2015 Season Countdown: #41 Khalid Hill

Khalid Hill

Name: Khalid Hill
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) East English Village
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #80
Last year: I ranked Hill #60 and said he would be a backup tight end. He started three games and made 4 catches for 37 yards.

Last year it appeared that Hill had made the move from an H-back type of player to a full-time tight end, but that turned out to be temporary based on some other personnel issues. When the season came around, he was playing H-back and lining up in various places off the line. He made some nice blocks in space, started three games when the packages called for an H-back, and made a few catches before tearing his ACL in the fifth game.

Hill seems like a good fit for the F-back position that the new staff is implementing. Unfortunately, he missed all of spring practice due to his ACL recovery. Depending on how that recovery goes, I think he is probably the best F-back prospect on the roster and should be the starter if and when he's healthy. He has soft hands, enough speed to gain chunks of yards in the flat, and can be a good blocker on linebackers, though he lacks the length, bulk, and technique to play on the line of scrimmage. My guess is that he will be starting by year's end unless someone else really takes a stranglehold on the position early.

Prediction: Starting F-back by end of season

Michigan vs. Notre Dame Awards

Devin Funchess

Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . Khalid Hill. Hill has been a pleasant surprise this year, and while he hasn't been a huge contributor, he made 1 catch for 9 yards where he broke a tackle, and he also had a crushing block in the open field. Hill seemed like a smooth pass catcher coming out of high school, but he looks bigger and is playing more physically than I think was expected in his redshirt freshman year. I think Michigan may have found a pretty good sleeper in this one.

Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . Derrick Green. If the line isn't opening holes, then I think De'Veon Smith should be getting more carries. Green actually ran harder than I thought he did last week, but he made one confusingly bad cutback when he should have gone to the front side, and he just doesn't have the same power as Smith. I still think Green is the more explosive player, but this line doesn't create enough room for that to matter much.

Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Jabrill Peppers. Peppers rolled his ankle against Appalachian State, so he wasn't able to play against Notre Dame. I think that may have had a huge effect on this game. Peppers is a playmaker with his speed and hitting ability, and it seemed like Notre Dame was picking on replacement Delonte Hollowell. I think Hollowell is a decent backup, a solid tackler, and someone you can throw in there in dime packages or for short stretches. But if you're counting on him to be nearly a full-time guy as your nickel corner, that's going to be an issue. Hopefully Peppers gets healthy soon.

Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . Channing Stribling. Once again I'm addressing the cornerback position, but I just don't think Stribling has "it" yet. He doesn't have great recovery speed, he's not particularly physical, and he just doesn't make any plays. He let Corey Robinson beat him on a skinny post for a 22-yard gain, and Stribling had a bead on a quick screen but proceeded to biff the tackle. The lack of healthy corners (Peppers and Raymon Taylor were both injured) forced Stribling into the game, but Michigan just needs to get healthy at the corner position.

Play of the game . . . why must I choose? There's almost nothing to pick. Michigan didn't score or create any turnovers. The only sack they notched was a snap over the quarterback's head. I guess I'll have to go with Devin Funchess's 33-yard catch over top of cornerback Cody Riggs's head down the right sideline. Whoopee.

MVP of the game . . . Devin Funchess and Jake Ryan. I thought both players had good games. Funchess (9 catches, 107 yards) was every bit the mismatch problem we expected, and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier moved him around to prevent the defense from keying on him. I also liked that he made an attempt to re-enter the game after getting hurt. Ryan made 11 tackles and was flying all over the place to stop the run. I could have done without his 15-yard penalty for hitting Everett Golson late, but the game was out of hand by then, anyway.

2014 Season Countdown: #60 Khalid Hill

Khalid Hill (image via Go Blue Wolverine)

Name: Khalid Hill
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 255 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) East English Village
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #80
Last year: I ranked Hill #73 and said he would be a backup U-back. He redshirted.

Coming into last season, I believed Michigan would find a role for Hill as a bit player in the "move" tight end position. He lacked the size of a true tight end but showed good hands coming out of high school. However, the fullbacks did what fullbacks do, and Michigan made things work with Devin Funchess and Jake Butt as U-back types, so Hill never saw the field.

Now it appears that Hill has become a full-time, in-line tight end. That does not bode well for his future. He's short for a tight end, and he has always been more of a slot guy or off-the-line player. He was dreadful as a blocker in the spring game. I would rank him lower, but Butt's ACL injury makes him doubtful for the first chunk of the season, meaning Hill might see more playing time than anyone really wants. The Wolverines are very limited now that Funchess is a full-time wideout and Jordan Paskorz did not return for a fifth year, leaving junior A.J. Williams and redshirt junior position-switcher Keith Heitzman as the only legitimate options at tight end until Butt returns. I do not expect Hill to see much playing time, but he's possibly one injury away from being forced onto the field in certain situations.

Prediction: Backup tight end

Who should be happy/sad about the Doug Nussmeier hire?

Could Shane Morris be the next A.J. McCarron?

THIS HIRE IS GOOD FOR . . . 
Fifth year senior quarterback Devin Gardner. Gardner has one final chance to show his stuff at quarterback, and I think Nussmeier will bring a more cohesive offense to Ann Arbor. Gardner can run out of the shotgun and pistol, and he's not bad throwing from under center. I expect Nussmeier to simplify Michigan's blocking schemes, which should help out the young linemen and the quarterback. The new offensive coordinator also likes to push the ball down the field (as did Al Borges), which suits Gardner well because he has a strong arm and throws a nice deep ball.

The offensive line. Michigan's young offensive line was terrible this past season, and it appears that Nussmeier may bring in a new offensive line coach to help him out. Whether coach Darrell Funk remains or not, I expect that Nussmeier will want a little more beef up front, and his coaching pedigree at Alabama suggests that he can help those guys achieve a new level of success.

Sophomore running backs Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith. Nussmeier utilized the inside zone game and zone sweeps to great effect at Alabama, which recruited Green out of high school. Both Green and Smith fit the role of good inside zone runners, because both of them are north-south runners capable of running through tackles. Green has the better speed of the two and would likely be more effective on the zone sweeps.

