Rashad Weaver, Wolverine

Cooper City (FL) Cooper City defensive end Rashad Weaver (image via 247Sports.com)

Cooper City (FL) Cooper City defensive end Rashad Weaver committed to Michigan on Sunday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Air Force, Illinois, Syracuse, and Temple.

Weaver is 6'4", 245 lbs. He claims a 4.9 forty, a 4.66 shuttle, and a 27" vertical.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 2-star WDE
Scout: Unranked
247 Sports: Unranked

Weaver was a total unknown to me until he participated in the Florida satellite camp. It looks like he was also unknown to most of the recruiting world. But when a player is looking at offers from the ones listed above plus some FCS schools, a scholarship from Michigan looks pretty darn good. Weaver was thought to be considering an immediate commitment to the Wolverines, but he ended up taking about a week before pulling the trigger.

Weaver has a thick frame that looks like it will probably continue to fill out and add weight. He has a long wingspan and can get his hands in the throwing windows. He also shows some decent speed in the open field if he can beat the blocker in front of him. He can be an aggressive hitter who makes the quarterback or running back feel some punishment if he gets a clean shot.

Unfortunately, he is also a very raw player. When it comes to technique, virtually everything needs to be tweaked - from his stance to his initial steps to his hand placement to the angles he takes to the ball. He plays 3-4 defensive end in high school, which is probably pretty similar to what he will play in college. However, he often fails to get his second step down unless he's speed rushing on the outside, and he tends to stand up too high off the snap. He does not use his hands well and instead tries to shoulder past offensive linemen.

Overall, Weaver seems like a boom-or-bust prospect in more ways than one. If he cleans up his technique and adds the necessary strength, he could be a very good strongside end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 end. In fact, his body type is pretty ideal for those types of positions. With the way his body is built, he could even turn into a 300-pounder, because I think he looks a little like Chris Wormley coming out of high school. On the other hand, his technique and the way he plays reminds me even more of another Ohio defensive end, Chris Rock, who left Michigan early and walked on at Ohio State, where he never played a meaningful snap. Weaver also has a chance to play some tight end, where he would presumably more of a blocking tight end, although offensive highlights are few.

Michigan now has twelve commits in the 2016 class. He is the first defensive end in the class, and it's a position that needs some replenishing. Michigan took two defensive ends in the 2015 class, but the position is rather thin with senior Mario Ojemudia and junior Taco Charlton the only experienced ends at this point. Michigan is even more in need of Buck linebacker types who can speed rush the passer. After Rich Rodriguez concentrated heavily on Florida, Brady Hoke focused his efforts on the midwest. Jim Harbaugh is back to a more national approach, and this is the fourth commitment in the 2016 class from the deep south (two from Alabama, two from Florida), joining the four who committed near the end of the 2015 cycle (three from Florida, one from Alabama).

TTB Rating: 45 (ratings explanation)

Visitors: May 1-3, 2015

Hartland (WI) Arrowhead offensive tackle Ben Bredeson

At this time I only know of one prospect headed to Ann Arbor this weekend.

2015
Ben Bredeson - OT - Hartland (WI) Arrowhead: Bredeson is a 6'5", 270 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, among others. He's a 247 Composite 5-star, the #4 offensive tackle, and #27 overall. Michigan and Notre Dame are thought to be the front-runners, and Bredeson's older brother has committed to play baseball at Michigan. Ben is planning to choose his school within the next month or so. UPDATE: Bredeson is no longer visiting this weekend since it's graduation weekend. He has rescheduled the visit for May 30th.

Austin Mack - WR - Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Luers: Mack is a 6'2", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame, along with numerous others. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #20 wide receiver, and #129 overall. Michigan jumped out to an early lead in his recruitment when they initially offered, but the Wolverines have since fallen behind Notre Dame and Ohio State. The Buckeyes currently have 84% of the 247 Sports Crystal Ball predictions. As a junior in 2014, he caught 69 passes for 1,062 yards and 15 touchdowns.

2015 Recruiting Grades: Defense, Special Teams

Tyree Kinnel

I posted the recruiting grades for the offensive side of the ball (LINK), so here are the grades for the defense. Rankings used are from the 247 Composite.

DEFENSIVE END
Lost from 2014: Brennen Beyer (graduation), Frank Clark (suspension/graduation)
Commits: Shelton Johnson, Reuben Jones
Grade: B+
Comments: Michigan didn't land the highest value targets, and the two guys they brought in were last-minute fixes who don't provide a huge speed rush that Michigan has been lacking in recent years. But Michigan does need numbers at the position, where the graduations of Beyer and Clark left the team with few viable replacements and a couple guys who perhaps should be playing defensive tackle instead of on the edge. Johnson (3-star, #20 SDE) has some high upside and Jones (3-star, #44 DE) has potential, too, so at least one of these guys should pay dividends sooner or later.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Lost from 2014: None
Commits: None
Grade: C
Comments: Neither coaching staff deemed defensive tackle as a priority. Hoke only offered a handful of guys and actually backed off several targets last summer, and Harbaugh hardly made an attempt aside from offering defensive tackle Kendrick Norton, who never visited. Michigan is in a situation where they have a lot of guys in their middle years of football, but they will need to renew their efforts in 2016 to avoid a huge age gap.

LINEBACKER
Lost from 2014: Michael Ferns III (transfer), Jake Ryan (graduation)
Commits: None
Grade: D
Comments: Jake Ryan was a Butkus Award finalist and a stud at middle linebacker for Michigan last season, but the Wolverines should not miss him too awfully much with four senior linebackers scheduled to be on the roster in 2015 (Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Desmond Morgan, James Ross). However, the only non-senior to have played much so far is junior Ben Gedeon, which means Michigan will be searching for answers in 2016. It would have been a good idea to land at least one guy to redshirt and adjust to the college game, because that guy could have been deployed in 2016. Assuming the five aforementioned guys suck up most of the playing time in 2015, the Wolverines will be very green in 2016.

CORNERBACK
Lost from 2014: Delonte Hollowell (graduation), Raymon Taylor (graduation)
Commits: Keith Washington
Grade: C-
Comments: Much like the running back position, Michigan had two highly touted guys committed at different junctures - Shaun Crawford (Notre Dame) and Garrett Taylor (Penn State) - and both of them slipped out of their grasp. Cornerback is a spot where guys can contribute early, but with Jabrill Peppers moving to safety, the Wolverines are very thin at the position. Washington (3-star, #77 ATH) was a high school quarterback who did not play a ton of defense, so he's a project. If anyone higher in the pecking order gets hurt, the Wolverines could be in serious trouble, although Peppers has the ability to move back to corner if necessary.

