Antonio Gates, Jr. - WR - Dearborn (MI) Fordson: Gates is a 6'1", 185-pounder with offers from Kentucky, Michigan State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 4-star, the #43 wide receiver, and #287 overall. He's the son of former Kent State and San Diego Chargers player Antonio Gates. This is an unofficial visit on June 1.
Kevonte Henry - LB - Lawndale (CA) Leuzinger: Henry is a 6'4", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Michigan, and USC, among others. He's a 3-star, the #78 linebacker, and #786 overall. This is an unofficial visit.
Kaleb Johnson - RB - Hamilton (OH) Hamilton: Johnson is a 6'2", 210 lb. back with offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, and Pitt, among others. He's a 3-star, the #48 running back, and #593 overall. He does not yet have a Michigan offer but is hoping to get one. This is an unofficial visit on June 1.
James Livingston - OT - Dexter (MI) Dexter: Livingston is a 6'7", 275 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, Indiana, Tulane, and most of the MAC. He's a 3-star, the #116 offensive tackle, and #1158 overall. He will be camping at Michigan.
Name: Mica Gelb Height: 6'4" Weight: 295 lbs. High school: Washington (DC) Woodrow Wilson Position: Offensive guard Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #55 Last year: I did not rank Gelb. He did not play. TTB Rating: N/A
Gelb is a walk-on offensive lineman with good size for an FBS player. So how does a guy who's 6'4" and 295 lbs. end up as a walk-on instead of a scholarship player elsewhere? Well, Gelb does not have great athleticism. At least based on his high school film, he would pretty much just stand in one place and try to push people around with his upper body. Of course it's helpful to have these types of guys on the scout team and to rep against scholarship guys in practice, but I think that's the ceiling for Gelb unless he has made some huge strides during his time at Michigan.
The 2009 recruiting class was Rich Rodriguez's first full recruiting class in Ann Arbor. Rodriguez envisioned a team of 280-pound offensive linemen and then a group of 5'8" speedsters manning all the skill positions, leaving very little recruiting effort to put into the tight end position.
THE ROSTER
Martell Webb (Jr.)
Kevin Koger (So.)
Brandon Moore (RS Fr.)
THE RECRUITS
None. Michigan didn't land a single tight end in the class of 2009.
Hit the jump for a look at the rest of Michigan's quarterback recruiting efforts in 2009.
Name: Keshaun Harris Height: 5'11" Weight: 183 lbs. High school: Lansing (MI) Waverly Position: Defensive back Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #18 Last year: I did not rank Harris. He did not play. TTB Rating: N/A
Defensive back - particularly cornerback - is a tough place to get on the field as a walk-on, largely because it's predicated on innate speed and athleticism. And if players have that athleticism, they get a scholarship somewhere instead of walking on at one of the biggest programs in the country. Safety Hunter Reynolds was the most recent Michigan walk-on defensive back to play significant minutes, but the past decade has only really seen three: Reynolds, safety Jordan Kovacs, and safety/linebacker Jordan Glasgow.
All that is to say that Harris probably won't see the field as a walk-on defensive back. There are a ton of safeties on the roster - though I suspect Harris is repping at corner - and the cornerbacks are all longer than Harris, faster than him, or both. I imagine Harris will spend another year on the scout team defense.
Oregon State graduate transfer defensive tackle Jordan Whittley has selected the Michigan Wolverines as his destination for 2021.
Whittley is a 6'1", 358 lb. nose tackle. He missed 2020 with a tumor near his heart, but the last time he played (when he was listed at 6'1", 324), he made 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup, and 1 quarterback hurry. Before Oregon State he was at Laney College, a JUCO in Oakland, California, that was profiled in season four of Last Chance U. Out of high school in the class of 2014, he was a 247 Sports 2-star and the #287 athlete, signing with San Jose State but never attending.
Whittley was listed as a 6'2", 225 lb. running back coming out of high school. He tore his ACL and put on 100 lbs. or so while he was laid up recovering.
Michigan needs help on the interior of the defensive line. Former defensive coordinator Don Brown did not stockpile nose tackle types, leaving the Wolverines thin on pluggers and heavy on tackle/end tweeners. Michigan addressed the dearth of defensive tackles in the 2021 recruiting class, but nobody is ready to play as a true nose tackle right away. Whittley - if healthy - should be able to hold up to double teams. He won't be Maurice Hurst, Jr. and living in the offensive backfield, but he should be able to let the linebackers flow to do their job.
