2022 Season Countdown: #78 Keshaun Harris

 

Keshaun Harris (image via Twitter)

Name: Keshaun Harris
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 186 lbs.
High school: Lansing (MI) Waverly
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #18
Last year: I ranked Harris #107 and said he would be a backup defensive back (LINK). He played in thirteen games on special teams and four games at cornerback.
TTB Rating: N/A

I underestimated Harris going into 2021. After sitting the bench as a walk-on for his first two years on campus, he suddenly became a contributor on special teams and even defense during his third year on campus. Granted, his defensive contributions came at the end of blowouts, but it's still significant for him that he was on the field during live game action.

Now we enter 2022, and I think competition to play corner is going to be a little stiffer. Yes, Michigan lost Vincent Gray to an attempt at the NFL (he went undrafted), but they brought in a couple freshmen, one of whom is a 5-star who is certainly going to see the field in Will Johnson. Add in some development time for the younger guys, and perhaps they'll see the field before Harris. Regardless, Harris should be a special teamer once again and somebody who can take some snaps in blowouts if necessary.

Prediction: Backup cornerback and special teamer

2022 Season Countdown: #79 Zeke Berry

 

Zeke Berry (image via 247 Sports)

Name: Zeke Berry
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Concord (CA) De La Salle
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Berry was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 25 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception.
TTB Rating: 82

Berry was a huge get for the Michigan program when he committed to the Wolverines in December. A solid 4-star prospect (he ended up at #171 in the 247 Composite), he was chosen for the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl. He also received offers from Oregon, UCLA, and USC, and frankly, I'm surprised he didn't get more national offers from SEC, ACC, and Big 12 offers. It's hard to say an All-American and top-200 player was flying under the radar, but his offer list doesn't match his considerable talent.

I've seen some talk that Berry could be a nickel/outside linebacker prospect - perhaps a Viper in Don Brown's defense - but I think that might be diminishing Berry's skill set. To me he's an every down player in the long run. He's simply too fast, too aggressive, and too physical to make him a sub package player. I think he will be good down the road, but he didn't enroll early and may take some time to adjust to college. Based on his film, he's a guy who should be in consideration to start by year two.

Prediction: Backup defensive back

Raylen Wilson, Ex-Wolverine

 

Tallahassee (FL) Lincoln linebacker Raylen Wilson

Tallahassee (FL) Lincoln linebacker Raylen Wilson decommitted from Michigan's class of 2023 on Tuesday. He had been committed to Michigan since December.

Wilson is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 linebacker, and #73 overall in the class. His decommitment brings Michigan down to #55 overall in the team recruiting rankings for the class.

Wilson's decommitment had been a long time coming, and he is much more likely to stay in the south. He took an official visit to Michigan earlier this month after visiting Florida and Georgia. Naturally, the hope was that the official visit would solidify his love for Michigan, but that was going to be a tough pull for a kid who just seems to want to play in the SEC.

Michigan now has zero linebackers in the 2023 class. They received an official visit from Perkasie (PA) Pennridge 3-star Phil Picciotti and Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep 4-star Semaj Bridgeman, the latter of whom has picked up some commitment buzz. News also recently came out that Lake City (FL) Columbia's Jaden Robinson has Michigan in his top four and wants to take an official during the season.

Wilson is the third decommitment of the class, joining tight end Andrew Rappleyea (Penn State) and defensive tackle Joel Starlings (North Carolina).

2022 Season Countdown: #80 Danny Hughes

 

Danny Hughes (image via Chicago Tribune)

Name: Danny Hughes
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Naperville (IL) Central
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #24
Last year: I ranked Hughes #106 and said he would be a backup running back and special teamer (LINK). He played in thirteen games on special teams and had 1 carry for 5 yards on offense.
TTB Rating: N/A

Hughes is one of the top walk-on special teamers on the squad. He played in thirteen games last season on special teams, and in the blowout win over Maryland, he even got rewarded with 1 carry for 5 yards. Despite his contributions on special teams, I couldn't make it make sense to place him higher. There are some freshman and sophomore players who are superior athletes, and I think they could fill Hughes's role on special teams. Walk-ons provide an opportunity for young guys to retain redshirts, but at a time when kids can hit the transfer portal easily if they're not getting on the field, we may be entering an era when walk-on special teamers' importance starts to diminish.