SAFETY
Lost from 2014: None
Commits: Tyree Kinnel
Grade: A-
Comments: I don't see Kinnel (4-star, #11 S)as a huge playmaker in college, but he's a good field general with some respectable athletic skills. The only safety scheduled to depart after 2015 is starter Jarrod Wilson, and most of the other safeties on the roster are good athletes without a great understanding for the game. So if new safeties coach Greg Jackson can coach those guys up, Michigan should be in very good shape here.

KICKER/PUNTER
Lost from 2014: Will Hagerup (graduation), Matt Wile (graduation)
Commits: Andrew David
Grade: A
Comments: Punter is a position that can often be filled by walk-ons, which is likely what will happen in 2015 with Kenny Allen expected to take over the punting job. With no walk-on kickers daring to take the job, Michigan offered one guy and one guy only to be their placekicker, and they got him. David (3-star, #9 K) will be in a situation where he has a special teams coach in John Baxter, which should speed his development at least a little bit. Michigan got exactly whom they wanted.

2015 Recruiting Grades: Offense

Zach Gentry (image via Maxpreps)

With the 2015 class about wrapped up, I'll offer some final takeaways from the recruiting cycle. With something like this, it's difficult to separate Brady Hoke's recruiting efforts through early December from Jim Harbaugh's efforts over the last five weeks of the cycle. So the grades and feedback I provide are geared toward the program's job of recruiting, not necessarily a specific coach.

Starters are listed in italics.

QUARTERBACK
Lost from 2014: Russell Bellomy (transfer), Devin Gardner (graduation)
Commits: Zach Gentry, Alex Malzone
Grade: A-
Comments: Michigan needed to add talent and numbers to the quarterback position to engender competition, and they did that. Gentry (#8 pro-style quarterback, #175 overall) is the raw talent at 6'7", 230 lbs. with a reported 4.6 forty and a strong arm. Malzone (#13 pro-style quarterback, #295 overall) is the local field general with good skills all around but nothing that really stands out. Other than getting a truly elite prospect, Michigan did about as well as they could. Toss in the possible arrival of Houston transfer John O'Korn, and all these guys won't finish their careers at Michigan, but at least one should emerge looking good.

RUNNING BACK
Lost from 2014: Justice Hayes (transfer)
Commit: Karan Higdon
Grade: C
Comments: The unfortunate thing here is that Michigan had two top-150 running back talents committed at different times, and the Wolverines let both of them slip through their fingers. The first one, Damien Harris, ended up signing with Alabama. The second one, Mike Weber, was darn close to flipping from Ohio State to Michigan at the last minute, but he ultimately stuck with the Buckeyes around 10:30 a.m. because Higdon had committed to Michigan at 8:00 a.m. Michigan stole Higdon (#40 running back, #479 overall) himself at the last minute from Iowa, so there's something to be said for getting someone on the board, at least. Still, this could have looked better.

WIDE RECEIVER
Lost from 2014: Devin Funchess (early NFL draft entrant)
Commits: Brian Cole, Grant Perry
Grade: B+
Comments: Michigan might have hit a home run with Cole (#5 athlete, #75 overall), who was a jack-of-all-trades player in high school and will have to learn the receiver position in college. Perry (#109 wide receiver, #864 overall) is a solid role player plucked from Northwestern at the last minute. Otherwise, both Hoke and Harbaugh swung and missed at the big-timers in the class.

TIGHT END
Lost from 2014: Keith Heitzman (transfer)
Commit: Tyrone Wheatley, Jr.
Grade: B
Comments: Michigan let Chris Clark slip through their fingers, although Clark was wishy-washy and seemed to be all over the place with his recruitment. The Wolverines may have dodged a bullet, because Wheatley - as the son of a coach on staff - might be less likely to flake out if things don't go smoothly from day one. Wheatley (#12 tight end, #313 overall) has a fair amount of talent himself, although some think he's better suited for defense. It would have been nice to get two tight ends with Heitzman transferring, A.J. Williams being a senior in 2015, and starter Jake Butt a junior who could possibly go pro if he stays healthy.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Lost from 2014: Kyle Bosch (transfer)
Commits: Grant Newsome, Jon Runyan Jr., Nolan Ulizio
Grade: B
Comments: The offensive line recently went from being "way too young" to being "maybe too old" now that four projected starters will be fifth-year guys (2) or fourth-year guys (2), joined by sophomore left tackle Mason Cole and redshirt junior utility man Erik Magnuson. With a couple backups looking stuck there for a reason, Michigan needed to bring in some fresh talent. Newsome (#22 offensive tackle, #235 overall) is a possible star, whereas Runyan (#122 offensive tackle) and Ulizio (#137 offensive tackle) look like they could be passable players in a few years. This probably isn't the class that will turn around Michigan's fortunes immediately, but they're functional. Michigan essentially ignored a national prospect with high interest (USC-bound Chuma Edoga) and a local, guru-approved guy with high interest (Wisconsin-bound David Moorman), so hopefully they picked the right ones to pursue. If Newsome pans out like I think he should, he'll make this class look pretty good.

2015 Recruiting Awards

Lawrenceville (NJ) School offensive tackle Grant Newsome

It's that time of the year. The class has wrapped up (barring any last-minute changes), and it's time to start judging. Here are the annual recruiting awards, chosen by yours truly. If you want to look at past years' awards, here they are: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

And away we go!

Best Overall Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
I'm tempted to go with Brian Cole, who is Michigan's top-rated recruit in the class. But I believe that this coaching staff will do a great job of developing offensive linemen, and I think Newsome is the cream of the crop. He has the size and the athleticism to be a very good left tackle, so without a true superstar recruit, I'll put my metaphorical chips on Newsome.

Best Offensive Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
See above.

Best Defensive Recruit: DE Shelton Johnson
This is a bit of a gamble here, because I have bad memories of Rich Rodriguez-era Floridians. I'm attempting to put most of the Rodriguez years behind me, so I'm going with Johnson. He has a good body to work with, he can play low, he's athletic, and he's violent. But if he takes things seriously, I think he can be Michigan's best defensive end since Brandon Graham.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: K Andrew David
Michigan enters the year having lost both their punter and placekicker from 2014. The punting job should go to walk-on Kenny Allen, but the placekicking job is there for the taking. Allen can do both, but he has reportedly been shaky. Meanwhile, David is the 247 Composite #9 kicker in the country and has a pretty clear path to the job. Add to that a dedicated special teams coach in John Baxter, and hopefully David's impact will be a good one.

Fastest Recruit: CB Keith Washington
Michigan's class is light on skill guys, with only Washington, WR Brian Cole, WR Grant Perry, RB Karan Higdon, and S Tyree Kinnel. While I doubt Washington's claim that he can run a 4.3 forty, he does have impressive acceleration and earns this prestigious award by a hair over Cole.

Strongest Recruit: OT Grant Newsome
With a 305 lb. bench and a 465 lb. squat, Newsome edges out fellow offensive lineman Nolan Ulizio (315 and 410, respectively).

