2015 Season Countdown: #42 Royce Jenkins-Stone

Royce Jenkins-Stone

Name: Royce Jenkins-Stone
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Linebacker
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #52
Last year: I ranked Jenkins-Stone #35 and said he would be a backup SAM linebacker with 20 tackles and 1 sack. He started two games and made 8 tackles.

When Jenkins-Stone was a recruit, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Greg Mattison told him that he could be the next Ray Lewis. Fast forward three years, and Jenkins-Stone finally made his first appearance in a starting lineup against Miami-OH. Playing mostly special teams throughout the year, he set a career-high with 8 tackles. He was recruited as a middle linebacker, and he looked like the type of kid who would bulk up and at least have the prototypical build of a MIKE, if not the skills of one. It appears that the skills were lacking, but he was listed at just 221 lbs. last year, which was six pounds lighter than the undersized, 6'0" outside linebacker James Ross III. Jenkins-Stone's career has definitely not gone in an expected direction.

Fast forward another year, and Jenkins-Stone is the biggest he has ever been at 240 lbs. Something finally clicked in the weight room or at the buffet table, and maybe it's the fact that he's entering what could very well be the final season of his football career without making much of an impact. Rather than being a middle linebacker, though, the new coaching staff seems to think of him as a quasi-defensive end. He played Buck linebacker in the spring game, which is the new staff's name for a weakside end. I ranked fellow Buck linebacker Lawrence Marshall at #43 yesterday (LINK). Both players will probably be backups to Mario Ojemudia, but Marshall is somewhat limited to pass rushing while Jenkins-Stone is more of a run-stopper, has some position flexibility, and has been playing special teams his whole career. At this point Jenkins-Stone is probably just a guy, but he can give someone a breather and maybe make an occasional play in the run game or on kick coverage.

Prediction: Backup Buck linebacker, special teamer; 18 tackles

U.S. Army All-American Bowl Participants: Michigan

2012 U.S. Army Bowl participants: Ondre Pipkins, Royce Jenkins-Stone, James Ross, Kyle Kalis, Erik Magnuson
(left to right; image via TheWolverine.com)

For your viewing pleasure, here's a comprehensive list of Michigan's past commitments who were selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

2016
Michael Onwenu - Detroit, MI

2015
None

2014
Mason Cole, OG - Tarpon Springs, FL

2013
Jake Butt, TE - Pickerington, OH
Chris Fox, OT - Parker, CO#
Derrick Green, RB - Richmond, VA
Jourdan Lewis, CB - Detroit, MI
Dymonte Thomas, S - Alliance, OH

2012
Kyle Kalis, OL - Lakewood, OH
Royce Jenkins-Stone, LB - Detroit, MI
Erik Magnuson, OL - Carlsbad, CA
Ondre Pipkins, DT - Kansas City, MO
James Ross, LB - Orchard Lake, MI

2011
Blake Countess, CB - Olney, MD
Wayne Lyons, CB - Fort Lauderdale, FL*
Matt Wile, K - San Diego, CA

2010
Cullen Christian, CB - Pittsburgh, PA
Will Hagerup, P - Whitefish Bay, WI

2009
William Campbell, DT - Detroit, MI
Jeremy Gallon, WR - Apopka, FL
Brendan Gibbons, K - West Palm Beach, FL
Anthony Lalota, DE - Princeton, NJ
Je'Ron Stokes, WR - Pittsburgh, PA
Justin Turner, CB - Massillon, OH

2008
Boubacar Cissoko, CB - Detroit, MI
Sam McGuffie, RB - Houston, TX
Brandon Smith, S - New Brunswick, NJ

2007
Donovan Warren, CB - Long Beach, CA
Michael Williams, S - St. Bonaventure, CA

2006
Justin Boren, OG - Pickerington, OH
Steve Brown, S - Columbus, IN
Brandon Graham, DE - Detroit, MI
Jonas Mouton, LB - Venice, CA
Steve Schilling, OT - Bellevue, WA

2005
James McKinney, DT - Louisville, KY
Zoltan Mesko, P - Twinsburg, OH
Marques Slocum, DT - Philadelphia, PA

2004
Adrian Arrington, WR - Cedar Rapids, IA
Alan Branch, DT - Albuquerque, NM
Jeremy Ciulla, OG - Kennesaw, GA
Doug Dutch, WR/CB - Washington, DC
Chad Henne, QB - West Lawn, PA
Tim Jamison, DE - Harvey, IL
Max Martin, RB - Madison, AL

2003
Prescott Burgess, LB - Warren, OH
Anton Campbell, S - O'Fallon, MO
Shawn Crable, LB - Massillon, OH
Leon Hall, CB - Vista, CA
Ryan Mundy, S - Pittsburgh, PA
Will Paul, FB - St. Louis, MO
Clayton Richard, QB - Lafayette, IN
Garrett Rivas, K - Tampa, FL

2002
Jason Avant, WR - Chicago, IL
Mike Kolodziej, OT - Joliet, IL

2001
Marlin Jackson, CB - Sharon, PA
Pierre Woods, DE - Cleveland, OH

*Transferred to Michigan
#Will not/did not play due to injury

2014 Season Countdown: #35 Royce Jenkins-Stone

Royce Jenkins-Stone (#52)

Name: Royce Jenkins-Stone
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 221 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #52
Last year: I ranked Jenkins-Stone #41 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer. He made 5 tackles while playing in thirteen games, mostly on special teams.

Jenkins-Stone's biggest impact last season was when he initiated a minor brawl against Ohio State, for which he was booted out of the game (along with Buckeyes Marcus Hall and Dontre Wilson). It was a somewhat ugly incident, and despite inciting it by ripping off Wilson's helmet during a routine tackle, Ohio State came out looking worse after Wilson threw a punch and Hall flipped off the crowd on his way to the tunnel. Either way, the other parts of Jenkins-Stone's 2013 season were pretty forgettable. He couldn't pierce the rotation at linebacker, and he made fewer special teams tackles than a wide receiver (Jehu Chesson) and a fullback (Sione Houma).

This year brings a modified defense, the 4-3 Over, and some new hope for Jenkins-Stone. Recruited as a middle linebacker, he's too light at 221 lbs. to be the thumper in the middle that was expected of him. Instead, he's a special teamer who has shown an ability to slash downhill but not much else. While I normally wouldn't expect much of a guy who has essentially only contributed on special teams, I am making an exception for him. I have never viewed him as a read-and-react guy, so his new position as a SAM linebacker in the Over fits well - he should be able to blitz from that position and play downhill if flow comes his way. There were some rumblings in the spring that he had leapfrogged incumbent starter James Ross III (who bumped over from WILL in the shakeup), but I find it hard to believe that last year's second-leading tackler will lose his job to a special teamer with 11 career stops. However, I like how Jenkins-Stone fits at SAM, and I think he will get a fair amount of playing time on the defensive side of the ball, not just on specials.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker; 20 tackles, 1 sack

Position Change Fallout

Desmond Morgan (#44)

There have been a couple major position changes and a couple minor ones during the offseason. In an attempt to allay some people's fears, here are my thoughts on how things are developing.

