Scout Rankings Update: Milton Gets Fourth Star
When quarterback Joe Milton committed to Michigan a little over a month ago, Scout was the only site that didn't rank him as a four-star. After last week's rankings update, that's no longer the case; Milton jumped to #261 overall. While movement was relatively minor for Michigan's other commits, their top uncommitted target at quarterback, Tyler Shough, also leaped up the rankings:
Shough checks in to the Scout 300 at No. 182 and is one of two quarterbacks out West to jump in to the 300 along with Camm Cooper. The Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton signal caller saw his stock soar this off-season with scholarship offers flying in from all over the country. After seeing him up close at the Elite 11 Finals over the weekend, it was easy to see why. Shough is a pure passer with a great feel for the position. He has a smooth, easy delivery, is smart with the football and among the most accurate quarterbacks in the country. California, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina and South Carolina are his finalists.
Michigan remains in excellent shape there.
HARBAUGH
DeSoto CB @GreenGemon dislocated his shoulder on a pass break up. He then popped it back in and broke up a pass on the next play.
— Mike Roach (@MikeRoach247) June 10, 2017
Harbaugh.
(Green is fine, by the way.)
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Mayfield Stands Out At Best of Midwest
Mayfield #4 or 5 or 6 pic.twitter.com/zUckmAU0sj
— Steve Lorenz (@TremendousUM) June 10, 2017
Sound Mind Sound Body is no longer, replaced by the Best of the Midwest satellite camp at Grand Valley State. Michigan's coaches weren't in attedance and the talent level wasn't up there with past SMSB events. Against mostly local competition, Michigan commit Jalen Mayfield rose above the rest of the group, according to 247's Steve Lorenz:
It was a difficult choice between Mayfield and Belleville (MI) 2019 four-star OT Devontae Dobbs, but we're going with Mayfield due to a slight edge in consistency in a lengthy 1v1 morning session. 247Sports has ranked Mayfield as the top 2018 prospect in the state of Michigan, and the Army All-American showed elite balance and athleticism on the outside in dominating the vast majority of his reps. He will become even better as he continues to build weight (and he's already up to 273).
Mayfield still looks quite athletic at 273 pounds; he's on track.
Meanwhile, four-star DE commit Aiden Hutchinson has been a bit of a forgotten man in this class, but he acquitted himself well as the only Michigan pledge in attendance at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge. The Wolverine's Brandon Brown:
Dearborn (Mich.) Divine Child four-star strongside defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was the only current, future Wolverine in attendance and he had a very solid performance. He didn't win every rep he took, but he certainly won far more than he lost. Below, he first beats Penn State commit Nana Asiedu in a potential sign of things to come, followed by a demoralizing win over 2019 four-star prospect Darnell Wright.
Forgot about these — two more very impressive reps from #Michigan commit Aidan Hutchinson. pic.twitter.com/vNrcyzVnrM
— Brandon Brown (@BSB_Wolverine) June 11, 2017
Asiedu, a 6-5, 260-pounder who held a Michigan offer, is an extremely long, athletic offensive tackle prospect and Hutchinson did a good job of getting depth while bending in toward the quarterback in the first rep. Wright, a 6-6, 275-pound rising junior, was left in the dust after Hutchinson's quick get off and never had a chance to catch up.
Borderline five-star CA CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart also participated in the camp and told Rivals' Adam Gorney that he'll use one of his summer visits to check out Ann Arbor:
“I’m trying to get down to Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, Oklahoma and South Carolina mainly,” Taylor-Stuart said at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge.
USC is considered the favorite for him.
2018 Visits: Big-Time Lineman On Campus Today
Hearing Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep 4-star OT @NicholasPetit is slated to visit #Michigan today - https://t.co/alkEOXcltfpic.twitter.com/2lMKO64qfY
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) June 13, 2017
According to Sam Webb, Michigan is hosting top-100 FL OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, who's being pursued by a who's-who of football powers including Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Texas, and USC.
The Wolverines are also set to host four-star NC DT Rick Sandidge this week, per Lorenz. Sandidge has emerged as a top DT target along with Tyler Friday, Michael Thompson, and latest mgofaverave Alim McNeill (who, incidentally, shot up the Scout rankings).
