Top 10 Defensive Linemen for Michigan's Class of 2019 -- (all are D-I recruits)
1. Michael Fletcher-6-6, 245-Flint Carman-Ainsworth-Incredible athletic talent, with elite explosiveness off the edge. Fletcher received Division I offers in both football and basketball. Very driven young man, who comes from an athletic family. Brother Dustin (6-3, 210) is, in my opinion, the state of Michigan's No. 1-ranked QB for the class of 2020. Fletcher is a sack-machine for the Cavaliers. I project Fletcher to be 6-6, 270-275 and, with his long wingspan, basketball feet, coordination and quickness, to be an absolute beast coming off the edge at the next level. Verbal to Michigan State.
2. Mazi Smith-6-3, 305-East Kentwood- A run-plugger of the highest order. Smith has a strong motor for a player his size and is practically unblockable at the point of attack when the lights go on. Good agility for a big kid, Smith has the look and feel of former Alabama All-American and current Detroit Lion DT A'Shawn Robinson. Verbal to Michigan.
3. Spencer Brown-6-6, 290-Walled Lake Western- Brown is my No. 5-ranked offensive lineman for Michigan's class of 2019, but he's also D-I-level good on the defensive side of the ball -- so I'm mentioning him on both of my lists. In fact, I like Brown better on the defensive side of scrimmage. I see him fleshing out to 6-7, 330 in college and being a difference-maker at DT. Despite his overall girth and size, Brown is incredibly nimble-footed and athletic. Big-time talent. Verbal to Michigan State.
4. Adam Berghorst-6-7, 270-Zeeland East-Like Spencer Brown, Berghorst is my No. 4-ranked offensive line prospect for Michigan's class of 2019, but he's also a high-level defensive line recruit. Brown and Berghorst are, without a doubt, two of the best two-way linemen prospects in the country. I go back and forth where I see Berghorst playing at the next level. He's a three-sport star (basketball and baseball) so he has excellent feet and athleticism, which would make for an ideal left tackle, but he also has outstanding length and intensity, which would make him an outstanding DE, or if he adds enough weight, an impactful DT. Verbal to Michigan State.
5. Ruke Orhorhoro-6-5, 245-River Rouge- Raw talent, but Orhorhoro's upside could be higher than any player on this list. In deference to the original, NFL running back Christian Okoye, Orhorhoro is also known as the "Nigerian Nightmare." Fluid, athletic player with good, thick size, Orhorhoro, who had 19 sacks a season ago, is an exciting recruit. Suits up for a program which has sent multiple players to D-I schools recently, Orhorhoro projects out to a 6-5, 275 rush defensive end at the next level. Verbal to Clemson.
6. Darius Robinson-6-6, 250-Canton-Most years, Robinson would be ranked a top three D-lineman in Michigan, but with such a stacked class, he's No. 6 on my defensive line list this year. A basketball player, as well, Robinson, like Michael Fletcher, brings that added level of skill, footwork and coordination to the football field because of his talent on the hardwood. With room to grow and add weight at the next level, Robinson is a Big Ten-type prospect. Michigan State, Purdue, Maryland, Rutgers offers inside the Big Ten, while outside the conference, offers include Virginia, Boston College, Colorado and Iowa State.
7. Jalen Hunt-6-3, 235-Belleville- Maybe the most explosive defensive line prospect in the state of Michigan this season. Could play linebacker at the next level because of his speed and agility. Outstanding pass rusher, who with low pad level, gets around taller and slower opposing offensive linemen. Hunt is a one-on-one match-up problem for any pass blocker assigned to stop him from getting to the quarterback. Verbal to Iowa.
8. Devin Baldwin-6-4, 265-Southfield A & T-Strong two-way prospect for Southfield A & T. Also a talented TE, Baldwin, like so many on this list, has excellent athleticism and movement for a player his size. I feel he's a Big Ten-level talent, however, he's decided to compete in the MAC. Verbal to WMU.
9. Tyrece Woods-6-2, 250-Belleville- I love this kid. He excels in the classroom as much as he does on the gridiron. Could play LB at the next level because of his overall football acumen and quickness. After starting for two years at national powerhouse Detroit King, Woods transferred to Belleville -- another power program in the Great Lakes State. Teams with Jalen Hunt to form arguably the best bookened defensive ends in Michigan, if not the Midwest. Sure tackler with pass rush ability, Woods is just a football player. Verbal to Michigan.
