Scouting Report: Ron Johnson, Jr.

Name: Ron Johnson
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Camden (NJ) Camden
Position: Defensive end
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin . . . ESPN 4-star, #11 defensive end, #73 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #5 weakside end, #96 overall . . . Scout 3-star, #48 defensive end . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #14 weakside end, #220 overall

Strengths: Good frame to stay at defensive end . . . Plenty of room to add weight . . . Long arms . . . Uses hands well to shed blockers . . . Quick, compact swim move . . . Good awareness and nose for football . . . Enough speed and tenacity to chase down plays from backside . . . Violent hitter . . . Runs feet after contact . . . Plays with chip on his shoulder . . . Takes good angles . . . Good straight-line speed and agility . . . Fast enough to threaten the edge with speed rush

Weaknesses: Can play too high on interior . . . Needs to improve explosiveness of first step . . . Needs to diversify pass rush repertoire . . . Sometimes gets lazy with tackling technique

Projection: Defensive end. Depending on how his body develops, Johnson could play either the weakside end or strongside end position. He does not have the speed and suddenness to be a complete terror as a pass rusher, but he has enough speed to be a consistent threat and enough tenacity to finish plays with hustle. Johnson is a high-floor player who, at the very least, should be able to hold his own against the run and make some Brennen Beyer- or Craig Roh-like plays on the quarterback. There are times in his film where he crushes lead blockers, and he has a violent way about his play that makes me think he likes punishing anyone with an opposing jersey.

Reminds me of: Frank Clark. I mentioned Beyer and Roh up above as kind of Johnson's floor, but when Clark was clicking, he was very tough to deal with. Johnson is probably a little taller and his game is more developed at this point, but both guys have good frames, a good wingspan, and a nasty attitude.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Johnson recently named a top fifteen that included Michigan, and the Wolverines have even been reported to be in his top two schools (along with South Carolina). Johnson visited Michigan this spring with teammate Brad Hawkins, who also holds a Michigan offer. The Wolverines have as good of a shot as anyone.

Highlights:

Scouting Report: Rashan Gary

Paramus (NJ) Catholic defensive tackle Rashan Gary
(image via NorthJersey.com)

Name: Rashan Gary
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 290 lbs.
High school: Paramus (NJ) Catholic
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Army, Auburn, Boston College, Cincinnati, Clemson, Connecticut, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin . . . Claims 4.86 forty . . . As a junior in 2014 made 55 tackles and 14 sacks . . . ESPN 5-star, 94 grade, #1 defensive tackle, #1 overall . . .  Rivals 5-star, #1 defensive tackle, #4 overall . . . Scout 5-star, #1 defensive tackle, #1 overall . . . 247 Sports 5-star, #1 defensive tackle, #3 overall

Strengths: Good build . . . Not much bad weight . . . Flexible lower body . . . Quick enough to play defensive end for his high school team . . . Very good motor . . . Makes plays all over the field . . . Violent tackler . . . Good lateral quickness . . . Strong enough to lock out offensive linemen . . . Can manhandle blockers . . . Stops runners in their tracks, eliminating second-effort yardage

Weaknesses: Stands up too high at times . . . Needs to work on compacting swim move . . . Must improve hand placement . . . Can get caught with hands down or too far outside

Projection: Defensive tackle. Gary is an exceptional athlete for his position and size. He plays against pretty good competition in high school and still looks dominant. One catch in his situation is that he played defensive end last year, whereas he'll be a tackle in college. He does a good enough job of coming low out of his stance that pad level should not be a major issue; it's only when he tries to use his speed rush around the outside that he loses good body lean. He will also have to learn how to use his hands a little better, but that is something that can get correct pretty quickly. Gary looks like a 3-tech tackle who will be very hard to handle for offensive guards.

Reminds me of: Warren Sapp. I don't see a great comparison through Michigan's history - Alan Branch and Gabe Watson were a little too nose tackle-y, and Mike Martin was mostly about quickness, although he was awfully powerful, too. Sapp was both powerful and quick, which also describes Gary.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: 247 Sports' Crystal Ball predictions have Alabama at 52%, Michigan at 31%, and nobody else in double digits. The Wolverines have a couple former Paladins already in the form of redshirt freshmen Jabrill Peppers and Juwann Bushell-Beatty, and they also have the former coach, Chris Partridge, in the role of recruiting coordinator. Gary took a visit to Michigan this spring and thoroughly enjoyed it, but his recruiting process could last until February, and a lot of things can happen between now and then. Michigan is right in the thick of the hunt.

Highlights:

Scouting Report: Terrance Davis

Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha offensive
guard Terrance Davis

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Name: Terrance Davis
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha
Position: Offensive guard
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCLA, and Virginia Tech . . . ESPN unranked OG . . . Rivals 4-star, #5 OG, #124 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #10 OT, #71 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #3 OG, #148 overall . . . Teammate of 2017 RB offeree Anthony McFarland, Jr.

Strengths: Huge body . . . Size is college-ready . . . Understands angles . . . Has good feel for sealing off defenders . . . Decent pass protector . . . Understands stunts and maintains pocket integrity . . . Too big and sturdy to bull rush . . . Moves feet consistently in pass pro

Weaknesses: Poor footwork . . . Too many false steps . . . Plays too upright . . . Stands straight up at the snap . . . Mediocre athlete . . . Lacks straight-line speed . . . Also lacks lateral agility when working up to second level . . . Reaches too much . . . Needs to work on hand placement . . . Gets out-leveraged by smaller opponents . . . Does not finish blocks consistently

Projection: Offensive guard. Davis has a great body for the college level, but his athleticism doesn't match up. He has some bad weight on him, and a college strength and conditioning program will obviously help. But he needs a lot of technique work in the run game, and he plays too high to be very successful, which can be a difficult problem to fix. Davis needs to be in a pro-style system where his size and strength in confined spaces can be an asset. Frankly, I believe the three sites to have ranked him so far have placed him too high on their lists. He is certainly an FBS prospect but has somewhat limited utility until he refines his technique and gets in better shape.

Reminds me of: Brett Gallimore. Perhaps this is an odd comparison, but Gallimore was a 6'5", 290 lb. offensive tackle in high school who was a Rivals 4-star, the #10 tackle, and #96 overall. He was large and pushed people around, but a couple years ago when I was reviewing the class of 2004, I looked back on his film. And boy, oh boy, he was a big kid who just didn't understand leverage, moving his feet, etc. I think Davis is a bit more refined, but Gallimore is who I was reminded of initially. (For those who don't remember, Gallimore spent four years on the team, barely played, and left the team when Lloyd Carr did, forgoing a fifth year.)

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Strong. Davis has been tweeting about Michigan a lot, loved his visit this spring, has 56% of his Crystal Balls in favor of the Wolverines, and wore Michigan gear to camp last weekend (with his mom wearing a matching "M" cap). If National Signing Day were today, there's a very good chance he would be signing with Michigan.

