CBS Sports: Day 1 shows how much Elite 11 has evolved

Bruce Feldman writes a piece about the Elite 11 event, which features Devin Gardner as one of the counselors.

Hit the jump if you like girls in bikinis.

Poll results: Who will be Michigan's first commitment for the class of 2015?

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Shaun Crawford

I posted this question a day before Michigan got their first commitment.

Jon Runyan, Jr. - OT - Natrona Heights (PA) St. Joseph's: 70%
This was almost the right answer. Runyan was beaten by just a few hours.

Damien Harris - RB - Berea (KY) Madison Southern: 9%

Other: 7%
This was the right answer, since Massillon (OH) Washington kicker Andrew David got an offer shortly after I posted the poll and committed almost immediately.

Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. - TE - Buffalo (NY) Canisius: 4%

George Campbell, Jr. - WR - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: 3%

Mikey Weber - RB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: 3%

Brian Cole - WR - Saginaw (MI) Heritage: 0%

Shaun Crawford - CB - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: 0%

Nike's The Opening 2013

Drake Harris

Nike's The Opening, an invite-only camp for elite recruits, will take place this coming weekend. A lot of media will come out after this weekend, since recruiting analysts and ESPN descend on Oregon for the weekend.

Here's a list of Michigan offerees who are participating, so you may want to keep an eye out for these guys:

Jamal Adams - S - Texas
Bryson Allen-Williams - OLB - Georgia (South Carolina)
Kyle Berger - OLB - Ohio (Ohio State)
Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
Dante Booker - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia
Ian Bunting - TE - Illinois (Michigan)
George Campbell - WR - Florida*
Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
Kevin Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
Wesley Green - CB - Georgia (South Carolina)
Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)**
Ja'Von Harrison - ATH - Florida (Virginia Tech)
Joe Henderson - DE - Ohio (Tennessee)
Corey Holmes - WR - Florida
Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (Notre Dame)
Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas
Tyler Luatua - TE - California
Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
Mattrell McGraw - S - Louisiana
Shai McKenzie - RB - Pennsylvania
Joe Mixon - RB - California
Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois
Montae Nicholson - ATH - Pennsylvania
Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
Adarius Pickett - CB - California
Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
Artavis Scott - WR - Florida
Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
John Smith - ATH - California
Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina
Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
Troy Vincent, Jr. - CB - Maryland
Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
Dwight Williams - LB - California
Petera Wilson - LB - Tennessee
Quincy Wilson - S - Florida
Richard Yeargin III - DE - Florida

*2015 prospect
**Drake Harris is not attending the event. He has to take a summer class that overlaps with the event, and the summer class is what will allow him to graduate in December and enroll early at Michigan.

247 Sports: Michigan Legacies to Look for

Steve Lorenz at 247 Sports has a list of players to look for in the next few classes. Each of these players has a father, brother, or cousin who has played at Michigan. I'll let you click on through for more informative updates on each, but here's a list of the names:

2015
Jon Runyan, Jr. - OT - Philadelphia (NJ) St. Joseph's
Tyriq Thompson - S - Detroit (MI) King
Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. - TE - Buffalo (NY) Canisius

2016
Bailey Edwards - RB - Pinckney (MI) Northville
Cal Grbac - WR - Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius
Daelin Hayes - RB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's
Lavert Hill - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Joshua Jackson - QB - Ann Arbor (MI) Huron
Terius Wheatley - RB - Buffalo (NY) Canisius

2017
Joshua Ross - LB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's
Canyon Tuman - TE - Sewickley (PA) North Allegheny

2013 Season Countdown: #60 Antonio Poole

Antonio Poole (#40)

Name: Antonio Poole
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 218 lbs.
High school: Cincinnati (OH) Winton Woods
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #40
Last year: I ranked Poole #60 and said he would sit out the season due to injury. He did not see game action.

Poole has now remained on the sideline for his first two years on campus. For linebackers that's typically not a good sign, because those guys can play a lot of roles on special teams. He earned a little bit of buzz early on at Michigan, but last year he suffered a pectoral injury that forced him to miss the entire 2012 season. And while he remains on the team, he still wasn't full go this spring.

The end-of-spring depth chart included a two-deep of Desmond Morgan and Joe Bolden at MIKE, and then James Ross III and Royce Jenkins-Stone at WILL. There have been some suggestions by insiders that Poole's career might be finished due to the injury, but either way, it seems that anything he contributes from this point forward is a plus. There are three starter-quality inside linebackers (Morgan, Bolden, Ross) and an unproven youngster (Jenkins-Stone) in that group. If Poole is recovered, I think he has the instincts and athleticism to push Jenkins-Stone for that #2 WILL spot and play on coverage units. If he's not recovered by August, I think that's a very bad sign for his career.

Prediction: Backup WILL linebacker, special teams coverage

Happy 9,000,000th pageview!

Thanks to the readers and commenters for visiting the site over 9,000,000 times. I thoroughly enjoy the conversations we have on here, even if I come off as a bit grouchy once in a while. Enjoy the beautiful females after the jump!

Brandon Watson, Wolverine

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy cornerback Brandon Watson
(image via The M Block)

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy cornerback Brandon Watson committed to Michigan on Saturday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Connecticut, and Rutgers, among others.

He's a 6'0", 185 lb. prospect. I have been unable to find stats for him (or teammate Freddy Canteen), but ECA played just three games last year, so they probably wouldn't be very impressive, anyway.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: 3-star, #56 CB
Scout: N/A
247 Sports: 2-star, 79 grade, #120 CB

Watson was offered by Michigan when he camped in Ann Arbor two weeks ago. He sat on the offer for a little bit, and it sounded like a USC offer would have surpassed Michigan's, but the Trojans haven't stepped forward and may not. If they do, it may be a battle to keep Watson committed.

