2015 Season Countdown: #33 Ty Isaac

Ty Isaac

Name: Ty Isaac
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Joliet (IL) Catholic
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #32
Last year: I ranked Isaac #19 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Isaac committed to USC in the class of 2013 and spent his freshman season as a backup for the Trojans. He ran 40 times for 236 yards (5.9 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns, and he caught 4 passes for 57 yards (14.3 yards/catch). As a recruit he was considered to be a kid who wanted to stay close to home, so it was a surprise that he chose USC in the first place. When he decided to transfer, it was unclear if it was the depth chart or a health issue with his mother (or a combination of the two) that brought him back to the midwest. He applied for a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately, and when I ranked him #19 last year, he was in limbo about whether he would be granted the waiver or not. His request was not granted, so he redshirted like most transfers do.

Fast forward a year, and he is probably not in the situation he expected. Brady Hoke was fired after the end of Isaac's redshirt year, and Hoke really recruited him hard out of high school. That was a coaching staff that loved his potential. Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh and company were mostly coaching in the NFL, and they probably did not have a clue who he was when he was churning out yards in Joliet, Illinois. This spring Isaac was dealing with multiple injuries (he had a cast on his wrist and battled a pulled hamstring), limiting him to just one carry in the spring game before tweaking the hamstring. Since then there have been transfer rumors and questions about Isaac's toughness.

I think Isaac is the most talented running back on the team. I was fairly high on Derrick Green coming of high school in 2013, but I would have ranked Isaac higher. He can do almost anything you want out of a running back - run between the tackles, run outside, run through tackles, make people miss, outrun some people, and catch the ball out of the backfield. The thing that has always been a question about him - and this goes back to his high school days - is his mental toughness, and that is a difficult thing to discern from watching him on film.

I have few doubts that Isaac is talented enough to succeed at this level, but he plays for a coach that demands toughness. So how far does talent take you on this Michigan squad? I have a feeling that De'Veon Smith will be the starter to begin the year because - let's face it - his best attribute is his toughness. Smith isn't going to outrun anyone or juke anybody in the hole, but he will churn his legs until he can't anymore. I think Isaac is a tough guy to keep off the field because he can create more on his own, he can break bigger plays, and he can catch the ball. Some analysts thought he could even play wide receiver in college. And despite questions about his mental fortitude, he does run with good body lean and gain some tough yards. I just don't know if his raw talent will be enough to convince Harbaugh to trust him as the bell cow.

Prediction: Backup running back; 120 carries, 600 yards, 7 touchdowns

Spring Practice Rumblings

Mason Cole might not be blocking many edge rushers this season

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Based on recent developments and leaks, I'll toss out some of the recent rumblings from practice, which you can feel free to dissect/discuss.

Quarterback: Different sources will say different things. I don't really have much to add to that, except it seems like Shane Morris is mentioned most often as looking the best.

Running back: Ty Isaac had questions about his toughness coming out of high school, but he has played through some things this spring; however, he has been suffering from hand and hamstring injuries, so he is limited. Derrick Green has also been injured, and Drake Johnson is coming off that ACL tear. The one constant has been De'Veon Smith, who has been earning praise for his vision and attitude. It's not really a secret that Smith can have a sullen disposition at times.

Fullback: With Sione Houma out due to injury, it's still Joe Kerridge, Brady Pallante, and Chase Winovich getting reps at this spot.

Hit the jump for the rest of the positions.

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.

Michigan releases spring 2015 roster

Brady Pallante is a fullback now. Brady Pallante is not #23.

Michigan released its spring roster on Monday as the Wolverines begin spring practice on Tuesday (LINK). Here are some notable updates to the roster.

Ian Bunting: Bunting is up to 6'7" and 243 lbs. Michigan needs help at tight end this fall, so 243 lbs. is a good sign of him developing physically. He should be up over 250 lbs. by the fall.

Brian Cole: Cole, a true freshman early enrollee, is wearing #81. He's listed at 6'2", 200 lbs.

Ross Douglas: Douglas was recruited as a cornerback, moved to slot receiver, moved to running back, and now is back at corner. Still wearing #29, he is now listed as Ross Taylor-Douglas.

Derrick Green: Green is listed at 5'11" and 234 lbs.

Ty Isaac: Isaac is listed at 6'3" and 240 lbs.

Alex Malzone: Malzone, a true freshman early enrollee, is wearing #12. He's listed at 6'2", 218 lbs.

Brady Pallante: Pallante came to Michigan as a nose tackle prospect and is now listed as a redshirt freshman, 6'0", 276 lb. fullback wearing #45.

