Nik Stauskas had that look in his eye starting the second half. He had been held to four points in the first half, credited to the tough defense of Gary Harris and Keith Appling. Despite the constant pressure, he demanded the ball early and often in the second half, scoring Michigan's first seven points of the half. He would not slow down. Scoring 21 of his 25 in the second stanza, he exhibited his lights-out shooting ability, his knack for getting to the basket, and his high basketball IQ in dishing out five assists. A true comeback game from the certain 1st team All-Big Ten player.
Michigan State came out fast to start the game, jumping to a 22-11 lead, thanks to the unexpected shooting boost provided by sophomore Denzel Valentine (finished with three triples). Caris LeVert carried Michigan in the first half, scoring 14 points and igniting an 11-0 Michigan run (along with Spike Albrecht) midway through the first half. A LeVert three-pointer as time expired cut the Michigan State lead to two at the end of the half.
A second half clinic in offensive basketball was displayed by the Wolverines. The aforementioned Stauskas dominated in every facet, and led the 45-point outburst that showed the Wolverines making jump shots, taking the ball to the basket, and executing ball screens to near perfection. Coupling the lights-out shooting with just three turnovers committed by Michigan all day, the explosiveness this team possesses on the offensive end of the floor was on full display. Adreian Payne was caught out of position on ball screens multiple times, and the subsequent late defensive rotations gave the Wolverines good looks at the basket. Glenn Robinson III once again struggled with his long-range jumpers, but was efficient around the hoop, going 6-8 from two. Many of these looks came from penetration and a quick bounce pass or alley-oop to Robinson, who used the baseline to his advantage. The Spartans often lost track of him and paid for it, as he used his size and speed to cut to the basket time after time.
There is still concern for the Wolverines on the defensive end. Despite the increased intensity on that side of the floor, Michigan State still had several open looks (especially from three) they were not able to convert. The transition D also struggled at points, but was improved from the poor showing against Wisconsin last week. John Beilein did employ the 1-3-1 trapping zone yesterday to great results, as it not only prevented the Spartans from getting easy looks at the basket, but also neutralized the size advantage of Adreian Payne in the post. The size Michigan has on the wings makes the 1-3-1 a nice weapon to deploy in the NCAA tournament, but only if they can prevent the open threes that sometimes plague this defensive strategy.
The victory by Michigan gives them a half game lead in the B1G standings with four games to play, completely in control of their own destiny. Next up is a road test at Purdue this Wednesday. Tip is set for 7 PM.
With their largest gap between games in over 4 weeks (5 days off), I expected Michigan to come out fiery on Sunday. In the race for a Big Ten title, every game is a must-win this late in the season, and protecting home court is a priority. Michigan came out flat on Sunday, in perhaps one of the worst first-half performances that I can remember from a Wolverines team since John Beilein has been in Ann Arbor.
Early in the game, Michigan's offense was stagnant and settled for heavily contested two-point attempts that would not fall. Wisconsin, on the other hand, used dribble penetration, efficient transition offense, and solid post play to bury Michigan early. From my seat directly behind the Michigan bench, you could see that Michigan routinely left shooters wide-open in transition (Josh Gasser's two early triples come to mind) and the Wolverines simply had no answer for this onslaught of Badger offense. The Badgers did what they wanted, when they wanted. Wisconsin opened up a lead as large as 18 in the first half, and settled for a 34-19 edge at the break.
Despite its lethargic first half effort, Michigan made its patented run midway through the second half, courtesy of Caris LeVert and his career-high 25 points. With Nik Stauskas struggling to get open looks, LeVert put the offense squarely on his shoulders. While he seems to dribble the air out of the ball whenever he puts it on the floor, his play this year has warranted discussion as the Big Ten's most improved player. He shot the ball well from deep (5-6 from three) and drove to the basket with force, finishing at the rim in a variety of ways. He almost single-handedly cut a 16-point second half deficit to three with just over six minutes to play. However, Michigan's big man combo of Jon Horford and Jordan Morgan (and inexplicably Glenn Robinson III in the first half) had no answer for the size of Wisconsin 7-footer Frank Kaminsky. He bullied his way into the post easily throughout the afternoon, using his huge frame to his advantage against smaller Michigan defenders. He finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, including a late three to ice the game for the Badgers. Sam Dekker and Josh Gasser combined for 28 points for the Badgers as well, including 5-6 from deep.
