The latest edition of INSIDE THE FORT, including plenty of football the day before the big game, along with football recruiting.
There’s plenty of optimism, of course, as there should be — this is a Jim Harbaugh coached team, and they’ll be well prepared. We’ll start with the positives, which include a position everyone knows is going to be good, at least in the near future …
Wide receiver.
One source very close to it says freshmen Tarik Black and Donovan Peoples-Jones are “special,” as we’ve heard. But he knows football, has seen Michigan’s best of the best over the last several years, and says these two have a chance to be the best duo in Michigan history … and he’s not prone to hyperbole.
Braylon Edwards/Jason Avant was a great duo, Howard/Alexander, etc. … if these guys reach that level, the next three (would love to say four) years are going to be incredible.
In terms of pure talent, this might be the best unit Michigan has. Junior Grant Perry has been very good and will start, It was initially (a week ago) thought that Black and sophomore Kekoa Crawford would get the nod, too, with sophomore Eddie McDoom and Peoples-Jones seeing plenty of time.
More recently, we’re hearing Crawford, Peoples-Jones and McDoom will be the trio. The crazy thing … frosh Oliver Martin has been good, walk-on Nate Schoenle great at times (“hasn’t dropped a pass all camp”) and Nico Collins is on the rise.
At tight end, redshirt sophomore tight end Tyrone Wheatley has come a long way since the start of camp and is No. 1, but Ian Bunting and sophomore Sean McKeon are right there. It’s tight end by committee, and as explained yesterday, redshirt sophomore Zach Gentry will be used situationally (at least, in mismatches) and Nick Eubanks will also see some time.
Now, no need for panic here, so please don’t … but the same impeccable source with knowledge of the offensive line is concerned a bit at how much the defensive line got the better of the offensive line this fall.
“But … and this is a big ‘but’ … is it because this defensive line is so good? That’s what we don’t know,” he said.
“I like [sophomore running back] Chris Evans, but a lot of times he’s had to make his first cut in the backfield. The guys up front aren’t getting the kind of push you’d hope for at this point. The only guy that has the consistent strike and the pop you’re looking for is [sophomore right guard Ben] Bredeson.”
One word to describe him, we asked?
“Stud.”
Left tackle Mason Cole is solid, he said, but could be even better at center, where he played last year. That’s not likely to happen, of course, considering he’s practiced at left tackle all fall.
Fifth-year senior Pat Kugler has been solid at center, and while freshman Cesar Ruiz is a ‘future star,’ he’s still also a year away. He could push, however, if he continues to pick things up.
The right side is where it gets iffy. Sophomore Mike Onwenu has had his moments, especially run blocking, but in goal line recently, redshirt junior nose tackle Bryan Mone knocked him off his feet and flattened him. Now, Mone is a ‘beast,’ as sophomore end Rashan Gary has said, but having a 340-pound guard reverse pancaked isn’t ideal.
Cesar Ruiz and Chuck Filiaga are pushing the 350-pounder at the position. Ruiz is the center of the future, but he’s repping at guard right now and will also back up Kugler.
Right tackle has gone back and forth. We told you redshirt junior Juwann Bushell-Beatty had moved to left tackle … it appeared redshirt sophomore Jon Runyan Jr. would start at right tackle, sive but redshirt sophomore Nolan Ulizio stole it. That competition is NOT over, however … those two will continue to battle through the non-conference portion of the season, and whoever fares better will take the job into Big Ten play.
Ulizio was once a two-star, but Harbaugh and Co. loved his potential on film, and they weren’t alone. A couple of the Big Ten’s better offensive linemen wanted him badly, so this isn’t an out of the blue development.
Remember, now, this defensive line is special. We'll see how the o-line fares Saturday playing someone else.
At quarterback, they’re very pleased about redshirt junior Wilton Speight’s progress … he’s made huge strides. But he’ll only be as good as his protection, and there’s some work to do there. Freshman Dylan McCaffrey needs to add strength, but he’s going to be good. He’s very smart and is picking up the playbook quickly … he’s probably third behind Speight and fifth-year senior John O’Korn, with redshirt freshman Brandon Peters running fourth.
On defense, the backup line is “okay, but thin.”As things stand right now, it looks like freshman defensive end Kwity Paye is going to get legitimate playing time behind redshirt junior Chase Winovich. Multiple people have been pointing out how good he looks coming off of the edge, and the recent scrimmage was no different. Don Brown loves what he brings to the defense, and he should see action tomorrow.