Highlights:

Scouting Report: Naseir Upshur

Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep tight end Naseir Upshur with former
Michigan tight ends coach Dan Ferrigno in June 2014 (image via
GBMWolverine)

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Name: Naseir Upshur
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 233 lbs.
High school: Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep
Position: Tight end
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, LSU, Maryland, Massachusetts, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, UCF, UCLA, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Western Michigan, Wisconsin. . . 22 catches, 640 yards, 11 touchdowns; 20 tackles, 6 sacks as a junior in 2014 . . . Claims 4.7 forty . . . 4.47 shuttle . . . 26.7" vertical . . .  Rivals 4-star, #3 TE, #61 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #10 TE, #212 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #7 TE, #208 overall

Strengths: Thick, powerful lower body . . . Adept and potent blocker . . . Drives feet after contact . . . Blocks through the whistle . . . Impressive straight line speed . . . Tough to bring down for defensive backs . . . Good agility . . . Solid route runner . . . Understands how to threaten and beat coverages

Weaknesses: Rather short for tight end . . . Does not possess ideal length . . . Limited catching radius . . . Body catcher . . . Does not extend hands well

Projection: Tight end/H-back. Upshur has the tenacity to become an inline tight end and blocker, but he lacks ideal size for the position and might top out around 240 lbs. He probably projects best as a complementary tight end or an H-back type who can go in motion, line up as a wing, work out of the slot, etc. He is not a mismatch in the passing game because he lacks the explosiveness and catching radius to beat well trained pass defenders. However, he could be effective on seam routes, an occasional bubble screen, bootlegs, etc. He will also be a strong point in the running game, where he can latch onto and overpower second-level defenders. If offense doesn't work out, Upshur could also play defensive end, where he has some explosiveness and a nose for the ball.

Reminds me of: Khalid Hill. Upshur's size is similar to that of Vernon Davis, but he lacks the same kind of speed. Hill is a similar type of player in regard to pass catching and overall physical profile, but Upshur is more explosive and a stronger blocker.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Steve Lorenz recently predicted that Upshur would end up committing to Michigan. Jay Harbaugh is his recruiter and has been coming after him hard. He essentially has his choice of schools, and there has been some talk about him playing with Maryland quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who is bound for somewhere other than Ann Arbor. Overall, Michigan is one of his top few schools right now and at least has a strong chance to secure his commitment.

Highlights:


Hudl highlights.

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:

Scouting Report: 2016 Quarterbacks

Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist quarterback Shea Patterson (#1)

Every year I put together a list of potential quarterbacks from Michigan and rank their desirability. This year's list includes only players Michigan has offered, since more offers have gone out than in the past. Brady Hoke was very stingy with quarterback offers and generally didn't offer guys until National Signing Day of the preceding class, but he went a little crazy with 2016 guys and offered some of them early. Jim Harbaugh has reaffirmed some of those offers and added one name to the list (Brandon Peters), plus he has gotten in the ear of Georgia commit Jacob Eason, whom I also included. Remember that this is a look at which players fit Michigan's personnel, coaching staff, and system best, not necessarily who will be the best college football player overall.

If additions to the list are needed later, I'll do a separate post at that time. Otherwise, these are the guys Michigan has offered and pursued at one point or another for the 2016 cycle. Enjoy!

1. Jacob Eason - QB - Lake Stevens (WA) Lake Stevens: Eason is a 6'5", 205 lb. quarterback who committed to Georgia last summer; he also holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Washington, and Washington State, among others. He's a 247 Composite 5-star, the #1 pro-style quarterback, and #4 overall. As a junior in 2014, he completed 197/287 passes for 2,829 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Eason is a tall kid who can easily see over the line, and he does a good job of standing in the pocket and finding his man. He keeps his feet active and is always in a position to throw, which is helped out by the fact that he has the arm strength to make all the throws. I believe he has an NFL arm as a high schooler, and he can put the ball on a line even when he's running and can only use his arm. In that way he reminds me a little bit of some throws I saw Jameis Winston make this past year, but overall, I see Sam Bradford when I look at Eason. Eason can put some nice touch on the deep ball, and he can find small windows in the secondary. He also gets rid of the ball quickly and seems in command of the offense, understanding where to go with the football and when. He gets through his reads in a hurry and can scan the whole field, which is impressive for a high schooler. There's not much to criticize, but he is not a dynamic runner, lacking great speed or elusiveness but with enough athleticism right now to keep the chains moving. Also, when he has to hold onto the ball, he starts to drop his throwing arm and he can be a little careless by keeping only one hand on the ball at times, which might lead to turnovers. He also appears to operate exclusively out of a shotgun spread, which means that playing from under center might be a tricky adjustment.

Hit the jump for seven more quarterback breakdowns.

Scouting Report: Chris Williamson

Gainesville (GA) Gainesville cornerback Chris Williamson
(image via 247sports.com)

Name: Chris Williamson
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Gainesville (GA) Gainesville
Position: Wide receiver/cornerback
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Auburn, BYU, Cal, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia, Iowa State, Kentucky, Miami-OH, Michigan, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Purdue, UCF, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest . . . ESPN 3-star, 79 grade, #57 ATH . . . Rivals 4-star, #36 ATH . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 89 grade, #39 ATH . . . Claims a 4.4 forty . . . 36" vertical . . . 315 lb. bench press . . . 465 lb. squat . . . 10.83 time in 100 meters . . . "Big Play Ray" Buchanan called Williamson a "poor man's Champ Bailey" (LINK)

Strengths: Adjusts well to ball in air . . . Good body control . . . Capable of making acrobatic plays . . . Able to high-point the ball . . . Very good leaping ability . . . Transitions well out of backpedal to break on ball . . . Fluid hips lead to good recovery speed . . . Excellent in zone coverage . . . As a receiver, consistently works to get open . . . Tough to jam off line of scrimmage due to lateral movement . . . Finds holes in defensive coverages . . . Good balance . . . Very good acceleration . . . Able to cut at full speed

Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger . . . Willing tackler but lacks proper technique and strength . . . Does not run feet through contact . . . Film does not show abilities in press man coverage . . . Appears to be holding back at times, but that may be due to playing both ways

Projection: Cornerback. I say this largely because of his size and body type, but he could easily play receiver in college. Williamson shows enough awareness and potential to slot in wherever a team needs him most. He has short legs, which lend themselves to good short-area quickness and change of direction, but he also has very good long speed. Williamson could also be one of those guys who becomes a multi-purpose returner, because he has the vision and quickness to return punts with the straight-line speed to do kickoff returns.

Reminds me of: Chris Davis from Auburn. I can't think of a great equivalent with respect to Michigan, so I'll go with the corner from Auburn who made his name with the 109-yard field goal return for a touchdown against Alabama in 2013 (LINK). I think they have similar physical skills, although I see Williamson having better ball skills.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Analysts have stated that it will be tough to pull Williamson away from the home-state Bulldogs, and Auburn also jumped into the picture with an offer a few weeks ago. He has visited Cal and North Carolina, he'll be in Michigan this weekend, and then he's going to Florida the last weekend in January. It seems to be kind of a crap shoot right now, but Michigan is right in the thick of it due to former Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin leading the charge.

Highlights:

Scouting Report: John Kelly

Name: John Kelly
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 194 lbs.
High school: Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Position: Running back
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Iowa, Maryland, Miami-OH, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Tennessee, Western Michigan . . . Claims a 4.38 forty . . . 37" vertical . . . ESPN 3-star, 78 grade, #55 running back . . . Rivals 3-star, #28 athlete . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 88 grade, #38 athlete

Strengths: Solidly built . . . Strong lower body and leg churn . . . Runs with good body lean through line of scrimmage . . . Runs like a sprinter, getting more upright in open field . . . Good acceleration in and out of cuts . . . Excellent vision and patience as a runner . . . Very good top-end speed . . . Runs through contact . . . Looks for cutbacks instead of going out of bounds . . . Aggressive blocker both in run and pass game . . . Also an aggressive tackler on defense

Weaknesses: Does not have a great deal of highlights on defense . . . Questionable ball skills . . . Seems to make more plays on offense than defense . . . Gives and takes a pounding, so durability may become an issue

Projection: Running back. I've had my eye on Kelly for a couple years now, and while he's being recruited by some schools to play defense, I just don't see the playmaking on that side of the ball. He has been dynamic on offense, and the skills I've seen displayed translate to running back more than any other position, in my opinion. Other than great size, he has a good dose of everything you want in a running back: speed, vision, strength, toughness, a willingness to block, etc.