Terry Richardson: Richardson is listed as a redshirt junior cornerback and is finally nearing close-to-acceptable weight at 174 lbs. at 5'9".

Matt Thompson: Thompson is a new addition as a walk-on quarterback from Cincinnati (OH) Indian Hills. He's listed at 6'5", 214 lbs. as a redshirt freshman. Here are Thompson's Hudl highlights from his senior year (LINK). His delivery is a little bit wonky, but he doesn't look too bad for a walk-on. He's not a bad guy to have available for running a scout team and such. It also looks like he's hit a growth spurt since high school.

Ryan Tice: Tice is a 6'1", 177 lb. walk-on who enrolled early out of Saline (MI) Saline. I mainly note this because Michigan graduated both their punter and kicker, so Tice might be competing for one of those jobs, along with walk-on Kenny Allen (punter) and 2015 signee Andrew David (kicker).

2014 Season Countdown: #19 Ty Isaac

Ty Isaac

Name: Ty Isaac
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Joliet (IL) Catholic
Position: Running back
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #32
Last year: I did not rank Isaac, who was on the USC football team. He ran 40 times for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he caught 4 passes for 57 yards.

I was a pretty big fan of Isaac coming out of high school, but he went to the dastardly USC Trojans instead of the local-ish favorites like Notre Dame and Michigan. Lane Kiffin (and his replacement, Leatherhead from TMNT) gave him the fifth-most carries on the team, so he was not particularly irreplaceable. However, he did average 5.9 yards/carry and had some nice looking runs on the chances he did have. In the offseason, his mother had ear surgery that would have prevented her from flying to see his games in southern California, so that was the reason (or at least the excuse) for him to seek a transfer. His options came down to Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Michigan, and the Wolverines won that battle.

It's unclear whether Isaac will be available for the 2014 season; he will have to get a waiver from the NCAA, which they are not likely to grant since Michigan is outside the 100-mile radius from Joliet, IL. I went ahead and ranked Isaac on the list, and you may notice that he's the top back in the stable. In my opinion, he's better than anyone Michigan had on the roster prior to last year, and he was better than either Derrick Green or De'Veon Smith in the 2013 class. Isaac is a big body with some nifty feet, decent speed, and an ability to catch the ball. He probably won't play a down in 2014, so Michigan will be without its 19th-most valuable player this year.

Prediction: Redshirt

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.

Visitors: June 6-8, 2014

Ty Isaac

TRANSFER
Ty Isaac - RB - Joliet (IL) Catholic: Isaac, who is visiting on Tuesday, is a transfer prospect from USC. He was offered as part of the 2013 class and was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 all-purpose back, and #54 overall. As a true freshman, he carried the ball 40 times for 236 yards (5.9 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns, but there are three Trojan running backs returning who were ahead of him on the depth chart last season. Furthermore, Isaac has an ill mother, so he wants to play closer to home. Northwestern and Northern Illinois are both within the 100-mile radius the NCAA has established for players hoping to get a waiver to play immediately; otherwise, he would have to sit out the 2014 season. Illinois, Michigan, and Notre Dame are the other three schools supposedly in competition, but he would have to sit out the 2014 season and wait until 2015 to be eligible. Michigan nabbed Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith in the 2013 class, but more competition would be welcome for a team that is still looking for someone to step up and grab the starting running back job by the horns. Here is my scouting report on Isaac from when he was in high school (LINK). He's now up to 6'3", 225 lbs. UPDATE: Isaac committed to Michigan (LINK).

2015
Grant Newsome - OT - Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School: I wrote up a scouting report on Newsome back in March (LINK). He has since picked up an offer from Tennessee, but the general line of thinking is that he is currently trying to decide between Michigan and Penn State. This will be Newsome's second visit to Michigan.

Michael Weber - RB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber has been on Michigan's radar for a long time. The 247 Composite 4-star, #9 running back, and #90 overall player recently named a top five that included Michigan, but he also listed a top three inside the top five that did not include the Wolverines.

2016
Justin Layne - WR - Cleveland (OH) Benedictine: Layne is a 6'3", 173 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, and West Virginia. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #18 wide receiver, and #88 overall. He claims a 4.44 forty time. Layne will be visiting Ann Arbor for a basketball camp, but he will also be visiting Michigan's football facilities with the coaches. The Wolverines are pursuing Layne's teammate, 2015 linebacker Jerome Baker, but Baker is thought to be leaning toward Ohio State.

