Ever since Brady Hoke accepted the head coaching position at Michigan, the Wolverines have been on an absolute tear. Bringing in four and five star skill position players and lineman in all of the classes, Hoke and company are rebuilding the Michigan football program just like they are known for.With the \’14 class nearly done and the \’15 class already out to an extremely fast start, I think the coaching staff is mainly focused on 3 final recruits and they all have Michigan very high, if not leading.Check it:
1. QB: 4* Wilton Speight, 6\’6\’\’ 225lbs. Richmond, VA (Collegiate School)
Wilton Speight #19, QB |
-One of the best pocket passers in the 2014 class, Speight was the only QB to land an offer in this class and accepted it immediately on National Signing Day. He is a strong armed, mobile quarterback that has a uncanny delivery and can make all the throws. Scouts and coaches compare him favorably to 2013\’s #1 QB and VA native, Christian Hackenberg.
Under Armour All-American
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
2. WR: 3* Maurice Ways, 6\’4\’\’ 190lbs. Beverly Hills, MI (Country Day HS)
Maurice Ways #9, WR |
– One of the hottest recruits in Michigan and a big time talent, Ways is a big, physical receiver that can stretch the field and make the big catch. He finally received his offer and didn\’t take too long to commit. He has the ability to be a big time threat in Ann Arbor, and some scouts have compared him to a young Braylon Edwards.
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
3. WR: 4* Drake Harris, 6\’4\’\’ 180lbs. Grand Rapids, MI (GR Christian HS)
Drake Harris #1, WR (via MLive.com) |
-The best offensive player in Michigan and one of the best WRs in the country, Harris is the latest and, possibly, most important commit. He is the big, fast, athletic receiver that can stretch the field and be a go-to target that Michigan coaches and fans have been craving for years. Stealing him from MSU and O$U makes it even sweeter.
Under Armour All-American, The Opening
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
4. WR: 4* Freddy Canteen, 6\’1\’\’ 170lbs. Elkton, MD (Eastern Christian Academy)
Freddy Canteen #19, WR |
– After competing at the 2013 Michigan summer camp, the electric slot receiver landed the offer has been waiting for when Brady Hoke gave him the chance to play for the Wolverines. After a week of thinking about it, Canteen knew Michigan was the place for him.
Visit: Yes, Camped
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
Other options: KJ Williams, Corey Holmes
5. TE: 4* Ian Bunting, 6\’6\’\’ 210lbs. Hinsdale, IL (Hinsdale Central HS)
Ian Bunting, TE |
– In a bit of a surprise, Michigan landed it\’s 6th commitment of the 2014 class, when Hinsdale 4* TE Ian Bunting chose the Wolverines over offers from some of the biggest programs in the country. He will be a Devin Funchess/miss-match type for his entire career.
The Opening
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
6. OT/OG: 4* Juwann Bushell-Beatty, 6\’5\’\’ 295lbs. Paramus, NJ (Paramus Catholic)
JBB #73, OT (via Rivals.com) |
– Teammates with 5* DB Jabrill Peppers, JBB is a big offensive lineman that could play anywhere on the line but projects to be a guard. This monster lineman visited with Peppers recently and had a phenomenal time. So good that he ended up committing to Michigan in late April.
Under Armour All-American
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
7. OT/OG: 4* Mason Cole, 6\’4\’\’ 260lbs. Tarpon Springs, FL (East Lake HS)
Mason Cole #61, OG |
-Said that Michigan \”felt like home\” when he visited for the MSU game. Cole is one of the best offensive lineman in the country and has decided to become the 4th commit of Team 135. He is teammates and great friends with high profile WR\’s Artavis Scott and 2015 WR George Campbell.
Army All-American
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
8. NT: 4* Bryan Mone, 6\’4\’\’ 316lbs. Salt Lake City, UT (Highland HS)
Bryan Mone #52, DT |
-Teammate of 2012 signee and FB, Sione Houma. Mone has been hearing about and from Michigan for awhile now and finally decided to pull the trigger in February, making him the 3rd commit for the class.
Under Armour All-American
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
9. DT: 4* Malik McDowell, 6\’6\’\’ 300lbs. Detroit, MI (Loyola HS)
Malik McDowell #67, DE |
-The best defensive player in Michigan, #1 DE in the midwest and one of the top 50 prospects in the country, McDowell is a must get for Hoke. He has visited many times and his parents have admitted that Michigan is the leader but not to expect a decision until the Army All-American game.
