Tuesday, March 13, 2007

2008 Recruiting Board - TE/OL

Tight End

Kyle Rudolph 6-7 220 Cincinnati, OH Notre Dame Commit
Rudolph is definitely one of the top TE prospects in the country. Sadly it seems that Notre Dame is pretty much in the drivers seat, and he’ll probably commit sooner rather than later.
Brandon Moore 6-6 230 Trotwood, OH
Moore is an athletic freak, far faster than someone his size should be. We have an offer out to him, but at this point it seems he’ll either head to OSU (if they offer) or somewhere in the south. UPDATE: visited Michigan for spring practice, came away really liking us. We might lead, and at the very least are in great position. UPDATE: We're listed in his top two with Georgia.
Jake Stoneburner 6-5 225 Dublin, OH Ohio State Commit
Tall fast WR/TE hybrid. Teamate of OSU commit Mike Adams. Recently received an offer from OSU, and it seems only a matter of time before he follows Adams there.
Hubie Graham 6-4 227 Scranton, PA
Don’t know much about Graham as a player, but he’s got a pretty good offer list, and he said he was “honored” to get a Michigan offer, in the process of planning a trip to AA. Cautiously optimistic on this one.
Mark Wedderburn 6-6 235 Springfield, PA
Penn State legacy, older brother Floyd played O-Line there. Has decided to let the process run a bit longer than he originally planned, but I’ll be surprised if he ends up anywhere but PSU.
Cody Aughney 6-6 220 Henderson, NV
Visited unofficially last year, lists Michigan in his top two with Oregon State. Says UM coaches want him to put on some weight and to see some senior tape. Could be an intriguing prospect, potential camp offer.
Tyler Edwards 6-3 222 Monroe, LA
Early Rivals 100 player, has a Michigan offer, but it seems like he’s likely to stay in the south.

Offensive Line

Dann O’Neill 6-7 290 Grand Haven, MI Michigan Commit!
Top 3 prospect in Michigan, finished 7th in the state in his wrestling weight class. Definitely a potential top 100 player, really likes Michigan. I wouldn’t be surprised to see O’Neill be our next commit, and he’d be a great one.
Michael Brewster 6-6 305 Orlando, FL Ohio State Commit
Arguably one of the top o-line prospects in the country, same school as Greg Matthews. Lists a top 3 of OSU, USC, and UF. Most people think he’s OSU’s to lose, with only UF having any shot at all of pulling him away.
Bryce Givens 6-6 250 Denver, CO Nebraska Commit
Same school as 2007 signee Steve Watson. Has mentioned UM in the top 3-4 schools he’s considering. He has been offered, this one could play out a while.
Khaled Holmes 6-4 301 Santa Ana, CA
A double legacy, father Mike played DE at UM, brother Alex played TE at USC. Reportedly a USC lean, just received an offer from the Trojans. If he leaves the state, it’ll be to Michigan, but unfortunately that seems increasingly unlikely.
Zebrie Sanders 6-6 270 Clayton, OH
Top Ohio prospect, lists Michigan in his top 5, we might be able to poach him from OSU if they continue to wait to offer. Seems like a raw prospect, but has the measurables to develop into a dominant tackle.
J.B. Shugarts 6-7 299 Klein, TX Ohio State Commit
Probably our top target at tackle outside of O’Neill. Same school as Mark Ortmann. Listed us in his early top four, but that seems to have been expanded to around a top 6-7. Currently listing UM, OSU, OK, LSU, TAMU, UF, and Alabama. I think we still have a shot, we have have to really impress him when he comes up for camp. If a commit comes from Sam McGuffie, that could help too, as the two are close friends.
Matt Lipski 6-8 330 Ashland, OR
First thing you notice about this kid, he’s ENORMOUS! That combination of pure size and inexperience (only started playing football his sophomore year of HS), makes the sky the limit for his potential. Visited AA for a game last year. Lists UM and Oregon as his leaders. This guy is one of those prospects I really hope we get, just because I’ve taken a liking to them.
Joel Turrubiates 6-7 340 Bakersfield, CA
Another enormous tackle prospect, kind of a sleeper at the moment, but lists UM in his top three. Can you imagine having him and Lipski as O-Line bookends?
Elliott Mealer 6-6 280 Wauseon, OH Michigan Commit!
Lists OSU and Michigan as his top two, seems like a bit of a plan B guy, wouldn’t be surprised to see him get an offer if we miss out on some more nationally regarded targets.
R.J. Dill 6-8 295 Camp Hill, PA
Art Forst 6-8 288 Manasquan, NJ

Dill and Forst fit into the same category for me, I don’t know much about them, but they’re fairly highly rated and list interest in Michigan. While they both seem like they’d be great pick-ups, I’ll wait to assess our chances until I get more info on them.
Lane Clelland 6-5 265 Owings Mills, MD Notre Dame Commit
Sleeper, older brother played at Northwestern. Has offers from Maryland and ND. Is planning to make a Michigan visit, probably needs to put on some weight, but looks like he could make a good guard prospect.
Vaughn Dotsy 6-5 346 Ventura, CA
Same school as 2007 signee Michael Williams, will block for RB target Darrell Scott this year. Michigan was first to offer. Enormous kid, but surprisingly quick for his size. Says he want’s to approach recruiting the same way Williams did, slowly, take his visits, and make an informed decision. Here’s hoping that his recruitment ends with the same result.
Trevor Robinson 6-5 300 Omaha, NE Nebraska Commit
Lists UM in his top three, but rumor has it he’s a Nebraska lean. Probably a long shot for us.
Andrew Sampson 6-3 275 Aurora, CO
Earlier listed UM as his favorite, but not sure how much we’re returning the interest. Potential camp offer.
Kurt Wermers 6-5 260 Crown Point, IN
Good looking interior line prospect, says Michigan is at the top of his list, hoping to make a mid-summer decision. Looking good for us so far.
Matt Greiser 6-5 305 Columbus, OH
Chris Groth 6-4 295 South Lyon, MI
Rocko Khoury 6-4 253 Traverse City, MI

A trio of likely plan B prospects, will probably have to have a good showing at camp or during their senior year to earn an offer.