I have not been able to find any film on Watson, so I have no analysis of his skills to offer. However, he was the #1 performer at the Pennsylvania SWAG 7-on-7 tournament in April, a tournament that included Canteen, WR Chris Godwin (Penn State commit), S Montae Nicholson (Michigan offer), WR Chris Samuel (Notre Dame, Ohio State offers), QB David Sills (USC commit), CB Daquan Worley (Penn State commit), and WR K.J. Williams (Michigan offer). Here's what Rivals had to say about him in the tournament:

Whenever the football was in the vicinity of Watson, it was either getting intercepted or it was going to be an incompletion. As Flash Training worked toward another 7 on 7 title, Watson was dominant in coverage. He consistently got a good punch at the line of scrimmage in man coverage, and when playing off he closed quickly on the football. As receivers attempted double moves, Watson ran with the opposition step for step, showing great change of direction. The most impressive part of Watson's day was successfully defending a number of jump balls in the end zone against taller receivers.

 So take that however you want.

Michigan now has thirteen commitments in the 2014 class, and Watson is the second corner committed, joining Jabrill Peppers. Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook cornerback Parrker Westphal, Monroeville (PA) Gateway safety Montae Nicholson, and Long Beach (CA) Poly safety John "Juju" Smith are still potential options in the defensive backfield. I think Westphal is the most likely of that trio to fall off Michigan's radar, since he's been recruited as a nickel corner and may not have the coaches' confidence to play safety. Nicholson is a safety and Smith is being recruited mostly as a safety, though the coaches have said that they might work him in at receiver, too.

TTB Rating: N/A

Freddy Canteen, Wolverine

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy
wide receiver Freddy Canteen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TTB Rating: 73 (ratings explanation)

Here are some Hudl highlights of Canteen.

2013 Season Countdown: #61 Terry Richardson

Terry Richardson

Name: Terry Richardson
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 162 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Cornerback
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #13
Last year: I ranked Richardson #73 and said he would redshirt. He played a minimal amount of time as a backup cornerback and on special teams.

Going into the 2012 season, I really thought Richardson was likely to redshirt. After all, Michigan returned two starters, nickel corner Courtney Avery, and some lightly seasoned backups. I'm not sure how much good it does to throw a guy out there who's 160 lbs. and not lightning with the ball in his hands, but the coaches did it four times anyway . . . and Richardson didn't factor into the stat sheet at all. In the spring game, he still looked pretty frail and unready to mix it up with the big boys.

Michigan once again returns two starting cornerbacks: 2012 starter Raymon Taylor and 2011 starter Blake Countess, the latter of whom missed virtually all of last season with a torn ACL. And Courtney Avery looks to be competing on the outside rather than returning as the nickel corner, so there's lots of competition for the cornerback spots. Fellow Cass Tech Technician Delonte Hollowell seemed to be higher on the depth chart than Richardson in the spring, so it will be an uphill battle for playing time. Despite lacking some size, Richardson has some talent as a returner and was pretty good in coverage coming out of high school. He won't earn a starting job, and he probably won't be a primary backup, but the coaches burned his redshirt for a reason; I'm assuming he'll get a little bit of run at the field corner position in garbage time and some special teams coverage duties.

Prediction: Backup cornerback, special teamer

Detroit News: Michigan on right track with Cleveland Glenville stars

Sam Webb has an article about two elite recruits from Cleveland (OH) Glenville and their coach, who is a little more open to sending guys to Michigan these days. Glenville has sent defensive end Frank Clark and defensive tackle Willie Henry to Michigan in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

If you like pretty women wearing shiny belly dancing outfits, hit the jump.

Attractive Michigan Girl of the Week

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

2013 Season Countdown: #62 Drake Johnson

Drake Johnson

Name: Drake Johnson
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 212 lbs.
High school: Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #20 (changed from #29)
Last year: I ranked Johnson #84 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Johnson entered college last year as a lightly regarded football player. He spent a good deal of time concentrating on track in high school, so some thought that he would improve as a football player once he concentrated on the gridiron. In the run-up to the bowl game against South Carolina, head coach Brady Hoke said that he wished kids could play in bowl games without ruining their redshirts. That sounded positive for Johnson, but keep in mind that Fitzgerald Toussaint had a broken leg and Thomas Rawls had an undisclosed injury. The crew of running backs was narrowed down to converted quarterback Denard Robinson, then-senior Vincent Smith, and then-redshirt freshman Justice Hayes. Johnson proceeded to look pretty average in the spring game, in my opinion.

Going into the 2013 season, Toussaint should return and elite running back recruit Derrick Green will be on campus. Rawls and Hayes both have some experience, and freshman DeVeon Smith will also be competing for backup duties. I don't think Johnson will factor into the running back rotation much, but I do think he could help out on kick returns and coverage units. Rawls and Hayes don't appear to be long-term answers at the running back position, so the coaches might give Johnson a chance to establish himself as a feature back going forward.

Prediction: Backup running back, special teamer

USA Today College Football Countdown: #92 Connecticut

Here's a preview of the UConn Huskies, whom Michigan will play on September 21st.

Hit the jump if you want to see a picture of Miss USA.

Video: Trey Burke NBA job interview

2013 Season Countdown: #63 Allen Gant

Allen Gant

Name: Allen Gant
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 203 lbs.
High school: Sylvania (OH) Southview
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #12
Last year: I ranked Gant #81 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Gant came into school as a large strong safety, and as I mentioned during his recruitment, he was somewhat lacking in foot speed for a safety. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has mentioned that he wants his safeties to be interchangeable, and Gant was probably a little on the slow side to be trusted in deep coverage. He didn't garner a ton of practice buzz, and he didn't play much in the spring game, partially due to a nagging injury; he did, however, show a little of what he could do when he came up for support in the run game during the spring. That tackling ability - and the lack of foot speed - precipitated a move to SAM linebacker for the fall.

