In an effort to unload a backlog of pictures, this might become a regular feature for a while - or permanently. So hit the jump if you want a dose of well crafted women.
Friday, February 28, 2014
MLive: Michigan making a slew of changes because 7-6 isn't good enough
Most of these changes have been pretty well documented, but Nick Baumgardner runs through the coaching and player personnel changes that have taken place in recent weeks.
Hit the jump for Jocelyn Chew lying on a towel.
Hit the jump for Jocelyn Chew lying on a towel.
Attractive Michigan Girl of the Week
If you have any other pictures of girls wearing Michigan gear, drop me an e-mail. Go Blue!
The Book List
 |
| She looks like a reader, right? |
My hope is that this will be a constant opportunity for you to look at book titles that might interest you, and it will be a constant opportunity for you to make reading suggestions for me and your fellow Touch the Bannerers.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
CBS Sports: Jim Delany exploring Friday night Big Ten games
I am going to be royally pissed off if I have to miss watching Michigan games (and other Big Ten games) because I'm at high school football games on Friday nights. Jim Delany sucks.
On the bright side, you can hit the jump for a colorful bikini on a well designed female.
On the bright side, you can hit the jump for a colorful bikini on a well designed female.
Visitors: February 28-March 2, 2014
 |
| Jackson (OH) Jackson linebacker Reagan Williams (image via MGoBlog) |
Austin Dorris - TE - Shadyside (OH) Shadyside: Dorris is a 6'5", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Ohio and Toledo. A small school quarterback, Dorris will likely have to play tight end or linebacker at the next level. Michigan has expanded their net for tight ends in recent weeks, but I do not expect Dorris to get an offer anytime soon.
Jack Dunaway - DE - Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Dunaway is a 6'3", 212 lb. prospect with no offers right now. He claims a 4.68 forty, a 31" vertical, a 265 lb. bench, and a 425 lb. squat. He's the son of former Michigan tight end Craig Dunaway.
Alex Malzone - QB - Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Malzone is a 6'2", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Toledo, Wake Forest, and Western Michigan. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #17 pro-style quarterback, #441 overall, and the #8 player in the state. As a junior in 2013, he was 190/281 passing for 2,794 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has visited Michigan numerous times and would likely be an immediate commit if the Wolverines offered him, but the coaches are holding off for now. Malzone has visited Michigan State, North Carolina State, Tennessee, and Wake Forest in recent weeks.
Grant Perry - WR - Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Perry is a 5'11", 170 lb. prospect with an offer from Central Michigan. He was Malzone's top receiver during the 2013 season. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #122 wide receiver, #1021 overall, and the #16 player in the state.
Reagan Williams - LB - Jackson (OH) Jackson: Williams is a 6'3", 232 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Kent State, Ohio, and Purdue. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #18 inside linebacker, and #474 overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 84 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery; he also caught 10 passes for 169 yards and 1 touchdown. Michigan appears to be looking more for outside linebackers at this point, and Williams looks more like a MIKE linebacker, so an offer would be a little bit of a surprise.
2016
Desmond Fitzpatrick - WR - Farmington (MI) Farmington: Fitzpatrick is a 6'1", 175 lb. prospect with an offer from Indiana. He is visiting Michigan a couple times during the week to get a feel for the program.
Austin Mack - WR - Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Luers: Mack is a 6'2", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati and Indiana. He attends the alma mater of former Michigan target and current Notre Dame outside linebacker Jaylon Smith.
2017
Todd Sibley - RB - Akron (OH) Archbishop Hoban: Sibley is a 5'10", 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.
Position Change Fallout
 |
| Desmond Morgan (#44) |
Ross Douglas from CB to RB. Michigan failed to nab a running back in the 2014 class, largely for a lack of trying. There were some candidates out there that the Wolverines simply chose not to pursue, and then rising senior Thomas Rawls chose to transfer to Central Michigan. Michigan needed to add some depth at running back, and Douglas was a pretty good one in high school. I do not think Douglas is in danger of turning into a feature back anytime soon, but he may provide some change-of-pace skills for Michigan's Thunder Squared combination of Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith. Douglas played some running back on the scout team last year, and I think this switch is likely to stick, at least until Michigan has a chance to bring in more running backs in 2015 or 2016. He could also be a guy who bounces back and forth from offense to defense.
Wyatt Shallman from RB to H-back. I have long believed that Shallman would not make much of an impact on the running back position, except perhaps as a short yardage guy. I think the need for a short yardage back is relatively non-existent with Green and Smith on the team. Additionally, new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier seems like a guy who's going to run a lot of single back sets and a lot of spread formations, meaning the fullback will likely be phased out for the next couple years. The 6'3", 243 lb. Shallman could help out as a blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield, and he has the size to be a second tight end on the field like an Aaron Shea.
Keith Heitzman from DE to TE. Heitzman was the starter at strongside end to begin last season, but a hand injury combined with competition from other players bumped him down in the lineup. With other guys emerging at strongside end (Brennen Beyer, Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley), Michigan has the flexibility to put Heitzman at tight end to shore up the position after Jake Butt's ACL injury. Butt might be back by week three, but Heitzman could be a long-term solution as a blocking tight end, since junior A.J. Williams has struggled in his first two seasons. Heitzman played tight end in high school, and while he probably won't run away from anyone or dazzle people with his moves, he should be a quality in-line blocker and has the potential to catch a pass here or there.
Jake Ryan from SAM to MIKE. Royce Jenkins-Stone from MIKE to SAM. James Ross from WILL to SAM. Desmond Morgan from MIKE to WILL. Did I catch all the moves? I think so. A couple of the younger inside linebackers are staying inside, so I won't bother analyzing that. The new starting lineup will look a lot like the old starting lineup, except Morgan will be on the weak side, Ryan will be in the middle, and Ross will be on the strong side. Head coach Brady Hoke announced that Michigan would be running more Over looks in 2014, which means that the protected linebacker (formerly WILL James Ross) will now be middle linebacker Jake Ryan. This also likely changes Michigan's front seven slightly, from a "hold your gap" defense to more of a penetrating unit. Against base 12 personnel previously, Michigan had six defenders from tight end to tackle (four defensive linemen, the WILL, and the MIKE). In an Over look, the defensive front will have seven defenders inside that box (four defensive linemen and all three linebackers). This should allow Ryan to roam from sideline to sideline while keeping Ross relatively clean, and Morgan will still be the guy who has to take on lead blocks from fullbacks, which he does fairly well.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Detroit News: Impressive combine by U-M's Lewan solidifies high draft projection
Josh Katzenstein reviews Taylor Lewan's performance at the NFL Combine.
Hit the jump for Cristina Del Basso squeezing some water out of her . . . oh, who cares?
Hit the jump for Cristina Del Basso squeezing some water out of her . . . oh, who cares?
NFL Combine Results: Michigan
 |
| Jeremy Gallon |
WR Jeremy Gallon: Gallon measured in at 5'7" and 185 lbs. with an arm length of 29.5" and a hand size of 9 3/8". He ran an official time of 4.49 in the forty yard dash (Oregon State's Brandin Cooks, 4.33). He also put up 15 reps on the 225 lb. bench, which tied him for 13th (Indiana's Cody Latimer, 23). NFL.com rates Gallon as a 5.02, which means he has "a better than average chance to make an NFL roster."
OT Taylor Lewan: Lewan measured in at 6'7" and 309 lbs. with an arm length of 33 7/8" and a hand size of 9 1/4". He ran an official time of 4.87 in the forty yard dash, which made him the fastest offensive lineman at the Combine, and his broad jump of 117" was #1 in his position group. His 4.49 shuttle time placed him 9th (Oklahoma's Gabe Ikard, 4.37), and his . He did 29 reps on the 225 lb. bench (North Carolina's Russell Bodine, 42). Lewan had a vertical jump of 30.5" (Boston College's Matt Patchan, 33"), which tied him for 3rd. NFL.com rates Lewan as a 6.18, which means that he "should become an instant starter" in the NFL.
