CBS Sports: 2014 NFL Draft - Early top 50

Taylor Lewan

CBS Sports put out its top 50 prospects for the NFL Draft class of 2014.  Lots of these guys were pursued by Michigan coming out of high school, and several more are relevant simply because they're guys Michigan has played or will play in the upcoming season.

1. Jadeveon Clowney - DE - South Carolina
4. Taylor Lewan - OT - Michigan*
5. Marquise Lee - WR - USC*
6. Stephon Tuitt - DE - Notre Dame
8. Bradley Roby - S - Ohio State
9. Anthony Barr - OLB - UCLA*
10. Tajh Boyd - QB - Clemson*
11. Louis Nix - DT - Notre Dame*
13. Sammy Watkins - WR - Clemson*
14. Cyrus Kouandjio - OT - Alabama*
17. Aaron Lynch - DE - South Florida
18. Christian Jones - LB - Florida State*
21. Ryan Shazier - LB - Ohio State*
29. A.J. Johnson - LB - Tennessee*
32. Jackson Jeffcoat - DE - Texas*
33. A.J. McCarron - QB - Alabama
35. Dominique Easley - DE - Florida*
37. Timmy Jernigan - DT - Florida State*
39. Chaz Sutton - DE - South Carolina
43. Bennett Jackson - CB - Notre Dame
44. Ka'deem Carey - RB - Arizona
45. Anthony Chickillo - DE - Miami*
46. Odell Beckham - WR - LSU*
48. Karlos Williams - S - Florida State*
49. Seantrel Henderson - OT - Miami*

*Offered by Michigan

Video: Juwann Bushell-Beatty commits to Michigan

jason collins is gay

Earlier this week, NBA center Jason Collins came out as the first active, publicly homosexual athlete in America's four major sports.  This is apparently a big deal because it's on the cover of Sports Illustrated  and a leading story on major news networks.

Not that the opinion of a random blogger means anything to Collins, but good for him.  As a football coach, I have been part of some very homophobic staffs and discussions, and I have heard some nasty, disparaging remarks about some people's sexual orientations.  As a member of choirs and performing groups since I was a kid, I have befriended, traveled with, and shared rooms with too many gay men to count.  Some of them have even hit on me, only to have their hearts broken because I'm, like, seriously God's gift to the human race.

In the end, who really cares?  I don't care if my straight neighbors are tying each other up, whipping each other, and having threesomes with Carrot Top.  I don't care if my single neighbor is a virgin and has never seen a female nipple in his life; if that is indeed the case, I would enthusiastically suggest that he start watching Game of Thrones  but his poor taste in television shows isn't really my business, either.

I hope Collins finds support among his peers and NBA fans.

Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Wolverine

Paramus (NJ) Catholic offensive tackle
Juwann Bushell-Beatty (image via Rivals)

Paramus (NJ) Catholic offensive tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty committed to Michigan on Monday.  He picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Massachusetts, Miami, Michigan State, Rutgers, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Bushell-Beatty stands 6'7" and 310 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #10 OT, #120 overall
Rivals: 3-star, #29 OT
Scout: 3-star, #45 OT
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #17 OT, #215 overall

Bushell-Beatty was offered in February, just a couple weeks after National Signing Day.  He visited Penn State and Boston College in the meantime, and he also stopped by Ohio State on the same trip in which he visited Michigan.  After that midwest trip, he declared Michigan his leader; many presumed that he would commit to the Wolverines, but Michigan hasn't recruited New Jersey very successfully over the past few seasons.

When watching Bushell-Beatty's highlights, they started off well.  I think he shows some pretty impressive footwork for such a large guy, and he moves his feet very well in both the pass and run game.  He shows a nice kick set, keeps a wide base, and stays well balanced while sitting back in his pass set.  He also flashes the ability to show a good punch and control a rusher's inside number.  He has a thick lower body, which should allow him to develop a strong power base and anchor well against inside pass rushes.

I also thought his highlight-worthy plays ran out fairly quickly.  Regarding his pass blocking, Bushell-Beatty sometimes opens up his hips and outside foot too early, which could make him susceptible to defensive ends spiking inside.  While he shows a good hand punch at times, it's not consistent enough and he needs to work on keeping his hands inside.  In the run game, he shows decent footwork but he tends to stand up too high; despite his heft, he doesn't appear to have the strength to drive defensive linemen off the ball.  At times he gets stoned by players who are smaller than him, partly because of pad level but also partly due to some apparent lack of functional strength.  He needs to play lower and get in the weight room.  And while several of Michigan's recent offensive line recruits look like solid overall athletes, Bushell-Beatty is a little less so and will have to work on his balance and flexibility.

I think Bushell-Beatty projects best as a left tackle at the next level, because he has a pretty good feel for pass protection.  His run blocking needs the most work, in my opinion, so offensive guard and right tackle are a bigger leap.  He has a good deal of mass and probably doesn't need to add weight (if he is indeed 310 lbs.), but he will need to turn some of that current weight into muscle.  I do not think he has the athleticism to be a great offensive lineman, but there is some potential for him to be a starter at some point, a guy like Mark Huyge.

Bushell-Beatty is the eighth commitment in the class of 2014 and the second offensive lineman, joining Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake's Mason Cole.  If the recruiting class remains at the size of 16, then I would expect Michigan to take three total linemen; the third could be a guy at any of the offensive line positions, because I think Michigan has built enough depth at every spot to take the "best player available."  Meanwhile, Bushell-Beatty's teammate is cornerback Jabrill Peppers, widely considered to be the best cornerback prospect in the country.  Michigan has not pulled in a player from Paramus (NJ) Catholic before, and he is the first from the Garden State since Anthony Lalota in the 2009 class.  However, Michigan did have a short run of success recruiting the state in the 2000s with guys like J.B. Fitzgerald, Victor Hobson, and Brandon Smith.

TTB Rating: 68 (ratings explanation)

Highlights can be found on Hudl.

Video: The Journey - Michigan vs. Michigan State

Recruiting Update: April 29, 2013

Upper Marlboro (MD) Wise safety Marcus Allen

COMMITMENT
Hinsdale (IL) Central tight end Ian Bunting committed to Michigan.

Detroit (MI) Country Day wide receiver Maurice Ways committed to Michigan.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Upper Marlboro (MD) Wise safety Marcus Allen was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'1", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Maryland, Penn State, Pitt, and Stanford, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 70 tackles.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 4-star, the #25 safety, and the #316 player overall.

OFF THE BOARD
Charlotte (NC) Christian tight end Jeb Blazevich committed to Georgia.  He initiated the run on tight end commitments this week, although Blazevich was not seriously interested in Michigan.

Missouri City (TX) Fort Bend Austin running back Vic Enwere does not have a Michigan offer.  It turns out that a recruiting reporter didn't know the difference between Michigan and Michigan State, so perhaps that guy is in the wrong profession.

Chatham (IL) Glenwood tight end Daniel Helm committed to Tennessee.  While the Volunteers were presumed to be the favorite already, the commitment of Bunting to Michigan early in the day seemed to cause Helm to pull the trigger.  The Wolverines were supposedly running second to Tennessee, and Michigan supposedly wants just one tight end in the class, so the decision was basically made for him.

Charlotte (NC) Christian running back Elijah Hood committed to Notre Dame.  The Fighting Irish were thought to be his leader before he visited Michigan this spring, after which he briefly talked up the chances of him coming to Michigan.  Shortly afterward, he claimed he was going to stay close to home (hint: UNC) so his family could watch him play.  Then he visited Notre Dame this past weekend and committed.  I would not be entirely surprised if he opened things back up at some point, because he seems a little indecisive.

