2015 Season Countdown: #86 Wilton Speight

Name: Wilton Speight
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Richmond (VA) Collegiate
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Speight #87 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Michigan had an established starter going into last season, and the Wolverines had a highly touted sophomore backup. They also had redshirt junior Russell Bellomy, who existed in a helmetless state. Both backups had seen game action in the past, so there was no need to play Speight.

This spring Speight earned some early praise for his mental acuity and leadership, but as practices wore on, the coaches reportedly started to realize that Speight was not the same kind of athlete as a couple of the other options. He supposedly dropped toward the bottom of the depth chart, and a minor injury removed any chance we had of seeing him in the spring game. Meanwhile, incoming transfer Jake Rudock looks like he'll be the starter this year, Shane Morris returns as the #2 guy, and there might be a battle for the #3 spot between Speight, freshman Alex Malzone, and freshman Zach Gentry. Malzone had already moved past Speight this spring, and Gentry has higher upside. Unless several injuries occur, Speight will probably sit on the bench or be a mop-up guy this season.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

Poll results: Who will start at quarterback in 2015?

Shane Morris wasn't smiling very often during the 2014 season.

Thanks to Jerry, Jonathan, and Keith for your very generous donations to the TTB redesign drive! If anyone else would like to chip in to the $3,000 goal, you can use Paypal (LINK, or on the left sidebar) or go shopping at Amazon (LINK). Thanks!
---------------

Last week I posed the question: Who will start at quarterback in 2015?

I'll start off by saying that I don't really care who the starter is. What matters most to me is that the starter is good, or at least the best man for the job.

Shane Morris (Jr.): 31%
The junior Morris is the most experienced guy currently on Michigan's roster, although a transfer in from Jake Rudock (below) would change that immediately. Unfortunately, Morris has a 0-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and completed just 35% of his passes last year. The highly touted recruited has a cannon for an arm and some decent wheels, but his decision-making has left a lot to be desired.

Wilton Speight (RS Fr.): 30%
Speight has earned some momentum in spring practices, according to some observers. He's a big guy who can move a little bit. Despite being a redshirt freshman, he will turn 21 in December of this year after taking an extra year of high school due to a broken collarbone.

Alex Malzone (Fr.): 21%
Malzone has earned some praise this spring from some observers, and the occasional report says he's the leading candidate for the job right now. However, I have not heard as many positive reports on him as the former two. Malzone is reportedly struggling with mechanics, arm strength, and the speed of the game right now.

Jake Rudock (5th): 16%
Rudock, who is visiting Michigan this weekend, has not been offered by the Wolverines yet. And in order to come to Michigan, he would need to jump through some hoops with the Big Ten, since he's a fifth year transfer candidate from the University of Iowa. I imagine that 16% number here has more to do with whether he'll actually choose/be allowed to play for Michigan, since his starting experience, 61.7% completions, and 16-to-5 interception ratio last year would almost certainly vault him to the top of this list.

Zach Gentry (Fr.): 0% (2 votes)
Gentry is a true freshman who will not arrive on campus until this summer. While he might have the highest ceiling of everyone on this list (he's 6'7", has a strong arm, and a good runner), he will also be the newest to the college game.

Michigan's Quarterback Situation

You want Wilton Speight to be Michigan's starter, don't you?

In case you've been under a rock for the past several months, you realize by now that Michigan is in a pretty undesirable position when it comes to the quarterback . . . position. The Wolverines lost a 2.5-year starter in the form of Devin Gardner, who is pursuing a career as an NFL wide receiver. Meanwhile, one experienced backup has struggled greatly, the other experienced backup transferred to the University of Texas at San Antonio, and the other guys available are freshmen of differing sorts. Nobody really knows how this will shake out, but here are some thoughts and rumors.