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: WR Grant Perry
My original criterion was going to be any guy who's a 247 Composite 3-star or lower, but I just can't bring myself to count Shelton Johnson - who fits that description - as an under-the-radar guy since he was wanted by some big-time schools. So my next choice is Perry. Perry is a guy who I don't think will be a superstar, but I think he will reach the level of being a consistent possession target.

Most Overrated Recruit: QB Zach Gentry
Michigan doesn't have many to choose from this year, so I'll put Gentry here since I think of him as a boom-or-bust type of guy. Gentry has all kinds of physical tools, but his mechanics are raw. Having played very weak competition in New Mexico and being so far from home, Gentry has the type of profile where he might transfer away from Michigan if he doesn't win the starting job within a couple years. The Wolverines are bringing in a lot of competition - especially if Houston transfer John O'Korn is official - and the quarterback position has a high turnover rate because those kids want to play. I do think Gentry has higher upside than classmate Alex Malzone and anyone else on the roster save perhaps Shane Morris, but Malzone is a hometown kid who might stick it out a little bit longer.

Most Likely to Redshirt: OG Jon Runyan, Jr.
Runyan did get bigger from his junior year to his senior season and looks more the part of a college lineman now, but he still looks the least ready of Michigan's three offensive linemen in the class. The rest of the signees play positions where freshmen contribute regularly, except for quarterback - but Michigan has a wide-open quarterback position. My non-lineman pick would be RB Karan Higdon, who joins a team that includes three guys who have started games at Michigan (Derrick Green, Drake Johnson, and De'Veon Smith) and perhaps the best of the bunch coming off a transfer redshirt year (Ty Isaac).

Personal Favorite Recruit: WR Grant Perry
I'm picking the underdog here. Perry grew up a Michigan fan and you could tell throughout the process that he was dying for a Michigan offer. There were reasons for Michigan not offering, but Brady Hoke's coaching staff told him to be patient and that an offer might come. Late in the process, Jim Harbaugh's staff extended an offer. Perry, already committed to Northwestern by that point, flipped to the Wolverines almost immediately but not until he took the time to let the Wildcats' coaches know. This is a feel-good story about hard work, perseverance, and love for the program.

Tyrone Wheatley, Jr., Wolverine

Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. with Tyrone Wheatley, Sr. on National Signing Day

Manlius (NY) Canisius tight end Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. committed to Michigan on Wednesday afternoon. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, UCLA, and USC, among others.

He's a 6'6", 260 lb. prospect. As a senior in 2014, he caught 11 passes for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also making 68 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, and 2 blocked punts on defense/special teams.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #12 TE
Rivals: 4-star, #13 TE
Scout: 4-star, #25 DE, #279 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #13 TE

Wheatley was offered early on by the previous Michigan regime, and it looked for a while like it would only be a matter of time before he committed to the Wolverines. The longer he held out, the lower those chances got. When Brady Hoke's staff was on its way out, Wheatley was considering the likes of Alabama, USC, etc. Even after Jim Harbaugh was hired, Wheatley said that he had not heard from Michigan's staff in a while and they dropped out of his top four. Then his dad - former Michigan great Tyrone Wheatley - was hired, and Junior seemed destined to join his dad. Except he still seemed lukewarm on the idea of attending Michigan, did not make plans to visit Michigan, and scheduled a visit to Oregon. Then he surprised everyone with a late-January, mid-week visit to Ann Arbor. Michigan's odds had a pulse once again, and his final two - Michigan and UCLA - resulted in a pledge to the Wolverines on National Signing Day.

Wheatley has a large frame with a solidly built lower body. Looking at him without pads, his upper body seems a little undeveloped as of now. As a pass catcher, Wheatley shows some decent hands and catches the ball away from his body. He shows a couple nice adjustments to passes thrown over his head, which is pretty impressive when considering that he only caught 11 passes during his senior year. Playing in a run-heavy offense, he didn't get a ton of options to showcase his abilities. He shows decent speed that should be able to challenge linebackers vertically and to split out wide or in the slot at times. I think Wheatley shows the most upside (on the offensive side of the ball) as a blocker, where he could use some technique work but shows the knee bend, footwork, and leverage to be very effective.

I do not think Wheatley shows a great deal of promise as a receiver. He does not wow you with his athleticism, and his speed is adequate but not extremely impressive. He also does not seem to be a natural pass catcher and is somewhat mechanical in that phase of the game. Furthermore, he does not run crisp routes, but that's not much of a surprise since he's in high school and is not in a pass-heavy offense; that is correctable.

At least based on his junior highlights, I like Wheatley's physicality more as a blocker than I do as a defensive end, where he seems like too much of a finesse player. Unfortunately, there's more to playing tight end than blocking. If the aggression could translate to defense, I would like him even more on the defensive side of the ball. On a bit of a side note, I have seen it suggested elsewhere - and I somewhat agree - that Wheatley could play offensive tackle in college. Considering Michigan's current roster makeup, I think he needs to play tight end to start his college career, but I would not be surprised if he switches to defensive end or even offensive tackle by the time all is said and done. I think he can have a good career as a tight end, but I do not see him as a game-changing mismatch. He looks more like a Martell Webb type of player to me.

Wheatley was Michigan's fourteenth and final commit in the 2015 class, barring a change of heart from Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, who verbally committed to UCLA but remains unsigned. Wheatley is the only tight end in the class and joins a depleted position group that has junior Jake Butt, redshirt sophomore Khalid Hill, and redshirt freshman Ian Bunting. He's the first signee from the state of New York since lineman John Ferrara in 2006, and the first ever from Canisius.

There's also a younger brother named Terius Wheatley, a 2016 prospect with no offers yet (HIGHLIGHTS). Terius played for Orchard Park this past season but will presumably be joining a team in the Ann Arbor area for his senior year, so keep an eye out for him at the likes of Saline, Ann Arbor Pioneer, etc.

TTB Rating: 82 (ratings explanation)

Here are Tyrone Wheatley, Jr.'s defensive highlights from his junior year (LINK), and below are his senior tight end highlights:

Shelton Johnson, Wolverine

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic defensive end Shelton Johnson (#7) on his official visit

Delray Beach (FL) Atlantic defensive end Shelton Johnson committed to Michigan on Wednesday afternoon. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, and several others.

Johnson is a 6'5", 220 lb. prospect. He claims a 32" vertical, a 200 lb. bench press, and a 520 lb. squat.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #36 DE
Rivals: 3-star, #37 WDE
Scout: 4-star, #27 DE, #291 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #16 SDE

Johnson was considered a Florida State lean throughout the process, and he was not even offered by Michigan until mid-January. Then new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin stepped in, and Johnson quickly scheduled an official visit for the weekend of January 16th. His response to the visit seemed rather lukewarm, so most Michigan fans - including myself - dismissed any likelihood of him joining the Wolverines' class. Over the last couple days, though, rumors started bubbling that he might choose Michigan over the presumed favorite, and despite getting some cold feet late, he went ahead and signed with the Wolverines.