Washington (DC) St. John's quarterback William Ulmer was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'1", 190 lb. prospect who committed to Maryland on Thursday over offers from Florida State, Miami, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.  He passed for 1,245 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2012, along with running for 1,412 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Midlothian (IL) Marist tight end Nic Weishar committed to Notre Dame.  Prior to Bunting's Michigan visit, the Fighting Irish were thought to be the leader for both players with Michigan in second or third place, so Weishar's commitment on Tuesday evening seems to have been the result of a domino effect.  Blazevich to Georgia, then Bunting to Michigan, then Helm to Tennessee, then Weishar to Notre Dame.  Here's the scouting report I posted on Weishar back in January.

NFL Draft results: Michigan

Denard Robinson dropped to the fifth round

Here's a look at the NFL Draft-related movement for Michigan players over the last 24 hours.  A couple Wolverines were drafted, and several more have been signed as free agents.

• Offensive guard Ricky Barnum signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins
• Defensive tackle William Campbell was chosen in the 6th round (#178 overall) by the New York Jets, who plan to play him at offensive guard
• Linebacker Kenny Demens signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals
• Linebacker Brandin Hawthorne signed as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis rams
• Safety Jordan Kovacs signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins
• Offensive center/guard Elliott Mealer signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints
• Offensive guard Patrick Omameh signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers
• Quarterback Denard Robinson was chosen in the 5th round (#135 overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who plan to play him at running back, slot receiver, and kick returner
• Defensive end Craig Roh signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers
• Wide receiver Roy Roundtree signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals

Still unsigned are cornerback J.T. Floyd, tight end Brandon Moore, and running back Vincent Smith.

Ex-Wolverine Updates: NFL Draft edition

Darryl Stonum is now a Kansas City Chief

Former Michigan running back Michael Cox measured in at 6'0", 222 lbs. at the UMass pro day.  He ran a 4.58 forty, had a 4.08 shuttle, showed a 41" vertical, did 24 reps on the bench, and broad jumped 10'11".  He spent the 2012 season as a Minuteman and was selected in the 7th round (#253 overall) by the New York Giants.

Former Michigan defensive tackle commit DeQuinta Jones measured in at 6'4", 306 lbs. at the Arkansas pro day.  He proceeded to run a 5.4 forty and do 19 reps on the bench press, which got him signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.

Former Michigan running back Sam McGuffie tested at the regional combine prior to the NFL Draft with a 4.28 forty, a 41.5" vertical, 11.2" broad jump, a 3.8 shuttle, and 26 reps on the bench press.  He had been playing running back and wide receiver for the past few years at Rice, and on Saturday night, he signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent.

Former Michigan offensive tackle Dann O'Neill measured in at 6'7", 326 lbs., did 26 reps on the bench, and ran a 5.41 forty at his pro day.  He had been playing right tackle for Western Michigan for the past few seasons.  O'Neill signed with the Houston Texans on Saturday night as an undrafted free agent.

Former Michigan wide receiver Darryl Stonum measured in at 6'1", 205 lbs., did 16 reps on the bench, ran a 4.57 forty, broad jumped 10'3", had a 4.64 shuttle, and had a 36.5" vertical.  Stonum played sparingly for Baylor in 2012.  On Saturday night he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

Review of 2013 Mock NFL Draft

I'm going to compare my mock draft with that of SI.com writer Don Banks, who filled out his 2013 NFL Mock Draft 7.0 shortly before the draft.  Here's the way I'm awarding points: 2 points for correct team and draft slot, 1 point for correct team or slot, and .5 points for correct position.  Let's see how it goes.

1. Kansas City Chiefs
My pick: Eric Fisher +2
Banks: Fisher +2
Actual: Fisher

2. Jacksonville Jaguars
My pick: Luke Joeckel +2
Banks: Joeckel +2
Actual: Joeckel

3. Oakland Raiders Miami Dolphins
My pick: Sharrif Floyd
Banks: Floyd
Actual: Dion Jordan

4. Philadelphia Eagles
My pick: Lane Johnson +2
Banks: Star Lotulelei
Actual: Lane Johnson

5. Detroit Lions
My pick: Ziggy Ansah +2
Banks: Lane Johnson
Actual: Ziggy Ansah

6. Cleveland Browns
My pick: Dee Milliner
Banks: Geno Smith
Actual: Barkevious Mingo

7. Arizona Cardinals
My pick: Geno Smith
Banks: Ziggy Ansah
Actual: Jonathan Cooper

8. Buffalo Bills St. Louis Rams
My pick: Chance Warmack
Banks: Tavon Austin +1
Actual: Austin

9. New York Jets
My pick: Dion Jordan
Banks: Dee Milliner +2
Actual: Milliner

10. Tennessee Titans
My pick: Tavon Austin
Banks: Dion Jordan
Actual: Chance Warmack

11. San Diego Chargers
My pick: Jonathan Cooper
Banks: Jonathan Cooper
Actual: D.J. Fluker

12. Miami Dolphins Oakland Raiders
My pick: D.J. Fluker
Banks: Tyler Eifert
Actual: D.J. Hayden

13. New York Jets
My pick: Tyler Eifert
Banks: Barkevious Mingo
Actual: Sheldon Richardson

14. Carolina Panthers
My pick: Sheldon Richardson +.5
Banks: Sheldon Richardson +.5
Actual: Star Lotulelei

15. New Orleans Saints
My pick: Barkevious Mingo
Banks: Kenny Vaccaro +2
Actual: Vaccaro

16. St. Louis Rams Buffalo Bills
My pick: Kenny Vaccaro
Banks: Chance Warmack
Actual: E.J. Manuel

17. Jarvis Jones
My pick: Jarvis Jones +2
Banks: Jones +2
Actual: Jones

18. Dallas Cowboys San Francisco 49ers
My pick: Manti Te'o
Banks: D.J. Fluker
Actual: Eric Reid

19. New York Giants
My pick: Bjoern Werner
Banks: Tank Carradine
Actual: Justin Pugh

20. Chicago Bears
My pick: Johnathan Cyprien
Banks: Manti Te'o
Actual: Kyle Long

21. Cincinnati Bengals
My pick: Eddie Lacy
Banks: Eric Reid
Actual: Tyler Eifert

22. St. Louis Rams Atlanta Falcons
My pick: DeAndre Hopkins
Banks: Bjoern Werner
Actual: Desmond Trufant

23. Minnesota Vikings
My pick: Sylvester Williams +.5
Banks: Cordarrelle Patterson +1
Actual: Sharrif Floyd

24. Indianapolis Colts
My pick: Xavier Rhodes
Banks: Sylvester Williams
Actual: Bjoern Werner

25. Minnesota Vikings
My pick: Cordarrelle Patterson +1
Banks: Matt Barkley
Actual: Xavier Rhodes

26. Green Bay Packers
My pick: Desmond Trufant
Banks: Justin Pugh
Actual: Datone Jones

27. Houston Texans
My pick: Keenan Allen +.5
Banks: Justin Hunter +.5
Actual: DeAndre Hopkins

28. Denver Broncos
My pick: Eric Reid
Banks: Xavier Rhodes
Actual: Sylvester Williams

29. New England Patriots Minnesota Vikings
My pick: D.J. Hayden
Banks: D.J. Hayden
Actual: Cordarrelle Patterson

30. Atlanta Falcons St. Louis Rams
My pick: Star Lotulelei
Banks: Johnathan Cyprien
Actual: Alec Ogletree

31. San Francisco 49ers Dallas Cowboys
My pick: Matt Elam
Banks: Desmond Trufant
Actual: Travis Frederick

32. Baltimore Ravens
My pick: Alec Ogletree
Banks: Alec Ogletree
Actual: Matt Elam

FINAL SCORE
Don Banks - 13
Thunder - 12.5

Damn.