Reminds me of: T.J. Yeldon from Alabama. Yeldon is obviously significantly larger, but the way Kelly runs - low through the line, good vision, cutting back to avoid going out of bounds, upright in the open field, etc. - reminds me of the Crimson Tide running back.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Tennessee supposedly leads, but Michigan is a strong possibility, too. Right now Michigan State leads the 247 Sports Crystal Ball with 39% of the votes, followed by 32% for the Wolverines. Right now Kelly has visits set for Tennessee, Minnesota, and Michigan. Things are pretty up in the air.

Scouting Report: Osa Masina

Salt Lake City (UT) Brighton linebacker Osa Masina (image via Deseret News)

Name: Osa Masina
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Salt Lake City (UT) Brighton
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from BYU, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Washington, Washington State, and Wisconsin . . . ESPN 4-star, #13 athlete, #127 overall, #1 in Utah . . . Rivals 4-star, #5 athlete, #53 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #10 OLB, #159 overall, #2 in Utah . . . As a junior in 2013, had 222 carries for 1,643 yards and 25 touchdowns, along with 87 tackles and 4.5 sacks . . . As a sophomore in 2012, had 108 carries for 706 yards and 9 touchdowns, along with 37 tackles

Strengths: Plays with a whatever-it-takes mentality . . . Good speed . . . Takes good angles toward ball carriers . . . Shows quality sportsmanship . . . High motor player . . . Wades through trash well . . . Good enough athlete to be effective in pass coverage . . . As a running back, churns legs through contact

Weaknesses: As a running back, really lacks smooth athleticism and balances . . . Just looks uncomfortable with the ball in his hands . . . Effective as a high school runner because of his athleticism, but clearly a defensive player at the next level . . . On defense, tends to drag guys down instead of driving through them

Projection: Outside linebacker. While the 6'4" that's listed at some websites looks to be an overestimate of at least an inch, perhaps two, Masina does look like an outside linebacker at the next level. He has the speed and length to be a blitzer off the edge, and he has the quickness and athleticism to fold inside as an interior blitzer. He does a good job of tracking ball carriers but seems to be more of a downhill player than a read-and-react type of guy. The most impressive thing about Masina is his motor. Offensively and defensively, the guy just seems to be determined to get the endzone, take down the ball carrier, and make a play, regardless of what's in his way. That bodes well for his future.

Reminds me of: Jake Ryan. I thought about this comparison for a while, and I couldn't think of a great one for overall body type, athleticism, and playing style. I finally settled on Jake Ryan because of the motor and desire to make a play.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Masina recently named a top eight that included Arizona State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Wisconsin. He has an older brother at Utah, and 90% of his Crystal Ball predictions are for the Utes. However, Michigan is right in the thick of his recruitment and could probably be included in a top three.

Scouting Report: Grant Newsome

Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School offensive tackle Grant Newsome (#70, image via NJ.com)

Name: Grant Newsome
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: 2015

Notes: Attends private school at Lawrenceville but originally from McLean, VA . . . Holds offers from Alabama, Boston College, California, Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Wisconsin . . . ESPN 3-star, #26 OT, #275 overall, #14 in Virginia . . . Rivals 4-star OT, #30 OT, #8 in New Jersey . . . Scout 4-star, #20 OT . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #19 OT, #181 overall, #5 in New Jersey

Strengths: Tall with good length . . . Thick upper body, narrow from waist down, which is how I like tackles . . . Good athleticism . . . Good straight-line running speed . . . Quick enough to be an effective blocker on second level . . . Shows enthusiasm for blocking small, quick guys . . . Shows ability to run feet after contact and finish blocks . . . Good lateral quickness . . . Should be an effective zone blocker

Weaknesses: Lacks aggression when pass blocking . . . Keeps hands low and lacks punch in pass sets . . . Opens up hips too quickly against pass rushers . . . Does not show consistent enough motor in finishing blocks . . . Plays high in run game . . . Can get off balance when he chooses not to move his feet . . . Does not use hands effectively control defenders

Projection: Left tackle. Newsome has all the physical skills anyone might want in a tackle - length, size, power, quickness, etc. The mental aspects are where he struggles. I think ESPN has him woefully underranked as a 3-star, but they may be judging him based on his refinement at this stage. Newsome will require some coaching, and not just a little. He needs to lower his pad level, especially in the run game, and he really needs to show more aggression on first-level blocks. For being such a big guy, he doesn't blow people off the ball like he should. That's a concern to me, but I think it has a lot to do with technique and a need to get into a college strength program.

Reminds me of: Logan Tuley-Tillman but without as much aggression. The two have similar body types and similar technique issues in high school, but Tuley-Tillman was a nastier player.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Newsome is pretty quiet on the recruiting trail, but he thinks highly of LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and Virginia. Both of 247 Sports' Crystal Ball picks are in Michigan's favor, and other analysts have suggested that Michigan has edged out in front, too. Michigan has done a good job of recruiting both New Jersey and Virginia lately.

Highlights: Newsome's highlights are available on Hudl.

Scouting Report: Michael Weber

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech running back Michael Weber (image via Detroit News)

Name: Michael Weber
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Running back
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Wisconsin . . . ESPN 4-star RB, 80 grade, #20 RB, #227 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #10 RB, #123 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 96 grade, #7 RB, #73 overall . . . Claims 4.47 forty . . . Benches 305 lbs. . . . As a sophomore in 2012, had 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns . . . As a junior in 2013, had 1,659 yards and 24 touchdowns . . . Has numerous former teammates playing college football, including Damon Webb (Ohio State), David Dawson (Michigan), Jourdan Lewis (Michigan), Delano Hill (Michigan), and Deon Drake (Michigan State)

Strengths: Good size/build for a running back . . . Not too big or too small . . . Shows an ability to get north and south without a lot of wasted time . . . Slashing style of runner . . . Doesn't take a lot of big hits . . . Good long speed . . . Accelerates quickly . . . Runs behind shoulder pads . . . Catches ball well out of the backfield . . Shows good patience in waiting for hole to develop . . . Drives feet after contact . . . Shows a physical attitude when blocking

Weaknesses: May struggle to create on his own . . . Does not have lightning speed . . . Could pick up knees higher through traffic . . . Tendency to carry ball in left hand when going right

Projection: Running back. Weber seems to do a lot of things well, and while he's not the fastest, shiftiest, or most powerful running back in the class, it's hard to find glaring weaknesses. Most of his "weaknesses" are either nitpicks or coachable. Cass Tech is a magnet school that consistently produces good linemen, so it's tough to judge Weber's vision when most of his highlights include his linemen blowing holes wide open. However, if his college team can open holes with any regularity, Weber hits the hole hard and will fall generally forward after contact.

