ESPN 300 for 2016 updated

Hartland (WI) Arrowhead offensive tackle Ben Bredeson is Michigan's top-ranked recruit to ESPN

ESPN updated their top 300 players for 2016 (LINK). Here's what it looked like back in April (LINK). Movement for Michigan commits:

- Ben Bredeson dropped from #53 to #56
- Brandon Peters dropped from #142 to #152
- Michael Onwenu jumped from off the list to #255
- Matt Falcon dropped from #243 to #258
- Erik Swenson dropped from #300 to being off the list

Hit the jump for the rest of Michigan's offerees:

Scout 300 for 2016 updated

Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis running back
Chris Evans is the #164 player in the country
(image via 247Sports.com)

Scout updated their top 300 players for 2016 (LINK). The last update I posted was in April (LINK).

Movement for Michigan commits:
- Erik Swenson dropped from #102 to #124
- Matt Falcon remained at #147
- Chris Evans appears at #164. I'm not sure where he was in April since he had not been offered.
- Michael Onwenu dropped from #167 to #168
- Brandon Peters remained at #283

The rest of Michigan's offerees:

5-stars:
1. Rashan Gary - DT - NJ
3. Shea Patterson - QB - LA (Ole Miss)
6. Greg Little - OT - TX (Texas A&M)
7. Nate Craig - WR - FL
8. Caleb Kelly - LB - CA
10. Dexter Lawrence - DT - NC
11. Jacob Eason - QB - WA (Georgia)
12. Levonta Taylor - CB - VA (Florida State)
13. Ed Oliver - DT - TX (Houston)
16. Kendell Jones - DT - TX (Alabama)
17. Mique Juarez - LB - CA (USC)
18. Jack Jones - ATH - CA
20. Michael Menet - OT - PA (Penn State)
21. Kareem Walker - RB - NJ (Ohio State)
23. Tyler Vaughns - WR - CA

Hit the jump for the 4-star prospects.

ESPN 300 for 2016 updated

Avon (IN) Avon quarterback Brandon Peters

ESPN released their top 300 for 2016 (LINK). Michigan commits on the list include:

- Brandon Peters at #142
- Matt Falcon at #243
- Erik Swenson at #300 (UPDATE: Swenson was not on the original released list, as ESPN altered their list from #176 downward around 3:00 p.m. Some players toward the bottom jumped up at least five spots.)

Here are the rest of Michigan's offerees:

5-stars:
1. Rashan Gary - DT - New Jersey
2. Greg Little - OT - Texas (Texas A&M)
5. Willie Allen - OT - Louisiana
6. Ed Oliver - DT - Texas
7. Malik Henry - QB - Florida
9. Jacob Eason - QB - Washington (Georgia)
10. Devin Asiasi - TE - California
13. Levonta Taylor - CB - Virginia (Florida State)
15. Lyndell Wilson - LB - Alabama