Ty Isaac, Wolverine

Ty Isaac

USC transfer running back Ty Isaac has announced his intentions to take his talents to Washtenaw County. His mother has an illness that does not allow her to fly from their home in Joliet, Illinois, so the roughly four-hour drive to Ann Arbor is easier on her. He was also considering Illinois and Notre Dame with other teams like Northwestern, Northern Illinois, and Ohio State also showing interest.

Isaac is a 6'3", 225 lb. player who was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 all-purpose back, and #54 overall in the 2013 class. As a freshman at USC, he carried the ball 40 times for 236 yards (5.9 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns.

I wrote a scouting report on Isaac when he was in high school and considering Michigan (LINK).

Isaac was a backup for the Trojans last year, but they had a stacked backfield. He would have been a bit player once again this season, but he enters a Michigan backfield that is waiting for one of many players to emerge at the position. The two front-runners for the position had been sophomores De'Veon Smith and Derrick Green, both of whom were also in the 2013 class with Isaac. Isaac automatically enters that conversation as long as the NCAA waiver comes through that will allow him to play immediately, based upon his mother's illness.

The depth chart will sort itself out. The best player(s) will play, but I have a hard time imagining all three players finishing out their careers at Michigan. Assuming that Isaac's waiver is granted and he is eligible to play in 2014, I would not think that redshirting him would be a great idea. If he's not immediately the best runner, he offers some value as a pass receiver out of the backfield and perhaps in an H-back type of role.

I won't assign a TTB Rating to Isaac because it's a little unfair, given that we've already seen him playing against FBS-level competition. However, I did say during the recruiting process that I would have ranked him above Green (and Smith), so I probably would have rated him somewhere in the 90's.

Michigan will probably continue recruiting running backs for the 2015 class because they did not address the position in the 2014 class. It's less dire of a need, but going two consecutive years without a running back (even if you got three in 2013) is not a good long-term strategy. By seniority, here's the running back stable as it stands right now:

1. Justice Hayes, RS Jr.
2. Drake Johnson, RS So.
3. Derrick Green, So.
4. Ty Isaac, So.
5. De'Veon Smith, So.
6. Ross Douglas, RS Fr.

The last player to come from Joliet (IL) Catholic to Michigan was Mike Kolodziej, an injury-addled offensive lineman in the 2002 class.

Thoughts on the Ty Isaac situation

Former USC running back Ty Isaac could end up in a Michigan uniform.

In case you missed it, USC rising sophomore running back Ty Isaac has been granted his release to leave and return closer to home, reportedly due to an ill mother. The most important thing in this story is that he has a sick mother, and while the details are unknown to me at this point, I certainly hope she regains her health. As a member of the 2013 class, Isaac was afraid of moving away from his Illinois home for family reasons, so it's unfortunate that he has to go through this transfer/recruiting process again so soon.

As for the football aspect, Michigan made Isaac a top priority when he was coming out of Joliet (IL) Catholic and only started to press for Derrick Green after Isaac started to drift away from the Wolverines. Michigan ended up getting Green and De'Veon Smith in the 2013 class, both of whom played as freshmen and will be true sophomores this fall. Meanwhile, Isaac had 40 carries for 236 yards (5.9 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns for the Trojans. He was behind a couple older players as well as fellow freshman Justin Davis, but while Isaac had the fewest carries, all of them performed well while sharing time.

My scouting report on Isaac (LINK) indicated that he has good size, speed, and vision but lacked the power you might expect from a back as big as he is (6'3", 225 lbs.). Green and Smith have failed to separate themselves from the competition of Justice Hayes and Drake Johnson, so in my opinion, the presence of Isaac would help Michigan's backfield. Early reports say that Illinois, Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Northwestern have all made contact and have a decent chance; Notre Dame, another front-runner in his high school recruitment, might also be in the mix, but they could be nixed by USC since they're on the Trojans' schedule.

Michigan has scholarships to give after the 2014 class was signed, and Isaac could very well earn a waiver to play in 2014, much like Tennessee-to-Michigan State receiver DeAnthony Arnett did last year. If Isaac were to decide on wearing a winged helmet, he could conceivably be a starter by this fall. I don't do TTB Ratings for players who don't commit to Michigan, but I would have ranked Isaac higher than both Green and Smith in the 2013 class. He's a more natural runner than Green and has more breakaway ability than Smith.

The Wolverines have historically struggled to pull in transfers (Alabama center Chad Lindsay being a cautionary tale for getting up hopes), partly because of their admissions department. But unlike getting a grad year transfer, Isaac is just a rising sophomore, so getting him into an undergrad program should not be a huge issue. I am skeptical that anything in Michigan's favor happens, but I do believe he would be a highly desirable addition to Michigan's program from a football standpoint.