Sophomore quarterback Shane Morris and freshman quarterback Wilton Speight. Nussmeier has tutored numerous successful college quarterbacks (A.J. McCarron, Jake Locker, Drew Stanton, Jeff Smoker) and spent time with the St. Louis Rams under passing game guru Mike Martz. I can see Morris as a McCarron-like Game Manager Plus, a guy who can not only take care of the football and keep his team in the game, but make some downfield throws to really stress defenses.

Redshirt freshman H-backs Khalid Hill and Wyatt Shallman. Nussmeier likes to use his H-backs as lead blockers, wings, slot receivers, etc. Hill and Shallman appear to be good fits for this role, more so than the fullbacks who have been playing the past couple seasons.

THIS HIRE IS BAD FOR . . . 
Redshirt junior running back Justice Hayes. Nussmeier does not appear to be a fan of scatback types, at least not for featured roles. Hayes was reported to be moving to slot receiver, although he started Michigan's bowl game at running back. His chances of winning the running back job next year likely took a hit with this hire.

Junior fullback Sione Houma and redshirt junior fullback Joe Kerridge. Nussmeier is a proponent of a one-back offense and doesn't have a whole lot of use for true fullback types. The hire will almost certainly diminish their role in the offense, which was already more significant than it should have been based on Michigan's personnel and abilities.

2013 Season Countdown: #73 Khalid Hill

Let's have another debate about which actor he resembles and/or how old he looks:
Khalid Hill (left) with Jake Butt and Jaron Dukes.

Name: Khalid Hill
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Crockett
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hill was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 60.

Hill was a bit of a surprise offer and committed in February 2012. Michigan's coaching staff offered him as a U-back, the "move" tight end/fullback that guys like Devin Funchess, Ian Bunting, etc. play or will play. He's built a little differently than those guys, though. Shorter and stockier, he's perhaps a bit more pass-catching fullback than traditional tight end. Think Larry Centers or Keith Byars, the latter of whom went to Ohio State, so forget I said that.

I could see Hill's season going either way - a redshirt or some time as a backup. He didn't enroll early, but he's already stout enough to hold his own in limited time. As a pass catcher, he's more advanced than Michigan's fullback options (Joe Kerridge, Sione Houma) but less so than Funchess. I think Michigan can find a small role for him this season, get him a little experience, and have a wide array of tight end/U-back/fullback options in 2014 and beyond.

Prediction: Backup U-back

Scout: Class of 2013 Michigan Final State Rankings

Warren (MI) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris is the top player in the state

Scout finalized its 2013 in-state rankings.  Here are some notes on a few players of Michigan interest:

1. Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Offered, committed to Michigan.
2. Steven Elmer - OT - Midland (MI) Midland: Offered, committed to Notre Dame.
3. Jourdan Lewis - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Offered, committed to Michigan.
4. Jon Reschke - LB - Bloomfield (MI) Brother Rice: Offered, committed to Michigan State.
5. David Dawson - OG - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Offered, committed to Michigan.
6. Dennis Finley - OT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Offered, committed to Michigan State.
7. Delano Hill - S - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Offered, committed to Michigan.
8. Wyatt Shallman - FB - Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Offered, committed to Michigan.
9. Khalid Hill - TE - Detroit (MI) East English Village: Offered, committed to Michigan.
13. Da'Mario Jones - WR - Westland (MI) John Glenn: Offered, committed to Michigan.
23. Berkley Edwards - RB - Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: Brother of former Michigan WR Braylon Edwards, committed to Minnesota.
26. Andre Turner - DE - Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park: Teammate of WR commit Csont'e York, committed to Western Michigan.
28. DeJuan Rogers - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Teammate of commits Lewis, Dawson, and D. Hill; committed to Toledo.
37. Josh Cox - S - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Teammate of QB commit Shane Morris; committed to Central Michigan.
64. Matt Linehan - QB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Son of Detroit Lions OC Scott Linehan, committed to Idaho.

Detroit News Blue Chip list for 2013

Shane Morris is the top player in Michigan, according to the Detroit News

The Detroit News released its "blue chip" list for 2013, and unsurprisingly, there's a handful of future Wolverines on the list.  A quick rundown:

1. Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Committed to Michigan.
2. David Dawson - OG - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan.
3. Steve Elmer - OT - Midland (MI) Midland: Committed to Notre Dame.
4. Jourdan Lewis - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan.
5. Jon Reschke - LB - Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice: Committed to Michigan State.
6. Wyatt Shallman - RB - Novi (MI) Catholic Central: Committed to Michigan.
7. Cameron Dillard - OG - Plymouth (MI) Canton: Committed to Florida.
8. Gerald Holmes - RB - Flint (MI) Carman-Ainsworth: Committed to Michigan State.
9. Delano Hill - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan.
10. Khalid Hill - TE - Detroit (MI) East English Village: Committed to Michigan.
11. Da'Mario Jones - WR - Westland (MI) John Glenn: Committed to Michigan.
12. Dennis Finley - OT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Committed to Michigan State.
13. Csont'e York - WR - Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park: Committed to Michigan.
14. Kenton Gibbs - DT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Uncommitted.
15. Luke Maclean - LB - Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc: Committed to Pitt.

So Michigan has 8 of the top 15 players in the state for the class of 2013, in addition to 8 of the 15 from last year.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Illinois

Jalen Watts-Jackson

Mike Barwick - DT - Cincinnati (OH) Summit Country Day: Barwick is a 6'3", 275 lb. defensive tackle prospect.  He just has one offer (Western Michigan), and he looks like a low level BCS prospect.  He's decently athletic, but he doesn't use his hands well to shed blockers and isn't explosive off the ball.  As a sophomore in 2011, he had 68 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery.  I would be surprised if Michigan offered him anytime soon. (Highlights.)

Kei Beckham - CB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Beckham is a 5'11", 170 lb. athlete from the class of 2015. He's the teammate of 2013 Michigan linebacker commit Michael McCray II.  (Highlights.)