Besides LeVert, Michigan struggled offensively. Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton III combined to go 1-13 from the field, and as previously mentioned, Nik Stauskas finished with just 11 points on 4-11 shooting. Glenn Robinson pitched in 10 points in a 5-9 shooting effort.
Michigan has the week off before hosting the Big Ten's most important game of the regular season next Sunday afternoon, as Michigan State makes its way to Ann Arbor. Both teams currently sit atop the conference at 10-3, leaving the winner with a leg up with just a few weeks of conference play left. Tip off is scheduled for 12 PM.
Freshman Derrick Walton Jr. (USA Today) From the opening tip, this game had
a déjà vu feel for Michigan fans. Ohio State drove to the basket time
after time, encountering little pressure from Wolverine defenders. Defensive breakdowns
were coupled with stagnant offense for Michigan, as players had trouble moving
the ball against Ohio State’s aggressive man-to-man defense. The Wolverines
were down 26-16 with six minutes to play in the half, and as a Michigan fan
used to disappointments in hostile road environments, this game felt over, even
with 26 minutes to play.
Something
odd happened. Michigan clamped down defensively, received clutch three pointers from
Zak Irvin and Caris LeVert, and ended the half on a 10-4 run to cut the lead to
30-26 going into the break. Michigan had awakened.
What was a
sluggish first half turned into an offensive showcase for Michigan in the
second stanza. Michigan scored at a 1.42 PPP clip, putting up 44 points in the
half against one of the nation’s best defensive teams. With Nik Stauskas being
shadowed by Aaron Craft, freshman Derrick Walton Jr. simply took over the game
for the Wolverines. Whether it was his dribble penetration, shooting, or
rebounding on the defensive end, the Buckeyes had no answer for the smallest
player on the floor. Finishing the game with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists,
and just one turnover, he played like a seasoned veteran in one of the more
hostile environments Michigan has played in all year.
The
recently maligned Nik Stauskas would not let constant face guarding from Aaron
Craft completely remove him from the game. High ball screens allowed Stauskas
to hit three triples on his way to a quiet 15 points, on just nine shot
attempts. He wasn’t allowed the space to create for teammates, but Walton Jr. and others were there to pick up the slack.
Not
normally world-beaters rebounding the basketball, Michigan completely
controlled the boards on both ends of the floor in this game, especially on the
offensive end. Michigan rebounded 42% of its misses (!!) on the offensive glass,
and translated many of these rebounds into points. Jordan Morgan (six offensive
rebounds) and Glenn Robinson III (four offensive rebounds) both were efficient
on the glass, and combined for 15 points on the night. Robinson III has
struggled as of late, but hit a huge three pointer with just under three
minutes left in the game to stretch the Michigan lead to seven, effectively
ending any chance of an Ohio State comeback.
Zak Irvin
(10 points) and Caris LeVert (nine points) also made significant contributions,
whether it was a clutch perimeter shot or finding the open man (two late assists
for LeVert). Jon Horford also chipped in eight points on 4-5 shooting.
Michigan
remains a half-game atop the B1G standings with just six games to play.
Wisconsin makes its way to Ann Arbor for a showdown this Sunday, followed by
Michigan State a week later. Don’t be surprised if the B1G regular season
championship is won or lost over the coming week and a half. Tip is set for 1
PM this Sunday.
On a sports day
when the biggest story was Oklahoma State’s sophomore Marcus Smart,
projected to be a lottery pick in this years NBA draft, got a 3 game
suspension for pushing a Texas Tech fan on the road, University of Missouri’s
Co-SEC defensive player of the year Michael Sam shocked the sporting world.
