Loading Up 'The Team' with the Class of 2016

The New Wolverines (by position)

Grading System:

  • 91-100 points - True "five-star", once in a generation-type of player with elite physical tools and brings a big-boy's game. These guys have a higher chance of contributing right away for most programs and could be close to being NFL-ready.
  • 81-90 points - The top of the four-star athletes, these guys are generally highly coveted by most big-time programs and can usually find a role on a team very quickly.
  • 71-80 points - This range of prospects consists of some of the four star prospects and upper echelon of the threes. These recruits have a high chance of being a contributing factor for most programs but may need a few years to develop. Believe it or not, most of the NFL is made up of guys in this range. Often, the guys that get these rankings are simply late-bloomers that need a little more time to grow.
  • 61-70 points - This range of prospects are players that will most-definitely need some time to work on their game and hit the weight room, but they can often develop into great players too. Many NFL players were once two-star recruits of this caliber.
  • 51-60 points - Predominantly not FBS level talent. Recruits that receive a ranking in this range are lacking physical maturity and elite skills, but might have just enough raw talent to be worthy of a scholarship somewhere. 
  • 50 or less - Division II and Juco prospects mostly. These guys typically lack the physical maturity to compete at the FCS or FBS levels.
No, I don't do all my own scouting. I rely on the combined efforts of coaches, scouts, and recruiters all over the country, as well as my own film study. My goal is to not pigeon-hole any prospect into any type of mold, but instead get an overall picture of the type of player we as fans hope they become. Therefore, there are alternate positions the prospect could play at Michigan given in parentheses. 


Quarterback

Brandon Peters (Avon, IN) 
4-Star (QB)
6'5"/205 lbs 
Grade: 88 

The Report: Is already enrolled and in the weight room in Ann Arbor. He has the raw ability to make things interesting this spring, but he is probably still another year away from actually competing for the job. Stranger things have happened though, and Peters seems to have a cool demeanor coupled with an arm that can drop dimes 60 yards downfield. He was dominant in high school, but the level of competition he faced in Indiana is not considered elite. It was reported from the Nike Opening camp last summer that he needs to work on getting back in his drops quicker, and he has the necessary athleticism to work on it. It was also said that there really wasn't anybody better than him in terms of delivery of the ball.

The Word: With all the tools this kid possesses, I dare say he is the best pure quarterback prospect the team has had since Chad Henne or Ryan Mallett first stepped foot on campus.

Running Back

Kareem Walker (Wayne, NJ)
4-Star (RB)
6'0"/210 lbs 
Grade: 87

The Report: Another early enrollee that is widely considered among the top 50 recruits in the country and one of the top backs all-around. Some recruiting services have him even listed as a 5-Star. He has nice size and appears to have elite-level speed. He tends to run upright and could put himself at risk of getting his clock cleaned at the next level, but it's nothing that can't be fixed.

The Word: If he can read his blocks and keep his pad level down he could break out as a true freshman, but he probably needs a year before he really gets his college legs under him.

Kingston Davis (Prattville, AL) 
3-Star (FB)
6'1"/225 lbs 
Grade: 75

The Report: Is not as fast or considered to have as high of a ceiling as Walker, but Davis seems to possess enough size, strength, and toughness to carve out a niche under Harbaugh. He always seems to be moving things forward and can carry defenders for extra yards. He was an All-State selection in Alabama as a senior and was considered a top fullback prospect by many scouts. He is also an early enrollee and will compete this spring.

The Word: Don't be surprised if Davis gets playing time as a freshman too, although it is already a bit crowded in the backfield for 2016. My guess is that he will redshirt now and compete for a job in 2017,

Chris Evans (Indianapolis, IN)
4-Star (ATH) 
5'11"/186 lbs 
Grade: 79

The Report: Was a shifty playmaker in high school that could score from just about anywhere. His forty time is in the 4.6's, so he isn't the fastest guy, but he is definitely fast enough. He is a smooth athlete that could play running back or work out of the slot as a receiver. He should be an option as a kick returner as well. Harbaugh loves him and said that he seems to understand angles better than any other recruit.

The Word: Redshirting this fall and living in the weight room for a year will do him a lot of good. Be patient and look for him to contribute down the road.

Wide Receiver 

Ahmir Mitchell (Egg Harbor City, NJ) 
4-Star (ATH)
6'3"/206 lbs 
Grade: 85

The Report: Great measurables minus top-end speed. Has good hands, a wide catching radius, and can play the possession game in tight spaces, becoming a powerful runner after the catch. He needs to work on route-running a little bit so it's a good thing he is also enrolled early. If he gets any bigger he might be playing linebacker some day.

