Bricks and Mortar: Class of 2018

Position by position breakdown of the Wolverines' 2018 class of recruits. The opinions expressed throughout are my own thoughts on what I believe Harbaugh and his staff see in these kids, and how I believe they fit into the grand scheme of things.

Always remember to do as coach says and "trust the process". While this might not be a "Top Ten" class, it is a class that is filled with a lot of kids that were under-recruited in the eyes of many. A few of them have only been playing the game for a couple years, one kid is from Europe, and one other kid was seen as a recruit in a completely different sport altogether. It is obvious that the coaches did a lot of work to put this one together, despite what the team rankings might say.

The truth in the matter is that nobody really knows what the ceiling is of this collective group of players. The floor is relatively high, considering it is still a class of kids that rank among the top 25 in the nation. So, despite what the naysayers are flapping their gums about, Harbaugh is doing a great job of pulling in kids with a lot of potential.

Overall, I would give this class a B-. With an average prospect rating of 79, which is on the low end of the 4-Star territory, Michigan is actually right in the mix with most of the other top programs in the country. No, it's nowhere near the type of class that the likes of Georgia and Ohio State put together, but at the very least it helps keep Michigan headed in a positive direction. And though most of these kids are not stars in the making, they are the type of kids that every good program is built around.

The key to my grading system is simple:

91-100 represents the true 5-Star prospects. These are the athletic freaks that should be ready to contribute immediately and could be NFL ready in couple short years. There are truly only a handful of these types of prospects per cycle.
78-90 represents the 4-Star prospects. These are the high school players that are either just a notch below the elites in terms of athletic ability and/or were big-time producers for their prep teams. There are about 300-400 prospects of this nature per cycle and they all receive at least some interest from the top programs in the nation.
65-77 represents the 3-Star prospects. These are kids that for whatever reason are under-recruited. They simply did not get the attention of the elite programs but all of them possess enough raw ability to become big-time college players. Most of the FBS is made up of players from this category.
50-65 represents the under-the-radar guys that are associated with as being 2-Star prospects. They make up a lot of the FCS and there are a couple thousand players of this caliber each and every year.
50 or below mostly represents Division II talent.



2018 Incoming Recruits by Position:


Quarterback: There is no doubt that Harbaugh's legacy will largely be determined by how well the quarterback position performs under him. I mean, he's been called the "quarterback whisperer". He needed to land another top prospect to throw in the hopper here. He got two.

• Joe Milton 4-Star 6'5"/230lbs (Orlando, FL) Grade: 85 - Had offers from Florida, Florida State, and Georgia. Raw arm strength is out of this world. Can launch the ball down the field on the run. Probably has the strongest arm on the roster already. Displays decent speed on the run. Needs to work on accuracy, touch, and overall feel for the game, a lot. Much of that will come with repetition and practice, but with a lot of extra work on the side Milton could transform himself into a special kind of player down the road. He is enrolled early to get a headstart on his development but expect him to redshirt this year.

Grade: B+  Continuous influx of talent like Milton will go a long way toward ensuring the most important position is well-stocked for the future. I cannot recall Michigan ever having this much raw talent at the quarterback position at one time with Patterson, Peters, and McCaffrey already on the roster too. I certainly don't understand why some fans are quick to negatively judge the job being done to rebuild the program at the moment. The way I see it, things are just about to get interesting. 

Running Back/Fullback: The backfield needed a boost in depth but wasn't truly in the market for any big names this cycle. There didn't seem to be many top prospects here that Michigan was enamored with and no relationships blossomed with any of the elites. The coaches did miss out on a few big names that they had targeted, but the kids they got are all capable of becoming quality players. Some would say that they are all in the "underrated" category. 