THE FRONT-RUNNER: Shane Morris (Jr.)
2014 stats: 14/40 (35%), 128 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
It's hard to believe that someone with those statistics could be the front-runner for any job, but Morris is the aforementioned experienced backup. He backed up Gardner in 2013 as a freshman when Russell Bellomy had a torn ACL. He did not fare well, but there were glimpses against a pretty good Kansas State defense in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Then 2014 came along, and there were no more glimpses. Morris threw an ugly late-game interception in a blowout win over Appalachian State, and he also threw picks against Utah and Minnesota; meanwhile, despite some decent running skills, Morris has yet to account for any kind of touchdown during his college career. That's 87 career passing attempts and 15 carries without a score. This spring he has reportedly been splitting snaps pretty evenly with the other scholarship quarterbacks available, but nobody has separated himself. Morris has a strong arm, decent accuracy, and those running skills, but his decision-making has generally been terrible.

Hit the jump for the rest of Michigan's options under center.

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.

2014 Season Countdown: #87 Wilton Speight

Wilton Speight is the tall guy standing in back, which is where he should be for the entirety of 2014.

Name: Wilton Speight
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Richmond (VA) Collegiate
Position: Quarterback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #19
Last year: Speight was a senior in high school. He threw for 2,845 yards and 33 touchdowns, plus 292 rushing yards.
Final TTB Rating: 77

Speight should have been a part of the 2013 class, but he acquired an extra year of high school eligibility after a collarbone injury ruined his junior year. (Speight will turn 20 before bowl season begins.) He mostly flew under the radar until National Signing Day 2013 when the coaching staff extended an offer after watching him throw. It was a bit of a surprise because Michigan had been in contact with some higher profile players. Regardless, Speight started recruiting hard for the small 2014 class. After a solid season, Speight earned the start for Team Nitro in the Under Armour All-America Game. He did not perform particularly well, but quarterbacks rarely do in those games where timing with receivers and good offensive line protection are difficult to achieve. Following the game, he went to Ann Arbor and enrolled early.

This spring Speight got a fair number of reps due to the continuing recovery of rising redshirt junior Russell Bellomy, who tore his ACL last spring. He is a tall, thick player whose body is unlike any other quarterback on the roster, and he's a little less athletic than the others, too. Senior Devin Gardner will be the starter this year, and sophomore Shane Morris will be his backup. Then the question becomes whether Bellomy or Speight will be #3. If Gardner and Morris stay healthy, Bellomy should be the third signal caller in a blowout situation. There's no need to burn Speight's redshirt unless a spate (see what I did there?) of injuries occur.

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.)

Video: Quarterbacks talk offense

Hit the jump for Shane Morris, Russell Bellomy, and Wilton Speight.

Final ESPN 300 released for 2014

Michael Ferns (#10), Wilton Speight (#19), Jabrill Peppers (#5), Juwann Bushell-Beatty (#73), and Bryan Mone (#52)
all appear in the final ESPN 300 for 2014; Jared Wangler (#2) is not ranked on the list

ESPN made its final update to their list of the top 300 prospects in the nation. Here's what the ESPN 300 looked like in August, and here's the movement for Michigan's commits since then:

- Drake Harris dropped from #72 to #85
- Bryan Mone dropped from #76 to #91
- Lawrence Marshall dropped from #112 to #121
- Michael Ferns dropped from #123 to #129
- Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #122 to #142
- Mason Cole dropped from #146 to #165
- Ian Bunting dropped from #118 to #200
- Wilton Speight dropped from #128 to #257

Here's the rest of Michigan's offerees:

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana (LSU)
2. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana (Alabama)
4. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas (Texas A&M)
5. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
6. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia (Alabama)
9. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
10. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
11. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, DC (Florida)
12. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)
14. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia

4-stars:
17. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
18. Jamal Adams - S - Texas (LSU)
24. John Smith - S - California
25. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
26. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
33. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina (Florida State)
36. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
39. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
43. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
45. Marshon Lattimore - ATH - Ohio (Ohio State)
50. Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
53. Joe Mixon - RB - California (Oklahoma)
58. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
60. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
70. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
72. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois (Notre Dame)
74. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois (Ohio State)
76. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
80. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (North Carolina)
83. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida (Clemson)
85. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
91. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
94. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
95. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois (Northwestern)
99. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Missouri)
101. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
107. Tyler Luatua - TE - California (Notre Dame)
118. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
120. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
121. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
123. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas (Notre Dame)
127. Braden Smith - OG - Kansas
129. Michael Ferns - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
130. Dante Booker, Jr. - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
136. Kyron Watson - LB - Illinois (Kansas)
137. Jeff Jones - RB - Minnesota (Minnesota)
139. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
140. Dravon Henry - ATH - Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
142. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
143. Kevin Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
144. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina (North Carolina)
158. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
162. Bryson Allen-Williams - LB - Georgia (South Carolina)
165. Mason Cole - OG - Florida (Michigan)
167. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
169. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
172. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas (Ohio State)
174. Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
179. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (South Carolina)
180. Dwight Williams - LB - California (UCLA)
183. Erick Smith - S - Ohio (Ohio State)
184. Adarius Pickett - CB - California (UCLA)
187. Otaro Alaka - LB - Texas (Texas)
194. Mattrell McGraw - S - Louisiana
196. Kiy Hester - ATH - New Jersey (Miami)
200. Ian Bunting - TE - Illinois (Michigan)
204. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
211. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
218. Christian McCaffrey - ATH - Colorado (Stanford)
244. Montae Nicholson - ATH - Pennsylvania (Michigan State)
246. Darrion Owens - LB - Florida (Miami)
250. Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
257. Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
262. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
269. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, DC (Tennessee)
270. Garrett Dickerson - TE - New Jersey (Northwestern)
274. Nic Weishar - TE - Illinois (Notre Dame)
278. Jalen Brown - WR - Arizona (Oregon)
282. Jonathan Hilliman - RB - New Jersey (Boston College)
286. Isaiah McKenzie - ATH - Florida
292. Quincy Wilson - S - Florida (Florida)
295. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona (Oklahoma)

Highlights: Michigan commits in the Under Armour All-American Game

Hit the jump to see highlights of Wilton Speight, Bryan Mone, and Juwann Bushell-Beatty.

Who should be happy/sad about the Doug Nussmeier hire?

Could Shane Morris be the next A.J. McCarron?

THIS HIRE IS GOOD FOR . . . 
Fifth year senior quarterback Devin Gardner. Gardner has one final chance to show his stuff at quarterback, and I think Nussmeier will bring a more cohesive offense to Ann Arbor. Gardner can run out of the shotgun and pistol, and he's not bad throwing from under center. I expect Nussmeier to simplify Michigan's blocking schemes, which should help out the young linemen and the quarterback. The new offensive coordinator also likes to push the ball down the field (as did Al Borges), which suits Gardner well because he has a strong arm and throws a nice deep ball.

The offensive line. Michigan's young offensive line was terrible this past season, and it appears that Nussmeier may bring in a new offensive line coach to help him out. Whether coach Darrell Funk remains or not, I expect that Nussmeier will want a little more beef up front, and his coaching pedigree at Alabama suggests that he can help those guys achieve a new level of success.

Sophomore running backs Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith. Nussmeier utilized the inside zone game and zone sweeps to great effect at Alabama, which recruited Green out of high school. Both Green and Smith fit the role of good inside zone runners, because both of them are north-south runners capable of running through tackles. Green has the better speed of the two and would likely be more effective on the zone sweeps.

Sophomore quarterback Shane Morris and freshman quarterback Wilton Speight. Nussmeier has tutored numerous successful college quarterbacks (A.J. McCarron, Jake Locker, Drew Stanton, Jeff Smoker) and spent time with the St. Louis Rams under passing game guru Mike Martz. I can see Morris as a McCarron-like Game Manager Plus, a guy who can not only take care of the football and keep his team in the game, but make some downfield throws to really stress defenses.

