ESPN 150 Released

The ESPN 150 List was released today. Here is how Michigan's recruits got ranked:


Shane Morris - 4*, 82 - Scout Grade, #4 Pocket QB, #1 MI, #37 Overall
Wyatt Shallman - 3*, 79 - Scout Grade, #1 Fullback, #8 MI
Dymonte Thomas - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #11 Athlete, #5 OH, #98 Overall
DeVeon Smith - 4*, 79 - Scout Grade, #28 RB, #18 OH
Jourdan Lewis - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #11 CB, #3 MI, #107 Overall
Jaron Dukes - 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #29 WR, #10 OH
Khalid Hill - 3*, 79 - Scout Grade, #6 TE-H, #7 MI
Logan Tuley-Tillman - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #9 OT, #5 IL, #97 Overall
Chris Fox - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #10 OT, #1 CO, #105 Overall
Kyle Bosch - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #4 OG, #6 IL, #112 Overall
Patrick Kugler - 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #5 OG, #6 PA, #121 Overall
David Dawson - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #1 OG, #2 MI, #92 Overall
Taco Charlton - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #9 DE, #6 OH, #115 Overall
Jake Butt - 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #4 TE-Y, #13 OH
Mike McCray - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #7 OLB, #4 OH, #75 Overall
Ben Gedeon - 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #32 Athlete, #17 OH
Gareon Conley - 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #6 CB, #3 OH, #63 Overall


Therefore, the top players in the class according to ESPN looks like this:


Shane Morris - #37 
Gareon Conley - #63
Mike McCray - #75
David Dawson - #92
Logan Tuley-Tillman - #97
Dymonte Thomas - #98
Chris Fox - #105
Jourdan Lewis - #107
Kyle Bosch - #112
Taco Charlton - #115
Patrick Kugler - #121


Michigan has 11 commitments in the top 150 to ESPN. That is pretty incredible realizing that signing day is still about 10 or so months away. I will update each players recruiting rankings on their New Wolverine pages (if they have one). 

New Wolverine: Ben Gedeon

Ben Gedeon, a linebacker from Hudson (OH) Hudson High School, became the 17th commitment to the 2013 class. He is a consensus 4* linebacker / athlete across the board. Gedeon is listed at about 6'3" 215 lbs. or so currently. At that size, he will probably play the WILL linebacker spot when he arrives on campus. However, given the depth at linebacker that the coaches have built over the last few classes, Gedeon should be able to redshirt his freshman season to build up muscle and size. 


Gedeon is a good athlete with pretty good speed. He plays running back and linebacker in high school so you know he is able to cover receivers and tight ends. He also sheds tackles pretty well and tackles the ball carrier well. But I think Gedeon will definitely need that redshirt year to add some mass to become a more effective run stopper. If he adds enough, he could move over to the MIKE linebacker spot.


The following are the current recruiting rankings for Ben Gedeon:
Scout: 4*, #13 OLB, #159 Overall
Rivals: 4*, #8 ILB, #224 Overall
ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #32 Athlete, #17 OH
247: 4*, 90 - 247 Rating, #23 Athlete, #14 OH

New Wolverine: DeVeon Smith

DeVeon Smith, a running back from Warren (OH) Howland High School, became the 16th commitment of the class of 2013 on Saturday. He is currently listed at about 5'11" and 210 lbs., which makes him a good size for a running back. He is the second running back to commit to the class, alongside Wyatt Shallman. Smith is a powerful back that literally does not go down. It takes a defense about three guys to bring him down and that is after he breaks multiple tackles. His highlight film is pretty good showing his ability to drive through would be tacklers on his way to the end zone. 

Smith's speed is my only question. However, while he doesn't have the speed of Ty Isaac, Smith is still able to outrun a few players. Once he gets on campus, he will have every opportunity to compete for the starting position, depending on the status of Fitzgerald Toussaint. I think Smith will come in and be the backup for his freshman season and then come his sophomore year, he could become the starter. 