Maurice Ways, Wolverine

Detroit (MI) Country Day wide receiver Maurice Ways

Detroit (MI) Country Day wide receiver Maurice Ways committed to Michigan on Thursday.  He chose the Wolverines over offers from Iowa, Kansas, Pitt, Rutgers, and a bunch of MAC teams.

Ways is a 6'3", 195-pounder.  As a junior in 2012, he had 51 receptions for 957 yards and 9 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: 3-star, #54 WR
Scout: 3-star, #51 WR
247 Sports: 3-star, 87 grade, #84 WR

Ways was picking up a steady stream of MAC offers along with a few mid-level BCS teams until the Wolverines offered a couple weekends ago.  The writing seemed to be on the wall that he would commit to Michigan fairly soon, but Pitt went ahead and offered, anyway.  He visited Michigan again and committed to the coaches.

There's a lot to like about Ways.  He's a tall, lanky kid with the ability to get the ball at its highest point.  He has good straight line speed and the ability to take the top off the defense, due to both his speed and size.  He shows a natural ability to adjust to the ball in the air, whether he's boxing out defensive backs, accelerating through the ball, or getting his hands in the right position for the catch.  He can go high or low to get the ball and makes a lot of great catches.  With some added weight, he will be very difficult for cornerbacks to check at the line of scrimmage and tackle head on; that will also only help him as a blocker, and he's already a pretty willing and able in that area, where he keeps a wide base, moves his feet, and uses his hands well.

What Ways lacks most is lateral quickness and the ability to make people miss; he's not the type of player you want to see returning punts or the guy who will catch short passes and turn them into long gains.  There have also been reports that Ways is inconsistent catching the ball; the highlights obviously show a kid who can make some very difficult catches, so the ability is there, but perhaps not the concentration.

I think Ways can have a good future at Michigan if he achieves the consistency required to get on the field.  I'm not worried about his athleticism, despite his lack of short-area quickness.  The talk about the pass drops is slightly concerning, but that's not something that can be discerned through highlight videos.  At the very least, he can be used as a blocker who can stretch the field; in the best case scenario, I think he has All-Big Ten potential.  I'm not the first one to say this, but his build, gait, speed, and athleticism remind me of former Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards.

Ways is the seventh commitment in the 2014 class and the second receiver, joining Drake Harris; he is also the first scholarship player from Country Day since linebacker Kenny Demens in 2008.  That school has also produced players like 2014 QB Tyler Wiegers (committed to Rutgers), 2013 DT Poet Thomas (Texas Tech), 2011 WR Kenny Knight (Illinois), current Miami Heat small forward Shane Battier, and former Michigan basketball player Chris Webber.

TTB Rating: 77 (ratings explanation)

Attractive Michigan Girls of the Week

I apologize for the dudes in the picture.  Do your best to ignore them.

If you have any other pictures of girls with Michigan gear, drop me an e-mail.  Go Blue!

2013 Mock NFL Draft

Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher

I do this every year, even though pretty much every mock draft ever is terrible and full of failed prognostications.  By Friday morning this will be horrible and embarrassing, but right now, everyone thinks he's a genius, including yours truly.

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Fisher - OT - Central Michigan
There aren't any skill players worth taking this high, and I think Joeckel is superior to Central Michigan's Eric Fisher. UPDATE: It appears that the Chiefs will take Fisher, so I'm changing my pick here.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Luke Joeckel - OT - Texas A&M
I thought about putting Ezekiel Ansah here, but the Jaguaras have whiffed on a couple first round defensive ends in recent years, so perhaps they'll be a little more cautious.

3. Oakland Raiders: Sharrif Floyd - DT - Florida
The ghost of Al Davis will cause the Raiders to pick Floyd. It seems like the Raiders have always liked gargantuan defensive tackles, and Floyd fits the mold.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Lane Johnson - OT - Oklahoma
For Chip Kelly to get his offense rolling in Philly, I think he needs to strengthen the offensive line. People are going to get frustrated with him quickly if his offense sputters.

5. Detroit Lions: Ezekiel Ansah - DE - Brigham Young University
The sensible thing to do with the three offensive tackles gone would be to go for a cornerback, where the Lions are sorely lacking; they will probably mess it up and spend another high pick on a defensive lineman, kind of like Matt Millen did with the wide receiver position.

6. Cleveland Browns: Dee Milliner - CB - Alabama
Geno Smith is a possibility here, but taking Smith a year after taking Weeden would be a bad idea; I think they have some of the same strengths and come from similar offenses. Go with a physical corner instead.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Geno Smith - QB - West Virginia
This seems to be how things go: teams get an aging quarterback, then bring in a young gun to get tutored. Carson Palmer will feel the heat from Smith.

8. Buffalo Bills: Chance Warmack - OG - Alabama
The best thing to do in Buffalo is to shore up the run game.

9. New York Jets: Dion Jordan - OLB - Oregon
The Jets love to pick "front five" guys for their 3-4 defense.

10. Tennessee Titans: Tavon Austin - WR - West Virginia
Austin could be a nice complement to the run game they have in Tennessee.

11. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Cooper - OG - North Carolina
The Chargers need help on the offensive line, and Cooper would be a decent pickup with the top three tackles off the board.

12. Miami Dolphins: D.J. Fluker - OT - Alabama
Fluker is a big, road-grading right tackle.

13. New York Jets: Tyler Eifert - TE - Notre Dame
Even Rex Ryan isn't dumb enough to take Cordarrelle Patterson this high and Austin is off the board, so they'll take a tight end to try to help out Mark Sanchez.

14. Carolina Panthers: Sheldon Richardson - DT - Missouri
I really like Richardson and he would fit as a 3-tech DT.

15. New Orleans Saints: Barkevious Mingo - DE - LSU
The Saints go with the hometown pass rusher.

16. St. Louis Rams: Kenny Vaccaro - S - Texas
The Rams really need a safety, and he looks like the best one in the draft class.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarvis Jones - OLB - Georgia
Perhaps Jones can be James Harrison's replacement.

18. Dallas Cowboys: Manti Te'o - LB - Notre Dame
Jerry Jones likes to make a splash, and taking Te'o here would definitely get people talking.

19. New York Giants: Bjoern Werner - DE - Florida State
The Giants have made a pretty nice habit of terrorizing opposing defenses with their versatile defensive line. I don't see many other guys who would make sense here, either.

20. Chicago Bears: Johnathan Cyprien - S - Florida International
I think an offensive lineman would be a good choice here, but there aren't any worth taking at #20, in my opinion.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Lacy - RB - Alabama
I have a hard time believing that no running backs will be taken in the first round, so I'll put Lacy here.

22. St. Louis Rams: DeAndre Hopkins - WR - Clemson
I almost put Cordarrelle Patterson here, but the Rams are a young team, and I think Patterson could get distracted or be distracting.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Sylvester Williams - DT - North Carolina
From Pat Williams to Kevin Williams to Sylvester Williams.

24. Indianapolis Colts: Xavier Rhodes - CB - Florida State
The Colts need a cornerback, and some people think Rhodes is the top corner in the Draft.

25. Minnesota Vikings: Cordarrelle Patterson - WR - Tennessee
Patterson might be able to help replace Percy Harvin, who was traded to the Seahawks.

26. Green Bay Packers: Desmond Trufant - CB - Washington
Trufant can help to replace Charles Woodson.

27. Houston Texans: Keenan Allen - WR - California
I'm not sold on Allen, but I think the Texans might like a wide receiver because their passing offense can become a little Andre Johnson-centric.

28. Denver Broncos: Eric Reid - S - LSU
Safety isn't a huge need for the Broncos, but Reid is a talented kid who's one of the best available this late in the first round.