Army All-American
Visit: Yes
Michigan\’s Chances: 95%
10. SSDE: 5* Da\’Shawn Hand, 6\’5\’\’ 250lbs. Woodbridge, VA (Woodbridge HS)
Da\’Shawn Hand #54, SSDE |
-The #1 overall player in the 2014 class according to just about every recruiting site, Hand is a freak athlete that is in the mold of the former #1 recruits, Jadaveon Clowney and Robert Nkemdiche. He released his top 3 of Michigan, Alabama, and Florida. With former favorite Virginia Tech out, it looks to just about everyone that the Wolverines are the odds on favorite to land the top prospect.
Under Armour All-American, The Opening
Visit: Yes, multiple times. ND Game for official.
Michigan\’s Chances: 85%
11. WSDE: 4* Lawrence Marshall, 6\’3\’\’ 215lbs. Southfield, MI (Southfield HS)
– The local product is one of the best players in the state and region. Marshall has had a wild ride so far in recruiting. He committed and de-committed from Ohio $tate, and has been a regular at both Michigan and Michigan State. Rumor has it that he was favoring the Spartans but recently Michigan has made up a ton of ground, and now he has committed to the Wolverines on a mid-May visit.
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
12. MLB: 4* Michael Ferns, 6\’3\’\’ 235lbs. St. Clairsville, OH (St. Clairsville HS)
Michael Ferns #10, LB |
– The first commit of the 2014 class, Ferns is a stud linebacker that could be an All-American in the Mattison/Hoke defense. He is already one of the main leaders of the 2014 class, trying to bring in the top talent in the country.
Under Armour All-American
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
13. SSLB: 4* Chase Winovich, 6\’4\’\’ 218lbs. Clairton, PA (Thomas Jefferson HS)
Chase Winovich #15, OLB |
– The Keystone State linebacker is the top linebacker target for the Wolverines. Winovich is a long, athletic, and instinctive linebacker that would fit in great at the SAM in Mattison\’s defense. He was seen as an O$U lean but that didn\’t stop Michigan from landing his pledge.
Visit: Yes
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
14. OLB: 4* Noah Furbush, 6\’4\’\’ 235lbs. Kenton, OH (Kenton HS)
– One of the most underrated prospects in the Midwest and country, Furbush is a very physical, athletic linebacker that is a perfect fit at strong side linebacker. He grew up a Buckeye fan but Michigan showed him the right place was in Ann Arbor.
Visit: Yes
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
15. WSLB: 3* Jared Wangler, 6\’2\’\’ 215lbs. Warren, MI (De La Salle HS)
Jared Wangler, OLB (via Rivals.com) |
– The son of Wolverine alum, John, and brother of 2013 Wolverine walk-on, Jack, Jared is an athletic linebacker that is committed to Penn State at the moment, but just recently received his Michigan offer and could very well make the switch. I definitely see him as a weak side linebacker in college.
Visit: Yes
Michigan\’s Chances: Very good, even though committed to PSU
16. CB: 5* Jabrill Peppers, 6\’1\’\’ 210lbs. Paramus, NJ (Paramus Catholic)
Jabrill Peppers #5, CB (via Scout.com) |
– The #2 player in the country, according to Rivals and ESPN, Peppers grew up a Michigan fan and partially lived out his childhood dream of doning the maize and blue, and getting onto the field at the Big House when he recently visited. After the visit, which he said was \”mind blowing\”, and on May 26th, he chose Michigan on ESPNU. He is the biggest recruiting get in Michigan football history.
Under Armour All-American
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
– After a great showing at the Michigan camp, Watson landed himself an offer. It only took him a week to decide with his teammate (Freddy Canteen) that Michigan was the place to be. Mattison and Hoke loved his physicality, size and athleticism. Expect his rankings to go up as the year goes on.
Michigan\’s Chances: COMMITTED
18. S: 4* Montae Nicholson, 6\’3\’\’ 200lbs. Monroeville, PA (Gateway HS)
Montae Nicholson #6 |
-One of the first offers in the 2014 class, Nicholson camped at Michigan and really proved himself to the Michigan coaches. News around him has been pretty quite as of late but I think the Wolverines want to bring in multiple safeties and he is the top target.
Army All-American
Visit: Yes, BBQ at the Big House
Michigan\’s Chances: 45%
Other Options: Juju Smith, Erick Smith19/20. Elite prospect– The coaching staff is focused on three guys (McDowell, Hand and Nicholson) but they are also looking at adding one, maybe two, more elite prospect to this class. Here are the main targets that will be visiting this fall:
- RB: 5* Leonard Fournette
- S/WR: 5* John \”Juju\” Smith
- CB: 5* Adoree Jackson
- LB: 4* Dwight Williams
- CB/WR: 4* Marshon Lattimore
- S: 4* Erick Smith
- DE: 4* Andrew Williams
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