Schools in the News: Washington, USC

Southern California hired Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian away from the Huskies, which opens up recruiting season in the Pac-12. Michigan doesn't typically compete with Washington for recruits, but here's a look at the players and commits for each program that were recruited by Michigan.

WASHINGTON
2014 commits: None
Current players: TE Darrell Daniels, DE Joe Mathis, DT Elijah Qualls, S Sean Parker*, WR John Ross, WR Da'morea Stringfellow, S Shaq Thompson

USC
2014 commits: None
Current players: Hit the link.

USC's coaching/recruiting situation was addressed in the link above, which included a couple guys who thought seriously about Michigan. If they don't like what Sarkisian brings to the table, they could look to transfer. However, Sarkisian's history at USC and his relatively similar style of play to what the Trojans have been running will probably result in very little change of direction for the program.

As for the Huskies, we'll see whom they hire. Parker very nearly signed with Michigan several years ago, but that's water under the bridge. Mathis was very high on Michigan at one point, but he supposedly had some grade issues that scared off some teams, and he was also prone to saying very nice things about every school. Qualls was a part-time high school running back and seemed like another kid with fairly high interest in Michigan, but he never visited. Thompson, a 5-star safety, made some noise about visiting but was never a serious option, and the rest of the guys never showed much interest.

I do not expect this coaching development to have any effect on Michigan, but the guys to look at most closely would be Washington's Mathis and Qualls, plus USC's Ty Isaac and Leon McQuay III.

*Senior in 2013

School in the News: USC

Leon McQuay III may have made a poor choice.

The news came out this morning that Lane Kiffin, head coach of the USC Trojans, is now . . . well . . . the ex-head coach of the USC Trojans. The Trojans lost to Arizona State on Saturday by a score of 62-41 and dropped to 3-2 on the year. It's open season on their recruits, one of whom (2014 linebacker Derik Calhoun) has already opened up his recruitment. They have just six remaining commits in the current class, and none of them had been offered by Michigan. La Jolla (CA) Country Day offensive tackle Jordan Poland talked at one time about being highly interested in Michigan, but the Wolverines haven't reciprocated that interest up to this point. And on a side note, class of 2015 quarterback David Sills - who committed to Lane Kiffin a few years ago - is the teammate of 2014 Michigan commits Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson, which may be something to watch as the Wolverines search for more quarterback targets in the next class.

Transfers might be unlikely in the future, but here's a list of the current USC non-seniors who held offers from the Wolverines at one point:

WR Nelson Agholor (So.)
S Dion Bailey (RS Jr.)
S Su'a Cravens (Fr.)
RB Justin Davis (Fr.)
LB Lamar Dawson (Jr.)
WR Jordan Farmer (Jr.)
CB Chris Hawkins (Fr.)
C Cyrus Hobbi (RS So.)
LB Michael Hutchings (Fr.)
RB Ty Isaac (Fr.)
WR Marqise Lee (Jr.)
S Leon McQuay III (Fr.)
LB Jabari Ruffin (RS Fr.)
CB Joshua Shaw (RS Jr.)
DT Delvon Simmons (Jr.)
OG Jordan Simmons (RS Fr.)
TE Randall Telfer (RS Jr.)
OT Max Tuerk (So.)
OG Aundrey Walker (Jr.)

Running Back Recruiting

Cordova (TN) St. Benedict's Jordan Wilkins

Yesterday's announcement by Joliet (IL) Joliet Catholic running back Ty Isaac that he would be playing football at USC stunned some Michigan fans.  With his recent behavior, it was not surprising that heading to Southern California would be his choice.  Isaac started to withdraw from publicity a little bit, and it seems that when kids start to weary of the process, that's often because they're headed somewhere that won't necessarily be well received publicly.  A kid from Illinois spurning Notre Dame, Michigan, and other midwest schools is going to get a little blowback.  This doesn't necessarily mean that Isaac's recruitment is over, because schools will probably continue to make a push for him.  But for now, Michigan fans should operate under the assumption that he's permanently off the board.

Isaac was clearly the top running back prospect on the coaches' board, so where do the Wolverines go from here?  Well, they already have Warren (OH) Howland running back DeVeon Smith and Novi (MI) Catholic Central jumbo running back Wyatt Shallman.  Both are solidly considered 4-star recruits, they can both play a role at Michigan, and both seem to be strongly committed to Michigan.  What Michigan seems to lack in those two guys is a gamebreaker.  They're both grind-it-out types who can break tackles or score near the goal line, but neither appears to have the speed and agility to go 80 yards on any given play.