Plus, if Ty Isaac plans on committing too, that would be one great compliment to DeVeon Smith. Isaac has the speed, but Smith has the pounding ability. We will see what Isaac decides to do, but Smith is definitely a great running back for this class. As you see below, I think DeVeon Smith is a very underrated running back, other than Scout of course.

The following are the current recruiting rankings for DeVeon Smith:

Scout: 4*, #7 RB, #58 Overall

Rivals: 3*, #32 RB

ESPN: 4*, 79 - Scout Grade, #28 RB, #18 OH

247: 3*, 89 - 247 Rating, #32 RB, #18 OH

New Wolverine: Gareon Conley

Gareon Conley, a cornerback from Massillon (OH) Washington High School, committed to the class of 2013 over the weekend and making him the 15th recruit in the class. He is list at about 6'1" 170 lbs., which would mean he will be the tallest corner on the team by the time he reaches Michigan. I really like Conley's skill set and I think he is pretty underrated by the recruiting services. He is not real fast, but his height and length makes him a nice corner prospect for the Wolverines. Being that tall will be really nice because it gives Michigan someone bigger to match up with the tall receivers throughout the B1G. 

I honestly think that Conley could push for playing time his redshirt freshman year. He is pretty light and needs to add some weight and muscle. But his size makes you excited to see him match up with the bigger receivers. His film is fun to watch because he has the length to fly to the ball and knock it away without interfering with the receiver. He also goes up and high points the pass pretty well too.

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Gareon Conley:

Scout: 4*, #22 CB, #227 Overall

Rivals: 3*, NR Athlete

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #6 CB, #63 Overall, #3 OH

247: 3*, 88 - 247 Rating, #43 CB, #27 OH

Current Recruiting Rankings for the Class of 2013

The following are the current recruiting rankings for each commitment to the class of 2013. They should be current up to the last week or so. With the Scout 300 coming out yesterday, we now have an idea on where each commit is ranked across the four major recruiting services. 


Shane Morris - QB
   Scout: 5*, #3 QB, #28 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #16 Overall
   ESPN: 5*, ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 97 - 247 Rating, #2 Pro QB, #14 Overall, #1 MI


Wyatt Shallman - RB
   Scout: 4*, #1 FB, #179 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #160 Overall
   ESPN: ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #9 SDE, #187 Overall, #4 MI


Dymonte Thomas - S
   Scout: 5*, #5 S, #35 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #77 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 95 - 247 Rating, #6 S, #40 Overall, #3 OH


Jourdan Lewis - CB
   Scout: 3*, #24 CB, #251 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #167 Overall
   ESPN: NR CB
   247: 4*, 90 - 247 Rating, #22 CB, #7 MI


Jaron Dukes - WR
   Scout: 3*, #38 WR, #287 Overall
   Rivals: NR WR
   ESPN: NR WR
   247: 3*, 87 - 247 Rating, #63 WR, #28 OH


Khalid Hill - TE
   Scout: 3*, #14 TE
   Rivals: NR TE
   ESPN: NR TE
   247: 3*, 86 - 247 Rating, #21 TE, #9 MI


Logan Tuley-Tillman - OT
   Scout: 4*, #14 OT, #153 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #109 Overall
   ESPN: ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 94 - 247 Rating, #13 OT, #89 Overall, #6 IL


Chris Fox - OT, OG
   Scout: 4*, #4 OG, #137 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #46 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 95 - 247 Rating, #7 OT, #47 Overall, #1 CO


Kyle Bosch - OT
   Scout: 4*, #4 OT, #49 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #60 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 95 - 247 Rating, #5 OT, #42 Overall, #2 IL


Patrick Kugler - OG, C
   Scout: 5*, #1 OG, #25 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #54 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #7 OG, #190 Overall, #4 PA


David Dawson - OG
   Scout: 3*, #9 OG, #264 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #199 Overall
   ESPN: ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #8 OG, #196 Overall, #5 MI