The Word: If he works hard and irons out some wrinkles in his game this spring, he could be added to the mix on game days this fall.

Dylan Crawford (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) 
4-Star (CB) 
6'1"/175 lbs 
Grade: 85

The Report: Good route-runner with extremely good hands and a high football I.Q. He will deliver some downright nasty blocks on defenders of all sizes and is a very dangerous runner after the catch. He isn't a true burner but, like Mitchell, he should be just fast enough to get over the top of most safeties. He looks like he might make a fine cornerback too if the team ever needed to move somebody over there.

The Word: Crawford was a huge win for Harbaugh off the West Coast. He should be a factor some day soon and has the tools to be one of the best receivers and/or kick returners in the Big Ten.

Brad Hawkins (Camden, NJ) 
4-Star (S)
6'2"/200 lbs 
Grade: 78

Scouting Report: A solid player that brings good hands and toughness to the position. He doesn't blow scouts away with his measurables but managed to make a lot of big plays against sound competition in high school. Again, he isn't a burner either, but he finds a way to win his matchups. Played some safety in high school but looks more like a pure college receiver.

The Word: He's a classic UM receiving prospect and helps make this one of the best groups of receivers in the nation to sign with a team.

Nate Johnson (Thompson's Station, TN)
3-Star (CB)
5'11"/175 lbs 
Grade: 77

The Report: A very good athlete that runs the shuttle drill as good as anybody in the country, Johnson also made a name for himself by scoring 29 TD's in his final year of high school. Don't be fooled by the star ranking, this kid has a very high ceiling and Harbaugh really is glad to have gotten him to sign. He played a little corner in high school too, so he could be an option to move over there if needed.

The Word: If he flashes only half the ability he showed in 2015 then Michigan got a true steal out of SEC country.

Eddie McDoom 
3-Star 
(Winter Garden, FL) 
5'11"/170 lbs 
Grade: 77

The Report: McDoom would be one of the top recruits for the position in most classes, but this isn't like most classes. He has very few weaknesses apparent in his game and he looks like a pure receiving prospect with good all-around ability. Has decent measurables, although, like all the receivers in the group, he is not among the fastest prospects in the country.

The Word: I would take just about any 3-Star prospect out of the Sunshine State, and the fact that he was once committed to Oregon tells you a lot about his national appeal as a player.

Tight End

Devin Asiasi (Concord, CA)
4-Star (DE)
6'3"/265 lbs
Grade: 88

The Report: An unbelievable athlete prospect that projects well on either side of the ball. His potential on offense is something that doesn't come around very often, and the coaches are very excited about it. He can run, block, and catch well, using his 270 lbs to his advantage against smaller opponents.

The Word: The class of tight ends already produced some hits, but Asiasi knocks it out of the park and makes this one of the best groups in the country.

Nick Eubanks (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 
4-Star (WR)
6'6" 230 lbs 
Grade: 80

Scouting Report: A tall receiving prospect that played against good competition in South Florida. He has a tremendous catching radius and appears to have decent hands. He doesn't get a lot of push as a blocker but he seems to give good effort on every play. Needs to get stronger and add good weight, but could move to wide-out like Devin Funchess did. By the way, Funchess will be playing WR in the Super Bowl this Sunday!

The Word: Nick Saban was after him hard right up 'til NSD, so getting him to sign is a big win for Harbaugh.

Sean McKeon (Dudley, MA) 
3-Star (DE) 
6'5"/230 lbs 
Grade: 74

The Report: Is one of the fastest TE prospects in the country (4.6 forty) and has the size to boot. He didn't face very good competition or play on a very good team in high school, so he will need some time to adjust. He is enrolled early so that should help. Overall, many around him think he is one of the most-likely prospects to exceed any expectations.

The Word: I wouldn't bet on him making too many appearances this year, but he is every bit as good of a prospect that Harbaugh and company need at the position.

Offensive Line

Ben Bredeson (Hartland, WI) 
4-Star (G/C/T)
6'5"/295 lbs 
Grade: 90

The Report: Is considered an elite caliber lineman by most scouts. He moves well, attacks defenders, and rarely gets beat. He looks like a slightly bigger, slightly stronger version of current Wolverine Mason Cole. He could probably play as a true freshman if needed and he is the only line prospect in the class that looks like he could play tackle. He held up well against the nation's elite at the Under Armour All-American game.