They’ll be ‘playing with fire’ early in the year with the young secondary, because they aren’t going to stop being aggressive. Each of the kids is more than capable, but the consistency isn’t there yet. If they can get by the Gators, they’ll continue to be able to improve toward the Big Ten season.
This is a confident group, though, starting with the head coach. We’ll have more on that if the Wolverines win.
Finally, we’re told that Florida right tackle Jawaan Taylor could be the next one to be suspended. His name has floated around as possibly being involved. Florida is very thin at tackle depth. Left tackle Martez Ivey is supposed to play, but likely won’t be 100 percent if he does, having been struggling with a leg injury.
Wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland is another in question, but if he hasn’t been suspended yet, it’s hard to imagine it would happen before the game
****
To football recruiting now …
Atlanta Hapeville Charter four-star cornerback Christopher Smith committed to Georgia back in May but was quite high on Michigan at the time. Since then, the staff in Ann Arbor has continued to recruit the 6-0, 165-pounder and he’s definitely paying attention and reciprocating some interest. On August 1, Michigan sent out an official offer to Smith via Twitter and the No. 15 cornerback and No. 171 overall prospect nationally immediately tweeted out the offer. Smith’s mother, Shandra, is very involved in her son’s life and his recruitment and says that the Wolverines definitely have their attention.
“Michigan reaches out to him frequently,” Shandra said. “He has a great relationship with the staff and they’ve never stopped recruiting him.”
The efforts are working and the Smith family is looking forward to an official visit.
“We will probably attend a game in the next couple of weeks,” Shandra said. “It will probably be an official visit. He is in the process of setting those up now. My husband and I love Michigan — the family atmosphere and the academics.”
It will obviously be tough to flip Smith since he’s a Georgia kid committed to the Bulldogs but Michigan has obviously left a mark. Couple that with the fact that U-M has three cornerbacks already committed in four-star Myles Sims, four-star Gemon Green and three-star Sammy Faustin and flipping Smith becomes less of a priority. However it plays out, it’s clear that U-M has done a good job with him throughout Smith’s recruitment despite his commitment status.
Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point four-star tight end Mustapha Muhammad, a pretty strong Michigan lean, will likely be in Arlington tomorrow for U-M’s opener against Florida. The 6-5, 225-pounder was supposed to be playing in his own season opener but Hurricane Harvey has obviously affected a lot of aspects of life in Texas including high school football. Muhammad, the No. 19 tight end in the country, is still highest on U-M and predicts Michigan to win in a close one against the Gators.
Muhammad won’t be alone at the game as the Michigan staff expects about 25 prospects of interest to be at the game. As more information is gathered about who might be in attendance we’ll post it here.
Michigan has landed one true running back in the 2018 class in Buford (Ga.) High three-star Christian Turner and may be at or near the top of the list for Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes three-star athlete Michael Barrett. The 6-0, 200-pounder plays multiple positions in high school but Michigan likes him in the backfield. The Georgia native recently spoke about why U-M is so high on his list.
“I talk with Michigan the most,” he said. “They are just trying to get me up there. I don't talk to one coach more than the other; I talk with all of them. We actually have a group chat together.”
Being a part of a group chat with all of Michigan’s coaches seems to insist that Barrett is indeed quite a target for the staff. He’s a relatively quiet kid so getting an update on him, albeit a short one, is a good thing and paints a picture about how hard he’s being recruited.
Finally, Michigan is off to a great start in 2019 and is in the lead for another highly coveted prospect. Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas four-star inside linebacker Anthony Solomon has been to Michigan several times and still remains incredibly high on the Wolverines. Despite being in Florida, he spoke very highly of the Wolverines as they prepare to take on the Gators tomorrow.
“I see Devin Bush making the seal of approval against Florida,” Solomon said. “I'm a defensive guy so I already know my bros will hold it down. I really can't make a prediction but I hope the best for both teams. Go Blue!"
While he wouldn’t give a straight-up prediction, his tone certainly seemed to indicate that he was pulling for the Maize and Blue and he basically solidified that when asked how his recruitment was going.
“Michigan is showing me the most love at the moment,” he said. “They’re still my leader.”
