Michigan Football Preview 2015

2015 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 159 MICHIGAN TOP 15 on a list that includes dozens of offers (includ- ing from Ivy League schools). 6. Lavert Hill, CB Detroit Martin Luther King Collegiate Hill is a smooth, athletic cornerback, who uses his technique and speed to hang with re- ceivers who might think his 5-11, 174-pound size might make it easy to win jump balls against him. He is also more able against the run than his size indi- cates, but needs to work on his consistency. He is rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 176 overall prospect na- tionally by Rivals.com. Despite committing to Penn State in Janu- ary, Hill has continued taking visits, including several to Michigan (where his older brother Delano will be a junior safety this fall) and Michigan State. 7. Matt Falcon, RB Southfield High School Falcon's size (6-1, 210 pounds) gives the impression that he is a pure power back, but he has excellent speed — he contributed to South- field's 4x100 relay team as a freshman — and is more agile in the hole than many players his size. He has been some- what limited by injuries in his career, but is outstanding when healthy and is a four-star talent according to Rivals.com. Falcon committed to Michigan in early April over offers from Arizona State, Ohio State, Tennessee and several others. 8. Desmond Fitzpatrick, WR Farmington High School Fitzpatrick burst onto the radar as an un- dersized route technician, but has grown to 6-2 and 189 pounds, giving him the total package of size and skill. He catches everything thrown his way, and he has deceptive speed that allows him to get deep and make plays after the catch. The three-star pros- pect made an early com- mitment to Louisville, but continues to monitor the Wolverines after a U-M offer came through following his pledge to the Cardinals. 9. Martell Pettaway, RB Detroit Martin Luther King Collegiate Pettaway is a 5-9, 202-pounder whose stout build allows him to run through traffic and break tackles. He is even better getting to the edge, though, where he can juke de- fenders and out-race them to the end zone. A newcomer to King after leaving St. Clair On Deck: 10 To Watch For 2017 Michigan's coaches have already offered many of the state's top 2017 prospects, and the Maize and Blue are clearly emphasizing home turf going forward. Here's a look at some of the players to keep an eye on. 1. DONOVAN PEOPLESJONES 6-1, 182 • WR • Detroit Cass Technical High School Peoples-Jones is just a rising junior, but has been on the scene for a couple years thanks to his physical abilities and his presence at the most high profile program in Michigan, Cass Tech. He is a natural athlete and route technician, and with more experience and opportunities to catch the ball he should be one of the top pass catchers to come out of the state in recent years. He is considered to be a four-star prospect, is among Rivals.com's 100 to Watch for the class of 2017, and holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, USC and several others. 2. COREY MALONEHATCHER 6-3, 246 • DE • Saint Joseph High School The versatile Malone-Hatcher possesses a defensive end's body, but has plenty of experi- ence playing linebacker in high school. He has quick burst off the edge and is able to use a bull rush to overpower offensive linemen if he doesn't beat them on the first step off the line. He holds offers from Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and several others. 3. JOSHUA ROSS 6-1, 219 • LB • Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School Ross, the younger brother of Michigan senior linebacker James Ross III, is the spitting image of his older brother with a bit more height. He is an instinctual linebacker that can make plays in the backfield thanks to his reaction time and athleticism. He may break out after missing time his freshman and sophomore years due to injury. He holds offers from, among others, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma. 4. JA'RAYMOND HALL 6-5, 260 • OL • Oak Park High School Hall is a late-rising prospect, who has emerged after his sophomore tape made the rounds. He is a tall, lean, long offensive lineman that is comfortable plowing defenders or kicking back in pass protection. He holds offers from Michigan, Bowling Green and Miami (Ohio). 5. AMBRY THOMAS 5-11, 160 • CB • Detroit Martin Luther King Collegiate Thomas, who has been timed in the 4.4-second range in the 40-yard dash, has a claim for being one of the fastest football players in the state, though he opted not to participate in track as a sophomore. He translates that speed to the football field, where he closes on receivers with the ball in the air. Michigan, Michigan State, LSU and Ohio State are among his early offers. 6. KAHLEE HAMLER 5-9, 152 • WR • Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School Hamler is undersized, but explosive with the ball in his hands. He ran the 200-meter dash in 22.68 seconds this spring, is slippery in traffic and uses advanced understanding of route running to get open by yards. He is also an excellent return man on special teams. Michigan, Michigan State, Louisville and Pitt are among his offers. 7. CARTER DUNAWAY 6-6, 232 • TE • Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice High School Dunaway has the natural athletic ability to be a big-time tight end at the next level, though experienced depth ahead of him limited his role during his sophomore campaign to a blocking specialist. The former basketball player has soft hands and can get downfield when he builds up a head of steam. The Michigan legacy (dad, Craig, and brother Jack, an incoming defensive end, are both Wolverines) committed to U-M when Jim Harbaugh became the first coach to offer. 8. JAYLEN KELLYPOWELL 6-0, 180 • S • Detroit Cass Technical High School Kelly-Powell has been one of the leading tacklers for Detroit Cass Tech in each of his two years on varsity, including a team-leading 68 during his sophomore year. He has a thin build for a true safety, but his understanding of opposing offenses allows him to come up and make plays. Michigan is joined by Iowa, Minnesota and Pitt, among others, on his offer list. 9. DONOVAN JOHNSON 5-10, 175 • CB • Detroit Cass Technical High School Johnson has had to bide his time in a talented Cass Tech secondary (which is often the case at a program that has produced 19 Division I defensive backs since 2004), but is poised to break out as a junior. He is a natural cover man who uses fluid athleticism to stay in receivers' hip pockets down the field. Cincinnati and Toledo were the first to offer, and he is the only player on this list who doesn't have an opportunity from U-M — yet. 10. ALLEN STRITZINGER 6-1, 183 • RB • Warren De La Salle High School Stritzinger is a thin but explosive tailback, who ran for a school-record 20 touchdowns during his sophomore season. His body type could also translate to the defensive side of the ball at the next level, and he is a hard-hitting cornerback in his spot duty for De La Salle. Michigan, Cincinnati and a handful of Mid-American Conference schools have already offered.

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