The two names that pop up most frequently are Richmond (VA) Hermitage running back Derrick Green and Cordova (TN) St. Benedict tailback Jordan Wilkins.  While Green claims 4.37 forty speed, that kind of acceleration and explosion isn't apparent on his highlight film.  The 6'1", 215-pounder looks more like a between-the-tackles power guy than a big play guy.  With Smith and Shallman already in the fold for 2013, taking a commitment from Green would seem a bit redundant.

Wilkins, on the other hand, looks a lot more like Isaac.  The Tennessee product has more lateral agility than Green, can catch the ball out of the backfield much like Isaac, and has the ability to break the big one.  While I don't know that I can justify saying that Wilkins is faster than someone who claims a 4.37 forty, comparing junior film of Wilkins and Green makes the former look like the big-play guy that Michigan should be seeking.

Outside of those two guys, who both have offers, the pickings get a little slim.  There aren't a great deal of options in the midwest, and reaching outside of the midwest is always a tough pull.  Chelsea (MI) Chelsea tailback Berkley Edwards is a Michigan legacy and the younger brother of wide receiver Braylon Edwards, but he's small and probably not the feature back that Michigan really wants.  Otherwise, he would have been offered already.  Pickerington (OH) North's Godwin Igwebuike is the teammate of 2013 tight end commit Jake Butt and has an offer from Wisconsin, but again, he's not a threat to take it the distance.  The only other big-time running back prospect in the Big Ten imprint appears to be Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep's David Williams, who has offers from Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State.  Williams doesn't have a Michigan offer and it could very well be too late to get a foot in the door.

It seems most likely at this point that Michigan will once again go without an elite level running back in the 2013 class, which continues the trend that arguably started in the 2010 class.  Fitzgerald Toussaint, a 2009 recruit, was somewhat highly touted but not really a national recruit.  One might even make the argument that you would have to go all the way back to 2008, when Michigan snagged the highly sought after Sam McGuffie, to find an elite running back in a Michigan recruiting class.

Recruiting Update: March 19, 2012

How now? What news?

COMMITMENT
Warren (OH) Howland running back Deveon Smith committed to Michigan.

OFF THE BOARD
Randolph (NJ) Randolph offensive guard Brendan Mahon committed to Penn State.  For whatever reason, Mahon always seemed like a Penn State type of guy.  And obviously, with Michigan full at the offensive line position group, this doesn't affect the Wolverines a great deal.

St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham wide receiver James Onwualu committed to Notre Dame.  Onwualu had planned to visit Michigan last week, but decided to go ahead and commit to the Irish instead.  Cretin-Derham has produced several high profile athletes (Seantrel Henderson, Joe Mauer, etc.), including outgoing Notre Dame wideout Michael Floyd.

Pittsburgh (PA) Seton La Salle tight end Scott Orndoff committed to Pitt.  He was committed to Wisconsin for a long time, but the departure of offensive coordinator Paul Chryst made him back off that commitment.  Luckily for Pitt, Chryst became the Panthers head coach.  Orndoff visited Michigan unofficially last weekend, but you can't blame him for picking a Chryst's offense; he's a guy who has done a good job of developing tight ends.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here's a list of the weekend visitors.  You can add 2013 commit Kyle Bosch to the list, too.

When Richmond (VA) Hermitage running back Derrick Green visited on Sunday, the coaches told him that they still wanted another running back, despite the fact that Smith committed on Saturday.  That means the door is still open for Green or Joliet (IL) Catholic's Ty Isaac.

Scouting Report: Ty Isaac

Joliet (IL) Catholic running back Ty Isaac (#32)

Name: Ty Isaac
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Class: 2013
Position: Running back
School: Joliet (IL) Catholic

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, Toledo, USC, Vanderbilt, Washington, and Wisconsin . . . As a junior in 2011, rushed 178 times for 2,114 times and 45 touchdowns . . . Caught 16 passes for 360 yards and 7 touchdowns . . . As a sophomore in 2010, rushed for 650 yards and 7 touchdowns . . . As a freshman in 2009, rushed for 675 yards and 6 touchdowns . . . ESPN 4-star RB . . . Rivals 4-star RB, #18 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star RB, 96 grade, #4 RB, #28 overall . . .