Jaylon Brown - RB - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Brown is a 5'8", 160 lb. running back in the class of 2014.  He's a small, quick back who might be a third down option, but probably won't receive much of a look if he doesn't add some size.  Brown is the teammate of 2014 commit Michigan Ferns III. (Highlights.)

David Cornwell - QB - Jones (OK) Jones: Cornwell is a 6'5", 215 lb. signal caller in the 2014 class with offers from Auburn and Indiana.  He reminds me a little bit of former Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell.  Cornwell isn't a great athlete but has a little bit of ability to scramble; as a passer, he has a good arm and decent mechanics, but he's got some accuracy issues.  Michigan is still looking to offer their first quarterback in the 2014 class, and Cornwell could grab an offer at some point.  He's not an elite quarterback, but might be a decent player to follow one class after Shane Morris. (Highlights.)

David Dawson - OG - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Dawson committed to Michigan in February.

Nathaniel Devers - OG - Massillon (OH) Washington: Devers is a 6'3", 265 lb. offensive guard prospect from the class of 2014 with a lone offer from Toledo.  He has visited and camped at Michigan before, and he could be in line for an offer down the road, but I don't see him as an elite prospect. (Highlights.)

Michael Ferns III - LB - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan in August.

Ramroth Finnegan - QB - Columbus (OH) Whetstone: Finnegan is a 6'3", 205 lb. quarterback prospect from the class of 2014.  He doesn't have any offers at this point, and he doesn't appear to have a big-time arm or be an elite athlete.  I would not expect an offer from the Wolverines to come for Finnegan. (Highlights.)

Brandon Fritts - TE - Mentor (OH) Mentor: Fritts is a 6'4", 210 lb. high school receiver who looks like he'll grow into a tight end in college.  He's somewhat reminiscent of current Michigan freshman Devin Funchess.  As a sophomore in 2011, Fritts had 50 receptions for 800 yards and 9 touchdowns; in Mentor's first six games this season, he had 400 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.  His former teammate is current Michigan freshman defensive end Tom Strobel. (Highlights.)

Connor Hayes - OG - Traverse City (MI) West: Hayes is a 6'4", 280 lb. offensive guard prospect from Traverse City.  He's a 2014 prospect who already has offers from Central Michigan and Indiana.  He camped at Michigan this summer.  He appears to be more of a drive blocker than an all-around lineman, and could use some more work on his pass blocking.  He could be a backup option in the recruiting process, but he has the potential to grow into a legitimate BCS prospect. (Highlights.)

Khalid Hill - TE - Detroit (MI) East English Village: Hill committed to Michigan in February.

Da'mario Jones - WR - Westland (MI) John Glenn: Jones is a 6'2", 185 lb. wideout who is committed to Central Michigan.  He also has offers from Bowling Green and Toledo.  Jones transferred to John Glenn this offseason after playing in New Jersey previously.  Michigan is still pursuing Crete (IL) Crete-Monee wide receiver LaQuon Treadwell, but Jones looks like a guy who could garner a late offer if things with Treadwell go south. (Highlights.)

Jamarco Jones - OG - Chicago (IL) De La Salle: Jones is a 6'5", 285 lb. offensive guard prospect with offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and a few others.  While some sites list him as an offensive tackle, he reminds of class of 2011 recruit Chris Bryant, who has been playing guard at Michigan.


Marcelys Jones - OG - Cleveland (OH) Glenville: Jones is a 6'4", 325 lb. offensive guard prospect.  He plays offensive tackle for Glenville, a school that has sent Frank Clark and Willie Henry to Michigan in recent years; however, he's not a very technical player, and is more just a huge body.  He can push people around, but he's not a guy who should be blocking elite edge rushers.  Jones already holds offers from Indiana and Ohio State.

Tyler Jones - DE - Albertville (AL) Albertville: Jones is a 6'5", 270 lb. strongside end/defensive tackle prospect for the class of 2014.  He looks more like a defensive tackle to me, and I'm not sure he's a Michigan-level prospect.  He has no offers at this point. (Highlights.)

Jake Khoury - DT - Traverse City (MI) St. Francis: Khoury is a 6'3", 270 lb. defensive tackle from the 2014 class.  He's the cousin of former Michigan center Rocko Khoury.  Jake camped at Michigan over the summer and doesn't have any offers at this point; I do not foresee one coming from the Wolverines in the near future.  He's a decent athlete, but he doesn't deal well with blockers and appears to struggle with fulfilling his assignments. (Highlights.)

Tyree Kinnel - CB - Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Kinnel is a 5'11", 170 lb. cornerback from the class of 2015.  He attends the same school as former Michigan players Terry and Terrence Talbott, who have left the program due to injury and discipline, respectively. (Highlights.)

DeShone Kizer - QB - Toledo (OH) Central Catholic: Kizer is a 6'4", 205 lb. dual-threat quarterback from the 2014 class.  So far he has netted offers from Boston College, Illinois, Louisville, and Nebraska, along with a few others.  He camped at Michigan, but the Wolverines have had several chances to offer and haven't done so.  That leads me to believe that Kizer won't be offered by Michigan, at least not very early in the process. (Highlights.)

Chase Lash - OT - Massillon (OH) Washington: Lash is a 6'5", 287 lb. prospect for the class of 2014.  At this point he has no FBS offers.  His favorite school is Ohio State, so if both the Buckeyes and Wolverines come calling, he'll probably be headed to Columbus.

Jourdan Lewis - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Lewis committed to Michigan back in February.

Lawrence Marshall - DE - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6'4", 215 lb. defensive end from the class of 2014.  He has offers from Bowling Green and San Diego State.  Through seven games of his junior season, he has 35 tackles and 6 sacks.  He looks to me like a guy who could start off his career as a weakside end grow into playing the strongside spot. (Highlights.)

Mike McCray II - LB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: McCray committed to Michigan in March.

Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris committed to Michigan last year.  Here's a look at how his senior season is going.

