2017 Recruiting Awards

Cesar Ruiz

It's time for the yearly recruiting awards. You can look back on past awards here (LINK).

Best Overall Recruit: C Cesar Ruiz
An offensive lineman isn't a sexy pick for the best overall recruit, but Ruiz is the country's #1 center and I gave him a TTB Rating of 99. He has the size and the experience at the position to play fairly early in his career, as well as develop into a very good player down the road. I expect him to at least be in the running for a Rimington Trophy by the end of his career.

Best Offensive Recruit: C Cesar Ruiz
Centers play offense.

Best Defensive Recruit: DT Aubrey Solomon
Maybe this isn't a very sexy choice, either, because nose tackles generally aren't superstars. But Solomon is 6'3", 295 lbs. and extremely strong, and he plays with good leverage. Defensive line coach Greg Mattison has taken less talented players and turned them into college stars, so Solomon should be in line for some great things.

Hit the jump for the rest of the superlatives.

ESPN 300 for 2017 released

Donovan Peoples-Jones and Michael Onwenu

ESPN released their top 300 prospects for the class of 2017 (LINK). There are no 5-star prospects on the list yet, so all these prospects are 4-stars and 3-stars. Four of the top six prospects are offensive tackles, and a fifth is a defensive tackle. ESPN is weird like that.

Anyway, hit the jump for all of Michigan's offerees:

Rivals 250 for 2017 released

Paramus (NJ) Catholic linebacker Drew Singleton

Rivals released its top 250 prospects for 2017 (LINK). The top 100 list was released on Monday (LINK). Here are Michigan's offerees:

107. Bruce Jordan-Swilling - LB - LA
108. Jake Moretti - OT - CO (Ohio State)
109. Jamyest Williams - CB - GA
111. Darnell Ewell - DT - VA
112. Tarik Black - WR - CT
119. Osiris St. Brown - WR - CA
120. Chevin Calloway - CB - TX
128. Tedarrell Slaton - OT - FL
133. Ambry Thomas - CB - MI
135. M.J. Webb - DT - GA
138. Micah Clark - OT - NJ
139. Leonard Warner - LB - GA
140. Jimmy Jaggers - TE - CA
143. Anthony Hines - LB - TX
144. Drew Singleton - LB - NJ
151. Austin Deculus - OT - TX
155. Donovan Johnson - CB - MI*
156. Cesar Ruiz - C - NJ
161. Taariq Johnson - WR - CA
166. Joshua Ross - LB - MI
181. Henry Bainivalu - OT - WA
185. Hunter Rison - WR - MI (Michigan State)*
191. Juan Harris - DT - IA
194. Jaylon Redd - CB - CA
200. Kai-Leon Herbert - OT - FL
201. Jack Coan - QB - NY
208. Jaylen Harris - WR - OH
215. Robert Hainsey - OG - PA
216. Tyrell Ajian - S - OH
223. Corey Malone-Hatcher - DE - MI
234. Andrew Thomas - OT - GA

*Do not hold Michigan offers but are from within the state

Scout 300 for 2017 released

Detroit (MI) King cornerback Ambry Thomas is the
nation's #116 player overall, according to Scout

Yesterday, Scout released its top 100 prospects for 2017, and I pulled out the ones relevant to Michigan (LINK). Here are the top 300 prospects for 2017 (LINK). Below are the players offered by Michigan:

102. Osiris St. Brown - WR - CA
103. Brian Polendey - TE - CA
105. Breyon Gaddy - OT - VA
113. Tarik Black - WR - CT
116. Ambry Thomas - CB - MI
122. Fred Hansard - DT - NJ
126. Josh Ross - LB - MI
131. Darnell Ewell - OG - VA
133. Jamyest Williams - CB - GA
137. Nathan Tilford - ATH - CA
144. Sione Heimuli-Lund - ATH - UT
148. Jaylen Harris - WR - OH
150. Maleik Gray - S - TN
153. Jaylon Redd - CB - CA
154. Paris Ford - S - PA
156. Kyshaun Bryan - RB - FL
162. Robert Hainsey - OT - PA
166. Bruce Jordan-Swilling - ATH - LA
179. Jacoby Stevens - WR - TN
193. LeAnthony Williams - CB - GA
194. Ja'Raymond Hall - OT - MI
197. Andrew Thomas - OT - GA
203. Daquon Green - WR - FL
207. Jordan McNair - OT - MD
210. William Poole III - CB - GA
216. K.J. Hamler - WR - MI
218. Leonard Warner - LB - GA
229. Todd Sibley - RB - OH (Ohio State)
237. Charles Reeves - TE - OH
238. Marco Wilson - CB - FL
239. Allen Stritzinger - RB - MI
241. Jimmy Jaggers - TE - CA
245. Cesar Ruiz - C - NJ
262. Taariq Johnson - TE - CA
263. Drew Singleton - LB - NJ
266. Corey Malone-Hatcher - DE - MI
268. J'Marick Woods - S - AL
272. M.J. Webb - DE - GA
291. J.T. Cauthen - WR - NC

Visitors: June 2, 2015

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones

This event is a meet-and-greet for in-state 2017 prospects. It will take place at 3:30 p.m.

Carter Dunaway - TE - Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice: Dunaway committed to Michigan in April (LINK).

Ja'Raymond Hall - OT - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Hall is a 6'5", 255 lb. prospect with offers from Miami-OH and Michigan. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #13 offensive tackle, and #82 overall. He is thought to be leaning toward the Wolverines.

K.J. Hamler - WR - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Hamler is a 5'9", 155 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and several others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #45 wide receiver, and #279 overall. While he has the size to also play cornerback, he wants to play offense, although he would have to be a slot guy and maybe a kickoff returner. He is considered to be a Michigan State lean.

Hit the jump for a few more visitors.

2017 Recruiting Update: April 21, 2015

Detroit (MI) King cornerback Ambry Thomas (image via Twitter)

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COMMITMENT
Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice tight end Carter Dunaway committed to Michigan (LINK).


ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Olney (MD) Good Counsel linebacker Jordan Anthony was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'0", 210 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Iowa, Kentucky, and Maryland. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #9 outside linebacker, and #110 overall. Anthony is a speedy linebacker who would probably be a weakside linebacker in college. Good Counsel is the alma mater of Michigan fifth year senior cornerback Blake Countess.

Los Angeles (CA) Hawkins wide receiver Taariq Johnson was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'4", 210 lb. prospect with offers from Baylor, Miami, and Ohio. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #19 wide receiver, and #127 overall. Johnson is big enough to be a potential tight end. He's a recent transfer from Long Beach (CA) Poly, and his highlights were removed from their Hudl page, so all I have to go on right now is a few highlights from a camp. Two of Johnson's 2017 teammates include running back Greg Johnson and wide receiver Joseph Lewis, both of whom already hold offers from the Wolverines.

Hit the jump for several more new offers, a few guys who committed elsewhere, and some random bits.