Strengths: Very good speed for a kid his size . . . Has clearly worked on running form to maximize speed . . . Very smooth runner in the open field who will be tough to track down from behind . . . Good vision . . . Knows how to set up blocks, when to follow blockers, and when to explode through hole . . . Naturally lowers hips to maximize cutting ability . . . Lowers pad level well when he sees contact coming . . . Good receiver . . . Catches ball away from body and high points the ball . . . Shows good hustle all the way through the play

Weaknesses: Not a particularly tough runner . . . Needs to improve lower body strength and leg drive . . . Goes down too easily when being tackled from side or behind . . . Probably needs to add 20 lbs. to be an effective power runner

Projection: Running back.  Isaac has all the tools to be a successful college running back.  There's a reason many big-time schools are after him . . . but he plays against poor competition, so his high school statistics and highlights should be taken with a grain of salt.  The high school players he's playing against are overmatched, and it's not because Isaac is superhuman.  I have heard many concerns that he runs too high, but I don't see that as being a problem.  He does have a very upright running motion, but that's typically only when he gets in the open field and is running away from 5'8", 150 lb. defensive backs; when he's in traffic, he does a good job of running behind his pads.  I also have some concerns that in his misdirection, east-west high school offense, he might struggle to adjust to running from the I-formation and getting downhill immediately in college.  He takes advantage of a lot of overpursuing linebackers to get into cutback lanes, but that flow might not be there at the next level.  As Isaac grows and turns into a 235 lb. tailback, he seems to have a good future, especially if he runs behind a powerful offensive line like Michigan's that can get him to the second and third level against smaller, sometimes slower players.

Reminds me of: Eddie George

For high definition highlights, click here or watch the low def ones below:

Weekend Visitors: March 9-11, 2012

Rumors have been swirling that Massillon (OH) Washington cornerback Gareon Conley (#21)
might be the next recruit to drop for Michigan
(image via Friday Night Ohio)

Zach Bradshaw - WR - Damascus (MD) Damascus: Bradshaw is a 6'3", 205 lb. wideout with 4.56 speed.  He has an offer from Michigan, along with Maryland, South Carolina, West Virginia, and several others.  He had 28 receptions for 395 yards and 6 touchdowns last season, plus 250 rushing yards for 2 touchdowns, and 2 punt return touchdowns.  (Highlights here.)

Gareon Conley - CB - Massillon (OH) Washington: Conley is a 6'1", 170 lb. cornerback with an offer from Michigan, plus from the likes of Northwestern, Toledo, and West Virginia.  He had 26 tackles and 4 picks as a junior in 2011.  There is a good chance that Conley will be committing to Michigan on this weekend's visit.


David Dawson - OT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Dawson is a 6'4", 305 lb. offensive lineman who committed to Michigan in mid-February.  Despite being projected by most as an offensive guard, he says that Michigan's coaches want to start him out at right tackle and see how things go.  (Commitment post here.)

Jaleel Hytchye - CB - Cincinnati (OH) LaSalle: Hytchye is a 5'11", 170 lb. cornerback who does not yet hold an offer from Michigan.  He does, however, have offers from Kentucky, Kent State, and Western Kentucky.  Last season Hytchye made 30 tackles, 14 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions.  Because Michigan is generally looking for corners who are 6'0" or taller, chances are slim that he will get an offer at this point.  (Highlights here.)

Ty Isaac - RB - Joliet (IL) Catholic: Isaac is a 6'3", 215 lb. runner with offers from all over the country, including Michigan.  He is generally thought to be #1 on Michigan's running back board and early leaders seem to be Michigan and Notre Dame.  He carried the ball 178 times for 2,114 yards and 45 touchdowns as a junior in 2011.  (Highlights here.)

Shane Jones - LB - Cincinnati (OH) Moeller: Jones is a 6'1", 220 lb. 'backer from the same high school as 2012 wide receiver target Monty Madaris (Michigan State).  He made 89 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks as a junior in 2011.  He looks like a weakside linebacker or possibly a MIKE.  He holds an offer from Michigan, along with Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Penn State, among others.  (EDIT: Jones, like Anzalone below, also canceled his trip to Michigan due to the linebacker position being full.) (Highlights here.)


Colin McGovern - OT - New Lenox (IL) Lincoln-Way West: McGovern is a 6'7", 280 lb. tackle with offers from Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, among others.  He also had an offer Michigan, although the Wolverines are currently full at the offensive line positions unless something changes.  (Highlights here.)

Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris committed to Michigan in the summer of 2011.  (Commitment post here.)

Dylan Roney - DE - Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Roney is a 6'2", 215 lb. defensive end from the class of 2014.  He has no scholarship offers at this point.  Roney made 75 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery as a sophomore in 2011.  He is the teammate of incoming freshman defensive end Matt Godin and 2013 running back commit Wyatt Shallman. (Highlights here.)