Michael Sam, a 6’2 255 lb. linebacker, announced to the sporting world he was
gay. Before we get into this historic event lets look at Sam and what he
deserves to be looked at as, a FOOTBALL PLAYER. Sam finished his senior year
with 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 48 tackles overall. He finished his 4
year career at Missouri with 21 sacks, 36 TFL, and 123 tackles. Sam was named
first team all SEC, and an All American by Walter Camp and the Sporting News.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projects Sam as a 4th round pick and has
compared him to Kansas City’s Justin Houston, Seattle’s (former Lions)
defensive end Cliff Avril, and Indianapolis’s Robert Mathis. Houston and Avril
were third round picks, while Mathis was a 5th round pick. Sam’s
strengths are his quickness and acceleration but lacks in size and some are
skeptical if he has a fit at a position in the NFL. Kiper believes that his
announcement will not affect his draft status, while others disagree. One
veteran NFL scout told Sports Illustrated reporters Pete Thamel and Thayer
Evans that it will most likely hurt his draft stock. "I just know with this going on this is going to drop
him down," a veteran NFL scout told Sports Illustrated. "There's no
question about it. It's human nature. Do you want to be the team to
quote-unquote 'break that barrier?'" Many believe that it would bring too
much media attention to the team drafting him and others believe the NFL simply
isn’t ready for an openly gay player. One NFL assistant coach told Sports
Illustrated that "There are guys in locker rooms that maturity-wise cannot
handle it or deal with the thought of that," the assistant coach told
Thamel and Evans. "There's nothing more sensitive than the heartbeat of the
locker room. If you knowingly bring someone in there with that sexual
orientation, how are the other guys going to deal with it? It's going to be a
big distraction. That's the reality. It shouldn't be, but it will be." It
is sad to think that a player’s sexual orientation would affect his draft
status, but we will see come April where Sam lands. Now that we’ve looked at
Sam’s draft stock, lets look at one of the biggest sports stories in history.
Michael Sam should be commended for his
courage. We have seen through the Richie Incognito and Jonathon Martin debacle
that the NFL, and locker rooms more specifically, are not PC places. Adrian
Peterson described it as 50 alpha males in one room. Now we hope that Sam would
be accepted in NFL locker rooms but like an assistant coach told Sports
Illustrated some might not be okay with it. However there is hope. Former
Pittsburgh Steelers great Jerome Bettis stated during Sportscenter on ESPN that
he believes 90-95% of players in the NFL would accept Michael Sam. Of course
there will always be those players and people in the world who have differing
views on every subject. The fact is Michael Sam can play football. The guy was
a stud in the SEC, a conference known for its defense. If this hurts his draft
stock that would be extremely unfortunate, however I think its safe to say that
his name will be called on draft day. He could easily make a roster and have an
impact his rookie year in my opinion. Jason Collins up to this point was the
biggest ambassador for gay athletes in American pro sports. Collins the season
before he came out was picked up by the Washington Wizards after the New Year.
He was never a star in the league but a center that could contribute in small
facets. The media frenzy that would have ensued made it to big of a task for
any NBA team to pick him up this year. However Sam is a 24 year old young man
who has all the potential in the world. There is no chance he doesn’t get a
shot, and he definitely should. Sam has a chance to be one of the most
important sports figure in history. If Sam even has somewhat of an NFL career,
where the average length of a career is 3 years, he will go down with the likes
of Jackie Robinson, Magic Johnson, and Billie Jean King. All who were amazing
athletes in their own respective sports but also were able to educate, and be
ambassadors for more important issues in life. Michael Sam when it’s all said
and done has solidified his place in history. He didn’t come out for attention;
he didn’t do it for fame. He did it for is desire to live a happy open life.
The fact that he’s a football player, and a damn good one is why this is so
important to this blog. He is the first openly gay NFL draft prospect and will
be the first openly gay NFL player. This is a big day not only for the sporting
universe, but the entire world. I hope Michael Sam the best and will personally
be rooting for him during his NFL career. Hell if the Lions could snag him I’m
sure he could help out our struggling defense immensely.
Here are some reactions from around the
NFL:
Good for Michael Sam.. Hopefully this'll inspire others to be comfortable and proud of who they are — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 10, 2014
Michael Sam isn't the 1st gay player in the NFL although he is the 1st 2 come out.#realtalk Let's show him love like a family member. Truth — DeionSanders (@DeionSanders) February 10, 2014
I could care less about a man's sexual preference! i care about winning games and being respectful in the locker room! — DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) February 10, 2014
There is no room for bigotry in American sports. It takes courage to change the culture. — Malcolm Smith (@MalcSmitty) February 10, 2014
That took some courage but man his draft stock is going to plummet even though it should be based on production and how he can contribute‼️ — Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) February 10, 2014
Sometimes in basketball, it just
isn’t your day. So was the case for the University of Michigan basketball team
on Saturday in Iowa City. After coming off a dominant performance on both ends
of the floor against Nebraska, the Wolverines were unable to shake a poor
start, and were dominated for 40 minutes by a talented Iowa squad.