There's a lot to like about Johnson. He looks a full 6'5" and maybe more than 220 lbs., with the weight thing perhaps an optical illusion due to Johnson's robust lower body. He's thick in the legs and backside, which should mean that his body will fill out and add quite a bit of weight. He should have no problem carrying 270+ pounds. I really like his ability to play low, and he takes some good pursuit angles. Johnson is also a punishing hitter who will not be pleasant for running backs to block, and he could be an effective pass rusher.

I would like to see Johnson improve his stance and get-off. Depending on what position he plays, he might need to move his front foot a little farther back to avoid taking a false step. Partly because of that stance, he can be slow off the ball, even slower than the rest of his defensive line mates. He can make it work in high school, but that will get him beaten in college. He also needs to use his hands more often and keep his hands and elbows inside. These are technique issues and not questions of his physical skills.

Overall, Johnson has a good set of physical skills. He needs to get stronger, but that should come with a college S&C program. And aside from the technique issues, he has high upside. Johnson could be the steal of the class, because he has the body of a future NFL player. I said something similar about Logan Tuley-Tillman a couple years ago, but it all depends on how seriously Johnson takes football and how hard he works.

Johnson is the second defensive end in the class, joining fellow Floridian Reuben Jones. This helps out with depth at the position since Lawrence Marshall was the only defensive end in the 2014 class, and some of the older defensive ends look more like tackles. With Brennen Beyer and Frank Clark having graduated following the 2014 season, Johnson could find himself on the field this fall as a backup.

TTB Rating: 80 (ratings explanation)

Keith Washington, Wolverine

Prattville (AL) Prattville quarterback/cornerback Keith Washington

Prattville (AL) Prattville cornerback Keith Washington flipped to Michigan from Cal on Wednesday morning. He also had offers from Indiana, Louisville, Miami, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas Tech, among others. At one time Washington had been committed to Duke.

Washington is 6'2", 170 lbs. and claims he can run the forty in the 4.3 range. He was primarily Prattville's quarterback, so defensive stats are limited. As a senior in 2014, however, he was 92/162 passing for 1,718 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions; he also rushed 152 times for 1,201 yards and 20 touchdowns. He helped lead the team to an 11-3 record this past season, his third as a starting quarterback.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 75 grade, #117 ATH
Rivals: 3-star, #26 ATH
Scout: 3-star, #147 CB
247 Sports: 3-star, 82 grade, #118 ATH

Washington did not appear to be on Michigan's radar until late January, even after he committed to Cal on January 25. With things looking bleak for other cornerback prospects, Michigan's staff sold him on the program, despite the fact that Washington has never set foot in Ann Arbor.

The first thing to note is that Washington has been committed to Duke, Cal, and Michigan. Those are some of the better academic institutions in all of the whole FBS, so he must have a pretty decent head on his shoulders. He also looks like a pretty decent quarterback who could probably play the position at some FBS schools, so his understanding of the game should be better than the average guy corner entering college. He also has good speed, although the 4.3 thing is a little too low for belief. He is tall and lanky, which should help him when trying to defend jump balls and such.

I question whether Washington has the hips to be a big-time corner. He's a little bit stiff in the upper and lower body, and he does not transition out of a backpedal very well. As one might expect of someone who's primarily a quarterback, he also lacks tackling technique and doesn't pack much of a punch. Some of these things are technique issues - and strength and conditioning issues - that can be helped with some time in college.

Overall, I look at Washington and I see Jeremy Clark, who's a 6'4" safety for Michigan. Clark also got a shot to play corner when he first arrived on campus, although he was a little more physical than Washington is. It's a little bit difficult to project how a quarterback will transition to defense, but he has some physical skills, appears to have a good mental makeup, and should have some time to let his body and skills mature before Michigan needs him on the field. Washington is a guy who seems like he might not play significant time until he's maybe a redshirt junior or so, but Michigan will need cornerbacks sooner than that. Blake Countess will graduate after 2015, and Jourdan Lewis will be a junior this year.

Clark is the only cornerback in Michigan's 2015 class and joins safety Tyree Kinnel as the two defensive backs. He is also the first player to come out of Alabama since Max Martin in 2004. Perhaps coincidentally, Michigan has already extended an offer to Washington's backfield mate Kingston Davis, a 2016 running back who's a powerhouse at 6'1", 230 lbs. The presence of Washington might help the Wolverines in their pursuit of Davis.

TTB Rating: 68 (ratings explanation)

You can see his offensive highlights here (LINK) but here are his defensive highlights:

Karan Higdon, Wolverine

Sarasota (FL) Riverview running back Karan Higdon (image via 247Sports.com)

Sarasota (FL) Riverview running back Karan Higdon committed to Michigan on National Signing Day after previously being committed to Iowa. He also had offers from Arizona, Arkansas, and Tennessee, among others, and he was committed to South Florida from January 2014 through October 2014.

Higdon is a 5'10", 190 lb. back who claims a 4.5 forty.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 78 grade, #70 RB
Rivals: 3-star, #45 RB
Scout: 3-star, #84 RB
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #29 RB

Higdon was not on Michigan's radar heavily until late in the process. Two highly touted running backs - Damien Harris and Michael Weber - had both decommitted from Michigan, and the Wolverines were uncertain in their pursuit of flipping Weber from Ohio State back to Michigan. Late in the process, they extended an offer to Hawkeye commit Higdon. He was offered on January 31, set up a flight for that afternoon, and took an official to Michigan that weekend. He intimated that he was fully committed to Iowa upon return, but that was either a smoke screen or he changed his mind over the last couple days. On Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m., he announced that he would be signing with the Wolverines.

The first thing that sticks out about Higdon is his physicality. Despite being under 200 lbs., he packs a wallop when he runs and does not shy away from contact. He also churns his legs after contact, which helps him break tackles and fall forward. Higdon shows nice vision and cutback ability, and he has the ability to make jump cuts similar to Fitzgerald Toussaint. Higdon also shows patience waiting for the line's blocks to develop, but he hits the hole hard when it opens.

The biggest concern I have with Higdon is his lack of top-end speed. Michigan has had success with backs like him before, like Michael Hart. But I keep waiting for Michigan to recruit a breakaway threat, and it has been a while since the Wolverines have had someone who could take it the distance on any given play. He also takes (and gives) a beating, so you wonder if his body is going to break down from so much punishment.