The Word: Ultimately, the coaches just hope he can provide some depth this year and compete for a starting job anywhere on the line in 2017.

Michael Onwenu (Detroit, MI) 
4-Star (ATH)
6'3"/365 lbs 
Grade: 88

The Report: Is a much better athlete than his weight would suggest. He is indeed strong, but he can move his feet and mirror most defenders in pass protection too. He can also pull and trap, but is probably most effective just driving the line of scrimmage back into the linebackers on run plays. He probably has some bad weight that needs to get shed, and every kid can improve their strength and footwork, but Onwenu can play early.

The Word: No matter which side of the ball he ends up playing, we really haven't seen an interior line prospect like Onwenu in my lifetime.

Stephen Spanellis (Gilman, MD) 
3-Star (G/T)
6'5"/330 lbs 
Grade: 76

The Report: Another drive-blocker that plays through the whistle and punishes defenders in the run game. He will never be a left tackle, and will probably be limited to the interior, as he just lacks the lateral quickness to hang with speed edge rushers. He can hold is own and will feel comfortable plowing the field with would-be defenders.

The Word: He is by all means a legit prospect for a run-heavy offense, and he should compete for a job somewhere in 2018. He just needs to trim up in the weight room and work on technique.

Kicker

Quinn Nordin (Rockford, MI) 
3-Star (K/P)
6'1" 200 lbs
Grade: 77

The Report: Is one of the most heavily recruited kickers in Michigan history, and is the top kicker in this class. He can make all the necessary kicks and reportedly nailed a 65-yarder off the ground in practice. He is a whiz on kickoffs and can punt well enough to play there if needed. He is also a decent athlete and lacrosse player.

The Word: Nordin could take over duties at kicker as a freshman so Allen can concentrate on punting, but it remains to be seen if the 5th year senior is ready to give up the job just yet.

Defensive Line

Rashan Gary (Paramus, NJ)
5-Star (E/T)
6'5"/293 lbs
Grade: 99

Report: Is every bit as good of a prospect that we have seen at any position on any given year for as long as I can remember. He doesn't get pushed around in the run game and he can rush off the edge. He is just as fast and quick as he is big and strong. He dominated every camp he attended and beat all the best blockers in the country. He even outran some receivers at The Opening. He is as ready as anybody to play at the next level, and would be the crown jewel of nearly any recruiting class.

The Word: Michigan doesn't actually need him to play right away, as they have a lot of talent returning, but it will probably be hard to keep him off the field as soon as he steps foot on campus. At any rate, signing him is a sure sign that Michigan is indeed back on the national scene.

Ron Johnson (Camden, NJ) 
4-Star (DE/OLB)
6'4"/240 lbs 
Grade: 83

The Report: A sound edge player that contains running backs and can seek out and destroy a ball-carrier. His first step is quick enough to beat many left tackles off the snap and strong enough to hold blockers off his body or hold the point of attack. He could play either the strong or weak side, but it may take a couple years before he actually develops into the player the coaches think he can be in college.

The Word: His hustle will be an asset to the defense no matter which end of the line he plays, but it will take at least a year before he's ready to compete for a full-time job.

Carlo Kemp (Boulder, CO) 
4-Star (DE/LB) 
6'3"/255 lbs 
Grade: 79

The report: Was recruited to play the "Buck" role in Durkin's D, but could probably play weak-side end or linebacker in any scheme. Has enough size and strength to mix it up in college already. He also has enough speed and hustle to be an effective pass-rusher. We will learn more about him as a player this spring as he is one of the seven early enrollees on campus already.

The Word: At the very least, he should develop into a player somewhere on the two-deep of the front seven, and could garner some playing time as a freshman if he learns to read his keys quickly.

Michael Dwumfour (Wayne, NJ) 
3-Star (OG) 
6'2"/286 lbs 
Grade: 75

The Report: Looks a lot like Willie Henry did coming out of high school as a 3-Star prospect. The coaches envision him developing into a nose tackle, as he has the ideal frame and the raw strength to help hold the line. He can play offensive guard too, but that would only happen if the team desperately needed bodies over there.

The Word: He will most-likely require two or three years to truly develop his game, but he could be a starter and an All-Conference player some day. It would be ideal to see him add some good weight and get up over 300 lbs while keeping his quickness off the line.