Ross Douglas from CB to RB. Michigan failed to nab a running back in the 2014 class, largely for a lack of trying. There were some candidates out there that the Wolverines simply chose not to pursue, and then rising senior Thomas Rawls chose to transfer to Central Michigan. Michigan needed to add some depth at running back, and Douglas was a pretty good one in high school. I do not think Douglas is in danger of turning into a feature back anytime soon, but he may provide some change-of-pace skills for Michigan's Thunder Squared combination of Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith. Douglas played some running back on the scout team last year, and I think this switch is likely to stick, at least until Michigan has a chance to bring in more running backs in 2015 or 2016. He could also be a guy who bounces back and forth from offense to defense.

Wyatt Shallman from RB to H-back. I have long believed that Shallman would not make much of an impact on the running back position, except perhaps as a short yardage guy. I think the need for a short yardage back is relatively non-existent with Green and Smith on the team. Additionally, new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier seems like a guy who's going to run a lot of single back sets and a lot of spread formations, meaning the fullback will likely be phased out for the next couple years. The 6'3", 243 lb. Shallman could help out as a blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield, and he has the size to be a second tight end on the field like an Aaron Shea.

Keith Heitzman from DE to TE. Heitzman was the starter at strongside end to begin last season, but a hand injury combined with competition from other players bumped him down in the lineup. With other guys emerging at strongside end (Brennen Beyer, Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley), Michigan has the flexibility to put Heitzman at tight end to shore up the position after Jake Butt's ACL injury. Butt might be back by week three, but Heitzman could be a long-term solution as a blocking tight end, since junior A.J. Williams has struggled in his first two seasons. Heitzman played tight end in high school, and while he probably won't run away from anyone or dazzle people with his moves, he should be a quality in-line blocker and has the potential to catch a pass here or there.

Jake Ryan from SAM to MIKE. Royce Jenkins-Stone from MIKE to SAM. James Ross from WILL to SAM. Desmond Morgan from MIKE to WILL. Did I catch all the moves? I think so. A couple of the younger inside linebackers are staying inside, so I won't bother analyzing that. The new starting lineup will look a lot like the old starting lineup, except Morgan will be on the weak side, Ryan will be in the middle, and Ross will be on the strong side. Head coach Brady Hoke announced that Michigan would be running more Over looks in 2014, which means that the protected linebacker (formerly WILL James Ross) will now be middle linebacker Jake Ryan. This also likely changes Michigan's front seven slightly, from a "hold your gap" defense to more of a penetrating unit. Against base 12 personnel previously, Michigan had six defenders from tight end to tackle (four defensive linemen, the WILL, and the MIKE). In an Over look, the defensive front will have seven defenders inside that box (four defensive linemen and all three linebackers). This should allow Ryan to roam from sideline to sideline while keeping Ross relatively clean, and Morgan will still be the guy who has to take on lead blocks from fullbacks, which he does fairly well.

2013 Season Countdown: #41 Royce Jenkins-Stone

Royce Jenkins-Stone

Name: Royce Jenkins-Stone
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #52
Last year: I ranked Jenkins-Stone #66 and said he would redshirt if possible. I guess it wasn't possible because he played special teams all year.

Royce Jenkins-Stone heads into his sophomore year weighing and heighing the same weight and height he did going into his senior year of high school. I said last year that he would have to be able to make an impact on special teams in order to avoid a redshirt, and that sort of happened but he also sort of didn't make any tackles, either. He was just a guy running down the field on coverage units. After saying that he wanted to be the next Ray Lewis, Greg Mattison telling him he could be, and choosing #52 on the path to that goal, he left the spring as the #2 weakside linebacker behind James Ross.

Based on what I've seen so far - on special teams, in the spring game, from high school - I'm not sure where Jenkins-Stone fits. He's not speedy enough to be a good fit at WILL. He's not instinct or big enough to be a good fit at MIKE. And he's not long enough or hefty enough to be a good fit at SAM. With two classmates (Ross and Joe Bolden) already having earned significant playing time at the inside spots, it will be an uphill battle for him to get on the field. He also may be facing competition from redshirt sophomore Antonio Poole and incoming freshman Ben Gedeon. I think Jenkins-Stone will continue to help on special teams, but I'm not sure if he can contribute on defense just yet.

Prediction: Backup weakside linebacker, special teams contributor

Royce Jenkins-Stone Answers Your Questions

Jenkins-Stone at FB at Cass Tech HS, registering 309 yards and
5 touchdowns his senior year.  Image via the Detroit News.

Freshman linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone has plenty of swagger - which extends from the football field all the way into the kitchen.  "I can throw down - everybody loves my cookin'," Royce said.  "I can barbecue, and I can cook just about anything."  But Royce's confidence on the field and in the kitchen hasn't come without a lot of hard work and ambitious goal setting.  He's been doing "explosiveness training drills" and intense workouts in the hopes of making it to the NFL.  Royce has also been spending hours in the kitchen and around the grill in the hopes of eventually becoming a chef.

As a naturally outgoing and social guy, Royce was recently kind enough to take some time out of his evening to talk about football, cooking, the West Side Cubs and a variety of other topics.  In doing so, he answered several questions posed by TTB readers.

Strengths, weaknesses, technique:  "I'm good at tackling; I'm good at rushing the quarterback.  I'm good with using my hands, but I still want to learn because there's always room for improvement with everything.  That technique is what's going to get me through.  It's what gets everybody through - great technique and great footwork.  So those are the things I know I'm going to need to work on. . . . My athleticism is what got me all my big offers - that and being bigger than everyone else.  But everyone's as big as me or bigger than me in college, so that's why I've got to learn good technique and footwork - to get past those big O-linemen.

Height, weight, workout:  "I'm 6'2'' and 215 lbs. . . . No, the coaches haven't talked to me about that yet [target weight], but I'm pretty sure I need to go up some more.  I know I'll put on weight my freshman year.  Everybody does.  So I'm just working out with my trainer and trying to keep my speed up.  I do crossfit training, and that's a pretty intense workout.  It's like ring drills and stuff like that.

Position:  "The coaches - well, they really haven't told me yet - but I'm pretty sure I'm going to start off at outside linebacker because I think I'd fit best there right now. . . . So I think I'll start off at that outside linebacker spot because you got Kenny Demens in front of me.  Either that or we're sharing time.  And I wouldn't mind doing that.  I'm just trying to do the best I can as a freshman and get my name out there, and fill in where I can, as quickly as I can. . . . I feel that I should start off at the outside linebacker spot because I'm so athletic and I'm good at rushing the quarterback, and once I get a feel of the defense I'll move to the middle linebacker spot when the coaches feel that I'm ready. . . . They recruited me as a middle linebacker, so hopefully I'll make my way to that spot soon. . . . Greg Mattison told me I look like another Ray Lewis.  He thinks he got his Ray Lewis for college.

West Side Cubs:  "They've always been a winning program, and everybody wants to be a Cub.  Growing up, you either didn't like the Cubs because they were winning all the time or you did.  They taught us all that you never give up.  You want to always be a winner in life and in football.  They instilled in us 'God, books and ball.'  They always preached that.

Nickname:  "I haven't got a nickname yet. . . . I haven't heard any nicknames yet.  I don't know where that one [the Law Firm] came from."

Roommate, major:  "I'm rooming with Amara Darboh.  He seems like a pretty cool guy.  I talked to him on the phone a couple of times, but we were both breaking up. . . . I've signed up for Kinesiology and Personal Training for right now."