OT Michael Schofield: Schofield measured in at 6'6" and 301 lbs. with an arm length of 34" and a hand width of 9 5/8". He was 6th in his position group with a 5.01 time in the forty. He was #11 in the 20-yard shuttle with a 4.57 time, and he was #13 in the three-cone drill with a time of 7.62. He also had a 24" vertical and a 93" broad jump. NFL.com pegs Schofield as a 5.2, which suggests he'll be a backup player.
I think the biggest surprise of the weekend was Gallon, whose time of 4.49 in the forty outstripped what most expected. The thing about Gallon's speed is that he has always had good acceleration, but on long runs, he frequently seemed to tire or at least lose his running form, which allowed defenders to catch up to him. A 4.49 isn't blazing speed, but it's scootin' pretty fast; I would probably be more surprised if he turned in a top-notch time in the 100 meters. Also notable is his hand size, which is nearly as big as 6'6" offensive tackle Schofield and bigger than All-American tackle Lewan.
Lewan's mobility has always been one of his biggest assets (the other being his nasty disposition), and I remember watching film of him at Scottsdale (AZ) Chaparral and being impressed with how well he moved. He put up solid numbers all around, but nothing else was as impressive as that forty time, which looked pretty smooth on video.
The wild card is Schofield, whose time in the forty was pretty solid, but otherwise, he doesn't stick out in regard to measurables or on film. I think all three of these guys will get drafted, with Lewan going in the top 20 picks and Gallon going somewhere around the 4th or 5th round. Schofield, however, could end up anywhere from the tail end of the 2nd round to the 6th, from what I've read.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Stewart Mandel: Lack of patience, playing time contributing to QB transfers
SI.com writer Stewart Mandel talks about the increased number of quarterback transfers in recent years. Michigan has had its own share of transferring quarterbacks over the last decade, including Matt Gutierrez, Jason Forcier, Ryan Mallett, and Steve Threet.
Hit the jump for a girl in a sports bra.
Hit the jump for a girl in a sports bra.
Monday, February 24, 2014
SI.com: Top 10 college freshmen in 2014
Zac Ellis and Martin Rickman named the top ten incoming freshmen, including Jabrill Peppers and five other players who were pursued by Michigan.
Hit the jump for Miranda Kerr in a . . . bathing suit?
Hit the jump for Miranda Kerr in a . . . bathing suit?
Recruiting Update: February 24, 2014
 |
| Charlotte (NC) South Mecklenburg safety Stephen Griffin |
Charlotte (NC) South Mecklenburg safety Stephen Griffin was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'3", 187 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, and Wake Forest, among others. Only two recruiting services have rated him, but he's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #63 cornerback, and #789 overall. He claims a 37" vertical, a 275 lb. bench, and a 395 lb. squat. Griffin is a hard hitter who will probably be well over 200 lbs. by the time he fills out, so I think he'll be a safety in college. As a junior in 2013, he had 80 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions (1 touchdown), 1 fumble recovery, and 2 fumbles forced; he was also 43/82 passing for 565 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions and rushed 83 times for 583 yards and 3 touchdowns.
New Orleans (LA) Warren Easton wide receiver Tyron Johnson was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'3", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #4 wide receiver, #42 overall, and #1 in his state. Johnson has a good frame, very good speed, and excellent change-of-direction skills for a guy his size. As often is the case, LSU appears to lead with Texas A&M also in hot pursuit.
Washington (DC) Gonzaga cornerback Marcus Lewis was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'1", 187 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #12 athlete, and #111 overall. Lewis claims a 4.38 forty, but I have reservations about that time. Lewis plays corner for his high school team, and while that's still a possibility in college, he looks a little too stiff to me to play corner at a big-time program on the next level. My guess is that he will develop into a safety, and I believe he has the size and physicality to do that well.
Brooksville (FL) Nature Coast Tech offensive tackle Christian Pellage was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'7", 271 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Central Florida, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #19 offensive tackle, and #185 overall. He claims a 4.88 forty, a 32" vertical, a 285 lb. bench, and a 500 lb. squat. He appears to play in a very run-oriented offense, but he has nice bend and quick feet, and he looks like a future left tackle.
Richmond (VA) St. Christopher's cornerback Garrett Taylor was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'1", 188 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 cornerback, and the #90 player overall, and he claims a 4.5 forty, a 255 lb. bench, and a 400 lb. squat. Taylor has inconsistent technique and is a little stiff for cornerback, so he's another kid who might be a safety down the road. He plays in the same league as freshman quarterback Wilton Speight did, and he's teammates with highly touted defensive end/outside linebacker Ricky DeBerry.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
New Orleans (LA) John Curtis offensive tackle Willie Allen was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'6", 265 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, LSU, and Tulane. Michigan went after three of his teammates in the 2014 class: wide receiver Malachi Dupre (LSU), linebacker Kenny Young (UCLA), and safety Mattrell McGraw (Oregon). Allen is an athletic kid who has yet to fill out and needs to learn technique, but the raw athleticism is there to develop.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's linebacker Joshua Ross was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'0", 194 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan State and Oklahoma. He missed the second half of his freshman season due to a broken ankle, but obviously he showed enough during the first half of the year to garner some offers. Ross is the younger brother of Michigan junior linebacker James Ross and looks a lot like him in his stance.
East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis wide receiver Jeff Thomas was offered by Michigan. He's a 5'10", 170 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois and Kansas. As a freshman in 2013, he had 54 catches for 944 yards (17.5 yards/catch) and 12 touchdowns. Thomas has blazing speed and looks like a Percy Harvin clone. He was teammates with 2014 linebacker Kyron Watson (Kansas).
MISCELLANEOUS
Here's a list of this past weekend's visitors. Thiyo Lukusa considered committing on the visit, but Coach Hoke convinced him that it would make sense to take other visits and be 100% positive before committing. He's a 2016 kid, so he has plenty of time to decide.
The Top 247, Rivals 100, and Rivals 250 were all updated last week.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Michigan Daily: Football and family - How Lawrence Marshall coped with tragedy
If you're a Michigan football fan, you have no choice but to read this Lawrence Marshall story if you haven't already.
Hit the jump for a girl wearing bikini bottoms in the snow.
Hit the jump for a girl wearing bikini bottoms in the snow.
Self-Indulgent Post of the Week: Top Five 2014 SI Swimsuit Issue Pictures
I have no reason to post this other than the fact that the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is awesome. So here are my top five pictures from this year's issue. (Photos with nudity were disqualified for obvious reasons.)
In honor of multiple family members, 50% of today's ad revenue and donations will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization rated an A+ by Charity Watch.
In honor of multiple family members, 50% of today's ad revenue and donations will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization rated an A+ by Charity Watch.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Visitors: February 21-23, 2014
 |
| Traverse City (MI) West offensive lineman Thiyo Lukusa |
Brian Cole - WR - Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, along with several others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 athlete, the #57 player overall, and the top in-state player for 2015.
Donnie Corley - WR - Wyandotte (MI) Roosevelt: Corley is a 6'2", 160 lb. prospect for 2016. He recently won a Best of the Midwest camp MVP and looks like a promising prospect going forward. He also visited Michigan last weekend.
Shaun Crawford - CB - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Crawford committed to Michigan in August 2013.
Andrew David - K - Massillon (OH) Washington: David committed to Michigan in June 2013.
Jack Dunaway - DE - Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Dunaway is a 6'3", 212 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's the son of former Michigan tight end Craig Dunaway. I profiled him in the In-State Preview of 2015 Recruiting.
David Edwards - QB/TE - Downers Grove (IL) North: Edwards is a 6'6", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #34 athlete, and the #303 player overall. Despite being ranked in some circles as a quarterback, I think his best chance of earning a Michigan offer would be as a tight end.
Desmond Fitzpatrick - WR - Farmington (MI) Farmington: Fitzpatrick is a 6'1", 165 lb. prospect for 2016 with a lone offer from Indiana. He may visit this weekend, and that would be the second weekend in a row for him to be on campus.
Kevin Givens - LB - Altoona (PA) Altoona: Givens is a 6'3", 230 lb. prospect with offers from Pitt, Temple, UMass, and Western Michigan. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #30 weakside end, and #727 overall for the 2015 class. Givens looks like a 'tweener OLB/WDE. He also stopped by Ann Arbor in late January, so his interest in the Wolverines appears to be pretty legitimate. UPDATE: Givens committed to Pitt on Tuesday, so he is probably not planning to visit.