With junior Brennen Beyer and fifth year senior Cam Gordon locked into a battle for the starting SAM spot this fall while redshirt junior Jake Ryan recovers from a torn ACL, Gant probably won't be counted on much this year. He will also be competing with walk-on redshirt freshman Mark Lawson and true freshman Mike McCray II, but Gant looks to be third until Ryan returns. Hopefully Michigan won't need him much on defense this year, but Gant is the type of big safety/linebacker who could be very useful on special teams.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker

BTN: Q&A - Al Borges sees a lot of RG3 in Gardner

Tom Dienhart from the Big Ten Network talks to Al Borges about the offense for the upcoming season, including the new starting quarterback and who's going to replace Roy Roundtree.

If you like attractive blondes, hit the jump.

Athlon Sports: 2013 All-America Team

Athlon Sports released its pre-season 2013 All-Americans, and here are a few guys who are relevant to Michigan fans:

FIRST TEAM
Ka'Deem Carey - RB - Arizona
Taylor Lewan - OT - Michigan
Jadeveon Clowney - DE - South Carolina
Stephon Tuitt - DE - Notre Dame
Louis Nix III - DT - Notre Dame
Ryan Shazier - LB - Ohio State
Bradley Roby - CB - Ohio State
Venric Mark - PR - Northwestern

SECOND TEAM
Braxton Miller - QB - Ohio State
Spencer Long - OG - Nebraska
Kain Coulter - AP - Northwestern
Jeff Budzien - K - Northwestern

THIRD TEAM
Venric Mark - RB - Northwestern
Zack Martin - OT - Notre Dame
Chris Borland - LB - Wisconsin
Max Bullough - LB - Michigan State
Mike Sadler - P - Michigan State

FOURTH TEAM
Ameer Abdullah - RB - Nebraska
Andrew Norwell - OG - Ohio State
Jack Mewhort - OT - Ohio State
Isaiah Lewis - S - Michigan State

2013 Season Countdown: #64 Tom Strobel

Tom Strobel (image via Hokeamaniac)

Name: Tom Strobel
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 262 lbs.
High school: Mentor (OH) Mentor
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Strobel #82 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

It's hard to say much new about a redshirt freshman that hasn't played meaningful football in two years, but here we are. Strobel has stayed pretty steady with his weight, but he will probably add a few more pounds before the fall. The coaching staff wanted Craig Roh up around 280 lbs. to play the 5-tech position, so Strobel still seems like he'll be a little light for their liking. However, he did earn some practice buzz this past season and in the spring. The coaches seem to like his potential.

As for this coming fall, Strobel could find himself in the rotation, but he probably won't be a heavily used player. Redshirt sophomore Keith Heitzman appears to be the leader for the strongside end position, and redshirt freshman Matt Godin got a lot of run in the spring game. Furthermore, Strobel's classmate Chris Wormley was talked about as a guy who would have played last year if not for his torn ACL, although Wormley might end up as a defensive tackle. I don't think Strobel will be any higher than third on the depth chart, but the he does have potential down the road.

Prediction: Backup 5-tech defensive end

Pro Football Focus: Why some corners can't play zone coverage

As you can tell by the site's title, this concentrates more on NFL football . . . but some of it can still be applied to college.

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Jon Runyan, Jr., Wolverine

Jon Runyan, Jr. (center) with Caris LeVert and Nik Stauskas

Natrona Heights (PA) St. Joseph's offensive lineman Jon Runyan, Jr. committed to Michigan on Tuesday over offers from no one else.

Runyan measured in at 6'4" and 245 lbs. recently. To my knowledge, no further statistics or measurements are available at this time.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: N/A
Scout: N/A
247 Sports: 3-star, #37 OT, #341 overall

Runyan is the son of former Michigan offensive tackle Jon Runyan, who played college ball in the early- to mid-1990's, earning All-Big Ten accolades, getting selected in the 4th round of the NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, and becoming a Pro Bowler in his years with the Oilers, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles. The younger Runyan camped at Michigan last week, where he earned an offer from the Wolverines' staff. He said at the time that it was basically a guarantee he would commit, so this is about as surprising as another bout of Mark Dantonio constipation. Previously, Runyan had camped at Ohio State and visited Penn State for their junior day.

Runyan is a very technical player, which one should expect as the son of such a high-level football player. He keeps a nice, wide base and moves his feet well after contact. He does a good job with hand placement and does not get over-extended. He bends well at the knees and can roll his hips to get extension. I like the way he zone blocks and works in combination with his linemate on the right side, because he's quick enough to cut off penetration and strong enough to get movement.

Obviously, Runyan needs to add bulk to his 245 lb. frame. He seems to lack some upper body strength, which will come with added bulk. I would also like to see him get a little bit nastier. He finishes blocks to the extent that the defender is out of the play, but he doesn't block to the whistle in order to demoralize defenders or get them off their game. I would like to see him drive guys into the ground or until the echo of the whistle.

Overall, I would have no problem playing Runyan at offensive tackle if he adds a little bit of length. He has the foot speed and coordination to be a blind side tackle if necessary. He may have to move inside to guard if he doesn't hit that growth spurt. So much depends on size that it's tough to project him far down the road, but based on his genes, athleticism, and technique, I think he could be a very good college player.

This is Michigan's second commitment for the class of 2015.

TTB Rating: N/A. I am not assigning TTB Ratings until the 2014 class wraps.

Andrew David, Wolverine

Massillon (OH) Washington kicker Andrew David (#5, image via Friday Night Ohio)

Massillon (OH) Washington placekicker Andrew David committed to Michigan on Monday night. He was just offered yesterday, and it was his first and only offer. David is the first member of the 2015 class.

David stands 5'9", 160 lbs., and has been the varsity team's kicker since his freshman season. In that time he has gone 6/11 on kicks from 40+ yards. Altogether, he's 13/24 on field goals and 88/95 on extra points in his high school career, and 31/74 of his kickoffs went for touchbacks last year. While those stats aren't particularly impressive in the context of college and professional kickers, they are more so for a high schooler. High school long snappers, holders, and protection units can be subpar, and a kicker's timing can easily be affected by a bad snap or a bad hold.

