2015 Season Countdown: #44 Freddy Canteen

Freddy Canteen

Name: Freddy Canteen
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #17
Last year: I ranked Canteen #18 and said he would be a starting slot receiver with 25 catches, 400 yards, and 4 touchdowns. He started two games and had 5 catches, 22 yards, and 1 touchdown.

Canteen earned a lot of hype in the spring of 2014, which carried over into the season. I reached on him. I made the mistake of believing, like children believe in Santa Claus or like Plaxico Burress believed Nick Saban. The whole world is a lie.

Canteen, the self-professed fastest player on the team, averaged 4.4 yards a catch and scored once. He played regularly, but he was not a staple of the offense. Maybe he could have contributed more, but Michigan's passing offense was terrible as a whole, from the play calling to the quarterback to the protection to the receiver play. Canteen was targeted only a handful of times, and I think he dropped one pass. It was a forgettable season.

On the plus side, Canteen got some game experience. The Wolverines are searching for a breakout receiver this year, since Amara Darboh is the only truly established receiver, and he is a possession guy only. Canteen still has the quickness to beat people, but he needs to be used in some of the same ways that former wideout Roy Roundtree was - bubble screens, seam routes, etc. The receivers as a whole don't really stand out, so not many of them deserve to be ranked too high on this list. Canteen will probably continue to play in the slot, but Michigan potentially has other options with redshirt junior Jehu Chesson, freshmen Brian Cole and Grant Perry, and perhaps senior Dennis Norfleet. Michigan will not light up opponents through the air, so it would be nice to see an incremental step forward from Canteen.

Prediction: Starting slot receiver; 15 catches, 175 yards, 2 touchdowns

Michigan vs. Ohio State Awards

Drake Johnson (#20) scored two touchdowns in Saturday's rivalry game against Ohio State

Let's see more of this guy on offense next year . . . Dennis Norfleet. Michigan is lacking big-play threats, and while Norfleet has yet to break a truly big play, he is one of those guys who can gain yards in chunks. He ended the OSU game with 3 carries for 10 yards and 1 catch for 9 yards, but at least one decent run was called back for an Amara Darboh hold (Darboh was called for two holding penalties in the game). Norfleet's final carry of the day lost 3 yards when he tried to run outside of his block, but he at least threatens to make people miss. Virtually every other receiver and running back is very likely to be brought down by the first guy.

Let's see less of this guy on offense next year . . . De'Veon Smith. Smith was essentially forced into action late in the year when Derrick Green went down with a broken collarbone. Smith was the starter essentially by default, and he responded with just one solid game (18 carries, 121 yards, 1 touchdown against Northwestern). Drake Johnson started against Ohio State and did well, and then Smith stepped in with 3 carries for 4 yards when Johnson got hurt. Smith is too slow to be a full-time back, and he doesn't break as many tackles as an ideal short-yardage back should. It's not Smith's fault that he got so much playing time, but Michigan can do better. Johnson passed him up late in the year, starter Derrick Green will return in 2015, and the Wolverines will also have the services of USC transfer Ty Isaac. Barring injuries or transfers, I think Smith should be no higher than #4 on the depth chart next year.

Let's see more of this guy on defense next year . . . Ben Gedeon. It will be interesting to see how the linebacker positions shake out next year. With a potential coaching change coming, the scheme may also change. However, Michigan should once again be deep at the linebacker position. The sophomore Gedeon would be a starter on some Big Ten teams, but he was stuck behind Butkus Award finalist Jake Ryan at middle linebacker. Next year weakside starter and #2 tackler on the team Joe Bolden will return, and former starting inside linebacker Desmond Morgan will come back from his shoulder injury that caused him to redshirt this year. Furthermore, part-time starter at strongside linebacker James Ross III will be back. It would almost be a shame for Gedeon to have to wait until his senior year to start, but that's a possibility with Bolden, Morgan, and Ross returning, all three of whom will be seniors in 2015.

Let's see more of this guy on defense next year . . . Jabrill Peppers. Peppers, the 5-star cornerback who took a medical redshirt, is needed in the secondary. Michigan should be solid at the very least with everyone but Raymon Taylor returning, but Peppers' playmaking potential is desperately needed. Michigan got just 2 interceptions from defensive backs this season, both of which came from sophomore Jourdan Lewis. Peppers could play safety, but his tackling ability is a good fit at slot corner, too; he or Blake Countess could start on the outside, with the other guy playing in the slot.

