UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Deuce]

We have mostly 3* recruits on Rivals.... but all of them are high 3* --- I would imagine at least a few would get a 4th star eventually.

ESPN has all but Maurice Ways and Winovich, not just as 4 stars, but in the ESPN top 150. That includes Bunting,Beatty and everyone else.

Not sure what to think of ESPN, but the offers list for these players suggest what you are saying is true.

[Deuce]

Hard to believe a guy like Bunting who had offers from Florida, Oklahoma, USC, Ohio St and Notre Dame amongst others doesn't get a 4th star from these services. ESPN has him 114.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Sometimes the offers (i.e. the real coaches recruiting rankings) just don't jibe with the fans' recruiting rankings.

IMO, Winovich is another great example. None of the services rank him particularly highly but, he had offers from the whole of the big ten, VaTech, Miami, Florida State, and Arkansas...

[WM Wolverine]

He's (Winovich) is a guy like Gedeon that needs to add some weight before he's ready to play B10 football. Not a terrific athlete but plenty good enough for the SAM spot. Receives high praise for his ability in coverage, tackling ability and lateral mobility. Offer list is better than his rankings...

I'm under the assumption M is finished at LB unless they really like a WLB type AND find an extra scholarship.

[WM Wolverine]

Class of '14 Recruiting Board

Offense
QB: Wilton Speight
RB: Jonathan Hilliman
WR: Drake Harris, Maurice Ways, KJ Williams & Artavis Scott
TE: Ian Blunting
OL: Mason Cole, Juwan Bushell-Beatty

Defense

DT: Bryan Mone, Malik McDowell
DE: Lawrence Marshall, & De'Shawn Hand
LB: Michael Ferns & Chase Winovich
CB: Jabrill Peppers, Adoree Jackson & Parker Westphal
S: Kiy Hester, Juju Smith & Montae Nicholson

-

Added some names that have been on-and-off like Adoree and Juju. Those two sound legitimately interested though unsure M will have a spot for them when they are ready to decide and I wouldn't list M as favorites for either...

Jamarco Jones OL has a visit to M upcoming and hopefully he hints about M's chances after that visit, for now he's off the board as I never felt he was very interested in M but this visit confirms M is in the game and after a visit, anything can happen... Ohio State is awfully optimistic about their chances with him...

re: Gelen Robinson, I love him as a LB in a 3-4, as a DE I like him less. M's staff probably feels about the same, he'll do well wherever he goes but I'd like to see him at LB in a 3-4 defense. I could only see him as an option if M doesn't get the Hand and even more options fall through.

[WM Wolverine]

About 7 spots left out of a projected class of 18:

*3rd OL
*3rd WR
*2 DB's
*RB
*2 DL

That would put M at 18 spots.

[WM Wolverine]

Jonathan Hilliman RB is visiting at the end of this month, could be a M vs Ohio battle. We'll get a clearer picture of M's RB situation after this visit, M will start offering plan B's if they don't think they have a chance with him...

[*JD*]

I would love Michigan to add a player named Juju. Maybe a Mojo too, just to cover the bases.

[Da Geezer]

Hey, you are doing a great job WM. Thanks.

[Optimus Prime]

From Touch the Banner, Class of 2014 quarterback commit Wilton Speight worked out recently with quarterback guru Steve Clarkson out in California. Looks pretty good IMO. (giant hillbilly with visor)


[youtube]diZ39YFyuWU[/youtube]


His ranking has soared, ahead of Morris.

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/inde...ilton_spe.html

[Rocky Bleier]

That's good. Shane will need someone to push him. Don't want him to think the job will be given to him.

[lineygoblue]

And, you need a good QB to step in if he gets dinged up.

Good to hear he's doing well. All the better for Michigan.

[The Oracle]

I will say, and maybe have said, there was a little uproar when Michigan offered him vs the higher ranked people like Cornwall, etc. and I never knew why. No one seemed to like his film, but I thought it looked good. I guess we'll see.

[WM Wolverine]

The issue was obviously the very early rankings had Speight mostly unranked (or really low) relative to other QB's.

[Rocky Bleier]

Michael Ferns, Da'Shawn Hand, and Ian Bunting looking like future Wolverines.