Ultimately, just like when Brady Hoke was the coach, I think a lot of the running backs in Michigan's stable can be successful because of the way the Wolverines have recruited the offensive line. The development up front was not where it needed to be under the direction of Darrell Funk, but there was some improvement in 2014. There should be even more with a better offensive line coach, more consistent schemes, and more experience in 2015 and beyond. That bodes well for all of the running backs, including Higdon. He has a chance to be a solid running back for the Wolverines, but he's probably not a superstar.

It looks as if Higdon will be the only running back in the 2015 class after Michael Weber went ahead and signed with Ohio State. Michigan will have several juniors at the position in 2015, plus redshirt sophomore Ty Isaac, and now Higdon as a true freshman. His contributions will probably not be needed this coming season, so he should be able to redshirt as long as the group remains mostly healthy. He is the first player to come to Michigan out of Riverview since offensive lineman David Baas in 2000.

TTB Rating: 73 (ratings explanation)

National Signing Day Updates

When I have a chance, I'll post the National Letters of Intent that have been faxed in to Michigan:

DE Reuben Jones

CB Keith Washington

QB Zach Gentry

RB Karan Higdon

OT Grant Newsome

S Tyree Kinnel

WR Grant Perry

OT Nolan Ulizio

OG Jon Runyan, Jr.

K Andrew David
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additionally, I'll be updating the names of Michigan offerees who commit elsewhere:

DE CeCe Jefferson to Florida

LB Roquan Smith to UCLA

LB Jeffery Holland to Auburn

OT Drew Richmond to Tennessee

RB Michael Weber signs with Ohio State

WR Ryan Davis to Auburn

RB Soso Jamabo to UCLA

OT Pat Allen to Georgia

TE Chris Clark to UCLA

National Signing Day Preview

Avon (CT) Old Farms tight end Chris Clark will decide early on Wednesday morning

At least three prospects who are strongly considering Michigan have nationally televised official announcements scheduled for National Signing Day, which is today, February 4th. All times are Eastern Standard Time. They include:

• Chris Clark - TE - Avon (CT) Old Farms: Clark is announcing on ESPNU at 8:30 a.m. between Michigan and UCLA.
• Roquan Smith - LB - Montezuma (GA) Macon: Smith is announcing at 11:00 a.m. between Georgia, Michigan, Texas A&M, and UCLA.
• Iman Marshall - CB - Long Beach (CA) Poly: Marshall is announcing on ESPNU at 4:00 p.m. between Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, UCLA, and USC.

In less national announcements, here are the official announcement times of some other targets:

• Mike Weber - RB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech at 10:00 a.m.
• Van Jefferson - WR - Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood at 11:00 a.m.
• Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. - TE - Buffalo (NY) Canisius at 3:15 p.m.

I have predictions for those guys - and numerous others - in another post I put up over the weekend, although I have updated it a couple times since then (LINK).

Otherwise, I put together a list of in-state players who could get a late call from Michigan in an effort to fill out the class (LINK). Wide receiver Grant Perry has already been the recipient of one of those offers and committed, although it's very late to count on many other guys getting phone calls from Harbaugh.

There will be no suspense about wide receiver Brian Cole and quarterback Alex Malzone, both of whom enrolled early and are already on campus.

Here's a look at what positions Michigan is trying to fill, along with the guys who might fill them (commits are highlighted in blue):

• QB: Malzone, Zach Gentry
• RB: Karan Higdon, Michael Weber
• WR: Van Jefferson, Grant Perry
• TE: Chris Clark, Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
• OL: Grant Newsome, Jon Runyan Jr., Nolan Ulizio
• DE: Shelton Johnson, Reuben Jones
• DT: None
• LB: Roquan Smith
• CB: Jarius Adams, Iman Marshall, Keith Washington
• S: Tyree Kinnel
• K: Andrew David

Insiders at Scout (Sam Webb) and/or 247 Sports (Steve Wiltfong, Steve Lorenz) have expressed confidence in Michigan landing Karan Higdon, Michael Weber, Van Jefferson, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., and Keith Washington. Unfortunately, it looks like Chris Clark is choosing the sunshine and girls of Southern California (UCLA) over the tight end guru in Ann Arbor, and Iman Marshall is likely to do what everyone expected of him, which is sign with USC.

Grant Perry, Wolverine

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice wide receiver Grant Perry

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice wide receiver Grant Perry committed to Michigan on Tuesday. He had previously been committed to Northwestern, and he also had offers from a bunch of MAC schools and Nevada.

Perry is a 6'0", 180 lb. player who caught 105 passes for 1,727 yards (15.3 yards/catch) and 20 touchdowns as a senior in 2014, and he added a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 78 grade, #128 WR
Rivals: 3-star, #80 WR
Scout: 3-star, #58 WR
247 Sports: 3-star, 85 grade, #133 WR

Perry was all about Michigan for the entire recruiting process, and he stayed in touch with the Wolverines throughout. A high school teammate of Alex Malzone - who committed to Michigan last spring - the two seemed nearly inseparable. In some respects, Malzone is who he is because of Perry, and Perry is who he is because of Malzone. Unfortunately, the offer didn't come for Perry, so he had to explore his MAC options and then finally earned an offer the Northwestern Wildcats, to whom he committed in December. It seemed to be an unsatisfying end to his recruitment. Michigan hired a new staff, and they pursued some higher-profile targets to no avail. Finally, on the Sunday before National Signing Day, head coach Jim Harbaugh called him up with an offer. Perry decommitted on Monday and then publicly announced his commitment to Michigan on Tuesday.

Despite being a nondescript 3-star recruit with a fairly unimpressive offer list, Perry does offer some positive qualities. First and foremost, I believe, is his attention to his route running. He does a very good job of setting up defensive backs. He gets vertical and stacks the defender when possible, which allows him to get separation coming out of his cuts. He also varies the speed of his release nicely, which at times helps the route combinations develop and leaves the defender guessing. As a go-to guy who caught 105 passes, one has to assume that he has excellent hands. His film shows him adjusting well to the ball in the air and catching it from various angles, including coming down over the top of his head, which is the most difficult catch to make. I also like his quick feet and ability to shake defenders in tight spaces.

On the negative side, Perry is probably closer to 5'10" or maybe 5'11", which is obviously not great size for a wideout. That also limits the potential weight he can carry, and while small guys can be good blockers, it does potentially limit whom he can block effectively. Perry also does not have ideal speed. He will be able to get separation from some defensive backs because of his route running, and he will be a mismatch for linebackers in the middle of the field because of his quickness and ability to change direction.

At this juncture in the recruiting process, Perry is about the best that Michigan could fans could reasonably expect. That's not an insult, but Perry has somewhat limited upside because of his lack of size and speed. He's not the next Braylon Edwards or Mario Manningham. However, he compares favorably to former Michigan wide receiver Drew Dileo, who was a sure-handed target and returner. Dileo was also a non-descript 3-star who had offers from Tulane and Stanford, the latter of which is a tough academic school like Northwestern. Both players have in common that academics are important and their football IQ shows itself on the field. We have yet to see how Harbaugh will use his receivers in the offense, but Perry has some value as a possession guy, a 3rd down target, and perhaps as a punt returner. The New England Patriots have been an NFL blueprint for using tight ends and little slot guys (Troy Brown, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola) to work short routes and the middle of the field. There's also a potential situation where Malzone could be targeting Perry at some time, and their history together could prove fruitful on the field.