2012 Season Countdown: #66 Royce Jenkins-Stone

Jenkins-Stone

Name: Royce Jenkins-Stone
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #52
Last year: Jenkins-Stone was in high school.  He had 84 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries; 309 yards rushing, 5 touchdowns; 4 receptions, 43 yards, and 1 touchdown.

Jenkins-Stone is a hulking middle linebacker prospect who should be a very imposing figure once he adds some weight.  He was given some high praise early on in the recruiting process and, for whatever reason, didn't produce a great deal during his senior year.  Don't get me wrong - those numbers above are very good, but they're not off the charts like many expected.  There didn't seem to be a great deal of on-the-field maturation between his junior and senior seasons.

Going into his freshman season, Jenkins-Stone has an uphill battle to climb for playing time.  He was recruited for the MIKE position, but the starter is Kenny Demens and fellow freshman Joe Bolden enrolled early and received a lot of hype.  And while the depth isn't great at MIKE, there are other options that could slide over from WILL, such as Desmond Morgan and Brandin Hawthorne.  There has been some speculation that Jenkins-Stone will play SAM, and that does make sense.  The only two SAMs on the roster are redshirt sophomore Jake Ryan and redshirt junior Cam Gordon; last year's other SAMs, Brennen Beyer and Jordan Paskorz, moved to defensive end and tight end, respectively.  I actually like the idea of Jenkins-Stone playing SAM because he's not great at diagnosing plays, but either way, he's bound to be no higher than third string.  That means he will have to make an impact on special teams or redshirt.

Prediction: Redshirt if possible

Ask a Question: Royce Jenkins-Stone

Image via a major Detroit newspaper not named the Detroit News

I should be talking with incoming freshman linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone in the next day or two.  If you have any questions for him, leave them in the comments section and I'll address them in the interview.

The 2012 In-State Recruiting Battle

Mario Ojemudia is Michigan's top prospect, according to
the Detroit News

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has claimed in recent years that he cares more about in-state recruiting than Michigan, and that might have been true in the years when Rich Rodriguez was the head man at Michigan.  But the arrival of Brady Hoke might have swayed the favor in-state toward Ann Arbor.  Let's take a look at the top recruits in the state of Michigan, based on the Detroit News' blue-chip list:

1. Mario Ojemudia - DE - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'3", 225 lb. end - who also played a lot of defensive tackle - had 104 tackles and 14 sacks.  He considered Michigan State early, but committed to Michigan on May 7, 2011, and stuck with Michigan to the end.

2. Terry Richardson - CB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 5'9", 160 lb. cornerback made 5 interceptions during his senior season.  He was a little later in committing than his in-state friends James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone, but he hopped on board on May 19, 2011.  He entertained taking visits to other schools, but mostly he was considering heading to SEC country rather than East Lansing.  However, Michigan's coaches told him that if he visited elsewhere, they wouldn't necessarily reserve a spot for him in the recruiting class.  He did not visit elsewhere and signed with Michigan.

3. James Ross - LB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'0", 210 lb. linebacker made 173 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks as a senior.  He had committed to Michigan back on May 2, 2011, and remained committed throughout the process.

4. Royce Jenkins-Stone - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'2", 215 lb. middle linebacker made 115 unassisted tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions as a senior.  He had committed to Michigan on April 16, 2011, and remained committed until National Signing Day.

5. Aaron Burbridge - WR - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'2", 185 lb. wideout reportedly wanted to commit to Michigan along with teammates Ojemudia and Devin Funchess, but he didn't have the grades to get into Michigan(that sentiment was confirmed by Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson).  He committed to Michigan State on July 28, 2011, and signed with the Spartans on National Signing Day.

6. Matt Godin - DE - Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'6", 270 lb. defensive end/tackle made 70 tackles and 9 sacks as a senior.  He committed to Michigan on May 12, 2011, and signed with Michigan.

7. Devin Funchess - TE - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'4", 215 lb. tight end committed to Michigan on April 22, 2011, and signed with Michigan in February.

8. Danny O'Brien - DT - Flint (MI) Powers Catholic
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'2", 293 lb. defensive tackle considered both in-state schools heavily, but committed to Tennessee on October 6, 2011, and signed with the Volunteers in February.

9. Ron Thompson - TE - Southfield (MI) Southfield
Offered by: Michigan only
The 6'4", 230 lb. tight end made 57 receptions for 729 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior.  He was offered by Michigan early in the process but the Wolverines reportedly backed off due to some classroom issues.  He committed to Syracuse on November 7, 2011, and signed with the Orangemen in February.

10. Ben Braden - OT - Rockford (MI) Rockford
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6'7", 320 lb. offensive tackle committed to Michigan on March 24, 2011.  He signed with the Wolverines in February.

11. Evan Winston - DE - Muskegon (MI) Muskegon
Offered by: Neither in-state school
The 6'4", 255 lb. defensive end committed to Missouri on July 23, 2011, and signed with the Tigers in February.

12. Jamal Lyles - LB - Southfield (MI) Lathrup
Offered by: Michigan State only
The 6'3", 215 lb. linebacker made 135 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 4 interceptions.  He committed to Michigan State on June 23, 2011, and signed with the Spartans in February.

13. Drake Johnson - RB - Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer
Offered by: Michigan only
The 6'1", 215 lb. running back ran for 2,805 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior.  He committed to Michigan on November 10, 2011, almost immediately after receiving an offer, and signed with Michigan in February.

14. Dennis Norfleet - RB - Detroit (MI) King
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 5'6", 180 lb. had 2,033 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior.  He was committed to Cincinnati for several months, but he switched his commitment to Michigan on the eve of National Signing Day.

15. Ruben Lile - LB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Offered by: Neither in-state school
Lile committed to Iowa on August 27, 2011, and signed with the Hawkeyes in February.

NOT RANKED:
Riley Bullough - LB - Traverse City (MI) St. Francis
Offered by: Michigan State only
Bullough committed to Michigan State on April 30, 2011.

Kodi Kieler - OT - Gibraltar (MI) Carlson
Offered by: Michigan State only
Kieler committed to Michigan State on August 8, 2011.

SUMMARY
Ten players were offered by both Michigan and Michigan State.  Eight of them picked Michigan, including six of the top seven.  One picked Michigan State (although, as mentioned above, it sounded like Michigan wouldn't accept his commitment so he went with Plan B).  The other picked Tennessee.

Michigan went after two players who were not offered by MSU.  One picked Michigan.  The other picked Syracuse.

Michigan State went after three players who were not offered by Michigan.  All three picked MSU.

I think it's fair to say that Michigan kicked Michigan State's tail when it comes to recruiting in the state.  Brady Hoke 8, Mark Dantonio 1.  I look forward to seeing what 2013 brings.  It's already 1-0 in Michigan's favor with Warren (MI) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris pledging to be a Wolverine.

The Wolverine: Michigan commits impress at International Bowl

Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier head coach Steve Spech, who was the USA head coach in last week's International Bowl, gives his take on Michigan's four participants: Devin Funchess, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Terry Richardson, and James Ross.