RATINGS
ESPN, Rivals, Scout, 247 Sports: Unranked
Chris Sailer: 4.5 stars, #6 kicker

As mentioned above, this was David's first offer, but he said that this is his dream offer and where he pictured himself playing as he grew up. Chances appear to be slim that he would decommit. He attends the alma mater of 2013 cornerback Gareon Conley, who was once committed to Michigan before choosing Ohio State. If he does indeed sign with Michigan, he will be the first signee from Washington since 2009 cornerback Justin Turner.

The 2015 kicker looks like the replacement for current junior kicker Matt Wile, who will graduate after the 2014 season. Brendan Gibbons is a fifth year senior this year. For the past couple seasons, Michigan has carried three scholarship kicking specialists (kicker Gibbons, punter Will Hagerup, and combo guy Wile) and will have a scholarship long snapper this year in the form of Scott Sypniewski, so perhaps this will open an additional roster spot for a position guy. As of now, the 2015 class is only scheduled to consist of 12 players, but that number will increase as always.

TTB Rating: N/A. I won't give TTB Ratings for 2015 kids until the 2014 class wraps.

Here are David's highlights on Hudl.

2013 Season Countdown: #65 Da'Mario Jones

Da'Mario Jones (#11)

Name: Da'Mario Jones
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Westland (MI) John Glenn
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #14
Last year: Jones was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 81.

Jones committed to Michigan at the end of October 2012 after previously having been pursued by smaller schools like Bowling Green, Toledo, etc. Near the end of the recruiting cycle, coaches from schools like Georgia came through his high school, but he said no thanks to their overtures.

As the most athletic receiver in the freshman class - on a team that lacks a little bit of athleticism at the position - I think Jones is the most likely of the group to play. He has good speed and decent change of direction, so it will depend on how quickly he can pick up the offense. If the coaches are looking for a guy to block, they might go with Jaron Dukes, but if they want a freshman to be involved with the passing offense, Jones appears to be the most ready. I don't think he'll be a superstar right off the bat, but I believe he's the best wide receiver in the freshman class and could catch a few passes this year.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver; 3 receptions, 30 yards

247 Sports: Derrick Green Q&A

Okay, we're going to try something different now.  Here's a link to a good interview with Derrick Green.

If you want to see the picture of today's attractive woman, hit the jump. If you're offended by attractive women, it will be your own fault.

2013 Michigan Summer Camp Attendees

Berea (KY) Madison Southern running back Damien Harris (image via MaxPreps)

Michigan's summer camp will be held on June 16-19 this year. Here is a partial list of players who plan to attend. You can view last year's participants, which included guys like Dante Booker, Orlando Brown, Drake Harris, Corey Holmes, Demetrius Knox, D'Andre Payne, Gelen Robinson, and Damon Webb, along with lots of others; not included in that list was under-the-radar prospect Channing Stribling, who earned an offer and committed shortly afterward. I will add to this list as more names become available.

UPDATE: Okay, I've updated the list after camp finished with a few more player names. This should be the final update. I've listed 87 prospects in all!

2014 PROSPECTS
Jacob Betschel - TE - Jackson (OH) Jackson: Betschel is a 6'4", 235 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Asantay Brown - WR - Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Brown is a 6'0", 187 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo and Eastern Michigan. As a junior in 2012, he had 45 catches for 838 yards and 11 touchdowns; he also had 50 tackles, 6 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, and 3 fumble recoveries.

Josh Cousar - DT - Matthews (NC) Butler: Cousar is a 6'1", 290 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He attends the alma mater of incoming freshman cornerback Channing Stribling.

Jamal Davis - LB - Canton (OH) McKinley: Davis is a 6'2", 215 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Louisville, Marshall, and Minnesota, along with a few MAC teams. He claims a 4.6 forty.

Jalen Embry - CB - Detroit (MI) King: Embry is a 5'11", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati and a bunch of MAC schools. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star, the #72 cornerback, and #928 player overall. At one time some analysts thought Embry would be in line for a Michigan offer, but the commitment of Jabrill Peppers makes the class a little tighter.

Daurice Fountain - WR - Madison (WI) Memorial: Fountain is a 6'2", 175 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Tajhe Hartley - LB - Chicago (IL) Morgan Park: Hartley is a 6'2", 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's a little bit slow for a linebacker, so he's probably looking at bulking up to play defensive end at some point.

Jamie Herr - OT - Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian: Herr is a 6'5", 270 lb. prospect with offers from Boston College, North Carolina State, Pitt, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star, the #71 offensive tackle, and the #900 player overall.

William Hunt - LB - Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Hunt is a 5'11", 225 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Ashton Jackson - RB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Jackson is a 6'0", 192 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, and Purdue, along with a few MAC schools. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star, the #41 running back, and the #562 player overall.

Kendric Mallory - WR - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Mallory is a 6'2", 175 lb. prospect with an offer from Illinois. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star and the #167 wide receiver in his class.

Andrew Mike - OT - Tucson (AZ) Sabino: Mike is a 6'7", 270 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Penn State, USC, Vanderbilt, and Washington, among others. He does not hold an offer from Michigan, but one might be forthcoming once he hits campus; he does not plan to participate in the camp itself, but he will visit the school during the week. Mike is a 4-star, the #20 OT, and #244 player overall in this class. He does not have great footwork or foot speed, so he's probably more of a right tackle prospect if Michigan offers.

Aaron Miller - OT - San Diego (CA) Scripps Ranch: Miller is a 6'6", 275 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Nathan Oquendo - C - Chicago (IL) Mt. Carmel: Oquendo is a 6'2", 290 lb. prospect with offers from Eastern Michigan, Purdue, and Western Michigan, along with a couple others. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star and the #21 center.

Kyle Rachwal - TE - Lapeer (MI) East: Rachwal is a 6'3", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Eastern Michigan and Houston. According to 247 Sports, he's a 3-star and the #57 tight end. Michigan is now recruiting him as a fullback, although they have not offered him and are unlikely to do so.