Perry is Michigan's tenth commitment in the class of 2015 and the first wide receiver (California wideout Deontay Burnett is no longer part of the class). He is the second commit in the class from Brother Rice, and he joins a decent line of players from the school that includes end Paul Jokish, linebacker Steve Morrison, punter Ross Ryan, and long snapper Jareth Glanda.

TTB Rating: 71 (ratings explanation)

National Signing Day Predictions

Michael Weber

With National Signing Day coming up soon, here's a rundown of the uncommitted prospects (2015 Offer Board) on Michigan's board, plus a few who seem to be on the fence. I'll make a prediction here for each player, although I reserve the right to change it before NSD if new information comes out during/after official visits, etc.

Dexter Williams - RB - Florida: Notre Dame (+1)

Sotonye Jamabo - RB - Texas: UCLA (+1)

Michael Weber - RB - Michigan: Michigan Ohio State (-1)

Hit the jump for a ton more prospects predictions.

Whom might Michigan recruit before National Signing Day?

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice wide receiver Grant Perry (image via 247Sports.com)

Michigan has several spots remaining in the 2015 class, and time is running short to fill out the class. At this juncture options are generally limited to guys from the region (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, etc.) who may have visited Michigan on their own dime previously. Also, players committed to powerhouse schools generally won't flip their commitment, so Michigan's coaching staff has to consider players who have pledged to lower tier schools. All that being considered, here is at least one name from each position group to consider for a Michigan offer in the less than 48 hours before National Signing Day.

Quarterback: Michigan already has two quarterbacks in the 2015 class, but Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores' Tyree Jackson is probably the next best option in the state behind Alex Malzone. Jackson is 6'4", 210 lbs., has a fairly strong arm, and runs pretty well for his size. He's a 247 Composite 3-star and #24 in the state.

Running back: Auburn Hills (MI) Avondale's Joshuwa Holloman is a speedster, albeit one without a whole lot of wiggle. The 5'11", 180 lb. back has reported a 40 time in the 4.3's and is currently committed to Cincinnati. He's a 247 Composite 3-star and #13 in the state.

Fullback: Michigan was able to get Detroit (MI) Cass Tech linebacker/fullback Michael Oliver on campus this past weekend, even though he's a Central Michigan commit. While an offer has not yet been extended, he was Mike Weber's fullback in high school and could play on either side of the ball or special teams. He's a 247 Composite 3-star and #48 in the state.

Wide receiver: Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice wideout Grant Perry had been yearning for a Michigan offer, partly so he could play with the guy who threw him so many passes in high school, Alex Malzone. The former coaching regime had been keeping a close eye on him, but the new staff seemed to have put him on the back burner. A Northwestern commit, the 247 Composite 3-star and #12 in-state prospect stands 6'0", 185 lbs. and could be a reliable possession receiver.

Hit the jump for the rest of the positions.

2015 Recruiting Update: February 2, 2015

Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood wide receiver Van Jefferson

COMMITMENT?
Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra wide receiver Deontay Burnett may or may not have committed to Michigan (LINK). It sounds like he wanted to (or wants to) but either his coach or Rivals reporter Adam Gorney fouled something up.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Grayslake (IL) North running back Titus Booker, a Wisconsin commit, was offered by Michigan. Booker is a 5'11", 172 lb. kid with a reported 4.41 forty time who committed to Wisconsin as a cornerback. He's ranked as a 247 Composite 3-star, the #50 running back, and #673 overall. Booker immediately scheduled an official visit to Ann Arbor, but he pulled back on that almost as immediately and said he was solid to the Badgers. Michigan wanted him as a running back.

Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist running back Orlando Bradford, an Arizona commit, was offered by Michigan. Bradford is a 5'9", 195 lb. back who's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #73 running back, and #997 overall. He immediately tweeted out that he appreciated the offer from Michigan, but that he was fully committed to the Wildcats.

Hit the jump for several more offers and tidbits.

Deontay Burnett, Wolverine

Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra wide receiver Deontay Burnett (image via DetroitNews.com)

Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra wide receiver Deontay Burnett committed to Michigan on Sunday. He had been committed to Washington State until that point, and he also had offers from Arizona State, Miami, and Utah, among others. UPDATE: Burnett denies that he committed to Michigan, and it's unclear whether he's denying it because someone jumped the gun or because he truly has not committed.

Burnett is a 6'0", 166 lb. prospect who claims a 4.69 forty. As a senior this past season, he caught 27 passes for 545 yards and 5 touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 76 grade, #139 WR
Rivals: 3-star, #59 WR
Scout: 3-star, #82 WR
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #97 WR

Burnett was a Washington State commit since July of 2014, but an offer last week came from the Wolverines, and he set the official visit to Michigan. Once on campus, he realized that it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. Despite possibly playing for a pass-happy offense at Washington State, the visibility of playing at Michigan is difficult to match.

Immediately when I saw Burnett's film last week, I thought he could be a solid pickup at this juncture. Burnett has decent speed, but his most impressive quality is the ability to go get the ball, whether it's high or low. He consistently outjumps defensive backs and has a knack for using his hands to come down with the ball. He runs pretty good - not great - routes and seems to understand coverages, locations of defenders, etc. Burnett has a little bit of wiggle to him, although probably not enough burst to be a consistent gamebreaker.

Obviously, he is very light and needs to add weight. He'll have to be able to block well to get onto the field, so that may be a year or two away. I also think Burnett could run crisper routes, and some added muscle might help him with his acceleration and speed. As for his lack of outstanding production, he actually led the team in receiving - despite the presence of Stanley, who also plays defense - and Junipero Serra runs the ball pretty well. Their dual-threat quarterback (2016 four-star Khalil Tate) rushed for almost 1,300 yards, three other players rushed for more than 400 yards, and eight players had more than 100 yards receiving on the season, which means they spread the ball out quite a bit.

Overall, Burnett has a little bit of a Drew Dileo vibe to me. He's not a true burner who can take the top off a defense regularly, but he has enough quickness to surprise someone once in a while. He's also the type of guy who can catch the ball underneath and wriggle his way into a first down. With Michigan's current recruiting situation, they might not be able to find a true gamebreaker, but this is a solid choice so late in the game.