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As you may have heard, Michigan has done some restructuring of its recruiting plan. About a year ago, I wrote about how I thought Michigan could "fix" its recruiting (LINK). Some of those steps have been taken, and others not mentioned have also occurred.
A few things have changed in the past year, largely for the better.
1. Ronald Bellamy replaces Bob Shoop as safeties coach. There are rumors about Shoop's time at Michigan, but he was never known as a good recruiter - though recruits did say a few positive things once in a while - and basically served as an analyst in 2020. Shoop is more of an X's and O's guy. Meanwhile, Bellamy spent the last chunk of his life coaching West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield to a point where it was a perennial threat to win a state championship. Bellamy got good talent to come to West Bloomfield - who would normally have attended other schools - and coached them up. He developed positive relationships with athletes who didn't even attend West Bloomfield, and recruits seem to gravitate toward him. The former Wolverines wide receiver seems to be more of a father figure than a bombastic personality, but it appears to be working on the recruiting trail.
The 2009 recruiting class was Rich Rodriguez's first full recruiting class in Ann Arbor. Ultimately, not one of Michigan's targets turned into a standout receiver on a national level, and the most productive player was Michigan's own diminutive Jeremy Gallon.
THE ROSTER
LaTerryal Savoy (RS Sr.)
Greg Mathews (Sr.)
James Rogers (Jr.)
Junior Hemingway (RS So.)
Darryl Stonum (So.)
THE RECRUITS
Jeremy Gallon Ratings: 4-star, #12 ATH, #244 overall High school: Apopka (FL) Apopka College: Michigan Other notable offers: Auburn, Iowa Scoop: Gallon's usage steadily increased throughout his career, starting with a redshirt in 2009, 4 catches in 2010, then 31, 41, and 89. Though he made some great players in 2012 with the combination of Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner behind center, his career really took off in 2013, when he and Gardner developed a special chemistry that resulted in 1,379 yards and 9 touchdowns. Gallon also averaged 7.1 yards/return on 47 punt returns and 20.6 yards/return on 32 kickoff returns. He was taken by the Patriots in the 7th round (#244 overall) in 2014 but never played in the NFL.
Cameron Gordon Ratings: 4-star, #43 WR, #317 overall High school: Inkster (MI) Inkster College: Michigan Other notable offers: Iowa, Minnesota Scoop: Gordon was brought in with the promise to get a chance at wide receiver, so he redshirted in 2009 while figuring out that he wasn't a receiver. The crack defensive staff at Michigan thought he should then be a safety, so they put him there in 2010, where he made 77 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown. When Brady Hoke was hired in 2011, Gordon moved to a better spot at outside linebacker. By 2013 he made 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. Altogether, his college career saw him make 138 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 fumble return TD. Gordon went undrafted in 2014 but spent parts of two seasons with the Patriots and Chiefs, including winning a Super Bowl with New England while on injured reserve.
Je'Ron Stokes Ratings: 4-star, #11 WR, #94 overall High school: Philadelphia (PA) Northeast College:MichiganBowling Green Norfolk State Other notable offers: Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Penn State Scoop: Stokes made just 3 catches for 27 yards over two seasons at Michigan before transferring to Bowling Green. After sitting out a season due to transfer rules, he made 15 catches for 114 yards and 1 touchdown for the Falcons. For his final year of eligibility in 2013, he transferred to Norfolk State to play with his brother, quarterback Malik Stokes, and ended up making 15 catches for 158 yards and 1 touchdown.
Hit the jump for a look at the rest of Michigan's quarterback recruiting efforts in 2009.
Name: Christian Bartholomew Height: 6'0" Weight: 185 lbs. High school: Galesburg (MI) Kalamazoo Central Position: Wide receiver Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #27 Last year: I ranked Bartholomew #107 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted. TTB Rating: N/A
Bartholomew had two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in high school - as a sophomore and junior - before moving to quarterback as a senior. Though he played at a small school, those are still impressive numbers. Last year I did not expect much from him because he was a freshman walk-on.
I still like Bartholomew's talent, but he continues to hang around here in the 100's because of his status as a walk-on. I don't think Josh Gattis is quite as likely to play walk-on receivers as former coaches like Pep Hamilton. There might be an opportunity if there are injuries or as Bartholomew gets older, but I think he's a practice squad guy for now.