Taco Charlton - DE
   Scout: 3*, #35 DE
   Rivals: 4*, #183 Overall
   ESPN: ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #5 OLB, #99 Overall, #5 OH


Jake Butt - TE
   Scout: 4*, #6 TE, #147 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #96 Overall
   ESPN: ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 90 - 247 Rating, #9 TE, #15 OH


Mike McCray - OLB
   Scout: 4*, #20 OLB, #202 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #44 Overall
   ESPN: ESPNU 150 Watch List
   247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #10 Athlete, #168 Overall, #8 OH


Here is the breakdown per recruiting service:
   Scout: 5* = 3 (Shane Morris, Dymonte Thomas, Patrick Kugler)
              4* = 6 (Wyatt Shallman, Logan Tuley-Tillman, Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch, Jake Butt, Mike
                   McCray)
              3* = 5 (Jourdan Lewis, Jaron Dukes, Khalid Hill, David Dawson, Taco Charlton)


   Rivals: 5* = 0
              4* = 12 (Shane Morris, Wyatt Shallman, Dymonte Thomas, Jourdan Lewis, Logan Tuley-
                    Tillman, Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch, Patrick Kugler, David Dawson, Taco Charlton, Jake  
                    Butt, Mike McCray)
              NR = 2 (Jaron Dukes, Khalid Hill)


   ESPN: 5* = 1 (Shane Morris)
              4* = 4 (Dymonte Thomas, Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch, Patrick Kugler)
              ESPNU 150 Watch List = 11 (Shane Morris, Wyatt Shallman, Dymonte Thomas, Logan
                     Tuley-Tillman, Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch, Patrick Kugler, David Dawson, Taco Charlton, 
                     Jake Butt, Mike McCray)


   247: 5* = 0 
           4* = 12 (Shane Morris, Wyatt Shallman, Dymonte Thomas, Jourdan Lewis, Logan Tuley-
                 Tillman, Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch, Patrick Kugler, David Dawson, Taco Charlton, Jake 
                 Butt, Mike McCray)
           3* = 2 (Jaron Dukes, Khalid Hill)


So far, Michigan has a pretty solid class for 2013. Hopefully they can close this class out with some more good prospects to add to these above. I will update this post throughout the year until National Signing Day in February 2013.

Scout 300 for Class of 2013

The Scout 300 has just been released. I will be updating the Michigan 2013 Offer List over the next couple days to reflect the changes. I will also probably make a post with the current Michigan commitments and their current recruiting rankings soon.

New Wolverine: Mike McCray II

Mike McCray II just became the 14th commitment to the class of 2013 and the first linebacker. He is from Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison and is listed at about 6'4" and 220 lbs. or so. McCray is slated for the sam linebacker position and could even move down to the weak-side defensive end position. He has good size for SLB and has pretty good coverage skills. McCray also seems to have decent speed as well for his size. 

There have been some rumblings that McCray could switch to the Buckeyes if they were to offer, since his dad is a former captain for them. I don't know if that will / would happen and I hope not since McCray has nice upside. He could come in and compete for a backup spot to Jake Ryan. If not, McCray will take that redshirt year to refine his skills and be ready to play come his redshirt freshman season. 

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Mike McCray II:

Scout: 4*, #20 OLB, #202 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #8 OLB, #44 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #7 OLB, #75 Overall, #4 OH

247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #12 Athlete, #173 Overall, #8 OH

New Wolverine: Patrick Kugler

Patrick Kugler, from Wexford (PA) North Allegheny SHS, became the fifth offensive lineman and 13th overall commitment to the class of 2013 over the weekend. He is listed at 6'5" and 280 lbs. and is slated at offensive guard or even center. I haven't watched any film on Kugler but I would have to assume he is pretty good since his dad is the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers and his brother will be a redshirt freshman offensive lineman at Purdue (if I remember correctly). Kugler is probably the last offensive lineman that Michigan signs for this class. There is always the possibility that one of them decommits or Michigan picks up a sixth lineman. But unless it is someone like Ethan Pocic or Laremy Tunsil, I don't see anyone else joining the offensive lineman group for this class.

