 |
| Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville defensive end A.J. Epenesa (image via 247Sports.com) |
Livonia (LA) Livonia defensive end Willie Baker was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'4", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #33 weakside end, and #523 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 112 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles. I do not see Baker as a weakside end at all, and in fact, he looks like a 3-4 defensive end, a strongside end, or even a defensive tackle after he adds weight. He is somewhat stiff and does not use his hands well, but he is very physical and likes to hit.
Kentwood (LA) Kentwood cornerback Shyheim Carter, an Alabama commit, was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'0", 185 lb. prospect who also holds offers from Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and Mississippi State, among others. He's a 247 Composite 5-star, the #3 cornerback, and #33 overall. He claims a 4.38 forty. Chances are slim that Michigan will be able to flip Carter out of the deep south, so this is more likely a case of the coaches trying to build relationships in the area.
Elk Grove (CA) Franklin cornerback Lamar Jackson was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'3", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Boise State, Colorado, and UCLA. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #32 cornerback, and #328 overall. He claims a 4.46 forty. Jackson is a jack-of-all-trades type of player for his high school, where he also plays some quarterback. At his size he is probably most likely to play safety, wide receiver, or maybe even linebacker eventually.
Charlotte (NC) Victory Christian tight end Thaddeus Moss was offered by Michigan. Moss is a 6'4", 240 lb. prospect with offers from Boston College, Duke, Marshall, and Wake Forest, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #24 tight end, and #686 overall. He is also the son of former all-world wide receiver Randy Moss, who grew up in West Virginia, attended Marshall, and went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots, among other teams. The younger Moss is not the physical freak that his dad was, but he seems to have a high football IQ and makes some excellent plays in his own right. Thaddeus is a bit of a lumbering tight end, but he knows how to release from the line and can make some acrobatic catches. He also flashes some talent as a defensive end, where he makes some nice hustle plays, picks off a couple passes, etc. I don't see a huge talent difference between him and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. - who was ranked higher - except for the fact that Wheatley is a couple inches taller and 20-30 lbs. heavier.
Hit the jump for a few more 2016 offers, some 2017 offers, a commit elsewhere, and a few miscellaneous bits.
