2016 Recruiting Class

The Committed:

OL Ben Bredeson

1. Ben Bredeson 4-Star OL (Hartland, WI) 6'5"/295 lbs - Give him a couple years and he should be a good player for Michigan. He appears to have the skills to play any of the five O-line positions. Very few linemen have come to Michigan with as many accolades as this guy has garnered throughout his high school career. The buzz on him seemed to die off after he skipped the Opening this past summer, but he is as good of a prospect as any other that Harbaugh has right now.
2. Michael Owenu 4-Star OG/NT (Detroit, MI) 6'3"/365 lbs - Rocketed up the rankings with an impressive showing on the camp circuit this past summer. He is surprisingly athletic and could play both ways for the Wolverines some day. We all know how much Coach Harbaugh likes to get the most out of his best players.
3. Brandon Peters 4-Star QB (Avon, IN) 6'5"/205 lbs - Was already considered a solid four-star prospect but has really risen in the last several months. He is a good athlete and competitor with a strong arm. He doesn't put up extremely gaudy numbers but does throw a very pretty ball and wins ball games. He plans on enrolling in January and could be somewhere in the mix for the starting job in the fall. 
4. Kareem Walker 4-Star RB (Wayne, NJ) 6'0"/210 lbs - Although I am not as high on him as other fans, Walker is still a great prospect in his own right. He probably is the best of the bunch this year, but it doesn't really appear to be a great year for top-end ball-carriers coming out of high school. At any rate, Walker would be a much welcomed addition to any recruiting class at Michigan. He should compete for playing time as soon as he steps foot on campus. 
5. Jordan Elliott 4-Star DT (Houston, TX) 6'4"/305 lbs - As good of a DT prospect as the Wolverines have had over the years. He could play inside or he could be an end in a 3-4 scheme. Either way, he won't need to contribute immediately so he will get a year to develop his game. Watch out for him in 2017 though.
6. Ahmir Mitchell 4-Star WR/DB (Egg Harbor City, NJ) 6'3"/206 lbs - No matter where he ends up playing he should be one of the best athletes at the position. By no means is he the fastest recruit on the board, but he has the necessary size and athleticism to develop into a big-time player. 
7. Devin Bush Jr. 4-Star LB (Hollywood, FL) 6'0"/225 lbs - A monster grab out of Florida. He was one of the Wolverines top targets and fills a huge need for the team. We probably shouldn't be surprised if he is starting at some point next season. 
8. Devery Hamilton 4-Star OT/DL (Baltimore, MD) 6'6"/290 lbs - Was primarily recruited as an OT prospect, but has experience on the DL. He could be the left tackle of the future. Any way you slice it this is another nice grab off the east coast.
9. Ron Johnson 4-Star DE (Camden, NJ) 6'4"/240 lbs - Is being recruited for the all-important "Buck" linebacker spot, but he will get a variety of looks on defense in an attempt to utilize his quick first step. 
10. Erik Swenson 4-Star OL (Downers Grove, IL) 6"7"/285 lbs - The first to commit to the program in this class represents the classic mold of a big, tough Midwestern lineman recruit. He should fit in nicely around AA. 
11. Chris Evans 4-Star WR/RB (Indianapolis, IN) 5'11"/186 lbs - A smooth athlete that could compete at the slot position as soon as he steps foot on campus. I wouldn't be surprised to see him be an all-purpose-type of player that could lineup at just about any skilled position on the team.
12. Brad Hawkins 4-Star WR (Camden, NJ) 6'1"/200 lbs - Is not a burner, but fits right in that mold of a tough, durable Wolverine receiver. He reminds me of Amara Darboh or Jason Avant. Those might be lofty expectations but I expect him to be a solid player down the road for the Maize and Blue.
13. Carlo Kemp 4-Star DE/LB (Boulder, CO) 6'3"/255 lbs - Is being touted as another "Buck" prospect but he could play middle linebacker or even defensive tackle if he continues to get any bigger. Give him a couple years to develop and he will be a stout defender with all the hustle you could ask for in a player.
14. Nate Johnson 4-Star WR (Thompson's Station, TN) 5'11"/175 lbs - Johnson is my new favorite recruit. Many recruiting services have him rated as a three-star and he is not generally considered among the top 50 receiving prospects in the country. Yes, he only ran a 4.6 forty at the Opening Regionals in Columbus, but he finished eighth overall in the competition and he was faster in the shuttle run and jumped higher in the vert than #1 Donovan Peoples-Jones. Besides any of that, Johnson's senior year highlights are some of the most entertaining that I've seen this year. He scored 27 receiving TD's! He holds 23 offers, including ones from Northwestern, Miami (FL), Penn State, and South Carolina.
15. Kiante Enis 3-Star RB/DB (Winchester, IN) 6'1"/200 lbs - Has been a stellar offensive playmaker in high school but I've got a feeling that he will be playing on the defensive side of the ball. Either way, he should provide some depth on the roster throughout his career in AA.
16. Sir Patrick Scott 3-Star CB (Upper Marlboro, MD) 6'1"/175 lbs - Fits the mold of a taller corner that Harbaugh and company covet. He has the talent to compete for a job after a year or two in the weight room.
17. Antwaine Richardson 3-Star CB (Delray Beach, FL) 6'0"/165 lbs - Will also need to add a little bulk but already shows the toughness to be a solid college player. His tackling on the perimeter stands out on film and he appears to me to be a steal out of some prime recruiting grounds. 
18. Dytarious Johnson 3-Star LB (Prattville, AL) 6'1"/205 lbs - Is undersized and underrated. He also looks like a steal out of SEC country that has the speed of a safety and the mentality of a linebacker. 
19. Kingston Davis 3-Star RB/FB (Prattville, AL) 6'1"/225 lbs - One of the best fullback prospects will get a chance to carry the ball at Michigan. Florida, Nebraska, Ole Miss, and Iowa were among his offers but he appears to be all about Michigan. 
20. Sean McKeon 3-Star TE/DE (Dudley, MA) 6'5"/230 lbs - Apparently has one of the fastest forty times (4.6-4.7 range) of any tight end prospect in the nation. His team hasn't done well at all so it's hard to critique his film, especially when he rarely ever gets targeted. He has shown to be a terror on defense too, but of course he faces a healthy dose of double team blocking.
21. Devin Gil 3-Star S/LB (Hollywood, FL) 6'1"/205 lbs - Doesn't stand out in terms of athleticism but appears to be a very solid defender in his own right. He could possibly play linebacker if he can gain more solid weight. I like the way he tackles. 
22. Josh Metellus 3-Star FS (Hollywood, FL) 6'0"/187 lbs - Shows an ability to change direction quickly and make big plays, but might not have as high of a ceiling as some of the other prospects. He should be solid though, and it should come as to no surprise if he eventually earns a starting job at Michigan.
23. Rashad Weaver 3-Star DL/TE (Ft Lauderdale, FL) 6'4"/255 lbs - Extremely underrated player that has typically been considered a 2-Star prospect up until this point. Just watch his tape and it's hard to discount his sheer dominance as a defender. His ceiling could be a lot higher than most scouts think. He is a big kid that can really move so there is a lot to be excited about with him. He had some Ivy League offers before Michigan came knocking.