Gelen Robinson - DE - St. John (IN) Lake Central: Robinson is a 6'2", 232 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Vanderbilt, and several others. He's the son of former Purdue basketball player (and NBA player) Glenn Robinson and brother of current Michigan basketball player Glenn Robinson III. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star, the #28 strongside end, and the #664 player overall. As a junior in 2012, he had 95 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.

Drue Tranquill - LB - Fort Wayne (IN) Carroll: Tranquill is a 6'2", 200 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Minnesota, and a bunch of MAC schools. As a junior in 2012, he had 40 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 1 interception. According to 247 Sports, he's a 3-star and the #72 safety in the class.

Kalani Vakameilalo - DT - Kapolei (HI) Kapolei: Vakameilalo is a 6'4", 290 lb. prospect. I have been unable to find much information on him, but it looks like he does have several FBS offers.

Chekiah Washington - CB - Mansfield (OH) Mansfield: Washington is a 5'11", 183 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

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

Verondtae Wilkinson - LB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Wilkinson is a 6'2", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Toledo. While a little undersized for the position, Wilkinson looks more like a defensive end at the next level; he's a little bit stiff for linebacker. He attends the alma mater of 2013 Michigan signees Mike McCray and Reon Dawson.

Blake Williams - DE - Romeo (MI) Romeo: Williams is a 6'4", 215 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He is listed as a tight end in various places, but he looks more like a defensive end to me.

2015 PROSPECTS
Austin Aaron - WR - Napa (CA) Napa: Aaron is a 6'5", 202 lb. prospect.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 32 receptions for 543 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Trevon Avery - CB - Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc: Avery is a 5'9", 160 lb. prospect. He's the younger brother of Michigan cornerback Courtney Avery.

Jerome Baker - LB - Cleveland (OH) Benedictine: Baker is a 6'1", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He claims a 4.54 forty. According to 247 Sports he's a 4-star athlete, the #4 athlete, and the #52 player in the class. He was planning a visit to Michigan several weeks ago, and it was thought that he would be offered when he arrived on campus; if he makes it in this time, I would expect him to be offered.

Alex Barnes - RB - Pittsburg (KS) Pittsburg: Barnes is a 6'0", 208 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Jack Bates - LB - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Bates is a 6'3", 200 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's the teammate of 2014 Michigan wide receiver commit Drake Harris.

Kei Beckham - CB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Beckham is a 6'0", 155 lb. prospect with an offer from Illinois. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 30 tackles and 5 pass breakups. He was the teammate of 2013 Michigan signees Reon Dawson and Mike McCray II.

Ryan Boyle - QB - Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic: Boyle is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2012, he was 50/71 passing for 709 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions; he also had 233 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. He attends the alma mater of Michigan sophomore wide receiver Amara Darboh.

Ray Buford - CB - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Buford is a 6'0", 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He has visited Michigan previously, and he's the teammate of 2014 Michigan defensive end commit Lawrence Marshall.

Cole Chewins - TE - Clarkston (MI) Clarkston: Chewins is a 6'7", 208 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Brian Cole - WR - Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Tennessee. According to 247 Sports, he's a 4-star, the #9 cornerback, and the #72 overall player in the class.

Wyatt Cook - LB - Owings Mills (MD) McDonogh: Cook is a 6'3", 230 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Rob Dowdy - OT - Westerville (OH) South: Dowdy is a 6'6", 280 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Illinois, and Kentucky, among others. He also visited Michigan back in April and may be on the verge of an offer.

Andrew Dowell - RB - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Dowell is a 6'0", 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

David Dowell - WR - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Dowell is a 6'1", 175 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.  He attends the alma mater of redshirt freshman offensive guard Kyle Kalis and 2015 cornerback offeree Shaun Crawford.

Chuma Edoga - OG - Powder Springs (GA) McEachern: Edoga is a 6'4", 265 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, and Florida State, among others.  He grew up as a Michigan fan and this will be his first visit to Ann Arbor.

David Edwards - TE - Downers Grove (IL) North: Edwards is a 6'6", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois and Vanderbilt. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 502 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 719 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. He's teammates with 2016 offensive tackle offeree Erik Swenson.

Qi'ante Ewing - LB - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Ewing is a 6'1", 229 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's the teammate of 2014 Michigan wide receiver commit Drake Harris.

Pat Ford - QB - Cuyahoga Falls (OH) Walsh Jesuit: Walsh is a 6'5", 200 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Hjalte Froholdt - DT - Warren (OH) Harding: Froholdt is a 6'5", 265 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. Right now he looks like a strongside defensive end, but I believe he'll grow into a defensive tackle. 247 Sports ranks him as a 4-star, the #11 weakside end, and the #153 player overall.

Reggie Gallaspy - RB - Greensboro (NC) Southern Guilford: Gallaspy is a 5'11", 205 lb. prospect with offers from North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Virginia, along with a couple others. He grew up in Flint, MI, and is aiming for a Michigan offer. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 177 carries for 1,751 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Eric Glover-Williams - CB - Canton (OH) McKinley: Glover-Williams is a 5'11", 165 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Pitt, Tennessee, and West Virginia, among others. To 247 Sports he's a 4-star, the #10 cornerback, and the #84 player in his class.

Chris Green - LB - Toledo (OH) Central Catholic: Green is a 6'0", 226 lb. prospect with offers from Bowling Green and Toledo. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 96 tackles, 5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. To 247 Sports he's a 4-star, the #3 inside linebacker, and the #163 overall player for 2015. There's at least one regular visitor to TTB who's dying for Green to be offered by Michigan, but I'm not as sold on him as an elite prospect.

Damien Harris - RB - Berea (KY) Madison Southern: Harris is a 5'10", 197 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 160 carries for 1,911 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also camped at Michigan last summer - where he earned an offer - and visited for the 2012 game against Michigan State, so he's familiar with the school and has named Michigan his leader on several occasions.  247 Sports has ranked him a 4-star, the #10 running back, and the #90 overall prospect for his class.