Damien Harris - RB - Berea (KY) Madison Southern: Harris, one of the top running backs in the 2015 class, decommitted from Michigan in January. A number of other schools have swooped in on him now that he's a "free agent" but Michigan and Ohio State still seem to be the leaders.
Daelin Hayes - LB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Hayes is a 6'2", 210 lb. prospect for 2016 with an offer from Michigan State. He also plays running back, but I think he lacks the suddenness to be a runner at the next level. He's the cousin of Michigan running back Justice Hayes.
Troy Henderson, Jr. - LB - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Henderson is a 6'1", 215 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati and Toledo. He claims a 4.6 forty, a 4.2 shuttle, a 33" vertical, a 330 lb. bench, and a 425 lb. squat. As a junior in 2013, he had over 100 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. He's a teammate of Michigan cornerback commit Shaun Crawford.
Darrin Kirkland, Jr. - LB - Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central: Kirkland is a 6'2", 228 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 inside linebacker, and #199 overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 110 tackles and 8 sacks. He has visited Michigan multiple times, and while Michigan does not appear to be going hard after inside linebackers at the moment, Kirkland may be in line for an offer sooner or later.
Thiyo Lukusa - OG - Traverse City (MI) West: Lukusa is a 6'5", 300 lb. prospect for 2016 with offers from Akron, Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. Several insider types believe Lukusa is leaning toward Michigan.
Harrison Moon - OT - Signal Mountain (TN) Signal Mountain: Moon is a 6'5", 260 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. He plays some tight end in high school, but he will probably be a tackle at the next level. He had 5 receptions for 100 yards as a junior in 2013. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #21 tight end, and the #788 player overall.
Kentrail Moran - RB - O'Fallon (IL) O'Fallon: Moran is a 5'10", 180 lb. prospect for 2016 with offers from Illinois and Northern Illinois. He claims a 4.4 forty, a 30" vertical, and a 10.9 time in the 100 meters. As a sophomore in 2013, he had 1,140 rushing yards and 172 receiving yards to go with 14 total touchdowns. His class of 2014 teammate Dewayne Hendrix, a defensive end, signed with Tennessee earlier this month. UPDATE: Moran was unable to make it to Ann Arbor this weekend.
Jeff Thomas - WR - East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis: Thomas is a 5'10", 167 lb. prospect for 2017 with offers from Kansas, Michigan, and Syracuse. As a freshman in 2013, he had 54 catches for 944 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a teammate of 2014 Michigan offeree Kyron Watson (Kansas) and will likely be traveling with Kentrail Moran. UPDATE: Moran was going to be Thomas's ride to Ann Arbor, so he also did not visit.
Tyriq Thompson - LB - Detroit (MI) King: I did a scouting report on Thompson a few weeks ago.
Mike Weber - RB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber is a 5'11", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, along with several others. Weber had reportedly been leaning toward Michigan State prior to the hiring of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, but this will be the second weekend in a row he has spent in Ann Arbor and Nussmeier appears to have piqued Weber's interest. UPDATE: Weber was unable to make it to the Michigan basketball game on Sunday afternoon.
Friday, February 21, 2014
White Hot Sports: Those Who Stayed - Marlin Jackson
Tony Kaminski interviews former Michigan defensive back Marlin Jackson.
Hit the jump for Mayoli Sena's curviness.
Hit the jump for Mayoli Sena's curviness.
Jake Ryan will be a middle linebacker and other news
 |
| This is my favorite picture of Jake Ryan. |
Regardless, I think Ryan is best suited for middle linebacker. He seems to do a good job of diagnosing plays and taking good angles toward the ballcarrier. He has a solid frame and could easily play at 240 or 245.There are a couple other things in that article that turned out to be inaccurate (for example, he has turned out to be a sure tackler, though his high school wrist injury may have been a reason for questioning that area), but I generally agree with this move. Ryan has the body of an excellent middle linebacker, and while taking on lead blocks from a fullback might be a question mark, he has shown an ability to evade blockers on the edge.
The biggest thing this does for Michigan's defense is putting the Wolverines' best front seven player (and perhaps best defender overall) in the middle of the field always and forever. Spread teams or even just a spread formation would put Ryan on the edge covering a slot receiver whenever the offense wanted him out there. That took away chances for him to blitz, and it took away chances for him to help in the run game unless the offense attacked his side. Now he can be utilized as an inside rusher - which he has done well on the rare occasion he lined up there at SAM - and he can play the run from sideline to sideline.
What does the depth chart look like now? A lot of this is speculation, of course, since the coaches aren't going to release a depth chart right now or go through all 100+ players on the roster. There are two ways to look at this, in my opinion.
- We like our philosophy, but Jake Ryan is a playmaker and needs to be in the middle.
- Our philosophy needs to be tweaked, so we'll put bigger guys in the middle and hybrid types at SAM.
Number two is more likely, and Webb has said this move means former weakside linebacker James Ross will be playing SAM. This means more of a change in philosophy to *gulp* the ways of Greg Robinson. Robinson, of course, turned safety Stevie Brown into a pretty good outside linebacker in 2009. Ross's frame can't handle much more weight, so we appear to be looking at a guy who's going to have to set the edge with his quickness and not brute strength. Operating under the assumption that #2 is what Michigan's coaches are thinking, here's a mix of what I've heard and what I surmise:
- SAM linebacker: James Ross, Allen Gant
- MIKE linebacker: Jake Ryan, Desmond Morgan
- WILL linebacker: Joe Bolden, Ben Gedeon
I'm not going to bother with officially predicting what happens with the true freshmen, because for all we know, these position changes won't stick beyond the spring. And once Jake Ryan graduates, maybe the coaches will return to the old ways.
I do not expect this move to affect Brennen Beyer, who is expected to be a defensive end; he's more effective at setting the edge rather than playing in space.
Here's a Premature Two-Deep Depth Chart In Progress:
Here's a Premature Two-Deep Depth Chart In Progress:
WDE: Frank Clark, Mario Ojemudia
DT: Willie Henry, Chris Wormley
NT: Ondre Pipkins, Maurice Hurst
SDE: Brennen Beyer, Taco Charlton
DT: Willie Henry, Chris Wormley
NT: Ondre Pipkins, Maurice Hurst
SDE: Brennen Beyer, Taco Charlton
SAM: James Ross, Allen Gant
MIKE: Jake Ryan, Desmond Morgan
WILL: Joe Bolden, Ben Gedeon
CB: Blake Countess, Jabrill Peppers
CB: Raymon Taylor, Channing Stribling
FS: Jarrod Wilson, Jeremy Clark
SS: Dymonte Thomas, Delano Hill
MIKE: Jake Ryan, Desmond Morgan
WILL: Joe Bolden, Ben Gedeon
CB: Blake Countess, Jabrill Peppers
CB: Raymon Taylor, Channing Stribling
FS: Jarrod Wilson, Jeremy Clark
SS: Dymonte Thomas, Delano Hill
Attractive Michigan Girls of the Week
If you have any other pictures of girls wearing Michigan gear, drop me an e-mail. Go Blue!
Brady Hoke announces new coaching responsibilities
The football program announced new coaching responsibilities yesterday, and most of the changes come on defense, where nobody has the same responsibility he had last year. The only change on offense is the hiring of Doug Nussmeier to replace Al Borges's duties.
Head coach: Brady Hoke
Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks: Doug Nussmeier
Running backs: Fred Jackson
Wide receivers: Jeff Hecklinski
Tight ends, Special teams: Dan Ferrigno
Offensive line: Darrell Funk
Defensive coordinator, Linebackers: Greg Mattison
Defensive line: Mark Smith
Cornerbacks: Roy Manning
Safeties: Curt Mallory
Offensive grad assistant (tight ends): Kevin Koger
Offensive grad assistant (offensive line): Michael Switzer
Defensive grad assistant (defensive line): Ernie Lawson
Defensive grad assistant (linebackers): Jerry Milling
Head coach: Brady Hoke
Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks: Doug Nussmeier
Running backs: Fred Jackson
Wide receivers: Jeff Hecklinski
Tight ends, Special teams: Dan Ferrigno
Offensive line: Darrell Funk
Defensive coordinator, Linebackers: Greg Mattison
Defensive line: Mark Smith
Cornerbacks: Roy Manning
Safeties: Curt Mallory
Offensive grad assistant (tight ends): Kevin Koger
Offensive grad assistant (offensive line): Michael Switzer
Defensive grad assistant (defensive line): Ernie Lawson
Defensive grad assistant (linebackers): Jerry Milling
Thursday, February 20, 2014
John U. Bacon: The Brendan Gibbons case, and the athletic department's response
John U. Bacon, author of Three and Out, Fourth and Long, and Bo's Lasting Lessons takes the athletic department to task for their response to the Brendan Gibbons story (LINK).
Hit the jump for a girl with excellent proportions.
Hit the jump for a girl with excellent proportions.
Scouting Report: Minkah Fitzpatrick
 |
| Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick (image via MGoBlog) |
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2015
Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Boston College, Connecticut, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin . . . Claims a 4.45 forty . . . As a junior in 2013, had 62 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 21 pass breakups . . . As a sophomore in 2012, had 21 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 12 pass breakups . . . ESPN 4-star, 83 grade, #3 CB, #29 overall . . . Rivals 5-star CB, #9 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #9 CB, #69 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star CB, 97 grade, #4 cornerback, #35 overall, #1 in New Jersey
Strengths: Lanky with long arms . . . Able to deflect passes from a trail position . . . Good straight line speed once he gets into sprinting phase . . . Playmaker who likes to go for the ball . . . Won't settle for always making the safe play . . . Willing to be decently physical . . . Adjusts well out of backpedal to attack shorter throws . . . Takes good angles coming downhill from his part-time safety position . . . Physical runner with the ball in his hands and keeps legs churning through contact
Weaknesses: Not a big hitter . . . More of an ankle grabber . . . Does not wrap up and drive ball carriers but often tries to gator roll them to the ground . . . Needs to stay lower in his backpedal . . . Lacks ideal hip flexibility . . . May be prone to double moves and small, quick receivers . . . Can be outmuscled by bigger receivers
Projection: Cornerback. Fitzpatrick has good physical skills overall, but right now he lacks some strength, which affects multiple phases of his game. He has very good speed when he can get going, but his short area quickness is a question for me. Because of that, I think he might have more of a long-term future as a safety. A good college program should see him turn into a 195-200 lb. corner, and that added size and strength will help him be a physical press corner. I also think Fitzpatrick could be a factor in the kick return game with his ability to find seams and get upfield.
Reminds me of: Donovan Warren but faster
Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Fitzpatrick released a top ten that included Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and South Carolina. He has a good relationship with Michigan incoming freshman cornerback Jabrill Peppers, but Michigan held off on offering Fitzpatrick for a while, which helped to allow teams like Alabama and Ohio State to build relationships. Personally, I believe the three teams with the best chance to get him are Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State (in no particular order).
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
SB Nation: 2015 College Football Recruiting All-Name Team
SB Nation put together the "All-Name Team" for 2015 football recruits.
Hit the jump for Kimberley Garner ordering a beverage with a wedgie.
Hit the jump for Kimberley Garner ordering a beverage with a wedgie.
Top 247 updated for 2015
 |
| Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Shaun Crawford |
Here are the rest of Michigan's offerees:
5-stars:
2. Terry Beckner, Jr. - DE - Illinois
3. Mitch Hyatt - OT - Georgia (Clemson)
4. Josh Rosen - QB - California
8. Kevin Toliver II - CB - Florida (LSU)
10. Josh Sweat - DE - Virginia
12. Iman Marshall - CB - California
14. Justin Hilliard - LB - Ohio
15. Malik Jefferson - LB - Texas
17. Shy Tuttle - DT - North Carolina
19. Tim Settle - DT - Virginia
23. Jashon Cornell - DE - Minnesota
24. Kendall Sheffield - CB - Texas
28. George Campbell, Jr. - WR - Florida
30. Jalen Dalton - DE - North Carolina
4-stars:
32. Rasheem Green - DT - California
33. Brian Cole - ATH - Michigan
35. Minkah Fitzpatrick - CB - New Jersey
37. Jaason Lewis - ATH - Virginia (UCLA)
43. Jerome Baker - ATH - Ohio
44. Keisean Lucier-South - DE - California
46. Damien Harris - RB - Kentucky
50. DaMarkus Lodge - WR - Texas
51. Jeffery Holland - LB - Florida
53. Juwan Johnson - WR - New Jersey
54. Jarrett Stidham - QB - Texas
57. Jacques Patrick - RB - Florida
63. Jake Fruhmorgen - OT - Florida
67. Michael Weber - RB - Michigan
73. Christian Kirk - WR - Arizona
76. John Reid - CB - Pennsylvania
78. Hjalte Froholdt - DT - Ohio
81. Clelin Ferrell - DE - Virginia
86. Sterling Jenkins - OT - Pennsylvania
111. Keenan Walker - OT - Arizona
116. Ryan Bates - OT - Pennsylvania (Penn State)
118. Drew Richmond - OT - Tennessee
124. Blake Barnett - QB - California (Notre Dame)
125. Soso Jamabo - RB - Texas
134. Devonaire Clarington - TE - Florida
140. Shaun Crawford - CB - Ohio (Michigan)
143. Darian Roseboro - DE - North Carolina
144. Josh Barajas - LB - Indiana
167. Ronald Jones II - RB - Texas
170. Chris Clark - TE - Connecticut
172. Grant Newsome - OT - New Jersey
197. Hale Hentges - TE - Missouri
220. Jordan Whitehead - CB - Pennsylvania
230. Cameron Townsend - LB - Texas
233. Johnny Frasier - RB - North Carolina
235. Osa Masina - LB - Utah
Drew Dileo, #9
 |
| Drew Dileo |
HIGH SCHOOL
A product of Greenwell Springs (LA) Parkview Baptist, a small private school, Dileo was a Rivals 3-star and the #73 athlete in the 2010 class. Also an accomplished baseball player, he did a little bit of everything - running, receiving, returning, playing cornerback, and throwing the ball on occasion. As a junior in 2008, he had 760 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns, 315 receiving yard and 4 touchdowns, and averaged 42.2 yards per kickoff return. He committed to Michigan at the end of April 2009 over offers from Stanford and Tulane.
COLLEGE
If you're like me, you wondered a little bit why Drew Dileo set foot on the field as a true freshman in 2010. He was not big and he was not fast (his reported 4.5 forty time was clearly a fib), but redshirt years don't do much good for guys who aren't going to grow or get much faster. Dileo was a holder, played some slot receiver, and returned some punts and kicks; it was his most productive year as a kick returner, when he averaged 21.6 yards/return. As a sophomore in 2011, he became the full-time holder and converted three fake field goals (against Michigan State, Nebraska, and Virginia Tech), the most spectacular of which was a prayer of a completion to long snapper Jareth Glanda in the Sugar Bowl against the Hokies. His receiving ticked up (9 catches, 121 yards, 2 touchdowns) a little bit, too. In his junior season of 2012, Dileo had his most productive season in terms of yardage when he caught 20 passes for 331 yards and 2 touchdowns, turning in big catches against Minnesota and Michigan State. For whatever reason, he became more of an afterthought as a senior (16 catches, 174 yards, 2 touchdowns) and had an uncharacteristic drop to seal a loss to Nebraska, but still managed to have some key receptions, such as touchdowns against Notre Dame and Ohio State.
CAREER STATISTICS
46 catches, 629 receiving yards, 13.7 yards/catch, and 6 touchdowns
3 carries for 14 yards
1/1 passing for 11 yards
11 punt returns for 79 yards, 7.2 yards/return
17 kickoff returns for 336 yards, 19.8 yards/return
SUMMARY
Dileo is one of those guys whom you wish could be re-signed as a free agent. He's a utility man that just about any team could use in some capacity, but he's not capable of being a spotlight guy. Without him Michigan has to face an immediate future without a sure-handed slot guy, without a sure-handed returner, and likely without a fake field goal threat from the holder position.
I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . .
. . . the fake field goal pass to Jareth Glanda in the 2012 Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech. That seems to sum up his career quite nicely, because it was Dileo finding a way to get the job done.
PROJECTION
Dileo won't be invited to the NFL Combine, and he won't be drafted. I have a hard time believing he'll even be signed as an undrafted free agent. His football career is likely over, and I imagine he'll move on to the professional world.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
White Hot Sports: Those Who Stayed - Ryan Van Bergen
Tony Kaminski talks to Ryan Van Bergen about his experiences and thoughts of Michigan.
Hit the jump for a brunette in a black bikini.
Hit the jump for a brunette in a black bikini.
Rivals 250 updated for 2015
 |
| Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Shaun Crawford |
- Shaun Crawford fell from #96 to #106
- Tyree Kinnel fell from #174 to #188
Here are the rest of the Michigan offerees.
106. Shaun Crawford - CB - Ohio (Michigan)
119. John Reid - CB - Pennsylvania
123. Mike Weber - RB - Michigan
130. Juwan Johnson - WR - New Jersey
139. Devante Peete - WR - Florida
150. Hale Hentges - TE - Missouri
152. Keenan Walker - OT - Arizona
153. Devonaire Clarington - TE - Florida
171. Hjalte Froholdt - DT - Ohio (Arkansas)
176. Chris Clark - TE - Connecticut
188. Tyree Kinnel - S - Ohio (Michigan)
190. Juval Mollette - WR - North Carolina
191. Josh Barajas - LB - Indiana
200. Ryan Bates - OT - Pennsylvania (Penn State)
210. Jaason Lewis - ATH - Virginia (UCLA)
219. Tyrone Wheatley - DE - New York
222. Jordan Whitehead - CB - Pennsylvania
225. Adonis Thomas - ATH - Georgia
235. Cameron Townsend - LB - Texas
240. Anthony Wheeler - LB - Texas
Monday, February 17, 2014
Michigan Daily: A look at the 2014 recruiting class
Zach Helfand talks to 247's Steve Lorenz about the 2014 class as it wrapped up.
Hit the jump for Vanessa Hudgens standing in some water.
Hit the jump for Vanessa Hudgens standing in some water.
Rivals 100 updated for 2015
 |
| Saginaw (MI) Heritage athlete Brian Cole is the highest ranked in-state player for 2015 |
Now that Damien Harris and George Campbell have decommitted, Michigan has zero commits in the top 100. Prospects 101 through 250 will be released tomorrow.
5-stars:
2. Josh Rosen - QB - California
4. Damien Harris - RB - Kentucky
6. Kevin Toliver II - CB - Florida (LSU)
9. Minkah Fitzpatrick - CB - New Jersey
10. Iman Marshall - CB - California
12. Rasheem Green - DT - California
14. Mitch Hyatt - OT - Georgia (Clemson)
16. George Campbell - WR - Florida
4-stars:
22. Malik Jefferson - LB - Texas
23. Christian Kirk - WR - Arizona
25. Shy Tuttle - DT - North Carolina
27. Kendall Sheffield - CB - Texas
28. Jerome Baker - ATH - Ohio
31. DaMarkus Lodge - WR - Texas
32. Drew Richmond - OT - Tennessee
34. Sterling Jenkins - OT - Pennsylvania
35. Terry Beckner, Jr. - DE - Illinois
38. Jalen Dalton - DE - North Carolina
39. Ronald Jones II - RB - Texas
40. Soso Jamabo - RB - Texas
42. Jacques Patrick - RB - Florida
43. Tyron Johnson - WR - Louisiana
45. Darian Roseboro - DE - North Carolina
47. Justin Hilliard - LB - Ohio
48. Jarrett Stidham - QB - Texas
53. Osa Masina - LB - Utah
56. Tim Settle - DT - Virginia
57. Jeffrey Holland - LB - Florida
64. Blake Barnett - QB - California (Notre Dame)
68. Josh Sweat - DE - Virginia
69. Joshua McMillon - LB - Tennessee
70. Clelin Ferrell - DE - Virginia
75. Keisean Lucier-South - DE - California
80. Jake Fruhmorgen - OT - Florida
87. Jashon Cornell - DE - Minnesota
99. Brian Cole - ATH - Michigan
Recruiting Update: February 17, 2014
 |
| Richmond (VA) Benedictine defensive end Clelin Ferrell |
Richmond (VA) Benedictine defensive end Clelin Ferrell was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'5", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Miami, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #6 weakside end, and #76 overall. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 60 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks. He plays some linebacker, but he looks like a future weakside end and shows nice burst off the edge. Ferrell is teammates with 2016 wide receiver offeree Scott Bracey and plays in the same league as Michigan freshman quarterback Wilton Speight.
Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra defensive tackle Rasheem Green was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'5", 280 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, UCLA, and USC, among others. He's a 247 Composite 5-star, the #6 defensive tackle, and #17 overall. Michigan went after two of Green's teammates in the 2014 class, but came away empty on cornerback Adoree' Jackson (USC) and linebacker Dwight Williams (UCLA). The favorite for Green appears to be USC, too.
Dallas (TX) South Oak Cliff safety Prentice McKinney, Jr. was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'2", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Boise State, Maryland, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma, among others. He claims a 4.48 forty, a 240 lb. bench, and a 275 lb. squat. As a junior in 2013, he had 5 interceptions. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #37 safety, and the #589 player overall.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius offensive guard Liam Eichenberg was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'5", 275 lb. prospect whose only other offer is from Ohio State. Eichenberg has stated that he is very likely to stay in the Big Ten. Fifth year senior linebacker Jake Ryan is also from St. Ignatius.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Miamisburg (OH) Miamisburg offensive tackle Josh Myers was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'5", 255 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Myers represents the Wolverines' first offer in the 2017 class. He has a brother who's a redshirt sophomore center at Kentucky and a father who played for the Wildcats, so they're a major player in his recruitment. Of course, as a member of the 2017 recruiting class, his brother will be graduated from UK before Josh arrives.
OFF THE BOARD
Warminster (PA) Archbihop Wood offensive tackle Ryan Bates committed to Penn State. He was just offered by the Wolverine a couple weeks ago and is the #166 player in the class, according to the 247 Composite.
Gaithersburg (MD) Gaithersburg athlete Kamonte Carter committed to Penn State, too. Along with Bates and a defensive back named Jarvis Miller, they became the first three commitments in the 2015 class for the Nittany Lions. Before this past weekend's Junior Day in Happy Valley, Carter previously visited PSU for their overtime win against Michigan, so that had to be a positive game day experience. Carter is a do-it-all high school player, the rare quarterback/defensive end combo. Michigan originally offered him as a SAM linebacker, but at 6'4" and 235 lbs. already, he will likely be a defensive end at the next level.
Washington (DC) H.D. Woodson cornerback DuWayne Johnson committed to Virginia Tech. Johnson had 75 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 18 pass breakups last season.
Virginia Beach (VA) Ocean Lakes athlete Jaason Lewis committed to UCLA. Lewis plays a little bit of everything for his high school team, but at 6'3" and 235 lbs., I have doubts about whether he can stick at wide receiver, which is where some people project him. He looks more like an H-back to me, or perhaps a linebacker. It will be interesting to see how UCLA uses him, and they're not averse to playing players at multiple positions, as they showed with Myles Jack.
MISCELLANEOUS
Here's a list of the 2015, 2016, and 2017 visitors who were on campus Saturday to watch Michigan play Wisconsin.
Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback and current prize of Michigan's 2015 recruiting class Shaun Crawford went to the Nike camp this past weekend, ran a laser-time 4.5 forty, ran a 4.03 shuttle, jumped 36.3" vertically, and earned an invite to The Opening.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Visitors: February 14-16, 2014
 |
| Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook linebacker Tuf Borland |
Tuf Borland - LB - Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook: Borland is a 6'1", 200 lb. prospect for 2016 with an offer from Illinois. He attends the same high school as 2014 Michigan target Parrker Westphal (Northwestern) and one of his coaches is former Michigan cornerback Todd Howard.
Donnie Corley - WR - Wyandotte (MI) Roosevelt: Corley is a 6'2", 160 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers at this time.
Messiah DeWeaver - QB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: DeWeaver is a 6'2", 180 lb. prospect for 2016 with offers from Kentucky and Louisville. He attends the same high school as redshirt freshman linebacker Mike McCray II, as well as former Wolverines Roy Roundtree and Brandon Moore.
Liam Eichenberg - OG - Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius: Eichenberg is a 6'5", 275 lb. prospect for 2016 with an offer from Ohio State. He attends the alma mater of Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan.
Desmond Fitzpatrick - WR - Farmington (MI) Farmington: Fitzpatrick is a 6'1", 175 lb. prospect for 2016 with offers from Indiana, Ohio, and Toledo.
Lawrence Gordon - DE - Saginaw (MI) Arthur Hill: Gordon is a 6'6", 260 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers yet. He has been getting Michigan interest and was visited to Brady Hoke in January.
Juanye Johnson - OG - Muskegon (MI) Muskegon: Johnson is a 6'4", 275 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers at this time.
Corey Malone-Hatcher - DE - St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: Malone-Hatcher is a 6'3", 207 lb. prospect for 2017 with no offers yet.
Jalen Martin - WR - Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park: Martin is a 6'3", 190 lb. prospect for 2016 with a lone offer from Eastern Michigan. As a sophomore in 2013, he had 42 catches for 985 yards and 12 touchdowns. He attends the same high school as redshirt freshman wide receiver Csont'e York and freshman basketball point guard Derrick Walton, Jr.
Emani Mason - OG - Detroit (MI) East English Village: Mason is a 6'4", 268 lb. prospect for 2017 with no offers at this time. He may be a little short right now to project to offensive tackle, so I have him listed as a guard; however, he has the feet to play tackle and may project there if he grows a little bit.
Josh Myers - OT - Miamisburg (OH) Miamisburg: Myers is a 6'5", 260 lb. prospect for 2017 with offers from Illinois and Indiana already. He has an older brother who plays center for Kentucky.
Michael Onwenu - DT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Onwenu is a 6'2", 310 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers yet. I have not seen film on Onwenu, but he supposedly benches 325 lbs. and looks like a future nose tackle.
Donovan Peoples-Jones - WR - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Peoples-Jones is a 6'1", 170 lb. prospect for 2017 with no offers yet. He could play receiver, cornerback, or safety at the next level.
Kalebb Perry - WR - Mt. Pleasant (MI) Mt. Pleasant: Perry is a 6'2", 180 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers yet. As a sophomore in 2013, he had 28 receptions for 543 yards (19.4 yards/catch) and 6 touchdowns.
David Reese - LB - Farmington (MI) Farmington: Reese is a 6'1", 235 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers up to this point. As a sophomore in 2013, he had 117 tackles and 6 sacks. Teammate and classmate Desmond Fitzpatrick, a wide receiver who is not expected to make the trip, figures to be one of the top in-state prospects in their cycle.
Mike Robb - TE - Midland (MI) Dow: Robb is a 6'6", 190 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers up to this point. He had 51 catches and 6 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2013.
Will Rogers - DE - Saginaw (MI) Arthur Hill: Rogers is a 6'4", 205 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.
Joshua Ross - LB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Ross is a 6'1", 195 lb. prospect for 2017 with offers from Michigan State and Oklahoma. He broke his ankle in the middle of his freshman season for St. Mary's, but he is expected to be one of the top few players in the 2017 class.
Emmanuel Rugamba - WR - Naperville (IL) Central: Rugamba is a 6'0", 170 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers yet.
Prince Sammons - DE - Cincinnati (OH) Hills Christian: Sammons is a 6'8", 260 lb. prospect for 2016 with offers from Akron, Cincinnati, Duke, and Illinois. He is a very large kid who hasn't really learned how his body works, as he's a little awkward and stiff right now. It will be interesting to see how he develops.
Todd Sibley - RB - Akron (OH) Archbishop Hoban: Sibley is a 5'10", 195 lb. prospect for 2017 with no offers at this time.
Erik Swenson - OT - Downers Grove (IL) North: Swenson committed to Michigan back in November 2013.
Ethan Tucky - DE - Delaware (OH) Hayes: Tucky is a 6'3", 215 lb. prospect for 2016 with an offer from Eastern Michigan. He claims a 4.53 forty, a 4.51 shuttle, a 29" vertical, a 260 lb. bench, and a 365 lb. squat. He plays defensive end in high school, but depending on how his body develops, he may turn into an outside linebacker.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
SI.com: Inside Read - Behind Saban-Kiffin union, and more
There's just a ton of good college football and recruiting stuff in this article by Thayer Evans and Pete Thamel.
Hit the jump for Adriana Lima at the beach.
Hit the jump for Adriana Lima at the beach.
Video: Tim Hardaway, Dion Waiters put on a show
Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Dion Waiters put on a ridiculous show in the Rising Stars duel. Hardaway ended up 12/23 overall, 7/16 on three-pointers, and 5/6 on free throws to end up with a game-high 36 points. Meanwhile, Waiters finished 10/14 overall, 4/6 on three-pointers, and 7/8 on free threws for 31 points. Neither player started the game. Fellow Wolverine Trey Burke was 3/12, 0/7 on threes, dished out 6 assists, and had 1 steal on his way to 6 points.
Team Hill (Waiters) beat Team Webber (Hardaway, Burke) by a score of 142-136, and Detroit Piston Andre Drummond was named the game's MVP with 30 points and 25 rebounds.
Team Hill (Waiters) beat Team Webber (Hardaway, Burke) by a score of 142-136, and Detroit Piston Andre Drummond was named the game's MVP with 30 points and 25 rebounds.
Friday, February 14, 2014
MLive: Shane Morris believes he's a different QB
Nick Baumgardner talks to Shane Morris about how quick he had to grow as a quarterback.
Hit the jump for a girl standing near a tree.
Hit the jump for a girl standing near a tree.
Attractive Michigan Girls of the Week
If you have any other pictures of girls wearing Michigan gear, drop me an e-mail. Go Blue!
Cameron Gordon, #4
 |
| Cameron Gordon |
Gordon came from Inkster (MI) Inkster in the class of 2009, where he was a teammate of Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, who was a year younger. Gordon's senior season saw him catch 49 passes for 863 yards, and he also had 126 tackles, 5 sacks, and 5 interceptions at linebacker. Rivals ranked him as a 4-star, the #36 wide receiver, and the #233 player overall in his class. He chose the Wolverines in December 2008 over offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, Minnesota, and some MAC schools. Here's my first TTB post on Gordon, where I claimed he was the most likely freshman to redshirt.
COLLEGE
Michigan's head coach at the time, Rich Rodriguez, promised Gordon a chance to play wide receiver, which is where he took reps as a true freshman. During the spring of 2010, he made the switch to free safety and started 7 games there before moving to linebacker, where he started the final 6 contests. Altogether, he made 77 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, and 2 fumble recoveries (1 of which he returned for a 58-yard touchdown against Purdue). When Brady Hoke and his staff arrived in 2011, they moved Gordon to SAM linebacker. Bothered by a bad back and stuck behind Jake Ryan and Brennen Beyer, he made just 4 tackles on the year. With Beyer playing defensive end in 2012, Gordon saw his playing time increase and finished with 17 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 pass breakup. He was then named one of four team captains prior to the 2013 season and started 2 games while Ryan recovered from a torn ACL; Gordon turned in his best statistical year since his redshirt freshman season and topped off his career with 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, a team-leading 5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble.
CAREER STATISTICS
138 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions for 35 yards, 7 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries for 58 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 forced fumble
AWARDS
Second Team Freshman All-American, 2010
Academic All-Big Ten, 2010-2012
Team Captain, 2013
SUMMARY
I was always leery of Gordon as a wide receiver (and then as a safety) because of his size and relative lack of speed. He played linebacker in high school, and I rarely like the idea of moving guys back in a defense (see also: Josh Furman). Even though he had 3 picks as a redshirt freshman safety, he got burned repeatedly, including by tight ends. Once he moved to linebacker, he gave the Wolverines a little more speed and athleticism. I wish he would have played more over Beyer, but Gordon found himself somewhat limited once Ryan emerged as such a big playmaker. It speaks to his leadership and lack of complaining that he was able to become a captain despite being a backup for the majority of his career.