NOTE: Wyomissing (PA) Wyomissing Area linebacker Alex Anzalone was originally scheduled to visit Michigan this weekend, too.  However, he stated that Michigan told him they were full at his position, which could mean several things.  Since Anzalone looks like a SAM to me, it might mean that recent commit Mike McCray took that spot.  It could also mean that Michigan has received a silent commitment from another player.  And another possibility is that the coaches are saving a spot for E.J. Levenberry.

Recruiting Update: January 16, 2012

Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Luers linebacker Jaylon Smith

ADDED TO THE BOARD (2012, 2013, 2014)
Fort Wayne (IN) Bushop Luers outside linebacker Jaylon Smith, a 2013 prospect, received a Michigan offer on Friday.  The 6'3", 202 lb. Smith is the brother of Rod Smith, a running back at Ohio State.  Jaylon also holds offers from Indiana, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue, and Tennessee.


OFF THE BOARD
Vandalia (OH) Butler offensive tackle Taylor Decker changed his commitment from Notre Dame to Ohio State.  Decker is a 6'8", 288 lb. lineman and a 4-star recruit across the board.

Hamilton (GA) Harris defensive end Jordan Jenkins committed to Georgia on Monday.  The 6'3", 245-pounder also visited Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee.  He played defensive tackle in the Under Armour All-America Game despite being undersized, but he still finished the game with 8 tackles and 2 sacks.  However, Georgia plans to use him as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 system.

WEEKEND VISITORS
Madisonville (KY) North Hopkins safety Jeremy Clark was in town this past weekend.  He's 6'4", 205 lbs. and could potentially develop into an outside linebacker at the college level.  Clark was originally a "greyshirt" commit and wasn't planning to join the program until 2013, but the departure of Carvin Johnson opened a slot for him.

Chicago (IL) Simeon offensive tackle Jordan Diamond visited Ann Arbor this past weekend.  The 6'6", 289-pounder is exploring his options with Arkansas, Auburn, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, and the Buckeyes are reportedly feeling quite confident about their chances with him.

Joliet (IL) Joliet Catholic running back Ty Isaac, a 2013 prospect, visited this past weekend.  The 6'3", 215 lb. runner had 2,114 yards rushing and 45 touchdowns as a junior last season, and Michigan appears to be tied with Notre Dame at the top of Isaac's list.  I have heard unflattering things about Isaac and I'm not a huge fan of his running style, but he is big and fast . . . so there's that.

Woodbridge (VA) C.D. Hylton linebacker E.J. Levenberry, Jr., a 2013 prospect, also visited.  The 6'3", 226 lb. linebacker has already been offered by Michigan, along with several other schools.

Warren (MI) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris, a 2013 commit, visited Ann Arbor.  Morris seems to be turning into Michigan's biggest athlete/recruiter, in the same vein as Ricardo Miller and Erik Magnuson in recent classes.

West Roxbury (MA) Catholic Memorial cornerback Armani Reeves visited Ann Arbor again this past weekend.  He's committed to Penn State but unsure of new head coach Bill O'Brien.  The 5'9", 185 lb. Reeves could play cornerback or receiver at the next level (Michigan wants him for defense), but both Penn State's wide receivers coach and secondary coach have been let go.  Reeves's best friend Camren Williams is committed to Penn State, which could weigh heavily into a decision here.

Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate cornerback Jalen Tabor, a 2014 prospect, visited Michigan this past weekend.  He's a 6'1", 168 lb. sophomore who hasn't been offered by Michigan yet.  However, he does have offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and several others . . . so a Michigan offer will probably be on the way at some point.  He attends the same school as 2011 running back Malcolm Crockett, who was recruited by Rich Rodriguez, and 2012 defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.

Alliance (OH) Marlington safety Dymonte Thomas, a 2013 commit, visited Michigan along with Morris.  The 6'1", 180-pounder could play either safety position for Michigan and is also a standout running back for Marlington.

RECRUITING NEWS
There wasn't a whole lot of news this past week after last week's monster recruiting update.  Most class of 2012 kids who haven't committed yet are going to wait until National Signing Day or thereabouts.  So here's a bit of a wrap-up of some developments in the recruiting world last week:

Scout released its final Scout 300 of the recruiting cycle.  Posting this recruiting update at the beginning of January prevents people from questioning their integrity if they waited until after National Signing Day.  After all, there's virtually no more "scouting" info to come for the class of 2012 now that the all-American games have been played, and posting updates after NSD might make people question if they change their ratings depending on where kids commit.