29. New England Patriots: D.J. Hayden - CB - Houston
The Patriots need a wide receiver, but there aren't many great options here - Justin Hunter is a little bit soft, Terrance Williams is just okay, etc. They might as well try to shore up the pass defense.

30. Atlanta Falcons: Star Lotulelei - DT - Utah
I have a difficult time believing Lotulelei will fall this far, but he's more of a 4-3 defensive tackle, in my opinion, and there are a few teams who don't need him just ahead of the Falcons.  Maybe somebody will make a trade.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Matt Elam - S - Florida
Elam could help replace Dashon Goldson.

32. Baltimore Ravens: Alec Ogletree - LB - Georgia
Ogletree might drop a little bit due to some character issues, and Baltimore has lost quite a bit from its linebacker corps in recent years.  He could play the weakside inside linebacker position for the Ravens and help mitigate the loss of Ray Lewis.

Discuss.

2013 NFL Draft Preview: Michigan

Denard Robinson

Right here is the one . . . the only . . . exhibition of my non-expert opinion on where Michigan's players will end up in (or out) of the NFL Draft.

Denard Robinson, QB/WR/RB
Robinson has some questions about what position(s) he'll be able to play in the NFL.  It's pretty clear that he won't be a full-time quarterback (although certain packages or plays wouldn't be out of the question), but he might lack the hands and route running skills to be a wide receiver or the bulk to be a running back.  My guess is that he will carve out a career somewhat like that of the Cleveland Browns' Josh Cribbs, a guy who isn't a star but contributes as a receiver, runner, and kickoff returner.
Best guess: 2nd round, #59 overall to New England Patriots

William Campbell, DT
Campbell measured in at 6'5", 311 lbs., ran a 5.15 forty, and did 35 reps on the bench press at Michigan's pro day.  He was not very productive at Michigan and struggled to win a starting role, but he is very large and shows impressive power when he decides to stay low and play hard.  There's a chance that Robinson will be the only player drafted out of Michigan, but if there are others, the best bet appears to be Campbell for the next highest draft slot.  He would fit best as a 3-technique in a 4-3 defense, in my opinion.
Best guess: 6th round, #188 overall to Chicago Bears

Jordan Kovacs, S
The 5'11", 205 lb. Kovacs was highly productive as a tackler at Michigan, although his pass coverage leaves something to be desired.  He ran a 4.63 at Michigan's pro day and showed impressive leaping ability with a 35" vertical, but that athleticism doesn't really show itself on the field.  Kovacs played strong safety at Michigan, and that's likely where he would fit best in the NFL - as an in-the-box safety who doesn't have to worry too much about deep coverage.  He could also be productive on special teams coverage.
Best guess: 7th round, #247 overall to Baltimore Ravens

Craig Roh, DE
Roh measured at 6'4", 271 lbs. at Michigan's pro day and ran the forty in 4.91; somewhat disappointingly, he only put up 20 reps of 225 lbs. on the bench press.  He changes direction fairly well for a strongside end, but he lacks pass rush moves beyond the occasional bull rush.  Added weight seems to have slowed him down throughout his career, so he may not be able to bulk up into a 3-4 defensive end; his best bet might be to try to make it as a slightly undersized strongside end in a 4-3.
Best guess: Undrafted

Patrick Omameh, OG
Omameh is a 6'4", 303 lb. prospect who was a four-year starter at Michigan, but he only put up 22 reps at Michigan's pro day.  He's not particularly adept at pulling, but he has pretty good lateral movement and can stay low.  If he can increase his strength and add a little bit of weight, I think Omameh can latch on as a backup somewhere, perhaps in a zone running scheme like Houston's.
Best guess: Undrafted

Kenny Demens, LB
Demens stands 6'1" and 245 lbs. with a 4.82 forty and 26 reps on the bench press; he also had a 33.5" vertical and a 4.54 shuttle time.  He's not particularly quick at diagnosing plays, but he is a thumping hitter with surprisingly good coverage skills.  Demens didn't make enough plays at Michigan to really stand out, but he could earn a shot as a middle linebacker in a 4-3; his body and athleticism also make him seem like perhaps an inside linebacker in a 3-4, but his lack of quick diagnoses make that a questionable proposition because he would have to shed linemen.
Best guess: Undrafted

Roy Roundtree, WR
Roundtree is a 6'1", 178 lb. receiver prospect who ran a 4.58 forty at Michigan's pro day, where he also put up just 10 reps on the bench.  That forty time isn't very impressive, but he was deceptively quick at Michigan, breaking off several 70+ yard receptions throughout his career.  He has struggled to add weight at any point in his college career, and NFL defensive backs will probably be able to push him around pretty easily.  He could perhaps help out as a slot receiver for someone, but he's not fast enough or physical enough to work on the outside, in my opinion.
Best guess: Undrafted

J.T. Floyd, CB
Floyd is a 5'10", 190 lb. defensive back who put up less than stellar numbers at Michigan's pro day - a 4.79 forty and 5 reps on the bench press.  It's no secret that I have never been impressed with Floyd as a football player, so I won't beat around the bush: I don't think he has a shot at getting drafted, and his best chance would be to hook on with a team that runs a Tampa Cover Two where he can sit in the flat on a lot of plays.
Best guess: Undrafted

Ricky Barnum, OG
Barnum is a 6'2", 297 lb. interior lineman who earned good reviews for his ability to get out and run, but he ran just a 5.53 forty at Michigan's pro day; he did, however, put up a respectable 25 reps on the bench press.  He may have been best suited for the zone running offense that Rich Rodriguez employed, but most of his playing time was earned in 2011 and 2012, when he was expected to be a powerful, drive-blocking guard.  He struggled to get much movement and does not appear likely to get drafted, but perhaps a zone running team will give him a shot.
Best guess: Undrafted

Brandin Hawthorne, LB
Hawthorne is a 6'0", 220 lb. prospect who benched 225 lbs. an impressive 27 times at Michigan's pro day.  He was an occasional starter at Michigan, but fell behind freshmen at weakside linebacker in each of his last two seasons.  The chances of him making it in the NFL are slim, but if he does, it will probably be as a weakside linebacker in a 4-3 and/or a special teamer.
Best guess: Undrafted

Vincent Smith, RB
Smith is a 5'6", 172 lb. player who ran a 4.85 at Michigan's pro day in March, although he did a little better with a 4.31 shuttle time; he also had a 30" vertical and did 14 reps on the bench.  He earned a starting job as a feature back in 2010, but that role dissipated when Brady Hoke was hired; since the beginning of 2011, he was mostly a pass protector and third down back.  Without the speed to make big plays in the NFL as a third down back or returner, Smith might get just a cursory glance by a few NFL teams.
Best guess: Undrafted

Elliott Mealer, OG
Mealer, at 6'4" and 321 lbs., ran just as fast (5.54 seconds) as Barnum, despite being two inches taller and 24 lbs. heavier.  Mealer also put up 29 repetitions on the bench, which is a good number.  He played center in 2012, but he seemed to struggle getting off the ball; however, I do have to say that his snaps themselves were excellent.  He also had some mental gaffes, but that was perhaps in part due to playing mostly tackle and guard early in his career before becoming the full-time center.  If Mealer is able to latch on in the NFL, I think it will be as a right guard for a team that likes to run the ball.
Best guess: Undrafted

OTHERS EXPECTED TO GO UNDRAFTED:
Mike Kwiatkowski, TE
Brandon Moore, TE

Visitors: April 26-28, 2013

Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate cornerback Jalen Tabor (#1)

Daejuan Funderburk - S - Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate: Funderburke is a 6'1", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Miami, Rutgers, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.  He claims a 4.5 forty and according to the 247 Composite ranking, he's a 3-star, the #43 safety, and the #546 player overall.  He shows decent speed and change of direction, and he could play corner or free safety in college.