Finally, a lot of fans weren’t exactly thrilled when several of Michigan’s three-stars in the 2018 class committed — most notably Naples (Fla.) High cornerback Sammy Faustin, Hamden (Conn.) Hamden Hall Country Day School tight end Luke Schoonmaker and Traverse City (Mich.) West offensive tackle Ryan Hayes.
However, after speaking with several people who have played against these kids, it’s easy to see why the Michigan coaches wanted them so badly. There has been a common theme echoed from everyone who has faced Michigan’s commits, and it’s that they are all future NFL players.
It’s agreed that it may take some time for them to develop in college, but once they do, the sky’s the limit. One person who played against Faustin said his length is exactly what the NFL wants nowadays in its corners.
A similar thought was echoed with Schoonmaker, as an opponent said he has unbelievable speed for someone who is 6-6 — his combination of speed and size should certainly find him a place in the NFL.
Jim Harbaugh and the coaches know exactly what they’re looking for in recruits, regardless of star ratings.
Take a look at what he’s doing with some of the former three-stars who are currently on the roster now — Chris Evans, Eddie McDoom, Khaleke Hudson, Josh Metellus, etc. All of those players are expected to either start or contribute heavily this season, and all of them are only sophomores. There’s no concern about the amount of “NFL” talent they are bringing in … at least not among the staff.
****
Finishing with basketball, and not much to report here. The staff has taken several days off to refresh before the season, and so have many of the recruits. Many of the kids we reached out to in the last week were on vacation with their parents, etc, before heading back to school.
We feel strongly that Michigan will add one more player to the mix in September or October. Four-star Texas wing Miller Kopp will likely get his offer on a visit, and though he has a brother at Vanderbilt, he loves his fit in U-M’s system.
Michigan sits very well with Justin Ahrens, a three-star wing out of Versailles (Ohio), and four-star Noah Locke, one of the best shooters in his class … if both visits go well (Sept. 16 and 23), it could be that it’s a race between them for the spot (that’s the hope).
Summer was great for this group. Sophomore point guard Xavier Simpson has improved a lot, per sources, and it’s a three-man battle at point guard. They’ve all been very good, but it will be hard to find minutes for all of them (Eli Brooks being the third). Freshman Brooks is an elite athlete, so he’ll be one to watch at a few positions.
Overall, there are high expectations for this group within the program. It should be fun to watch it come together.
There’s plenty of optimism, of course, as there should be — this is a Jim Harbaugh coached team, and they’ll be well prepared. We’ll start with the positives, which include a position everyone knows is going to be good, at least in the near future …
Wide receiver.
One source very close to it says freshmen Tarik Black and Donovan Peoples-Jones are “special,” as we’ve heard. But he knows football, has seen Michigan’s best of the best over the last several years, and says these two have a chance to be the best duo in Michigan history … and he’s not prone to hyperbole.
Braylon Edwards/Jason Avant was a great duo, Howard/Alexander, etc. … if these guys reach that level, the next three (would love to say four) years are going to be incredible.
In terms of pure talent, this might be the best unit Michigan has. Junior Grant Perry has been very good and will start, It was initially (a week ago) thought that Black and sophomore Kekoa Crawford would get the nod, too, with sophomore Eddie McDoom and Peoples-Jones seeing plenty of time.
More recently, we’re hearing Crawford, Peoples-Jones and McDoom will be the trio. The crazy thing … frosh Oliver Martin has been good, walk-on Nate Schoenle great at times (“hasn’t dropped a pass all camp”) and Nico Collins is on the rise.
At tight end, redshirt sophomore tight end Tyrone Wheatley has come a long way since the start of camp and is No. 1, but Ian Bunting and sophomore Sean McKeon are right there. It’s tight end by committee, and as explained yesterday, redshirt sophomore Zach Gentry will be used situationally (at least, in mismatches) and Nick Eubanks will also see some time.
Now, no need for panic here, so please don’t … but the same impeccable source with knowledge of the offensive line is concerned a bit at how much the defensive line got the better of the offensive line this fall.
“But … and this is a big ‘but’ … is it because this defensive line is so good? That’s what we don’t know,” he said.
“I like [sophomore running back] Chris Evans, but a lot of times he’s had to make his first cut in the backfield. The guys up front aren’t getting the kind of push you’d hope for at this point. The only guy that has the consistent strike and the pop you’re looking for is [sophomore right guard Ben] Bredeson.”
One word to describe him, we asked?
“Stud.”
