteen is Michigan's big mover, jumping to #171 from outside the top 300

I don't follow Scout as much as the other three recruiting sites, but it recently came to my attention that the Scout 300 has been updated since my last post on their rankings. Movement for Michigan commits since July:

- Jabrill Peppers jumped from #6 to #4
- Drake Harris fell from #30 to #54
- Bryan Mone jumped from #96 to #90
- Freddy Canteen jumped from outside the list to #171
- Michael Ferns fell from #149 to #178
- Mason Cole jumped from #259 to #249
- Chase Winovich fell from #232 to #277

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
2. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
4. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
5. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
6. Juju Smith - S - California
7. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
9. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
10. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia (Alabama)
15. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
18. Joe Mixon - RB - California
19. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
21. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
22. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
23. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas (Texas A&M)
24. Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
28. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
30. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
33. Sam Hubbard - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
35. Nyles Morgan - MLB - Illinois

4-stars:
37. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
38. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
42. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
43. Edward Paris - CB - Texas (LSU)
44. Marshon Lattimore - CB - Ohio
45. Jalen Brown - WR - Arizona (Oregon)
49. Bo Scarbrough - RB - Alabama (Alabama)
54. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
57. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (North Carolina)
58. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
61. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois (Ohio State)
63. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
67. Erick Smith - S - Ohio
68. Kyle Berger - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
70. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
71. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona (Oklahoma)
72. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
75. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
79. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
81. Dante Booker - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
84. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado (Stanford)
90. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
104. Parrker Westphal - S - Illinois
105. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
108. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
113. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas (Ohio State)
121. Dravon Henry - CB - Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
136. Sam Mustipher - OG - Maryland (Notre Dame)
141. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida (Clemson)
145. Bryson Allen-Williams - OLB - Georgia
147. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
155. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas (Notre Dame)
157. Daniel Helm - TE - Illinois (Tennessee)
158. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina (North Carolina)
169. Shai McKenzie - RB - Pennsylvania
171. Freddy Canteen - WR - Maryland (Michigan)
175. Andy Bauer - OT - Misssouri (Missouri)
176. Adarius Pickett - CB - California (UCLA)
177. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
178. Michael Ferns - MLB - Ohio (Michigan)
186. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
190. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
194. Richard Yeargin - OLB - Florida (Notre Dame)
199. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
201. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
203. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania
205. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
209. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (South Carolina)
213. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, DC (Tennessee)
220. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
231. Jay Hayes - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
237. Marcus Allen - S - Maryland (Penn State)
244. Ja'Von Harrison - WR - Florida (Virginia Tech)
249. Mason Cole - OT - Florida (Michigan)
254. Malik Hooker - WR - Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
264. Jackson Barton - OT - Utah (Utah)
268. Kiy Hester - S - New Jersey (Miami)
277. Chase Winovich - OLB - Pennsylvania (Michigan)
279. K.J. Williams - WR - Pennsylvania (Syracuse)
282. Jimmie Swain - OLB - Missouri
283. Kenny Young - MLB - Louisiana
294. Juwann Winfree - WR - New Jersey (Maryland)
298. Conor Sheehy - DE - Wisconsin (Wisconsin)

Recruit Tracker: Chase Winovich

Final senior season stats: 85 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks; 907 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns

November 15, 2013: Thomas Jefferson lost to Monaca (PA) Central Valley by a score of 23-13. Winovich had 141 rushing yards and 1 touchdown, 1 completion for 19 yards, and 12 tackles. Thomas Jefferson ends the year with a record 11-1.

November 8, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Natrona Heights (PA) Highland by a score of 23-14. Winovich had 31 carries for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns. Thomas Jefferson is 11-0.

November 1, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Allison Park (PA) Hampton by a score of 39-0. Winovich had 8 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Thomas Jefferson is now 10-0.

October 25, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat West Mifflin (PA) West Mifflin by a score of 35-0. Winovich had 27 carries for 246 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns, a 15-yard completion, 7 tackles, and 2 tackles for loss. Thomas Jefferson is now 9-0 entering the playoffs.

October 18, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Uniontown (PA) Uniontown by a score of 59-6. Winovich had 7 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Thomas Jefferson is now 8-0.

October 11, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Belle Vernon (PA) Belle Vernon by a score of 35-0. Winovich had 5 tackles, 1 sack, a 49-yard touchdown run, and a 49-yard touchdown pass in the game. Thomas Jefferson is now 7-0.

October 4, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Uniontown (PA) Laurel Highlands by a score of 56-21. Winovich had 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in the game. Thomas Jefferson is now 6-0.

