Michigan Football Recruiting: Grading 2014 Class — Part III — Battles/Prospects
Posted at 2:00pm — 2/9/2014
Michigan Football Recruiting: Grading 2014 Class — Part III — Battles/Prospects
Brief recap, in part I, we discussed the important aspects of recruiting along with the hit and miss even at the NFL level with all the money they spend on evaluating talent at a higher level and how the college coaches have to deal with it from a high school level. Along with grading the offensive units. In part II we discussed the defensive unit and their grades.
In part III, we will be discussing the recruiting battles for some of the top recruits we got along with some of the top recruits we lost to other schools. This started early on and went all the way down to the day the LOI’s were being sent into the football offices.
Five Most Important Recruiting Battles:
1) (DB) Jabril Peppers … Once in-a-decade type who could very easily have been a Ohio State Buckeye.
2) (WR) Drake Harris … We desperately needed a game changing Wide Receiver prospect and we snatched one right from Michigan State.
3) (DE) Da’Shawn Hand … Is Hand the top player in the country? Nah, not even top Defensive End (Garrett clearly better IMO) but a great kid who will be a very good player and could have filled a huge hole for Michigan.
4) (DB) Damon Webb … Huge loss (IMO) Kid is the most complete defensive back out of Cass Tech in years and he ends up with Ohio State. Not Peppers as a prospect, but a potential All Big Ten type for sure.
5) (Tie) … Malik McDowell/Michael Ferns … Can’t understate the impact of Ferns who is one of the true leaders of this class and was one of Michigan’s first clear wins over Urban Meyer in Ohio (no excuses on that kid). McDowell’s recruitment on paper is huge, especially with him going to Michigan State, but I’m not as sold on him as a prospect.
Prospect Ranking from top to Bottom (IMO)
1.) (DB) Peppers … True superstar potential.
2.) (WR) Harris … Would have been a five star if not hurt. Best player in-state as a junior (IMO) by far.
3.) (DT) Mone … Size/athleticism combo has me drooling.
4.) (OL) Cole … A lot of kids ahead of him, but Cole is as good, or better, than any.
5.) (WR) Canteen … How fast is he on the field? A potential MM? Drake has size/leaping ability but this kid def reminds me of Manningham and may be underrated right now.
6.) (LB) Winovich … Needs to pack on pounds but gives us length/athleticism we need at Sam desperately.
7.) (LB) Ferns … Smart, hard nosed kid who is a future captain.
8.) (TE) Bunting … A boom-or-bust type but you can’t teach what he brings.
9.) (DB) Watson … A bit of a gut feel, but Watson is a classic under-scouted kid. Sounds like he can play any DB position.
10.) (DE) Marshall … Good athlete whose best days are ahead of him. I wonder about his ceiling.
11.) (LB) Wangler … Good athlete who can play in space.
12.) (WR) Ways … Great size who is working his hardest to continue to improve his game.
13.) (QB) Speight … A lot to like, but still needs to show more consistent zip on his passes.
14.) (DT) Pallante … I think I wanted to put him higher but, at his best, he is still a niche player.
15.) (DL) Furbush … Don’t know where he’ll fit and still has a lot to learn. Great frame.
16.) (OL) Bushell-Beatty … Can’t teach size but he has a long road ahead of him. Good potential.
Hope you enjoyed this three part series by our good friend and long time poster DieHard5661.
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Written by GBMWolverine Poster — DieHard5661
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