Reminds me of: Emmitt Smith. Of course I'm not suggesting that Weber will one day be the NFL's all-time leading rusher, but the slashing style combined with Weber's gait and the way he waves his off hand while cutting just reminds me of the former Dallas Cowboy (and Arizona Cardinal). Additionally, Smith was never the speediest, most elusive, or strongest guy, but he found a way to churn out the yards.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Michigan State and perhaps Tennessee had lurched ahead of Michigan when Al Borges was the offensive coordinator and Damien Harris was committed to the Wolverines, but Harris's decommitment and the hiring of Doug Nussmeier have re-energized Michigan's pursuit of the Cass Tech product. There are some who believe that Michigan has a tentative lead over MSU, and I think his favorites in order would be Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, and then Wisconsin.

Scouting Report: New 2015 Quarterbacks

Stephenville (TX) Stephenville quarterback Jarrett Stidham

Here's another batch of quarterback scouting reports for the 2015 class. I spent a lot of time on these (too much time?), so hopefully they're useful and enjoyable. You might remember that I did this for another group of quarterbacks at the beginning of January, but Michigan's quarterback recruiting has stalled somewhat and some new names have popped up on the radar. Since that time, Blake Barnett and Jarrett Stidham have been offered, Doug Nussmeier was hired to replace Al Borges, and Ricky Town flipped from Alabama to USC, among other things. I'll place this batch in order, and at the end of the post, I'll give my own ranking of all the quarterback prospects.

1. Jarrett Stidham - QB - Stephenville (TX) Stephenville: Stidham is a 6'3", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 dual-threat quarterback, and #34 overall. He claims a 4.57 forty time. As a junior in 2013, he was 156/254 for 2,613 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions; he also ran 138 times for 821 yards and 14 touchdowns. Stidham is a polished spread quarterback, and he does a good job of making pre-snap reads and knowing where he wants to go with the ball. He has a little bit of a hitch in his delivery at times, but that doesn't bother me much. He shows nice pocket awareness and stands tall while staying on his toes, so he's always in a throwing position. He does not have a rocket for an arm, but he has above average arm strength. Perhaps the best thing about him is that he knows where to go with the ball and gets in there in a place where his receivers can run after the catch. One thing I noticed is that he does not have the most skilled receivers and running backs around him, yet he still puts up pretty big numbers. While Stidham is ranked as a dual-threat quarterback, he's not an elusive or speedy runner; he makes hay on the ground by making good, quick reads in the option game. I see him more as a pro-style quarterback.

2. Ricky Town - QB - Ventura (CA) St. Bonaventure: Town is a 6'4", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Stanford, Texas, and UCLA, along with several others; he committed to USC in late January after being committed to Alabama. Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier recruited him to Alabama initially, and there is some scuttlebutt that Nussmeier extended a Michigan offer, too, but that has not been confirmed. Anyway, Town is a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 pro-style quarterback, and #6 overall. As a junior in 2013, he completed 67% of his passes for 2,300 yards and 25 touchdowns. There's a lot to like about Town, but not as much as Stidham, in my opinion. Town has superior arm strength, and he has quick feet taking his drop. He is not the most athletic guy and lacks creativity outside of the pocket, which will cause him to take some big and potentially dangerous hits. Town has a quick release at times, but sometimes he gets sloppy with his mechanics and holds the ball a little too low, causing a longer windup. The biggest issue I see with Town is that he tends to force the ball into tight windows, and he doesn't always put it in the most catchable spot or lead his receivers to yards after the catch. Too many times he passes up wide open receivers to hit receivers who are in double-coverage or about to get lambasted. He has the ability to make every throw, which is tantalizing, but I'm not sure that he's the best decision maker.

3. Blake Barnett - QB - Corona (CA) Santiago: Barnett is a 6'3", 195 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Cal, Ole Miss, UCLA, and West Virginia; he committed to Notre Dame in November 2013. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #3 pro-style quarterback, and the #83 player overall. His Hudl profile suggests a 4.7 forty, a 4.4 pro agility shuttle, a 30" vertical, a 240 lb. bench max, and a 375 lb. squat max. As a junior in 2013, he had 2,332 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, along with 695 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. I'm a little bit at odds with his ranking as a pro-style quarterback, because Barnett does a lot of work with his legs. He's not a dynamic runner who will break open the game by running the ball, but he can keep a play alive, move the chains, and occasionally bust a long one; his running style reminds me of former Wolverine Tate Forcier. As a passer, Barnett has solid mechanics. He works mostly out of a shotgun spread look, so his footwork and progressions from under center might be question marks. He has adequate arm strength but shows nice touch on the ball, throwing some very nice corner routes and seam routes. Barnett also shows that he goes through progressions, is able to look off defenders, and check the ball down to his second and third options, at least. He looks like a Brian Kelly type of quarterback to me.

4. Brian Lewerke - QB - Phoenix (AZ) Pinnacle: Lewerke is a 6'3", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Louisville, Ole Miss, UCLA, and West Virginia. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #21 pro-style quarterback, and #483 overall. He claims a 4.67 forty, a 4.26 shuttle, a 32" vertical, a 195 lb. bench max, and a 280 lb. squat. As a junior in 2013, he was 167/316 for 2,780 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions; he also had 464 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Lewerke is a kid with a good frame who looks like he'll continue to grow and fill out to be well over 200 lbs. Listed as a pro-style quarterback, he can run a little bit and is difficult to take down on the move; he won't run away from many people, but he should be able to move the chains if you forget about him. When he scrambles, he keeps his eyes downfield looking for receivers and can throw on the move. Lewerke has a quick release and can deliver the ball on a line, in tight spaces, or with touch over the top. I was not extremely impressed with his sophomore film, but I think he took a big step forward as a junior.

5. Brandon Wimbush - QB - Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep: Wimbush is a 6'2", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 dual-threat quarterback, and #163 overall. As a junior in 2013, he was 52/80 for 822 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions; he also ran 25 times for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns and claims a 4.65 forty. Wimbush is a thick and powerful kid who reminds me a little bit of former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith. He has good speed without being blazingly fast, and he has enough power to run through a tackle here or there, too; if he's running downhill at a cornerback or safety with 2 yards to go for a first down, my Monopoly money's on Wimbush. He has a powerful arm with a little bit of a long release, though it's high enough to prevent some batted balls. Wimbush has the speed, strength, and creativity to make things happen outside the pocket. I would like to see him get rid of the ball a little quicker and have a better command of the offense and reading defenses, because some of his throws take too long to develop, which won't be as much of an option at the next level. The physical skills are there for Wimbush, and I wouldn't even call him a developmental prospect, because he's not a project; he's just a guy who appears to need a little seasoning.

6. Travis Waller - QB - Anaheim (CA) Servite: Waller is a 6'3", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona and Washington. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #7 dual-threat quarterback, and #213 overall. Waller is a tantalizing prospect, but he's a project. It's not a surprise at all that Arizona is on his offer list - at first glance, his playing style reminds me of former Michigan commit Shavodrick Beaver. Waller has very good speed, and he's a gangly but effective runner who shows determination and toughness in powering through tackles. His ball handling needs a lot of work, his footwork is inconsistent, and his team's offense looks a little simple; that last point is perhaps more about his coaching than him, but nonetheless, it speaks to the level at which he's expected to understand and perform. There are a lot of mirrored routes and simple route combinations, unlike those of a few other prospects on the list. He also plays in a somewhat gimmicky Texas Tech-style offense that has four or five receivers, extra wide splits by the linemen, etc. It's a wide open offense that serves its purpose by opening up some lanes for him to run and throw, but it doesn't lend itself to a lot of college systems. Waller has a somewhat long delivery, but he has a strong arm and can push the ball downfield. I mentioned Beaver up above, but his game is also somewhat reminiscent of former Baylor Bear and current Washington Redskin Robert Griffin III.

