Early Signees
Early signing period opened up on December 20th. And for the first time ever, the Wolverines have been able to sign committed recruits before the holiday season. This will allow the coaches to put there attention on other recruits that may still be on the fence. It will also allow those truly committed kids to no longer worry about any offers getting pulled right before National Signing Day. It's a great thing for college football.
In all, Coach Harbaugh has received nine letter's of intent (LOI) this morning. And at least one of them was a complete surprise.
Signed LOI:
Mustapha Muhammad TE 4-Star 6'4"/235lbs (Missouri City, TX) Grade: 85 - The type of top tight end prospect the team needed in this class. A good athlete with multiple tools to work with at the position.
Joe Milton QB 4-Star 6'5"/222lbs (Orlando, FL) Grade: 84 - Big kid with the biggest arm to come to Ann Arbor since Ryan Mallett 11 years ago. Will need some time to refine his skills but his potential is through the roof.
Myles Sims CB 4-Star 6'2"/170lbs (Westlake, GA) Grade: 84 - Another 'need' filled with a top target at cornerback signed. One of the few players in this class that could be ready to play right away.
Cameron McGrone LB 4-Star 6'1"/215lbs (Indianapolis, IN) Grade: 83 - Adding McGrone continues the trend of Michigan signing big-time linebacker recruits. He is a heat-seeking missile that should be perfect for Dr. Blitz's defense.
Aidan Hutchinson DE 4-Star 6'5"/235lbs (Dearborn, MI) Grade: 82 - A top in-state recruit and legacy prospect who brings a lot of athleticism and versatility, much like his father. In fact, his dad Chris was one of my favorite players back when I was a freshman in high school. Great signing regardless.
Jalen Mayfield OL 4-Star 6'5"/273lbs (Grand Rapids, MI) Grade: 80 - A fine O-line prospect that could be ready to compete right away. Needs to make some gains in the weight room this offseason if he really wants a chance to play though.
Ryan Hayes OT/TE 4-Star 6'7"/252lbs (Traverse City, MI) Grade: 79 - Another top in-state recruit with the versatility to play a number of different positions, including tight end, offensive tackle, and/or defensive end.
Christian Turner RB 3-Star 5'11"/185lbs (Buford. GA) Grade: 77 - A very nice prospect with a team first attitude and the versatility to play defense. Look for him on special teams early and often in his career.
Gemon Green CB 3-Star 6'2"/165lbs (DeSoto, TX) Grade: 77 - Another very solid cornerback prospect out of some deep recruiting grounds. Might need a year to gain some weight, but his future potential is very high.
Taylor Upshaw DE 3-Star 6'5"/240lbs (Bradenton, FL) Grade: 77 - With only two years of high school playing experience, he looks like a player that is ascending quickly. He could be a future star but he most-likely is a two-year project before he starts any games.
Ben VanSumeren TE/FB/LB 3-Star 6'3"228lbs (Essexville, MI) Grade: 77 - The in-state prospect was a late offer (last week) who didn't hesitate to jump on the chance to play for Harbaugh and company. Looks like a fullback/H-back type of player that could be a great third down-type of player.
Julius Welselschof ATH 3-Star 6'6"/250lbs (Germany) Grade: 77 - A complete unknown and a big surprise for the early signing period with the measurables of an elite 4-Star prospect. His combination of size, raw athleticism, and pure speed (4.55 forty) will carry him a long way as long as he is coachable. He just hasn't really played against anybody yet so he grades out as a 3-Star prospect.
Luke Schoonmaker TE 3-Star 6'6"/225lbs (Hamden, CT) Grade: 76 - A do-it-all-type of player in high school who got most of the reps at quarterback will play tight end for the Wolverines. He has all the things the coaches are looking for at the position., but he will most-likely need a year or two to get comfortable.
German Green S/CB 3-Star 6'2"/168lbs (DeSoto, TX) Grade: 75 - Was still recovering from a knee injury that put an end to his junior season, but played well as a senior. Give him two years in the new UM strength and conditioning program and he could be a starter somewhere in the secondary.
Sammy Faustin CB 3-Star 6'2"/180lbs (Naples, FL) Grade: 75 - Played against very good high school competition and performed very well. A very solid addition out on the perimeter of the defense.
Hassan Haskins RB 3-Star 6'1"/202lbs (Eureka, MO) Grade: 75 - Solid ball-carrying prospect that could fit the system. Would like real nice with some added muscle. Could play linebacker or safety too.
Average Recruit Grade: 79 - This means that, on average, Michigan most-likely secured 16 players that should all have a chance to contribute at some point in their careers. They all also possess the raw ability to develop into a high-end college player some day. However, they all will probably be better off with a redshirt year to start their respective careers.
Average Star Rating: 3.4 - This class should have some sustainability in regards to guys sticking around four or five years down the road instead of bolting to the NFL like some the younger guys might just do after the 2018 season.
Expected Final Grade After NSD: 3.6 - Expect Harbaugh to land a couple big fish on National Signing Day and finish out the cycle strong, just like he has the last two years. Though, nobody expects this class to be anywhere near as big in numbers as those two classes turned out to be, and it won't be quite as top-heavy. It should, however, turn out to be a very strong group of above-average college players to build around in a couple years.