Redshirt freshman H-backs Khalid Hill and Wyatt Shallman. Nussmeier likes to use his H-backs as lead blockers, wings, slot receivers, etc. Hill and Shallman appear to be good fits for this role, more so than the fullbacks who have been playing the past couple seasons.

THIS HIRE IS BAD FOR . . . 
Redshirt junior running back Justice Hayes. Nussmeier does not appear to be a fan of scatback types, at least not for featured roles. Hayes was reported to be moving to slot receiver, although he started Michigan's bowl game at running back. His chances of winning the running back job next year likely took a hit with this hire.

Junior fullback Sione Houma and redshirt junior fullback Joe Kerridge. Nussmeier is a proponent of a one-back offense and doesn't have a whole lot of use for true fullback types. The hire will almost certainly diminish their role in the offense, which was already more significant than it should have been based on Michigan's personnel and abilities.

Video: 2014 Under Armour All-American Game

Video: Wilton Speight during Under Armour week

2014 Under Armour All-American Game analysis

Michael Ferns, Wilton Speight, Jabrill Peppers, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Bryan Mone, and Jared Wangler at the
2014 Under Armour All-American Game

The 2014 Under Armour All-American Game took place on Thursday afternoon, and it was a showcase for four current Michigan commits. All of Michigan's commits were on Team Nitro, which lost the game by a score of 31-21. Some brief analysis of what I saw:

LB Michael Ferns: Ferns didn't even record a single tackle in this game. Probably because he sat it out due to injury.

QB Wilton Speight: Speight was named a captain for Team Nitro and earned the start at quarterback. He finished just 2/6 for 63 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He also had 3 carries for 8 yards. Offensive lines consistently struggle in these games because they don't have time to work together, and that was pretty obvious as Speight never really had a chance to set his feet and scan the field. I thought Speight did a nice job of keeping his eyes downfield when the pressure was coming, which was often. He shows a little bit of mobility, but that's mostly going to be when defenses completely forget about him being 6'6" and able to run a little bit. He's a better runner than John Navarre was, but perhaps a notch below Steven Threet. Speight has a nice overhand delivery from the pocket that defenders will probably struggle to bat down, but he can throw from different angles on the move. He made a poor read on a redzone passing attempt that resulted in a pick for Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra cornerback Adoree' Jackson, but he also made a very nice throw while running to his right for a long gain.

CB Jabrill Peppers: Peppers didn't really make any highlight-reel plays in the game, but he didn't get embarrassed, either. Well, except for one play on which he showed very nice change-of-direction skills only to dive at the Team Highlight receiver's ankles and miss the tackle. Aside from coming up quickly, what I liked about that play was that Peppers hopped right up and attempted to chase down the receiver as he raced down the left sideline. The New Jersey native ended the game with 2 kickoff returns for 65 yards, 3 tackles, and 1 pass for -2 yards out of a Wildcat formation in the first half. Peppers also blocked a field goal at the end of the first half, but that's not exactly allowed in all-star games like this one. Overall, it was a solid but unspectacular showing.

OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty: Of the guys who played, I thought Bushell-Beatty looked like the biggest project. He looked overweight, out of shape, and slow of foot. Of course, he's a high schooler coming off of a long run to a state championship, so I don't expect him to be in peak physical condition at this point in the year. However, he looks like he has a long way to go. He was standing up way too high while run blocking, which severely limited his lateral movement and left him flailing at air. He was also beaten badly on a speed rush that resulted in getting Speight blindsided. It should also be noted that Bushell-Beatty is generally considered a 3-star prospect who was facing some elite talent, and I don't think it's a stretch or an insult to say that he was overmatched.

DT Bryan Mone: I saw less of Mone than anyone else, partly because it was just difficult to see jersey numbers at times. He's large and solidly built, but he's more about power than anything else at this time. Mone has added a lot of weight in the past year or so, and he's lost some of the athleticism that made him such a beast as an underclassman. He does not appear to be a huge threat to be a penetrator, as he mostly eats space at the line of scrimmage. That resulted in 2 tackles during the game.