International Bowl Participants: Michigan

Terry Richardson, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Devin Funchess, and James Ross all paricipated
in the 2012 International Bowl
(image via MGoBlog.com)

2013
Ben Gedeon, LB - Hudson, OH

2012
Devin Funchess, TE - Farmington Hills, MI
Royce Jenkins-Stone, LB - Detroit, MI
Terry Richardson, CB - Detroit, MI
James Ross, LB - Orchard Lake, MI

2011
Kellen Jones, LB - Houston, TX

2010
N/A

2012 International Bowl

International Bowl participants Devin Funchess, Terry Richardson, James Ross, and Royce Jenkins-Stone

International Bowl
February 1, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Austin, TX

USA Team targets:
Ronald Darby - RB - Maryland (Florida State)
J.J. Denman - OT - Pennsylvania (Rutgers)
Devin Funchess - TE - Michigan (Michigan)
Greg Garmon - RB - Pennsylvania (Iowa)
Mark Harrell - OT - North Carolina (Notre Dame)
Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
Trey Keenan - OT - Texas (Texas Tech)
Marcus Maye - S - Florida (Florida)
Ifeadi Odenigbo - DE - Ohio (Northwestern)
Moana Ofahengaue - LB - Utah
Jordan Payton - WR - California (UCLA)
Se'von Pittman - DE - Ohio (Ohio State)
Terry Richardson - CB - Michigan (Michigan)
James Ross - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
Tee Shepard - CB - California (Notre Dame)
D.J. Singleton - S - New Jersey (Wisconsin)
Caleb Stacey - OG - Ohio (Cincinnati)

World Team target:
Faith Ekakitie - DT - Illinois (Iowa)

ESPNU 150 Updated for 2012

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech cornerback Terry Richardson is Michigan's top recruit,
according to ESPNU

ESPNU released its top 150 players for the class of 2012.  Here's what it looked like back in June 2011 and then October 2011.  Since October's update, here are the Michigan-committed movers and shakers:

- Terry Richardson dropped from #67 to #68
- Royce Jenkins-Stone moved up from #115 to #113
- Kyle Kalis moved up from #135 to #132
- Joe Bolden was previously absent from this list but appears at #142

Following is a list of all of the players Michigan has offered during the recruiting cycle:

1. Mario Edwards - DE - Texas (Florida State)
3. Dorial Green-Beckham - WR - Missouri
4. Noah Spence - DE - Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
5. Keith Marshall - RB - North Carolina (Georgia)
7. D.J. Humphries - OT - North Carolina (Florida)
9. Andrus Peat - OT - Arizona
10. Eddie Goldman - DT - Washington, D.C.
13. Stefon Diggs - ATH - Maryland
16. Shaq Thompson - S - California (Cal)
20. Cyrus Jones - ATH - Maryland (Alabama)
24. Arik Armstead - OT - California
27. Kyle Murphy - OT - California
28. John Theus - OT - Florida (Georgia)
29. Kwon Alexander - LB - Alabama
31. Geno Smith - CB - Georgia (Alabama)
32. Zach Kline - QB - California (Cal)
36. Jabari Ruffin - LB - California (USC)
38. Ronald Darby - CB - Maryland
39. Devin Fuller - ATH - New Jersey
40. Yuri Wright - CB - New Jersey
42. Evan Boehm - OG - Missouri (Missouri)
43. Ellis McCarth - DT - California (UCLA)
44. Joshua Garnett - OG - Washington
47. Nelson Agholor - WR - Florida
51. Ifeadi Odenigbo - DE - Ohio (Northwestern)
52. Gunner Kiel - QB - Indiana (Notre Dame)
53. Jonathan Taylor - DT - Georgia (Georgia)
54. Dominique Wheeler - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
57. Peter Jinkens - LB - Texas (Texas)
59. Dillon Lee - LB - Georgia (Alabama)
61. Avery Young - OT - Florida
63. Max Tuerk - OT - California (USC)
64. Durron Neal - WR - Missouri (Oklahoma)
65. Adolphus Washington - DE - Ohio (Ohio State)
66. Darius Powe - WR - California (Oklahoma)
67. Jordan Jenkins - DE - Georgia (Georgia)
68. Terry Richardson - CB - Michigan (Michigan)
69. Darius Hamilton - DE - New Jersey
73. Devonte Fields - DE - Texas (TCU)
82. Brian Poole - CB - Florida (Florida)
87. Reginald Davis - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
88. Jordan Simmons - OG - California (USC)
90. Tee Shepard - CB - California (Notre Dame)
92. Dalton Santos - LB - Texas (Tennessee)
94. Jordan Diamond - OT - Illinois
96. Tyriq McCord - DE - Florida (Miami)
98. Se'von Pittman - DE - Ohio (Ohio State)
99. Drae Bowles - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
101. Deon Bush - S - Florida (Miami)
102. Jarron Jones - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
108. Tommy Schutt - DT - Illinois (Ohio State)
113. Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
115. Patrick Destefano - OG - South Carolina (Clemson)
120. Michael Starts - OT - Texas (Texas Tech)
122. Zach Banner - OT - Washington
124. Eli Harold - DE - Virginia (Virginia)
126. Dominic Ramacher - TE - Texas (Oklahoma State)
130. Connor Brewer - QB - Arizona (Texas)
132. Kyle Kalis - OG - Ohio (Michigan)
137. Derrick Woods - WR - California (Oklahoma)
142. Joe Bolden - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
143. Sheldon Day - DT - Indiana (Notre Dame)
146. Kent Taylor - TE - Florida (Florida)
148. Ty Darlington - C - Florida (Oklahoma)
149. Marcus Maye - S - Florida (Florida)

Final Rivals 250 Released for 2012

Joe Bolden is the nation's 111th-best player

Rivals released its Rivals 250 on Wednesday.  This comes on the heels of yesterday's Rivals 100, which I discussed yesterday.  Here's what it looked like in May 2011, August 2011, and then November 2011.

Michigan commits have made the following moves since November:

- Joe Bolden moved from #152 to #111
- James Ross dropped from #163 to #172
- Royce Jenkins-Stone dropped slightly from #182 to #184
- Amara Darboh dropped from #208 to #215
- Terry Richardson dropped from #217 to #224

There are still a couple weeks remaining to recruit class of 2012 kids, but at this point, Michigan has offered 115 of the top 250 (or 46%) players in the country.  During the last recruiting cycle, Michigan offered 84 of the top 250 players (or 33.6%).  Brady Hoke has sent out 190 reported offers this season, while Rodriguez (with a small dose of Hoke at the end) offered 195 kids in the 2011 recruiting class.  This supports my opinion that I've held since last spring that Brady Hoke is targeting a higher level of talent than Rich Rodriguez did during his tenure.