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Patrick Kugler:

Scout: 5*, #1 OG, #25 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #7 OT #54 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #5 OG, #121 Overall, #6 PA

247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #8 OG, #192 Overall, #6 PA

Class of 2013 Wish List

Since the class of 2013 is approximately half full already(!)  this "Wish List" will consist of players I hope Michigan is able to end the class with. I originally wanted to do a total wish list, but that was before the avalanche of commitments this past weekend. Needless to say I ran out of time and was caught by surprise (mostly). 


So on to the "Class of 2013 Wish List" for the rest of the class:


Quarterback - Obviously Shane Morris is already committed to the 2013 class, but I believe we need another quarterback for depth reasons. I would love to see a guy like Kevin Olsen. He is another highly rated quarterback out of Wayne (NJ) Wayne Hills. I love the character and ability of Morris, but if something happens to him when it is his time to shine we could be in big trouble. Assuming Morris takes over after Devin Gardner graduates (which could be Morris' sophomore or redshirt freshman season, also depends on Gardner's redshirt status from his freshman season) we have only Russell Bellomy currently on the roster. That is not a good situation. Now at that time we will have a 2014 quarterback, but still that is a freshman as #3. 


Running Back - Ty Isaac is probably my number one choice to go with the already committed Wyatt Shallman. Isaac has a very impressive highlight film and set the record in the championship game with over 500(!) rushing yards... in one game! I have heard from some people about his character and work ethic. If the coaches extended an offer to him, then I have full trust in Coach Hoke and Co. Keith Ford or Derrick Green would probably be my next choices. But they are there purely on recruiting rankings since I have not watched any film on them.


Wide Receiver - Jaron Dukes is already committed to the Wolverines and he is a tall possession type receiver. The coaches need to grab at least one fast, field stretching wide receiver to go with Dukes. LaQuon Treadwell and Robert Foster are atop my list. Both are fast and can make moves in the open field. While Dukes may need a redshirt year, Treadwell and/or Foster would probably be able to come in right away and contribute. 


Tight End - This position is pretty much already taken care of with the commitments of Khalid Hill and Jake Butt. However, it appears that the coaches may want a third tight end in the class. If Michigan does get another guy, it would have to be Adam Breneman or someone of his caliber. Depth is ok at tight end with Michigan grabbing two in the 2012 class as well. But having a guy like Breneman wouldn't hurt.


Offensive Tackle - In my opinion tackle is all set for this class, unless it is a really high caliber type player. With two guys already committed in Logan Tuley-Tillman and Chris Fox and Michigan grabbing three or so last year, depth is pretty decent to stop at two for 2013. Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield are redshirt juniors this season, so they still have at least this season and maybe next season (unless Lewan leaves early... please no). In order to take a third tackle, I would love to see Laremy Tunsil. He is a highly ranked player and would be another great addition to an already tremendous class.


Offensive Guard - So far Kyle Bosch and David Dawson are the two guards that are committed for the 2013 class. Depth here is kind of scary, with four guys leaving after this season. I don't really have any one here that I would love to see, as anyone with a Michigan offer currently that plays guard will do. 


Offensive Center - Right now David Dawson is the only one that I have heard that may move in and play center from this class. No natural centers have been offered by Michigan so far, and that scares me. Center is another position where depth is extremely thin. After the guys graduate after this year, only Jack Miller remains as a true center / anyone that can play center currently. That is not good. Since we have no offers out to centers right now, I do not have anyone to add to this wish list for this position.


Defensive Tackle - So far no defensive tackles are committed to this class. Atop of my wish list is Henry Poggi and Eddie Vanderdoes. Again, two highly rated guys that seem like they could come in and compete right away. Poggi has said that Michigan is toward the top of his list and I do not know where Michigan stands with Vanderdoes, but these guys would be huge additions to the 2013 class.


Defensive End - Taco Charlton is the only defensive end committed so far. After the haul that Michigan took last year, defensive end is not a big concern for this class. I would say that if we add another guy to the mix, Alquadin Muhammad would be the guy I want. Not only is he a highly ranked guy but he goes to high school at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ. Don Bosco is a huge D-1 factory and it would be great to get a guy or two from there every couple years or so.


Linebacker - Just like defensive end, linebacker is not a big concern because of the big class that we get in 2012. But E.J. Levenberry, Jr. and Jaylon Smith are at the top of my list. They are two of the top linebackers in the country and would provide great competition to the linebacker spot. Levenberry has Michigan at the top of his list and sounds like a great kid that would represent Michigan well. Both of them have a knack for the ball and just plain hit guys.


Cornerback - Kendall Fuller and Vernon Hargreaves are definitely the two corners I would love to see added to the class, in addition to the already committed Jourdan Lewis. Big time players that could also compete for playing time right away. The only problem is, both of these guys seem unlikely that they end up at Michigan. Fuller is scheduled to visit with teammate Dorian O'Daniel for the spring game though, so that's a start.


Safety - To go along with Dymonte Thomas I would love to have Su'a Cravens in the class. His highlight film is fun to watch as he is flying around the field making tackles, interceptions and pass breakups. Safety is not a big need either with three guys in the 2012 class and Thomas already for this class but Cravens is a guy that you would make room for if he was to come.


That is the end of my wish list. Again this is not necessarily who Michigan ends the 2013 class with, but these are guys that I would love to see in the Maize and Blue. Does the Wolverines have a chance with all of them? Yes. Each one has at least some interest in Michigan, while some have even said Michigan is at or near the top of their list. If each one of these guys committed, it would be tough to beat this class with any other in the country.

Recruiting Class of 2013 Needs by Position

This post looks at the what positions the Michigan football coaches will be / should be focusing on for the class of 2013. I will be breaking down who is leaving after the 2012 season and how many scholarships we appear to have open currently. After that will be the number of players we should be looking at for each position. For reference, I am using the Current Michigan Wolverines Football Depth Chart... found here.


Starting out, here is the list of seniors and redshirt seniors that will be playing their last season at Michigan in 2012. 


Note: bolded names = scholarship players
         * = redshirt senior


Quarterback:
Denard Robinson :(
Jack Kennedy*
Steve Wilson*


Running Back:
Vincent Smith
Michael Cox*


Wide Receiver:
Roy Roundtree*
Terrence Robinson*
Jordan Barpal*


Tight End:
Brandon Moore*
Mike Kwiatowski*


Offensive Guard:
Patrick Omameh*
Ricky Barnum*
Rocko Khoury*
Elliot Mealer*


Center / Long Snapper:
George Morales*
Alex Schwab*


Defensive Tackle:
William Campbell


Defensive End:
Craig Roh


Linebacker:
Kenny Demens*
Brandin Hawthorne
Paul Gyarmati*


Cornerback:
J.T. Floyd*


Safety:
Jordan Kovacs*
Floyd Simmons*
Matthew Cavanaugh*


I believe that is everyone. There are 16 scholarship seniors that leave after this next season and since Michigan still had 2 scholarships open after the 2012 class signed there are 18 openings for the 2013 class. Due to normal attrition (guys transferring, leaving early for the NFL, not getting their fifth year, etc.) we could see the class reach about 20-22 or so. After this past weekend and yesterday, Michigan already has 12 spots filled. 


Below is the breakdown by position that Michigan will be looking to fill (of course this is mostly my opinion, but it should be pretty close on how the class ends up). I will also include the recruits that have already committed to play for Michigan.