LB Jared Wangler: Wangler was wandering the sidelines due to a separated shoulder.

WR Drake Harris (not pictured): Harris sat out his entire senior season due to a nagging hamstring injury. Since he was not going to be able to play, he did not attend the game.

2014 Under Armour All-American Game Rosters

The 2014 Under Armour All-American Game rosters were announced the other day. All of Michigan's current commits are on Team Nitro, so that's who you should be rooting for; that includes Wilton Speight, whose competitors for Michigan's lone quarterback offer in the class both will play for Team Highlights (Alabama-bound David Cornwell, Penn State-bound Michael O'Connor). The game will be played on January 2, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Here's a list of all of Michigan's offerees on the rosters:

TEAM HIGHLIGHT
Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina
Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
Myles Garrett - DE - Texas (Texas A&M)
Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
Jamarco Jones - OG - Illinois (Ohio State)
Melvin Keihn - LB - Maryland
Tyler Luatua - TE - California
Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana (Alabama)
Bo Scarbrough - RB - Alabama (Alabama)
John Smith - S - California
Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, DC
Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (Florida State)

TEAM NITRO
Jamal Adams - S - Texas
Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Missouri)
Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
Juwan Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
K.C. Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
Michael Ferns - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia (Alabama)
Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
Isaiah McKenzie - WR - Florida
Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
Sam Mustipher - OG - Maryland (Notre Dame)
Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
Jared Wangler - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
Nick Watkins - CB - Texas (Notre Dame)
Quincy Wilson - S - Florida (Florida)

Visitors: December 13-15, 2013

Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers

The following recruits will be visiting Michigan this coming weekend. It's each player's official visit, although several of them have visited campus numerous times.

Ian Bunting - TE - Hinsdale (IL) Central: Bunting committed to Michigan in April.

Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Bushell-Beatty committed to Michigan in April. He just won his second straight New Jersey state championship.

Mason Cole - OG - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Cole committed to Michigan in February.

Shaun Crawford - CB - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Crawford committed to Michigan in August.

Vic Enwere - RB - Sugar Land (TX) Fort Bend Austin: I did a scouting report on Enwere a couple weeks ago. He is currently a soft commit to Cal despite never having visited campus.

Michael Ferns - LB - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan in August 2012. UPDATE: Ferns is no longer visiting this weekend.

Noah Furbush - LB - Kenton (OH) Kenton: Furbush committed to Michigan in July.

Drake Harris - WR - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris committed to Michigan in April. He missed his entire senior season due to a hamstring injury.

Lawrence Marshall - DE - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall committed to Michigan in May.

Brady Pallante - DT - Naples (FL) Barron Collier: Pallante committed to Michigan in April.

Jabrill Peppers - CB - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Peppers committed to Michigan in May. He just won his fourth straight state championship in New Jersey.

Wilton Speight - QB - Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight committed to Michigan in February.

Jared Wangler - LB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Wangler committed to Michigan in August.

Maurice Ways - WR - Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways committed to Michigan in April.

Chase Winovich - LB - Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Winovich committed to Michigan in June.

Recruit Tracker: Wilton Speight

Final senior season stats: 200/339 passing, 60.8% completions, 2,835 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

November 15, 2013: Collegiate lost to Lynchburg (VA) Liberty Christian Academy by a score of 31-19. Speight was 15/29 for 152 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He also had 6 carries for 79 yards. Collegiate ends the year with a record of 9-2.

November 8, 2013: Collegiate beat Flint Hill (VA) Flint Hill by a score of 27-14. Speight was 15/25 for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game. He's now 185/310 for 2,683 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Collegiate is now 9-1 entering the playoffs.

November 1, 2013: Collegiate beat Richmond (VA) St. Christopher by a score of 34-14. Speight was 15/20 for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 40 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing. He's now 170/285 for 2,438 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Collegiate is now 8-1.

October 25, 2013: Collegiate beat Norfolk (VA) Norfolk Academy by a score of 28-6. Speight was 19/27 for 348 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, plus 1 rushing touchdown. He's now 155/265 for 2,218 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Collegiate is now 7-1.