Iowa,
coming off three losses in five games (two at home), was in desperate need of a victory, and played like the hungrier team. Senior Roy Devyn Marble hit two quick three pointers to help Iowa to a
13-4 lead, and they never looked back. The lead would stay at double digits for
most of the half, except for a mini-run by Michigan that saw the lead cut to
eight, thanks to a Zak Irvin triple. However, Marble hit his sixth three to
close the half to give Iowa a 43-29 halftime lead.
The second
half wasn’t much different, as Michigan not only consistently failed to mark shooters in transition, but also inexplicably had numerous defensive breakdowns in its half court sets, allowing open Iowa jump shots all afternoon. The offense
was stagnant, as Iowa employed a similar defensive strategy that both Indiana
and Nebraska used the prior week, geared to completely shut down Nik Stauskas.
Whether he was constantly shadowed and denied the ball, double-teamed off ball
screens, or dealing with a collapsing defense upon penetration, Stauskas
attempted just six shots, and committed an uncharacteristic four turnovers to
zero assists. It seems that whenever Stauskas is allowed to create for his teammates as well as find his own shot, the Wolverines play with more confidence, and don't rely on isolation plays for offense. Unfortunately, with Stauskas taken out of the game on Saturday, that's exactly what happened. Too often the Wolverines would find themselves in a one-on-one situation and unable to create offense, leading to poor shots and turnovers.
Michigan
was led offensively by Caris LeVert (22 points) and Zak Irvin (19 points).
While they were both effective on the offensive end, too many times they were
flat-footed on defense. LeVert was solely responsible for containing
Marble, and he was often caught out of position in both transition and
half-court sets. Michigan seems to have once again regressed defensively,
especially in transition. While Irvin wasn’t much better on D, the shooter’s
mentality he brings each game is refreshing to see from such a young player.
Make or miss, you can count on him to continue shooting with a cool confidence
and swagger. Hopefully Glenn Robinson III, who had another off night, can pick
up this mentality. His shots from the perimeter weren’t falling, and he was
consistently stripped of the ball when he tried to attack the lane. With so much natural talent, it seems as if Robinson III lacks a killer instinct when it comes to scoring the basketball. He needs to show more aggressiveness and confidence in his game if the Wolverines have any shot of not only winning a Big Ten title, but making a run at a second consecutive Final Four.
Coming off
four games in nine days, Michigan plays against a suddenly hot Ohio State team,
winners of three in a row. Expect a bounce back game from the Wolverines. Tip
is set for 9 PM on Tuesday night in Columbus.
Michigan State plays Penn State at home tonight and if you didn't see this video post coming, remind me never to watch a "mystery and suspense" movie with you. Has to be up there of all time great Spartan dunks, at least in my time, with Moe Ager's t-bag of J.J. Redick still being number 1.
P.S. Somebody needs to do a Marv Albert, "Throw it down, Shannon Brown!", voice over to this clip.
Zak Irvin hitting one of his four triples on the night (Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog)
B1G Recap: (10) Michigan – 79, Nebraska – 50
In a year
of craziness and unexpected results on a nightly basis in the Big Ten, this was
certainly a change of pace from the norm. Michigan, coming off its worst
performance of the year on Sunday in Bloomington, came out and pounded the
Huskers early and often. Up by as much as 42 in the second half, this game was
a rout from the start. Back-to-back early three pointers by Caris LeVert
jump-started the Michigan shooting attack. Freshman Zak Irvin had the best game
of his young Wolverine career, scoring 16 off the bench, including four
triples. Nik Stauskas, who struggled against constant off-ball switching
defense by the Hoosiers on Sunday, was a focal point of the Nebraska defense, and
unable to get many open looks at the hoop. He still found a way to impact the
game, recording eight assists and providing solid defense in shutting down
Nebraska’s leading scorer, Terran Petteway. Glenn Robinson III led the team in
scoring with 23, including three triples. Even with a lazy finish in the 2nd half, Michigan was still able to score at a rate of 1.26 PPP.