7. Kelly Bryant - QB - Piedmont (SC) Wren: Bryant is a 6'4", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Duke, Florida, North Carolina, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #19 dual-threat quarterback, and #549 overall. Bryant is a true dual-threat quarterback who can hurt teams with his arm and his legs. He lacks the speed and elusiveness of the great dual-threats, but he has good speed and is more of a slashing runner than a stop/start guy. In that aspect, he reminds me a little bit of Clemson's Tajh Boyd. As a thrower, Bryant has decent footwork out of the shotgun, but his arm mechanics are questionable; he tends to push the ball, and because of that, he lacks great arm strength. He throws the ball well when going to his right, but he could work on squaring his shoulders when rolling to the left. Ole Miss and Clemson appear to be the leaders.

Here's how I would rank the 20 quarterback prospects I've reviewed so far, and you may notice that some of them have been re-ranked. (This is mostly because I think Nussmeier wants a more mobile quarterback who can create with his feet, and it's slightly because I've let things simmer for a bit longer.)

1. Josh Rosen
2. Jarrett Stidham
3. Kyle Kearns
4. Zach Gentry
5. Blake Barnett
6. Ricky Town
7. Brian Lewerke
8. Brady White
9. Kevin Dillman
10. Brandon Wimbush
11. Alex Malzone
12. Travis Waller
13. Kelly Bryant
14. Sheriron Jones
15. Nick Johns
16. Jack Beneventi
17. Jimmy Fitzgerald
18. David Sills
19. Riley Neal
20. David Edwards

Blue = Go ahead and offer these guys
Green = Offer if the first eight don't bite
Red = I do not see this being a match

Scouting Report: Minkah Fitzpatrick

Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick (image via MGoBlog)

Name: Minkah Fitzpatrick
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter's Prep
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Boston College, Connecticut, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin . . . Claims a 4.45 forty . . . As a junior in 2013, had 62 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 21 pass breakups . . . As a sophomore in 2012, had 21 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 12 pass breakups . . . ESPN 4-star, 83 grade, #3 CB, #29 overall . . . Rivals 5-star CB, #9 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #9 CB, #69 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star CB, 97 grade, #4 cornerback, #35 overall, #1 in New Jersey

Strengths: Lanky with long arms . . . Able to deflect passes from a trail position . . . Good straight line speed once he gets into sprinting phase . . . Playmaker who likes to go for the ball . . . Won't settle for always making the safe play . . . Willing to be decently physical . . . Adjusts well out of backpedal to attack shorter throws . . . Takes good angles coming downhill from his part-time safety position . . . Physical runner with the ball in his hands and keeps legs churning through contact

Weaknesses: Not a big hitter . . . More of an ankle grabber . . . Does not wrap up and drive ball carriers but often tries to gator roll them to the ground . . . Needs to stay lower in his backpedal . . . Lacks ideal hip flexibility . . . May be prone to double moves and small, quick receivers . . . Can be outmuscled by bigger receivers

Projection: Cornerback. Fitzpatrick has good physical skills overall, but right now he lacks some strength, which affects multiple phases of his game. He has very good speed when he can get going, but his short area quickness is a question for me. Because of that, I think he might have more of a long-term future as a safety. A good college program should see him turn into a 195-200 lb. corner, and that added size and strength will help him be a physical press corner. I also think Fitzpatrick could be a factor in the kick return game with his ability to find seams and get upfield.

Reminds me of: Donovan Warren but faster

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Fitzpatrick released a top ten that included Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and South Carolina. He has a good relationship with Michigan incoming freshman cornerback Jabrill Peppers, but Michigan held off on offering Fitzpatrick for a while, which helped to allow teams like Alabama and Ohio State to build relationships. Personally, I believe the three teams with the best chance to get him are Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State (in no particular order).

Scouting Report: Tyriq Thompson

Tyriq Thompson with his father, Clarence

Name: Tyriq Thompson
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) King
Position: Linebacker
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, and Wisconsin . . . Claims a 4.7 forty . . . As a junior in 2013, had 142 tackles, 10 sacks, 7 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles . . . ESPN 3-star safety . . . Rivals 3-star, #29 OLB . . . Scout 4-star, #21 OLB . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 88 grade, #21 OLB . . . Son of former Michigan safety Clarence Thompson . . . Moved from Missouri prior to junior year

Strengths: Good build for a weakside linebacker . . . Starts off in a good stance on balls of feet with knees bent . . . Adequate blitzer . . . Decent straight line speed . . . Physical tackler . . . Does a good job of wrapping up ball carriers

Weaknesses: Somewhat stiff in the hips . . . Lacks great explosion . . . Takes false steps out of standard linebacker stance . . . Does not change direction well . . . Does not use hands well to shed blockers . . . Takes poor angles at times . . . Needs to run feet better on contact . . . Tries to outmuscle too many players

Projection: Weakside linebacker. Thompson plays like a middle linebacker, but his body seems more suited to the weakside linebacker position, where he might be able to get away with being 6'1" and fairly light. I do not see him as a dynamic player at the next level, and he seems like someone who would be a depth player or a developmental prospect who might be able to step into a role later in his career. Thompson lacks ideal closing speed and does not show the necessary instincts to make up for a lack of elite athleticism. For whatever reason, I envision him playing for a team like Cincinnati.

Reminds me of: Obi Ezeh. Ezeh was one of those guys who often seemed to be a hair late or a step too slow to make the play, and I'm not sure if Thompson is that guy who can lasso running backs in the hole. He appears to be more successful when he attacks rather than reacts, but college coordinators won't blitz him on every down. I did think Ezeh was miscast as a middle linebacker when he should have been playing on the strong side, whereas Thompson is a little lighter and should probably stay on the weak side, either in a 4-3 Under or perhaps as a weak outside 'backer in a 3-4.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: As mentioned above, Tyriq's father was a Michigan safety in the mid-1990's. Michigan State was taking the lead prior to Michigan's offer, but now certain insiders believe that Michigan can and will pull ahead for his commitment. Either way, it appears to be a two-horse race between the in-state schools.

