Final ESPN 300 released for 2014

Michael Ferns (#10), Wilton Speight (#19), Jabrill Peppers (#5), Juwann Bushell-Beatty (#73), and Bryan Mone (#52)
all appear in the final ESPN 300 for 2014; Jared Wangler (#2) is not ranked on the list

ESPN made its final update to their list of the top 300 prospects in the nation. Here's what the ESPN 300 looked like in August, and here's the movement for Michigan's commits since then:

- Drake Harris dropped from #72 to #85
- Bryan Mone dropped from #76 to #91
- Lawrence Marshall dropped from #112 to #121
- Michael Ferns dropped from #123 to #129
- Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #122 to #142
- Mason Cole dropped from #146 to #165
- Ian Bunting dropped from #118 to #200
- Wilton Speight dropped from #128 to #257

Here's the rest of Michigan's offerees:

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana (LSU)
2. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana (Alabama)
4. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas (Texas A&M)
5. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
6. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia (Alabama)
9. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
10. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
11. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, DC (Florida)
12. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)
14. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia

4-stars:
17. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
18. Jamal Adams - S - Texas (LSU)
24. John Smith - S - California
25. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
26. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
33. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina (Florida State)
36. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
39. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
43. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee (Tennessee)
45. Marshon Lattimore - ATH - Ohio (Ohio State)
50. Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
53. Joe Mixon - RB - California (Oklahoma)
58. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
60. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
70. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
72. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois (Notre Dame)
74. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois (Ohio State)
76. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
80. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (North Carolina)
83. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida (Clemson)
85. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
91. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
94. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
95. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois (Northwestern)
99. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Missouri)
101. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
107. Tyler Luatua - TE - California (Notre Dame)
118. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey (Rutgers)
120. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
121. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
123. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas (Notre Dame)
127. Braden Smith - OG - Kansas
129. Michael Ferns - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
130. Dante Booker, Jr. - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
136. Kyron Watson - LB - Illinois (Kansas)
137. Jeff Jones - RB - Minnesota (Minnesota)
139. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
140. Dravon Henry - ATH - Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
142. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
143. Kevin Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
144. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina (North Carolina)
158. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
162. Bryson Allen-Williams - LB - Georgia (South Carolina)
165. Mason Cole - OG - Florida (Michigan)
167. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
169. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
172. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas (Ohio State)
174. Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
179. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (South Carolina)
180. Dwight Williams - LB - California (UCLA)
183. Erick Smith - S - Ohio (Ohio State)
184. Adarius Pickett - CB - California (UCLA)
187. Otaro Alaka - LB - Texas (Texas)
194. Mattrell McGraw - S - Louisiana
196. Kiy Hester - ATH - New Jersey (Miami)
200. Ian Bunting - TE - Illinois (Michigan)
204. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
211. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
218. Christian McCaffrey - ATH - Colorado (Stanford)
244. Montae Nicholson - ATH - Pennsylvania (Michigan State)
246. Darrion Owens - LB - Florida (Miami)
250. Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
257. Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
262. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
269. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, DC (Tennessee)
270. Garrett Dickerson - TE - New Jersey (Northwestern)
274. Nic Weishar - TE - Illinois (Notre Dame)
278. Jalen Brown - WR - Arizona (Oregon)
282. Jonathan Hilliman - RB - New Jersey (Boston College)
286. Isaiah McKenzie - ATH - Florida
292. Quincy Wilson - S - Florida (Florida)
295. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona (Oklahoma)

2014 Season Countdown: #87 Wilton Speight

Wilton Speight is the tall guy standing in back, which is where he should be for the entirety of 2014.

Name: Wilton Speight
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Richmond (VA) Collegiate
Position: Quarterback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #19
Last year: Speight was a senior in high school. He threw for 2,845 yards and 33 touchdowns, plus 292 rushing yards.
Final TTB Rating: 77

Speight should have been a part of the 2013 class, but he acquired an extra year of high school eligibility after a collarbone injury ruined his junior year. (Speight will turn 20 before bowl season begins.) He mostly flew under the radar until National Signing Day 2013 when the coaching staff extended an offer after watching him throw. It was a bit of a surprise because Michigan had been in contact with some higher profile players. Regardless, Speight started recruiting hard for the small 2014 class. After a solid season, Speight earned the start for Team Nitro in the Under Armour All-America Game. He did not perform particularly well, but quarterbacks rarely do in those games where timing with receivers and good offensive line protection are difficult to achieve. Following the game, he went to Ann Arbor and enrolled early.

This spring Speight got a fair number of reps due to the continuing recovery of rising redshirt junior Russell Bellomy, who tore his ACL last spring. He is a tall, thick player whose body is unlike any other quarterback on the roster, and he's a little less athletic than the others, too. Senior Devin Gardner will be the starter this year, and sophomore Shane Morris will be his backup. Then the question becomes whether Bellomy or Speight will be #3. If Gardner and Morris stay healthy, Bellomy should be the third signal caller in a blowout situation. There's no need to burn Speight's redshirt unless a spate (see what I did there?) of injuries occur.

Prediction: Redshirt

Wilton Speight, Wolverine

Richmond (VA) Collegiate quarterback Wilton Speight
(image via Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Richmond (VA) Collegiate quarterback Wilton Speight committed to Michigan on Tuesday morning.  He chose Michigan over . . . no one.  No other schools have offered up to this point.

Speight threw for 2,500 yards, 29 touchdowns, and a reported 17 interceptions as a junior in 2012, along with over 300 yards rushing and a few touchdowns.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: Unranked
Scout: N/A
247 Sports: 3-star QB, 86 grade, #28 pro-style QB

Speight visited Michigan for the Michigan State game back in the fall.  He was recently stated to be one of Michigan's top three quarterback targets for 2014, along with Oklahoma's David Cornwell and Florida's Michael O'Connor.  Wide receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski visited Speight's school last Friday morning to see him throw in person, and Speight was told that he would find out whether he would get an offer this morning.  Well, he called the coaches at 8:00 a.m. and got the offer, then committed on the spot.