Dimitri Lee - CB - Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate: Lee is a 5'9", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.  Lee is a little stiff in the hips and is a thick kid, so he might be more of a strong safety or slot corner at the next level.

Jimmy Martin - LB - Maitland (FL) Orangewood Christian: Martin is a 5'11", 203 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers at this time.  He also visited Michigan for a game back in September 2012.  He claims a 4.62 forty and as a sophomore in 2012, he had 113 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.  He also had 604 rushing yards, 121 receiving yards, and 8 total touchdowns.  Martin plays small school competition, so his numbers should be taken with a grain of salt; he would likely project to middle linebacker or perhaps fullback at the next level.

Chigozie Onyekwere - WR - Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate: Onyekwere is a 5'11", 190 lb. prospect with a lone offer from North Carolina State.  He's a 3-star prospect with a 4.5 forty whom 247's Composite ranking places as a 3-star and the #154 wideout.

Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate: Tabor is a 6'1", 182 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, and numerous others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 27 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 1 interception returned for a touchdown.  The 247 Composite ranking places him as a 5-star, the #4 cornerback, and the #16 player overall.  This will be Tabor's first visit to Michigan's campus, and the Wolverines appear to be playing from well behind on this one.  Teammate D'Andre Payne, who has a Michigan offer, committed to Tennessee; other Friendship products have been offered by Michigan in recent years, including linebacker Yannick Ngakoue (Maryland) and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (Florida State).  Tabor is expect to follow Goldman to Tallahassee.


Maurice Ways - WR - Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways is a 6'3", 195 lb. prospect who earned a Michigan offer late last week.  He just earned an offer from Pitt, which joined Iowa, Kansas, and several others.  As a junior in 2012, Ways had 51 receptions for 957 yards and 9 touchdowns.  Many people are expecting Ways to commit to Michigan soon, if not on his visit.

Ian Bunting, Wolverine

Hinsdale (IL) Central wide receiver/tight end Ian Bunting
(image via Twitter)

Hinsdale (IL) Central tight end Ian Bunting committed to Michigan on Tuesday.  Bunting chose the Wolverines over offers from Florida State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and USC, among others.

Bunting stands 6'6" and 210 lbs.  As a junior in 2012, Bunting had 16 catches for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #5 TE, #114 overall
Rivals: 3-star, #14 TE
Scout: 3-star, #17 TE
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #11 TE

Bunting visited Michigan in November 2012 for the Northwestern game, but he didn't receive an offer from the Wolverines until March.  At the time of that in-season visit, he had just one offer, which had come from Purdue.  When he visited again last weekend, it was thought that Notre Dame was his leader, but he was impressed enough to commit a few days afterward.

Bunting is a long and lean prospect.  He's listed from 6'5" to 6'7" and from 210 to 215 lbs., but he plays like a wide receiver.  When he gets an unimpeded release off the line of scrimmage, he's very difficult to cover.  He can run past some defensive backs, and jump balls are no contest for someone with his size and athleticism; if defenses cover him with a linebacker, that will be a huge mismatch.  He's a very flexible player who picks up his knees when he runs, can bend at the knees to block, and can adjust well to the ball in the air.  I also like the way Bunting runs routes; he changes direction well for such a tall guy, and he shows a dedication to proper footwork.  As a blocker, he shows the willingness to be physical and he keeps a nice, wide base when engaged with defenders.

There's not much to dislike about Bunting.  He will add weight as his body matures, so it will be interesting to see whether that changes his athleticism; he won't be a mammoth bruiser, but he should probably be 240-245 lbs. by the time his college career ends.  I also wonder how he would react to press man coverage, because no defensive backs seem willing to test him in that respect.  He will have to learn how to shed press man defenders if he doesn't know already.

Michigan will likely use Bunting like they use Devin Funchess, splitting him out wide, moving him around in the backfield, and sending him downfield as a deep threat at times.  I think those two have very similar skills. Michigan should be able to redshirt him in 2014 to add some weight, but if he's not being used as an in-line blocker, there's not much of a reason to keep him off the field if he can contribute.  Funchess did just fine at about 228 lbs. in 2012, and Bunting has another year and a half to add that 10-20 lbs.

Recruits have stated that the coaches only plan to take one tight end in the 2014 class, so Bunting will likely be the only player for the position unless something changes with the roster.  He's the seventh commitment in a class that will probably be around 16 or a few more.  Walk-on wide receiver Brad Anlauf also attended Hinsdale Central High School.

TTB Rating: 78 (ratings explanation)

Recruiting Update: April 23, 2013

Detroit (MI) Country Day wide receiver Maurice Ways

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Fort Worth (TX) All Saint's Episcopal offensive guard Demetrius Knox decommitted from Texas.  Knox is a 6'4", 290 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and numerous others.  According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 4-star, the #4 offensive guard, and the #77 player overall.  I do not expect Michigan to garner much attention from Knox this time around, either.

New Orleans (LA) John Curtis safety Mattrell McGraw was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'0", 186 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, and many others.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 3-star, the #51 safety, and the #593 player overall.  As a junior in 2012, he had 65 tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns), 13 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles.  He also claims a 4.46 forty, and I think he has the speed and change of direction to play cornerback in some schemes.  John Curtis is the same school as a couple other Michigan offerees, wide receiver Malachi Dupre and linebacker Kenny Young.

Chandler (AZ) Hamilton offensive tackle Casey Tucker decommitted from USC.  He's a 6'6", 270 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma, among others.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 4-star, the #6 offensive tackle, and the #55 player overall; he's committed play in the Under Armour All-America Game.  He has expressed an interest in revisiting Michigan's offer, so the Wolverines might be able to make a move.  Hamilton is the same school that former Michigan targets Cole Luke (Notre Dame) and Christian Westerman (Auburn) attended.

Detroit (MI) Country Day wide receiver Maurice Ways was offered by Michigan.  Ways is a 6'3", 195 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Kansas, Rutgers, and most of the MAC.  As a junior in 2012, he had 51 receptions for 952 yards and 9 touchdowns.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 3-star, the #76 wideout, and the #583 player overall.  Ways isn't the most agile or quickest receiver, but he's a good sized kid with a nice frame, good speed, and the ability to go up and get the ball.  Country Day is the alma mater of Michigan linebacker Kenny Demens.


ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis defensive end Terry Beckner, Jr. was offered by Michigan.  He's a 6'5", 260 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Purdue.  Beckner is the teammate of 2014 linebacker offeree Kyron Watson, who has named Michigan his leader.

MISCELLANEOUS
ESPN released its top 150 players for the class of 2014.

Here's a list of visitors from last weekend.

247 Sports released its updated Top 247 for the class of 2014.

Video: Spring Game - Every Snap

Presidential Transition: Mary Sue Coleman Retires

defyexpectations

Student, alumnus, employee or fan, Michigan's presidency affects everyone associated with the university.

After eleven years of service, Mary Sue Coleman has announce that she is stepping down as U of M's leader, effective July 2014.  Coleman, 69, is Michigan's 13th president and the first women to hold that position.  She came to Michigan from the University of Iowa and built a reputation as an exceptional ambassador and aggressive fundraiser.  She is among the five highest paid public university presidents and, unsurprisingly, is also ranked as one of the best.

Over $3 billion was raised under her campaign The Michigan Difference, which helped to attract the best talent and fund building developments across campus.

Here's an incomplete roundup of stories following her decision:

• Top 5 accomplishments
• Record fundraising for a public university
• Rising tuition
• Beilein's take
• An "A" grade from AnnArbor.com readers
• Staying in Ann Arbor
• International initiatives 
• Spinning the cube

Attractive Michigan Girl of the Week

If you have any other pictures of girls wearing Michigan gear, drop me an e-mail. Go Blue!