Quarterback: 1 - 2
Shane Morris 


Running Back: 2
Wyatt Shallman


Wide Receiver: 2
Jaron Dukes


Tight End: 2
Khalid Hill 
Jake Butt


Offensive Tackle: 2
Logan Tuley-Tillman
Chris Fox


Offensive Guard: 2
Kyle Bosch 
David Dawson


Offensive Center: 1
David Dawson (could play either center or guard)


Defensive Tackle: 1 - 2 


Defensive End: 1 - 2
Taco Charlton


Linebacker: 1 - 2


Cornerback: 1 - 2 (I think 2)
Jourdan Lewis


Safety: 1 - 2
Dymonte Thomas


Taking the low end gets us at 16 players for the class of 2013. Since we only picked up one corner last year (Terry Richardson) I think we need two this year. We already have Jourdan Lewis so one more would be ideal. Another quarterback would be nice for depth reasons and we definitely need another running back, especially one that can run the ball 20 times a game (Ty Isaac for example). Wide receiver and defensive tackle are also spots that we need to pick up a couple guys as well.


Next post I will look at a "Wish List" for the class of 2013.

New Wolverine: Taco Charlton

Taco Charlton, from Pickerington (OH) Pickerington Central, was another recruit Michigan picked up over the last weekend. He is listed at 6'6" and 240 lbs. (according to Rivals) and will play the defensive end spot at Michigan. Some scouts have him as an outside linebacker (since he did play that his junior year of high school), but since he is that tall I doubt he plays linebacker. After watching his film, he has good speed for someone that big and he appears to have decent change of direction skills. However, I think he will use that speed to rush off the end of the line and get to the quarterback. 

Charlton is a little raw at this point and will need to work on staying low and better technique. As others have said, he is a bit of a project. Since we picked up some good defensive ends in the class of 2012, I think it was a good idea to go after someone like Charlton. He has a huge upside and could become a great player for Michigan, but it will take a redshirt year and maybe another year or two for him to become a good player. Defensive end is a position that has some depth again, maybe not much experience but now we have some bodies that can play the position and talent won't be too much of a drop off.

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Taco Charlton:

Scout: 3*, #30 DE

Rivals: 4*, #17 SDE, #183 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #9 DE, #115 Overall, #6 OH

247: 4*, 94 - 247 Rating, #4 OLB, #86 Overall, #4 OH

New Wolverine: Jake Butt

Jake Butt was another one of the eight to commit this past weekend to the class of 2013. He is from Pickerington (OH) Pickerington North and is listed at 6'6" and 230 lbs. (according to Rivals). Butt is a player that was being recruited for defensive end and tight end, but Michigan told him that he would be playing tight end for the Wolverines. He is the second tight end Michigan has picked up so far, with Khalid Hill being the other. Along with Kyle Kalis, and multiple other players over the years, Butt grew up as a huge Ohio (yes that one, with the nuts as the mascot) fan, but a few weeks ago he said that Michigan was "way on top" of his favorites list. Plus, it helps that Ohio hasn't offered him a scholarship. 

I have not watched any film on him, so I do not know how good of a tight end he is. But I have read that he is a pretty good blocker and has above average speed for a tight end. He already has decent measurements for a tight end, so by the time he gets on campus he could be an early contributor. 

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Jake Butt:

Scout: 4*, #6 TE, #147 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #4 TE, #96 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #4 TE-Y, #13 OH

247: 4*, 90 - 247 Rating, #10 TE, #15 OH

New Wolverine: Jaron Dukes

Jaron Dukes just committed to Michigan for the class of 2013. He is number twelve for the class and the first wide receiver. I will have a more in depth New Wolverine post / update this one sometime tomorrow.


Update: Like I said in the original post, Jaron Dukes committed to Michigan yesterday. He is from Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin and is listed at 6'5" and about 200 lbs. He is the first wide receiver for the class of 2013 and Michigan will more than likely add at least one more. Dukes is a tall receiver that has ok speed. After watching his highlight tape I seen that he has the speed to break away from some defensive backs, but it is not the type of speed that will allow him to outrun college backs. He will be a nice jump-ball possession type of receiver for Michigan. If he can be like Junior Hemingway in the sense that if the ball is thrown his way he will do whatever is necessary to catch it, then Michigan has picked up a nice weapon for the offense. Hopefully over his senior season and after he redshirts (I think there is a strong possibility of this happening) he can add some speed to his game.