Here's a scouting report on Louisville (KY) Trinity WR James Quick.  Michigan will be battling with lots of teams across the country to get Quick's commitment, but he looks like a very good prospect for the next level.

Recruiting Update: October 30, 2011

Lemont (IL) Lemont OT Ethan Pocic (#77) would be a welcome replacement on the offensive line
if he plays like Michigan's other Lemont alumnus

ADDED TO THE BOARD

Lemont (IL) Lemont OT Ethan Pocic, a 2013 prospect, was offered by Michigan.  Pocic is 6'7", 285 lbs. and has offers from Nebraska, Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.  Lemont is the same high school that David Molk attended, and much like Molk, Pocic doesn't seem to like opposing defensive linemen or reporters.  His film shows him destroying various high schoolers, and he's not very open about the recruiting process.  He's not a bad athlete, but he's a little less athletic than some of the other offensive tackle prospects Michigan has recruited recently.  I would slot Pocic in as a right tackle prospect.

Austintown (OH) Fitch OL/DL Billy Price, a class of 2013 player, received an offer from Michigan this past week.  Price is a 6'4", 280 lb. strongside end prospect with offers from Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others.  He looks like an absolute physical specimen with good musculature and very little bad body weight.  While some of the recruiting sites list him as a defensive end, most schools are recruiting him to play offensive line.  Fitch attends the same high school as 2012 Notre Dame commit Will Mahone, a running back that was on Michigan's radar but whom Michigan never offered.

PURDUE VISITORS

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison TE Devin Funchess (2012).  Committed to Michigan.  Funchess has 18 receptions for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns this season.

Sylvania (OH) Southview SS Allen Gant (2012).  Committed to Michigan.  He has 67 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles.

Birmingham (MI) Seaholm OT Dan Gibbs (2012).  Gibbs is a 6'7", 320 lb. mammoth with offers from Ball State and Eastern Michigan.  He's not athletic enough to be a contender for a scholarship offer from the Wolverines, but he could be a preferred walk-on type if he chooses.  I don't imagine he'll choose to pay for school instead of taking a scholarship, and he doesn't look like someone who would be in danger of cracking the lineup at any point, anyway.  Gibbs is too stiff to be a high-level prospect.

Joliet (IL) Catholic RB Ty Isaac (2013).  Isaac already holds an offer from Michigan, in addition to Illinois, Iowa, Notre Dame, and several other schools.  Through six games this season, Isaac had 92 carries for 983 yards (10.7 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns.  Current rumblings suggest that Michigan and Notre Dame are his two early leaders, and he has made unofficial visits to both schools already.

Muskegon (MI) Muskegon RB Juwan Lewis (2012).  Nothing much has changed with Lewis, a 5'11", 208 lb. runner with offers from Buffalo, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He keeps hoping that Canton (OH) Glenoak RB Bri'onte Dunn sticks with his Buckeye commitment, because Lewis might be in line for an offer if the Wolverines can't reel in another running back.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech LB Royce Jenkins-Stone (2012).  Committed to Michigan.

Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc DE Luke MacLean (2013).  MacLean hasn't been offered by anyone other than Buffalo, but more offers are surely on the way.  I'm not sure that Michigan will go after him, but he has visited Michigan a couple times and also been to East Lansing.

Baltimore (MD) Gilman DT Henry Poggi (2013).  Every team up and down the east coast has offered Poggi already, in addition to Michigan.  He's the son of Gilman's head coach and already has two brothers playing FBS football, one at Duke and one at Iowa.  The 6'3", 250 lb. Henry has been offered to play several positions, including tight end and defensive tackle.  Michigan is recruiting him as a defensive tackle.

Toledo (OH) Central Catholic FS Jayme Thompson (2013).  Thompson is a 6'2", 182 lb. free safety prospect with a single offer, that from Bowling Green.  While the offers haven't started flowing yet, they undoubtedly will for a kid his size and with his speed.  I would not be surprised to see Thompson earn a Michigan offer at some point, although the current roster might preclude very many offers to safeties for the 2013 class.


Springboro (OH) Springboro OG Sean Welsh (2013).  Welsh is 6'3", 275 lbs. and has offers from Bowling Green, Ohio, and Toledo.  From the looks of his film, I think offers from Big Ten schools are bound to be coming soon.  He moves very well for a guy his size and looks like he already has pretty good strength for such a young player.

2013 Offer Board Update

Ty Isaac

The 2013 Offer Board has been updated:

Added Illinois RB Ty Isaac.

Michigan OT Steven Elmer committed to Notre Dame.