MLive: Hoke continues to guard against senior entitlement

Michigan's rising seniors won't be training with the Navy SEALs in California this summer. And this is a . . . punishment? SEALs training sounds hard. I would just want to stay in Ann Arbor and eat some Panchero's.

Hit the jump for the ladies.

Scout 300 released for 2016

Erik Swenson is the #86 player in the nation

Scout released its initial top 300 players for the class of 2016 today. Michigan commit Erik Swenson comes in at #86. Here's a list of Michigan's offerees who made the cut:

5-stars:
2. Greg Little - OT - Texas
5. Rashan Gary - DT - New Jersey
8. Nate Craig - WR - Florida
10. Malik Henry - QB - California
11. Kareem Walker - RB - New Jersey

4-stars:
15. Ben Bredeson - OT - Wisconsin
18. Shea Patterson - QB - Louisiana (Arizona)
23. Jake Hausmann - TE - Ohio
26. Richard Merritt - OG - Washington, D.C.
31. Kaden Smith - TE - Texas
35. Josh King - DE - Illinois
36. Dexter Lawrence - DT - North Carolina
39. Isaac Nauta - TE - Georgia
44. Sam Bruce - WR - Florida
45. Collin Johnson - WR - Texas
46. Ben Cleveland - OT - Georgia
48. Justin Layne - WR - Ohio
53. Levonta Taylor - CB - Virginia
62. Jaquan Yulee - MLB - Virginia
67. Daelin Hayes - OLB - Michigan
68. K.J. Costello - QB - California
74. Jacob Eason - QB - Washington
77. Antonio Williams - RB - North Carolina
82. Willie Allen - OT - Louisiana
86. Erik Swenson - OT - Illinois (Michigan)
103. E.J. Price - OT - Georgia
104. Thiyo Lukusa - OG - Michigan
107. Scott Bracey - WR - Virginia
110. Liam Eichenberg - OT - Ohio
115. Miles Sanders - RB - Pennsylvania
124. Janarius Robinson - DE - Florida
130. Shaquille Quarterman - MLB - Florida
152. Dwayne Haskins, Jr. - QB - Maryland
162. Steven Smothers - WR - Maryland
169. Brad Hawkins - WR - New Jersey
180. Jauan Williams - OT - Washington, D.C.
191. Tavares Chase - WR - Florida
195. Cameron Chambers - WR - New Jersey
251. Kyree Campbell - DT - Virginia
259. Binjimen Victor - WR - Florida

Grant Newsome, Wolverine

Grant Newsome (image via 247 Sports)

Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School offensive tackle Grant Newsome committed to Michigan this morning. His other top choice was Penn State, and he also held offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others.

Newsome is listed at 6'6" or 6'7" and 280-290 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #25 OT, #235 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #21 OT, #199 overall
Scout: 4-star, #20 OT, #215 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #22, #192 overall

Newsome, who is originally from McLean, VA, attends private school in New Jersey. He was offered just before National Signing Day 2014, which immediately catapulted the Wolverines up near the top of his list. In the meantime, he took visits to some east coast and midwest schools, including a couple to Ann Arbor and a couple to Penn State. His most recent visit to Penn State allegedly included a message from head coach James Franklin that Brady Hoke would not be Michigan's coach by 2015, which rubbed Newsome the wrong way a little bit. He went ahead and publicly committed to Michigan via Twitter, where he posted a letter thanking various family members and coaches.

I wrote up an in-depth scouting report on Newsome back in March (LINK), so there's not much to add regarding his playing style.

As for how he fits at Michigan, the Wolverines are somewhat low on tackles. Redshirt sophomore Erik Magnuson will presumably hold the job for the remainder of his career, which takes us through 2016. After him on the left tackle depth chart is redshirt freshman Logan Tuley-Tillman or true freshmen Juwann Bushell-Beatty and Mason Cole. I believe Bushell-Beatty and Cole will be best suited playing guard or right tackle, but they are possibilities to succeed Magnuson. Tuley-Tillman could also play right tackle. Out of that group, Newsome fits the blind-side tackle prototype best, and he could be starting by his redshirt sophomore year in 2017.

Newsome gives Michigan seven commits in the class of 2015, which is currently scheduled to consist of twelve players. He is also the second lineman, joining guard/center prospect Jon Runyan, Jr. The Wolverines have been handing out several offers along the offensive line over the past couple months, so I would expect them to continue recruiting the line.

TTB Rating: 84 (ratings explanation)

Highlights are available on Hudl.

2014 Season Countdown: #68 Kenny Allen

Kenny Allen

Name: Kenny Allen
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Fenton (MI) Fenton
Position: Punter
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #91
Last year: I ranked Allen #79 and said he would be the backup punter. He punted 1 times for 51 yards.

Michigan has been in somewhat of an odd position for the past few years with three scholarship kickers on the roster, although it has paid off at times since at least two of them are knuckleheads. Punter Will Hagerup got himself suspended for the entire 2013 season and parts of every other year during his college career. Placekicker Brendan Gibbons got himself booted out of school for an alleged rape. The only one to keep his nose clean has been the backup to both positions, Matt Wile, who is reportedly a very good kid. Allen has been waiting in the wings for a position (and a scholarship), and his lone appearance in 2013 suggests he'll be ready whenever the opportunity arises - he had a 51-yard punt against Central Michigan in the opener.

Now that Gibbons is off the roster, Wile will be the full-time placekicker, so that leaves the punting position to Hagerup, a former All-Big Ten punter. With Hagerup's history of stupidity and suspension, there's a good chance that Allen will be needed at some point - or at all points - to be Michigan's punter. Whenever Hagerup finds himself moving on to the next stage of his life, Allen appears poised to become the next starter at the position.

Prediction: Backup punter until Hagerup does another stupid thing

MLive: Taylor Lewan speaks out on the team

Taylor Lewan talked to Bill King about the team, Derrick Green, Devin Gardner, etc. Take his comments about "leadership" with a grain of salt.

Hit the jump for Adrianne Palicki, who looked pretty great in G.I. Joe: Retaliation  when I was bored the other day and scouring Netflix.

2014 Season Countdown: #69 Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Name: Ross Douglas
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 186 lbs.
High school: Avon (OH) Avon
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #29
Last year: I ranked Douglas #66 and said he would be a backup cornerback and special teamer. He redshirted.

Douglas enrolled early in January of 2013, which should have given him a bit of a leg up on some of the other freshman corners. By the time the season rolled around, however, he was behind fellow freshmen Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling. With a couple seasoned players at the position, Douglas sat out the year. After the hiring of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, the coaches moved Douglas to running back, a position he played successfully in high school. Without an emerging player at the position, they thought he might add an element of speed and provide some competition.

Now going into the 2014 season, it appears Michigan will have a plethora of options at running back going forward. Sophomores Derrick Green and DeVeon Smith return, and sophomore Ty Isaac (who may or may not be eligible this year) just transferred in from USC, which likely pushes Douglas further down the depth chart. He was unlikely to contribute much this year, anyway, but hopes of playing in the long-term may be dimming. In the short term, the scat back role can be filled by redshirt junior Justice Hayes. Douglas's best bet for playing time is probably on special teams coverage, but Michigan has some older guys who are probably more suited to filling those roles. I expect Douglas to watch most of this season from the bench.

Prediction: Backup running back

USA Today: Where the SEC gets its football players

You won't find anything groundbreaking in Dave Bartoo's article about where the Southeastern Conference gets its players (surprise! from the southeast!), but it's interesting to look at the heat maps of where their players went to high school.

Hit the jump for Jessica Cribbon, the poor girl whose tank-top-type thing seems to be falling apart.