Michigan's Top 10 Linebacker Recruits for the Class of 2019

Once again, the state of Michigan is loaded with linebacker studs either at the inside or outside positions. Michigan's class of 2019 crop of linebackers is dripping with talent from all over the Great Lakes State. From the Upper Peninsula, to the Lake Michigan coastline, to the urban streets of Detroit, the state of Michigan is a must-visit for any resourceful, hard-working Division I college football coach or recruiter looking for impact players at the linebacker spot. Here are the Great Lakes State's top 10 linebacker prospects for the class of 2019 --

Michigan's Top 10 Linebacker Prospects for the Class of 2019 (all are D-I recruits) -- 

1. Jaren Mangham-6-2, 225-MLB-Detroit Cass Tech -- Arguably one of the best two-way prospects in the country, Mangham is also my No. 1-ranked RB recruit for the state of Michigan. I believe if he played LB at the next level he'd be a superstar. But, he's also a game-breaker at RB for the national powerhouse Technicians. A complete football player, Mangham has 4.5 40 speed. Verbal to Colorado. 
2. Lance Dixon-6-2, 210-OLB-West Bloomfield -- A true difference-maker from the linebacker position, Dixon is one of the top players in the Midwest, if not the nation. Blazing fast, Dixon runs a 4.5 40 and finished seventh in the Division 1 (big school) track and field state meet last June in the 200 meters with a time of 22.03. Verbal to Penn State.
3. Ali'Vonta Wallace-6-1, 230-MLB-Muskegon -- I love this kid. A three-year starter for one of the Midwest's top programs, Wallace is seemingly everywhere on the football field. He makes tackles from sideline-to-sideline, using his speed and natural instincts, Wallace is one of the finest overall players in the state of Michigan. Toledo, CMU, WMU, Alabama A & M, EMU offers. Big Ten, where are you on this guy? Kentucky? Pitt? Tennessee?
4. Jacob Wahlberg-6-4, 225-OLB-Muskegon Mona Shores -- Three-year starter for west Michigan power program. With long strides and good speed, Wahlberg is a top-flight athlete. Also a TE prospect, Wahlberg is Big Ten-level, but will play in the MAC. Verbal to WMU.
5. Marcel Lewis-6-1, 220-OLB-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley -- Instinctive, natural football player for suburban Detroit school Chippewa Valley. Running a 4.6 40, Lewis makes plays all over the field for the Big Reds. Verbal to Michigan State. 
6. Marvin Ham-6-2, 225-MLB-Belleville -- Ham is a standout defensive player for a Belleville squad full of high-level D-I recruits. Intense and fast, Ham hits like a freight train. Runs a 4.6 40. Verbal to Boston College. 
7. Boone Bonnema-6-3, 215-OLB-Zeeland East -- Holland Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year as a junior, Bonnema is an outstanding all-around football player. Besides being a tackling machine at linebacker for Zeeland East, Bonnema is also a skilled HB-TE on offense. Last season, he had 103 tackles, including 16 TFL and two blocked punts. Verbal to WMU.
8. Brock Horne-6-2, 225-MLB-Romeo -- An old-school middle linebacker, Horne is a hard-hitting, sure tackler for Romeo, a large school in Detroit's northern suburbs. A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Horne is a high-level D-I recruit. Iowa State, Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth, Bowling Green State, Buffalo, CMU offers.
9. Leonard Henry-6-4, 215-OLB-Grand Blanc -- A physical, rugged player at LB for the Flint-area Bobcats, Henry is an imposing physical specimen on the football field. Long and lengthy with good speed, Henry is a guy I project to 6-4, 230 at the next level. Cincinnati offer.
10. (tie)  Logan Guthrie-6-2, 220-OLB-Alpena -- Super-athletic two-way star for Alpena. One of northern Michigan's top D-I prospects, Guthrie runs a 4.6 40. Verbal to CMU. Luke Terrian-6-3, 220-OLB-Kingsford -- Named to the Upper Peninsula Dream Team as a junior, Terrian is my No. 2-ranked overall prospect in the Upper Peninsula and the top-ranked LB recruit above the Mackinac Bridge. Also Kingsford's QB, Terrian is a three-sport star, standing out also in basketball and baseball for the Flivvers. Maurice Hutchinson-6-2, 215-MLB-Sterling Heights Parkway Christian -- A bit of a sleeper in Michigan, Hutchinson is the best player out of suburban Detroit's Parkway Christian since the late RB Zurlon Tipton (CMU, NFL). A big-time thumper from the linebacker position, Hutchinson is also a powerful, bruising running back. A definite high-level D-I recruit, Hutchinson could play either LB or RB at the next level.