September 27, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Uniontown (PA) Albert Gallatin by a score of 49-0. Winovich had 4 tackles and 1 pass breakup on defense, plus 2 carries for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns on offense. Thomas Jefferson is now 5-0.

September 20, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Washington (PA) Trinity - the alma mater of former Michigan defensive lineman Ken Wilkins - by a score of 44-7. Winovich had 6 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 blocked punts. He now has 29 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, and 3 total blocks on the year. Thomas Jefferson is now 4-0.

September 13, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Hollidaysburg (PA) Hollidaysburg by a score of 45-12. Winovich had 1 passing and 1 rushing touchdown, along with 7 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 blocked extra point. He now has 23 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, and 1 blocked extra point.

September 6, 2013: Thomas Jefferson beat Elizabeth (PA) Forward by a score of 42-0. Winovich had 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 passing touchdown, 8 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries. Thomas Jefferson is now 2-0.

August 30, 2013: Winovich's Jefferson Hills (PA) Thomas Jefferson team beat Monongahela (PA) Ringgold by a score of 31-10. Winovich had an 80-yard touchdown run and a 40-yard touchdown pass from his quarterback position, and he also had 8 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumbles from the linebacker spot. Thomas Jefferson is now 1-0.

Scout 300 updated for 2014

Jabrill Peppers is now the #6 player in the nation

Scout released its updated top 300 prospects for the class of 2014. Here's what it looked like in June.

Movement for Michigan commits:

- Jabrill Peppers jumped from #7 to #6
- Drake Harris dropped from #28 to #30
- Bryan Mone dropped from #94 to #96
- Lawrence Marshall dropped from #103 to #105
- Michael Ferns dropped from #146 to #149
- Chase Winovich dropped from #230 to #232
- Mason Cole dropped from #251 to #259

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
2. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
3. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
5. Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
6. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
7. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
8. John Smith - S - California
9. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
11. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
15. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
17. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
18. Joe Mixon - RB - California
21. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
22. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
25. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana

4-stars:
28. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
30. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
31. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
33. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
34. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
35. Marshon Lattimore - WR - Ohio
36. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
37. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
41. Nyles Morgan - MLB - Illinois
45. Edward Paris - CB - Texas (LSU)
48. Kyle Berger - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
49. Jalen Brown - WR - Arizona
53. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois (Ohio State)
55. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas
57. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
59. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas
64. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona
66. Bo Scarbrough - RB - Alabama (Alabama)
70. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois
71. Sam Mustipher - OG - Maryland (Notre Dame)
76. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey
77. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (Notre Dame)
82. Tyler Luatua - TE - California
85. Sam Hubbard - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
89. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado (Stanford)
92. Dravon Henry - CB - Pennsylvania
94. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
96. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
97. Andy Bauer - OG - Missouri (Mississippi)
102. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
103. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
105. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
112. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
117. Shai McKenzie - RB - Pennsylvania
119. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas
126. Dwight Williams - OLB - California
138. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida (Clemson)
140. Bryson Allen-Williams - OLB - Georgia (South Carolina)
141. Dante Booker - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
149. Michael Ferns III - MLB - Ohio (Michigan)
150. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania
152. Ja'Von Harrison - S - Florida (Virginia Tech)
154. Erick Smith - S - Ohio
165. Kiy Hester - S - New Jersey (Rutgers)
166. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
170. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina
173. Garrett Dickerson - TE - New Jersey
174. Daniel Helm - TE - Illinois (Tennessee)
177. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina
188. Jay Hayes - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
189. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
192. Richard Yeargin III - OLB - Florida
194. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia (South Carolina)
196. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
199. Adarius Pickett - CB - California
203. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina
205. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida
207. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, D.C. (Tennessee)
217. Conor Sheehy - DE - Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
218. Marcus Allen - S - Maryland (Penn State)
221. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
224. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
229. Petera Wilson - MLB - Tennessee
232. Chase Winovich - OLB - Pennsylvania (Michigan)
250. K.J. Williams - WR - Pennsylvania (Syracuse)
254. T'Kevian Rockwell - OLB - Texas (Baylor)
258. Juwann Winfree - WR - New Jersey
259. Mason Cole - OG - Florida (Michigan)
261. Jackson Barton - OT - Utah (Utah)
275. Troy Vincent, Jr. - CB - Maryland (Penn State)
294. Malik Hooker - WR - Pennsylvania

Chase Winovich, Wolverine

Michigan commits Michael Ferns III and Chase Winovich

Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson outside linebacker Chase Winovich committed to Michigan on Saturday.  He chose the Wolverines over offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, Stanford, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, among others.

I wrote a scouting report on Winovich in mid-May, so you might want to check that out for comments on his play.