Recruit Watch List:

Rashan Gary 5-Star DT (Paramus, NJ) 6'5"/290 lbs - Everybody's number one prospect could be leaning towards the Maize and Blue. He and Elliott could be a devastating duo along the line in a couple years.

Caleb Kelly 5-Star LB (Fresno, CA) 6'3"/215 lbs - Is the top prospect for the "Buck" position. He isn't as much of a need with Kemp now in the fold, but there is plenty of room for him if he decides to commit.

Terrance Davis 4-Star OL (Hayttsville, MD) 6'4"/305 lbs - Would complete the best crop of blockers in the nation. He continues to keep Michigan at the top of his list.

Dontavious Jackson 4-Star (Houston, TX) 6'2"/235 lbs - Now that Elliott has gone blue, will the other top Houston prospect jump on board too? The coaches sure could use him as the opportunity to crack the starting lineup is there.

Lavert Hill 4-Star CB (Detroit, MI) 5'11"/175 lbs - He has remained high on Michigan's radar and has now decommitted from Penn State. His presence would be a big boast to the competition on the perimeter of the defense. His ceiling is somewhere in the Jourdan Lewis category.

Jean Delance 4-Star OL (Mesquite, TX) 6'5"/280 lbs - With the dismissal of Tuley-Tillman the Wolverines are looking thin along the two-deep up front. Expect them to continue to add guys to an already stellar group.

Donnie Corley 4-Star WR (Detroit, MI) 6'3"/180 lbs - It could be down to the Spartans and Wolverines for his services. Adding his speed would be a big bonus to an already formidable group of prospects.

Connor Murphy 4-Star DL/TE (Phoenix, AZ) 6'7"/250 lbs - Loves Harbaugh and would fill a need on either side of the ball.

Jacob Mathis 4-Star TE (Tampa, FL) 6'4"/223 lbs - Now that other top tight end prospects have committed elsewhere, Mathis could climb up Michigan's recruiting board.

Jonathan Jones 3-Star LB (Orlando, FL) 6'0"/220 lbs - Another hot commodity that has kept Michigan at the top for a while now. Will he commit? He too would get a shot at early playing time as a freshman.

Keyshawn Young 3-Star WR (Miami, FL) 5'11"/175 lbs - Looks similar to Mario Manningham when he was a recruit. He's not the biggest, strongest, or fastest guy on the field, but he's no slouch by any means. He appears to have had a great visit for the OSU game so keep your eyes on him.

Meshael Custis 3-Star CB (Hampton, GA) 6'1" 170 lbs - I wouldn't be surprised to see Harbaugh sign as many as five potential corners this winter.


Predicting the Ideal Final Four (no particular order):

1. Rashan Gary - Getting the highest rated player in the country over the last three recruiting cycles is a great addition no matter what position he plays. 
2. Terrence Davis - A top guard prospect that could provide a ton of push up front, which is something the Wolverines have not gotten much of against their best opponents in a long time.
3. Lavert Hill - Somebody will need to be a the top candidate to replace Jourdan Lewis very soon. Hill would be that guy.
4. Jonathan Jones - Has been high on Michigan but very quiet in his recruiting. Again, the team needs linebackers and Jones should be able to compete right away.