• Michael Barrett (Athlete) 3-Star 5'11"/215lbs (Valdosta, GA) Grade: 77 - A very good athlete that just knows how to win. Played quarterback in a spread-option and inside linebacker on defense for his prep team. Won't blow anybody away with combine numbers, but has displayed a uncanny ability to read opponents on both sides of the ball. Is very quick to react to situations. He has the feet to make moves and pick up large chunks of the field on the ground, but he won't be a true burner at the college level. As a passer, he displayed great touch on downfield throws. Was the Georgia Class 7A Player of the Year as a senior. Could be a "wildcat" or "pistol" quarterback or a slot receiver too. Anticipates things very well. His highlight reel is riddled with ridiculous throws and runs, as well as lot of him making plays on defense. Of the four prospects here at running back he might actually be the most-likely to play as a freshman. Is widely considered a 3-Star, but my eyeballs and the hype quietly surrounding this kid tells me he is a 4, despite him not having a true position. Will get his first looks at running back and he could help make this a very strong group of backs coming into Ann Arbor.  LSU, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Michigan State all had offers in to Barrett, and Florida State was showing some late interest as well. Honestly, Michigan got a steal here.
• Christian Turner 3-Star 5'11"/185lbs (Buford, GA) Grade: 77 - A do-it-all-type back that keeps his legs moving. Is not unlike Karan Higdon in that he appears to be a solid, compact athlete with an array of skills. He appears to be a very coachable prospect. If he can get his weight up without losing any of his speed while making pass-blocking a strong part of his repertoire, then he could prove to be a real threat in the BIG. Seems eager to help in any way, including special teams coverage units. Could also play defense. Michigan State, Miami (FL), Tennessee, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin were all among his extensive offer list. 
• Ben VanSumeren (Fullback/H-back) 3-Star 6'3"/230lbs (Essexville, MI) Grade: 76 - A good athlete that was bulldozing kids all over the state of Michigan. Displays the ability run, catch, and block. Reportedly runs a 4.5 forty and benches 360lbs. Was the MVP at the Nike Opening Regional in Cleveland. Was committed to Iowa before getting the Michigan offer, and was pursued by the likes of Harvard and Yale. Wisconsin was looking to offer as well. If he too can prove to be a worthy pass blocker then he could find himself in position to play right away. 
• Hassan Haskins 3-Star 6'1"/202lbs (Eureka, MO) Grade: 74 - An under-recruited player that gets knocked a lot of for not playing against great competition and not appearing on the camp circuit. Hasn't put up big combine numbers that get the scouts drooling. Regardless, he outran or ran over just about everybody he played against in Missouri and Kentucky. Shows the ability to read his blockers and find the holes fluidly. Can also catch the ball well on the run. Was a good prep basketball player too. Though he isn't an athletic freak, he has all the makings of a BIG running back. Might have some ability as a safety. 

Grade: B  This group of kids do a lot of things well but don't do anything great, yet. They just knew how to play ball in high school and possess a lot of traits that translate well to the college level. And though none of them look like top-flight players that will dominate games, none of them are slouches either. They are lunchpail, workhorse - type backs that will earn everything they get. No doubt Harbaugh will work very hard to land a big fish in 2019, but Barrett, Turner, VanSumeren, and Haskins are the types of "brick and mortar" guys that should immediately help provide depth, while providing a foundation to build around in the next few years.

Wide Receiver: Harbaugh and co. hauled in the top receiver class in the nation last year. A big splash wasn't necessary, but there is always need for depth. 

• Ronnie Bell 3-Star 6'1"/170lbs (Kansas City, MO) Grade: 76 - Was once a commit to play basketball at Missouri State. Had 2,347 all-purpose yards in his senior season and was named the Best Player in Kansas City as a senior. Decided to pursue football after Michigan surprised him with an offer. Has a high ceiling with the tools to develop into a very good college receiver. Will get some looks as a kick returner as well. 

Grade: D+  I really like Bell as a prospect. He could emerge as a real steal in a few years. However, one top target to add to the mix would have been great. Ultimately, Michigan wasn't in the market for a bunch of wide receiver talent either, so this haul, like this entire class, is not really as underwhelming as it looks on the surface. Some ground will need to get made up in next year's cycle, but not too much. Harbaugh did sign a few defensive backs with the length and athletic ability to make the switch to receiver in a pinch. Vincent Gray, who played receiver in high school, is one guy that comes to mind.