October 18, 2013: Collegiate beat Fork Union (VA) Military Academy by a score of 47-7. Speight was 11/14 passing for 197 yards and 5 touchdowns in the win. He's now 136/238 for 1,870 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions on the year. Collegiate is 6-1.

October 11, 2013: Collegiate beat Leonardtown (MD) St. Mary's Ryken by a score of 28-7. Speight was 14/28 for 270 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown. He's now 125/224 for 1,673 yards, 17 passing touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Collegiate is now 5-1.

October 4, 2013: Collegiate lost to Richmond (VA) Woodberry Forest by a score of 24-14. Speight was 38/68 for 289 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He's now 111/196 for 1,403 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions on the year. Collegiate is now 4-1.

September 27, 2013: Collegiate beat Alexandria (VA) Episcopal by a score of 31-12. Speight was 18/29 for 247 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He's now 73/128 for 1,114 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Collegiate is now 4-0.

September 20, 2013: Collegiate beat Oakton (VA) Flint Hill by a score of 30-7. Speight was 17/33 passing for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's now 55/99 for 867 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Collegiate is now 3-0.

September 13, 2013: Collegiate beat Richmond (VA) Benedictine by a score of 35-21. Speight was 23/39 and had 315 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Collegiate is now 2-0.

September 6, 2013: Speight's Richmond (VA) Collegiate team beat Richmond (VA) Trinity Episcopal by a score of 43-14. Speight was 15/27 for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns, and he had 57 additional yards on the ground. Collegiate is now 1-0.

ESPN 300 for 2014 updated

Jabrill Peppers

ESPN updated its top 300 players for 2014. Here's what it looked like back in June. Here's the movement for the Michigan commits:

- Drake Harris dropped from #71 to #72
- Bryan Mone dropped from #73 to #76
- Lawrence Marshall dropped from #110 to #112
- Ian Bunting dropped from #116 to #118
- Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #121 to #122
- Michael Ferns dropped from #122 to #123
- Wilton Speight dropped from #127 to #128

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
2. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
4. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
5. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
6. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
7. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas
10. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
11. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia

4-stars:
17. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
20. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)
22. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
25. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
26. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
27. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina
31. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
38. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
39. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
41. John Smith - ATH - California
45. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
47. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (Notre Dame)
51. Marshon Lattimore - ATH - Ohio
52. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
54. Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
57. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Mississippi)
58. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
62. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas
64. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois
66. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois (Ohio State)
67. Malik McDowell - DT - Michigan
68. Tyler Luatua - TE - California
72. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
76. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
77. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
84. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida (Clemson)
88. Kevin Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
90. Ja'von Harrison - ATH - Florida (Virginia Tech)
92. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois
94. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
99. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
100. Joe Mixon - RB - California
104. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
105. Kyron Watson - LB - Illinois (Kansas)
112. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
113. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey
115. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia (South Carolina)
118. Ian Bunting - TE - Illinois (Michigan)
121. Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
122. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
123. Micheal Ferns - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
128. Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
131. Dravon Henry - ATH - Pennsylvania
134. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina (North Carolina)
139. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
146. Mason Cole - OT - Florida (Michigan)
156. Dante Booker - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
162. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
163. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
166. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas (Ohio State)
168. Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
172. Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
174. Bryson Allen-Williams - LB - Georgia (South Carolina)
177. Dwight Williams - LB - California
179. Adarius Pickett - CB - California
180. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (Florida State)
181. Otaro Alaka - LB - Texas (Texas)
193. Mattrell McGraw - S - Louisiana
196. Kiy Hester - ATH - New Jersey (Rutgers)
203. Quincy Wilson - S - Florida
208. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
231. Erick Smith - S - Ohio
237. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
252. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania
264. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado (Stanford)
271. Petera Wilson - LB - Tennessee
274. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
278. D'Andre Payne - CB - Wahshington, D.C. (Tennessee)
279. Garrett Dickerson - TE - New Jersey
281. Kyle Berger - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
286. Jonathan Hilliman - RB - New Jersey
295. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona (Oklahoma)

ESPN 300 released for 2014

Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers is the #2 player in the country

ESPN, which had already released its top 150 players, posted its top 300 players on Monday.

