Review of 2008 Recruiting: Safety

 

Brandon Smith

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Reigniting the look at past recruiting classes, here's a gander back toward 2008. Remember that 2008 was Michigan's transition class between Lloyd Carr and Rich Rodriguez. The roster had promising players at safety (Brandon Harrison, Stevie Brown, Michael Williams) but no real standouts.

It turned out that Michigan's best safety would come from the 2008 high school graduating class. But the great Jordan Kovacs would not join the team until 2009 as a walk-on.

THE ROSTER

• Shakir Edwards (RS Sr.)
• Charles Stewart (RS Sr.)
• Brandon Harrison (Sr.)
• Stevie Brown (Jr.)
• Nick Koenigsknecht (RS So.)
• Artis Chambers (So.)
• Jordan Reilly (RS Fr.)
• Karl Tech (RS Fr.)
• Michael Williams (RS Fr.)
• Floyd Simmons (Fr.)

Hit the jump for more.

Ben VanSumeren, Spartan

 Normally I wouldn't devote a whole post to the commitment of a former Michigan Wolverine to another school, but this one is special. Because former Michigan fullback/running back/linebacker Ben VanSumeren committed to transfer to the Michigan State Spartans.

Is it okay to dislike VanSumeren now?

Yes. Yes, it is.

Sports are built around rivalries and competition, and VanSumeren could have gone to 127 other programs without much of an issue, anywhere except Michigan State or Ohio State. Instead, he chose to go to the in-state rival. It's understandable to an extent that an in-state kid (VanSumeren is from Garber High School in Essexville, MI) would want to stay close to home, but if you're truly a proponent of the University of Michigan, you don't transfer to Michigan State or Ohio State.

VanSumeren was a man without a position in Ann Arbor. He should have been a fullback, except Michigan basically got rid of that position with the hiring of offensive coordinator Josh Gattis in 2019. Michigan tried him at running back, but 9 carries for 20 yards and 1 touchdown didn't show much. Michigan tried him at linebacker (7 tackles in 2020), but he was lost. Maybe he would have been better if he hadn't played three different positions in three seasons.

I don't wish ill upon Ben VanSumeren or his family, but I do hope he loses every remaining game of his college career.

What I've Been Reading

 I haven't done one of these posts in a while, so here's a brief look at what I've been reading in the hopes that you'll share some of your latest interests, too.

Savage Son by Jack Carr

Savage Son by Jack Carr is the third book in a trilogy, which started with The Terminal List and then True Believer. I don't want to give away too much, but protagonist James Reece is a (former) Navy SEAL who takes matters into his own hands. You might have seen me post about Brad Thor's books, and Reece is very similar to Scot Harvath in those novels. Not surprisingly, Thor's long-running Harvath series inspired Carr to write his own books. Carr's books are a little darker and more technical, and they're pretty good thrillers.

Hit the jump for more.

Joe Milton, Ex-Wolverine

 

Joe Milton (image via Wolverines Wire)

Michigan quarterback Joe Milton is no longer Michigan quarterback Joe Milton. He has chosen to enter the transfer portal.

Milton was a class of 2018 recruit ranked as a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 pro-style quarterback, and #204 overall. I gave him a TTB Rating of 88 (LINK).

Hit the jump for more.

Preview of 2022 In-State Recruiting: #1-5

 

Grosse Pointe (MI) South CB Will Johnson (image via Detroit News)

If you read this site or are into Michigan recruiting, you probably know the names at the top of this in-state list. Michigan has been pursuing all of these players for a while, and chances are good that the Wolverines land at least a couple of them, if not more.

1. Will Johnson - CB - Grosse Pointe (MI) South
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Notable offers: Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC
Commitment: Uncommitted
247 Composite: 5-star, #4 CB, #8 overall
Analysis: Johnson is a cornerback who overwhelms fellow high schoolers with his size and strength. He plays corner, wide receiver, and wildcat quarterback for his high school team. He's the son of former Michigan defensive back Deon Johnson, who played for the Wolverines in the early 1990s. Even so, he's not guarantee to sign with Michigan. He also has interest in Ohio State and USC, and he and Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei cornerback Domani Jackson - who is also high on Michigan - say they're a package deal.

Hit the jump for more.

2022 Recruiting Update: February 15, 2021

 

Mobile (AL) Faith Academy linebacker Shemar James (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2022

Shemar James - LB - Mobile (AL) Faith Academy: James is a 6'3", 200 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Florida, among others. He's a 4-star, the #11 athlete, and #157 overall. As a junior in 2020, he made 66 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks, along with scoring 12 touchdowns on offense.

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan Wolverines in the Super Bowl

 

Tom Brady (image via USA Today)

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I combed through box scores for every Super Bowl throughout history and tried to compile every statistical performance for a Michigan player since the Super Bowl began. If you see any names or statistics missing, please let me know. (While comments still aren't working here, you can go over to the Blogspot site HERE.)

Hit the jump for more.

Kody Jones, Wolverine

 

Kody Jones (image via 247 Sports)

Germantown (TN) Germantown safety Kody Jones committed to Michigan on Friday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Auburn, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.

Jones is 5'11" and 180 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #22 ATH, #280 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #13 S
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #19 ATH

Hit the jump for more on his commitment.

Taylor Groves, Wolverine

 

Cross Plains (TN) East Robertson athlete Taylor Groves (image via 247 Sports)

Cross Plains (TN) East Robertson cornerback/safety/wide receiver Taylor Groves committed to Michigan on Friday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.

Groves is listed at 6'2" and 175 lbs. As a junior in 2020, he made 55 tackles and 2 interceptions. He made a whopping 7 interceptions during his sophomore year.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #41 WR
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #15 S, #188 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Rayshaun Benny, Wolverine

 

Is that a beard? I want it to be a beard. It's not a beard. (image via 247 Sports)

Oak Park (MI) Oak Park defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny flipped from Michigan State to Michigan on National Signing Day. Benny also fielded offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, along with numerous others.

Benny is listed at 6'5" and 275 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #19 DT
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #9 DT, #90 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #16 DT, #212 overall

Hit the jump for more on his commitment.

Way Too Early 2021 Depth Chart: January 2021

 

Aidan Hutchinson: Will he stay or will he go?

The following depth chart has removed the following players from the 2020 depth chart for various reasons:

• C Zach Carpenter (transfer to Indiana)
• RB Zach Charbonnet (transfer to UCLA)
• WR Nico Collins (NFL)
• TE Nick Eubanks (NFL)
• RB Chris Evans (NFL)
• DT Carlo Kemp (NFL)
• FB Ben Mason (NFL)
• LB Cam McGrone (NFL)
• K Quinn Nordin (NFL)
• DE Kwity Paye (NFL)
• RB Christian Turner (transfer)
• C Andrew Vastardis (NFL)
• DE Luiji Vilain (transfer to Wake Forest)

It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in 2021, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

2022 Recruiting Update: February 1, 2021

 

Ponchatoula (LA) Ponchatoula safety Jacoby Mathews (image via Hudl)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2022

Bryan Allen, Jr. - S - Aledo (TX) Aledo: Allen is a 6'0", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, LSU, Ohio State, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. He's a 4-star, the #5 safety, and #71 overall. As a sophomore in 2019, he recorded 122 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 fumble recoveries, 2 of which went for touchdowns. He attends the alma mater of Michigan offensive guard Chuck Filiaga.

Nicholas Anderson - WR - Katy (TX) Katy: Anderson is a 6'2", 185-pounder with offers from Miami, Notre Dame, and Texas, among others. He's a 3-star, the #62 wide receiver, and #428 overall. His two older brothers are defensive end Ryder Anderson (Ole Miss) and running back Rodney Anderson (Oklahoma/Cincinnati Bengals).

Chace Biddle - S - Garland (TX) Garland: Biddle is a 6'0", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. He's a 4-star, the #8 safety, and #84 overall.

Elijah Davis - S - Auburndale (FL) Auburndale: Davis is a 6'1" prospect with offers from Nebraska, Pitt, some directional Florida schools, and more. He's currently unranked. Based on his film, he's a very athletic player but somewhat raw.

Hit the jump for more.