Highlights:

Scouting Report: Keisean Lucier-South

Orange (CA) Lutheran defensive end Keisean Lucier-South

Name: Keisean Lucier-South
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 218 lbs.
High school: Orange (CA) Lutheran
Position: Defensive end
Class: 2015

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, California, Colorado, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, and Washington . . . Claims a 4.7 forty time . . . Had 10 sacks as a junior in 2013 . . . ESPN 4-star, 82 grade, #9 DE, #65 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #7 WDE, #80 overall . . . Scout 5-star, #2 DE . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 96 grade, #6 WDE, #57 overall

Strengths: Long-armed with good frame to add weight . . . Quick first step that gets offensive tackles to open up sooner than they like . . . Comes around corner with inside shoulder dipped . . . Plays with good knee bend . . . Spikes inside well due to leverage . . . Good change of direction . . . Lowers hips at point of contact, allowing him to stay with shorter players . . . Uses hands and long arms well to disengage from blockers and wrap up ball carriers . . . Very good speed . . . Takes proper angles and does not often need to readjust pursuit

Weaknesses: Needs to add weight and get stronger . . . Overpowers some high school linemen due to quickness and ability to play low, but needs to play more violently to beat players at next level . . . Does not display a variety of pass rush moves

Projection: Weakside end. The key for Lucier-South will be whether he maintains his athleticism while he adds weight, because he's very thin now. If he can maintain his speed and change of direction, he should be able to remain at weakside end and give offensive tackles fits with his length and quickness. If that speed starts to dwindle once he adds another 40-50 lbs. of muscle, then he may need to move to strongside end. He plays with enough leverage to take on tight ends and tackles on the strong side, so that wouldn't spell disaster for him. Perhaps the most encouraging thing is his pursuit angles, which combine with his understanding of leverage to suggest that he comprehends the game on a higher level than "see ball, get ball." Also, Maxpreps named his school's league (the Trinity League) as the #2 most difficult conference in the nation, so he's having success against quality competition. That league includes St. John Bosco (Josh Rosen, Jaleel Wadood, Damien Mama) and Mater Dei (Matt Barkley, Matt Leinart, Max Wittek), among others.

Reminds me of: Taco Charlton. Michigan hasn't successfully recruited many guys like Lucier-South in recent years, so while I think Lucier-South is more refined as a player than Charlton was, they are comparable when it comes to size and natural athleticism.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Lucier-South has been pining for a Michigan offer for a long time and called Michigan his "dream school." Still, he lives on the west coast and is being pursued by the likes of Notre Dame, Texas, and USC, so there's no shortage of suitors to try to convince him otherwise. No other strong leaders appear to have emerged, so I think Michigan has as good of a shot as anyone.

Scouting Report: Jeff Jones

Minneapolis (MN) Washburn running back Jeff Jones

Name: Jeff Jones
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 198 lbs.
High school: Minneapolis (MN) Washburn
Position: Running back
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Syracuse, and Wisconsin . . . Committed to Minnesota on February 2, 2013 . . . Claims a 4.69 forty, 275 lb. bench, 350 lb. squat, and a 32" vertical . . . As a sophomore in 2011, had 142 carries for 1,415 yards and 26 touchdowns . . . As a junior in 2012, had 111 carries for 1,002 yards and 9 touchdowns . . . As a senior in 2013, had 167 carries for 1,525 yards and 34 touchdowns, plus 17 catches for 493 yards . . . ESPN 4-star, 83 grade, #14 RB, #181 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #9 RB, #92 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #14 RB . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 93 grade, #13 RB, #188 overall

Strengths: Low center of gravity . . . Changes direction quickly . . . Jitterbug moves despite lacking great speed . . . Excellent patience and vision . . . Sets up blockers and defenders nicely . . . Uses variety of moves to shake free in open space . . . Deceptive power to go with agility . . . Can run around or through defenders . . . Good pass catcher . . . Adjusts well to ball in the air . . . Very physical runner who enjoys blocking unsuspecting defenders

Weaknesses: Lacks great speed . . . Not much of a home run threat . . . Does a lot of things well, but nothing outstanding in itself . . . Poor route runner, though that can easily be taught at the running back position . . . Appears to be a trash talker and occasionally slows up before end of play

Projection: Running back. At a shade under 200 lbs., Jones will likely want to add some weight to his frame in college, but I don't think he should get above 210-215 lbs. Adding too much weight might slow him down when he's not particularly fast in the first place. He's a good all-purpose back who can run the ball inside or stay on the field for third downs to block or be a pass catcher out of the backfield. He probably won't be able to get the edge on many teams, so he's a between-the-tackles type of runner. With a good offensive line, he has a chance to be a productive college runner, but I think he lacks the burst to be a superstar.

Reminds me of: Marshawn Lynch . . . but slower. Jones has the vision and physicality to warrant the Lynch comparison, but Lynch was a home run threat in college. Jones plays mediocre competition in Minneapolis and won't be able to run away from college athletes.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Jones is a soft commitment to the Minnesota Gophers and has been committed for nearly a year. He has visited Iowa State and entertained offers from Florida and Michigan. An official visit to Ann Arbor is set for January 24th. Most analysts believe the Wolverines have the best chance of flipping Jones. I believe the recent hire of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who has had productive running backs at every stop, might be the thing to get Michigan over the hump.

Highlights: Jones's senior highlights can be found on Hudl.

Scouting Report: 2015 Quarterbacks

Josh Rosen

Since quarterback is such an important position, I like to look at the players that Michigan is reportedly considering for offers. The only two 2015 quarterbacks to be offered so far are Josh Rosen and David Sills, but with Rosen most likely staying on the west coast and Sills committed to USC, it seems like the Wolverines might have to extend another offer or two before they land their guy. Here's a numerical ranking of the 13 guys rumored to be of interest to Michigan; players are ranked in order of my perception of how they would fit at Michigan, not necessarily their overall talent.

1. Josh Rosen - QB - Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco: Rosen is a 6'4", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Cal, Duke, Fresno State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, and USC, among others. He's a 247 Composite 5-star, the #1 pro-style QB, and #4 overall in his class. As a junior in 2013, he had 3,200 yards passing, 39 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 69%. He also ran for 404 yards and 8 touchdowns. Physically, Rosen reminds me of Chad Henne with his frame and running style, a guy who can pull the ball down and run if you leave him open, but not a guy who can really beat you with his feet. His mechanics and throwing style remind me of Aaron Rodgers, who's always ready to throw the ball and has a quick release. Rosen has a very strong arm and can put the ball anywhere on the field, but he shows nice touch, too. The biggest question I have about Rosen is whether he can look off safeties, go through progressions, etc. because he tends to stare down his receiver and wait for him to come open.

2. Kyle Kearns - QB - Pleasanton (CA) Foothill: Kearns is a 6'3", 195 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He's a 247 Composite 3-star and the #17 pro-style quarterback, and he had 2,500 yards passing and 26 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2012. After watching his highlights, I was surprised to click on his profile and find out that he hasn't received any offers yet. Kearns is a guy who looks like he's in command of the offense, knows where to go with the ball, gets rid of the ball quickly, and can throw his guys open. He also shows good quickness, the ability to throw on the run to his left or his right, and solid arm strength. I also like that he keeps his eyes downfield while scrambling. He's not the biggest guy, and he won't leave defenses in the dust with his speed, but I like the way he runs his football team.

3. Brady White - QB - Santa Clarita (CA) Hart: White is a 6'2", 190 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado State and San Jose State. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 2,575 passing yards with 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. 247's Composite rankings puts him at a 4-star level as the #3 pro-style QB and #73 overall. He claims a 4.68 forty. Frankly, I'm surprised that he's ranked as a pro-style quarterback because a big part of his game is running the ball, and that's the first thing that sticks out on his highlight film. He's very mobile and accelerates quickly up the field while showing good vision and elusiveness. He has good feet and is always ready to throw, although the technical part of his footwork needs to be cleaned up. He can throw the ball from multiple angles, but his standard release is kind of a three-quarters delivery, which could get balls knocked down at the line of scrimmage since he's only a little over 6' tall. One thing that troubles me about White is that the ball almost never comes out on time, and he has a little bit of a hitch in his release where he takes an extra little crow hop before he gets rid of the ball. Windows will close on him in college if he can't fix that, and he doesn't have the pure arm strength to make up for it. White also runs a very shotgun-heavy offense and rarely drops back from under center, which doesn't exactly mesh with the offensive philosophy of Brady Hoke.