Tight End: The team needed to land some real talent here in this cycle and the staff hauled in three solid prospects that bring a lot of versatility to the table. 

• Mustapha Muhammad 4-Star 6'4"/235lbs (Missouri City, TX) Grade: 86 - Is right up there in the mix with the elite talent in this cycle. Stood out to scouts at the Army All-American game and the Polynesian Bowl as a kid who can flat-out 'ball. Doesn't have top-end speed or athleticism, but isn't anywhere near being weak in any one area either. Represents the top tight-end/H-back prospect that the Wolverines needed this go-around. Offer list included 'Bama, Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Ohio State among a sea of others. 
• Ryan Hayes 4-Star 6'7"/255lbs (Traverse City, MI) Grade: 80 - A big-bodied, versatile player that is seen more as a project at offensive tackle or defensive end by many scouts. Harbaugh says he will play tight end though, and that's not particularly surprising. He has displayed surprisingly soft hands and an understanding of route assignments along with great blocking ability. At any rate, THE TEAM got itself another in-state product that is willing and able to do multiple things on the field. Notre Dame and Michigan State were also in the running for his services. Do not be surprised to see him on the field early and often in his career. 
• Luke Schoonmaker 6'6"/225lbs (Hamden, CT) Grade: 75 - Is probably the biggest project in this group, but has a load of potential. Is a decent athlete but he doesn't have a true position coming out of high school. Played a lot of wide receiver and quarterback, as well as defense. Was specifically recruited to play tight end for Michigan. Was not recruited by any of the elite programs. My guess is that we will see him redshirt a year before he actually begins competing for a role on Saturdays, but his profile fits right in with what Harbaugh covets: smart, underrated kids who can handle multiple assignments on the field; who possess the raw athletic ability and size to help you gain a matchup advantage on the field some day.

Grade: A  Did they sign an elite-level prospect with the ability to both block and catch passes? Check. Did they also sign a big-bodied, versatile kid to help in the redzone? Check. Did they acquire a wild-card athlete to bring in and develop for the future? Check. All three things that the staff really wanted to do at the tight end position in 2018 was accomplished. A job well done. This group will lessen the need to bring in a bunch of tight ends in 2019, though you can bet the coaches will go after some of the top prospects once again.


Offensive Tackle: It felt like Harbaugh and the Wolverines needed to land a big recruit here. However, contrary to what most might tell you, that was not exactly the case. Yes, adding a 5-Star is always something that the coaches will covet, but what the team really needed was a couple quality tackle prospects to develop for the future. Well, they got at least one. Perhaps two.

• Jalen Mayfield 4-Star OT 6'5"/270lbs (Grand Rapids, MI) Grade: 81 - A fine in-state prospect. Appears to have the feet, frame, and motor to develop into a starter, and he could have a future on the left side. Will need to add weight and get stronger, and probably needs a year or two to get prepared. Potential is high. Had other offers from the likes of Michigan State, Nebraska, and Iowa. Miami (FL), and Notre Dame both showed interest as well. He has pretty much been all Blue the entire way though. 

Grade C-  With the addition of Mayfied, there are now 13 scholarship linemen on the roster. Six of them were 4-Star prospects while the other seven were 3-Stars. Michigan simply didn't have much room to add many new linemen up front. Tight end Ryan Hayes could develop into a tackle too if he continues to add weight. He definitely has the athletic ability to become a great pass protector. Overall, what Michigan got was a couple of highly regarded kids that have the frames to add mass and become big-time college linemen.