Burnett's high school produces a lot of high-quality talent. In the 2015 class alone, they have two Rivals 5-stars in linebacker John Houston and defensive end Rasheem Green. They also have a 4-star, Stanley Norman, who was an Army All-American and is headed to Arizona State. Last year Serra produced two guys Michigan was recruiting hard, wide receiver/cornerback Adoree Jackson (USC) and Dwight Williams (UCLA). And for the 2016 class, they already have three 4-stars and two 3-stars ranked by Rivals. If Michigan can get and keep their foot in the door, this could turn into a productive relationship with the school.

TTB Rating: 69 (ratings explanation)

Official Visitors: January 30 - February 1, 2015

Manlius (NY) Canisius tight end/defensive end
Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. (image via MaxPreps)

Jarius Adams - CB - Palm Beach Gardens (FL) Dwyer: Adams is a 5'11", 180 lb. prospect who has been committed to Rutgers since July. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #127 cornerback, and #1405 overall. Along with Michigan, Florida Atlantic and Wisconsin have also come in with offers in recent weeks. He took an official to FAU but won't visit Madison, so his decision probably comes down to sticking with Rutgers or flipping to the Wolverines.

Titus Booker - RB - Grayslake (IL) North: Booker is a 5'11", 172 lb. prospect who has been committed to Wisconsin since mid-November, and he was previously committed to Indiana. The Badgers want him as a cornerback, whereas Michigan is looking at him to run the ball. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #60 running back, and #767 overall. As a senior this past season, he rushed 184 times for 1,931 yards (10.1 yards/carry) and 26 touchdowns based on his 4.4 speed. He appears to be canceling an official visit to Iowa in order to visit Michigan. UPDATE: Booker no longer plans to visit Michigan and says he's solid to Wisconsin.

Deontay Burnett - WR - Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra: Burnett is a 6'0", 166 lb. prospect who has been committed to Washington State since last July; he also has offers from Arizona State, Miami, and Utah, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #85 wide receiver, and #686 overall. Burnett just got his offer from Michigan this week, so this is a quickly planned official visit. Junipero Serra produces a lot of high-quality talent, so getting a commitment from Burnett might help to get a foothold in the program.

Karan Higdon - RB - Sarasota (FL) Riverview: Higdon is a 5'10", 190 lb. prospect who has been committed to Iowa since October; he also has offers from Arizona, Arkansas, South Florida, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #40 running back, and #478 overall. Higdon is reportedly a high-character kid who originally said he is "all Iowa" after receiving the offer on Saturday morning, but he quickly planned a flight to Michigan for Saturday afternoon.

Van Jefferson - WR - Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood: Jefferson is a 6'2", 183 lb. prospect who has been committed to Ole Miss for just a few days now; he has also taken visits to Georgia and Oklahoma. He's a U.S. Army All-American, a 247 Composite 4-star, the #11 wide receiver, and #108 overall. As a senior this past season, he caught 47 passes for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns. For those worried about the rumored shady recruiting practices at Ole Miss (and elsewhere in the SEC), I'll throw this out there: Jefferson's father is former NFL wide receiver and current wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, so the draw of a $500 handshake may not be as enticing to the son of an NFL player and coach. Even so, Michigan is late to the party, but growing up in Michigan (Van used to attend Orchard Lake St. Mary's while his dad coached for the Lions) may be a draw.

Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. - TE - Manlius (NY) Canisius: Wheatley is a 6'6", 260 lb. prospect who has listed a top four that includes Alabama, Oregon, UCLA, and USC. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #12 strongside defensive end, and #310 overall. He recently played in the Semper Fi All-American Bowl. Wheatley could also play tight end or offensive tackle at the next level, although most coaches have been saying his highest upside is on defense. He is, of course, the son of former Michigan great Tyrone Wheatley, who went on to a solid NFL career with the Giants and Raiders. There's also a younger brother, Terius, who is a 2016 prospect with no offers at this point. Tyrone, Jr. maintained for a while that Michigan had not talked to him in a while, the new staff was slot to contact him, and he was not sure if he would visit. Flying under the radar, however, he is taking a mid-week official visit to Ann Arbor, beginning on Tuesday.

2015 Recruiting Update: January 27, 2015

Left to right: Reuben Jones, Greg Mattison, and Jake Pickard

COMMITMENTS
Albuqerque (NM) Eldorado quarterback Zach Gentry committed to Michigan (LINK).

Lakeland (FL) Lake Gibson defensive end Reuben Jones committed to Michigan (LINK).

West Chester (OH) Lakota West offensive tackle Nolan Ulizio committed to Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas cornerback Rashard Causey decommitted from Florida Atlantic. Michigan offered almost exactly a year ago, but then he surprisingly committed to FAU in April over some decent offers. The 6'0", 185 lb. prospect took officials to Wisconsin and Louisville in the meantime, and he decommitted following the Louisville visit. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #50 cornerback, and #517 overall. He's also a teammate of cornerback Damon Arnette, who visited Michigan two weekends ago but remains committed to South Carolina at this time. Causey transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas - a powerhouse program in Florida - prior to his senior season. Georgia and Tennessee have entered the fray and may be difficult to beat, but Michigan could also throw its hat into the ring once again, as Causey says he is "open to everyone."

Houston (TX) Cypress Falls cornerback Nate Dalton was offered by Michigan. The 6'2", 185 lb. prospect scheduled an official visit to Michigan for this past weekend, but he then promptly announced that he would not be taking the visit and committed to Arkansas instead. Dalton is a 247 Composite 3-star, the #90 cornerback, and #1011 overall, but the book appears to be closed on him. File him under "Off the Board."

Manvel (TX) Manvel cornerback William Lockett was offered by Michigan. Lockett is a 6'0", 182 lb. prospect who has been committed to UCLA since last August. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #79 cornerback, and #849 overall. Lockett took an official visit to Michigan this past weekend, but he has since said that he'll stick with his commitment to UCLA. So maybe he should be in the "Off the Board" category.

Hit the jump for a couple more new offers, some commits elsewhere, and some other tidbits.

Nolan Ulizio, Wolverine

West Chester (OH) Lakota West offensive tackle Nolan Ulizio with Michigan head
coach Jim Harbaugh

West Chester (OH) Lakota West offensive tackle Nolan Ulizio committed to Michigan on Sunday. He had previously been committed to UConn, and he also held offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Pitt.

Ulizio is a 6'6", 285 lb. prospect. He claims a 25" vertical, a 315 lb. bench press, and a 410 lb. squat.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked OT
Rivals: 2-star OT
Scout: 3-star OT, #42 OT
247 Sports: 2-star OT, 79 grade, #187 OT

Ulizio was not on Michigan's radar until Jim Harbaugh was hired, and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin was sent into Lakota West because he had been the area recruiter at both Stanford and Florida. Ulizio had committed to UConn in mid-December, later earned a Kentucky offer, and was just waiting for signing day until the Wolverines swooped in with an offer. He took an official visit this past weekend, told other players on the trip that he was going to commit, and pulled the trigger on Sunday.