2008 Recruiting Board - Skill Positions


Quarterbacks
Terrelle Pryor 6-6 220 Jeannette, PA
Clemons cousin, but unlikely to land a QB of this caliber the class after Mallett, likely headed to a program with solid FB and BB. OSU, PSU, Pitt, and WVU seem to be the early leaders.
Brendon Kay 6-4 221 Marine City, MI
Chris Lum 6-2 185 Lake Orion, MI

Both seem interested in Michigan, will likely battle it out for a camp offer, either would probably commit shortly after receiving one.
Dayne Crist 6-5 221 Sherman Oaks, CA Notre Dame Commit
Appears to be a USC lean, but he might be open to other schools.

Runningback
Darius Ashley 5-8 185 Cincinnati, OH
Small scatback type, seems like a plan B recruit, states interest in M, but if OSU offered he’d probably jump on it.
Sam McGuffie 6-0 185 Cyprus, TX
#1 Target at RB, amazing highlight tapes, called the “White Reggie Bush”, family originally from Flint area, good friends with J.B. Shugarts. Recently named Michigan as his leader. I’m optimistic, especially as Oklahoma just signed two top RBs for this class already.
Marcus Dowtin 6-2 195 Fork Union, VA
I really don’t know anything about Dowtin, but he’s listed on both sites as having a Michigan offer. Also plays LB, not sure what he’s being recruited as.
Jonas Gray 5-9 206 Detroit, MI
Gray is the #1 back in Michigan this year, and has been named to the early Rivals top 250. His videos remind me a lot of Kevin Grady, big kid, not especially fast, bulls through defenders. I think that this may be why the staff has put him on the back burner a bit behind more athletic backs like Scott and McGuffie. Named Notre Dame as his early leader, but with their RB class from last year, everything seems to be even again, the sooner we offer, the better our chance at landing him. UPDATE: Visited Florida and recieved an offer, almost committed on the visit. Says Michigan is still one of his favorites, but I think he'll go elswhere unless we offer fairly soon.
Dontavius Jackson 5-11 195 Franklin, GA
Attends same high school as Carlos Brown, lists us among his early favorites. Not offered yet, but lists one from Florida. Seems likely to stay in the South even if we offer, but then again, so did Carlos.
Latavius Murray 6-3 215 Nedrow, NY
Same high school as Mike Hart. Also plays LB, but prefers offense, grew up a Florida fan. Might be one to watch if we miss out on top targets like Scott, McGuffie, and Gray.
Darnell Scott 6-0 215 Ventura, CA
Strong candidate for the #1 running back in the country. Just transferred to St. Bonaventure HS, home of incoming DB Michael Williams. Highlights aren’t as impressive as I was expecting, but it will be interesting to see how he performs with a better supporting cast. Shows high interest in Michigan, as does OG Vaughn Dotsy from the same school, the two have mentioned playing together, may be a package deal, but I’ll remain skeptical on that until it happens.
Covaughn DeBoskie 5-11 187 Chandler, AZ
Has a Michigan offer and lists us in his top three. I think he'll probably stay out west, but he appears to have genuine interest, so he'll be one to keep an eye on.

Wide Receiver
Jonathan Baldwin 6-6 225 Aliquippa, PA

Huge prospect who could play WR or TE. Cousin of Ty Law. Names Michigan as his leader. Unless he changes his mind, which seems unlikely, it’ll either be Michigan or basketball for Baldwin. Depending on what the rest of the WR class looks like this year, I think he may end up a TE if he chooses Michigan, his tapes show great speed and athleticism, but he also is a very good blocker and would make a dangerous weapon at TE. I think his recruitment ends up a lot like Toney Clemons, drags on a bit, but we lead all the way.
Vaughn Carraway 6-2 175 Laureldale, PA
I know very little about Carraway, but he lists interest is Michigan, and is reported to have an offer. UPDATE: Carraway visited Michigan for a spring practice, and was blown away, he now names us as his clear leader.
Wes Kemp 6-4 226 St. Louis, MO
Another prospect I don’t know much about, may or may not have an offer, also being looked at as a TE.
Fred Smith 6-3 215 Detroit, MI
Likely a top 5 player in the state this year, has been offered, lists a top list of UM, MSU, and OSU. Things look pretty good for UM with him.
Daryl Stonum 6-2 180 Sugarland, TX
Top 100 player nationally, probably one of the top 5-10 receivers in the nation. Same high school as 2007 signees Troy Woolfolk and Brandon Herron. Has previously stated Michigan was his leader, but in a recent interview he said it was between Michigan and Florida.
Kenny Tate 6-4 215 Hyattsville, MD
One of the nations top receiving prospects. Offers include UM, UF, OSU, ND, and PSU. Not sure how interested he is in Michigan, but there is an offer on the table for him.
James Wade 6-3 175 Ann Arbor, MI
Local kid. Grew up a Michigan fan, says Braylon Edwards is his idol. I think if he gets an offer he’d commit on the spot. Might be a James Rogers sort who impresses at camp and gets an offer. With us looking to be in good position with several other higher priority WR’s he might get a look at DB.
Dajuan Miller 6-5 200 Metuchen, NJ
Long-shot, has an offer but lists a top three of Rutgers, PSU, and Oklahoma, but Michigan seems to be right behind those three at the moment.