Name: Jake Thaw Height: 6'0" Weight: 185 lbs. High school: Westport (CT) Staples Position: Wide receiver Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #26 Last year: I did not rank Thaw. He redshirted. TTB Rating: N/A
Michigan fans know that only elite players come from the state of Connecticut, and Jake Thaw is no exception. I avoided profiling him last year to help him fly under the radar, but the cat is out of the bag now that he's been on the roster for a year. Jake Thaw might not be a household name today, but what Kwity Paye is to Rhode Island, Jake Thaw - a.k.a. the Winter Soldier - will be to Connecticut.
Will he play on special teams? Maybe.
Will he play at wide receiver? Possibly.
Will he be a first round draft pick in 2024? You never know.
The 2009 recruiting class was Rich Rodriguez's first full recruiting class in Ann Arbor, and he brought in some diminutive running backs whose quickness and speed he thought could be successful in the Big Ten. The three backs he landed were all between 5'7" and 5'10" (some measurements even had Vincent Smith at 5'6"), and he targeted some tiny slot/running back combo guys, too.
THE ROSTER
Kevin Grady (RS Sr.)
Carlos Brown (Sr.)
Brandon Minor (Sr.)
Michael Shaw (So.)
Michael Cox (RS Fr.)
THE RECRUITS
Teric Jones Ratings: 3-star, #46 RB, #469 overall High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech College: Michigan Other notable offers: N/A Scoop: Jones committed to Michigan after a weekend visit on which he was offered. It was his first and only offer of the recruiting process. Known as a speedster, he never really showed it off at Michigan. Playing special teams and some defensive back, he made 9 tackles as a freshman in 2009. Then in 2010 at running back, he notched 3 carries for 7 yards. He quit football after that but remained at Michigan as a student.
Vincent Smith Ratings: 3-star, #49 RB, #508 overall High school: Pahokee (FL) Pahokee College: Michigan Other notable offers: Tennessee, Wisconsin Scoop: Smith was listed at 5'7" and 159 lbs. during the recruiting cycle, but that didn't stop some big programs from offering him. He ran for over 2,000 yards and scored 29 touchdowns as a high school senior. He was the #3 option as a freshman, but jumped to #1 at running back in 2010 when quarterback Denard Robinson was the primary running option. Smith was a willing blocker despite a lack of size. Overall, he ran 272 times for 1,269 yards (4.7 yards/carry) and 10 touchdowns, caught 46 passes for 435 yards and 7 touchdowns, and even threw a touchdown pass. He went undrafted in 2013 and did not play in the NFL.
Fitzgerald Toussaint Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #8 all-purpose back, #239 overall High school: Youngstown (OH) Liberty College: Michigan Other notable offers: Illinois, Pitt, West Virginia Scoop: Until the recent drafting of Chris Evans, Toussaint was Michigan's best pro prospect since Mike Hart graduated following the 2007 season. After redshirting in 2009 due to an injury, he was once again limited in 2010, running just 6 times for 87 yards and 1 touchdown. He became a great 1-2 running punch with Denard Robinson in 2011, when Toussaint had a career-best 1,056 rushing yards on 5.6 yards/carry with 9 touchdowns. For his college career, he ran 510 times for 2,290 yards (4.5 yards/carry) and 28 touchdowns, adding 31 catches for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was not drafted in 2014, but he signed with the Ravens and then the Steelers as an undrafted free agent. His NFL career lasted four seasons and saw him run 44 times for 137 yards, adding 8 catches for 69 yards.
Hit the jump for a look at the rest of Michigan's quarterback recruiting efforts in 2009.
Michigan hired Kentucky defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale to replace the recently departed Mo Linguist, who was named the University of Buffalo's new head coach.
Clinkscale has been the defensive backs coach at UK for the past five years and just added the title "Defensive Passing Game Coordinator" this off-season. Clinkscale has also coached at Cincinnati, Illinois, Toledo, Western Carolina, and Ashland. He should fit pretty seamlessly into Michigan's hierarchy, as Linguist was "co-defensive coordinator" but paid less than Mike Macdonald. I imagine "Clink" will be in the same boat, labeled as a "co-coordinator" but also getting paid less than Macdonald.