Play of the game . . . Devin Gardner's touchdown pass to Freddy Canteen. It was only a 3-yarder and Michigan's fate was essentially already sealed, but Gardner rolled right to find Canteen in the endzone near the sideline. Canteen - who showed flashes of promise in the spring but was quiet all season - made an excellent diving catch, getting a foot down before sliding out of bounds.

MVP of the game . . . Drake Johnson. I would like to pick Gardner (22/32, 233 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception), who made some nice plays as well. But Gardner also gift-wrapped two touchdowns for Ohio State. The first one was an interception on the opening drive, setting up OSU on Michigan's side of the field. The second was a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee. So I'll pick Johnson as the MVP. Johnson carried the ball 15 times for 74 yards (4.9 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns, and he threw a halfback pass to Gardner for 18 yards. When Johnson went down with what I'm guessing is an ACL injury late in the game, Michigan's running game suffered greatly.

2014 Season Countdown: #18 Freddy Canteen

Freddy Canteen (image via TheWolverine.com)

Name: Freddy Canteen
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 176 lbs.
High school: Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #17
Last year: Canteen was a senior in high school.
Final TTB Rating: 83

Canteen played with famed quarterback recruit David Sills in high school. The somewhat odd setup of Eastern Christian Academy (an online high school centered around its football program) leads to difficulties with scheduling. Yet with all the big-time recruits, one would think that highlights would be easier to find. Unfortunately, it was a little difficult to find extensive highlights of Canteen and fellow freshman Brandon Watson, despite the fact that they - and others on the team - were bound for big futures.

Canteen and Watson enrolled early in January, and Canteen was one of the main talking points of the spring. He claimed to be the fastest guy on the team, he looked like a big-play guy in the spring game, and people are talking as if he's a sure thing to see the field extensively this fall. Canteen is skinny - just look at that picture above, which was taken during practice a few weeks ago - but he does have the long speed and the quick feet to be a threat early. The plan is to play him in the slot, which means he's not necessarily a starter. But I do rank him above a potential starter like De'Veon Smith or Amara Darboh because Canteen seems to have that knack for getting open and making big plays that we haven't seen from Darboh, Jehu Chesson, and other receivers, and he does not appear to be interchangeable with another player like Smith and Derrick Green. If Michigan loses Canteen for a stretch of time, they lose a guy who can be a mismatch against safeties and who can take the top off the defense.

Prediction: Starting slot receiver; 25 catches, 400 yards, 4 touchdowns

Jersey Number News

1 + 8 = 2

Some news came out yesterday about freshman jersey numbers, plus a couple number changes for the fall. There will surely be others (who will get Legends jerseys #11 and #21?), but these are the stories for now.

#2 Blake Countess: Redshirt junior Countess will switch from #18. This is Charles Woodson's old jersey number, so some people will be upset because Countess doesn't "deserve it." The kid was All-Big Ten and had 6 interceptions last year, including 1 returned for a touchdown. He's now #3 on the single-season interception list behind Tom Curtis and Woodson himself. You can't be much better without being Charles Woodson himself.

#5 Jabrill Peppers: Last worn by CB Courtney Avery. Will share the number with RB Justice Hayes. Peppers also wore #5 in high school.

#14 Drake Harris: Known since the spring. Last worn by S Josh Furman. Harris wore #1 in high school.

#17 Freddy Canteen: Known since the spring. Last worn by WR Jeremy Jackson. Canteen wore #19 in high school.

#19 Wilton Speight: Known since the spring. Last worn by TE Devin Funchess. Speight also wore #19 in high school.

#19 Jared Wangler: Will share the number with Speight. Father, John, wore #5 in college. Brother, Jack, is #16. Jared wore #5 in high school.

#28 Brandon Watson: Was #20 in the spring. Last worn by RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. Watson wore #20 in high school.

#32 Ty Isaac: Last worn at Michigan by S Jordan Kovacs. The incoming transfer, Isaac wore #29 at USC last year. Isaac wore #32 in high school.

#51 Michael Ferns: Known since the spring. The last scholarship guy to wear it was LB Eric Brackins in the early 2000's. Ferns wore #10 in high school.

#52 Mason Cole: Known since the spring. LB Royce Jenkins-Stone also wears this number. Last worn on offense by OL Stephen Schilling. Cole also wore #52 in high school.

#54 Brady Pallante: Last worn by DT Richard Ash. Pallante wore #52 in high school.