I like the pickup because Michigan will need that possession receiver after Jeremy Jackson graduates after the 2013 season. Jackson, in my opinion, is the only receiver on the roster currently (not including incoming freshmen Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson) that is that type of receiver. Plus, it never hurts to grab a player from right under your biggest rival's hometown (think Patrick Omameh and Trey Burke).


The following are the current recruiting rankings for Jaron Dukes:
Scout: 4*, #39 WR, #287 Overall
Rivals: 3*, #43 WR
ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scout Grade, #29 WR, #10 OH
247: 3*, 87 - 247 Rating, #69 WR, #29 OH

New Wolverine: David Dawson

David Dawson, the second commitment of the past weekend from Detroit (MI) Cass Technical joining Jourdan Lewis, is the fourth offensive lineman of the class of 2013. He is listed at 6'4" and 290 lbs. (according to Scout) and will probably play offensive guard. However, he has told others that he would be willing to also play center, which is a really big need for this class. Dawson played for a high school in Texas during his junior year, but recently moved back to Michigan to join Cass Tech again for his senior year. I have not personally watched any film on Dawson, so I am not sure how good he is, other than by looking at his recruiting rankings. He will most likely redshirt to gain weight, strength and technique. If he becomes a center he could see the field earlier than if he stays at guard, but either way he is a solid pickup for depth at least, if not more.

The following are the current recruiting rankings for David Dawson:

Scout: 3*, #10 OG, #264 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #23 OT, #199 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #1 OG, #92 Overall, #2 MI

247: 4*, 92 - 247 Rating, #9 OG, #199 Overall, #4 MI

New Wolverine: Kyle Bosch

Kyle Bosch is number three for the offensive line for the class of 2013. He is a beast of a player from Wheaton (IL) St. Francis and is listed at 6'5" and 285 lbs. Bosch is, like the other offensive line commitments, a major pickup and need. After this season Patrick Omameh, Ricky Barnum, Rocko Khoury and Elliot Mealer all graduate... and all four are offensive guards. Depth along the o-line is going to be thin, so just like the 2012 class, the 2013 class will have about four or five commitments. Bosch could come in and contribute right away just like Kyle Kalis can this next season. His highlight tape is pretty impressive in my opinion as he just blows up guys and keeps on going. Bosch is probably the offensive lineman I am most excited about, especially since Sparty fans thought he was going to go to Michigan State. Along with Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch has a chance to move into 5* status as he is also a high 4* prospect.

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Kyle Bosch:

Scout: 4*, #4 OT, #49 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #9 OT #60 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #4 OG, #112 Overall, #6 IL

247: 4*, 95 - 247 Rating, #1 OG, #42 Overall, #1 IL

New Wolverine: Chris Fox

Chris Fox is a second offensive lineman that was added to the class of 2013. He is a offensive tackle from Parker (CO) Ponderosa and is listed at 6'6" and 297 lbs. Fox is a highly rated guy that could move into the 5* status by the end of the recruiting cycle. There was some speculation that he was going to be one of the newest commitments a couple weeks ago, and he made that come true this past weekend. On tape he looks like an absolute mauler, something that should fit in perfectly in a couple years as Michigan goes back to more of a pro-style offense. Like Logan Tuley-Tillman, Chris Fox adds some depth at the tackle position and could push for playing time whether that be his freshman or redshirt freshman season. 

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Chris Fox:

Scout: 4*, #4 OG, #137 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #4 OT, #46 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #10 OT, #105 Overall, #1 CO

247: 4*, 95 - 247 Rating, #8 OT, #53 Overall, #1 CO

New Wolverine: Logan Tuley-Tillman

Logan Tuley-Tillman also committed to Michigan this past weekend. He is an offensive tackle from Peoria (IL) Manual and is listed at 6'7" and 301 lbs. (according to Scout). After visiting Ann Arbor about eight or so times over the last couple of months, it was only a matter of time before LTT committed to Michigan. Originally he had said he would like to have his recruitment over with around his birthday (sometime in February if I remember correctly). However, as the offers started pouring in from the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, he wanted to take his time and take all of his official visits this fall. But I think as LTT seen the offensive line portion of the class fill up over the weekend (all with solid to very solid prospects) he decided that he better jump in the class before his spot is filled.