On the plus side for Ulizio, he has a solid frame that doesn't look sloppy at all carrying 280 lbs. or so. He should be able to carry the necessary weight in a college strength and conditioning program to fit right in at a place like Michigan. He also does a good job on combination blocks, takes good angles to the second level, and seems to understand the play design. He generally works his hips around in the right direction and does a good job of staying in contact with his blocks. Ulizio looks like a high-effort player who will put up a battle.

As far as negatives go, he is not a great athlete. He moves okay in a straight line, but he tends to play high and with a narrow base. He is a bit of a waist-bender, and that will get him off balance at times. He also tries to overpower opponents with his upper body strength, which will not work against Big Ten opponents. Ulizio has experience playing left and right tackle, but his feet are too slow to be a blind-side tackle at the next level, and he might be too stiff for the tackle position, period. If right tackle doesn't work out, he may be able to play guard, although the lack of hip flexibility may be an issue on the interior.

Overall, I like Ulizio's mentality and football IQ, but he is a guy who will have to work his way onto the field by getting strong in the weight room and knowing his assignments. He reminds me a lot of former Michigan tackle Mark Huyge, who was never a standout but became a starter and was largely invisible on the field. Huyge wasn't a gaping wound on the offensive line, but he wasn't a dominant force, either. Ulizio should redshirt as a freshman and have at least one more year on the sideline before competing for time on the field.

The Wolverines now have nine commits in the 2015 class, including three linemen - tackle/guard Ulizio, left tackle prospect Grant Newsome, and guard/center Jon Runyan, Jr. The class should reach at least a size of twelve, with the potential for a few more spots as well.

This commitment also gives the Wolverines a bit of a foothold into an Ohio power. Lakota West currently has five players committed to FBS schools (Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia, and Western Michigan) in the class of 2015, and they produce multiple FBS recruits every year. Just north of Cincinnati, West Chester is close to the Kentucky border and Lakota West sends a lot of players to play for the Wildcats. This is Michigan's first ever commit from the school, which opened back in 1997.

TTB Rating: 65 (ratings explanation)

Zach Gentry, Wolverine

Albuquerque (NM) Eldorado quarterback Zach Gentry (image via abqjournal.com)

Albuquerque (NM) Eldorado quarterback Zach Gentry committed to Michigan on Saturday. He originally committed to Texas in May of 2014 and was solid to the Longhorns until recently. He chose Texas - and then Michigan - over offers from Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Tennessee, among others.

Gentry is a 6'6", 230 lb. prospect whom I scouted (LINK) last January when Michigan was sorting through quarterbacks for the 2015 class.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #9 pocket quarterback, #118 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #4 pro-style quarterback, #105 overall
Scout: 4-star, #19 quarterback, #278 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #16 pro-style quarterback

Because he's a quarterback, some statistics:
2012: 150/281 for 2,022 yards, 17 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 305 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns
2013: 160/286 for 1,587 yards, 9 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 617 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns

The story with Gentry is a little bit unclear at this point. Gentry was on Michigan's radar early in the 2015 recruiting cycle and garnered a visit from then Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who watched Gentry throw and then took a pass on offering him. In the meantime, Michigan pulled in quarterback Alex Malzone, and Gentry committed to the Longhorns. He seemed solid to Texas and dismissed overtures from several schools, including Alabama. Then Harbaugh came calling, and it made Gentry rethink his decision. Depending on whom you believe, the Longhorns' continued pursuit of 247 Composite 5-star Kyler Murray (committed to Texas A&M) and 4-star Kai Locksley (committed to Florida State) was off-putting to Gentry. Or there are rumors that Texas is looking to become more of a spread option team. Or it might be that Harbaugh has a reputation for coaching up quarterbacks, whereas Texas head coach Charlie Strong has a shorter resume (albeit one including Teddy Bridgewater). Regardless of the reason(s), Gentry accepted an invitation to Ann Arbor this week, and it paid off with a flip.

In case you're wondering, Texas still has 3-star Brandon Merrick's commitment, plus the potential for one of the aforementioned players.

In reviewing Gentry's senior film, it's clear that he has a lot of upside. He has a good arm - not great - and throws a catchable ball. Accuracy is tough to gauge from highlights, but he has a decent completion percentage and doesn't throw many interceptions. It's important to remember that good high school quarterbacks often suffer from poor receivers who can't get open, drop a lot of balls, etc. (and some receivers are cursed by poor quarterback play, too, so it goes both ways). Gentry has a three-quarters delivery that might be more of a cause for concern if not for his 6'6" frame, sometimes listed as big as 6'7". In regard to throwing the ball, he looks very natural on the move and can push the ball down the field while getting out of the pocket, particularly going to his right. Moving is one of his big strengths. Gentry has very good speed, a little bit of shimmy, and some good instincts when it comes to running the ball. While he won't be a threat to take it the distance very time, he's every bit as mobile as a guy like Ohio State's Cardale Jones, who moved the chains against some good defenses with some timely scrambles.

On the negative side, Gentry has some mechanical issues aside from the arm slot. He also tends to throw off his back foot or falling to the side without stepping toward his target, which causes the ball to hang a little bit. His footwork when taking shotgun snaps needs work, and he's exclusively a shotgun/pistol guy, so getting him to drop back from under center might be a large undertaking. My biggest concern with him is that the ball rarely comes out "on time" within the framework of the play. He never plants his back foot and throws. I am not a fan of the way his team's routes are designed and plays are run, and these are not the complicated route combinations he will be seeing in college. New Mexico is not known for its football, and it shows - not only in his own team, which lacks refinement, but also in the play of his opponents.

Overall, Gentry is a high-quality commitment for Michigan and Jim Harbaugh, but he's also a boom-or-bust type. He'll be a long way from home, learning an offense with pro-level reads and combinations, and competing with several other guys for playing time. At the same time, he will either be the most gifted (or second-most behind Shane Morris) athlete at the position. The whole playbook is open for a guy like this, who can throw it deep, throw it short, stand in the pocket, roll out, scramble, or do some designed runs. Fellow 2015 classmate Alex Malzone is more refined and ready right now, while Gentry has the better long-term potential. For better or worse, watching Gentry's film reminded me of Utah quarterback Travis Wilson.

This gives Michigan eight commits in the 2015 class, and Gentry follows defensive end Reuben Jones as the only two guys (so far) to commit to Jim Harbaugh. Word has spread that Harbaugh could very well go after two quarterbacks in each class, and this starts off that trend with a bang. Five of the eight commits are offensive players. According to the Bentley Historical Library, this is just the second Michigan commit out of New Mexico in over a hundred years, with just defensive tackle Alan Branch coming out of Rio Rancho (NM) Cibola in that time.

TTB Rating: 84 (ratings explanation)