Yestearday, four-star GA S Quindarious Monday made his way to campus, and the visit impressed him enough to consider the Wolverines for his final group, per Sam:
"I can say that (Michigan has) a real good shot of being in that group because I know the background. Like I said, they have a lot of dudes go to the league. It stands out because that's one of my ultimate dreams. I really want to make it. I’m going to make it back up because my parents still have got to see the place. They couldn’t come. We’re going to come down here to see the place. It could be an official visit or (an unofficial visit) this summer. It just depends on how my schedule sets up.”
Auburn is the unanimous Crystal Ball favorite for Monday.
Michigan hosted four-star GA OG James Ohonba earlier this month. M is in his top four along with Alabama, LSU, and USC, and Ohonba told Brandon Brown he's looking to go to school away from home:
"The schools in my top four are schools I can see myself playing at. I've developed a new mindset kind of and I like the idea of moving away from home a little bit. It's an opportunity for me that I'll probably never get back. I want to try something new and live away from home."
Michigan is very much in the mix, and Ohonba said he wants to make a decision either during or shortly after this upcoming season.
The coach of four-star MO WDE Ronnie Perkins told Sam that they plan to visit Michigan, as well as Oklahoma, Texas, and LSU, during the summer.
2019 Visits: Top QB, RB Set For Trips
Petit-Frere won't be the only visitor on campus today. Lorenz reports that top-100 2019 VA ATH Litchfield Ajavon, a high school teammate of incoming freshman Luiji Vilain, will be in Ann Arbor today. Michigan is recruiting Ajavon as a safety.
Lorenz also reports that the top-ranked running back in the 2019 class, IMG's Noah Cain, will take an extensive visit from June 22nd to 25th. Interestingly, he'll be accompanied by both his father and former Michigan RB David Underwood, who coached Cain in Texas before his move to IMG, and he may participate the M's "Elite" camp occurring that week.
The top-ranked quarterback in the 2019 class will also be on campus this month when JT Daniels participates in the A4 quarterback camp on June 18th, per 247's Tom Loy:
“I’ll be at Michigan’s A4 Aerial Camp,” said Daniels, a 6-2, 205-pounder. “That’s the only trip I have planned. This will be a loaded camp and one I’m looking forward to.”
Daniels visited Michigan in Apr. 2016 while in the midwest for the B2G 7v7 tournament. That trip was quick and an opportunity to tour the camps. This visit will be more of a business trip.
“I want to see how they coach,” said Daniels. “I want to get a feel for the program. I just want to get around Harbaugh. I’ve never had much time with him before, so yeah, I’m going to need to get to know the head coach really well, as it is with all the schools I’m considering.”
Since that sounds very good, it's worth noting Daniels said he has "no idea" where he's going or when he'll select a school.
This year's BBQ at the Big House has been set for July 29th, according to Lorenz, and the first visitor slated for the event is four-star KY DT Jacob Lacey.
More 2018 News: Simon ND Buzz
There's been a run of Notre Dame Crystal Ball picks for four-star NJ OLB/VIPER Shayne Simon, most of them heading into his weekend visit to South Bend. Simon didn't commit over the weekend, and 247's Steve Wiltfong reports he's expected to return to Ann Arbor in July. This is shaping up to be a heated Michigan/ND battle.
In that same thread, Wiltfong mentions that a source expects five-star TX S Brian Williams to leave Texas, and his recruitment may shape up into a Michigan/ND/Stanford battle of the academically inclined football powers.
Top-100 IL TE Luke Ford decommitted from Arkansas, and Michigan wasted little time extending him an offer, their first to go out at the position since narrowing their focus to Mustapha Muhammad and Jeremy Ruckert.
Michigan's other recent 2018 offer went out to four-star CA ATH Bryan Addison, a 6'4" defensive back who participated in the USC Rising Stars camp in front of M coaches. He told TMI's Brice Marich he plans on taking an official visit to Ann Arbor.
Etc.
Michigan offered 2018 Don Bosco Prep (NJ) WR Michael Geraci as a preferred walk-on, per TMI's Evan Petzold.
Recently offered three-star FL WR Shocky Jacques-Louisdecommitted from Kentucky.
Michigan made the top ten for three-star TN OT Jerome Carvin.