Anthony Herbert - OG - Lapeer (MI) East: Herbert is a 6'4", 310 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Justin Hilliard - LB - Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Hilliard is a 6'2", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, and South Carolina, among others. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 65 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. With his size and athleticism, I think he could play any of the three linebacker positions at Michigan, depending on how he fills out.

Tyree Jackson - QB - Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Jackson is a 6'4", 173 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2012, he completed 116/209 passes for 1,806 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 4 touchdowns.

Harrison Johnson - CB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Johnson is a 5'10", 170 lb. prospect with an offer from Illinois.

Tyree Kinnel - S - Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Kinnel is a 6'0", 190 lb. prospect for with offers from Arkansas and Kentucky.  He has visited Michigan numerous times last fall and this spring.  Wayne produced a couple Michigan commits a few years ago - brothers Terrence and Terry Talbott, who both departed early - and current Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller.

Evan Mallory - OG - Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg: Mallory is a 6'5", 295 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Alex Malzone - QB - Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice: Malzone is a 6'2", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore backup in 2012, he had 500 yards passing for 7 touchdowns.

Jimmy Martin - LB - Maitland (FL) Christian: Martin is a 5'11", 203 lb. prospect with an offer from Florida International. He has visited Michigan a couple times already and expressed strong interest in getting an offer. His sister plays water polo for the Wolverines.

Osa Masina - LB - Salt Lake City (UT) Brighton: Masina is a 6'4", 207 lb. prospect with offers from BYU, Michigan, Oklahoma, UCLA, Utah, and Wisconsin, among others. Utah is the presumed leader, but Michigan has pulled a couple kids out of Utah recently (Sione Houma, Bryan Mone), so their presence may help in his recruitment.

Anthony McKee - LB - Columbus (OH) Walnut Ridge: McKee is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and a few MAC schools. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 116 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. Michigan pursued a 2013 wide receiver from his high school (Rob Wheelwright) who picked Wisconsin.

Gabe Megginson - OG - Jacksonville (IN) Jacksonville: Megginson is a 6'5", 295 lb. prospect with an offer from Akron.

Tyrone Miller - S - Saline (MI) Saline: Miller is a 6'0", 165 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He played at Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer in 2012 but is transferring to Saline for his junior year.

Jaye Miner - S - Wesley Chapel (FL) Wiregrass Ranch: Miner is a 6'3", 185 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 53 tackles, 3 pass breakups, and 1 sack.

David Moorman - OT - Northville (MI) Northville: Moorman is a 6'5", 275 lb. prospect with an offer from Central Michigan. He looks like a future offensive guard to me, but I do think he'll get some bigger offers than CMU.

LaMont Ragland - DT - Dayton (OH) Jefferson: Ragland is a 6'1", 260 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Romello Ross - CB - Detroit (MI) Western International: Ross is a 5'10", 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He also visited Michigan back in the fall.

Jon Runyan, Jr. - OG - Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph's: Runyan is a 6'4", 250 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. His father Jon was an All-American offensive tackle at Michigan and then played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tyson Smith - CB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Smith is a 5'11", 175 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He attends the alma mater of Michigan sophomore linebacker James Ross.

Kyonta Stallworth - OG - St. Clair Shores (MI) South Lake: Stallworth is a 6'4", 265 lb. prospect with offers from Florida and UCLA. 247 Sports ranks him as a 4-star, the #16 offensive tackle, and the #171 overall player.

Elijah Taylor - DT - Cincinnati (OH) Moeller: Taylor is a 6'3", 250 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Michigan State, and West Virginia. 247 Sports ranks him as a 4-star, the #13 defensive tackle, and the #130 player overall.

Garrett Taylor - CB - Richmond (VA) St. Christopher's: Taylor is a 6'1", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. He's the teammate of highly touted defensive end/linebacker Ricky DeBerry, and both play in the same league as 2014 Michigan quarterback commit Wilton Speight.

Jared Thomas - OG - Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral: Thomas is a 6'3", 240 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Tyriq Thompson - S - Detroit (MI) King: Thompson is a 6'1", 200 lb. prospect with an offer from Illinois. This will be his first year playing ball in Michigan after moving from Missouri. Thompson is the son of former Michigan Wolverines safety Clarence Thompson.

Justin Tranquill - S - Fort Wayne (IN) Carroll: Tranquill is a 5'11", 175 lb. prospect with an offer from Toledo. His older brother Drue, a 2014 prospect, also camped.

Jon Wassink - QB - Grand Rapids (MI) South Christian: Wassink is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 2,777 passing yards, 820 rushing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and 9 rushing touchdowns.

Mike Williams - DT - Alliance (OH) Alliance: Williams is a 6'4", 268 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 84 tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. Class of 2013 safety Dymonte Thomas came from Alliance, but attended Marlington High School.

Tyler Woodley - CB - Powder Springs (GA) McEachern: Woodley is a 5'11", 174 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's the teammate of Edoga (see above) and a cousin of former Michigan defensive end/current Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

Danil Young - CB - Grandville (MI) Grandville: Young is a 5'10", 165 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Ohio. He also plays quarterback, but due to his lack of size, he'll probably end up on defense.

2016 PROSPECTS
Chris Daniels - DE - Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Daniels is a 6'4", 240 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Elijah Deveaux - WR - Charlotte (NC) Christian: Deveaux is a 6'1", 185 lb. prospect with an offer from Mississippi State. As a freshman in 2012, he had 400 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns, and a defensive touchdown. His father played for Pitt, who is the early leader despite not having offered.

Messiah DeWeaver - QB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: DeWeaver is a 6'2", 180 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Clifton Duck - CB - Matthews (NC) Butler: Duck is a 5'9", 145 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's the teammate of 2013 Michigan cornerback signee Channing Stribling.

Matt Falcon - RB - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Falcon is a 6'1", 200 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.  He played on Southfield's varsity team as a freshman and is a teammate of 2014 Michigan defensive end commit Lawrence Marshall. Some analysts believe Falcon will be the top in-state player for the 2016 class.

Desmond Fitzpatrick - WR - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: Fitzpatrick is a 5'11", 165 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Indiana. He attends the alma mater of Michigan sophomore tight end Devin Funchess and defensive end Mario Ojemudia, and he will probably be one of the top few in-state prospects for his class.

Kentrail Moran - RB - O'Fallon (IL) O'Fallon: Moran is a 5'10", 180 lb. prospect with a lone offer from Northern Illinois. As a freshman in 2012, he had 700 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, along with 248 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. He also claims a 4.4 forty.

Isaac Nauta - DE - Buford (GA) Buford: Nauta is a 6'5", 240 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Virginia Tech, among others. He was Michigan's first offer in the 2016 class.

Conner O'Donnell - WR - Huntersville (NC) SouthLake Christian: O'Donnell is a 6'0", 170 lb. prospect with offers from Akron, Mississippi State, and UCLA; he actually committed to Mississippi State back in December. As a freshman in 2012, he had 38 catches for 919 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Patrice Rene - CB - Ottawa (Canada) St. Peter's: Rene is a 6'1", 180 lb. prospect with an offer from Akron. He plans to move to the United States to hone his skills and attempt to earn more scholarship opportunities.

Tommy Roush - OG - Petoskey (MI) Petoskey: Roush is a 6'4", 270 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He qualified for the national junior Olympics in the shotput last year.

Erik Swenson - OT - Downers Grove (IL) North: Swenson is a 6'7", 285 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Michigan is the presumed leader in his recruitment.

Lucas Thompson - CB - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Thompson is a 5'11", 170 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Robert Washington - RB - Huntersville (NC) SouthLake Christian: Washington is a 5'11", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Syracuse, and UCLA; he committed to Mississippi State back in November. As a freshman in 2012, he had 89 carries for 1,017 yards and 14 touchdowns. He visited Michigan a couple weeks ago and is coming back with teammate O'Donnell (see above) for camp.

2013 Season Countdown: #66 Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Name: Ross Douglas
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 176 lbs.
High school: Avon (OH) Avon
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #29
Last year: Douglas was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 63.

Douglas committed to Michigan in July 2012 after de-committing from Penn State. The controversy surrounding Penn State seemed to be the issue, and Brady Hoke poached him from the Nittany Lions. He played running back for his high school team last fall and ended the year with 1,597 yards and 25 touchdowns. His performance in high school was good enough to earn him a roster spot for the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, and shortly afterward, he arrived on Michigan's campus as an early enrollee.

Going into the 2013 season, Michigan essentially has three starters returning (Blake Countess, Raymon Taylor, and Courtney Avery) and freshman Dymonte Thomas seemingly locked into the slot corner position. With junior Delonte Hollowell also pushing for playing time, Michigan could probably get by without much help from other true freshmen. However, Douglas enrolled early and is fairly well developed for a freshman corner, so he won't get abused physically. Even though I think he has a relatively low long-term celing, he could help out as a special teamer or as a backup this year.

Prediction: Backup cornerback, special teams

Recruiting Update: June 24, 2013

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

2013 Season Countdown: #67 Erik Gunderson

Erik Gunderson

Name: Erik Gunderson
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 316 lbs.
High school: Milan (MI) Milan
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #69
Last year: I ranked Gunderson #74 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle. He played in five games as a backup offensive tackle.

Gunderson has always been massive but somewhat slow-footed. With a very thin offensive line last season, he worked his way into some playing time. His skills have not changed much, but he has rebuilt his body over the past few seasons.  At one time he was very overweight, but he trimmed down to 312 last year and is now up to 316 lbs.

Going into the 2013 season, there's still not much at offensive tackle. The best tackle not named Taylor Lewan or Michael Schofield is probably Ben Braden, but Braden is battling for a starting spot at guard while he bides his time for one of the tackle positions. With redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson struggling and true freshmen elsewhere on the depth chart, Gunderson has a decent chance of being the primary backup offensive tackle. If any long-term injuries occur at the position, I would guess some reshuffling takes place; but in garbage time or short replacement stints, you could see big #69 out there.

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle

2013 Season Countdown: #68 Ben Gedeon

Ben Gedeon

Name: Ben Gedeon
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Hudson (OH) Hudson
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Gedeon was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 81. He ended his senior season with at least 960 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Gedeon committed to Michigan in April 2012 and never wavered. He did a little bit of everything for Hudson, playing quarterback, running back, tight end, and linebacker at various times. While not the flashiest player, he has a nose for the football and ended up ranked as the #214 player overall in 247's Composite rankings.

Gedeon plays like a WILL linebacker, but at his height, I would guess he ends up playing MIKE once he adds some weight down the road. Michigan's coaching staff hasn't been shy about playing freshman linebackers for the past couple years (Desmond Morgan, Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone, and James Ross have all played as freshmen under Hoke), and it's unclear if that's a trend or if Brady Hoke just needed an influx of talent at the position. Gedeon has a chance to unseat Jenkins-Stone as the backup WILL this season, play special teams, or redshirt. I think Gedeon will be as ready to play as Bolden or Morgan the past couple years, so it all depends on how quickly Jenkins-Stone improves and how healthy the linebacker unit stays.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teams

2013 Season Countdown: #69 Mark Lawson

Mark Lawson makes a tackle as a high schooler
(image via AnnArbor.com)

Name: Mark Lawson
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Ada (MI) Forest Hills Eastern
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #59
Last year: I did not rank Lawson. He did not play in 2012.

After Jake Ryan tore his ACL in the spring, Lawson was mentioned as a backup at SAM linebacker, along with Cameron Gordon. Brennen Beyer has moved from the weakside end position, the staff has moved Allen Gant from safety, and incoming freshman Mike McCray II is slated to play SAM. I do not expect Lawson to factor into the rotation much at linebacker, but he could be used on special teams. And if it comes down to burning McCray's redshirt in garbage time or plugging in a walk-on, it would make sense to plug in Lawson.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer

2013 Season Countdown: #70 Russell Bellomy

Russell Bellomy (image via AnnArbor.com)

Name: Russell Bellomy
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 213 lbs.
High school: Arlington (TX) Martin
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #8
Last year: I ranked Bellomy #49 and said he would be the #3 quarterback. He went 4/21 passing for 46 yards and 4 interceptions; he also ran 12 times for 16 yards.