4-stars:
18. Trayvon Mullen - CB - Florida
20. Kareem Walker - RB - New Jersey (Ohio State)
22. Rahshaun Smith - DE - Florida (Clemson)
23. Janarius Robinson - DE - Florida (Florida State)
24. Brandon Jones - S - Texas
25. Dwayne Haskins, Jr. - QB - Maryland
26. Isaac Nauta - TE - Georgia (Florida State)
27. Jonah Williams - OT - California (Alabama)
28. Kaden Smith - TE - Texas (Stanford)
34. Marlon Davidson - DE - Alabama
35. K.J. Costello - QB - California (Stanford)
36. Deontay Anderson - S - Texas
38. Shea Patterson - QB - Louisiana (Ole Miss)
42. John Broussard - CB - Alabama
43. Mique Juarez - LB - California (USC)
46. Jordan Elliott - DT - Texas
48. Devin Duvernay - WR - Texas
49. Ben Davis - LB - Alabama
51. Michael Menet - OT - Pennsylvania
52. Nigel Knott - CB - Mississippi
53. Ben Bredeson - OT - Wisconsin
54. Dexter Lawrence - DT - North Carolina
56. Liam Eichenberg - OT - Ohio (Notre Dame)
57. Caleb Kelly - LB - California
60. Jauan Williams - OT - Washington, D.C.
61. Lokeni Toaiola - LB - California (UCLA)
62. Patrick Bethel - DE - Florida
66. Boss Tagaloa - DT - California
67. Miles Sanders - RB - Pennsylvania (Penn State)
68. Nate Craig-Myers - WR - Florida (Auburn)
69. Justin Madubuike - DE - Texas
73. Ronald Johnson, Jr. - DE - New Jersey
74. Sam Bruce - WR - Florida (Miami)
76. Demetris Robertson - WR - Georgia
77. Mecole Hardman - ATH - Georgia
84. Chris Owens - OG - Texas (Alabama)
85. Josh Hammond - WR - Florida
88. E.J. Price - OT - Georgia (Georgia)
90. Marquill Osborne - S - North Carolina (Tennessee)
92. Devin White - LB - Louisiana
95. Shaquille Quarterman - LB - Florida (Miami)
96. Charlie Woerner - TE - Georgia
98. David Long - CB - California
100. J.P. Urquidez - OT - Texas (Baylor)
103. Eric Cuffee - CB - Texas
104. Kendell Jones - DT - Texas
105. Eli Stove - WR - Florida
107. Jackie Jones - WR - California
110. Michael Jordan - OT - Michigan
111. Chris Daniels - DT - Texas
112. Erroll Thompson - LB - Alabama
116. Robert Washington - RB - North Carolina
120. Damar Hamlin - CB - Pennsylvania
121. Clark Yarbrough - OT - Virginia
123. Marquel Dismuke - S - California (Cal)
126. Khalid Kareem - DE - Michigan
127. Frank Martin II - OT - California (USC)
128. Isaiah Chambers - DE - Maryland
129. Ben Cleveland - OT - Georgia (Georgia)
133. Antonio Williams - RB - North Carolina (Wisconsin)
136. Austin Myers - OT - Texas (TCU)
137. Jordan Fuller - ATH - New Jersey
139. Jake Hausmann - TE - Ohio (Ohio State)
142. Brandon Peters - QB - Indiana (Michigan)
143. Auston Robertson - DE - Indiana
146. Luke Farrell - TE - Ohio
147. Tommy Kraemer - OT - Ohio (Notre Dame)
148. Jarrett Guarantano - QB - New Jersey (Tennessee)
151. Naseir Upshur - TE - Pennsylvania
154. Terrell Hall - DE - Washington, D.C.
155. Elijah Holyfield - RB - Georgia
158. Carlin Fils-Aime - RB - Florida
161. Richard Merritt - OG - Washington, D.C.
164. Xavier Kelly - DE - Kansas
167. Dylan Crawford - WR - California
168. Devin Bush - LB - Florida
169. Joseph Jackson - DE - Florida (Miami)
172. Josh King - DE - Illinois
174. Jacob Mathis - TE - Florida
176. Tre Nixon - WR - Florida
179. Brad Hawkins - WR - New Jersey
181. Michael Williams - DT - Texas
184. Jeffrey McCulloch - LB - Texas
189. Steffon McKnight - WR - California
190. Jaylon Jones - S - Texas
192. Terrance Davis - OG - Maryland
193. Jaquan Yulee - LB - Virginia
194. Erick Fowler - LB - Texas
195. Dontavious Jackson - LB - Texas
198. Ahmir Mitchell - WR - New Jersey
201. Jared Mayden - CB - Texas
203. Josh Imatorbhebhe - WR - Georgia
212. Daelin Hayes - LB - Michigan (USC)
214. Austin Mack - WR - Indiana
215. Cohl Cabral - OT - California
222. Scott Bracey - WR - Virginia (Duke)
225. Romeo Finley - S - Florida
226. Cary Angeline - TE - Pennsylvania
227. Steven Smothers - WR - Maryland
229. Tavares Chase - WR - Florida (Clemson)
232. Justin Layne - WR - Ohio
236. Nick Eubanks - TE - Florida
240. Cole Van Lanen - OT - Wisconsin
242. Josh Brown - DE - Virginia (Florida State)
243. Matt Falcon - RB - Michigan (Michigan)
245. Cameron Lewis - S - Louisiana (LSU)
253. Simi Fehoko - WR - Utah
258. Donnie Corley - WR - Michigan
259. Demetric Felton - ATH - California (UCLA)
261. Binjimen Victor - WR - Florida
262. Lavert Hill - CB - Michigan (Penn State)
264. Cameron Chambers - WR - New Jersey (Michigan State)
269. Quayshon Alexander - DE - New Jersey
279. Collin Johnson - WR - Texas (Texas)
282. Jordan Woods - DE - Florida
300. Erik Swenson - OT - Illinois (Michigan)

Scout 300 updated for 2016

Downers Grove (IL) South offensive tackle Erik Swenson is the #102 player

Scout updated their top 300 players for the class of 2016 (LINK) a couple days ago. Here are a list of Michigan commits:

- Erik Swenson is #102
- Matt Falcon is #147
- Brandon Peters is #283

Hit the jump for all of Michigan's targets on the list.

Matt Falcon, Wolverine

Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon

Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon committed to Michigan on Wednesday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Arizona State, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Oregon, among others.

Falcon is a 6'1", 215 lb. prospect. As a junior in 2015, he had 75 carries for 1,109 yards and 7 touchdowns. He claims a 4.41 forty.

Hit the jump for more on Falcon and his commitment to Michigan.

Poll results: Who is the best in-state player in Michigan?

Detroit (MI) King wide receiver Donnie Corley (image via 247Sports.com)

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A few weeks ago, I posted a poll asking: Who is the best in-state player in the 2016 class? I posted my own opinion shortly after National Signing Day (LINK).