Here are the rest of Michigan's 2012 offerees on the Rivals 250:

103. Aaron Burbridge - WR - Michigan (Michigan State)
105. Dillon Lee - LB - Georgia (Alabama)
111. Joe Bolden - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
113. Elijah Shumate - S - New Jersey (Notre Dame)
127. Peter Jinkens - LB - Texas (Texas)
128. Scott Starr - LB - California (USC)
130. Drae Bowles - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
133. Keith Brown - LB - Florida (Louisville)
137. John Michael McGee - OG - Texas (Oklahoma)
138. Bri'onte Dunn - RB - Ohio (Ohio State)
147. Paul Thurston - OT - Colorado (Nebraska)
148. Evan Boehm - OG - Missouri (Missouri)
149. Dalvin Tomlinson - DT - Georgia
153. Dan Voltz - OT - Illinois (Wisconsin)
154. Pharaoh Brown - DE - Ohio (Oregon)
158. Sean Price - TE - Florida (South Florida)
159. David Perkins - ATH - Indiana (Ohio State)
161. Danny O'Brien - DT - Michigan (Tennessee)
163. Ty Darlington - C - Florida (Oklahoma)
164. Dwayne Stanford - WR - Ohio (Oregon)
165. Jake Rodrigues - QB - California (Oregon)
166. Leonte Carroo - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
167. Camren Williams - LB - Massachusetts (Penn State)
169. Deontay McManus - WR - Maryland (West Virginia)
170. Devonte Fields - DE - Texas (TCU)
171. Dominique Wheeler - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
172. James Ross - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
173. Jaleel Johnson - DT - Illinois (Iowa)
175. Michael Starts - DE - Texas (Texas Tech)
178. Kyle Dodson - OT - Ohio (Wisconsin)
184. Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
188. Wes Brown - RB - Maryland (Maryland)
189. Taylor McNamara - TE - California (Oklahoma)
190. Matt Jones - RB - Florida (Florida)
191. Michael Moore - DE - Maryland (Virginia)
192. Greg McMullen - DE - Ohio (Nebraska)
193. Warren Ball - RB - Ohio (Ohio State)
195. Jonathan Williams - RB - Texas (Arkansas)
199. Jarron Jones - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
203. Adam Bisnowaty - OT - Pennsylvania (Pitt)
209. Ken Ekanem - LB - Virginia
212. Shane Callahan - OT - Colorado (Auburn)
215. Amara Darboh - WR - Iowa (Michigan)
216. Derrick Woods - WR - California (Oklahoma)
218. Latroy Pittman - WR - Florida (Florida)
219. Armani Reeves - CB - Massachusetts (Penn State)
221. Taylor Decker - OT - Ohio (Ohio State)
222. Kenny Lawler - CB - Washington, D.C.
224. Terry Richardson - CB - Michigan (Michigan)
226. Darius Powe - WR - California (Cal)
230. Jody Fuller - WR - North Carolina (South Carolina)
237. Reginald Davis - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
239. Troy Hinds - DE - Utah (BYU)
244. Sheldon Day - DT - Indiana (Notre Dame)
246. Jason Croom - WR - Georgia (Tennessee)
247. Avery Johnson - WR - Florida (LSU)
249. Faith Ekakitie - DT - Illinois (Iowa)

Michigan offerees who fell out of the top 250 are:
- Indiana QB Zeke Pike (Auburn)
- Arizona QB Connor Brewer (Texas)
- North Carolina OT Brock Stadnik (South Carolina)
- Louisiana OT Derek Edinburgh (LSU)
- South Carolina DE Martin Aiken (Clemson)
- Tennessee RB I'Tavius Mathers (Ole Miss)
- Colorado OG Alex Kozan

Detroit News: Blue Chip List

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison TE/WR Devin Funchess is the #7 player in the state

The Detroit News gives a rundown of their top 15 in-state players for the class of 2012, and the top four guys are headed to Michigan.  On the list:

1. Mario Ojemudia
2. Terry Richardson
3. James Ross
4. Royce Jenkins-Stone
6. Matt Godin
7. Devin Funchess
10 Ben Braden
13. Drake Johnson

Final Scout 300 Released for 2012

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward's Kyle Kalis is Michigan's top-rated player to Scout

The Scout 300 was released on Wednesday.  For a refresher on where kids used to be ranked, check out this post from April.

Michigan commits are in the following slots:

• 35. Kyle Kalis
• 65. Ondre Pipkins
• 69. Joe Bolden
• 82. Erik Magnuson
• 83. James Ross
• 93. Tom Strobel
• 111. Royce Jenkins-Stone
• 162. Mario Ojemudia
• 164. Chris Wormley
• 183. Terry Richardson
• 205. Amara Darboh
• 221. Devin Funchess
• 225. A.J. Williams
• 249. Jarrod Wilson

Michigan has offered 133 of these 300 players (44.3%).  As is the custom 'round these parts, here's a look at Michigan offerees in Scout's final 300:

5-stars:
1. Dorial Green-Beckham - WR - Missouri
2. Arik Armstead - OT - California
3. Shaq Thompson - S - California (Cal)
4. Mario Edwards - DE - Texas (Florida State)
5. Noah Spence - DE - Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
6. Stefon Diggs - WR - Maryland
7. John Theus - OT - Florida (Georgia)
9. Ronald Darby - CB - Maryland
10. Adolphus Washington - DE - Ohio (Ohio State)
11. D.J. Humphries - OT - Florida (Florida)
12. Keith Marshall - RB - North Carolina (Georgia)
14. Kyle Murphy - OT - California
19. Jordan Jenkins - DE - Georgia (Georgia)
20. Darius Hamilton - DE - New Jersey
23. Ellis McCarthy - DT - California (Cal)
25. Brian Poole - CB - Florida (Florida)
26. Eli Harold - DE - Virginia (Virginia)
27. Avery Young - OT - Florida
31. Eddie Goldman - DT - Washington, D.C.
32. Bri'onte Dunn - RB - Ohio (Ohio State)
35. Kyle Kalis - OT - Ohio (Michigan)
38. Gunner Kiel - QB - Indiana (LSU)
39. Tee Shepard - CB - California (Notre Dame)
42. Joshua Garnett - OG - Washington
43. Bryce Treggs - WR - California (Cal)
45. Cyrus Jones - WR - Maryland (Alabama)
47. Jordan Diamond - OT - Illinois
48. Tommy Schutt - DT - Illinois
50. Sheldon Day - DT - Indiana (Notre Dame)