I have been aware of Clinkscale for a few years, because as a coach at Kentucky, he has been a strong recruiting presence in southeast Michigan. The Wildcats landed a few commitments from the Detroit area, including 2022 Belleville (MI) Belleville cornerback Jeremiah Caldwell, whom Michigan offered in recent months. Clinkscale has also recruited Spring Hill (TN) Summit linebacker Keaten Wade, who was high on the Wolverines before committing to Kentucky.
It would be a mistake to assume that every Clinkscale recruit will automatically flip to the Wolverines, but it gives Michigan a puncher's chance. Caldwell is the long, lanky type of corner that Michigan got used to with Channing Stribling, Jeremy Clark, and the like, while Wade would be a good edge defender.
Considering the lateness of the change, this is about as well as Michigan could have expected to do. Clinkscale was reportedly #1 on Michigan's list, and of rumored options, I would take him over anyone else.
Name: Sam Staruch Height: 6'1" Weight: 182 lbs. High school: Lake Orion (MI) Lake Orion Position: Wide receiver Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #84 Last year: I ranked Staruch #106 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted. TTB Rating: N/A
Staruch had a very solid high school career and looks like a possible future contributor at wide receiver. Last year I had him at #106, but I think Michigan has brought in a few solid walk-on receivers, somewhat lessening the importance of any one individual guy. There may be an opportunity for playing time now that a couple occasional walk-on contributors - Jake McCurry and Nate Schoenle - have moved on, but offensive coordinator Josh Gattis seems a little less likely to take advantage of walk-ons than previous OCs at Michigan.
Jayden Bellamy - WR - Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic: Bellamy is a 6'1", 175 lb. prospect with offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He's a 3-star, the #39 cornerback, and #427 overall. Bellamy is a teammate of 2022 cornerback Jaeden Gould, who is very high on Michigan.
Isaiah Bond - S - Buford (GA) Buford: Bond is a 6'0", 175-pounder with offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, and Texas, among others. He's a 3-star, the #49 athlete, and #570 overall. At one time both of his crystal ball picks were for Miami, but he just committed to Florida on Sunday.
Jeremiah Caldwell - S - Belleville (MI) Belleville: Caldwell is a 6'3", 170 lb. prospect who is committed to Kentucky. He's a 3-star, the #33 athlete, and #385 overall. Michigan offered him after safety Taylor Groves decommitted from the Wolverines in recent weeks, but Michigan does not have a strong track record of pulling in Michigan recruits over the past decade or so.
Name: Andrew Russell Height: 6'2" Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Victor (NY) Victor Position: Safety Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #43 Last year: I did not rank Russell. He did not play in any games. TTB Rating: N/A
Russell has been on campus for a couple years and has not participated in any games so far. I did not rank him previously, partly because he's a safety on a team that recruited a ton of safeties over a couple recruiting classes. While the focus on recruiting safeties has perhaps petered out a little bit, there are still a lot of those guys on the roster.
Russell's only real chance of getting on the field is playing on special teams. At 6'2" and 190 lbs., Russell is a former standout lacrosse player (he was on Michigan's lacrosse team for two years) and a decent athlete. He does not have superb speed, but his length and aggression are respectable. I do not expect him to see the field this fall.
Joseph Adedire - DE - Arlington (MI) Mansfield Summit: Adedire is a 6'3", 250 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Cal, Georgia Tech, Michigan, and Oregon, among others. He's a 3-star, the #37 strongside end, and #533 overall. He had 53 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks as a junior in 2020. This is his official visit.
Dillon Bell - WR - Houston (TX) Kinkaid: Bell is a 6'2", 205-pounder with offers from Baylor, Michigan, Minnesota, and Mississippi State, among others. He's a 3-star, the #69 wide receiver, and #543 overall. Both his crystal ball picks so far are for Baylor. This is his official visit.
Mumu Bin-Wahad - S - Loganville (GA) Grayson: Bin-Wahad is a 6'0", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia Tech, Michigan, Nebraska, and West Virginia, among others. He's a 3-star, the #53 safety, and #830 overall.
Mario Eugenio - DE - Clearwater (FL) Gaither: Eugenio is a 6'3", 240-pounder with offers from Miami, Michigan, Oregon, and Mississippi State, among others. He's a 4-star, the #15 weakside end, and #290 overall. This is his official visit.
Name: Noah Stewart Height: 6'7" Weight: 255 lbs. High school: Muskegon (MI) Northern Muskegon Position: Offensive tackle Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #61 Last year: I did not rank Stewart. He redshirted. TTB Rating: N/A
I did not rank Stewart in 2020. The season countdown wasn't as expansive, and as a freshman preferred walk-on lineman, I didn't deem him capable of stepping on the field. And that was accurate. Stewart didn't have a chance as a 6'7", 245 lb. offensive tackle.
This year Stewart is a whopping 255 lbs. If I were Michigan, I might look at giving him a tight end number and playing him as a blocking tight end. Last year Michigan toyed with walk-on Carter Selzer and converted lineman Joel Honigford at tight end, and Stewart probably fits that role as a blocker better than Selzer. I don't necessarily expect Stewart to play this year, but he has a lot of upside for a walk-on lineman.
Michigan co-defensive coordinator Mo Linguist was announced as the Buffalo Bulls head coach on Friday afternoon, leaving the Wolverines with an open spot on its staff going into the summer. Buffalo's job opened up when Les Miles was let go as Kansas's head coach, giving Lance Leipold a chance to jump from Buffalo to Kansas.
Linguist is known as an outstanding recruiter, but his actual coaching ability is a bit of an unknown. At most of his stops so far, he has only spent one season at any particular job and never stayed anywhere longer than three years. He was at Michigan for just a few months - basically the span of spring ball - before leaving.
From Linguist's perspective, it's pretty much a no-brainer if he has the goal of being a head coach. Whether he spent a few months or two seasons at Michigan, it's a step up to become an FBS head coach.
On Michigan's end, it's tough to find the right balance. Jim Harbaugh hires a lot of coaches who go on to be head coaches, and that's a testament to the type of coach he hires: hungry, ambitious, young, and respected guys. But that also means he's going to lose a lot of those guys to promotions elsewhere. We have seen the opposite at Michigan, when guys like Lloyd Carr and Rich Rodriguez have brought in and held on to "their guys." That's not necessarily a terrible thing, but fans weren't happy with those staffs, either. Jokes abound regarding Mike DeBord, Fred Jackson, Tony Gibson, and others.
Realistically, the thing that many Michigan fans were missing when they got excited about Linguist's hire was that it was never going to be more than a one- or perhaps two-year thing. The most common outcome for Linguist is to spend a year on a job, meaning we would have been dealing with his departure sometime around February National Signing Day in 2022. The optics wouldn't be good, either, when he ditched the team in January or right after NSD, leaving a handful of 2022 recruits in the lurch. The Michigan program would have been sifting through decommits, trying to flip lower rated guys late, and players asking out of their National Letter of Intent.
Sam Webb has brought up a couple names as potential replacements(LINK):
Kentucky DB coach Steve Clinkscale, who has been with the Wildcats since 2016
New Orleans Saints assistant Cory Robinson, who has had five jobs in the past five years
Name: Dominick Giudice Height: 6'4" Weight: 265 lbs. High school: Freehold (NJ) Mater Dei Position: Defensive tackle Class: Freshman Jersey number: N/A Last year: Giudice was a senior in high school. He made 46 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 42 quarterback hurries. TTB Rating: N/A
Giudice committed to Michigan over a year ago, in March of 2020. Compared to most Michigan recruits, he was lightly recruited. Naturally, that led many Michigan fans to flip their lids about his commitment. While I did not flip my lid, I was not super impressed with Giudice's film or athleticism.
Until late in the process, Giudice was Michigan's only defensive tackle commitment. Eventually, he was joined by George Rooks, Ike Iwunnah, and Rayshaun Benny. It rarely works out this way, but Giudice appears to have the least upside of the group. Iwunnah and Benny are more physically ready, and Rooks is a shade more athletic. It's always tough to get on the field as a freshman defensive tackle, let alone as the fourth most talented one in a recruiting class. I do not expect Giudice to see the field this fall.
Name: Will Rolapp Height: 6'0" Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy Position: Wide receiver Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #30 Last year: I did not rank Rolapp. He redshirted. TTB Rating: N/A
Rolapp went to Darien (CT) Darien - home of Andrew Stueber - before transferring to Suffield Academy - alma mater of Brad Hawkins and Kechaun Bennett - for his final year. At Suffield in 2019, he caught 25 passes for 432 yards and 3 touchdowns. Last season he won Scout Team Player of the Week leading up to the Minnesota game.
After watching his senior year film, I don't think Rolapp has any special traits that will get him on the field in any other capacity than perhaps special teams at some point.
Name: Peyton O'Leary Height: 6'4" Weight: 188 lbs. High school: Byfield (MA) Governor's Academy Position: Wide receiver Class: Freshman Jersey number: N/A Last year: O'Leary was a senior in high school. TTB Rating: N/A
O'Leary, a standout lacrosse player, chose to commit to the Wolverines as a preferred walk-on football player. His 2019 junior season saw him catch 17 passes for 403 yards and 5 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he was unable to play a season in 2020 due to the pandemic.
You can watch O'Leary's highlights below, and they're pretty impressive. He's a long, lanky receiver who moves really well. I would not be surprised at all if he eventually factors into the rotation at Michigan, as we've seen less talented walk-on receivers (Jake McCurry, Nate Schoenle, etc.) get on the field. A walk-on receiver is unlikely to contribute as a freshman, but if O'Leary can add a little weight, maintain his speed, and improve his route-running, he could be a valuable member of the team.
Name: Christian Boivin Height: 5'11" Weight: 205 lbs. High school: Traverse City (MI) West Position: Safety Class: Freshman Jersey number: N/A Last year: Boivin was a senior in high school. He ran for 940 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also making 72 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, and 2 blocked kicks. TTB Rating: N/A
Boivin committed to Michigan as a preferred walk-on in the 2021 class. This came after an odd year where he transferred to Iowa before returning to Traverse City West once Michigan re-instituted the fall football season. He was a standout on both sides of the ball, rushing for 940 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also contributing 72 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense.
Boivin is headed for safety at the next level, but he's a little bit stiff. His change-of-direction skills are not great, but he does have a little bit of burst. To me looks like a guy who could play on kickoff and punt coverage teams, but he would be limited on offense and defense.
Name: Davis Warren Height: 6'2" Weight: 185 lbs. High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy Position: Quarterback Class: Freshman Jersey number: N/A Last year: Warren was a senior in high school. TTB Rating: N/A
Warren was hurt by the COVID situation. Originally slated to graduate in 2020 from Los Angeles (CA) Loyola, he took a prep year and transferred to Suffield Academy, which has sent safety Brad Hawkins and defensive end Kechaun Bennett to Michigan in recent years. Connecticut then did not play football in the fall - though nor did California. So that extra prep year didn't do much for him when it comes to QB development, exposure, etc.
I think Michigan got a bit of a steal here with Warren, who has some good athleticism and a live arm. Of course, he's in the same class as 5-star recruit J.J. McCarthy, but down the road, Warren could be a guy who factors into the depth chart if he continues to build his body and work on his mechanics (which can be inconsistent). Either way, Warren is headed for a redshirt.
Name: Max Bredeson Height: 6'2" Weight: 225 lbs. High school: Hartland (WI) Arrowhead Position: Quarterback Class: Freshman Jersey number: N/A Last year: Bredeson was a senior in high school. He had 822 passing yards, 711 rushing yards, and 14 total touchdowns. TTB Rating: N/A
Bredeson is the younger brother of former Michigan offensive guard Ben Bredeson (now with the Baltimore Ravens) and Michigan baseball player Jack Bredeson. Despite being from Wisconsin, it's a maize and blue family. So it was not a surprise that when Max was offered a preferred walk-on spot, he accepted.
Max Bredeson the player is a solid high school athlete, but he does not have outstanding arm strength or mobility. The chances of him turning into a major player at the FBS level are slim, but he could be a valuable scout team quarterback or backup down the road.
Name: Alexander Lidback Height: 6'2" Weight: 215 lbs. High school: Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta Position: Linebacker Class: Freshman Jersey number: N/A Last year: Lidback was a senior in high school. TTB Rating: N/A
Lidback recently committed to Michigan as a preferred walk-on. He comes from a large high school in a strong football state, so the competition in his highlights below is pretty strong. Lidback manages not to look out of place playing inside linebacker and tight end. While he doesn't have the explosive movements of an FBS athlete, he could be the type of "program guy" who sticks around the team for three to four years and eventually finds a short stretch of opportunity, similar to what happened with Adam Shibley in 2020.