Tuley-Tillman has great size for the blind side tackle spot. Right now Taylor Lewan has that covered and Erik Magnuson (c/o 2012) could be the next in line. However, after more-than-likely redshirting his freshman season, LTT could push Magnuson as the blind side guy. He adds great depth to the tackle position, something Michigan may lack after Lewan and Michael Schofield graduate after the 2013 season.

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Logan Tuley-Tillman:

Scout: 4*, #14 OT, #153 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #13 OT, #109 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #9 OT, #97 Overall, #5 IL

247: 4*, 94 - 247 Rating, #13 OT, #82 Overall, #6 IL

New Wolverine: Jourdan Lewis

Jourdan Lewis from Detroit (MI) Cass Technical was one of two recruits to commit from the Michigan pipeline this past weekend. Lewis joined high school teammate David Dawson in the class of 2013 (New Wolverine post coming soon). Lewis is another cornerback from Cass Tech that is going to play for the Wolverines. Past corners from the school to play for Michigan include: Boubacar Cissoko, Delonte Hollowell, and Terry Richardson. That is not including players from Cass Tech like William Campbell (c/o 2009, nose tackle), Thomas Gordon (c/o 2009, free safety), Royce Jenkins-Stone (c/o 2012, linebacker) and Teric Jones (no longer with the team).

Lewis has the chance to be the best corner to come out of the school, to the best of my knowledge. Listed at 5'11" and 170 lbs. (according to Rivals), he is taller than most of the corners to come out of Cass Tech. I have not watched any tape on Lewis, but reports have him being better than Terry Richardson (who was his teammate last season and pretty highly rated). I am excited to see Lewis play for Michigan and feel good about the talent and depth that Coach Hoke is bringing to the defensive backfield. 

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Jourdan Lewis:

Scout: 4*, #23 CB, #251 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #12 CB, #167 Overall

ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scout Grade, #11 CB, #107 Overall, #3 MI

247: 4*, 90 - 247 Rating, #22 CB, #7 MI

New Wolverine: Wyatt Shallman

Wyatt Shallman, from Novi (MI) Detroit Catholic Central, was the first of eight recruits that committed to Michigan over the past weekend. Shallman is / was recruited to play running back for Michigan, even though his body type resembles more of a defensive end than running back. Being listed at 6'3" and 245 lbs. (according to Scout) is not usual for the running back spot. However, Shallman has pretty good speed for his size and the coaches believe he could be a good change of pace back (compared to the other running backs Michigan is recruiting). I personally like the idea of seeing Shallman plow into the defensive line and just bowling linebackers over, but I guess we will see when he gets to campus if he grew too much to be effective at running back. Time will tell with Shallman. 

Note: Other notable recent Detroit Catholic Central players for Michigan include: Mike Martin (class of 2008) and Matt Godin (class of 2012).

The following are the current recruiting rankings for Wyatt Shallman:

Scout: 4*, #1 FB, #179 Overall

Rivals: 4*, #10 Athlete, #160 Overall

ESPN: 3*, 79 - Scout Grade, #1 FB, #8 MI

247: 4*, 90 - 247 Rating, #13 SDE, #5 MI

Recruiting Update: 02.21.12

When I get some time, I will have the New Wolverine posts for the players that committed to Michigan over the last weekend. It was a big haul as eight players pledged to the class of 2013. Hopefully I will have time either later today or tomorrow. I am also still working on the Needs for 2013 List and my Wish List. Of course, since the commitments of those eight players, the list will slightly change from what I originally had.