4-stars:
51. Andrus Peat - OT - Arizona
52. Kwon Alexander - LB - Alabama
55. Elijah Shumate - LB - New Jersey (Notre Dame)
58. Se'von Pittman - DE - Ohio (Ohio State)
61. Nelson Agholor - S - Florida
62. Jordan Simmons - OG - California (USC)
63. Aaron Burbridge - WR - Michigan (Michigan State)
65. Ondre Pipkins - DT - Missouri (Michigan)
68. Michael Starts - OG - Texas (Texas Tech)
69. Joe Bolden - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
72. Zach Banner - OT - Washington
73. Kent Taylor - TE - Florida (Florida)
75. Ifeadi Odenigbo - DE - Ohio (Northwestern)
76. Jonathan Taylor - DT - Georgia (Georgia)
77. Taylor Decker - OT - Ohio (Notre Dame)
78. Javonte Magee - DE - Texas
79. Armani Reeves - CB - Massachusetts (Penn State)
82. Erik Magnuson - OT - California (Michigan)
83. James Ross - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
84. Leonte Carroo - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
85. LaDarrell McNeil - S - Texas (Tennessee)
88. Devin Fuller - QB - New Jersey
91. Wes Brown - RB - Maryland (Maryland)
92. Marcus Maye - S - Florida (Florida)
93. Tom Strobel - DE - Ohio (Michigan)
95. Jordan Payton - WR - California (Cal)
96. Max Tuerk - OG - California (USC)
99. Dan Voltz - OG - Illinois (Wisconsin)
100. Jaquay Williams - WR - Georgia (Auburn)
104. D.J. Foster - RB - Arizona
105. Durron Neal - WR - Missouri (Oklahoma)
111. Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
116. Evan Boehm - C - Missouri (Missouri)
119. Devonte Fields - DE - Texas (TCU)
122. Geno Smith - CB - Georgia (Alabama)
123. Zach Kline - QB - California (Cal)
124. Greg Garmon - RB - Pennsylvania (Iowa)
127. J.J. Denman - OT - Pennsylvania (Wisconsin)
128. Ryan Watson - OG - Maryland (Virginia)
129. Brock Stadnik - OT - North Carolina (South Carolina)
130. Paul Thurston - OT - Colorado (Nebraska)
135. Peter Jinkens - LB - Texas (Texas)
137. Matt Jones - RB - Florida (Florida)
139. Jabari Ruffin - LB - California (USC)
145. Scott Starr - LB - California (USC)
146. Yuri Wright - CB - New Jersey
153. Reginald Davis - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
159. Monty Madaris - WR - Ohio
162. Mario Ojemudia - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
164. Chris Wormley - DE - Ohio (Michigan)
167. John Michael McGee - OG - Texas (Oklahoma)
170. Dillon Lee - LB - Georgia (Alabama)
172. Camren Williams - LB - Massachusetts (Penn State)
173. Jonathan Williams - RB - Texas (Arkansas)
175. Sean Price - TE - Florida
176. Raphael Kirby - LB - Georgia (Miami)
178. Faith Ekakitie - DT - Illinois (Iowa)
181. Kyle Dodson - OT - Ohio (Wisconsin)
182. Dalton Santos - LB - Texas (Tennessee)
183. Terry Richardson - CB - Michigan (Michigan)
185. D.J. Singleton - S - New Jersey (Wisconsin)
188. Troy Hinds - DE - Utah (BYU)
191. Aziz Shittu - DT - California
192. Nick Davidson - OT - Minnesota (Stanford)
193. Deaysean Rippy - LB - Pennsylvania
196. Warren Ball - RB - Ohio (Ohio State)
198. Derrick Woods - S - California (Oklahoma)
199. Martin Aiken - DE - South Carolina (Clemson)
200. Connor Brewer - QB - Arizona (Texas)
202. Ken Ekanem - DE - Virginia
205. Amara Darboh - WR - Iowa (Michigan)
209. Keith Brown - LB - Miami (Louisville)
212. David Perkins - LB - Indiana
214. Jalen Overstreet - S - Texas (Texas)
217. Deontay McManus - WR - Maryland (West Virginia)
219. Kendall Sanders - CB - Texas (Texas)
221. Devin Funchess - TE - Michigan (Michigan)
222. Dominique Wheeler - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
223. Vince Biegel - LB - Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
225. A.J. Williams - OT - Ohio (Michigan)
229. Jarron Jones - OT - New York (Notre Dame)
231. Deon Bush - S - Florida (Miami)
232. Derek Edinburgh - OT - Louisiana (LSU)
236. Evan Baylis - TE - Colorado (Oregon)
240. Maty Mauk - QB - Ohio (Missouri)
242. Tyler Orlosky - OG - Ohio (West Virginia)
243. J.P. Holtz - TE - Pennsylvania
244. Tyriq McCord - DE - Florida (Miami)
245. Jarrod Wilson - S - Ohio (Michigan)
247. Drew Harris - RB - Pennsylvania
250. Dalvin Tomlinson - DT - Georgia
251. Michael Moore - DE - Maryland (Penn State)
255. Danny O'Brien - DT - Michigan (Tennessee)
264. Ty Darlington - C - Florida (Oklahoma)
270. Avery Johnson - WR - Florida (LSU)
277. Kenny Lawler - CB - Washington, D.C.
278. Jaleel Johnson - DT - Illinois (Iowa)
280. Jason Croom - WR - Georgia (Tennessee)
282. Zeke Pike - QB - Kentucky (Auburn)
285. Jake Rodrigues - QB - California (Oregon)
286. Pharaoh Brown - TE - Ohio (Oregon)
287. Hiva Lutui - C - California
292. Devan Bogard - S - Ohio (Ohio State)
297. Vonte Jackson - RB - Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
298. Ron Thompson - TE - Michigan (Syracuse)
299. Shane Callahan - OT - Colorado (Auburn)

Mailbag: How 'bout them linebacker recruits?

Joe Bolden (#27) helps tackle Wes Brown in Thursday's Under Armour All-America Game
(image via Cincinnati.com)

 Magnus - 

This week there has been a lot of buzz about how well Joe Bolden is playing. Of the four incoming linebackers (all of which you list on your site as inside linebackers) I'm wondering how you see them fitting into the scheme and depth chart. More specifically: Demens is a solid multi-year starter who will anchor the middle next year and be replaced by someone the following year - who do you think is the best fit? Morgan is limited athletically but as a freshman proved to be a quality contributor and should only get better - do you see any of the freshmen threatening his starting spot next year or beyond that? Do you see any of these recruits changing positions to DE or OLB? Has Bolden's performance this week changed your rating of him? 

Also, could you maybe talk about the differences in physical traits that you'd want between the Will and Mike positions? My understanding is that the 4-3 under is pretty similar to a 3-4 defense and that both the MIKE and WILL are essentially classic middle linebackers. Is that true? 

Adam Gurnee, IL

Thanks for the question, Adam.  I list all four incoming linebackers as "inside linebackers" because in the 4-3 Under, there are two inside linebackers and one outside linebacker.  Against a base offense, both the WILL and MIKE playing between the tackles and are mostly interchangeable.  They essentially have the same responsibility against the run, although obviously offensive formations and plays change things a little bit.  If Michigan ran a 4-3 Over or a Tampa Two defense, then I would consider the WILL an outside linebacker and the MIKE an inside 'backer.  For further schematic explation, check out this post from last spring.

Both Joe Bolden and Royce Jenkins-Stone have been recruited to play MIKE.  James Ross and Kaleb Ringer have been recruited to play WILL.

I believe the best fit to replace Demens in a couple years is Desmond Morgan.  Morgan is already 220-225 lbs. and a good height (in other words, not too tall) to take on lead blocks from fullbacks.  Brady Hoke clearly values experience (why else would Troy Woolfolk start for the entire season?), and I think that will give Morgan the upper hand in the fight for the middle linebacker job, even if a guy like Joe Bolden is hot on his heels.  I also think Morgan lacks the necessary athleticism to start at WILL for the next three years, because he's too slow to cover running backs and slot receivers in space.  He's a short-term plug at WILL, not a long-term answer, in my opinion.

I do not think Morgan's starting spot at WILL is etched in stone for next season.  He had a solid year but not a great one, and as I said above, his skill set isn't perfect for the position.  If incoming freshman James Ross can add just a little bit of weight, I think he has a decent shot at unseating Desmond Morgan or at least getting some snaps as a backup.  Ross diagnoses plays as quickly as I have ever seen a high schooler, and that's a key component of playing WILL in this defense.  The weakside 'backer is often unblocked or targeted on play action passes, so it's very important that he's an intelligent player.  I think that's why Morgan found time there as a freshman, and I think that's why Ross has a shot there, too.