Kyle Rachwal - TE - Lapeer (MI) East: Rachwal is a 6'3", 215 lb. tight end/linebacker with no offers at this point.  He also visited for the UMass game a few weeks ago.Rachwal has some abilities on both sides of the ball, but I'm not sure that he's a Michigan-caliber tight end or linebacker.  He's the type of player who can probably get a scholarship to a MAC team or even somewhere like Indiana, but he's just not on the same level as Jake Butt, Devin Funchess, James Ross, etc.  He also comes from the alma mater of former Wolverine Jake Long. (Highlights.)

Gelen Robinson - DE - St. John (IN) Lake Central: Robinson is a 6'1", 230 lb. defensive end/outside linebacker in the class of 2014.  He is the son of former Purdue and NBA basketball star Glenn Robinson, and his brother is Michigan basketball player Glenn Robinson III.  Gelen might be a little bit short to play defensive end in college, but he could be a SAM linebacker.  He has been having a productive junior season and could very well hit a growth spurt, so Michigan will likely keep their eye on how he develops. (Highlights.)

Jeff Rotheram - OT - North Olmsted (OH) North Olmsted: Rotheram is a 6'6", 290 lb. offensive tackle from the class of 2014.

Chance Sorrell - TE - Middletown (OH) Middletown: Sorrell is a 6'6", 225 lb. tight end from the class of 2014.  He does not have any offers at this point, and he looks like a pure blocking tight end.

Dymonte Thomas - S - Alliance (OH) Marlington: Thomas committed last year and is having an excellent senior season.

Jordan Van Dort - OG - Zeeland (MI) West: Van Dort is a 6'5", 280 lb. offensive line prospect from the class of 2014.  He doesn't have any offers at this point, and he played tight end as a sophomore; however, it seems pretty clear that he'll end up playing an interior line position in college.  He doesn't have any offers at this point, but athletic linemen like him won't go unnoticed.  I don't think he's an elite line prospect on par with the guys Michigan netted in the class of 2013, but he's still a BCS-level prospect, in my opinion. (Highlights.)

Denzel Ward - OT - Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan:Ward is a 6'9", 285 lb. offensive tackle prospect with a lone offer from Purdue.  Ward trains with the Core 6 group of athletes, which includes Jamarco Jones and Joliet (IL) Plainfield South LB Clifton Garrett.

Jalen Watts-Jackson - WR/CB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's: Watts-Jackson is a 6'0", 172 lb. wide receiver or cornerback from the 2014 class.  He has no offers at this point, but they should be on their way.  He looks to me like more of a cornerback prospect.  I don't see him having the run-after-catch abilities to play wide receiver at the next level, but he's very thin and some added weight could change that perception a little bit.  Watts-Jackson is the former teammate of freshman Michigan linebacker James Ross. (Highlights.)

Jake Whitley - OG - North Augusta (SC) North Augusta: Whitley is a 6'4", 300 lb. high school offensive tackle from the class of 2014.  While he has the size to play big-time college football, he looks a little stiff to be a legitimate Michigan prospect. (Highlights.)

Mikale Wilbon - RB - Chicago (IL) De La Salle: Wilbon is a 5'9", 190 lb. running back prospect from the class of 2014.  He already has offers from Iowa and Purdue.  Wilbon is the teammate of Michigan offeree Jamarco Jones, and while he's not a blazer or particularly big, Wilbon is a little bit shifty and a fairly powerful runner.  He does a good job of getting north-and-south, and I could see Michigan pursuing him down the road. (Highlights.)

Csont'e York - WR - Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy: York committed to Michigan back in May.

Recruit Tracker: Khalid Hill

Khalid Hill

 August 25, 2012: Hill's Detroit (MI) East English Village team lost to Oak Park (MI) Oak Park by a score of 21-14.  Hill had 3 receptions for 83 yards and 1 touchdown.  East English Village is now 0-1.

August 31, 2012: East English Village beat Detroit (MI) King by a score of 34-26.  Hill had a 65-yard touchdown reception.  East English Village is now 1-1.

September 7, 2012: East English Village beat Detroit (MI) Douglass by a score of 45-0.  Hill's team is now  2-1.

September 14, 2012: East English Village beat Detroit (MI) Denby by a score of 55-0.  Hill's team is now 3-1.

September 21, 2012: East English Village beat Detroit (MI) Southeastern by a score of 39-0.  East English Village is now 4-1.

September 28, 2012: East English Village beat Detroit (MI) Central by a score of 46-6.  East English Village is now 5-1.

October 5, 2012: East English Village beat Detroit (MI) Pershing by a score of 49-0.  Hill had a 30-yard touchdown reception and totaled 3 catches for 70 yards.  East English Village is now 6-1.

October 12, 2012: East English Village beat Detroit (MI) Cody by a score of 37-32.  East English Village is now 7-1.

October 19, 2012: East English Village lost to Detroit (MI) King by a score of 51-48.  Hill had a 53-yard touchdown reception.  East English Village is now 7-2.

Visitors: Michigan vs. UMass

Malik McDowell

Pickerington (OH) North TE Jake Butt: Butt committed to Michigan back in February.

Avon (OH) Avon CB Ross Douglas: Douglas committed to Michigan in July.

Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin WR Jaron Dukes: Dukes committed to Michigan back in February.

Detroit (MI) East English Village TE Khalid Hill: Hill committed to Michigan back in February.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech RB/LB Gary Hosey: Hosey is a 6'0", 215 lb. athlete from the 2014 class.  He might be physical enough to play fullback, but he does not have the speed to be an FBS tailback.

Westland (MI) John Glenn WR Da'Mario Jones: Jones is a 6'2", 185 lb. wideout who committed to Central Michigan over offers from BGSU and Toledo.  He transferred to John Glenn from Montgomery (NJ) Montgomery.  With LaQuon Treadwell delaying his decision longer and longer - and Michigan appearing to fall back to the pack with him - Michigan might need to offer more receivers in the near future, so Jones might be a guy watch. (Highlights.)

Maitland (FL) Orangewood Christian FB/LB Jimmy Martin: Martin is a 5'11", 205 lb. prospect from the class of 2015.  He claims a 4.62 forty (but was timed at 4.84 at a national combine) and had 111 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries as a freshman in 2011.  Keep in mind that Orangewood is a small Christian school that doesn't play the best competition.  However, he was named to the Maxpreps Freshman All-American Second Team.  His head coach was previously the head coach at Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips and Orlando (FL) Edgewater, the latter of which sent wide receiver Greg Mathews and linebacker Mike Jones to Michigan. (Freshman highlights.)

Detroit (MI) Loyola DE Malik McDowell: McDowell is a 2014 prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Stanford, and Wisconsin, among others.  He has been considered to be a heavy Michigan lean, but he's also interested in Michigan State and Ohio State.  He is expected to visit MSU for their game against Notre Dame after he visits Ann Arbor in the afternoon.  McDowell stands 6'6" and weighs 292 lbs., and I think he'll eventually end up at defensive tackle rather than end.

Plantation (FL) American Heritage RB Sony Michel: A 2014 prospect, he already has offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, and Notre Dame.  His older brother Marken is the leading receiver for UMass, which is likely the biggest reason for visiting Michigan.  The younger Michel is coming off an ACL tear he suffered during his sophomore year.


Detroit (MI) Southwestern RB Romello Ross: Ross is a 5'11", 180 lb. running back from the class of 2015.  As a freshman in 2011, he had 1,312 yards rushing, 46 tackles, and 6 interceptions.  He doesn't have any offers yet, but that's not unusual for a kid at the beginning of his sophomore season. (Highlights.)

Novi (MI) Catholic Central RB Wyatt Shallman: Shallman committed to Michigan back in February.

Ottawa (IL) Marquette LS Scott Sypniewski: Sypniewski committed to Michigan back in June.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech CB Damon Webb: Webb is a 5'11", 170 lb. wide receiver/cornerback with offers from LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and others.  LSU and Michigan appear to be the front runners in his recruitment.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech LB William White: White is a 6'1", 215 lb. linebacker from the 2014 class.  Of the Cass Tech trio of linebackers, I think White is the second-most talented player behind Deon Drake. (Highlights of White.)

Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy WR Csont'e York: York committed to Michigan back in May.

Recruit Tracker: Junior season stats for class of 2013

DeVeon Smith's statistics were outstanding in 2011

Wheaton (IL) St. Francis OT Kyle Bosch: No stats available.

Pickerington (OH) North TE Jake Butt: 27 receptions, 424 yards, 7 touchdowns; 17.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks

Pickerington (OH) Central DE Taco Charlton: No stats available.

Massillon (OH) Washington CB Gareon Conley: 26 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions; 3 receptions for 10 yards; 3 punt returns for 39 yards; 4 kickoff returns for 142 yards

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech OG David Dawson: No stats available.

Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin WR Jaron Dukes: 36 receptions, 670 yards (18.6 yards per catch), 7 touchdowns

Parker (CO) Ponderosa OT Chris Fox: No stats available.

Hudson (OH) Hudson LB Ben Gedeon: 1,600 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns; 120 tackles, 5 tackles for loss

Detroit (MI) Crockett TE Khalid Hill: 29 catches, 448 yards (15.4 yards per catch), 6 touchdowns; 55 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks

Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers DT Maurice Hurst, Jr.: 61 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks; 27 carries, 440 yards (16.3 yards per carry), 3 touchdowns

Wexford (PA) North Allegheny OG Patrick Kugler: No stats available.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech CB Jourdan Lewis: 52 tackles, 8 interceptions; 6 touchdown receptions, 2 punt return touchdowns, 3 kickoff return touchdowns

Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison LB Mike McCray: 132 tackles, 5 interceptions (3 touchdowns), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

Warren (MI) De La Salle QB Shane Morris: 121/235 passing, 1684 yards, 19 touchdowns, 7 interceptions; 150 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns

Baltimore (MD) Gilman DT Henry Poggi: 49 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 10 sacks

Novi (MI) Catholic Central RB Wyatt Shallman: No stats available.

Warren (OH) Howland RB DeVeon Smith: 160 carries, 2200 yards (13.75 yards per carry)

Ottawa (IL) Marquette LS Scott Sypniewski: No stats available.

Alliance (OH) Marlington S Dymonte Thomas: 118 carries, 837 yards (7.1 yards per carry), 13 touchdowns; 5 receptions, 105 yards (21 yards per catch), 1 touchdown; 102 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

Peoria (IL) Manual OT Logan Tuley-Tillman: No stats available.

Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy WR Csont'e York: 36 receptions, 587 yards (16.3 yards per catch), 11 touchdowns

Rivals: Michigan's pre-season top 30 recruits for 2013

Csont'e York went from unknown to the #8 prospect in the state

On Tuesday, Rivals released its top 30 recruits from the state of Michigan.  There are six Wolverines on the list altogether.

1. Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle
3. Jourdan Lewis - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
4. David Dawson - OG - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
5. Wyatt Shallman - RB - Novi (MI) Catholic Central
8. Csont'e York - WR - Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park
23. Khalid Hill - TE - Detroit (MI) Crockett

By comparison, Michigan State has #7 and #10, who are LB John Reschke and RB Gerald Holmes, respectively.

Other players of note on the list:

11. Kenton Gibbs - DT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Gibbs is currently committed to Illinois and has not been offered by Michigan, but if he earns a Michigan offer, I think there's a very good chance that he'll switch his commitment.

13. Berkley Edwards - RB - Chelsea (MI) Chelsea: There has been a lot of noise about Michigan not offering Braylon Edwards' younger brother, but he's not really a need at this point.  If for some reason a roster spot opens up for a small-ish running back, he might get an offer.

24. Teo Redding - WR - Warren (MI) Collegiate: Redding is skinny and needs time to develop, but I wouldn't be totally surprised if he ends up being the Dennis Norfleet of 2013 - a late offer to a local kid who's a bit of a project.

2012 Sound Mind Sound Body Camp Participants

The three quarterback prospects above will be camping this week.
(image via ESPN)

Here's a partial list of the Sound Mind Sound Body camp participants, which will take place today and tomorrow:

Jayru Campbell - QB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech**
Lorenzo Collins - RB - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison*
Johnny Daniels - DT - Chicago (IL) Foreman
David Dawson - OG - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech (Michigan)
Cameron Dillard - OG - Canton (MI) Canton (Florida)
Deon Drake - LB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech*
Steve Elmer - OT - Midland (MI) Midland (Notre Dame)
Kenton Gibbs - DT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech (Illinois)
Khalid Hill - TE - Detroit (MI) Crockett (Michigan)
Gary Hosey - LB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech*
Jourdan Lewis - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech (Michigan)
Joe Mathis - DE - Upland (CA) Upland
Malik McDowell - DE - Detroit (MI) Loyola*
Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle (Michigan)
Christopher Murphy - CB - Kennesaw (GA) Harrison*
Michael O'Connor - QB - Ottawa (Ontario) Ashbury**
Devine Redding - RB - Mineral Ridge (OH) Mineral Ridge*
Teo Redding - WR - Warren (MI) Consortium
Jaylon Smith - LB - Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Luers (Notre Dame)
Andrew Spencer - WR - Fort Wayne (IN) Bishop Luers
Chance Stewart - QB - Sturgis (MI) Sturgis*
Poet Thomas - DT - Detroit (MI) Country Day
Logan Tuley-Tillman - OT - Peoria (IL) Manual (Michigan)
Jack Wangler - WR - Warren (MI) De La Salle*
Damon Webb - WR - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech*
William White - LB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech*
Jamison Whiting - WR - Minneapolis (MN) Washburn
Csont'e York - WR - Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park (Michigan)

*Indicates a 2014 prospect
**Indicates a 2015 prospect

Initial TTB Ratings for 2013

Here's an update on the TTB Ratings for the 2013 recruits:

S Dymonte Thomas, 92
The combination of Thomas's athleticism with Greg Mattison's defensive system makes me think that Thomas should fill up the stat sheet for Michigan in a couple years.

OT Chris Fox, 90
I really like Fox's attitude as a defensive player, and he's a good athlete, too.  I think he could be a dominant right tackle or even play left tackle in college.

QB Shane Morris, 89
Morris would be rated higher if he had some more quality receivers, but right now his receiving corps looks somewhat average.

OG Kyle Bosch, 88
Bosch looks like a left guard to me.  He seems like a smart, quality kid and could compete for playing time rather early, depending on which position Kyle Kalis plays in the class ahead of him.

CB Jourdan Lewis, 86
Lewis has similar skills to Terry Richardson, whom I also like.  But Lewis is a little bigger, so I'm giving him a slight edge.

TE Jake Butt, 82
Butt isn't the speedy freak of an athlete that seems to be dominating college and NFL football these days, but he's a very good prospect and might look especially good with Morris throwing him the ball.

LB Ben Gedeon, 82
Gedeon could probably play any of the three linebacker positions, but he's an old school player who should be pretty good wherever he plays.

OT Logan Tuley-Tillman, 79
Tuley-Tillman could be great if he adjusts to the college game, or he could struggle to acclimate himself to the finer points of the game.

WR Csont'e York, 79
York is a solid route runner with good size and decent speed.  He should be a solid player but maybe not a future superstar.

DE Taco Charlton, 75
I really like Charlton's athleticism, but he doesn't use his hands well, which concerns me because it's a bit of an instinctual thing.

CB Gareon Conley, 75

WR Jaron Dukes, 70
Dukes could be a mover if he turns out to be faster than he's looked so far.  The ceiling is a little bit low for big, possession receivers.

TE Khalid Hill, 68
The position Hill will play somewhat limits his upside.  He could be a very good role player from the U-back position.

OG David Dawson, 67
With the guards in this class and the one ahead of him, Dawson might get lost in the shuffle for a few years.


RB Wyatt Shallman, 65
Shallman looks like a running back who could put up a lot of scores in short yardage situations.  He's a high floor, low ceiling type of player.

RB Deveon Smith, 63

C Patrick Kugler, Inc.
I have yet to see film on Kugler.

National Underclassmen Combine: Michigan top 20 for 2013

Shallman is NUC's 15th-best prospect in Michigan

National Underclassmen Combine released its top 20 in-state prospects for the class of 2013.  All of the players are notable, I guess, since they're in-state kids . . . but the order in which they're ranked might be a bit surprising.  Click through for the full list, but here are the Michigan offerees:

1. Steve Elmer - OL - Midland (MI) Midland (Notre Dame)
2. Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle (Michigan)
4. David Dawson - OL - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech (Michigan)
6. Jourdan Lewis - DB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech (Michigan)
10. Khalid Hill - LB - Detroit (MI) Crockett (Michigan)
15. Wyatt Shallman - DL - Novi (MI) Catholic Central (Michigan)

Weekend Visitors: February 17-20, 2012

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech offensive guard David Dawson will likely get a Michigan offer during his weekend visit.  Here
he is (left, #55) standing over a demolished opponent when he was a sophomore.
(image via Future College Athlete Association)

Sam Webb, from Scout and the Detroit News, has stated that Michigan will receive some "good news" today at noon on WTKA.  And I'm pretty sure he's not talking about someone getting pregnant.

Anyway, who's visiting Michigan this weekend?  These guys:

Kyle Bosch - OG - Wheaton (IL) St. Francis: I wrote a scouting report on Bosch a few weeks ago.  Bosch visited Michigan twice during the 2011 season and is headed back to Ann Arbor for more.  He's the #44 player to 247 Sports and the #60 player to Rivals, so he's an upper echelon recruit.  Do not expect a commitment from him in the near future, though.

Jake Butt - TE - Pickerington (OH) North: Butt has also visited Michigan previously and has stated that Michigan is his leader "by far."  Butt wants to take other visits, but the general feeling is that the Wolverines will be difficult to beat.  He could pair with 2013 commit Khalid Hill to make a nice combo of tight end prospects who complement each other.

Taco Charlton - DE - Pickerington (OH) Central: Charlton is a 6'6", 240 lb. prospect who could play either weakside or strongside end for Michigan.  The Wolverines are considered to reside at the top of his list, and there's a shot that he will commit to Michigan soon.

Rod Crayton - DT - Dadeville (AL) Dadeville: Crayton is coming all the way from Alabama in pursuit of an offer.  Scout lists him as already holding an offer, but MGoBlog's Ace Anbender spoke with him recently, and Crayton said Michigan's coaching staff wants to get him on campus first.  Regardless, I would be surprised if he walked away from Ann Arbor without an offer.  He projects to the nose tackle position for Michigan.

David Dawson - OG - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Dawson has not yet been offered by Michigan, but there's a very good chance he will be offered when he's on campus this weekend.  He played the 2011 season in Houston but has returned to Cass Tech, a traditional pipeline to Ann Arbor.  Dawson recently picked up an offer from Alabama, so Michigan may want to get on the offer bandwagon before any other teams have a chance to build up an insurmountable lead in pursuit of the 6'5", 305 lb. interior lineman.

Ross Douglas - CB - Avon (OH) Avon: Douglas has not yet been offered by Michigan.  He has offers from Connecticut, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Tennessee, among others.  The 5'10", 180-pounder also plays running back for Avon.  Michigan is recruiting a couple other small-ish athletes, but mostly the Wolverines have been pursuing bigger corners and bigger running backs.  I wouldn't be surprised if he picks up an offer this weekend, but I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't.

Kenton Gibbs - DT - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Gibbs is a 6'2", 290 lb. nose tackle prospect with MAC offers so far.  There's a chance that Michigan will offer him this weekend, but I'm not sure that they should.  With over eleven months to go until signing day, I think Michigan ought to give elite defensive tackles a chance to get to Michigan.  Gibbs seems like the type who might jump on a Michigan offer almost immediately.

Khalid Hill - TE - Detroit (MI) Crockett: Hill committed to Michigan a couple weeks ago.

De'Niro Laster - WR - Shaker Heights (OH) Shaker Heights: Laster will be visiting Michigan on Monday.  He has yet to receive an offer from Michigan, and I wouldn't necessarily expect one soon.  More so than wide receiver, it seems like he would be a prospect for the U position at Michigan, which already has one commitment in the form of Khalid Hill.  He does not seem to have the speed to play wideout for the Wolverines.

Jourdan Lewis - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Hill is a 5'11", 170 lb. cornerback whose recruitment will likely take off in the very near future . . . if he doesn't commit to Michigan before then.  The general feeling is that he will commit to Michigan in the relatively near future.

Malik McDowell - DE - Detroit (MI) Loyola: The 6'6", 260 lb. McDowell was supposed to visit Michigan on Thursday, but he did NOT make the trip to Ann Arbor due to illness.  He's a 2014 prospect who does not have an offer from the Wolverines yet, but Michigan has selectively tossed out offers to a handful of 2014 prospects and McDowell could be the recipient as soon as he reschedules the trip.

Nyles Morgan - LB - Crete (IL) Crete-Monee: Morgan, another 2014 prospect, is a 6'2", 200 lb. inside linebacker who goes to the same school as 2013 target Laquon Treadwell and former 2012 Michigan commit Anthony Standifer.

Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris, one of the top few quarterbacks in the country, committed to Michigan last May.

Donovan Munger - DT - Shaker Heights (OH) Shaker Heights: Munger is a 6'3", 278 lb. defensive tackle who will be visiting Michigan on Monday along with teammate De'Niro Laster.  He has not yet been offered by Michigan, but with an offer list that includes Auburn, Illinois, Penn State, Tennessee, and West Virginia, it's not hard to imagine that he'll get one on his visit.  He could play nose tackle or perhaps offensive guard for the Wolverines if they were to throw their hat into the ring.

Ethan Pocic - OT - Lemont (IL) Lemont: Pocic is a 6'7", 285-pounder who holds offers from almost the entire Big Ten, including Michigan, and various schools around the country.  He doesn't speak much to the media, much like fellow Lemont product David Molk.  A commitment should not be expected in the near future, but this is a return trip for Pocic, so his interest in Michigan is serious.

Logan Tuley-Tillman - OT - Peoria (IL) Manual: Tuley-Tillman is a 6'7", 280 lb. lineman with offers from almost every major program in the country.  He is not expected to commit anywhere soon, but Michigan is considered to be his outright leader, especially since this will be his sixth or seventh visit to Ann Arbor over the last few months.

Recruiting Update: February 13, 2012

Richmond (VA) Hermitage running back Derrick Green
(image via 247 Sports)

COMMITMENTS
Birmingham (MI) Seaholm offensive tackle Dan Gibbs, a class of 2012 kid, committed to Michigan as a preferred walk-on.  I drew some ire for this October post that said he probably wasn't worthy of a scholarship offer, and it turns out he's a preferred walk-on, as I suggested.  He's just not the kind of athlete that Michigan is recruiting at this point.  (Highlights here.)

Detroit (MI) Crockett tight end Khalid Hill committed to Michigan on the spot when he got an offer.  (Commitment post here.)

ADDED TO THE BOARD
St. Louis (MO) DeSmet offensive tackle Andy Bauer, a 2014 prospect, was offered on his visit to Michigan this weekend.  Despite being just a high school sophomore, he is 6'5" and 290 lbs.  I discussed Bauer in Friday's weekend visitor post (with highlights).

Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep cornerback Tre Bell was offered by Michigan this weekend.  Bell is a 5'11", 170 lb. defender with offers from South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.  He had 36 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 10 pass breakups, and 3 interceptions as a junior in 2011.  Michigan has also pursued other St. Peter's Prep kids in recent years, such as safety D.J. Singleton (2012), running back Savon Huggins (2011), and safety Sheldon Royster (2011).

Somerville (NJ) Immaculata defensive end Tashawn Bower was offered by Michigan on Tuesday.  He's a 6'5", 230-pounder with offers from Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, among others.