10. (tie) Luke Marsh-6-4, 290-Montague-Will be four-year starter at Montague, a mid-sized school state power, just outside of Muskegon. Could also play center or guard at the next level. Rugged, hard-nosed player on either side of the ball, I like Marsh as a defensive tackle in college. I see him projecting out to a 6-4, 315 D-tackle. Marsh would be a good find/fit for a Big Ten school like Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, Illinois or Indiana. Maverick Hansen-6-5, 270-Farmington Hills Harrison- From storied suburban Detroit program, Hansen is another player skilled on both sides of the football. A starter on last season's D-3 state runner-up squad, Hansen is strong as an ox and has the intensity and power to match. Offers from Iowa State and Syracuse, but will play in the MAC. Verbal to CMU. Nathan Ellenbaas-6-3, 240-Williamston-One of the top sleepers in the state of Michigan, Ellenbaas is one of the most disruptive defensive players in the Great Lakes State. A Lansing State Journal Dream Team pick and AP Division 3-4 All-State selection as a junior, Ellenbaas recorded 110 tackles, 21 TFL and 12 sacks last season for the Hornets. This kid is a high-level D-I recruit, in my opinion, and, at the moment, grossly under-recruited. Big Ten? West Virginia? Kansas? Pitt? Where are you guys? Take a look at this kid.
Other Top Defensive Linemen for Michigan's Class of 2019 (all are D-I level, high, mid, low) -- DaShaun Williams-6-4, 285-DT-Ottawa Lake-Whiteford (hard to keep out of the top 10, starter on last year's D-8 state championship team, big-time talent), Dorian Wesley-6-4, 290-DT-Woodhaven, (like DaShaun Williams, Wesley was tough to keep out of the top 10, a rock in the middle for Woodhaven), Donovan King-6-5, 265-DE-Farmington, Max Saylor-6-3, 230-DE-Birmingham Brother Rice (Verbal to CMU), Anthony Pelton-6-4, 245-DE-Reed City (AP Division 5-6 All-State as junior, also talented TE prospect), Jacob Price-6-2, 240-DE-Pinckney (named the preseason No. 1 overall player in Livingston County), Viquente Sandifer-6-4, 240-DT-Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (a bit of a sleeper statewide, but drawing considerable D-I interest), Markus Bevier-6-2, 285-DT-Ypsilanti, Cole Stout-6-5, 265-DT-Muskegon Mona Shores, Payton Dustin-6-5, 250-DE-Berrien Springs, Azonte Burks-6-2, 245-DE-Flint Beecher, William Jenema-6-2, 240-DE-Marion (AP 8-Man All-State as junior, 73 tackles, 34 TFL, 21 sacks), Ben Geno-6-5, 260-DT-Battle Creek Pennfield (Battle Creek Enquirer All-City first team as junior, 40 tackles, also top-flight OT), Chauncey Ernst-6-1, 240-DE-Madison Heights Madison (AP Division 7-8 All-State as junior), Jared Christian-6-3, 280-DT-Ionia (will be three-year starter), Cole Mitchell-6-2, 260-DT-Rochester Adams (also bruising fullback), Kendall Howard-6-1, 245-DE-Detroit Western (Detroit News All-Detroit second team as junior), Grant Peer-6-2, 295-DT-Gibraltar Carlson, Damond Duncan-6-1, 245-DE-St. Clair Shores Lakeview (Detroit News All-East first team as junior, will be three-year starter), Alex Overla-6-2, 265-DT-Caledonia (top heavyweight wrestler), Spencer Hulst-6-2. 260-DT-Grand Rapids South Christian, Dennis Simmons-6-2, 225-DE-Ann Arbor Pioneer, Ethan Mckenzie-6-2, 240-DE-Whitehall, Dylan Avalos-6-2, 270-DT-Saugatuck (Holland Sentinel All-Area as junior, 65 tackles, eight TFL), McKinley Underwood-6-1, 285-DT-Kalamazoo Central, Davon Sear-6-3, 265-DT-Center Line, Jaylen Henderson-6-5, 260-DE-River Rouge (Kent State offer), Blake Coffell-6-3, 285-DT-Goodrich, Dominique Davidson-6-6, 225-DE-Lansing Everett, Hunter Smith-6-2, 265-DT-Breckenridge, Cade Klimczak-6-2, 235-DE-Rockford, Brett Beyer-6-4, 230-DE-Bay City Central, Brad Wisniewski-6-4, 225-DE-Saline, Danny Files-6-3, 305-DT-Bloomfield Cranbrook-Kingswood (three-sport athlete for Cranbrook, excellent feet for a big kid), Aaron Latham-6-2, 230-DE-Dearborn Divine Child, Mohamed Basma-6-3, 240-DE-Dearborn Fordson, Justin Hudson-6-5, 290-DT-Detroit Delta Prep, Mouhammad Mehdi-6-3, 275-DT-Dearborn Fordson, Jalen Bell-5-11, 285-DT-Belleville (Verbal to Akron), Carson Currie-6-2, 220-DE-Lapeer, Kane Quinlan-6-2, 255-DE-Birmingham Brother Rice, Jaren Johnson-6-4, 260-DT-Warren Lincoln.
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