I do not foresee any of these linebackers playing defensive end, but there is a possibility that Jenkins-Stone could turn into a SAM.  He's a tall, lean guy and if he can get in the weight room and pack on some pounds, then he could be an attacker in the mold of Jake Ryan.  However, depth is needed at middle linebacker, so my guess is that he stays there, at least for a couple seasons.  Bolden is a talented kid but has less position flexibility, so if Jenkins-Stone presses for playing time, then I could see him playing SAM to get all the talent spread out among the three linebacker positions.

Recruiting Update: January 9, 2012

Uriah LeMay (#81) was offered by Michigan late last week
(image via Mint Hill Times)

ADDED TO THE BOARD
Wylie (TX) East wide receiver Marcell Ateman, a 2013 prospect, was offered on Saturday.  Ateman is a 6'5", 180 lb. kid with offers from Arizona, Baylor, and Tennessee.  Last season he caught 67 passes for 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns.  Ateman isn't a burner, but he's a legitimate jump ball threat with his size

Washington (D.C.) H.D. Woodson cornerback Kenny Crawley de-committed from Tennessee.  Crawley is rumored to be unhappy with the coaching situation for the Volunteers and will likely go elsewhere for college.  His destination probably won't be Michigan, however.

Oxon Hill (MD) Potomac cornerback Ronald Darby de-committed from Notre Dame.  Darby is a 5'11", 172 lb. athlete with elite speed (a reported 4.37 forty).  Darby has never shown much interest in Michigan and instead plans to concentrate on Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, and LSU.

Monaca (PA) Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster, a 2013 prospect, was offered by Michigan.  Foster is a 6'3", 170 lb. speedster with offers from Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and USC, among others.  He has been named a 5-star already by Scout.


Matthews (NC) Butler wide receiver Uriah LeMay, a 2013 prospect, received an offer from Michigan.  The 6'2", 188 lb. prospect attends the alma mater of former Michigan safety Jamar Adams and 2011 linebacker Kris Frost, and he's also the younger brother of class of 2011 quarterback Christian LeMay, whom Rich Rodriguez offered and now plays for Georgia.  Uriah has offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, among others.


Charlotte (NC) Mallard Creek wide receiver Marquez North, a 2013 prospect, received his offer from the Wolverines.  North's former teammate is D.J. Humphries, a class of 2012 offensive tackle who is committed to Florida.  The 6'3", 205 lb. receiver has offers from Clemson, Florida, South Carolina, and many others.


OFF THE BOARD
Miami (FL) Norland linebacker Keith Brown committed to Louisville at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  Brown had been committed to Illinois at one point, but the firing of Ron Zook sent him southward.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel running back Wes Brown committed to Maryland at the Under Armour All-America Game.  The 6'1", 200-pounder is the former teammate of Michigan cornerback Blake Countess and uncommitted 2012 wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Miami (FL) Columbus safety Deon Bush committed to Miami at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  The 6'1", 185-pounder picked a Hurricanes hat over those from Alabama and Auburn.

Baltimore (MD) Gilman cornerback Cyrus Jones committed to Alabama at the Under Armour All-America Game.  Jones is an all-around athlete with the ability to run (948 yards, 13 touchdowns), catch (635 yards, 6 touchdowns), return (4 return touchdowns), and cover (3 interceptions).

Monrovia (CA) Monrovia defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy committed to Cal at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  McCarthy is listed at 6'5", 311 lbs. but was quick enough to play defensive end for the West Team.

Tampa (FL) Jefferson defensive end Tyriq McCord committed to Miami at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  The 6'3", 222 lb. edge rusher was praised this week for his speed around the corner and how quickly he got after the quarterbacks.

Centerville (OH) Centerville defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo committed to Northwestern on Saturday.  Odenigbo mentioned repeatedly that he would be choosing his school based largely on academics, and he couldn't really go wrong with become a Wildcat.  Odenigbo did an excellent job of rushing the passer in the Under Armour All-America Game.

Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian wide receiver Jordan Payton committed to Cal on Friday.  At one time Payton looked like a lock to Michigan and there were rumors that he had committed to the Wolverines, but as time wore on, he also became enamored with Notre Dame and then Cal.  Payton was committed to USC at one time, too.

Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep safety Elijah Shumate committed to Notre Dame at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  Shumate is the teammate of Michigan target Yuri Wright, who also played in the game but did not announce a college destination.

Sacramento (CA) Grant safety Shaq Thompson committed to Cal at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  Thompson is 6'1", 195 lbs. but played like a man child in Saturday's game.  Thompson was considering an official visit to Michigan at one point, but that seemed to be in connection with Jordan Payton's interest in the Wolverines.  Once Payton's interest waned, Thompson's did, too.

ALL-STAR GAMES
Cincinnati (OH) Colerain linebacker Joe Bolden was named a captain and starter for the Black Team in the Under Armour All-America Game.  Bolden was praised throughout the week of practice for his instincts, intensity, and hitting.  In the game he was once again solid, making 7 total tackles.  Rivals crowned him the best tackler at the game, which  bodes well for his future as a middle linebacker at Michigan.  The 6'2", 225-pounder graduated early and is enrolled at Michigan, where he'll take part in spring practices.  Perhaps more importantly, he will join Jake Ryan in the ranks of dreamy, long-haired linebackers.


Detroit (MI) Cass Tech linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone started at middle linebacker for the West Team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  He made 1 tackle but showed good speed and was hustling on special teams.  The East ran the ball outside most of the time, so he didn't get a ton of chances to make plays in the middle.

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward's offensive guard Kyle Kalis played about half the game at right guard for the East Team and looked quite capable.  He was among the East's top performers on the offensive line throughout the week, and several national observers noted that his technique looks solid.  They also noted that he looked more comfortable at guard than tackle, which Kalis himself acknowledged at one point.  I have always maintained that he looked like a future guard to me, so I'm glad national scouts - and Kalis - seem to agree.

Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon offensive tackle Erik Magnuson started for the West Team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  The 6'6", 280 lb. future left tackle played all five positions during West Team practices this past week, but started the game at left guard and held up very well against the East.  He looked a little uncomfortable in his stance, but he kept his feet moving well and made some impressive seal blocks in a game that defensive linemen usually dominate.

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison defensive end Mario Ojemudia played defensive end for the East Team in the inaugural Semper Fi All-American Game.  He did not get off the ball as well as I expected him to, but that may be because he was playing a new position.  Despite being headed for DE or OLB at Michigan, he mostly played defensive tackle in high school.  Without the ball right under his nose, he seemed to be a little slow off the snap.  However, he was very good at using his hands to get off of blocks.

Kansas City (MO) Park Hill defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins didn't start the game, but was named a captain for the West Team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  He was somewhat inconsistent with his pad level and seemed a little out of shape, which is understandable for a 330 lb. kid at the beginning of January.  However, when he decided to hustle, he was very good.  Pipkins chased down East quarterback Chad Voytik on the sideline and crushed him, and he also chased down wide receiving/running back Stefon Diggs and forced a fumble.  Overall, the hype on Pipkins was justified and with a little conditioning, he should be at least backup material next season.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech cornerback Terry Richardson played defense and also returned kickoffs and punts for the Black Team in the Under Armour All-America Game.  Richardson showed good speed and decent elusiveness in returning a kickoff 32 yards and another 28 yards, but unfortunately he carries the ball a little loosely and fumbled the 28-yard return; his punt returns were iffy with one muff and one poor decision to catch the ball at the 6-yard line.  He also showed the ability to hang with the nation's best receivers, although Richardson didn't have any big plays on defense.  He was beaten for a touchdown in the third quarter, but had pretty good coverage and reached his hand across just a split second too late to deflect the pass.  The 5'9", 165 lb. Richardson needs to get a little bit thicker, because he tends to get pushed around by some of the bigger receivers.

Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's linebacker James Ross started for the West Team at weakside linebacker in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  Ross made 3 total tackles and flashed what I think is his biggest strength, which is diagnosing plays.  If it's a run, he knows it's a run.  If it's a pass, he knows it's a pass.  Ross took some poor angles at times, which may be partly due to adjusting to faster competition.  But he does have the speed to make those plays when he takes the proper angles, so I'm not too concerned there.

Overall, it was a very good showing for the Michigan players who participated in the all-star games, especially the guys in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  This looks to be the best crop of Army Bowl participants Michigan has snagged in years.

U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Kyle Kalis (#67) is one of five Michigan commits playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this afternoon

U.S. Army All-American Bowl
January 7, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. on NBC

Past Michigan commitments to have participated in the USAAB can be found here.

East Team targets:
Drae Bowles - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
Keith Brown - LB - Florida (Louisville)*
Deon Bush - CB - Florida (Miami)*
Leonte Carroo - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
Ty Darlington - C - Florida (Oklahoma)
Stefon Diggs - WR - Maryland
Kyle Dodson - OT - Ohio (Wisconsin)
Devin Fuller - QB - New Jersey
Darius Hamilton - DE - New Jersey
Eli Harold - DE - Virginia (Virginia)
D.J. Humphries - OT - North Carolina (Florida)
Jarron Jones - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
Kyle Kalis - OG - Ohio (Michigan, commitment post here)
Gunner Kiel - QB - Indiana (LSU)
Raphael Kirby - LB - Georgia (Miami)
Dillon Lee - LB - Georgia (Alabama)
Tyriq McCord - DE - Florida (Miami)*
Chris Muller - OT - Pennsylvania (Rutgers)
Tommy Schutt - DT - Illinois (Ohio State)
Elijah Shumate - S - New Jersey (Notre Dame)*
Geno Smith - CB - Georgia (Alabama)
Dwayne Stanford - WR - Ohio (Oregon)
Kent Taylor - TE - Florida (Florida)
John Theus - OT - Florida (Georgia)
Dan Voltz - OT - Illinois (Wisconsin)
Adolphus Washington - DE - Ohio (Ohio State)
Yuri Wright - CB - New Jersey

West Team targets:
Arik Armstead - DE - California
Zach Banner - OT - Washington
Vince Biegel - LB - Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
Dorial Green-Beckham - WR - Missouri
Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB - Michigan (Michigan, commitment post here)
Javonte Magee - DE - Texas
Erik Magnuson - OT - California (Michigan, commitment post here)
Ellis McCarthy - DT - California (Cal)*
Taylor McNamara - TE - California (Oklahoma)
LaDarrell McNeil - S - Texas (Tennessee)
John Michael McGee - OG - Texas (Oklahoma)
Kyle Murphy - OT - California
Durron Neal - WR - Missouri (Oklahoma)
Jordan Payton - WR - California (Cal)*
Zeke Pike - QB - Kentucky (Auburn)
Ondre Pipkins - DT - Missouri (Michigan, commitment post here)
James Ross - LB - Michigan (Michigan, commitment post here)
Jabari Ruffin - LB - California (USC)
Kendall Sanders - WR - Texas (Texas)
Aziz Shittu - DT - California
Jordan Simmons - OG - California (USC)
Michael Starts - OG - Texas (Texas Tech)
Shaq Thompson - S - California (Cal)*
Max Tuerk - OT - California (USC)
Dominique Wheeler - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
Derrick Woods - WR - California (Oklahoma)

*Announced commitment during game

New Rivals 250 Released

Terry Richardson is Rivals' #217 overall players

Yesterday Rivals released the top 100 prospects for 2012, which I detailed yesterday afternoon.

Today Rivals released the rest of the Rivals 250.

Notable movement for Michigan commits since the August re-rank:

- Joe Bolden jumped from #184 to #152

- James Ross dropped from #158 to #163

- Royce Jenkins-Stone dropped from #97 to #182

- Terry Richardson dropped from #214 to #217

Here's a look at Michigan targets from #101 to #250:

105. Dillon Lee - LB - Georgia (Alabama)
106. Cyrus Jones - ATH - Maryland
109. Ifeadi Odenigbo - DE - Ohio
120. Jordan Payton - WR - California
123. Peter Jinkens - LB - Texas (Texas)
125. LaDarrell McNeill - S - Texas (Tennessee)
127. Drae Bowles - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
128. Elijah Shumate - S - New Jersey
133. Ty Darlington - C - Florida (Oklahoma)
136. Bri'onte Dunn - RB - Ohio (Ohio State)
141. Javonte Magee - DE - Texas
143. Dalvin Tomlinson - DT - Texas
144. Evan Boehm - OG - Missouri
145. Zeke Pike - QB - Kentucky (Auburn)
147. Paul Thurston - OT - Colorado (Nebraska)
152. Joe Bolden - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
153. Dan Voltz - OT - Illinois (Wisconsin)
156. Sean Price - TE - Florida (South Florida)
157. Danny O'Brien - DT - Michigan (Tennessee)
159. Jarron Jones - DT - New York (Notre Dame)
160. Jaleel Johnson - DT - Illinois (Iowa)
161. Jake Rodrigues - QB - California (Oregon)
162. Camren Williams - LB - Massachusetts (Penn State)
163. James Ross - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
165. Devonte Fields - DE - Texas (TCU)
166. Michael Starts - DE - Texas (Texas Tech)
167. Matt Jones - RB - Florida (Florida)
169. Dwayne Stanford - WR - Ohio (Oregon)
172. Deontay McManus - WR - Maryland (West Virginia)
174. Kyle Dodson - OT - Ohio (Wisconsin)
176. Connor Brewer - QB - Arizona (Texas)
182. Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
183. Brock Stadnik - OT - North Carolina (South Carolina)
186. Michael Moore - DE - Maryland (Virginia)
188. Greg McMullen - DE - Ohio (Nebraska)
197. Derek Edinburgh - OT - Louisiana (LSU)
198. Adam Bisnowaty - OT - Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)
202. Ken Ekanem - DE - Virginia
204. Shane Callahan - OT - Colorado (Auburn)
208. Amara Darboh - WR - Iowa
209. Martin Aiken - DE - South Carolina (Clemson)
211. Leonte Carroo - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
212. Latroy Pittman - WR - Florida (Florida)
213. Armani Reeves - CB - Massachusetts (Penn State)
215. Taylor Decker - OT - Ohio (Notre Dame)
217. Terry Richardson - CB - Michigan (Michigan)
227. Jody Fuller - WR - North Carolina (South Carolina)
228. Warren Ball - RB - Ohio (Ohio State)
232. Troy Hinds - DE - Utah (BYU)
235. Reginald Davis - WR - Texas (Texas Tech)
237. I'Tavius Mathers - RB - Tennessee (Mississippi)
239. Alex Kozan - OT - Colorado
242. Sheldon Day - DT - Indiana (Notre Dame)
248. Darius Powe - WR - California
249. Wes Brown - RB - Maryland