Nebraska, to no avail, tried to
employ both man-to-man and zone defenses. In their man-to-man sets, Derrick
Walton, Stauskas, and LeVert were able to find driving lanes and kick to open
teammates around the perimeter as the defense collapsed. Michigan made an astounding 13 triples on
the night. When Nebraska went into a 2-3 zone look, not much changed. Michigan was able to use a shooter effectively to break up the middle of the zone, and was still unable to be
stopped. They shot over the top of the zone with lanky scorers Irvin,
LeVert, and Robinson III hitting from long range all night.
Michigan’s ball-screen defense was
torched a month ago in Lincoln, but was surprisingly good last night. Michigan
has never been known for its D under Beilein, but they are certainly making
strides over the course of B1G play, as you would expect of a young team. Holding
Nebraska to just 0.79 PPP, it was one of Michigan’s best defensive efforts this
year. Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford were able to effectively hedge Nebraska's ball handlers into uncomfortable situations out of pick and rolls. When they were unable to drive to the hoop, they often panicked and forced bad shots. Credit the big men on a setting a nice tone defensively.
Up next for the Wolverines is a trip
to #17 Iowa this Saturday. Iowa, coming off three losses in their past five
games, is looking to exact revenge on the Wolverines after losing in Ann Arbor just
two weeks ago. Tip is set for 2 PM on ESPN.
We all know the narrative. Michigan fans have a permanent obsession when it comes to recruiting rankings while Spartan fans fully expect every 3-star recruit to turn into Darqueze Dennard or LeVeon Bell. Although rankings don't always correlate with how well a player will perform in their 4 years, it is still necessary to take a strong look at the what type of players you have coming in. Whether it be Michigan State's newly found "street cred" courtesy of Rich Homie Quan or the Spartan's run to a B1G and Rose Bowl championship (We are going to go ahead and assume the latter), Michigan State seems to have their most impressive and deepest class under Mark Dantonio.
Here is the full 2014 class:
Biggest Sign: Malik McDowell, DT
Classic case of a high school kid going against what his parents say and choosing what he wants. Good for him. More importantly, good for Michigan State. McDowell adds the final big piece to this class at DT, where the Spartans lost four guys (Hoover, Reynolds, Drone, and Scarpinato) from a year ago. Malik comes in with big time size and upside. And I'm talking big time size. He's listed at 260 lbs. but after seeing him up close and personal that number has to be much closer to 3-bills. Best part of this sign has to be that he was originally a strong O$U lean and then a U of M lean by late November. Great having a feeling that you stole one from those guys (especially after the Drake Harris debacle).
P.S. McDowell originally attended Detroit Loyola but after seeing yours truly knock down 4 straight threes against them in 2011, he found a new school that wouldn't be embarrassed by un-athletic jump shooters.
Potential Star: Darius Slade, DE
The 3-star recruit DE comes in at 6'5 237 lbs and looks to have Javon Kearse type potential. First reason why it's almost a lock for him to become a stud: His name is Darius Slade. Can't argue with the facts there. Damn near impossible not to be a star with 'Slade' on the back of your jersey. Complement that by choosing a number like 99 and quarterbacks will cringe like Joe Theisman at the thought of Lawrence Taylor. As far as actual football, he will have a lot of work to do once he gets here, but he has all the up side and athleticism to end up being one of the most feared DE in the B1G. I see Slade filling in for deep defensive line sets next year but not much further after that. Worse case scenario for Slade, I see him ending up like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and pursuing an acting career. With a name like that the potential is endless.
Most Overlooked: Gerald Owens, RB/FB
Gerald comes in as the top rated FB in the country. I know what you are thinking, who cares about a fullback? That's exactly why I have him listed here as the most overlooked player in the class. While most powerhouse offensives have practically eliminated the fullback position all together, it remains a vital position for the Spartans. You could actually make the argument that the offensive MVP in the Rose Bowl was fullback Trevon Pendleton. Pendleton will return as a Junior for the Spartans which will give Owens an opportunity to learn under Trevon and fill in without missing a beat when Trevon graduates. Plus if watch his tape, this guy runs extremely well for weighing in at 266 lbs.
Best Chance to Make an Immediate Impact: Vayante Copeland, CB
Vayante comes in as a tremendous athlete with an opportunity to fill in a either cornerback or safety. With the departure of two keys components of the "No Fly Zone" leaving, Darqueze Dennard and Isaiah Lewis, Vayante will have an opportunity to come in and fill in at cornerback if he is able to get a solid grasp on Narduzzi's schemes by late August. Rumors have been swirling about Delton Williams potentially making the transition from running back to safety, which could also have an impact on how much and where Copeland makes an impact.