Prediction: Backup running back and special teamer

Mason Curtis, Wolverine

 

Nashville (TN) Ensworth linebacker Mason Curtis

Nashville (TN) Ensworth linebacker Mason Curtis, a 2024 prospect, committed to Michigan on Monday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among others.

Curtis is listed at 6'3" and 205 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: N/A
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #12 LB, #164 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #14 OLB, #219 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #15 LB, #233 overall

Hit the jump for more.

2023 Recruiting Update: June 27, 2022

 

New Orleans (LA) Isidore Newman QB Arch Manning (image via USA Today)

Normally this type of post is a rundown of new offers and commitments, but this is going to be mostly the latter. It's commitment season, and boy oh boy, kids are committing left and right. Michigan landed a tight end in Deakon Tonielli (LINK), but there are a ton of guys who went off the board recently.

OFF THE BOARD

Houston (TX) Strake Jesuit tight end Chico Holt committed to Northwestern. The 3-star, the #32 tight end, and #620 player overall had been crystal balled to Michigan by some, but right around the time the Deakon Tonielli buzz started to grow, things seemed to turn in Northwestern's favor.

New Orleans (LA) Isidore Newman quarterback Arch Manning committed to Texas. He's considered to be the #1 recruit in the country in the 247 Composite. Michigan was not really in the picture here - though they did offer - but it may affect the Wolverines tangentially as they battle Texas for some other players. For example, would 4-star receiver Johntay Cook II rather play with Arch Manning or with whoever Michigan gets as a quarterback in 2023?

• 3-star Columbus (OH) St. Charles offensive tackle Ryan Carretta committed to Pitt
• 3-star Lynden (WA) Lynden Christian tight end Kade Eldridge committed to USC
• 4-star Tuscaloosa (AL) Northridge offensive tackle Wilkin Formby committed to Alabama
• 4-star Washington (DC) St. John's cornerback Collin Gill committed to Oregon
• 4-star Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy offensive guard Knijeah Harris committed to Florida
• 4-star Atlanta (GA) Woodward Academy defensive end A.J. Hoffler committed to Clemson
• 4-star Wylie (TX) East defensive tackle Anthony James II, a former Texas A&M commit, committed to Washington
• 4-star Orange Park (FL) Orange Park offensive tackle Roderick Kearney committed to Florida State
• 4-star Indianapolis (IN) Roncalli offensive tackle Trevor Lauck committed to Iowa
• 4-star Kehuku (HI) Kehuku linebacker Liona Lefau committed to Texas
• Woodberry Forest (VA) Woodberry Forest defensive tackle Rodney Lora committed to Virginia
• 5-star Alabaster (AL) Thompson cornerback Tony Mitchell committed to Alabama
• 4-star Selma (AL) Selma safety DaKaari Nelson committed to Penn State
• 5-star El Campo (TX) El Campo running back Rueben Owens II committed to Louisville
• 4-star Miami (FL) Christian cornerback Antonio Robinson committed to Wake Forest
• 4-star Rolesville (NC) Rolesville wide receiver Noah Rogers committed to Ohio State
• 5-star Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy wide receiver Carnell Tate committed to Ohio State

2022 Season Countdown: #81 Jimmy Rolder

 

Jimmy Rolder

Name: Jimmy Rolder
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Orland Park (IL) Marist
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Rolder was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 115 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
TTB Rating: 81

Rolder was a bit of a late bloomer. Originally planning to play baseball in college, his recruitment didn't really take off until he realized that hitting running backs is a whole lot easier to do than hitting baseballs. His first Power 5 offer didn't come until October of his senior season. He climbed in the rankings and eventually ended up as a 4-star, the #21 linebacker, and #222 overall in the 247 Composite, and Michigan bested Florida, Iowa, LSU, Ohio State, and Wisconsin for his services.

Rolder did not enroll at Michigan early and is just getting to campus this summer, so the chances of him playing much this fall are slim. Much like Deuce Spurlock (whom I profiled yesterday), if Rolder gets on the field, that means things have probably gone wrong with injuries and performance ahead of him. He also probably needs a year or two in the weight room. He could get some late game snaps to prepare him for 2023, when Michigan may need someone to take up snaps potentially vacated by Mike Barrett.

Prediction: Redshirt