4. Zach Gentry - QB - Albuquerque (NM) Eldorado: Gentry is a 6'6", 230 lb. prospect with offers from Louisville, New Mexico, New Mexico State, San Diego State, and Tennessee. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #12 pro-style quarterback, and #269 overall. He claims a 4.68 forty and as a sophomore in 2012, he had 2,022 yards passing with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, plus 110 carries for 305 yards and 9 touchdowns. Gentry is a tall quarterback with a well developed frame, so he probably won't get significantly bigger. He runs mostly a shotgun/pistol spread offense. He has a strong arm but throws a very catchable ball, and he has a high release when he sets his feet in the pocket. His straight line speed is good for a guy his size, but he lacks lateral quickness and agility. He may be tough to bring down because of his size, but he could improve his pocket awareness - he seems to throw the ball on time or get flushed out of the pocket, instead of sliding around or moving up in the pocket. I would also like to see him attack the line of scrimmage more when he rolls out, so he can get more on the football, but that's a pretty easy thing to coach up.

5. Kevin Dillman - QB - La Mirada (CA) La Mirada: Dillman is a 6'4", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, California, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Nebraska, Tennessee, UCLA, Utah, and Vanderbilt, among others. He claims a 4.7 forty and is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #4 dual-threat quarterback, and #145 overall. Dillman runs a pro-style offense and takes a lot of snaps from under center, so he would appear to mesh well with Michigan's type of offense. When I was watching his junior highlights, I kept waiting for him to do something dynamic - make a long run, uncork a great throw while scrambling, something - but he was very methodical and took a lot of checkdowns. He runs well for a guy his size, but he probably won't be a dynamic runner in college, despite being ranked as a dual-threat. He has a fairly strong arm and can push the ball down the field when he wants, but he mostly seems to settle for throwing hitches, slants, square ins, etc. It's difficult to say whether that's his decision or his coach's. He has a high release and active feet, although there are times when he pushes the ball from the shoulder, aiming rather than throwing. He's another guy who could end up as a tight end if the quarterback position doesn't pan out.

6. Alex Malzone - QB - Bloomfield (MI) Brother Rice: Malzone is a 6'2", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan. As a junior in 2013, he completed 190/281 passes for 2,785 yards and 25 touchdowns, adding 3 more scores on the ground. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #33 pro-style QB, and #649 overall. Malzone runs a somewhat multiple offense and has experience dropping back, from shotgun, or from the pistol formation. He has a slight build and is a little short at a listed 6'2". He runs his offense very well, is a good ball handler, and seems to be in command. He's a good athlete who can get on the edge a little bit and make some things happen with his feet, but he's not a blazer. Malzone gets the ball out on time and shows good accuracy and touch. His throws on skinny posts appear to be right on the money, but I question whether he has the arm strength to squeeze those in there against faster and longer defenders. He has a little bit of a hitch in his throwing motion where he brings the ball down to throw it, not totally unlike a right-handed version of Tim Tebow. Michigan's coaching staff has been somewhat erratic with the quarterbacks they've recruited (the 6'3" sorta dual-threat Russell Bellomy, the 6'3" Shane Morris with a rocket arm, the 6'6" Wilton Speight), but I look at Malzone and see him being too short and lacking the arm strength that Michigan likely wants.

7. Jack Beneventi - QB - Glen Ellyn (IL) Benet Academy: Beneventi is a 6'6", 190 lb. prospect who's committed to Iowa and also has offers from Illinois, Louisville, UMass, Notre Dame, and Western Michigan. As a junior in 2013, he was 134/246 passing for 1,482 yards and 7 touchdowns. He's very tall and plays like it by standing tall in the pocket and using a high release. He has decent arm strength and looks good throwing the ball when he can get rid of it on time. His footwork is very inconsistent, and he tends to push the ball from his shoulder rather than whip it, which is something that's somewhat difficult to fix; that can somewhat limit arm strength and the ball can die on longer throws. While he moves well for a guy his size, that foot speed is going to disappear as his body matures and he faces better competition. With his size, I wonder if Beneventi might be the type of guy who goes to Iowa as a quarterback and comes out a tight end.

8. Jimmy Fitzgerald - QB - Champaign (IL) Centennial: Fitzgerald is a 6'3", 205 lb. prospect with offers from Florida International and Illinois. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #28 pro-style quarterback, and #561 overall. As a sophomore in 2012, he was 96/195 for 1,300 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The first thing I noticed about Fitzgerald was that his footwork is sloppy and inconsistent, so that's something that will have to be coached quite a bit. He does have good arm talent, and he throws a nice, catchable ball. Fitzgerald runs a shotgun spread offense in high school, which may not translate well to Michigan's offensive style.

9. Sheriron Jones - QB - Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde: Jones is a 6'3", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona and Arizona State. He claims a 4.6 forty and is a 247 Composite 4-star, #6 dual-threat quarterback, and #171 overall. Jones is a raw pure quarterback prospect. He has a slight build and lacks a strong arm. His footwork needs significant tweaking, and he runs a shotgun spread offense that does not necessarily mesh with what Michigan wants to do. Jones is a good runner with some speed and agility, but he's not a dynamic runner.

10. David Sills - QB - Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Sills is a 6'3", 180 lb. prospect who is committed to USC and has other offers from Clemson, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, and Virginia Tech. Two of his teammates (Brandon Watson and Freddy Canteen) are 2014 Michigan commits. At one point I saw full season highlights of Sills, but now I can't find them. I believe Sills is a very polished quarterback prospect who is one of the top few players on the list at the moment. He runs a very pass-heavy offense, which is mostly a shotgun/pistol spread, but I think he has the mental acumen to make the adjustment to playing from under center when necessary. He has an overhand release, which helps make up for his average height. All that being said, I think Sills has pretty much maxed out his physical skills due to his refinement, and I'm not sure how much better he will get. He has a good but not great arm, and he's decently mobile for a pocket quarterback.

11. Riley Neal - QB - Yorktown (IN) Yorktown: Neal is a 6'5", 210 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. As a junior in 2013, he completed 188/292 passes (64.4%) for 2,751 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. If you watch Neal's highlights, you may be reminded of former Michigan quarterback John Navarre. Neal is a tall guy who will probably play college ball around 230 lbs., but he's a little bit slow of foot without much of an ability to create on his own. You will see a couple jump passes on his reel, which I don't remember seeing out of Navarre. Neal has a strong throwing arm, and he does a good job of anticipating when his receivers are going to come open. With a strong offensive line, I think Neal could put up some good numbers, but it seems like Michigan's coaches want a little more mobility.

12. Nick Johns - QB - Washington (DC) Gonzaga: Johns is a 6'3", 215 lb. prospect with an offer from Virginia. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #26 pro-style quarterback, and the #551 player overall. He broke his collarbone halfway through his junior season and missed half the year. Johns is one of the more polished quarterbacks on this list, and he runs a pro-style offense that often puts him under center. He's a good ball handler, has a good looking release, and delivers the ball on time. What Johns lacks is elite athleticism. He does not have a particularly strong arm, and despite solid mechanics, the ball often seems to sail high, which prevents his receivers from having much of an opportunity to run after the catch. He also lacks mobility and isn't much of a threat to run or keep plays alive with his feet.