Other Top Linebacker Prospects for Michigan's Class of 2019 (all are D-I recruits) --
Micah Cretsinger-6-1, 225-OLB-Jackson (tough to keep out of the Top 10, combines size and speed and is a high-level D-I prospect), Traven Van Oss-6-0, 210-MLB-Three Rivers (runs a 4.6 40, four-year starter, 315 bench press, 55 tackles, 13 TFL, two sacks last year), James Ester-6-3, 230-MLB-Detroit Cass Tech, Devin Nicholson-6-3, 210-OLB-Detroit Cass Tech (Verbal to EMU), Odin Soffredine-6-1, 210-MLB-Traverse City Central, Hugh Brand-6-3, 235-OLB-Harrison, Clarence Gasket-6-0, 210-OLB-Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Rich Miller-6-1, 215-MLB-Detroit King (Detroit News first team All-Detroit last year, 69 tackles, 10 TFL last season as junior, Verbal to Buffalo), Dayone Smith-6-1, 235-MLB-Detroit Western (Detroit News second team All-Detroit as junior), Devin Campbell-6-1, 220-MLB-Warren DeLaSalle (Detroit News first team All-East as junior, 81 tackles last year, helped lead DeLaSalle to D-2 state championship last season), Timmy Eising-6-2, 220-OLB-Berrien Springs, Bryce Pelko-6-4, 215-OLB-Sterling Heights Parkway Christian (also talented TE prospect, top hoops player, as well), James Miller-6-1, 220-MLB-Gaylord, Curtis Vogel-6-0, 220-MLB-Deckerville (AP 8-man All-State first team as junior, 99 tackles, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception, led Deckerville to 8-man Division 1 state runner-up spot last season), Miles Mcleod-6-1, 210-MLB--Lake City, Boomer Perry-5-11, 205-MLB-Michigan Center (four-year varsity player), Ross Bolman-6-1, 215-MLB-Zeeland West (Holland Sentinel All-Area as junior, 16 TFL last season), Matt Bilski-5-10, 215-MLB-Grand Rapids West Catholic, Aiden Tate-6-0, 230-MLB-Ann Arbor Skyline (three-year starter, 325 squat, 225 bench press), Nate Stone-6-2, 220-MLB-Frankenmuth, Ricky Williamson-6-0, 215-OLB-Carrollton, Jeremiah Major-6-1, 245-MLB-Macomb Dakota, Garrett Plate-6-2, 220-MLB-Jackson County Parma Western, Ben Zardus-6-2, 215-MLB-Birmingham Brother Rice.

PHOTO -- West Bloomfield's Lance Dixon (6-2, 210) is the No. 2-ranked linebacker prospect in the state of Michigan for the class of 2019. With 4.5 speed and a nonstop motor, Dixon helped lead the Lakers to a Division 1 state runner-up finish last season. Dixon is verbally committed to Penn State. Photo by Tanya Moutzalias/MLive.com.

Michigan's Top 10 Defensive Line Prospects for the Class of 2019

Like the offensive line, the defensive line group in Michigan's class of 2019 is one of the best in the nation. Every player on this list is an explosive, impactful, disruptive force with Big Ten-level size and talent. When the No. 5-ranked (yes, No. 5-ranked) defensive lineman in the Great Lakes State is verbally committed to national power Clemson, you know the D-line talent level in the state of Michigan for 2019 is stacked with elite players from top to bottom. Here are the state of Michigan's top 10 defensive line prospects for the class of 2019 --


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.

PHOTO -- River Rouge defensive end Ruke Orhorhoro (6-5, 245) is a quarterback's worst nightmare. Last season, Orhorhoro, ranked the No. 5 defensive line prospect in the state of Michigan, recorded 19 sacks. With explosive strength and quickness, Orhorhoro is a big-time talent. Orhorhoro is verbally committed to Clemson.