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

Video: Brady Hoke spring game press conference

Visitors: April 19-21, 2013

Scottsdale (AZ) Desert Mountain wide receiver/tight end Mark Andrews (image via 247 Sports)

Mark Andrews - TE - Scottsdale (AZ) Desert Mountain: Andrews is a 6'6", 230 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others.  He's taking a trip through the midwest to see Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, even though Arizona appears to be his leader.  As a junior in 2012, he had 81 receptions for 1,590 yards and 22 touchdowns; his quarterback is Kyle Allen, a highly regarded player with offers from several Pac-12, Big 12, and SEC schools.  Andrews plays wide receiver and has a desire to play wideout in college, but he will most likely end up at tight end in college.

Ian Bunting - TE - Hinsdale (IL) Central: Bunting is a 6'6", 210 lb. prospect with recent offers from Florida State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and USC, to go along with his Michigan offer and numerous others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 16 catches for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns.  He would probably play the U-back position like Devin Funchess, since he is long, lean, and rather athletic.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 4-star and the #11 tight end in the class.

Ricky DeBerry - DE - Richmond (VA) St. Christopher's: DeBerry is a 6'2", 235 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with offers from Arizona State, Clemson, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others.  He is considered to be one of the top few prospects for the 2015 class and plays in the same league as 2014 quarterback commit Wilton Speight.

Garrett Taylor - CB - Richmond (VA) St. Christopher's: Taylor, standing 6'0" and 180 lbs., is a classmate of DeBerry's.  He plays wide receiver and cornerback and has offers from Clemson, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others.

Kyron Watson - LB - East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis: Watson is a 6'1", 220 lb. prospect who picked up a Michigan offer last week.  He may not make it to Michigan this weekend, but he does want to visit Ann Arbor soon.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 3-star, the #44 outside linebacker, and the #592 player overall.  UPDATE: Watson is rescheduling his visit.

Parrker Westphal - CB - Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook: Westphal is a 6'2", 186 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Vanderbilt, among others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 51 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.  He has visited Michigan numerous times and is coached by former Michigan cornerback Todd Howard.  247 Sports' Composite rankings place him as a 4-star, the #12 cornerback, and the #127 player overall.

247 Sports Top 247 for 2014 updated

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris is the #37 player in the nation

The Top 247 for 2014 was updated today.  Here's what it looked like back in March.  Movement for Michigan's commits looks like this:

- Drake Harris dropped from #36 to #37
- Mason Cole dropped from #103 to #105
- Michael Ferns III dropped from #174 to #175

5-stars:
1. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
2. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
3. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
4. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia
6. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
7. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
9. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey
10. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas
11. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
15. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
16. Edward Paris - S - Texas (LSU)
19. John Smith - ATH - California
21. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
24. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)

4-stars:
28. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, DC
30. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
31. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
32. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
33. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - Georgia
34. Marshon Lattimore - CB - Ohio
37. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
43. Jamarco Jones - OG - Illinois
48. Braden Smith - OG - Kansas
49. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida
51. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
53. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois
62. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona
69. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas (Texas)
76. Joe Mixon - RB - California
77. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina
80. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Mississippi)
83. Dante Booker - LB - Ohio
84. Tyler Luatua - TE - California
86. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
90. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
91. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
99. Dwight Williams - LB - California
105. Mason Cole - OG - Florida (Michigan)
109. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
114. Garrett Dickerson - DE - New Jersey
115. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida
127. Elijah Hood - ATH - North Carolina
128. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina
130. Jalen Brown - WR - Arizona
135. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas
140. Jay Hayes - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
149. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona (USC)
155. Bryson Allen-Williams - LB - Georgia (South Carolina)
157. K.J. Williams - WR - Pennsylvania
162. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
163. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey
168. Otaro Alaka - LB - Texas (Texas)
169. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois
170. Kyle Berger - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
175. Michael Ferns III - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
176. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, D.C. (Tennessee)
181. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia
183. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee
184. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania
192. Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
201. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
207. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan
209. Adarius Pickett - CB - California
211. Kenny Young - LB - Louisiana
215. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey
216. Sam Hubbard - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
220. Nic Weishar - TE - Illinois
222. T'Kevian Rockwell - LB - Texas
223. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
231. Juwann Winfree - ATH - New Jersey
239. Dravon Henry - S - Pennsylvania
242. Petera Wilson - LB - Tennessee
243. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado
245. Erick Smith - S - Ohio
246. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)

Video: Al Borges spring press conference

Scouting Report: K.J. Williams

Bethlehem (PA) Liberty wide receiver K.J. Williams

Name: K.J. Williams
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Position: Wide receiver, safety
Class: 2014
High school: Bethlehem (PA) Liberty

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin . . . As a junior in 2012, had 59 receptions for 986 yards and 11 touchdowns . . . Rivals 4-star, #22 WR, #193 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #35 WR . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 92 grade, #12 ATH, #163 overall

Strengths: Thick-bodied kid with frame to add significant weight . . . Should easily reach 210 lb. range if he's 190 now . . . Good speed but won't blow people away . . . Able to catch passes outside frame of body . . . Good leaping ability . . . Should turn into a good blocker with his frame

Weaknesses: Not particularly elusive . . . Should run with a little more attitude and physicality . . . A bit of a long strider . . . Mediocre route runner . . . Does not set up routes well . . . Does not use hands well to beat press . . . May be susceptible to press man coverage

Projection: Wide receiver. Williams is a good high school athlete but lacking refinement in some areas.  Basically, he looks like a good-sized, fairly fast player in a somewhat simple offense that runs him on a lot of fly routes, a few fades, and a few slants.  He appears to be a physically mature player, which makes me wonder a little about how much room for development there is; the technical things can certainly improve, but he might be closer to his peak as an athlete than some other players.  I think he can be a serviceable player at the BCS level with potential to be more if he can play with more physicality.

Reminds me of: LaTerryal Savoy

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Williams visited Michigan a couple weekends ago and, according to reports, was close to committing.

Highlights: Check out Williams' highlights on Hudl.

Video: Greg Mattison spring press conference

Recruiting Update: April 16, 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video: Spring game highlights

Spring Game Thoughts: Defense

DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line's success largely depends on the talent of the offensive line, so this is always a little difficult to gauge.  The starters appeared to be Keith Heitzman at strongside end, Quinton Washington at nose tackle, Jibreel Black at 3-tech defensive tackle, and Frank Clark at weakside end.  Heitzman didn't do much of note.  Washington seemed to get good push up the middle, and he should be in for a solid season.  Black looked quick, and Mattison sent him on several loops and stunts to use that quickness.  Clark looks deserving of the spring hype he's received; he's going to cause trouble for opponents.  Of the backups, redshirt freshman Matt Godin looked solid at strongside end and Willie Henry looked like a very adept replacement.  Henry could potentially play SDE, NT, or DT.  Ondre Pipkins looked okay at NT, but he didn't do anything outstanding.  Mario Ojemudia gave some people fits because of his quickness, and Taco Charlton made some plays at weakside end against the backup offensive line.  I was impressed with how well Charlton used his hands, which was one of the weakness of his game in high school.  Richard Ash looked slow off the line and doesn't know how to use his hands; he still looks like a guy who won't get many reps.  I didn't keep stats on this, but it looked to me that Mattison ran a lot of 4-3 Under with the first team, but then ran a lot of 4-3 Over with the second unit.