13. David Edwards - QB - Downers Grove (IL) North: Edwards is a 6'6", 225 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #42 athlete, and #399 overall. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 512 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 719 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. Edwards looks almost comically large under center, and his highlights mostly include him running some form of option. However, he is not particularly nimble or fast and makes the option work by being very large. He has a questionable arm and poor feet for a quarterback, and I think he's almost certain to change positions in college, likely to tight end.

Scouting Report: Malik McDowell

Southfield (MI) Southfield defensive linemen Lawrence Marshall and Malik McDowell, left to right

Name: Malik McDowell
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 285 lbs.
High school: Southfield (MI) Southfield
Position: Defensive end
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Stanford, Syracuse, USC, and Wisconsin . . . ESPN 4-star, 84 grade, #4 DT, #68 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #4 SDE, #33 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #7 DE . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 97 grade, #3 SDE, #42 overall . . . Will play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl . . . As a senior in 2013, had 89 tackles, 7 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles . . . Transferred from Detroit (MI) Loyola prior to senior season . . . Teammates with 2014 Michigan DE commit Lawrence Marshall

Strengths: Very quick first step for a big man . . . Long body and fairly lean despite being 285 lbs. . . . Good wingspan . . . Can lock out offensive linemen . . . Good top-end speed . . . Quick enough to play on edge and keep mildly athletic quarterbacks in pocket . . . Violent hitter . . . Ferocious tackler who fights to bring down ball carriers . . . Does a good job of rolling hips through contact . . . Makes more hustle plays than many big men

Weaknesses: Lacks consistent technique . . . Stands up too high at times, letting blockers into his chest . . . Tends to play patty cake at times . . . Sometimes gets caught up in the trash . . . Needs to use his hands better to shed blockers

Projection: Defensive tackle. McDowell is long and lean now, but I think his body will develop into a defensive tackle's at a little over 300 lbs. I don't see him as a 350 lb., space-eating defensive tackle, but a quicker, 3-tech type of player. He might play end early in his career but will probably grow out of that role. From what little I saw of McDowell at Loyola before his senior season, I really thought I was going to be underwhelmed by McDowell's senior highlights. At Loyola he didn't show much of a motor and stood up way too high on a consistent basis. However, those highlights weren't very extensive, and he seems to have improved significantly in the last year. It's rare that 6'7" defensive tackles even exist in the world, but there are the rare cases like the 6'6" Ra'Shede Hageman from Minnesota.

Reminds me of: Kris Jenkins

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: The majority of recruiting gurus peg McDowell for Michigan, but things have grown murkier as time has gone along. Michigan was the early favorite, and now it seems places like Michigan State, Florida, Alabama, Florida State, and USC might be creeping up. Michigan fans have grown pessimistic in recent years because of several recruits stringing Michigan along throughout the process (LaQuon Treadwell, Jordan Diamond, etc.), but the Wolverines are still the favorite.

Highlights: Highlights can be found on Hudl.

Scouting Report: Vic Enwere

Vic Enwere (image via Fort Bend Star)

Name: Vic Enwere
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 213 lbs.
High school: Sugar Land (TX) Fort Bend Austin
Position: Running back
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from California, Colorado, Duke, Houston, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, North Texas, Rice, SMU, Utah, Virginia, Wake Forest, and Wisconsin . . . Committed to Cal on June 17 . . . As a junior in 2012, had 210 carries for 1,509 yards and 16 touchdowns, plus 8 receptions for 140 yards . . . As a senior in 2013, currently has 2,266 yards and 32 touchdowns . . . ESPN 3-star, 78 grade, #58 RB . . . Rivals 3-star, #47 RB . . . Scout 3-star, #52 RB . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 85 grade, #65 RB

Strengths: Solid frame with good lower body strength . . . Keeps shoulders square to line of scrimmage and defenders . . . Difficult to bring down on first contact . . . Shows nice vision and patience to find the hole and cutback lanes . . . Displays good footwork in backfield . . . Carries ball high and tight . . . Protects ball in traffic . . . Shows nifty feet in the hole . . . Catches ball well on screens and flares

Weaknesses: Lacks any kind of breakaway speed . . . Not quick enough to elude third- and sometimes second-level defenders . . . Lacks burst to pull away after contact and cuts, allowing trailers to bring him down

Projection: Running back. Enwere looks like a college running back right now or maybe even the type of guy who turns into an inside linebacker with some added weight. He lacks the breakaway speed to be an elite running back at the college level, and while a lot of running backs aren't faster than defensive backs, my biggest concern for Enwere's future is he looks like he might be overmatched in the quickness department by a lot of college linebackers. He should be able to fight for extra yardage after contact, but he will probably be limited to running between the tackles. Enwere is the type of player who can be a solid backup because of how hard he runs, but if he's your feature back, your offense is going to be limited.

Reminds me of: Max Martin

Likelihood of coming to Michigan: Enwere is currently committed to Cal but has expressed interest in visiting Michigan. Prior to the tender, he stated that he would not visit Michigan unless they offered. It's tough to pull kids out of Texas, but the Wolverines are arguably the best offer he has.

Highlights:

Scouting Report: Justin Hilliard

Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier LB Justin Hilliard

Name: Justin Hilliard
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier
Position: Linebacker
Class:2015

Notes: Holds offers from Akron, Alabama, Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Toledo, Virginia, Western Michigan . . . ESPN 4-star, 81 grade, #8 OLB, #145 overall . . . Rivals 4-star . . . Scout 4-star, #6 OLB . . . 247 Sports 5-star, 98 grade, #1 OLB, #17 overall . . . As a junior in 2012, had 65 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble . . . Brother C.J. Hilliard is a class of 2014 running back who committed to Iowa in June

Strengths: Nice frame . . . Body that can hold additional weight . . . Very physical when taking on blockers . . . Has a powerful punch to separate himself from blockers . . . Keeps hands and elbows inside to generate leverage . . . Shows an effective swim move in pass rush . . . Protects his chest by swiveling upper body when side-stepping blockers . . . Very effective hitter . . . Hits with shoulders square and driving feet . . . Solid play recognition skills . . . Shows good field awareness in zone coverage drops . . . Takes good angles to football and stays out of the trash . . . Active hands to bat down passes, strip the football, etc.

Weaknesses: Good speed but not the fastest linebacker around . . . A little stiff in the hips and may not be a great man coverage defender

Projection: Linebacker. I know that's vague, and it would depend on the system, but I could see Hilliard playing any of the three or four linebacker positions in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. He has good recognition skills, enough to play on the inside. He also has heavy enough hands and a good enough reach to take on tight ends and an occasional lineman as an outside linebacker. He has a relatively lean frame that could see him stay around 225-230 or bulk up to 240-245 lbs. if he wanted. In my opinion, he's the best class of 2015 prospect in the state of Ohio I've seen so far. I see Hilliard as a guy who could come in to just about any program and play early, potentially growing into an All-American candidate and NFL draft pick.

Reminds me of: Clay Matthews

Likelihood of coming to Michigan: Hilliard likes Michigan, camped in Ann Arbor in June, and will visit for the game against Ohio State. The front runners appear to be Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Having a brother at Iowa might be a pull, and the Hawkeyes do develop very good defensive players, but I think he'll have his sights set higher than that. I have a feeling that Hilliard will not pick the Wolverines in the end, but they're not out of the running. If I had to take a stab right now, I would say Alabama because I think he would fit well with their defensive philosophy.

Highlights: Highlights can be found on Hudl.