The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/262939
Illinois and Purdue the only others on the table thus far. He could fill the need as a space player at the second level of the defense. Detroit King three-star Tyriq Thompson is a Michigan legacy — his father, Clarence, played at Michi- gan in the mid-1990s — but is not necessarily Ann Arbor-bound. Michi- gan State was the first school to offer and has made a strong impression on the 6-1, 215-pounder. The U-M con- nection could pay off in the end, but the Wolverines have some ground to make up. Safety 2014 Scholarship Players: 5 2015 Commits: 1 2015 Needs: 0-1 The departure of would-be senior Josh Furman renders Michigan's depth at safety for the fall somewhat limited, but the players that remain are talented, if young. Junior Jarrod Wilson is joined by redshirt sopho- more Jeremy Clark. Sophomores Dymonte Thomas and Delano Hill earned some playing time in their first year on campus, and Michigan will likely play either Jabrill Peppers or Brandon Watson, both freshmen, at the position. Given that nobody graduates from the team, focusing on only the best safeties is a luxury. U-M has already reeled in one of the top safety targets on the board in Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne four-star Tyree Kinnel. The No. 174 player in the country stands 6-0, 190 pounds, and is considered the No. 8 safety in the country early in the pro- cess. He pledged to U-M in August and followed that up with a solid junior season. With a limited need, U-M can af- ford to only go after the best, and five-star Minkah Fitzpatrick is just that. The No. 10 player in the country is a lifelong cornerback, but impressed at safety in the 2013 Rivals Five-Star Challenge, and played some at that position dur- ing his junior season, as well. The 6-0, 183-pounder has an elite offer sheet that includes Alabama, LSU and Virginia Tech, but Michigan is one school he would like to see more of this spring. Cornerback 2014 Scholarship Players: 9 2015 Commits: 1 2015 Needs: 0-1 Michigan's secondary depth was a huge issue under the previous coach- ing regime, and the U-M staff has done wonders to correct that. Seniors Delonte Hollowell and Raymon Tay- lor will exhaust their eligibility this fall, while Taylor's fellow returning starter Blake Countess will be a red- shirt junior (due to missing his soph- omore year with injury). Junior Terry Richardson has played sparingly in his career, while two 2013 signees (Jourdan Lewis and Channing Strib- ling) played as freshmen and two (Ross Douglas and Reon Dawson) redshirted. U-M will add Peppers to the mix this fall. With all the young talent returning, Michigan likely only needs three total defensive backs be- tween safeties and corners, with one of each already committed. With Harris and Campbell out