Top five players remaining to secure on NSD:
Otis Reese LB 4-Star
Nicolas Petit-Frere OT 5-Star
Tyler Friday DT 4-Star
Jarrett Patterson OT 4-Star
Kevin Doyle QB 3-Star
In all, Coach Harbaugh has received nine letter's of intent (LOI) this morning. And at least one of them was a complete surprise.
Signed LOI:
Mustapha Muhammad TE 4-Star 6'4"/235lbs (Missouri City, TX) Grade: 85 - The type of top tight end prospect the team needed in this class. A good athlete with multiple tools to work with at the position.
Joe Milton QB 4-Star 6'5"/222lbs (Orlando, FL) Grade: 84 - Big kid with the biggest arm to come to Ann Arbor since Ryan Mallett 11 years ago. Will need some time to refine his skills but his potential is through the roof.
Myles Sims CB 4-Star 6'2"/170lbs (Westlake, GA) Grade: 84 - Another 'need' filled with a top target at cornerback signed. One of the few players in this class that could be ready to play right away.
Cameron McGrone LB 4-Star 6'1"/215lbs (Indianapolis, IN) Grade: 83 - Adding McGrone continues the trend of Michigan signing big-time linebacker recruits. He is a heat-seeking missile that should be perfect for Dr. Blitz's defense.
Aidan Hutchinson DE 4-Star 6'5"/235lbs (Dearborn, MI) Grade: 82 - A top in-state recruit and legacy prospect who brings a lot of athleticism and versatility, much like his father. In fact, his dad Chris was one of my favorite players back when I was a freshman in high school. Great signing regardless.
Jalen Mayfield OL 4-Star 6'5"/273lbs (Grand Rapids, MI) Grade: 80 - A fine O-line prospect that could be ready to compete right away. Needs to make some gains in the weight room this offseason if he really wants a chance to play though.
Ryan Hayes OT/TE 4-Star 6'7"/252lbs (Traverse City, MI) Grade: 79 - Another top in-state recruit with the versatility to play a number of different positions, including tight end, offensive tackle, and/or defensive end.
Christian Turner RB 3-Star 5'11"/185lbs (Buford. GA) Grade: 77 - A very nice prospect with a team first attitude and the versatility to play defense. Look for him on special teams early and often in his career.
Gemon Green CB 3-Star 6'2"/165lbs (DeSoto, TX) Grade: 77 - Another very solid cornerback prospect out of some deep recruiting grounds. Might need a year to gain some weight, but his future potential is very high.
Taylor Upshaw DE 3-Star 6'5"/240lbs (Bradenton, FL) Grade: 77 - With only two years of high school playing experience, he looks like a player that is ascending quickly. He could be a future star but he most-likely is a two-year project before he starts any games.
Ben VanSumeren TE/FB/LB 3-Star 6'3"228lbs (Essexville, MI) Grade: 77 - The in-state prospect was a late offer (last week) who didn't hesitate to jump on the chance to play for Harbaugh and company. Looks like a fullback/H-back type of player that could be a great third down-type of player.
Julius Welselschof ATH 3-Star 6'6"/250lbs (Germany) Grade: 77 - A complete unknown and a big surprise for the early signing period with the measurables of an elite 4-Star prospect. His combination of size, raw athleticism, and pure speed (4.55 forty) will carry him a long way as long as he is coachable. He just hasn't really played against anybody yet so he grades out as a 3-Star prospect.
Luke Schoonmaker TE 3-Star 6'6"/225lbs (Hamden, CT) Grade: 76 - A do-it-all-type of player in high school who got most of the reps at quarterback will play tight end for the Wolverines. He has all the things the coaches are looking for at the position., but he will most-likely need a year or two to get comfortable.
German Green S/CB 3-Star 6'2"/168lbs (DeSoto, TX) Grade: 75 - Was still recovering from a knee injury that put an end to his junior season, but played well as a senior. Give him two years in the new UM strength and conditioning program and he could be a starter somewhere in the secondary.
Sammy Faustin CB 3-Star 6'2"/180lbs (Naples, FL) Grade: 75 - Played against very good high school competition and performed very well. A very solid addition out on the perimeter of the defense.
Hassan Haskins RB 3-Star 6'1"/202lbs (Eureka, MO) Grade: 75 - Solid ball-carrying prospect that could fit the system. Would like real nice with some added muscle. Could play linebacker or safety too.
Average Recruit Grade: 79 - This means that, on average, Michigan most-likely secured 16 players that should all have a chance to contribute at some point in their careers. They all also possess the raw ability to develop into a high-end college player some day. However, they all will probably be better off with a redshirt year to start their respective careers.
Average Star Rating: 3.4 - This class should have some sustainability in regards to guys sticking around four or five years down the road instead of bolting to the NFL like some the younger guys might just do after the 2018 season.
Expected Final Grade After NSD: 3.6 - Expect Harbaugh to land a couple big fish on National Signing Day and finish out the cycle strong, just like he has the last two years. Though, nobody expects this class to be anywhere near as big in numbers as those two classes turned out to be, and it won't be quite as top-heavy. It should, however, turn out to be a very strong group of above-average college players to build around in a couple years.
Top five players remaining to secure on NSD:
Otis Reese LB 4-Star
Nicolas Petit-Frere OT 5-Star
Tyler Friday DT 4-Star
Jarrett Patterson OT 4-Star
Kevin Doyle QB 3-Star
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