I evaluated Michigan's quarterback targets last week.  Here's what I said about him at the time:

The 6'6", 217-pounder has no offers at this time. Speight might be the sleeper of the group. I like the way he throws the ball under pressure. Sometimes it's unbelievable how accurate he is with guys in his face, but to be honest, it seems like he's in a habit of throwing off his back foot because of a porous offensive line. He barely has a chance to breathe before two or three defenders are in his face. He's a little too stiff in the pocket for my liking and will struggle to avoid college rushers; he lacks great arm strength and has a little bit of a hitch in his delivery. He just looks very unpolished. I could see him going somewhere like Texas Tech or Washington State and lighting it up a few years down the road, but I don't think he's a good fit for Michigan.

Well, it's just a few days later, and nothing has really changed.  As I mentioned above, he has potential as a quarterback.  He does some really good things, and he has some issues to work on.  If Shane Morris pans out, that should give Speight plenty of time to work on some mechanical issues, improve his footwork, and just become a more fundamental football player.  While I stated that he doesn't have great arm strength, he's not noodle-armed, either.  He puts some air under the ball and puts it in a place where his receiver can catch it, rather than trying to throw a ball 100 miles per hour.  In some ways, he and Morris are complete opposites.  Morris is a smaller, thinner guy with a rocket arm and some accuracy issues; Speight is a tall, thick kid with a decent arm who puts a lot of touch on his throws.

Speight is the second commitment in the class of 2014, joining linebacker Michael Ferns.  The class will start out at about 18 players, although it will likely increase in size over the next year to a number north of 20.  Michigan also pulled running back Derrick Green out of Richmond (Heritage High School) in the class of 2013, joining fellow Richmond natives Marell Evans, Brandon Minor, and David Terrell.  Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson came out of Collegiate back in 2007, and Jake McGee (Virginia, converted to tight end) was another quarterback out of Collegiate.

TTB Rating: I'm going to hold off here until I finalize the ratings for the 2013 class.

How Does the 2022 Class Match Up with Michigan's All-Time Recruits?

 

Is Mason Graham the next Maurice Hurst, Jr.? (image via Twitter)

Thanks to Ashley, Eric, Joe, and Stephen for the recent Paypal donations.

As much as we like to get excited about every single Michigan recruit, it's important to keep perspective and realize that not every one of these players will be destined for stardom. This exercise can give us a range of what to expect from some of these players, even though star rankings can be very wrong.

Will Johnson - CB - Grosse Pointe (MI) South
2022 ranking: #14
Historical ranking: tied for #9 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: S Daxton Hill (2019) and DE LaMarr Woodley (2003)
Closest positional comparisons: Jabrill Peppers (#3 in 2014) and Donovan Warren (#27 in 2007)

Derrick Moore - DE - Baltimore (MD) St. Francis
2022 ranking: #49
Historical ranking: tied for #37 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: OG Kyle Kalis (2012) and RB Ty Isaac (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Pierre Woods (#43 in 2001) and Luiji Vilain (#56 in 2017)

Keon Sabb - S - Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
2022 ranking: #84
Historical ranking: #64 all-time at Michigan
Flanked by: OT Cory Zirbel (#83 in 2005) and #87 Kyle Bosch (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Michael Williams (#72 in 2007) and Demar Dorsey (#87 in 2010)

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan 56, Hawaii 10

 

J.J. McCarthy (image via WXYZ)

Hello, J.J. McCarthy. Well, McCarthy didn't wait too long to stake his claim for the starting quarterback job. He completed 11/12 passes for 229 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions while rushing 1 time for 16 yards. His first pass was a 42-yard bomb to Roman Wilson for a touchdown, and he didn't really slow down after that. Every pass was accurate, even a crisp RPO slant to Ronnie Bell that accounted for McCarthy's lone incompletion. It was an excellent starting debut against an atrocious team.

Hit the jump for more.

ESPN 300 for 2014 updated

Jabrill Peppers

ESPN updated its top 300 players for 2014. Here's what it looked like back in June. Here's the movement for the Michigan commits:

- Drake Harris dropped from #71 to #72
- Bryan Mone dropped from #73 to #76
- Lawrence Marshall dropped from #110 to #112
- Ian Bunting dropped from #116 to #118
- Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #121 to #122
- Michael Ferns dropped from #122 to #123
- Wilton Speight dropped from #127 to #128

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
2. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
4. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
5. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
6. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
7. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas
10. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
11. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia

4-stars:
17. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
20. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)
22. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
25. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
26. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
27. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina
31. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
38. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
39. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
41. John Smith - ATH - California
45. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
47. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (Notre Dame)
51. Marshon Lattimore - ATH - Ohio
52. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
54. Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
57. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Mississippi)
58. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
62. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas
64. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois
66. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois (Ohio State)
67. Malik McDowell - DT - Michigan
68. Tyler Luatua - TE - California
72. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
76. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
77. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
84. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida (Clemson)
88. Kevin Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
90. Ja'von Harrison - ATH - Florida (Virginia Tech)
92. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois
94. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
99. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
100. Joe Mixon - RB - California
104. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
105. Kyron Watson - LB - Illinois (Kansas)
112. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
113. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey
115. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia (South Carolina)
118. Ian Bunting - TE - Illinois (Michigan)
121. Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
122. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
123. Micheal Ferns - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
128. Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
131. Dravon Henry - ATH - Pennsylvania
134. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina (North Carolina)
139. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
146. Mason Cole - OT - Florida (Michigan)
156. Dante Booker - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
162. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida (Florida)
163. Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
166. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas (Ohio State)
168. Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
172. Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
174. Bryson Allen-Williams - LB - Georgia (South Carolina)
177. Dwight Williams - LB - California
179. Adarius Pickett - CB - California
180. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (Florida State)
181. Otaro Alaka - LB - Texas (Texas)
193. Mattrell McGraw - S - Louisiana
196. Kiy Hester - ATH - New Jersey (Rutgers)
203. Quincy Wilson - S - Florida
208. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
231. Erick Smith - S - Ohio
237. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
252. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania
264. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado (Stanford)
271. Petera Wilson - LB - Tennessee
274. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
278. D'Andre Payne - CB - Wahshington, D.C. (Tennessee)
279. Garrett Dickerson - TE - New Jersey
281. Kyle Berger - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
286. Jonathan Hilliman - RB - New Jersey
295. Mark Andrews - WR - Arizona (Oklahoma)