Linebackers

Devin Bush Jr. (Hollywood, FL) 
4-Star 
5'11"/225 lbs 
Grade: 83

The Report: A quick, strong, and smart player that is ready to play college football. He can hit the gaps and stuff running plays or chase backs down sideline to sideline. He can also manage the middle of the field in pass coverage, or cover backs in the flats well enough. He probably won't get much bigger and his height leaves a little to be desired, but he is a very good football player all-around.

The Word: Just what the team needed to help fill in the gaps on the depth chart this spring. I expect him to get a lot of playing time this fall and be an important piece somewhere in the two-deep. Hell, he could even be a starter on day one.

Elysse Mbem-Bosse (Ellenwood, GA)
3-Star 
6'3" 230 lbs 
Grade: 77

The Report: A stud thumper with the size to compete early on in his career. He isn't the fastest linebacker, and he probably will never be a true sideline-to-sideline player, but he could very well become a middle linebacker that shuts down the interior running lanes.

The Word: If he shows up in great shape this summer and picks up the defense in camp, he could find himself getting reps come game time this fall. Ideally, it would probably be best to redshirt him though.

Joshua Uche (Miami, FL)
3-Star (DE)  
6'2" 212 lbs 
Grade: 77 

The Report: A smart kid with a real burst off the ball. He has only played three years of football after trying out as a sophomore. He reportedly runs a 4.6 forty and plays with a lot of strength for a kid his size. He played defensive end in high school and terrorized opposing QB's. He would need to get bigger to play end in college, but will probably play more of a linebacker role.

The Word: What's not to love about this kid? He will most-definitely redshirt, but Uche has a high ceiling and a lot of un-tapped potential. We will know more about him as a defender in a couple years but he could earn playing time on special teams early.

Devin Gil (Hollywood, FL)
3-Star 
6'1" 215 lbs
Grade: 75

The Report: Has gained some weight in the last few months and is reportedly up to as high as 225 lbs. Just this summer he weighed 205 and was considered a safety by some scouts. It appears he will be just a linebacker going forward. He is a sound tackler and throws his body around with the best of them, taking on blockers and blowing up blocking schemes. He can also chase many ball-carriers down from behind.

The Word: Gil could be a starter someday right along with high school teammate Devin Bush Jr, but he will probably need more time to pick things up at the college level.

Defensive Back

David Long (Los Angeles, CA) 
4-Star (ATH) 
5'11" 175 lbs 
Grade: 88

The Report: One of the top overall athletes in the class, Long is also a pure football player who seems to play the game naturally. He can seemingly do it all on offense or defense, and might just do both at Michigan eventually. Some of his best highlights from high school were of him actually blocking for other guys. His combination of speed, situational awareness, athleticism, and hustle remind me a lot of Jabrill Peppers, but Long isn't quite as big as the former 5-Star.

The Word: He will fit in well around Ann Arbor, and we should expect to see something from him this fall. He will most-likely be a starting corner in 2017.

Lavert Hill (Detroit, MI)
4-Star (CB)
5'10" 172 lbs
Grade: 87

The Report: He looks similar to Jourdan Lewis did coming out of high school. Hill would be the highlight of most classes, but to have him sign on is just a major bonus in this year's cycle. He can cover a receiver's butt like underwear and can go up and snatch the ball out of the air. He should be starting in another year or two.

The Word: Might be the best pure cover corner that was available , so it's a huge win over Michigan State for his services. Honestly, outside of Asiasi, Hill was my biggest surprise of the day.

Khaleke Hudson (McKeesport, PA) 
4-Star (SS/LB) 
5'11"/205 lbs 
Grade: 81

The Report: There are very few flaws in his game as of now, but it is unclear exactly what position he will play in college. Either way, he is a very good athlete with a defender's mentality and a nose for the ball, and once he gets it in his hands he is a threat to take it to the house.

The Word: It's hard not to watch his tape and think that he could be an All-Big Ten safety someday soon.

Josh Metellus (Hollywood, FL)
3-Star (FS) 
6'0"/187 lbs 
Grade: 77 

The Report: Might be the most underrated prospect in Florida. It was hard not to watch his senior film and bump him up the rankings. He is one of the best tacklers in the country with the speed to chase most players down from behind. He also changes directions quickly and surprises opposing players with his pop. He always finishes the play. He could play early for the Wolverines and is one of those players that is most-likely to exceed any expectations.

The Word: Josh Metellus is like a fine wine that just keeps getting better with age.


Note: The jury is still out on whether or not LB/S Dytarious Johnson makes it in the class. There is a spot for him if his grades pan out this spring.

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