I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . .
. . . his interception deep in the red zone against Indiana in 2010. He made a very nice play on the ball, and he helped secure a 42-35 win by stopping the Hoosiers on a potential scoring drive. He had a couple other picks, that exciting score against Purdue, and some nice plays early in his senior season, but that pick against Indiana still stands out.
PROJECTION
Listed at 6'3" and 237 lbs., Gordon has plenty of size to play linebacker in the NFL. I will be curious to see how he performs at Michigan's Pro Day. I doubt he will amaze anyone with his strength, speed, or quickness, but he has a nice combination of all those things. If guys like Tim Jamison, Roy Manning, and Shantee Orr can eke out careers as backup or practice squad edge guys in the NFL, I don't see why Gordon can't do the same thing if he wants. He's more versatile than those guys since he can rush the passer and cover in space a little bit.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Detroit News: Michigan's Taylor Lewan could be drafted as high as #2
Angelique Chengelis relays some draft projections from none other than Mel Kiper, Jr. I think Lewan has a shot at being the second tackle taken, but I doubt he will go as high as #2 overall.
Hit the jump for Kate Upton eating a cheeseburger.
Hit the jump for Kate Upton eating a cheeseburger.
Video: Dale Hansen Unplugged - Celebrating our differences
I know some of you are sick of the Michael Sam story, but this video is too awesome not to share.
Jake Butt out indefinitely with a torn ACL
 |
| Jake Butt had a huge touchdown catch in the 2013 game against Ohio State |
Butt will certainly miss spring practice, and it's unclear how much of his 2014 season will be lost. Projected to be the starting tight end for the upcoming season, the job will now be left to junior A.J. Williams, fifth year senior Jordan Paskorz, redshirt freshman Khalid Hill, and freshman Ian Bunting. It may also affect hybrid receiver Devin Funchess, who was expected to stick at wideout this year but may be pressed into more duty as a tight end.
The Wolverines have suffered several ACL injuries in the last 12 months, including linebacker Jake Ryan, offensive guard Joey Burzynski, quarterback Russell Bellomy, and running back Drake Johnson. All four of those players were either #1 or #2 on the depth chart at their respective positions last season.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Football Study Hall: Recruiting Matters - The Rankings Still Get it Right
Matt Hinton explores recruiting rankings and how well the top recruiting teams perform on the field.
Hit the jump for a blonde with pretty eyes.
Hit the jump for a blonde with pretty eyes.
Top 247 for 2015
|
| Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Shaun Crawford is Michigan's lone representative in the top 247 |
5-stars:
2. Terry Beckner, Jr. - DE - Illinois
4. Mitch Hyatt - OT - Georgia (Clemson)
5. Josh Rosen - QB - California
8. Kevin Toliver II - CB - Florida (LSU)
10. Tim Settle - DT - Virginia
14. Iman Marshall - CB - California
15. Shy Tuttle - DT - North Carolina
17. Justin Hilliard - LB - Ohio
19. Jashon Cornell - DE - Minnesota
20. Kendall Sheffield - CB - Texas
23. Malik Jefferson - LB - Texas
26. George Campbell - ATH - Florida
27. Jaason Lewis - ATH - Virginia (UCLA)
4-stars:
31. Brian Cole - ATH - Michigan
32. Soso Jamabo - RB - Texas
34. Minkah Fitzpatrick - CB - New Jersey
35. Jeffrey Holland - LB - Florida
39. Tyron Johnson - WR - Louisiana
43. Jerome Baker - ATH - Ohio
53. Josh Sweat - DE - Virginia
54. Juwan Johnson - WR - New Jersey
55. Clelin Ferrell - DE - Virginia
57. Keisean Lucier-South - DE - California
61. Jake Fruhmorgen - OT - Florida
63. Christian Kirk - WR - Arizona
64. Damien Harris - RB - Kentucky
65. Jacques Patrick - RB - Florida
72. John Reid - CB - Pennsylvania
73. Hjalte Froholdt - DT - Ohio (Arkansas)
78. Jarrett Stidham - QB - Texas
84. Sterling Jenkins - OT - Pennsylvania
90. DaMarkus Lodge - WR - Texas
102. Darian Roseboro - DE - North Carolina
110. Devonaire Clarington - TE - Florida
115. Jalen Dalton - DE - North Carolina
117. Michael Weber - RB - Michigan
129. Drew Richmond - OT - Tennessee
130. Shaun Crawford - CB - Ohio (Michigan)
132. Keenan Walker - OT - Arizona
135. Jalen Wilkerson - TE - Georgia
136. Garrett Thomas - OT - Louisiana
146. Ryan Bates - OT - Pennsylvania
166. Hale Hentges - TE - Missouri
182. Grant Newsome - OT - New Jersey
187. Jordan Whitehead - CB - Pennsylvania
217. Devante Peete - WR - Florida
219. Osa Masina - LB - Utah
234. Juval Mollette - WR - North Carolina
In-state Preview of 2015 Recruiting
 |
| Saginaw (MI) Heritage wide receiver/defensive back Brian Cole is generally considered to be the top prospect in the state |
One note: I started compiling offer lists and such in mid-January, so some new offers may have come rolling in over the past couple weeks that are not noted for guys in the first quarter of the alphabet. Enjoy!
Joshua Alabi - DT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6'5", 270 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #37 offensive tackle, #293 overall, and the #4 player in the state. For such a big-time prospect, there's not much film on Alabi from beyond his sophomore year. I have read that he wants to play defense, but some people around him are trying to convince him that he has a higher ceiling as an offensive lineman. Personally, I agree with those who think he fits better on offense. Cass Tech has generally been a Michigan pipeline, but Michigan State and Tennessee are the two front-runners.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Grantland: Peace and Love in the Tennessee War Room
Holly Anderson spent the day with the Tennessee Volunteers' coaching staff on National Signing Day, when they signed 31(!) commits.
Hit the jump for an American Eagle blouse.
Hit the jump for an American Eagle blouse.
Scout 300 updated for 2015
 |
| Huber Heights (OH) Wayne defensive back Tyree Kinnel is rated #220 |
Movement for Michigan commits:
- Tyree Kinnel remains at #220
- Jon Runyan, Jr. moves onto the list at #294
5-stars:
2. Malik Jefferson - OLB - Texas
3. Mitch Hyatt - OT - Georgia
4. Kendall Sheffield - CB - Texas
6. Iman Marshall - CB - California
7. Kevin Toliver - CB - Florida (LSU)
11. Josh Rosen - QB - California
13. Josh Sweat - DE - Virginia
14. Tim Settle - DT - Virginia
16. DaMarkus Lodge - WR - Texas
18. Keisean Lucier-South - DE - California
23. George Campbell - WR - Florida
4-stars:
27. Jarrett Stidham - QB - Texas
29. Shy Tuttle - DT - North Carolina
31. Sotonye Jamabo - RB - Texas
32. Damien Harris - RB - Kentucky
34. Jeffrey Holland - OLB - Florida
35. Christian Kirk - WR - Arizona
40. Jashon Cornell - DE - Minnesota
44. Justin Hilliard - LB - Ohio
46. Brian Cole - WR - Michigan
52. Jerome Baker - OLB - Ohio
57. Osa Masina - OLB - Utah
59. Sterling Jenkins - OT - Pennsylvania
63. Kamonte Carter - DE - Maryland
65. Shaun Crawford - CB - Ohio (Michigan)
70. Minkah Fitzpatrick - CB - New Jersey
73. Terry Beckner - DE - Illinois
84. Hjalte Froholdt - DT - Ohio (Arkansas)
90. Tyrone Wheatley - DE - New York
91. Jake Fruhmorgen - OT - Florida
94. Keenan Walker - OT - Arizona
95. Mike Weber - RB - Michigan
99. Jacques Patrick - RB - Florida
102. Devonaire Clarington - TE - Florida
103. Chris Clark - TE - Connecticut
109. Drew Richmond - OT - Tennessee
121. Ronald Jones - RB - Texas
128. Anthony Wheeler - MLB - Texas
135. John Reid - CB - Pennsylvania
136. Hale Hentges - TE - Missouri
139. Devante Peete - WR - Florida
146. Blake Barnett - QB - Texas (Notre Dame)
153. Darian Roseboro - DE - North Carolina
155. Jordan Whitehead - CB - Pennsylvania
165. Jalen Dalton - DE - North Carolina
178. Jaason Lewis - WR - Virginia
194. Juwan Johnson - WR - New Jersey
203. Grant Newsome - OT - New Jersey
205. Cameron Townsend - OLB - Texas
220. Tyree Kinnel - CB - Ohio (Michigan)
232. Du'Vonta Lampkin - DT - Texas (Oklahoma)
244. Johnny Frasier - RB - North Carolina
255. Joshua McMillon - OLB - Tennessee
266. Adonis Thomas - OLB - Georgia
267. Ryan Bates - OT - Pennsylvania
294. Jon Runyan - OG - Pennsylvania (Michigan)
Monday, February 10, 2014
BTN: Top recruiting bust for each Big Ten school in last decade
Tom Dienhart puts together a list of the top recruiting "busts" for each of the Big Ten schools in the last ten years, and Michigan's representative is that in-state 5-star guy.
Wrong!
It's the other one.
Hit the jump for Ashley Sky.
Wrong!
It's the other one.
Hit the jump for Ashley Sky.
New York Times: NFL Prospect Michael Sam Proudly Says What Teammates Knew - He's Gay
 |
| Michael Sam |
Feel free to discuss it here, but I approve the comments. Pro or con, I don't mind an open discussion, as long as your comments don't deteriorate into hateful speech either way.
Recruiting Update: February 10, 2014
 |
| McKinney (TX) North running back Ronald Jones II |
Merrillville (IN) Andrean linebacker Josh Barajas was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'3", 210 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois and Purdue. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #12 inside linebacker, and #366 overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 92 tackles, 5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. He's a thick kid and would likely be a MIKE linebacker at the next level.
McKinney (TX) North running back Ronald Jones II was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'0", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Clemson, Iowa, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State, among others. He claims a 4.45 forty and is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #14 running back, and #169 overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 244 carries for 2,406 yards and 39 touchdowns. Jones is an explosive runner and has some deceptive power in a fairly thin frame.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Allen (TX) Allen offensive tackle Gregory Little was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'6", 280 lb. prospect with offers from Baylor, Clemson, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, among others. Early buzz suggests that he'll be a 5-star prospect and one of the top few players in the country for 2016.
OFF THE BOARD
Norcross (GA) Norcross defensive end Lorenzo Carter committed to Georgia. The Bulldogs were the favorite with Florida and Florida State trailing behind.
New Orleans (LA) John Curtis wide receiver Malachi Dupre committed to LSU. Dupre was considered a heavy LSU lean throughout his recruitment, and he ended up with the Tigers despite UCLA making a hard run at him.
Norfolk (VA) Lake Taylor defensive tackle Nyquan Harris committed to Marshall. There was some question about whether Harris ever held a Michigan offer, but he was listed on one of the recruiting sites as having one, so here he is.
Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra cornerback Adoree' Jackson committed to USC. This was somewhat of a surprise move because a lot of people thought he would head to Florida due to their track program. However, late-in-the-process visits to UCLA and USC seemed to give the Trojans an extra shot to impress (UCLA never seemed like an extremely serious option), and new head coach Steve Sarkisian took advantage.
Florissant (MO) Hazelwood Central offensive tackle Roderick Johnson committed to Florida State. This seemed to be a long time in the making. For what it's worth, Johnson was high on my list of desired players in the 2014 class, so I expect him to turn into a very good player in Tallahassee.
Minneapolis (MN) Washburn running back Jeff Jones solidified his commitment to Minnesota and signed his NLI. Jones blew up a little bit after the Under Armour All-American Game, of which he was MVP, and earned offers from Florida and Michigan. However, there were some reported issues with Jones's academics and some uncertainty of whether he would qualify this year or not, so Michigan stopped recruiting him. He was also considering Iowa State up until the end.
Sarasota (FL) Booker running back Marlon Mack committed to South Florida. Mack earned an offer late in the process when Michigan was looking for a runner. He promptly decommitted from UCLA after earning an offer from the Wolverines, then Michigan stopped recruiting him, he was rumored to have committed to Louisville, and finally settled on USF.
Southfield (MI) Southfield defensive end Malik McDowell committed to Michigan State . . . kind of. The long and difficult story has been well documented, but the gist of it is that he likes MSU, in part because they really know how to party in East Lansing. Dad isn't a fan of Michigan State and said he wants Malik to get out of the state to remove himself from some friendly influences. That's nothing compared to Mom, who didn't attend the signing day press conference and won't sign Malik's National Letter of Intent. Without her signature as the guardian (the parents are separated), McDowell can't fax a binding NLI. So he's verbally committed to MSU right now, but Florida State, Michigan, and Ohio State are all technically options right now. Usually kids get their way in these situations, so he's very likely to end up a Spartan.
New Orleans (LA) John Curtis safety Mattrell McGraw committed to Oregon. He's the teammate of Dupre and linebacker Kenny Young, both of whom had offers from the Wolverines.
Plantation (FL) American Heritage wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie committed to Georgia. McKenzie's recruitment was a roller coaster ride as he was rumored to have committed to Notre Dame a few months ago, then planned to sign with Ole Miss, and finally committed to Georgia after receiving an offer from them just before National Signing Day. Running back teammate Sony Michel - who visited in 2012 when his brother's UMass team played in the Big House - signed with Georgia, too, so they end up being a package deal.
Jenks (OK) Jenks safety Steven Parker committed to Oklahoma. This was long expected, although he flirted with the idea of visiting Ann Arbor even when the coaches had stopped recruiting Monroeville (PA) Gateway's Montae Nicholson, who proceeded to commit to Michigan State.
Forestville (MD) Bishop McNamara offensive tackle Damian Prince committed to Maryland. It was quite a coup for the Terrapins to keep the 5-star player in his home state, but they have done a good job in recent years of keeping guys home (Stefon Diggs, Wes Brown, etc.). Florida State was the other major player near the end.
Jacksonville (FL) Raines cornerback Lamont Simmons committed to USC. Simmons was one of numerous guys to decommit from Rutgers throughout the process. He's a big corner who could also play safety for the Trojans.
Olathe (KS) South offensive guard Braden Smith committed to Auburn. A lot of people thought he would end up at TCU due to the fact that his sister runs track there, and still others thought he would end up at Texas A&M.
Long Beach (CA) Poly safety John Smith committed to USC. Early in the process, I thought Smith might end up at Michigan or Notre Dame. He was not fond of Lane Kiffin as the head coach at USC, and he spoke highly of the Wolverines and the Irish. However, as soon as Kiffin was axed, it seemed like USC jumped to the forefront once again.
Coppell (TX) Coppell defensive end Solomon Thomas committed to Stanford. He had people guessing up until the end with some people guessing Arkansas and others picking UCLA. At one time he was thought to be high on Ohio State, so Michigan dodged a bit of a bullet with a good player staying out west.
Chicago (IL) Simeon offensive tackle Denzel Ward committed to Syracuse. Ward was once committed to Michigan, moved from Chicago to Florida without informing Michigan's coaches, decommitted, committed to Purdue, moved back to Chicago but attended a different school, decommitted from Purdue, and ended up signing with the Orangemen.
McDonough (GA) Eagle's Landing Christian defensive end Andrew Williams committed to Auburn. The only other serious contender seemed to be Clemson.
Memphis (TN) White Station linebacker Petera Wilson committed to Tulsa. I have been to Tulsa, and it's beyond me why someone would choose that school when he has offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, UCLA, and USC, among others. Luckily for Tulsa, it's not my decision.
Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School defensive end Richard Yeargin III committed to Clemson. He had previously been committed to Notre Dame, where I think he would have been an outside linebacker. But in Clemson's scheme, I believe he will end up as a weakside end.
New Orleans (LA) John Curtis linebacker Kenny Young committed to UCLA. Six players from John Curtis signed National Letters of Intent, and they're headed to six different schools in five different states.