LINEBACKERS
The starters were Brennen Beyer at SAM, Desmond Morgan at MIKE, and James Ross at WILL.  I don't think Beyer is a starter-quality linebacker, and he didn't really make any plays.  Morgan dropped an interception and failed to get depth on Jake Butt's touchdown catch, but he did look solid against the run.  Ross looked fantastic at weakside linebacker, chasing down plays near the sideline and hitting running backs at the line of scrimmage.  Cam Gordon looked like the superior player at SAM, made a nice tackle for loss on Dennis Norfleet, and blew up Butt on a Power.  Joe Bolden looked solid at MIKE, but I'm concerned about the backup WILL position.  Royce Jenkins-Stone seemed to be the #2 weakside linebacker, but he struggled.  Mike Jones didn't look like a viable option, and I didn't see Antonio Poole on the field.  Kaleb Ringer was recruited to play WILL, but he's too thick and slow to play there, in my opinion.

CORNERBACKS
The corners weren't tested much - maybe because of the weather, maybe because of the play calls.  Blake Countess didn't play, and the first three corners appeared to be Raymon Taylor, Courtney Avery, and Delonte Hollowell.  The quarterbacks seemed to pick on Hollowell more than anyone else, and he seemed to come up well and tackle.  Avery appeared to be playing on the outside rather than the nickel position he's held for the past couple seasons.  Ross Douglas looked like he could hold his own, but Terry Richardson looked tiny and afraid to come up and support the run.

SAFETIES
The frontrunners for the starting positions seem to be Thomas Gordon and Jarrod Wilson, with Marvin Robinson being the primary backup.  Robinson got out-leveraged on Thomas Rawls' touchdown run, which was a play that Jordan Kovacs totally would have made.  The young up-and-comer looked like redshirt freshman Jeremy Clark; he moves pretty well and laid a couple nice hits.  Allen Gant made a nice tackle, and early enrollee Dymonte Thomas was just a step slow from his nickel corner position.  Josh Furman still didn't do anything significant, but none of the safeties were really tested in the passing game, so it's tough to get a good read on their coverage abilities.

Drake Harris, Wolverine

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris committed to Michigan on Sunday.  He chose the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others.

Harris stands 6'4", 180 lbs. and claims a 4.39 forty.  As a junior in 2012, he had 91 receptions for 2,015 yards and 25 touchdowns.  As a sophomore in 2011, he caught 57 passes for 1,118 yards and 14 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: 4-star, #4 WR, # 56 overall
Scout: 4-star, #3 WR
247 Sports: 4-star, 97 grade, #3 WR, #36 overall

Harris camped at Michigan last June but committed to Michigan State a week later, largely because he planned to play basketball; MSU coach Tom Izzo has quite a reputation for coaching that sport and getting his players to the NBA.  It made some sense if Harris wanted to pursue a professional basketball career.  But as time went on, Harris started to realize that 6'4" shooting guards are a dime a dozen across the nation, whereas 6'4" wideouts are a little rarer of a commodity.  Then he started visiting Michigan weekend after weekend for basketball games, decommitted in mid-March, and visited Michigan again for the spring game on Saturday.

Harris is a tall, lanky receiver.  As a basketball player, he can catch the ball away from his body, and he understands how to use his body to shield the defender from the ball.  He shows very good acceleration and has the ability to get on top of cornerbacks very quickly; he runs crisp routes and adjusts well to the ball in the air.  Once he gets in the open field, he's difficult to bring down because of his speed and his ability to stutter step, change direction, and accelerate.  Michigan should be able to use him as deep threat, but he also has the ability to take short passes and turn them into big plays.   He shows a willingness and ability to block, too, so he's a good all-around receiver.

I think Harris needs to improve his consistency catching the ball with his hands - he can do it, but he doesn't do it enough.  He also needs to put on some weight to make him a more effective runner with the ball in his hands; that would help him with his blocking, too.

Overall, Harris is a very high level prospect and seems to be pretty accurately ranked among the top few receivers in the country.  There would also seem to be some room for improvement since he has been concentrating on basketball up to this point, too.  Michigan probably has plans of getting him up into the 210-215 lb. range and making him a durable, NFL-caliber wideout.  His size, stride, and skill set make him look a little bit like former Michigan wideout Braylon Edwards, although that would be a tough level to reach for just about anyone; Edwards was dominant as an upperclassman at Michigan and turned into one of the top few picks in the NFL Draft.

Harris plans to enroll early in January 2014.  Michigan will likely take a few wide receivers in the 2014 class, but Harris will probably be the headliner when all is said and done.  He might even end up being Michigan's best player in the class, although the coaches are still pursuing the elite of the elite like Da'Shawn Hand and Jabrill Peppers.  The coaches are also going after Harris's teammate Tommy Doles, a center prospect who is also seriously considering Northwestern; supposedly, Harris and Doles are friendly but not extremely close, so one may not affect the other.

TTB Rating: 93 (ratings explanation)

Video: Taylor Lewan spring practice interview

Spring Game Thoughts: Offense

QUARTERBACK
Redshirt junior Devin Gardner (11/16, 138 yards, 1 touchdown) looked pretty good for the most part, although he threw a ball right into Desmond Morgan's hands.  I will say that redshirt freshman walk-on Brian Cleary (3/11, 32 yards, 1 touchdown) looked better than I expected, and quite honestly, he looked every bit as capable as currently injured redshirt sophomore Russell Bellomy did; Cleary's command of the offense and pocket presence are questionable, but he throws a nice ball and has decent arm strength.  Alex Swieca (4/6, 38 yards) is really  slow getting out from under center.

RUNNING BACK
Junior Thomas Rawls (6 carries, 36 yards, 1 touchdown) had a nice 14-yard touchdown run, but it certainly helped that he was running against guys like Mark Lawson and Terry Richardson on that play.  He did show some nice vision on a late run with a cutback, but otherwise, most of the running back play was mediocre.  Redshirt sophomore Justice Hayes (2 carries, 1 yard) made a poor read on one run and got tackled for a safety.  Sophomore Dennis Norfleet (4 carries, 18 yards) looked the most capable of creating big plays, but he needs space; he had a couple nice runs, but when the running lanes were clogged up on another, he just balled up for about a four-yard loss.  Redshirt freshman Drake Johnson (3 carries, 2 yards) looked decent catching a screen pass, but he didn't stand out as a runner.

FULLBACK
Sophomore Sione Houma (1 catch, 10 yards) looked pretty good on a catch-and-run. Redshirt sophomore Joe Kerridge looked good as a lead blocker.

WIDE RECEIVER
There wasn't much to glean from this position group.  Fifth year senior Jeremy Gallon (3 catches, 18 yards) made a couple nice plays, senior Jeremy Jackson (2 catches, 35 yards) caught a couple short passes, and sophomore Amara Darboh made an over-the-shoulder grab for about 30 yards to start the scrimmage.  Otherwise, there were a lot of throws to fullbacks, running backs, and tight ends.

TIGHT END
Sophomore Devin Funchess (2 catches, 42 yards) still doesn't really understand how to block, but boy, can he catch the ball.  Sophomore A.J. Williams (1 catch, 6 yards) seemed to get a little quicker by losing about 20 lbs., and that seems to have helped his blocking.  Redshirt junior Jordan Paskorz looks a little overwhelmed out there.  Freshman Jake Butt (1 catch, 12 yards, 1 touchdown) made a nice touchdown catch, but he too needs to work on his blocking and got pushed around a little bit by guys like Cam Gordon.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The starters appear to be Taylor Lewan, Ben Braden, Jack Miller, Kyle Kalis, and Michael Schofield (from left to right).  There were lots of blown pass protections; if Mattison stunted against the young offensive linemen, it was basically guaranteed to confuse them.  There are too many guys to mention here, but overall, the run blocking looks better than last year, but the pass blocking seems to have taken a step back.  The team has some good athletes in the pipeline to play left tackle (redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson, freshman Logan Tuley-Tillman).  Redshirt sophomore Jack Miller had a snafu on a snap, but overall, he looked like the best center.  Redshirt freshman Blake Bars was getting pushed around quite a bit; he looks thin.  Tuley-Tillman looked pretty thin and underdeveloped, while Braden looked absolutely massive.  Redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant will probably always look a little sloppy, but he's powerful; he just isn't moving like he should be, whether that's a permanent thing or if he's still working his way back into condition after the broken leg.