Defensive Line: There were not a ton of needs along Michigan's D-line this cycle either, but some talented bodies to develop was a priority for the staff. Despite losing out on some top targets here to Ohio State and the SEC, Harbaugh still got a group of guys with some very intriguing skill sets. And as disappointing as it is to lose out on a big-time prospect, it is doubly exciting to consider what these three kids can bring to the table:

• Aidan Hutchinson 4-Star 6'5"/255lbs (Dearborn, MI) Grade: 85 - A legacy prospect and the top in-state recruit (His father was one of my favorite players in the early '90's). Aidan, like his dad and the other signees in this class, brings enough versatility to play either offense or defense, but his future is most-likely as a strong-side end or tackle on defense. He isn't an elite athlete but he too can 'ball with the best of them. He proved it all week at the Army All-American Game practices and then backed it up with two sacks in the game. He actually caused a bit of a buzz on Twitter. His motor will be a welcome addition to the front seven going forward. If he puts on another 30-40lbs in the weight room he could be an absolute killer. Many top programs from all over the country were after him early. 
• Julius Welschof 3-Star 6'6"/248lbs (Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany) Grade: 77 - This is another prospect who is a complete unknown at this point as he has never played against competition outside of Europe. His measurables are through the roof though. They are up there with all the elite prospects at his position. He looks like a legit pass-rushing prospect who could be ready to play right away, despite never having played a down against any real competition before now. He is just ahead of most incoming freshmen physically, and he is a smart kid who will probably be an engineer some day. Was previously committed to Georgia Tech and had offers from Central Florida, Syracuse, Rutgers, Minnesota, and Iowa State, with more programs showing interest late. 
• Taylor Upshaw 3-Star 6'5"/245lbs (Bradenton, FL) Grade: 74 - Son of former NFL defensive end Reagan Upshaw only has two years of football playing experience. Is considered a raw prospect with the tools to develop into a very good stronside end or tackle. He will need some time to truly develop, but was once committed to Florida and also had offers from Clemson, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin. He is one of a few prospects that enrolled early in January. Put him in the oven and let him bake. Be patient. If all goes well the end product will be worth the wait. 

Grade: B-  The Wolverines did whiff on some big names here but still got three quality recruits to pad the depth chart. There is 5-Star potential, but not much film to work with when putting a recruiting profile together for two of the three. We will just have to wait and see what happens. Overall, I like the level of mystery and intrigue that this group collectively brings to the position, especially when you consider that landing a huge haul here wasn't necessary after the last two cycles.

Linebackers: There wasn't a ton of need here and the coaches went after a few quality guys. In the end it turned out to still be a bit of a heart-breaker as Michigan lost out on a kid that was committed to the program for over a year and a half. Still, the staff got at least one hot prospect to throw in the hopper this cycle. 

• Cameron McGrone 4-Star (Indianapolis, IN) Grade: 87 - Was one of the most coveted players by the Michigan staff during the final six months of the recruiting cycle. Has all the tools - speed, strength, instincts - to play inside linebacker in Don Brown's defense. His best asset might be his ability to blitz, but he has the ability to do it all. As a prospect, he is not unlike what Devin Bush Jr. was just two years ago. He looks like a heat-seeking missile when let loose, often putting a fullack on his butt and cutting a quarterback in half deep in the backfield. Kids like this will go a long way towards ensuring the future of this defense will be in good hands.

Grade: B-  It is true that the Wolverines didn't need much here this cycle, but the one kid they got is about as good as it gets on the inside. McGrone indeed looks like a future starter with the athletic ability to do a lot of damage all over the field. One more body would have been ideal here though, and losing out on a Top 100 player at the last moment on Signing Day admittedly leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I expect the staff to load up more here in 2019. 