#58 Chase Winovich: Last worn by OG Chris Bryant. Winovich wore #15 in high school.

#59 Noah Furbush: Worn by a bunch of walk-on types recently (Jack Doyle, Mark Lawson), but also by long snapper Sean Griffin and linebacker Joey Sarantos. Furbush wore #5 in high school.

#76 Juwann Bushell-Beatty: Last worn by DT Quinton Washington. Bushell-Beatty wore #73 in high school.

#85 Maurice Ways: Last worn by WR Joe Reynolds. Ways wore #9 in high school.

#90 Bryan Mone: Known since the spring. Last worn by LB Jake Ryan when he was a redshirt freshman. Mone wore #52 in high school.

#93 Lawrence Marshall: Not a popular number at Michigan. Worn by a couple defensive linemen, walk-on placekickers, etc. Last notable person to wear it was LB Sam Sword in late 1990's. Marshall wore #12 in high school.

#94 Ian Bunting: Yes, this is still an eligibile number for a tight end. Last worn by tight end Jordan Paskorz. Bunting wore #1 in high school.

Video: Freddy Canteen confident in his own skills

The title of the video says it all, and I'm giving this one its own post because it's a "must see" for Michigan fans. Freshman receiver Freddy Canteen answers questions pretty frankly, and he even seems a little annoyed by the line of questioning and/or the people questioning him, so perhaps this gives us some insight as to why he wasn't a very vocal recruit. I don't know that I've seen a freshman come in this brimming with confidence (maybe there's another word for it . . .?) since Ryan Mallett.

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.)

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)

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: Freddy Canteen, Brandon Watson

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy wide receiver Freddy Canteen

November 1, 2013: Eastern Christian Academy lost to Lakewood (OH) St. Edward by a score of 41-40. ECA is now 7-2.

October 18, 2013: Eastern Christian Academy beat Phoenixville (PA) Renaissance Christian by a score of 34-0. ECA is now 7-1.

October 11, 2013: Eastern Christian Academy beat Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius by a score of 32-29. Canteen had 5 receptions for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns. Watson had 4 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass breakup. ECA is now 6-1 on the year.

October 4, 2013: Eastern Christian Academy beat Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep Charter by a score of 36-28. Canteen had 2 catches for 45 yards. Watson had 3 tackles and 1 interception, which gives him 21 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble returned for a touchdown on the year. Eastern Christian Academy is now 5-1.

September 27, 2013: Eastern Christian Academy beat Nashville (TN) Maplewood by a score of 60-20. Canteen had 5 receptions for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Watson had 4 tackles on defense. ECA is now 4-1.

September 13, 2013: Eastern Christian Academy lost to Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep by a score of 35-32. Canteen had a 48-yard touchdown reception and a 10-yard touchdown. Watson had 3 tackles and 1 interception returned for 30 yards in the loss. St. Peter's features 2014 Michigan running back offeree (and Rutgers commit) Jonathan Hilliman, who had 204 yards and 4 touchdowns. Watson has 14 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble returned for a touchdown. ECA is now 3-1.

September 6, 2013: ECA beat Madison (FL) Madison by a score of 36-6.  Canteen had 2 receptions. Watson had 6 tackles and now has 11 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 fumble returned for a touchdown. ECA is now 3-0.

August 29, 2013: ECA beat College Park (GA) Banneker by a score of 56-13. Watson had a 3-yard fumble return for a touchdown. ECA is now 2-0.

August 24, 2013: Eastern Christian Academy beat Hialeah (FL) Champagnat Catholic by a score of 40-6. Canteen had 5 catches for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. ECA is 1-0 on the season.

Freddy Canteen, Wolverine

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy
wide receiver Freddy Canteen

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy wide receiver Freddy Canteen committed to Michigan on Saturday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Rutgers, and Tennessee, among others.

Canteen is 6'1", 175 lbs. with a 4.43 forty time. He had 6 receptions for 114 yards and 1 touchdown as a junior in 2012.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: 4-star, #43 WR
Scout:  3-star, #80 WR
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #103 WR

Canteen camped at Michigan in mid-June, along with teammate and fellow Michigan commit Brandon Watson. Both players earned offers at the camp, and it took them about a week-and-a-half to commit.

There's not much film on Canteen, just about four plays on his Hudl page. He's earned praise at every stop for his route-running ability, and there are some hints of that on his film. He uses stutter steps, head fakes, good angles, and solid coverage recognition to get open. He also shows some good acceleration and explosiveness to get upfield after the catch. The quarterback for ECA is 2015 prospect David Sills, who has been committed to USC since seventh grade. While Sills might not be the cream of the crop in the class, working with a high-level quarterback has likely helped Canteen develop more than some other prospects.

