The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 99 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE DEFENSIVE BACK Scholarship Players In 2018: 11 Need: 2 Commits: 0 The Michigan coaching staff landed a total of four secondary play- ers — two cornerbacks and two safe- ties — in the 2017 class, but safety is looked at as an area of slight weak- ness in an otherwise outstanding 30- man haul. U-M already appears to be in pretty good shape with secondary athletes like: Atlanta Westlake four-star corner- back Myles Sims At 6-3, 173 pounds, Sims is built exactly like a lot of the corners Michi- gan has offered in the 2018 class. He's considered the No. 9 cornerback and No. 63 overall prospect nationally in- dicating that he's not just an average, long defensive back. The in-state Bulldogs will likely be tough to beat, but his upcoming vis- its will be telling in terms of who he likes. Michigan and Notre Dame are working to get him on campus, and if he ends up checking out Ann Arbor the chances of him eventually com- mitting to Michigan will certainly go up. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star athlete Houston Griffith As the son of former Illinois full- back Howard Griffith, Houston has roots in the Midwest and hears a lot about Michigan because of his father 's employment at the Big Ten Network. The 6-0, 185-pound Griffith is the No. 2 athlete and No. 37 overall prospect in the country and is being looked at by Michigan as a member of the secondary. SPECIAL TEAMS Scholarship Players In 2018: 2 Need: 0-1 Commits: 0 In 2018, it's realistic to think that both kicker Quinn Nordin and punter Brad Robbins will still have three years of eligibility left entering the season, putting U-M in a nice po- sition to not spend a scholarship on a specialist in 2018. Robbins joining the class late in the 2017 cycle was certainly a surprise. Something similar could theoreti- cally happen in 2018 with perhaps a long snapper, but it doesn't look like a need early in the process. ❏ The Wolverine Wish List: Top Five Options In 2018 Las Vegas Bishop Gorman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson News of Jim Harbaugh's shift toward more of a spread look aligns with bringing in a dual-threat athlete like the 6-2, 190-pound Thompson-Robinson. His mother is a Michigan alum, which puts U-M in a great spot, but UCLA is also way up there for the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and No. 54 overall prospect in the class. Former Michigan assistant Jedd Fisch is now running the offense in Westwood, creating an interesting recruiting dynamic. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy running back T.J. Pledger The No. 5 running back and No. 30 overall prospect in the country originally hailed from California, but will spend his senior season at IMG Academy in Bra- denton, Fla. The Wolverine staff has had some success at IMG and would love to continue it with the 5-9, 175-pound Pledger. Former Michigan running back coach Tyrone Wheatley was extremely high on Pledger before moving on to the NFL. It'll be interesting to see if the new relationships grow quick enough to get U-M into the top group for the four star. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy defensive tackle Taron Vincent Another IMG transplant, the five-star Vincent originally played for Michigan assis- tant head coach Biff Poggi at the Gilman School in Baltimore. The 6-3, 285-pounder is considered the No. 1 defensive tackle and No. 5 overall prospect in the country, which would make for three huge gets in a row on the defensive front after landing Rashan Gary and Aubrey Solomon in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Lindenhurst (N.Y.) High tight end Jeremy Ruckert The 6-6, 215-pound Ruckert is definitely more of a receiving tight end, but he's still listed at No. 5 for his position and No. 120 overall nationally. The four-star New York native visited Michigan during the season in 2016 and puts U-M in his top group along with Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. Las Vegas Bishop Gorman outside linebacker Palaie Gaoteote Listed as the No. 1 outside linebacker and No. 24 overall prospect nationally, Gaoteote is right on the edge of five-star status. At 6-2 and 210 pounds with high-level athleticism and playing for one of the best teams in the country, he'll have plenty of chances to pick that fifth star up. Former Michigan director of player personnel Tony Tuioti has a relationship with several coaches at Bishop Gorman, so a foundation has been laid. But with Tuioti now at Fresno State, can it be maintained? — Brandon Brown Rivals.com ranks Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High's Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and No. 54 overall prospect nationally. PHOTO BY NICK LUCERO/RIVALS.COM