Movement for Michigan commits:

- Drake Harris jumped from #96 to #71
- Bryan Mone dropped from #72 to #73
- Lawrence Marshall dropped from #107 to #110
- Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #120 to #121
- Michael Ferns dropped from #112 to #122
- Wilton Speight dropped from #125 to #127
- Mason Cole dropped from #145 to #146

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
2. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia
4. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
5. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
6. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas
7. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
10. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
11. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)

4-stars:
16. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
18. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
19. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)
24. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
26. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina
28. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
33. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
37. Tyler Luatua - TE - California
39. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
40. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
45. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
49. Marshon Lattimore - ATH - Ohio
50. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Mississippi)
51. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (Notre Dame)
52. Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
55. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
57. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
60. John Smith - ATH - California
62. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas
64. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois
66. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois
68. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
71. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
73. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
77. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida
87. K.C. Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
88. Ja'von Harrison - ATH - Florida (Virginia Tech)
89. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida
91. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois
94. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
102. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
103. Kyron Watson - LB - Illinois (Kansas)
110. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
111. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey
113. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
116. Ian Bunting - TE - Illinois (Michigan)
119. Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
120. Jacory Wahsington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
121. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
122. Michael Ferns III - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
126. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
127. Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
130. Dravon Henry - ATH - Pennsylvania
131. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina
137. Joe Mixon - RB - California
139. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
146. Mason Cole - OT - Florida (Michigan)
147. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida
156. Dante Booker - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
163. Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
165. Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
169. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina
170. Dwight Williams - LB - California
172. Otaro Alaka - LB - Texas (Texas)
186. Mattrell McGraw - S - Louisiana
189. Kiy Hester - ATH - New Jersey
193. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas
194. Adarius Bennett - CB - California
197. Quincy Wilson - S - Florida
202. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
227. Erick Smith - S - Ohio
233. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
248. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania
261. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado (Stanford)
269. Petera Wilson - LB - Tennessee
272. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
276. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, D.C. (Tennessee)
277. Garrett Dickerson - TE - New Jersey
279. Sam Mustipher - OG - Maryland (Notre Dame)
285. Jonathan Hilliman - RB - New Jersey
295. Mark Andrews - TE - Arizona
299. Kyle Berger - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)

Video: Wilton Speight workout

Class of 2014 quarterback commit Wilton Speight worked out recently with quarterback guru Steve Clarkson out in California:

ESPN 150 for 2014 released

The ESPN 150 for 2014 was released on Thursday, and it includes several Michigan commits and prospects.  Here's the list of Michigan offerees:

2. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey
3. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia
4. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
5. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
6. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas
7. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
14. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
17. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)
19. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
23. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
26. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - Georgia
29. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
30. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
33. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
37. Tyler Luatua - TE - California
38. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Mississippi)
40. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona (USC)
41. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
49. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina
51. Marshon Lattimore - ATH - Ohio
52. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
53. Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
55. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee
57. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
62. John Smith - S - California
63. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas
65. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois
67. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois
69. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
72. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
75. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida
83. Kevin Crosby - TE - South Carolina
84. Ja'Von Harrison - ATH - Florida (Virginia Tech)
85. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida
87. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois
90. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina
96. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
99. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia
100. Kyron Watson - LB - Illinois
107. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan
108. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey
110. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
112. Michael Ferns III - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
118. Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
119. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
120. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey
122. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina
124. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
125. Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)127. Dravon Henry - S - Pennsylvania
135. Joe Mixon - RB - California
137. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
145. Mason Cole - OG - Florida (Michigan)
146. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida