Pages

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Grant Newsome, Wolverine

Grant Newsome (image via 247 Sports)
Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School offensive tackle Grant Newsome committed to Michigan this morning. His other top choice was Penn State, and he also held offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others.

Newsome is listed at 6'6" or 6'7" and 280-290 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #25 OT, #235 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #21 OT, #199 overall
Scout: 4-star, #20 OT, #215 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #22, #192 overall

Newsome, who is originally from McLean, VA, attends private school in New Jersey. He was offered just before National Signing Day 2014, which immediately catapulted the Wolverines up near the top of his list. In the meantime, he took visits to some east coast and midwest schools, including a couple to Ann Arbor and a couple to Penn State. His most recent visit to Penn State allegedly included a message from head coach James Franklin that Brady Hoke would not be Michigan's coach by 2015, which rubbed Newsome the wrong way a little bit. He went ahead and publicly committed to Michigan via Twitter, where he posted a letter thanking various family members and coaches.

I wrote up an in-depth scouting report on Newsome back in March (LINK), so there's not much to add regarding his playing style.

As for how he fits at Michigan, the Wolverines are somewhat low on tackles. Redshirt sophomore Erik Magnuson will presumably hold the job for the remainder of his career, which takes us through 2016. After him on the left tackle depth chart is redshirt freshman Logan Tuley-Tillman or true freshmen Juwann Bushell-Beatty and Mason Cole. I believe Bushell-Beatty and Cole will be best suited playing guard or right tackle, but they are possibilities to succeed Magnuson. Tuley-Tillman could also play right tackle. Out of that group, Newsome fits the blind-side tackle prototype best, and he could be starting by his redshirt sophomore year in 2017.

Newsome gives Michigan seven commits in the class of 2015, which is currently scheduled to consist of twelve players. He is also the second lineman, joining guard/center prospect Jon Runyan, Jr. The Wolverines have been handing out several offers along the offensive line over the past couple months, so I would expect them to continue recruiting the line.

TTB Rating: 84 (ratings explanation)

Highlights are available on Hudl.

14 comments:

  1. Hey Thunder, any ideas why I can't open this website with Firefox anymore?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never mind Thunder, it's working now.

      Delete
  2. Well, very good.

    Here's hoping for a good 2014 so the coaching transition rumors can be laid to rest. If Michigan can get on track to being in contention for the Big 10 championship every year, then that coupled with this staff's ability to recruit suggests good things into the future.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Since I've been saying "we need more OL recruits" for like 4 years, it's a difficult habit to break. I'm hoping the day comes soon where I can say "we are good", but not yet.

    Very glad to hear about Newsome. I thought he would end up at PSU after a while. Hoping that by the time he's on campus he has time to develop, and if he gets a starting job as a young player, it will be because he earned it - not by default.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I enjoyed the Franklin disclosure. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it's true.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice get by UM. This kid was an important recruit for Hoke. Hoping they can sign one more OT and call it a day on the OL.

    I can see the UM/PSU rivalry bouncing back. Franklin will be a lot easier to dislike than Paterno and O'Brien were.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The more I learn how Franklin runs his business, I wish we go back to Carr era domination over PSU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey guys, can I get a link about Penn State's Franklin and how lowly he runs his business?

      Delete
    2. That is why I was so disgusted that we handed the game to them last year. We will blow them out this year.

      Delete
  7. Tomorrow is George HW Bush's birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LOVE THE RECRUITING, BUT ITS TIME TO START PROVING IT IN THE WIN COLUMN!! I LOVE BRADY HOKE AND HIS PASSION FOR MICHIGAN, BUT ITS TIME FOR HIM TO PROVE THIS YEAR HE IS THE RIGHT MAN TO LEAD MICHIGAN BACK TO BEING CHAMPIONS!! IM PULLING FOR YA HOKE, DIEHARD MICHIGAN MAN FOREVER, GO BLUE BABY!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Starting as a red shirt soph??...tell me its not so. Why can't we get this right and follow the model of Bama or Wiscy??...who consistently start upper classmen across their fronts, both on the O and D line's?? Jr, Sr and redshirt Sr's on the line pay dividends (look at our Sugar Bowl team lines for the upper classman leadership recently)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. starting at 3rd year doesn't sound very bad, given the fact that we even started a true freshman at OL last year. Of course another year of training is better but a 3rd year player should be ready to go by most standards.

      Delete
    2. I think the fact your missing is that these upperclassmen OL you are referring to earned starting positions early in their career. Good players don't sit on the shelf! They typically get their shot in year two, even at Wisky.

      Delete