Most Pressure: Byron Bullough, LB
When your the 6th member in your immediate family to become a Spartan, obviously there is going to be a lot of pressure to live up to high expectations. Especially when your older brother just led the team to it's first Rose Bowl in 25 years (Yes, I understand he was suspended but he was still the heart and soul of that team all year long). Claims have already been made that Byron has the potential to be the best of the Bullough brothers. Pretty hard to comprehend that after the career that Max had, but it certainly does get the imagination going on what's to come. Hopefully Byron is able to have selective hearing throughout his career and is able to grow and become another great chapter of the Bullough legacy.
Glad that's over with and we can all forget about recruiting rankings and go back to results on the field. Everyone knows highly rated recruiting classes don't directly correlate with on field wins (just ask Miami from 2006-2010) but gaining national interest as a place kids want to go has to get Michigan State fans at least a little bit excited.
Signing Day Recap – University of Michigan 2014 Recruiting
Class
As signing day is upon us, you’ll find here a detailed recap
of all 16 of Michigan’s football commitments (all star rankings based on
Rivals.com).
5-star CB/S Jabrill Peppers - Paramus, NJ
Perhaps Michigan’s
biggest commitment of the past decade, Jabrill Peppers graduates high school as
one of the most decorated athletes in New Jersey state history. 4 years of
football, 4 state championships. A standout 2-way performer, along with
exceptional talent as a punt/kick returner, Peppers should make an immediate
impact for the Wolverines. Fluid hips, track-star speed, and exceptional ball
skills should make him extremely tough to keep off of the field from day one.
Expect an immediate impact in a nickel-back type role, with a chance to compete
at strong safety as well as corner. A link to his remarkable senior season highlight tape is below.
4-star OT Mason Cole - Tarpon Springs, FL
A top-100
performer out of the talent-rich state of Florida, Mason Cole comes to Michigan
as an early enrollee. After standing out at the Under Armour All-American game,
Cole looks to make an immediate impact to the 2-deep at Michigan. Quick feet, a
nice mean streak, and solid technique should make for a future all-big ten
performer. However, a year to redshirt and bulk up would do him some good.
4-star WR Drake Harris - Grand Rapids, MI
A big,
lanky, and speedy receiver, Drake Harris comes to Michigan as an early
enrollee, with a chance to make an impact at the thin WR corps Michigan brings
back for the 2014 season. After losing standout senior Jeremy Gallon, and with
Amara Darboh still recovering from a foot injury, expect Harris, who sat out
his senior year with a hamstring tear, to compete for playing time immediately.
Michigan has lacked a true downfield deep threat with this kind of size since
Braylon Edwards, and Wolverines fans are excited to see if he can have the type
of impact Edwards did in Ann Arbor. Take a look below at some of his highlights from the 2012 season.
4-star ILB Michael Ferns - Saint Clairsville, OH
A
prototypical Big Ten ILB, Ferns is a big-bodied, strong, and smart prospect.
Although he lacks top-end speed, he is rarely caught out of position on the
field. With Michigan so deep at all three LB positions, expect Ferns to
redshirt in his first year in Ann Arbor, barring an injury to a starter or
backup.
4-star OLB Chase Winovich - Jefferson Hills, PA
A
late-riser in the recruiting scene, Winovich has the intangibles to play the hybrid SAM role that requires both size and speed, with the ability to put
a hand down as a pass rusher. With past all-big ten performer Jake Ryan fully
healthy for spring practice, Winovich will likely have a year to bulk up and
put on the necessary weight to compete in the Big Ten. Expect big things from
this standout Pennsylvanian.
4-star WR Freddy Canteen - Elkton, MD
Perhaps one
of the most polished high school route runners I’ve seen, Canteen enrolls
early at Michigan with a chance to compete for playing time early. Along with
Harris, Canteen is a big, lanky body at 6’3”, with a chance to add weight to
his frame. Along with his route-running skills, Canteen has fantastic hands and
a solid 4.43 forty time. Expect a polished WR like Canteen to garner playing
time in his first or second year on campus. Check out his shake-and-bake route in the vine clip below.
https://vine.co/v/hD6dIgE9hew
4-star TE Ian Bunting - Hinsdale, IL
Another
sleeper for most of the recruiting process, due to recurring injury problems in
his sophomore and junior years of high school, Bunting comes to Michigan with a
world of potential. Big hands, good speed, and a huge frame give this natural
pass catcher an ability to create separation from smaller linebackers. With
Devin Funchess possibly moving full-time to WR this spring, Bunting has a
chance to make an immediate impact behind presumed starter Jake Butt. Don’t be
surprised to see him on the field next fall.
