With my position rankings for Michigan's class of 2018 in the books, it's time now for me to shift my attention (at least player-wise) to the class of 2019. Michigan's class of 2019 is absolutely loaded with talent -- it's truly an embarrassment of riches, football-skills speaking. It oftentimes amazes me when coaches/recruiters of Michigan's five D-I playing schools actually spend any amount of time outside the state searching for talent. It seems like such a waste of resources, time, effort and manpower, when everything a coach/recruiter would need for a continually successful Top 25-level college football program is right here within the borders of the Great Lakes State. I understand recruiting out-of-state players (in a limited capacity), but to spend the majority of one's time traveling throughout the nation in search of talent seems fruitless, unfocused (long term) and a signal of difficult times ahead for a program and coaching staff. Taking care of your own backyard should be priority No. 1 for all five of the state's D-I football programs. Okay, off of my soapbox. Here are the top 50 prospects for Michigan's class of 2019. This list is fluid, with new players being added as they emerge and others moving up or down as the season progresses.
Michigan's Top 25 for the class of 2019 --
1. Tyrece Woods-6-2, 245-LB-DE-Detroit King-An absolute enforcer wherever he lines up defensively. Started at LB for defending Division 2 state champion Crusaders last year. Could move to DE this upcoming season or shuffle between LB and DE. Rugged, physical, hard-hitting player from one of the top talent-producing leagues in the country.
2. Mike Fletcher-6-6, 240-DE-Flint Carman-Ainsworth-Deron Irving-Bey (Flint Southwestern, U-M commit this past season) was the best DE prospect to come out of Flint in years, but Fletcher has the chance to be in the same class or even better. I see him, when it comes to Flint DE talent, as more of a Robaire Smith (Flint Northern, MSU, NFL)-type player. Like Smith (who won a state championship with Mateen Cleaves and Antonio Smith on the hardcourt at Northern), Fletcher is also a top-flight basketball recruit. It's football, though, where I believe he can truly excel.
3. Devontae Dobbs-6-4, 290-OT-Belleville-Unbelievable talent. Off-the-charts good. Also a strong DT prospect. Has all the tools needed for an O-lineman, with size, power and excellent footwork. Ranked the No. 1 OT prospect in the nation. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, MSU, U-M, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa among multiple offers.
4. Logan Brown-6-6, 295-OT-East Kentwood- Any other year Brown would be Michigan's top tackle prospect. If Dobbs is ranked No. 1 in the country at OT, then Brown is in the top five nationally. Recently won the shot put state championship in track and field as a sophomore, Brown is a terrific all-around athlete. Long arms, footwork, agility, he has it all. North Carolina, Illinois, U-M, Alabama, Pitt, Louisville, Minnesota, Kentucky, Wisconsin among many offers.
5. Spencer Brown-6-6, 295-DT-OT-Walled Lake Western-Although a big-time OT prospect, I like Brown at DT. He moves so well for a player his size. I see him growing to 6-6, 315 at the next level and being such an incredible force on the D-Line. Verbal to Michigan State.
6. Marvin Grant-6-2, 185-DB-Detroit King-Maybe the best, all-around football player in Michigan's class of 2019. A natural football talent. Outstanding instincts for the game. A ball-hawk who has excellent footwork and break on the ball from his defensive back position. Notre Dame, Iowa, Indiana, U-M, Minnesota, Syracuse, Kentucky, Maryland offers.
7. Adam Berghorst-6-6, 225-DE-Zeeland East-A bit under-the-radar at the moment, Berghorst has everything a high-level D-I football coach is looking for in a player. First off, Berghorst is 6-6, with an incredible wingspan and frame. He's an excellent athlete (also a top baseball player), with quickness and mobility from the DE position. By the time he's a high school senior, Berghorst could be 6-7, 275 and be an absolute beast of a defensive lineman. Big Ten?? Get on this kid now.
8. Jaren Mangham-6-1, 215-RB-LB-Detroit Cass Tech-Just a horse. Will team with fellow Top 25 class of 2019 RB Lew Nichols (No. 13-ranked player) to form arguably the best underclassman backfield in the nation. Also a talented LB, Mangham could play either position at the collegiate level. UCLA, Utah, Maryland, MSU, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi State, Pitt, Purdue, Iowa State offers.