Left tackle Mason Cole is solid, he said, but could be even better at center, where he played last year. That’s not likely to happen, of course, considering he’s practiced at left tackle all fall.
Fifth-year senior Pat Kugler has been solid at center, and while freshman Cesar Ruiz is a ‘future star,’ he’s still also a year away. He could push, however, if he continues to pick things up.
The right side is where it gets iffy. Sophomore Mike Onwenu has had his moments, especially run blocking, but in goal line recently, redshirt junior nose tackle Bryan Mone knocked him off his feet and flattened him. Now, Mone is a ‘beast,’ as sophomore end Rashan Gary has said, but having a 340-pound guard reverse pancaked isn’t ideal.
Cesar Ruiz and Chuck Filiaga are pushing the 350-pounder at the position. Ruiz is the center of the future, but he’s repping at guard right now and will also back up Kugler.
Right tackle has gone back and forth. We told you redshirt junior Juwann Bushell-Beatty had moved to left tackle … it appeared redshirt sophomore Jon Runyan Jr. would start at right tackle, sive but redshirt sophomore Nolan Ulizio stole it. That competition is NOT over, however … those two will continue to battle through the non-conference portion of the season, and whoever fares better will take the job into Big Ten play.
Ulizio was once a two-star, but Harbaugh and Co. loved his potential on film, and they weren’t alone. A couple of the Big Ten’s better offensive linemen wanted him badly, so this isn’t an out of the blue development.
Remember, now, this defensive line is special. We'll see how the o-line fares Saturday playing someone else.
At quarterback, they’re very pleased about redshirt junior Wilton Speight’s progress … he’s made huge strides. But he’ll only be as good as his protection, and there’s some work to do there. Freshman Dylan McCaffrey needs to add strength, but he’s going to be good. He’s very smart and is picking up the playbook quickly … he’s probably third behind Speight and fifth-year senior John O’Korn, with redshirt freshman Brandon Peters running fourth.
On defense, the backup line is “okay, but thin.”As things stand right now, it looks like freshman defensive end Kwity Paye is going to get legitimate playing time behind redshirt junior Chase Winovich. Multiple people have been pointing out how good he looks coming off of the edge, and the recent scrimmage was no different. Don Brown loves what he brings to the defense, and he should see action tomorrow.
They’ll be ‘playing with fire’ early in the year with the young secondary, because they aren’t going to stop being aggressive. Each of the kids is more than capable, but the consistency isn’t there yet. If they can get by the Gators, they’ll continue to be able to improve toward the Big Ten season.
This is a confident group, though, starting with the head coach. We’ll have more on that if the Wolverines win.
Finally, we’re told that Florida right tackle Jawaan Taylor could be the next one to be suspended. His name has floated around as possibly being involved. Florida is very thin at tackle depth. Left tackle Martez Ivey is supposed to play, but likely won’t be 100 percent if he does, having been struggling with a leg injury.
Wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland is another in question, but if he hasn’t been suspended yet, it’s hard to imagine it would happen before the game
****
To football recruiting now …
Atlanta Hapeville Charter four-star cornerback Christopher Smith committed to Georgia back in May but was quite high on Michigan at the time. Since then, the staff in Ann Arbor has continued to recruit the 6-0, 165-pounder and he’s definitely paying attention and reciprocating some interest. On August 1, Michigan sent out an official offer to Smith via Twitter and the No. 15 cornerback and No. 171 overall prospect nationally immediately tweeted out the offer. Smith’s mother, Shandra, is very involved in her son’s life and his recruitment and says that the Wolverines definitely have their attention.
“Michigan reaches out to him frequently,” Shandra said. “He has a great relationship with the staff and they’ve never stopped recruiting him.”
The efforts are working and the Smith family is looking forward to an official visit.
“We will probably attend a game in the next couple of weeks,” Shandra said. “It will probably be an official visit. He is in the process of setting those up now. My husband and I love Michigan — the family atmosphere and the academics.”
It will obviously be tough to flip Smith since he’s a Georgia kid committed to the Bulldogs but Michigan has obviously left a mark. Couple that with the fact that U-M has three cornerbacks already committed in four-star Myles Sims, four-star Gemon Green and three-star Sammy Faustin and flipping Smith becomes less of a priority. However it plays out, it’s clear that U-M has done a good job with him throughout Smith’s recruitment despite his commitment status.
Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point four-star tight end Mustapha Muhammad, a pretty strong Michigan lean, will likely be in Arlington tomorrow for U-M’s opener against Florida. The 6-5, 225-pounder was supposed to be playing in his own season opener but Hurricane Harvey has obviously affected a lot of aspects of life in Texas including high school football. Muhammad, the No. 19 tight end in the country, is still highest on U-M and predicts Michigan to win in a close one against the Gators.
Muhammad won’t be alone at the game as the Michigan staff expects about 25 prospects of interest to be at the game. As more information is gathered about who might be in attendance we’ll post it here.
Michigan has landed one true running back in the 2018 class in Buford (Ga.) High three-star Christian Turner and may be at or near the top of the list for Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes three-star athlete Michael Barrett. The 6-0, 200-pounder plays multiple positions in high school but Michigan likes him in the backfield. The Georgia native recently spoke about why U-M is so high on his list.
“I talk with Michigan the most,” he said. “They are just trying to get me up there. I don't talk to one coach more than the other; I talk with all of them. We actually have a group chat together.”
Being a part of a group chat with all of Michigan’s coaches seems to insist that Barrett is indeed quite a target for the staff. He’s a relatively quiet kid so getting an update on him, albeit a short one, is a good thing and paints a picture about how hard he’s being recruited.
Finally, Michigan is off to a great start in 2019 and is in the lead for another highly coveted prospect. Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas four-star inside linebacker Anthony Solomon has been to Michigan several times and still remains incredibly high on the Wolverines. Despite being in Florida, he spoke very highly of the Wolverines as they prepare to take on the Gators tomorrow.
“I see Devin Bush making the seal of approval against Florida,” Solomon said. “I'm a defensive guy so I already know my bros will hold it down. I really can't make a prediction but I hope the best for both teams. Go Blue!"
While he wouldn’t give a straight-up prediction, his tone certainly seemed to indicate that he was pulling for the Maize and Blue and he basically solidified that when asked how his recruitment was going.
“Michigan is showing me the most love at the moment,” he said. “They’re still my leader.”
Finally, a lot of fans weren’t exactly thrilled when several of Michigan’s three-stars in the 2018 class committed — most notably Naples (Fla.) High cornerback Sammy Faustin, Hamden (Conn.) Hamden Hall Country Day School tight end Luke Schoonmaker and Traverse City (Mich.) West offensive tackle Ryan Hayes.
However, after speaking with several people who have played against these kids, it’s easy to see why the Michigan coaches wanted them so badly. There has been a common theme echoed from everyone who has faced Michigan’s commits, and it’s that they are all future NFL players.
It’s agreed that it may take some time for them to develop in college, but once they do, the sky’s the limit. One person who played against Faustin said his length is exactly what the NFL wants nowadays in its corners.
A similar thought was echoed with Schoonmaker, as an opponent said he has unbelievable speed for someone who is 6-6 — his combination of speed and size should certainly find him a place in the NFL.
Jim Harbaugh and the coaches know exactly what they’re looking for in recruits, regardless of star ratings.
Take a look at what he’s doing with some of the former three-stars who are currently on the roster now — Chris Evans, Eddie McDoom, Khaleke Hudson, Josh Metellus, etc. All of those players are expected to either start or contribute heavily this season, and all of them are only sophomores. There’s no concern about the amount of “NFL” talent they are bringing in … at least not among the staff.
****
Finishing with basketball, and not much to report here. The staff has taken several days off to refresh before the season, and so have many of the recruits. Many of the kids we reached out to in the last week were on vacation with their parents, etc, before heading back to school.
We feel strongly that Michigan will add one more player to the mix in September or October. Four-star Texas wing Miller Kopp will likely get his offer on a visit, and though he has a brother at Vanderbilt, he loves his fit in U-M’s system.
Michigan sits very well with Justin Ahrens, a three-star wing out of Versailles (Ohio), and four-star Noah Locke, one of the best shooters in his class … if both visits go well (Sept. 16 and 23), it could be that it’s a race between them for the spot (that’s the hope).
Summer was great for this group. Sophomore point guard Xavier Simpson has improved a lot, per sources, and it’s a three-man battle at point guard. They’ve all been very good, but it will be hard to find minutes for all of them (Eli Brooks being the third). Freshman Brooks is an elite athlete, so he’ll be one to watch at a few positions.
Overall, there are high expectations for this group within the program. It should be fun to watch it come together.
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