Here are the results of the poll:

Donnie Corley - WR - Detroit (MI) King: 34%

Daelin Hayes - LB - Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline: 31%

Matt Falcon - RB - Southfield (MI) Southfield: 10%

Khalid Kareem - DE - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison: 8%

Michael Jordan - OT - Plymouth (MI) Plymouth: 7%

Lavert Hill - CB - Detroit (MI) King: 5%

Other: 2%

Visitors: March 27-29, 2015

Paramus (NJ) Catholic defensive tackle Rashan Gary

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TRANSFER
Blake O'Neill - P - Weber State: Quarterback Jake Rudock from Iowa visited last weekend, and now it's O'Neill's turn. O'Neill is a graduate transfer prospect who's a 6'2", 215 lb. punter. He averaged 44.1 yards/attempt last season and does not allow many returns. Sam Webb pronounced a "gut feeling" that O'Neill would end up at Michigan, so this visit may be just a formality.

2016
Cary Angeline - TE - Exton (PA) Downington East: Angeline is a 6'7", 230 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 tight end, and #213 overall. As a junior in 2014, he had 67 catches for 1,051 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Korey Banks - CB - Tyrone (GA) Sandy Creek: Banks is a 6'0", 170 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas State, Colorado State, and Miami-OH, among others. He's an unranked prospect at this point. He claims a 4.26 forty, and while that is almost surely a fib, he does have good speed.

Devin Bush, Jr. - LB - Hollywood (FL) Flanagan: Bush is a 6'0", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, and UCLA, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 inside linebacker, and #249 overall. Bush is a Florida State legacy whose dad played safety for the Seminoles and is now Flanagan's head coach.

Hit the jump for several more 2016 prospects, as well as some 2017 and 2018 kids.

Visitors: February 27-March 1, 2015

Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon

2016 Matt Falcon - RB - Southfield (MI) Southfield: You can find pretty much all the pertinent information on Falcon in the scouting report I posted yesterday (LINK).

Desmond Fitzpatrick - WR - Farmington (MI) Farmington: Fitzpatrick is a 6'2", 194 lb. prospect who committed to Louisville back in October. He picked up an offer from Michigan a couple weeks ago and also added one from Pitt this week. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #55 wide receiver, and #340 overall. Fitzpatrick visited Michigan on Wednesday, and I think there's a very good chance he does not end up signing with Louisville. Fitzpatrick visited this past Wednesday.

Will Small - LB - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Small is a 6'0", 205 lb. prospect with no offers right now. Small visited Michigan a couple weeks ago and briefly reported an offer from the Wolverines, but he quickly reversed course when people figured out that he was either lying or confused. I do not believe Small is a Michigan-caliber recruit or even an FBS prospect.

2017
Corey Malone-Hatcher - DE - St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph: Malone-Hatcher is a 6'3", 235 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #4 weakside end, and #111 overall. Michigan is thought to be the leader.

Scouting Report: Matt Falcon

Southfield (MI) Southfield running back Matt Falcon

Name: Matt Falcon
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Southfield (MI) Southfield
Position: Running back
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Akron, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, North Carolina State, Nortern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State, Tennessee, Toledo, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and West Virginia . . . Had 2015 teammates that went to Buffalo (DE Charles Harris), Minnesota (CB Ray Buford, S Dior Johnson), and Western Michigan (S Davonte Ginwright) . . . Had 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns in six games as a junior in 2014 . . . ESPN 3-star RB . . . Rivals 4-star, #13 RB . . . Scout 4-star, #11 RB, #147 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #16 RB

Strengths: College-ready frame . . . Gets low to run behind pads . . . Shows good long speed for a big back . . . Shows long stride length . . . Very quick feet in the hole . . . Can make people miss without losing forward momentum . . . Good acceleration . . . Impressive athleticism for a guy listed between 205-215 lbs.

Weaknesses: Tore his ACL in 2013 . . . Seems to be very protective of his legs . . . Goes down a little too easily when defenders tackle him below the waist . . . Looks a little tentative when making sharp cuts . . . Not a natural pass catcher . . . Can be impatient waiting for blocks to develop

Projection: Running back. I have concerns about Falcon because of his injury problems, which have caused him to miss much of both his sophomore and junior seasons. I also think that has affected his running, as it looks like he is not as strong in the lower body as he should be. If he can remain injury-free for a long period of time, perhaps he can strengthen his lower body more and regain some of the mobility that seems to be missing because of that clunky brace on his left leg. Regardless, I think he has a lot of potential and could be a very good running back if he can remain healthy. His size and speed combination could make him a factor in any conference in the country, in my opinion.

Reminds me of: Brandon Minor. Minor had more of a duck-footed gait, but he would also get low to run behind his pads and had surprising quickness in the hole. Minor was fast enough to hit the hole and could make people pay if they lost leverage, but he was not a threat to go 80 yards on any given play.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: The 247 Sports Crystal Ball reads 53% in favor of Michigan and 26% for Tennessee right now. Ohio State is running third, but they have two running back commitments in the 2016 class and are unlikely to add to that number. Offers from UCLA and West Virginia just came in the last 24 hours, and there will surely be more. In fact, I would not be surprised at all if the national powerhouses (Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oregon, USC) throw their hats in the ring. If everything remains the same, I like Michigan's chances. All bets are off if national championship contenders - who actually have room - come calling.

Highlights: