Recruiting Update: August 10, 2015

Covington (GA) Newton running back Kurt Taylor (image via Scout)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy defensive end/linebacker Rahshaun Smith decommitted from Clemson. Smith is a 6'3", 239 lb. prospect who is high on Auburn, LSU, Maryland, and Miami, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #1 inside linebacker, and #55 overall. He transferred from the Baltimore area to IMG Academy after his junior season, and he expressed interest in Michigan when he was first offered. However, I do not think the Wolverines will factor back into his recruitment.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
Covington (GA) Newton running back Kurt Taylor was offered by Michigan. He's a 5'9", 200 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Rutgers, and Vanderbilt, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #34 running back, and #464 overall. He claims a 4.48 forty. Taylor is compact, strong, and built low to the ground. He can grind out tough yardage and bounce off some tackle attempts. He doesn't have great burst, but he's decisive and gets upfield quickly. He visited Michigan for the BBQ at the Big House and was offered after the trip. He plans to return for the Ohio State game in late November.

Hit the jump for a new 2018 offer, several players who committed elsewhere, and some random bits.

Recruiting Update: June 2, 2014

Lake Stevens (WA) Lake Stevens QB Jacob Eason

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Santa Margarita Catholic quarterback K.J. Costello was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'4", 213 lb. prospect with offers from Cal, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, and Virginia. 247 Sports ranks him as a 4-star, the #5 pro-style quarterback, and #139 overall in his class. Costello has a bit of a hitch in his throwing motion that slows down his release, but otherwise, he's got a strong arm with good accuracy. Michigan has now offered four quarterbacks in the 2016 class (two more are listed below, plus Dwayne Haskins, Jr. received his two weeks ago), and Costello seems the most enthusiastic about Michigan.

Lake Stevens (WA) Lake Stevens quarterback Jacob Eason was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'5", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 247 Sports 5-star, the #1 pro-style quarterback, and #5 overall. As a sophomore in 2013, he completed 209/350 passes for 2,941 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. Eason is a tall, lanky kid with a very strong arm, good accuracy, and a high football IQ. Eason's father is Tony Eason (not that Tony Eason), a former wide receiver for the Fighting Irish.


Thousand Oaks (CA) Westlake quarterback Malik Henry was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'3", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin, among others. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #1 dual-threat quarterback, and #13 overall. Henry has a strong arm, and while he's listed as a dual-threat guy, he seems like one of those guys who likes to throw first but can move the chains well with his feet. Somewhat like a Devin Gardner, he can make plays from the pocket but his feet are an added bonus.

Panama City (FL) Bay defensive end Janarius Robinson was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'5", 230 lb. prospect with a 4.62 forty. He has offers from Clemson, Florida State, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #5 weakside end, and #65 overall. The front-runner appears to be Florida State, but Robinson is planning a trip to Ann Arbor for later in June.

Reisterstown (MD) Franklin wide receiver Steven Smothers was offered by Michigan. He's a 5'9", 152 lb. prospect with a 4.39 forty. He has offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, among others. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #9 wide receiver, and #62 overall. In a recent interview with MGoBlog, Smothers claimed to be from another planet and said he's the most dominant player in the 2016 class, so confidence is not lacking in this one. His teammate is 2015 offensive guard prospect Patrick Allen, who also holds a Michigan offer.

OFF THE BOARD
Merrillville (IN) Andrean linebacker Josh Barajas flipped from Penn State to Notre Dame. Penn State had some significant recruiting momentum, and this is a bit of a blow to what is still a very good recruiting class for the Nittany Lions. New coaches often bring at least a short wave of hype, so we'll see how long at lasts with James Franklin.

Jefferson City (MO) Helias tight end Hale Hentges committed to Alabama. Hentges had visited Michigan, but he has always been at least the third-most likely player at his position to commit to Michigan (behind Chris Clark and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr.), so this isn't a big blow.

MISCELLANEOUS
Here's a list of various kinds of lists:

• Weekend visitors to Michigan (LINK)
• Players attending the upcoming Michigan summer camp (LINK)
• Players attending Sound Mind Sound Body in Detroit (LINK)
• Players visited by Michigan's coaching staff in May (LINK)

Dallas (TX) Bishop Dunne wide receiver A.D. Miller will be visiting Michigan today. He's a 6'4", 175 lb. prospect with offers from Cal, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #130 wide receiver, and #1091 overall. As a junior in 2013, he had 38 catches for 500 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Last week on Recruiting Season, I profiled Saginaw Swan Valley's Alex Grace, Farmington's David Reese, Greenville's Stephen Eipper, and Battle Creek Harper Creek's Brandon Hutson.