Stockton (CA) Lincoln running back Justin Davis was offered by Michigan on Monday.  He's a 6'1", 195 lb. speedster who ran for 2,599 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior in 2011.  Cal, Oklahoma, and UCLA have also extended offers.

Cypress (TX) Cypress Ranch running back Keith Ford picked up an offer from the Wolverines.  He's a 5'11", 195 lb. speedster who has offers from Alabama, Florida State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, among others.  He only had 140 carries as a junior, but they went for 915 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Richmond (VA) Hermitage running back Derrick Green picked up a Michigan offer on Tuesday.  He's a 6'0", 215 lb. back who reports a 4.37 time in the forty.  He ran for 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, and has been offered by Arkansas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.  Hermitage is the alma mater of big-time class of 2011 recruit Curtis Grant, who was pursued by Michigan but ultimately chose Ohio State.


Dallas (TX) Jesuit offensive tackle J.J. Gustafson received an offer on Tuesday.  He's 6'6" and 260 lbs. with offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, among others.  Receiver Jake Oliver, also from Jesuit, has been offered by Michigan, too.

Tampa (FL) Wharton cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III grabbed an offer during Monday's flurry.  He's a 5'11", 177 lb. with a report 4.45 forty under his belt.  At the Under Armour Junior Combine in January, Rivals named him the "Most Athletic" prospect due to his forty, a 34" vertical, and a 4.12 shuttle.  Florida, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, and Ohio State have all offered.  He's an early 5-star on Rivals and 247 Sports.

Richmond (VA) Varina cornerback Tim Harris was offered by Michigan on Tuesday.  He claims 4.48 speed and offers from Ohio State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.  Virginia is the early leader for his services.  Varina is the alma mater of former Michigan running back Brandon Minor.

College Station (TX) A&M Consolidated defensive end Christian Lacouture received an offer from Michigan, despite being committed to Texas A&M.  He's a 6'5", 255-pounder with offers from LSU, Missouri, and Texas Tech.

Centerville (OH) Centerville offensive tackle Evan Lisle was offered by Michigan last week.  He's lean at 6'6", 265 lbs. but benches 285, which is fairly impressive for a kid with long arms like him.  He packs a good punch off the line, but he obviously needs to add some bulk so he can make his body match his demeanor.  He also has offers from Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, among others.

Philadelphia (PA) William Penn Charter offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey got an offer from the Wolverines.  He's 6'9" and 280 lbs. with offers from Maryland, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and a few others.

Pittsburgh (PA) Seton-La Salle tight end Scott Orndorff was offered by Michigan, despite having committed to Wisconsin last August.  He's 6'5" and 240 lbs. but other information on him is limited.  However, offensive coordinator Paul Chryst's departure for Pittsburgh, along with other staff changes, have opened the door for some other schools to perhaps snatch him away from the Badgers.

St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham wide receiver James Onwualu grabbed a Michigan offer on Monday.  He's a 6'1", 205 lb. athlete who could play multiple positions in college.  He's got a 4.53 forty and a 37" vertical leap.  Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Stanford are all pursuing him.  Cretin-Derham is the alma mater of class of 2011 offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson (Miami), class of 2009 wide receiver Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), and Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer.

Cordova (TN) St. Benedict running back Jordan Wilkins was offered by Michigan on Wednesday.  He's a 6'1", 193 lb. tailback who has offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, among others.  He's the #238 player in the country, according to 247 Sports.  Wilkins carried the ball 196 times for 1,546 yards (7.9 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns.  He also had 17 catches for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus one touchdown each on punt returns and kick returns.

OFF THE BOARD
Olney (MD) Good Counsel wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a 2012 prospect, committed to Maryland.  He's a 5-star recruit, Maryland's first such prospect since 2007 (Bruce Campbell).  Many experts expected Diggs to choose the Florida Gators, but the buzz around Maryland picked up a couple days before his Friday night announcement.

Sandy Creek (GA) Sandy Creek cornerback Shaquille Wiggins committed to Georgia.  Michigan was an early leader and he even hinted that he wanted to commit when he made an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor late in the season, but that sentiment wore off pretty quickly.  He even fell in love with the University of Virginia, too, before getting offered by the home state Bulldogs in late January.

Khalid Hill, Wolverine

Detroit (MI) Crockett TE Khalid Hill

Detroit (MI) Crockett tight end Khalid Hill committed to Michigan on Monday during a visit to Ann Arbor.  He picked the Wolverines over an offer from Central Michigan.

Hill is a 6'2", 235 lb. kid who plays tight end and defensive end for Crockett.  As a junior in 2011, Hill caught 29 passes for 448 yards (15.4 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns.  On defense he made 55 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks.

Ratings
ESPN: Unranked TE
Rivals: Unranked WDE
Scout: Unranked TE
247 Sports: 3-star TE, 86 grade

Hill is a little on the short side for a tight end, which is one reason why I thought it might take a while for him to get big-time offers.  He's reportedly a little taller than 6'2" when you might expect early offers only to guys who are 6'4" or taller.  But Hill displays soft hands, good agility, and excellent route running skills.  He sells his routes well and shows a knack for eluding jams at the line of scrimmage.  He also shows pretty good speed and some elusiveness as a runner after the catch, more so than many of the bigger tight ends.

With a short frame, it's likely that he's headed for the U position, which is an H-back type role.  His size might be an advantage when playing in space or lead blocking from the move position, but he may struggle to add enough weight and strength to be an every-down tight end.  He gets a little bit lackadaisical with his blocking at times, and he's going to have to be more consistent with his effort in the running game.  That can be fixed with coaching, though.

Hill has the body to be able to play as a freshman if needed.  He's not the most fundamental or explosive player, but he's not wispy like Devin Funchess and might be more college-ready immediately.  I expect him to play a role somewhat like that of former Michigan tight end/H-back Aaron Shea.

This gives Michigan three commitments for the class of 2012.  Hill is Michigan's first commitment out of Crockett since Brandon Graham in the class of 2006.