Canteen has reportedly bulked up some since his junior season, but he appears to be very slight. He will have to get stronger, which is normal for a high schooler. I would also like to see him work on using his hands to catch passes, rather than catching them in his body.

My guess is that Canteen will play slot receiver for Michigan. He has some of the same qualities as Roy Roundtree, although I think Canteen might be a little bit faster. While Roundtree eventually played flanker at Michigan, that was more out of team necessity than his skills actually fitting that position. Canteen should be a quality receiver and could contribute early in his career, but his lack of bulk and strength may limit his yards after the catch and his ability to beat physical man coverage.

Canteen and Watson are the twelfth and thirteenth commitments of the 2014 class, and Canteen is the third wide receiver. Michigan likely wants to take four receivers in the class. Tarpon Springs (VA) East Lake's Artavis Scott and Bethlehem (PA) Liberty's K.J. Williams are both possibilities, but recent information suggests those two will pick Clemson and Syracuse, respectively. Eastern Christian Academy has produced some quality players in recent years, like Khaliel Rodgers (USC), Kenny Bigelow (USC), and several other prospects headed to the likes of UConn, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

TTB Rating: 73 (ratings explanation)

Here are some Hudl highlights of Canteen.

Recruiting Update: June 24, 2013

Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph's offensive tackle Jon Runyan, Jr.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian wide receiver Freddy Canteen was offered by Michigan at camp last week. He's a 6'1", 175 lb. prospect with offers from Maryland, Rutgers, and Tennessee, among others. 247 Sports' Composite ranking places him as a 3-star, the #69 wide receiver, and #551 player overall. He's teammates with Brandon Watson (see below) and catches passes from quarterback David Sills, who committed to USC as a seventh-grader several years ago. Canteen is known for his impressive route running, but he's not the most explosive athlete you'll see.

Plantation (FL) American Heritage wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie was offered by Michigan. He's a 5'8", 160 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others; he named Notre Dame his leader recently. As a junior in 2012, he had 30 receptions for 842 yards and 15 touchdowns. 247's Composite ranking places him as a 3-star and the #148 wide receiver in the country.

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian cornerback Brandon Watson was offered by Michigan at camp last week. He's a 6'0", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Connecticut and Rutgers, along with a couple others. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star and the #115 cornerback in the class.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph's Prep offensive guard Jon Runyan, Jr. was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'4", 250 lb. prospect with no other offers. According to 247 Sports, he's a 3-star and the #37 offensive tackle in the class. His father was an All-Big Ten offensive tackle at Michigan in the early/mid-1990s and went on to be a fourth round pick of the Houston Oilers, who turned into the Tennessee Titans; he also played for the Philadelphia Eagles. The elder Runyan is now a Congressman in New Jersey, and the younger Runyan has said he will most likely commit to Michigan. He could very possibly be the first commit for the 2015 class.


OFF THE BOARD
Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna defensive tackle Khairi Clark committed to Florida. Michigan never really had a shot at Clark.

Lithonia (GA) Martin Luther King cornerback Wesley Green committed to South Carolina. Green never showed much interest in his Michigan offer.

Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf linebacker Darrion Owens committed to Miami. Owens, who played strong safety last year, was being recruited for the SAM linebacker position. Georgia seemed to be the front-runner with Michigan and Miami in the next tier, so it's a bit of a surprise that he picked the Hurricanes. In my opinion, Owens was the best SAM prospect on the board if Michigan wants another in 2014.

Wylie (TX) Wylie safety T'Kevian Rockwell committed to Baylor. This would have been a fun name for Michigan fans to say over the next several years, but it was not meant to be.

Gilbert (AZ) Chandler wide receiver Dionte Sykes committed to UCLA. Sykes visited Michigan and voiced strong interest early, but he's more of a big possession receiver, and the Wolverines have plenty of those in the fold for the next few years.

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy offensive tackle Denzel Ward committed to Purdue. Ward almost committed to Purdue when they were his first offer, and then he almost immediately jumped on his Michigan offer. He moved to Florida without telling the coaching staff - which is a little odd - and hoped for bigger offers while training with IMG Academy, a high school campus renowned for getting athletes ready for the next level. After all that . . . he went ahead and committed to the Boilermakers.