3-star DT Bryan Mone - Salt Lake City, UT
Highly
regarded throughout the recruiting process, Mone’s recruiting ranking took a
slight hit after his Under Armour bowl performance, despite receiving praise from many
recruiting pundits. Mone naturally has a huge body, weighing in at 315 pounds, and with
Michigan’s need for production from a nose tackle, expect Mone, an early
enrollee, to push for playing time as soon as next fall, especially with former 5 star recruit Ondre Pipkins recovering from an ACL tear.
3-star OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty - Paramus, NJ
A high
school teammate of Jabrill Peppers at Paramus Catholic, this player is a standout in his own right. With offers from the likes of Florida and Florida
State, Bushell-Beatty has an extremely big frame and wingspan to grow into a
standout tackle. As most freshman, a year redshirting would do him some good,
as he needs to add mass before making a significant impact.
3-star DE Lawrence Marshall - Southfield, MI
A one-time
Ohio State commit, Marshall had a very solid senior season at Southfield High
School. With good size, and a frame to add bulk, Marshall has the explosiveness
to be a star in Ann Arbor. Development of more pass-rush moves will be his key
to the field, but when he taps into his potential, look out.
3-star WR Maurice Ways - Beverly Hills, MI
A local
product from Detroit Country Day High School, Mo Ways didn’t garner much
recruiting attention until his junior year of high school. With good size and
elite speed, he has proven himself a capable Division 1 athlete. He needs to
continue to work on his pass-catching skills, as well as route running, before
he makes an impact at the collegiate level. However, his senior season proved
he could put in the work and improve his game. Check out his senior season highlight tape below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P64VGCfumTA
3-star CB Brandon Watson - Elkton, MD
A high
school teammate of WR commit Freddy Canteen, Watson has ideal size (6’2”) and
speed (4.5 40) to develop into a solid CB at Michigan. Although the depth chart
is rather deep with underclassmen, Watson has the time to take a year and
redshirt, while learning Greg Mattison’s defense. Potential to be an all-big
ten performer as an upperclassman.
3-star QB Wilton Speight - Richmond, VA
Despite his
dip in the rankings after his subpar UA All-American game performance, Speight
comes in to Ann Arbor as an early enrollee looking to compete for playing time
immediately. Standing at 6’6”, he possesses the height and size necessary to
run a pro-style offense that Coach Hoke is still looking to instill in Ann
Arbor. Look for a spot behind Devin Gardner and Shane Morris on the depth
chart, with a possible redshirt opportunity this fall. With his arm strength
and smarts, he has a chance to make an impact late in his career. Check out his 2013 highlights below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHsq1ajAR40
3-star LB/S Jared Wangler - Warren, MI
Son of
former Michigan QB John Wangler, Jared was an Under-Armour All American that
possessed major offers, including LSU. He is a tweener at 6’2” and about 215
lbs, but has a high football IQ and is a high motor player. He can choose to
put on weight and play as an OLB at Michigan, which is what I believe the
coaching staff plans to do with him. A redshirt is almost certain.
3-star OLB Noah Furbush - Kenton, OH
With a big
body at 6’4” and weighing around 230 lbs, Furbush is also a natural fit at the
SAM position that Chase Winovich also seems destined to play. With a high
football IQ and nice sideline-to-sideline speed, he can play either outside
position, preferably whichever more depth could be used. With so many
linebackers vying for playing time, expect a redshirt.
2-star DT Brady Pallante - Naples, FL
Admittedly
not much is known about Pallante. He was originally planning on enrolling in
2015, but changed his plans only a few weeks ago. At only 6’2” and 285 lbs, he
needs to make significant gains in the weight room to make an impact on the
field. With only one other known scholarship offer, from Appalachian State, he most
likely has a chip on his shoulder from his lack of attention from college
coaches. A redshirt is definitely in order.