9. Jalen Graham-6-2, 185-DB-WR-Detroit Cass Tech-A transfer from Detroit Country Day, where last season, Graham helped lead the Yellowjackets to a Division 4 state runner-up finish. Super smooth performer on the field on both sides of the football, Graham will bolster an already strong Detroit Cass Tech (defending Division 1 state champion) line-up at WR and S for the next two seasons. So far, Pitt offer, but with many more still to come to be sure.
10. Mazi Smith-6-4, 305-DT-East Kentwood-Big, powerful, thick run-plugger of the highest order, Smith is one of the best defensive tackle prospects in the country. A dominant force already as a sophomore, Smith is going to be a terror in the trenches for the next two seasons at the high school level before moving on to a high-level D-I program. Wisconsin, Va Tech, Tennessee, Alabama, MSU, Kentucky, Louisville, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Pitt a few of his offers.
11. Ali'Vonta Wallace-6-1, 215-LB-Muskegon
12. Julian Barnett-6-2, 195-WR-DB-Belleville-Auburn, Oregon, MSU, Georgia, Alabama offers
13. Lew Nichols-6-0, 195-RB-Detroit Cass Tech-West Virginia, UCLA, Indiana, Kentucky offers
14. Darien Holbrook-5-11, 180-DB-East Lansing-
15. Anthony Bradford-6-6, 330-OT-Muskegon-Georgia, MSU, Ohio State, Alabama offers
16. Damari Roberson-6-2, 185-WR-Muskegon Mona Shores-CMU, BGSU, Toledo offers
17. Sam Johnson-6-3, 190-QB-Walled Lake Western-Indiana, Syracuse, Illinois offers
18, Dayton Keller-6-4, 245-TE-Jackson Lumen Christi
19. Keegan Vaughn-6-6, 285-OT-Westland John Glenn
20. Dwan Mathis-6-3, 195-QB-Oak Park -Kentucky, MSU, Pitt offers
21. Lance Dixon-6-3, 205-DB-LB-West Bloomfield-Purdue, North Carolina State offers
22. Karson Barnhart-6-5, 285-OT-Paw Paw-CMU, EMU offers
23. Xavier Goldsmith-5-10, 165-DB-Detroit Cass Tech-Mississippi State, Colorado offers
24. Darius Clayton-6-0, 195-RB-Benton Harbor
25. Travis Miracle-6-3, 240-LB-TE-DE-Yale
26. Jalen Hunt-6-3, 230-DE-LB-Belleville-Syracuse, Iowa State, Kentucky offers
27. Spencer Holstege-6-5, 235-TE-Grand Rapids South Christian
28. Corry Thomas-5-10, 175-CB-River Rouge-Toledo, Bowling Green State, EMU offers
29. Marcus Fuqua-6-1, 190-DB-Southfield A & T-Syracuse, Army, Ball State, Temple offers
30. Jackson Griskie-5-11, 185-PK-P-Macomb Lutheran North
31. Dequan Finn-6-2, 200-QB-Detroit King
32. Tyler Sikkema-6-5, 270-OT-Wayland
33. Marcel Lewis-6-1, 205-LB-Chippewa Valley-CMU, Kent State offers
34. Jack Sherwin-6-4, 230-TE-Traverse City Central
35. M.J. Griffin-5-11, 170-DB-Saline-Indiana, Louisville, Iowa State offers
36. Jack Haverdink-6-4, 255-OT-Portage Northern
37. Darrell Wyatt-6-3, 185-WR-Detroit King
38. Justin Hudson-6-5, 290-DT-Detroit Delta Prep
39. Allen Jones-6-5, 315-OT-Detroit Cass Tech
40. Jalin Hunt-5-10, 205-LB-RB-Benton Harbor
41. Boone Bonnema-6-3, 215-LB-TE-Zeeland East
42. Austin Brown-6-1, 190-QB-Madison Heights Madison-Toledo, Miami (OH), Akron offers
43. Chris Cominos-6-3, 260-C-Warren DeLaSalle
44. Peyton Young-6-4, 310-OT-Muskegon Oakridge
45. Byron Wilkinson-6-3, 200-WR-Woodhaven
46. Brock Horne-6-2, 215-LB-Romeo
47. Maverick Hansen-6-5, 235-DE-OT-Farmington Hills Harrison
48. Dennis Simmons-6-1, 210-LB-Ann Arbor Pioneer
49. Hayden VanderWeele-6-4, 245-OT-Portage Northern
50. Art Herndon-5-11, 165-CB-St. Joseph
Up next -- Michigan's class of 2019 top 100 players, Nos. 51-100. Plus additional write-ups of the top 25.
No comments:
Post a Comment