Defensive Backs: The Wolverines needed a boost in depth here and boy did they ever get it, signing five kids that appear to have what the coaches are looking for in the secondary: length, speed, versaility. The biggest need was to secure at least one good corner prospect, but there was also a need for a couple prospects with the versatility to play either corner or safety. In my opinion, this collection of kids just about knocks it out of the park:

• Myles Sims (CB) 4-Star 6'2"/175lbs (Atlanta, GA) Grade: 85 - Was one of the top DB prospects on Michigan's board for the entire cycle. Could be ready to play immediately at either corner or safety. Is one of three prospects enrolled early. Should be a future starter somewhere. Name any team in the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten, and Sims had an offer from them. His nickname in high school was "Spider". Might want to call him "Underwear" because he can cover opponents' asses all over the field. 
• Gemon Green (CB) 4-Star 6'2"/165bs (DeSoto, TX) Grade: 78 - Is a prospect that teeters on the edge of being a legit 4-Star prospect in most recruiting circles, but is most often associated as being a 3-Star. He had an offer list that included Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others. Plays a tough game on the perimeter, using his size to his advantage. Isn't the fastest guy at the position but is fast enough to succeed at the next level. Will need to add bulk and learn how to use his size to his advantage.
• Vincent Gray (CB/S) 3-Star 6'2"/175lbs (Bloomfield Hills, MI) Grade: 77 - Another prospect that is at the higher end of the 3-Stars, but doesn't have that elite speed that everybody is looking for at corner. He is a tough player on defense though, with an ability to lay the wood on a ball-carrier. My bet is that Harbaugh sees him as having a future at safety. It's no secret that the coaches are looking for guys with more coverage skills back there, and Gray fits the bill. He looks like he could put on another 15-20 lbs of muscle too. The bonus is that he played receiver in high school, so a move over there is not out of the question either.
• Sammy Faustin (CB) 6'2"/190lbs (Naples, FL) Grade: 75 - Didn't get the attention from the major schools in Florida, but was heavily pursued by UCF and USF. Also had offers from Arizona, Kentucky, Maryland, and Purdue. Plays a big and tough game. Has enough speed to play corner and the size to develop into a safety. Didn't play against the best schools in Florida, but he still hails from one of the top recruiting grounds in the country. He put a lot of big hits on opponents in high school, but he chased a lot of guys down from behind too. His highlight reel is great. It's hard not to think that he too was a bit underrated. Give him a year or two. If he puts on another 10 lbs of muscle he could become a very deadly defender somewhere in the secondary.
• German Green (S) 6'2"/165lbs (DeSoto, TX) Grade: 73 - Suffered a knee injury and missed his entire junior year. Recovered and played well as a senior. Has some decent coverage skills and displays good instincts. Needs to bulk up a bit but there is a lot to like about his potential. Expect him to redshirt now to help him get his legs under him. Hopefully he can add some weight to his frame while regaining confidence in his knee. He's got a lot of work to do before he catches back up with his twin brother, Gemon, but his ceiling is really just as high. 

Grade: B+ Though most of these five recruits are not ranked among the top talent in the nation, they all bring some desirable traits that the Michigan staff covets in their corners and safeties. Length and toughness are two descriptors that immediately come to mind, and those two traits are evident all over the film study on this collection of prospects. At the very least, the Wolverines have improved their depth situation in the secondary to help ensure that what happened in the Outback Bowl doesn't happen again any time soon.


Bonus:

Kicker/Punter: There was not a big need to spend time going after any top kicking prospects. Quinn Nordin is the guy for the next couple years. However, the coaches went out and convinced a couple of solid kicking/punting prospects to come to Michigan as walk-ons.

• George Caratan (P) 6'2"/210lbs (Pacific Palisades, CA) Grade: 70 - Averaged 46 yards per punt in high school and had full ride offers at Army and Massachusetts. Will be a preferred walk-on at Michigan. 
• Jake Moody (K) 6'1"/180lbs (Northville, MI) Grade: 69 - Isn't getting offered a full ride yet, but is instead being offered a 'Grayshirt' or a 'Blueshirt'. Either way, he will be paying his own way to start of his college career. Had offers from Central Michigan and Air Force, and the Spartans were considering him as well. He looks like a good addition to the kicking corps. 

Grade: B  Getting two decent kicking and punting prospects without having to give up a scholarship is always nice.