The other two finalists for him were Pitt and Ohio State, in that order. Michigan was the last of that trio to offer, but he made a few trips to Ann Arbor and felt more comfortable there. His older brother Peter was a quarterback-turned-fullback at Bowling Green from 2004-08.

Winovich was recruited by Michigan for the SAM outside linebacker position, which he fits pretty well at approximately 6'4", 215 lbs.  He'll have to add bulk, obviously, but he has good length and skills for the position.  Friend and fellow 2014 commit Michael Ferns III was recruited to play middle linebacker, but he also has the size and skill set to play SAM down the road if needed.

When Winovich arrives on campus, Cameron Gordon will have graduated, Jake Ryan will be a redshirt senior, and Mike McCray II will be a sophomore.  McCray's size and skills for the SAM are in question, too, so there might be an opportunity to surpass him or bump him over to MIKE.

Michigan is now up to eleven commitments for the class of 2014, a class that should reach 16 or more.  They could settle with two linebackers, but they could also take the "best available" guy at any of the three positions, such as Junipero (CA) Gardena Serra's Dwight Williams or Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf's Darrion Owens.  With depth and competition somewhat thin at SAM, I would like to see the coaches continue to pursue Owens; Williams, who would play WILL, would just be a luxury at this point.

I'll be interested to see how Winovich performs as a senior once he has presumably added a few pounds, but for now I'll give him a TTB Rating of . . .

TTB Rating: 79 (ratings explanation)

Highlights from Hudl.

Scouting Report: Chase Winovich

Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson linebacker Chase Winovich (image via Detroit News)

Name: Chase Winovich
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Position: Linebacker
High school: Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Akron, Arizona, Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Toledo, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia . . . As a junior in 2012, had 77 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries . . . Claims a 4.65 forty . . . ESPN 3-star, 73 grade, #30 OLB . . . Rivals 3-star, #30 OLB . . . Scout 3-star, #28 OLB . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 87 grade, #49 OLB

Strengths: Good speed for an outside linebacker . . . Shows good discipline and fundamentals on stance and pre-snap positioning . . . Quick feet . . . Able to side-step blockers to make plays in backfield . . . High-effort player capable of tracking plays downfield and sideline to sideline . . . Willing to be physical . . . Does well at avoiding trash in traffic

Weaknesses: Very slight . . . Lacks some functional strength . . . Struggles to take ball carriers down initially . . . Does not use hands well to shed blockers . . . Could stay lower and drive his feet through contact . . . Sometimes just latches on and goes for a ride

Projection: Outside linebacker.  Winovich clearly needs to add bulk to his frame, since he is reed thin and has the lower body of a safety.  Although pass coverage is not highlighted in his film, his length and change-of-direction skills should make him at least decent in that area.  He has a good nose for the ball and should be plus pass rusher if he can work on using his hands and, of course, add strength and mass to his frame.  There is also a slight concern about how much weight he will be able to add without losing his best qualities, which are his quickness and speed.  At his height he should end up around 240-250 lbs. by the time he's a college upperclassman.  Since there's so much physical development in the works, it's hard to project what kind of athlete he might be; however, I think he could be a BCS all-conference type of player if he can maintain his athleticism.

Reminds me of: Shawn Crable. Crable had chicken legs but good length and a very developed upper body; he also had good speed and a knack for getting skinny to avoid blockers and shoot gaps.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Ohio State and Michigan appear to be the front runners, with Pitt running third. Winovich visited Michigan last weekend and left with positive vibes, but he grew up as a Buckeye fan.  A friendship with committed linebacker Michael Ferns III may prove to be beneficial for the Wolverines' chances.

You can view Winovich's highlights here.

Visitors: May 10-12, 2013

Cleveland (OH) St. Benedictine
athlete Jerome Baker

Jerome Baker - ATH - Cleveland (OH) Benedictine: Baker is a 6'1", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.  He also claims a 4.52 forty, which is impressive for a rising junior of his size.  The class of 2015 prospect does not yet have a Michigan offer, but he will probably get one on the visit.  Baker plays running back and linebacker for Benediction, but he looks most like an inside linebacker (MIKE or WILL) from Michigan's eyes.  UPDATE: Baker is no longer visiting this weekend.

Michael Ferns III - LB - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan last August. He recently accepted an invitation to play in the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game.

Drake Harris - WR - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris committed to Michigan last month.  He was recently invited to Nike's The Opening and will also play in the Under Armour game.

Lawrence Marshall - DE - Southfield (MI) Southfield:  Marshall is a 6'4", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, among others.  He committed to Ohio State for a couple days, but he's no longer considering the Buckeyes.  He recently announced a top five of Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and USC, but most analysts think MSU leads with Michigan a step behind.