Visitors: April 12-14, 2013

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake wide receiver Artavis Scott (image via Herald Tribune)

Here's a list of visitors for the upcoming spring game.  I haven't filled out the info for each prospect due to time constraints, but I will update it soon.

Brennan Bosch - OG - St. Charles (IL) East: Bosch is a 6'3", 255 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with an offer from Illinois.  He is the younger brother of early enrollee freshman Kyle Bosch.

Ray Buford, Jr. - CB - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Buford is a 6'0", 170 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers.  He visited Michigan last week.  He has played wide receiver previously, but Michigan is looking at him as a cornerback.

George Campbell - WR - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Campbell is a 6'3", 184 lb. prospect for the class of 2015.  He has offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others.  His teammates include 2014 offensive line commit Mason Cole and 2014 wide receiver offeree Artavis Scott, both of whom will also make the trip.  Campbell visited Michigan back in February and has since been very high on the Wolverines.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 30 catches for 766 yards and 5 touchdowns; he also had 57 tackles from his safety position. UPDATE: Campbell did not visit this past weekend; he was at Vanderbilt instead.

Brian Cole - CB - Southfield (MI) Heritage: Cole is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State.

Mason Cole - OG - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: A teammate of Campbell, Cole committed to Michigan in February.

Reon Dawson - CB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Dawson committed to Michigan in January.

Jaron Dukes - WR - Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin: Dukes committed to Michigan in February 2012.

Matt Falcon - RB - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Falcon is a 6'0", 200 lb. prospect for the class of 2016 with no offers right now.  He's the teammate of 2014 defensive end Lawrence Marshall - who went to Michigan State's campus instead of Michigan's spring game - and 2015 cornerback Ray Buford, Jr.

Michael Ferns III - LB - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: The first member of Michigan's 2014 class, Ferns committed in August.

Drake Harris - WR - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6'4", 180 lb. receiver with offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, along with many others.  He was committed to MSU for several months because he wanted to play basketball, but he opened up his recruitment to concentrate more on football.  He has visited Michigan several times in recent months.  Harris's 247 Composite ranking places him as a 5-star, the #2 wide receiver, and the #32 overall prospect.  He had 91 receptions for 2,015 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior in 2012.

Daniel Helm - TE - Chatham (IL) Glenwood: Helm is a 6'4", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.  He also visited Michigan back in February, and he looks to be heavily interested in the Wolverines.  As a junior in 2012, he had 44 receptions for 810 yards and 17 touchdowns.  Helm is a 4-star, the #6 tight end, and the #232 player overall, according to the 247 Composite rankings.

Maurice Hurst, Jr. - DT - Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers: Hurst committed to Michigan in June 2012.

Jake Johnson - QB - DeWitt (MI) DeWitt: Johnson is a 6'1", 185 lb. quarterback for the class of 2015. He has no offers at this time.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,250 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, along with 400 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.

John Kelly - CB - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Kelly is a 5'11", 184 lb. cornerback or safety prospect for the class of 2015.  He has no offers at this time.  Kelly visited Michigan back in November and then in February, too.

Ostell Martin - OG - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Martin is a 6'5", 315 lb. prospect for the class of 2016 with no offers at this time.

Mike McCray II - LB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: McCray committed to Michigan in March 2012.

J.J. McGrath - K - Macomb (MI) Lutheran North: McGrath committed to Michigan as a walk-on in January 2013.

Malik McDowell - DE - Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell has been discussed non-stop on Michigan boards.  He's that 6'7", 290 lb. guy who has offers from everyone and visits Michigan a lot.

A.J. Mial - CB - Detroit (MI) Country Day: Mial is a 5'9", 170 lb. prospect who claims a 4.68 forty.  He's a 2014 prospect with no offers at this time.

Garrett Moores - QB - Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Moores is a 6'4", 200 lb. potential walk-on for the fall.  He's a high school teammate of incoming running back Wyatt Shallman.

Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris committed to Michigan in May 2011.

Stephen Mosley - WR - Akron (OH) Buchtel: Mosley is a 6'0", 180 lb. prospect for the class of 2014 with no offers at this time.  Buchtel is the alma mater of sophomore safety Jarrod Wilson.  The head coach at Buchtel is former Michigan running back Ricky Powers.

Tymeon Ollison - CB - Akron (OH) Buchtel: Ollison is a 5'8", 160 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers at this time.

Micheal Onwenu - OT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Onwenu is a 6'2", 310 lb. defensive tackle prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers at this time.  He also visited Michigan a couple weekends ago.

Prince Onwenu - LB - Walled Lake (MI) Central: Onwenu is a 5'11", 195 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time.  He plays defensive end in high school, but at his size, he's more likely to become a contributor as a linebacker.

Trevor Ruhland - OG - Cary (IL) Cary-Grove: Ruhland is a 6'4", 270 lb. prospect for the class of 2015 with no offers at this time.  He plays with good body lean and has a nasty disposition, and I think he'll eventually be a fairly highly regarded prospect.

Dan Samuelson - OG - Plymouth (IN) Plymouth: Samuelson committed to Michigan back in January.

Artavis Scott - WR - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Scott is a 5'11", 175 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Oregon, among others.  Scott is teammates with Campbell and Cole (mentioned above).  During three seasons already on the varsity team, he has 135 receptions for 2,493 yards and 27 touchdowns.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 4-star wideout, the #10 wide receiver, and the #88 player overall.

Wyatt Shallman - RB - Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Shallman committed to Michigan in February 2012.

Wilton Speight - QB - Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight, a 2014 prospect, committed on National Signing Day 2013.

Ted Stieber - OG - Akron (OH) Archbishop Hoban: Stieber is a 6'6", 285 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time.  He looks a little bit slow of foot and while he has the size to play tackle, he might be a better fit at guard or perhaps at right tackle.

Erik Swenson - OT - Downers Grove (IL) South: Swenson is a 6'7", 285 lb. prospect for the class of 2016.  He has offers from Illinois and Notre Dame already.

Scott Sypniewski - LS - Ottawa (IL) Marquette: Sypniewski committed to Michigan in June 2012.

Jack Wangler - WR - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Wangler is a 6'2", 195 lb. player who committed as a walk-on for Michigan.  He's the brother of Jared (below).

Jared Wangler - LB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Wangler is a 6'1", 218 lb. prospect with offers from Penn State and a handful of MAC schools.  He's the former teammate of incoming freshman Shane Morris, the son of former Michigan quarterback John Wangler, and the brother of incoming freshman walk-on Jack Wangler.  As a junior in 2012, Jared had 76 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception.

Maurice Ways - WR - Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways is a 6'3", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Kansas, and bunch of MAC schools.  He had 51 catches for 957 yards and 9 touchdowns as a junior in 2012.  Ways has visited Michigan the past couple weekends, and I think there's a good chance he'll earn an offer at some point down the road.

Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. - DE - Manilus (NY) Fayetteville Manilus: Wheatley is a 6'6", 235 lb. prospect who has picked up offers in recent weeks from Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, and Penn State.  His father is, of course, former Michigan running back and current Buffalo Bills running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley.

Chase Winovich - LB - Jefferson Hills (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Winovich is a 6'4", 215 lb. outside linebacker with offers from Miami, Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, and Virginia Tech, among others.  He visited in March but did not earn an offer until Kyle Berger and Sam Hubbard committed to Ohio State.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he's a 3-star, the #45 outside linebacker, and the #592 player overall.