2014 Under Armour All-American Game Rosters

The 2014 Under Armour All-American Game rosters were announced the other day. All of Michigan's current commits are on Team Nitro, so that's who you should be rooting for; that includes Wilton Speight, whose competitors for Michigan's lone quarterback offer in the class both will play for Team Highlights (Alabama-bound David Cornwell, Penn State-bound Michael O'Connor). The game will be played on January 2, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Here's a list of all of Michigan's offerees on the rosters:

TEAM HIGHLIGHT
Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)
Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina
Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
Myles Garrett - DE - Texas (Texas A&M)
Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
Jamarco Jones - OG - Illinois (Ohio State)
Melvin Keihn - LB - Maryland
Tyler Luatua - TE - California
Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana (Alabama)
Bo Scarbrough - RB - Alabama (Alabama)
John Smith - S - California
Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, DC
Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
Jacory Washington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina (Florida State)

TEAM NITRO
Jamal Adams - S - Texas
Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Missouri)
Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia (Virginia)
Juwan Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
K.C. Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
Michael Ferns - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia (Alabama)
Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
Corey Holmes - WR - Florida (Notre Dame)
K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
Isaiah McKenzie - WR - Florida
Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
Sam Mustipher - OG - Maryland (Notre Dame)
Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
Jared Wangler - LB - Michigan (Michigan)
Nick Watkins - CB - Texas (Notre Dame)
Quincy Wilson - S - Florida (Florida)

Wilton Speight: On to the Big House

Here's an interview of Wilton Speight posted on his high school's website.

Hit the jump for Kate Upton.

2021 Season Countdown: #49 Jess Speight

 

Jess Speight

Name: Jess Speight
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 290 lbs.
High school: Richmond (VA) Collegiate
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #67
Last year: I ranked Speight #45 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 2 tackles.
TTB Rating: N/A

I want to take a walk down memory lane to Speight's first appearance in the countdown (LINK):

Speight, who is the brother of former Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight, is the rare walk-on offensive lineman who actually got me excited a little bit. . . . Speight’s time won’t come this year, but he’s one to keep an eye on in the coming years.

When the Michigan program took Wilton's "little brother" as a preferred walk-on, I thought he was a guy who could eventually work his way into the starting center position, post-Cesar Ruiz. Obviously, Speight made the transition to defensive tackle, so I'm no Nostradamus. But he did start one game in 2019 and has played in a total of thirteen games, making 7 total tackles.

Entering his final year on campus, I think Speight will probably end up playing one of the defensive end (4i) positions as a backup. I don't think he's strong enough to play nose tackle and stand up to double teams as an interior guy, but he might be able to handle some single blocks from offensive tackles. He's not going to turn into a star overnight, but for a team lacking experienced bulk on the defensive line, he should be back in the rotation once again in 2021.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

Video: Wilton Speight workout

Class of 2014 quarterback commit Wilton Speight worked out recently with quarterback guru Steve Clarkson out in California:

2014 Under Armour All-American Game analysis

Michael Ferns, Wilton Speight, Jabrill Peppers, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Bryan Mone, and Jared Wangler at the
2014 Under Armour All-American Game

The 2014 Under Armour All-American Game took place on Thursday afternoon, and it was a showcase for four current Michigan commits. All of Michigan's commits were on Team Nitro, which lost the game by a score of 31-21. Some brief analysis of what I saw:

LB Michael Ferns: Ferns didn't even record a single tackle in this game. Probably because he sat it out due to injury.

QB Wilton Speight: Speight was named a captain for Team Nitro and earned the start at quarterback. He finished just 2/6 for 63 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He also had 3 carries for 8 yards. Offensive lines consistently struggle in these games because they don't have time to work together, and that was pretty obvious as Speight never really had a chance to set his feet and scan the field. I thought Speight did a nice job of keeping his eyes downfield when the pressure was coming, which was often. He shows a little bit of mobility, but that's mostly going to be when defenses completely forget about him being 6'6" and able to run a little bit. He's a better runner than John Navarre was, but perhaps a notch below Steven Threet. Speight has a nice overhand delivery from the pocket that defenders will probably struggle to bat down, but he can throw from different angles on the move. He made a poor read on a redzone passing attempt that resulted in a pick for Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra cornerback Adoree' Jackson, but he also made a very nice throw while running to his right for a long gain.

CB Jabrill Peppers: Peppers didn't really make any highlight-reel plays in the game, but he didn't get embarrassed, either. Well, except for one play on which he showed very nice change-of-direction skills only to dive at the Team Highlight receiver's ankles and miss the tackle. Aside from coming up quickly, what I liked about that play was that Peppers hopped right up and attempted to chase down the receiver as he raced down the left sideline. The New Jersey native ended the game with 2 kickoff returns for 65 yards, 3 tackles, and 1 pass for -2 yards out of a Wildcat formation in the first half. Peppers also blocked a field goal at the end of the first half, but that's not exactly allowed in all-star games like this one. Overall, it was a solid but unspectacular showing.

OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty: Of the guys who played, I thought Bushell-Beatty looked like the biggest project. He looked overweight, out of shape, and slow of foot. Of course, he's a high schooler coming off of a long run to a state championship, so I don't expect him to be in peak physical condition at this point in the year. However, he looks like he has a long way to go. He was standing up way too high while run blocking, which severely limited his lateral movement and left him flailing at air. He was also beaten badly on a speed rush that resulted in getting Speight blindsided. It should also be noted that Bushell-Beatty is generally considered a 3-star prospect who was facing some elite talent, and I don't think it's a stretch or an insult to say that he was overmatched.

DT Bryan Mone: I saw less of Mone than anyone else, partly because it was just difficult to see jersey numbers at times. He's large and solidly built, but he's more about power than anything else at this time. Mone has added a lot of weight in the past year or so, and he's lost some of the athleticism that made him such a beast as an underclassman. He does not appear to be a huge threat to be a penetrator, as he mostly eats space at the line of scrimmage. That resulted in 2 tackles during the game.

LB Jared Wangler: Wangler was wandering the sidelines due to a separated shoulder.

WR Drake Harris (not pictured): Harris sat out his entire senior season due to a nagging hamstring injury. Since he was not going to be able to play, he did not attend the game.

Michigan's Quarterback Situation

You want Wilton Speight to be Michigan's starter, don't you?

In case you've been under a rock for the past several months, you realize by now that Michigan is in a pretty undesirable position when it comes to the quarterback . . . position. The Wolverines lost a 2.5-year starter in the form of Devin Gardner, who is pursuing a career as an NFL wide receiver. Meanwhile, one experienced backup has struggled greatly, the other experienced backup transferred to the University of Texas at San Antonio, and the other guys available are freshmen of differing sorts. Nobody really knows how this will shake out, but here are some thoughts and rumors.

THE FRONT-RUNNER: Shane Morris (Jr.)
2014 stats: 14/40 (35%), 128 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
It's hard to believe that someone with those statistics could be the front-runner for any job, but Morris is the aforementioned experienced backup. He backed up Gardner in 2013 as a freshman when Russell Bellomy had a torn ACL. He did not fare well, but there were glimpses against a pretty good Kansas State defense in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Then 2014 came along, and there were no more glimpses. Morris threw an ugly late-game interception in a blowout win over Appalachian State, and he also threw picks against Utah and Minnesota; meanwhile, despite some decent running skills, Morris has yet to account for any kind of touchdown during his college career. That's 87 career passing attempts and 15 carries without a score. This spring he has reportedly been splitting snaps pretty evenly with the other scholarship quarterbacks available, but nobody has separated himself. Morris has a strong arm, decent accuracy, and those running skills, but his decision-making has generally been terrible.

Hit the jump for the rest of Michigan's options under center.

Visitors: February 22-24, 2013

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake offensive guard Mason Cole

Kyle Berger - LB - Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius: Berger is a 6'3", 205 lb. outside linebacker with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.  Most analysts seem to think that Berger's choice will come down to Michigan vs. Ohio State.  He attends the same high school - and is being recruited at the same position - as Michigan's current starter at SAM linebacker, Jake Ryan.

George Campbell - WR - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Campbell, a 2015 prospect, is a 6'3", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and several others.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 30 catches for 766 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Brian Cole - WR - Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole, another 2015 prospect, is a 6'2", 180 lb. cornerback with offers from Michigan and Michigan State.

Mason Cole - OG - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: I did a scouting report on Cole a few weeks ago.  Michigan is one of his leaders (along with Notre Dame), if not the outright front-runner.

Shaun Crawford - CB - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward's: Crawford, a 2015 prospect, is a 5'9", 165 lb. corner with offers from Illinois and Tennessee.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 66 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.  He claims a 4.51 forty and a 10.8 time in the 100 meters.  Crawford attends the alma mater of Michigan offensive guard Kyle Kalis.

Michael Ferns III - LB - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan late in last year's regular season, becoming the first member of the 2014 class.  He put together some "Team 135" T-shirts that he plans to hand out/send to each of the other players who commits to Michigan, and he's combining with quarterback commit Wilton Speight to head up Michigan's recruiting efforts for the class.

Drake Harris - WR - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris is a 6'4", 180 lb. wideout with offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others.  He's currently "committed" to Michigan State because he originally intended to play both basketball and football, but he will likely end up elsewhere because he has recently realized that football holds a better career future.

Elijah Hood - RB - Charlotte (NC) Catholic: Hood is a 6'0", 205 lb. running back with offers from Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, and Virginia Tech, among others.  He will be visiting Michigan on Sunday right after a visit to Notre Dame, his current leader.  As a junior in 2012, he ran for 3,309 yards and 48 touchdowns on just 278 carries.  Hood is neck-and-neck with Joe Mixon for my most desired running back in the class of 2014.

Lawrence Marshall - DE - Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6'3", 225 lb. defensive end with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, and he was committed to Ohio State for a few days recently.  However, he followed that up with visits to the former two schools and decommitted.  As a sophomore in 2011, he had 79 tackles, 15 sacks, and 4 interceptions.

Malik McDowell - DE - Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6'7", 290 lb. strongside defensive end with offers from Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and others.  As a junior in 2012, he had 63 tackles, 15 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.  Michigan and Notre Dame appear to be the two front-runners.

Wilton Speight - QB - Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight committed to Michigan on National Signing Day.

2015 Season Countdown: #86 Wilton Speight

Name: Wilton Speight
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Richmond (VA) Collegiate
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Speight #87 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Michigan had an established starter going into last season, and the Wolverines had a highly touted sophomore backup. They also had redshirt junior Russell Bellomy, who existed in a helmetless state. Both backups had seen game action in the past, so there was no need to play Speight.

This spring Speight earned some early praise for his mental acuity and leadership, but as practices wore on, the coaches reportedly started to realize that Speight was not the same kind of athlete as a couple of the other options. He supposedly dropped toward the bottom of the depth chart, and a minor injury removed any chance we had of seeing him in the spring game. Meanwhile, incoming transfer Jake Rudock looks like he'll be the starter this year, Shane Morris returns as the #2 guy, and there might be a battle for the #3 spot between Speight, freshman Alex Malzone, and freshman Zach Gentry. Malzone had already moved past Speight this spring, and Gentry has higher upside. Unless several injuries occur, Speight will probably sit on the bench or be a mop-up guy this season.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

ESPN 300 released for 2014

Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers is the #2 player in the country

ESPN, which had already released its top 150 players, posted its top 300 players on Monday.

Movement for Michigan commits:

- Drake Harris jumped from #96 to #71
- Bryan Mone dropped from #72 to #73
- Lawrence Marshall dropped from #107 to #110
- Juwann Bushell-Beatty dropped from #120 to #121
- Michael Ferns dropped from #112 to #122
- Wilton Speight dropped from #125 to #127
- Mason Cole dropped from #145 to #146

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette - RB - Louisiana
2. Jabrill Peppers - CB - New Jersey (Michigan)
3. Andrew Brown - DT - Virginia
4. Da'Shawn Hand - DE - Virginia
5. Adoree' Jackson - CB - California
6. Myles Garrett - DE - Texas
7. Cameron Robinson - OT - Louisiana
10. Lorenzo Carter - DE - Georgia
11. Quin Blanding - S - Virginia (Virginia)

4-stars:
16. Jalen Tabor - CB - Washington, D.C.
18. Damian Prince - OT - Maryland
19. Bo Scarbrough - ATH - Alabama (Alabama)
24. Jamal Adams - S - Texas
26. Lorenzo Featherston - DE - North Carolina
28. Malachi Dupre - WR - Louisiana
33. Solomon Thomas - DE - Texas
37. Tyler Luatua - TE - California
39. Casey Tucker - OT - Arizona
40. Jalen Hurd - RB - Tennessee (Tennessee)
45. K.C. McDermott - OT - Florida (Miami)
49. Marshon Lattimore - ATH - Ohio
50. Andy Bauer - OT - Missouri (Mississippi)
51. Elijah Hood - RB - North Carolina (Notre Dame)
52. Edward Paris, Jr. - S - Texas (LSU)
55. Alex Bars - OT - Tennessee (Notre Dame)
57. Damon Webb - CB - Michigan (Ohio State)
60. John Smith - ATH - California
62. Nick Watkins - CB - Texas
64. Nyles Morgan - LB - Illinois
66. Jamarco Jones - OT - Illinois
68. Malik McDowell - DE - Michigan
71. Drake Harris - WR - Michigan (Michigan)
73. Bryan Mone - DT - Utah (Michigan)
77. Corey Holmes - WR - Florida
87. K.C. Crosby - TE - South Carolina (South Carolina)
88. Ja'von Harrison - ATH - Florida (Virginia Tech)
89. Artavis Scott - WR - Florida
91. Parrker Westphal - CB - Illinois
94. Jeb Blazevich - TE - North Carolina (Georgia)
102. Demarre Kitt - WR - Georgia (Clemson)
103. Kyron Watson - LB - Illinois (Kansas)
110. Lawrence Marshall - DE - Michigan (Michigan)
111. Saeed Blacknall - WR - New Jersey
113. Wesley Green - CB - Georgia
116. Ian Bunting - TE - Illinois (Michigan)
119. Braden Smith - OT - Kansas
120. Jacory Wahsington - TE - Louisiana (LSU)
121. Juwann Bushell-Beatty - OT - New Jersey (Michigan)
122. Michael Ferns III - LB - Ohio (Michigan)
126. Josh Malone - WR - Tennessee
127. Wilton Speight - QB - Virginia (Michigan)
130. Dravon Henry - ATH - Pennsylvania
131. Bentley Spain - OT - North Carolina
137. Joe Mixon - RB - California
139. Roderick Johnson - OT - Missouri
146. Mason Cole - OT - Florida (Michigan)
147. Khairi Clark - DT - Florida
156. Dante Booker - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)
163. Andrew Williams - DE - Georgia
165. Jermaine Roberts - CB - Louisiana (Texas)
169. Dexter Wideman - DT - South Carolina
170. Dwight Williams - LB - California
172. Otaro Alaka - LB - Texas (Texas)
186. Mattrell McGraw - S - Louisiana
189. Kiy Hester - ATH - New Jersey
193. Demetrius Knox - OG - Texas
194. Adarius Bennett - CB - California
197. Quincy Wilson - S - Florida
202. Devon Thomas - RB - Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
227. Erick Smith - S - Ohio
233. Steven Parker - S - Oklahoma
248. Montae Nicholson - S - Pennsylvania
261. Christian McCaffrey - RB - Colorado (Stanford)
269. Petera Wilson - LB - Tennessee
272. Brandon Simmons - S - Texas (Stanford)
276. D'Andre Payne - CB - Washington, D.C. (Tennessee)
277. Garrett Dickerson - TE - New Jersey
279. Sam Mustipher - OG - Maryland (Notre Dame)
285. Jonathan Hilliman - RB - New Jersey
295. Mark Andrews - TE - Arizona
299. Kyle Berger - LB - Ohio (Ohio State)

Alex Malzone, Wolverine

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice quarterback Alex Malzone committed to Michigan on Monday.

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice quarterback Alex Malzone committed to Michigan on Monday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Pitt, Wake Forest, and a number of MAC schools.

Malzone's 247 Sports profile indicates that he has grown to 6'3" and 200 lbs. after being listed previously at 6'2", 185 lbs. He claims a 5.13 forty. As a junior in 2013, he completed 190/281 passes (67.6%) for 2,785 yards and 25 touchdowns, along with 3 rushing touchdowns. His team went undefeated in 2013 on their way to a second consecutive state championship.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star pocket passer
Rivals: 3-star, #16 pro-style QB
Scout: 4-star, #15 QB, #236 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, #21 pro-style QB, #7 in-state

Malzone has been heavily interested in Michigan for a long time and has visited numerous times. I practically memorized his stats, physical attributes, and offer list from typing up visitor lists over the last year. Michigan's coaching staff kept holding off on offering him while they pursued more highly valued targets. Shunned by the likes of Jarrett Stidham and Josh Rosen, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier decided to do some spring evaluations and watch various players throw. After returning to Ann Arbor, Nussmeier met with the other coaches and they settled on Malzone, who was likely to commit whenever the coaches extended an offer. He was supposed to visit Ann Arbor early last week but had a scheduling conflict, so today's visit to campus, offer, and commitment likely would have occurred a week ago if not for that conflict.

I wrote a scouting report on Malzone back in January when trying to rank the quarterbacks on Michigan's radar (LINK). Excerpts on Malzone:

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.

As you can see, he was #6 on my list in January. After new names surfaced in the wake of Doug Nussmeier's hiring, he fell to #11 by March (LINK).

I have seen a lot of comparisons to A.J. McCarron, likely due to his relationship with Nussmeier. McCarron put up some good numbers at Alabama and became a 5th round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, so most people in Ann Arbor would probably be happy with that kind of production.

Physically, Malzone does not have an impressive array of skills. He is a decent runner in high school but won't be a running threat in college. He will be able to move in the pocket and do some bootlegs, but designed runs are likely out the window. Arm strength is also an issue. I mentioned the hitch in his delivery, which might get cleaned up a little bit once he starts concentrating on football full-time. (Malzone is also a standout baseball player but will give it up in college.) Furthermore, he has to work on using his lower body to power through his throws.

Overall, Malzone looks like a game manager. His best asset seems to be his understanding of timing, coverages, and game situations, and he looks like a cerebral player. That can go a long way but it requires a running game, an offensive line, and a good defense if you want to be a championship-level team.

Malzone will arrive in 2015 when the presumed starter will be junior Shane Morris backed up by redshirt senior Russell Bellomy (if he sticks around that long) and sophomore Wilton Speight. A redshirt for Malzone will probably be in order so he can compete for the starting job in the post-Morris era, likely as a redshirt sophomore in 2017.

This is Michigan's sixth commitment in the 2015 class and the first from within the state. The Wolverines are probably done at quarterback in this recruiting cycle unless something unforeseen occurs. Currently, the class is scheduled to be roughly 13 members (LINK), but that number will certainly grow by February.

Michigan has not targeted many Brother Rice players in recent years, but several notable Wolverines have come from there, including long snapper Jareth Glanda, former punter Ross Ryan, and early 1990's linebacker Steve Morrison. Morris has coached at Western Michigan and Syracuse in recent years, although he left Syracuse prior to the 2013 season. The Brother Rice Warriors also have a couple other FBS prospects in the form of wide receiver Grant Perry and defensive tackle Marc Miller.

TTB Rating: 73 (ratings explanation)

Scouting Report: 2014 Quarterbacks

Norman (OK) North quarterback David Cornwell

Much has been made in recent weeks and months about the [lack of] quarterback offers for the class of 2014.  Numerous guys have been rumored to have interest in Michigan, but the offers aren't coming easy.  At least three guys (David Cornwell, Michael O'Connor, and Wilton Speight) are slated to talk to the coaches this coming Wednesday, and there's a good chance that at least one of them will be offered at that time.  Here I'll do a brief rundown of the guys on Michigan's radar, listed in order of my preference.  Keep in mind that I'm calibrating for how well these players would fit at Michigan specifically, not necessarily their overall value as college football prospects.

1. David Cornwell - QB - Norman (OK) North: The 6'5", 235-pounder has offers from Auburn, Indiana, Tulsa, Virginia Tech, and Washington State. He's a tall guy with good pocket awareness and the ability to throw the ball with good velocity, either standing in the pocket or on the move.  He's able to change arm angles and keep his eyes downfield when scrambling.  Physically, he'll be ready to play early.  Cornwell lacks great foot speed, but he's quick enough to keep plays alive.

2. Michael O'Connor - QB - Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: The 6'5", 205 lb. prospect has offers from Akron, Buffalo, Michigan State, Mississippi State, South Florida, Toledo, and Vanderbilt.  The first thing that jumps out about O'Connor is his running ability; he's no Denard Robinson, but he can move for a kid his size.  He has a fairly strong arm, but his footwork gets sloppy at times, which I can see leading to some inaccuracy and timing issues.

3. Caleb Henderson - QB - Burke (VA) Lake Braddock: The 6'4", 223 lb. prospect has offers from Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.  He's a very heady football player.  He takes care of the football, shows good footwork, stays balanced in the pocket, and is always ready to throw.  Henderson doesn't have great arm strength, but he's a guy who looks like he's in control of the game.  He reminds me a little bit of former Iowa quarterback Drew Tate.

4. Tyler Wiegers - QB - Detroit (MI) Country Day: The 6'4", 200 lb. prospect has offers from Central Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He has a good, strong arm and stands tall in the pocket.  When he's in the pocket or on the move, he always has the ball cocked and ready to throw.  He already plays in a pro-style offense, which is good, but his three-step drops in high school will turn into five- and seven-step drops in college.  Wiegers is not a dynamic runner, but he's stout enough to shake off some tacklers.  One concern I have about him is his lack of progressions; he has a good receiver in 2014 prospect Maurice Ways, but Wiegers tends to pre-determine where the ball is going.  There are few highlights where he really scans the field and makes check-downs, which is always a problem at the higher levels.

5. Chance Stewart - QB - Sturgis (MI) Sturgis: The 6'6", 205 lb. quarterback held a Western Michigan offer before committing to Wisconsin.  When I watch Stewart play, what I see is John Navarre.  Stewart is a tall kid with some room to fill out.  He has decent arm strength, but his throwing mechanics are a little sloppy and the ball drops down and loops a little bit, elongating his delivery.  He's not a running threat and would be somewhat of a sitting duck in the pocket.  I can see him fitting well in Wisconsin's offense during the Bret Bielema years, but he doesn't seem to fit Al Borges's ideal.

6. DeShone Kizer - QB - Toledo (OH) Central Catholic: The 6'4", 205 lb. quarterback has offers from Boston College, Bowling Green, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Syracuse, and Toledo.  He's a good runner, but he's very unpolished as a quarterback.  His footwork is messy, and he has a long, looping delivery like Byron Leftwich.  And despite all that winding up, he doesn't have a great deal of arm strength.

7. Travis Smith - QB - Ithaca (MI) Ithaca: The 6'2", 200 lb. prospect has a lone offer from Central Michigan.  There's a lot to like about this kid.  He runs his offense very efficiently, seems to do a good job of making pre-snap reads, is a very accurate passer, and runs the ball well.  A couple concerns I have are his size (if he lists 6'2", he's probably 6'0" or 6'1") and his arm strength.  I don't think he has the ability to drop straight back and hit a receiver streaking down the sideline 50 yards away.  He also runs a shotgun spread offense, which might slow the learning curve in an offense like Michigan's.

8. Wilton Speight - QB - Richmond (VA) Collegiate: The 6'6", 217-pounder has no offers at this time.  Speight might be the sleeper of the group.  I like the way he throws the ball under pressure.  Sometimes it's unbelievable how accurate he is with guys in his face, but to be honest, it seems like he's in a habit of throwing off his back foot because of a porous offensive line.  He barely has a chance to breathe before two or three defenders are in his face.  He's a little too stiff in the pocket for my liking and will struggle to avoid college rushers; he lacks great arm strength and has a little bit of a hitch in his delivery.  He just looks very unpolished.  I could see him going somewhere like Texas Tech or Washington State and lighting it up a few years down the road, but I don't think he's a good fit for Michigan.

9. Coleman Key - QB - Broken Arrow (OK) Broken Arrow: The 6'5", 210 lb. signal caller has a lone offer from Arkansas State.  He shows good touch, and his height allows him to throw over the middle with ease.  He doesn't have a cannon for an arm, and he's not much of a threat to run the ball.  While many elite quarterbacks start from their sophomore or even freshman year, Key's first year as the starter was as a junior in 2012, so he's not as experienced as some other quarterbacks.  Perhaps because of that reason, he seems to lack a little bit of pocket awareness.  I think better offers than Arkansas State will come down the road.

10. Andrew Ford - QB - Camp Hill (PA) Cedar Cliff:  The 6'3", 190 lb. prospect has offers from Massachusetts and Temple.  Quite simply, I think Ford lacks the arm strength to be a serious Michigan prospect.  He has some other shortcomings - mediocre size, sloppy footwork, not particularly athletic - but he doesn't have enough zip to overcome those weaknesses.  He's a good high school football player, but not BCS conference-caliber, in my opinion.

Final TTB Ratings for 2014

Michael Ferns, Wilton Speight, Jabrill Peppers, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Bryan Mone, and Jared Wangler

Drum roll, please.

It's that time of year, time for the final TTB Ratings of the 2014 recruiting cycle. Everyone signed his National Letter of Intent back in February, you say? Pshaw. Not Malik McDowell. Nope. McDowell is still holding out and likely to be attending Michigan State in the fall. I was waiting to see if he would compromise with his parents and sign a NLI to Michigan, but that window passed on April 1st.

So here they are. Check out the rating scale (LINK) if you're unfamiliar or just want a refresher. Keep in mind that these ratings take into account the other players on the roster. So for example, the second-best middle linebacker on the roster might find himself sitting on the bench for several years not because he's terrible but because the other guy is really good.

The 2015 TTB Ratings will be coming soon, now that the 2014 cycle is finished.

CB Jabrill Peppers - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: 100
I'm keeping Peppers right where I ranked him initially. He still looks like the best player at his position in the class, and his versatility (he could play safety, return punts and kicks, and perhaps play some offense) makes him an even more valuable commodity. (Commitment post.)

WR Drake Harris - Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: 93
I have no reason to downgrade Harris from where I ranked him after his junior year, except for the fact that he missed his entire senior season with a hamstring injury. The injury concerns me and is still nagging him this spring, but it's impossible for me to say whether that will affect him going forward in his career. Considering injuries can derail anyone's career, I'm going to leave Harris at this rating and hope that he recovers and develops fully. (Commitment post.)

DT Bryan Mone - Salt Lake City (UT) Highland: 79 88
Watching Mone from his junior to his senior year, he looked to have added some weight and lost a step. When he played in the Under Armour All-America Game, I thought he looked slow and a little lethargic, but that was roughly two months after his season ended, so maybe he was just out of shape. Either way, I see a guy on film who can stay low and who uses a violent hand strike to disengage from blockers. While he can probably be whipped into shape a little bit, he's not a nose tackle who will amaze people with his athleticism, but he should be an active clogger up the middle. (Commitment post.)

OG Mason Cole - Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: 87
Another guy who has already received some practice hype as an early enrollee, I like the way Cole bends and I like his lateral quickness. He has been playing some tackle this spring, but I'm not sure if that's his long-term position because he's not the longest guy around. Wherever he ends up, I think he'll be a good player down the road. (Commitment post.)

LB Michael Ferns - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: 83 85
Ferns can be slightly hesitant to diagnose plays, but otherwise, I think he has almost everything the coaches would want in a linebacker. He could be more physical when shedding blocks, but I think that's something that can be taught for him. Otherwise, he runs well, does a good job in space, and is a forceful tackler. (Commitment post.)

WR Freddy Canteen - Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: N/A 83
Film on Canteen is scarce, and what I saw of him early basically came from his quarterback's (David Sills') highlight tape. I can't say whether spring practice hype has altered my viewpoint on him, but it has been positive. Regardless, I commented on his quickness and route-running ability when he committed, and that seems to be giving Michigan defensive backs problems so far, too. He reminds me of Wes Welker with his quick feet and could be effective in the slot like Roy Roundtree was back in 2010. (Commitment post.)

WR Maurice Ways - Detroit (MI) Country Day: 77 81
I might be a little higher on Ways than the recruiting services, but I really like all three wide receiver recruits in the 2014 class. Ways has reportedly had problems with his hands at certain points, but he didn't concentrate solely on football until his junior year. His hands improved as a senior, and he reminds me of a Marquise Walker type who has good enough speed and size to threaten deep but won't be a big-play machine. (Commitment post.)

LB Chase Winovich - Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: 79
The more I've seen of Winovich, the more I've become convinced that he'll be a solid player. I really see him as a SAM in an Under defense, so I'm not sure exactly how he fits if Michigan goes to an Over look semi-permanently. He definitely needs to get stronger, because he's a willing hitter but ball carriers just don't go down with the ease they should when he hits them. (Commitment post.)

QB Wilton Speight - Richmond (VA) Benedictine: 77
I feel comfortable with this rating. I still don't see "star" written all over Speight, but he should have a couple years under offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier (who will probably be a head coach somewhere by the time Speight graduates), sit behind Devin Gardner and Shane Morris, and then have a couple years to compete for the starting position. He has good arm strength and has improved his mechanics over the past year, and he has already shown good leadership skills with the way he helped recruit in the 2014 class. (Commitment post.)

TE Ian Bunting - Hinsdale (IL) Central: 78 75
Bunting played more tight end as a senior than he did as a junior, when he was exclusively a wideout. He still has a lot to learn about blocking, so it would probably behoove him to redshirt, add some weight, and learn blocking techniques. He doesn't have the physical mentality that I saw out of Butt, so I have some questions about whether he can break tackles and block like a Big Ten Y tight end would need to do. He doesn't have the speed to split out like Devin Funchess has done. (Commitment post.)

DE Lawrence Marshall - Southfield (MI) Southfield: 72 74
Marshall's highlights are a series of plays on which he is unblocked or has to fend off terrible attempts at chop blocks. He does have good speed and leaping ability, but disengaging from blockers is a question mark. For that reason, he reminds me a bit of Mario Ojemudia coming out of high school. I rated Ojemudia as a 78, and he's still looking like he'll be a backup to Frank Clark with two years of eligibility left. I liked Marshall's senior film better than his junior year, but not by a ton. (Commitment post.)

DT Brady Pallante - Naples (FL) Barron Collier: 70 69
I've said before that Pallante reminds me of a slower Mike Martin. He's got the leverage, the hand violence, and the knack for shedding blocks. He won't be the biggest guy, and his lack of explosiveness will prevent him from being the TFL machine that was Martin. I don't see Pallante as a star, but I do see him as a solid rotation player down the road. I'm knocking him down just one peg because I don't see him having much NFL draft potential with his size. (Commitment post.)

OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: 68
After watching his senior highlights and seeing him in the Under Armour All-America Game, Bushell-Beatty looks like a guy who might be more suited to playing inside at guard. I would have concerns about him being quick enough to play on the edge, and he's more of a waist bender than a knee bender. With the other talent surrounding him, I think he might get pushed to the back of the pack, although he could be one of those guys who emerges as an upperclassmen to fill a void. (Commitment post.)

LB Noah Furbush - Kenton (OH) Kenton: 64
Furbush reminds me an awful lot of Brennen Beyer, who has played linebacker and defensive end at Michigan. I was fairly high on Beyer coming out of high school, but his play in college has been somewhat forgettable. Furbush was recruited as MIKE, but he looks like a future defensive end or maybe a SAM linebacker if Michigan runs the Under front. (Commitment post.)

LB Jared Wangler - Warren (MI) De La Salle: 59
Wangler, who played defense mostly as a safety in high school, lacks the foot speed to be a safety in college. He will probably bulk up a little bit and play linebacker. Initially, I thought that he played like a SAM linebacker in a WILL's body, but with Michigan's supposed move to the Over front, I think Wangler fits well as a SAM, period. I think he is limited athletically and doesn't have the biggest frame, but he has a chance because he's a heady, aggressive player. Regardless, the Wolverines have brought in some good talent at linebacker over the past couple years, so it may be tough for Wangler to move past them. (Commitment post.)

S Brandon Watson - Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Incomplete
I still have not seen enough of Watson to offer an opinion here. He has been playing safety this spring and reports have been positive, but practice reports are to be taken with a grain of salt. (Commitment post.)

2015 Spring Game Draft

Jourdan Lewis

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Just for fun, I thought I would draft up teams for the spring game. I had the idea of finding someone else to draft against . . . and then time got away from me. Michigan's coaching staff is drafting teams this coming Saturday, a week ahead of the April 4th contest between squads. So here, a day ahead of time, are the players I and me would draft.

Here are the rules:

• Each team gets 25 players.
• Each side of the ball must be filled out completely for both squads.
• Players with known debilitating injuries or who are not on campus yet are not available for the draft.
• Specialists are not available, since special teams will not be played in the spring game.

Rd. 1 for Magnus: Jourdan Lewis, CB. The hype on Jabrill Peppers is all just hypothetical for now, but Lewis had a breakout spring game last year and was Michigan's best defensive back during the 2014 season.

Rd. 1 for Thunder: Willie Henry, DT. With the recent poor play of the offensive line, I want an interior defensive lineman to wreak havoc.

Hit the jump for the other 24 rounds of the draft.

Video: Quarterbacks talk offense

Hit the jump for Shane Morris, Russell Bellomy, and Wilton Speight.