Bellomy entered the 2012 season as the #2 quarterback on the coaches' depth chart, but he was basically the #3 guy. With primary backup Devin Gardner bumped out to wide receiver while Denard Robinson kept hold of the quarterback reins, Bellomy entered the opener against Alabama when Robinson got a little dinged up; things did not go well as his first career pass attempt was picked off. Things got worse when Robinson got hurt again in the second quarter of the Nebraska game. Bellomy had as many completions - three - as interceptions. Gardner moved back from wide receiver to play quarterback for the remainder of the season, and Bellomy sat out due to an undisclosed "injury," which may have been a concussion or perhaps to his pride.

This spring Bellomy tore his ACL, so he's had a tough year. He had no shot at surpassing Gardner for the starting job, but when the young Texan returns, he may find himself beyond freshman Shane Morris and/or walk-on Brian Cleary. My biggest concern with Bellomy is that he lacks the arm strength to push the ball down the field and therefore checks down very quickly, making it very easy for defenders and opponents to play against him. Arm strength is somewhat overrated because there are plenty of quarterbacks who succeed despite not having cannons attached to their shoulders, but there's a certain threshold one needs to meet, and I'm not sure if Bellomy can get there. No prognosis has been given for Bellomy's return, but his torn ACL buddy Jake Ryan is projected to return in October 2013; whoever the primary backup is prior to that point is likely to hold that spot for the remainder of the regular season, whether it's Morris or Cleary.

Prediction: Third-string quarterback when he returns from injury

2013 Season Countdown: #71 Jourdan Lewis

Jourdan Lewis (left) with Dymonte Thomas, Derrick Green, Jake Butt, and Chris Fox

Name: Jourdan Lewis
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Lewis was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 84.

Lewis committed in February 2012 and turned into a pretty high profile recruit, despite a lack of reported offers. He participated in Nike's The Opening last summer and was selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Lewis earned a lot of praise for his ability to break on the ball and stick with receivers, but like most Cass Tech cornerbacks of recent vintage, he's about as physically imposing as Towelie.

It might be a good idea for Lewis to redshirt, but Michigan has taken two other slight cornerbacks from Cass Tech in the past two years, and both have played. In fact, if you come from Cass Tech, you're practically guaranteed to play as a true freshman (see: Will Campbell, Delonte Hollowell, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Teric Jones, Terry Richardson). It might be special teams or garbage time or as an injury replacement late in the year, but my guess is that he ends up on the field. If I were playing a video game, though, I would totally redshirt him.

Prediction: Special teamer

2013 Season Countdown: #72 Delano Hill

Jourdan Lewis and Delano Hill at Nike's The Opening

Name: Delano Hill
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hill was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 69.

Hill was an Iowa commit without a Michigan offer for a long time, but he finally got offered in December and committed a few days later. The thing with Hill was never about his measurables (he has good size, a good 40 time, good leaping ability, etc.) but the question about him from Michigan's end seemed to be about his playmaking ability. For such a good athlete at a pipeline high school, it was odd to some that Michigan didn't show much interest earlier in the process. They made up ground in a hurry, though.

Michigan's coaches told Hill that he would get a shot to play cornerback - presumably slot corner or maybe boundary corner - but most people seem to think he'll end up as a strong safety, including yours truly. With his size and speed, he could very well end up playing on special teams. And as the team tries to develop safety depth for once Thomas Gordon graduates, I think Hill might see some time on defense in garbage time situations.

Prediction: Special teams action

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)

Recruiting Update: June 17, 2013

Lee's Summit (MO) Lee's Summit linebacker
Jimmie Swain IV (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Lee's Summit (MO) Lee's Summit linebacker Jimmie Swain IV was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'3", 210 lb. prospect who recently announced a top five of Kansas State, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, and TCU. It was rumored that he got an offer a couple months ago, but then it turned out that the coaches were just "interested" but had not fully offered. According to 247's Composite ranking, he's a 3-star, the #33 outside linebacker, and the #419 player overall. I don't say this often, but I think he could play any of the three linebacker positions - he can diagnose plays and run well enough to play WILL, he's big enough to grow into a MIKE, and he's long enough and a good enough blitzer to be a SAM.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Washington (DC) H.D. Woodson cornerback DuWayne Johnson was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'1", 157 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Georgia, Miami, and North Carolina, among others.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here's a list of visitors from this past week.

Here's a pretty extensive list of players who are camping at Michigan this summer. It's a four-day camp altogether, and this is the camp that produced offers to guys like Channing Stribling and Damien Harris last summer.

Here's the working list of BBQ at the Big House visitors for next month.

2013 Season Countdown: #73 Khalid Hill

Let's have another debate about which actor he resembles and/or how old he looks:
Khalid Hill (left) with Jake Butt and Jaron Dukes.

Name: Khalid Hill
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Crockett
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hill was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 60.

Hill was a bit of a surprise offer and committed in February 2012. Michigan's coaching staff offered him as a U-back, the "move" tight end/fullback that guys like Devin Funchess, Ian Bunting, etc. play or will play. He's built a little differently than those guys, though. Shorter and stockier, he's perhaps a bit more pass-catching fullback than traditional tight end. Think Larry Centers or Keith Byars, the latter of whom went to Ohio State, so forget I said that.

I could see Hill's season going either way - a redshirt or some time as a backup. He didn't enroll early, but he's already stout enough to hold his own in limited time. As a pass catcher, he's more advanced than Michigan's fullback options (Joe Kerridge, Sione Houma) but less so than Funchess. I think Michigan can find a small role for him this season, get him a little experience, and have a wide array of tight end/U-back/fullback options in 2014 and beyond.

Prediction: Backup U-back