Wilton Speight - QB - Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight committed to Michigan in February.  He, too, will play in the Under Armour game.

Maurice Ways - WR - Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways committed to Michigan last month.

Chase Winovich - LB - Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Winovich is a 6'4", 215 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and Pitt, among others.  He claims a 4.65 forty and checks in on 247's Composite ranking as a 3-star, the #41 OLB, and the #551 player overall.  Winovich was offered by the Wolverines in early April, immediately after a couple other SAM prospects (Kyle Berger, Sam Hubbard) committed to Ohio State.  He visited Michigan last fall and shortly after being offered last month, so this will be his third visit in the last seven months.  Ohio State and Pitt appear to be the two biggest contenders, along with Michigan.

Recruiting Update: April 16, 2013

East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis linebacker Kyron Watson (#32)

COMMITMENT
Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris committed to Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Sugar Land (TX) Fort Bend Austin running back Vic Enwere was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'0", 210 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado, Houston, Michigan State, and Utah, along with a few others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 210 carries for 1,509 yards and 16 touchdowns.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 3-star, the #55 running back, and the #723 player overall.  He's a big back who I could easily see reaching 225-230 lbs., but he has a little bit of a herky jerky running motion and isn't a very smooth athlete.

Kenton (OH) Kenton outside linebacker Noah Furbush was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'4", 230 lb. prospect with offers from Bowling Green and Toledo, too.  Furbush's offer came after a couple outside linebacker targets picked Ohio State, so Furbush appears to be a backup plan.  He's not currently rated by any of the sites, and in my opinion, he looks more like a Brennen Beyer-style weakside end instead of an outside linebacker.  Kenton is the alma mater of former Michigan target Maty Mauk, a 2012 quarterback who's now at Missouri.

Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf safety Darrion Owens was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'3", 225 lb. player with offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina State, South Florida, and West Virginia, among others.  In the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 3-star, the #45 safety, and the #558 player overall.  As a junior in 2012, he had 101 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.  He's too thick and stiff to be a strong safety in college, in my opinion, but he does have some significant potential as an outside linebacker with his speed and vicious hitting ability.

East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis linebacker Kyron Watson was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'1", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Missouri, Purdue, and TCU, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 142 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.  The offer was extended in the days after Sam Hubbard and Kyle Berger committed to Ohio State, but Watson does not appear to be a SAM prospect like them.  He's a stout kid with the size and hitting ability of a middle linebacker, or perhaps a WILL.  This may indicate that the coaches are looking for a third linebacker in this class, when it was previously assumed that Michigan would look for just one more guy to pair with Michael Ferns III.

Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson outside linebacker Chase Winovich was offered by Michigan.  He stands 6'4" and 215 lbs. with offers from Florida State, Miami, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, among others.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 3-star, the #44 outside linebacker, and the #588 player overall.  Winovich has visited Michigan a couple times previously, but it has been presumed that Ohio State and Pitt, at the least, were ahead of the Wolverines.

Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School outside linebacker Richard Yeargin III was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'4", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.  247's Composite ranking places him as a 3-star, the #34 outside linebacker, and the #458 player overall.  He played at Hollywood (FL) Chaminade, the home of 2014 defensive tackle target Khairi Clark and a few 2012 targets, including QB Jerrard Randall (LSU), WR Curt Evans (Boston College), and safety Jonathan Aiken (Rutgers).  Now Yeargin is transferring to the University School, which Michigan previously targeted with 2013 WR Jordan Cunningham (Vanderbilt) and DT Maquedius Bain (LSU).

OFF THE BOARD
Houston (TX) Cypress Falls outside linebacker Otaro Alaka committed to Texas.  Alaka had not visited Michigan and was not expected to factor into his recruiting process.

Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius outside linebacker Kyle Berger committed to Ohio State.  When Cincinnati (OH) Moeller outside linebacker Sam Hubbard committed to Ohio State last week, that was thought to have helped Michigan with Berger, since both play the same position and the Buckeyes have limited scholarships. However, Berger quickly made his decision to be a Buckeye before he truly ran out of chances, since players like Winovich are also high on Ohio State and play the same position.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel offensive guard Sam Mustipher committed to Notre Dame.  Mustipher had visited Michigan and was seriously considering the Wolverines, partly because of a friendship with the Countess family.

New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine cornerback Jermaine Roberts committed to Texas.  Roberts is a solid prospect, but the prize player from St. Augustine is running back Leonard Fournette, who has offers from just about every noteworthy school across the country.

Mansfield (TX) Timberview safety Brandon Simmons committed to Stanford.  He had a passing interest in the Wolverines, but he had not visited and was expected to stay out west.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here's a list of visitors for Michigan's spring game.