The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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158 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN TOP 15 BY TIM SULLIVAN T he Michigan coaching staff got off to a slow start in the state for the class of 2016, but Jim Harbaugh and his assistants have rebounded in a big way. The Wolverines look to lock down some of the top talent in their home territory in the class. 1. Daelin Hayes, LB Ann Arbor Skyline High School Hayes' physical gifts make him the top in-state player. Despite standing 6-3 and 255 pounds, he has the mobility of a defensive back. That allows him to be a versatile line- backer either inside or out. Rivals.com ranks him as a five-star recruit and the No. 11 over- all prospect in the nation. He made an early commitment to USC over offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and many others. The Wolver- ines haven't given up on recruiting the local product. 2. Donnie Corley, WR Detroit Martin Luther King Collegiate Corley is a big, smooth wide receiver w h o s e n a t u r a l a b i l i - ties make him a threat in every phase of the passing game. The 6-2, 1 9 0 - p o u n d e r c a n g e t deep, make tough catches in traffic and turn screen passes into big yardage. He is listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 79 overall player na- tionally by Rivals.com. He has offers across the Midwest and the entire country, with Alabama, Tennessee and USC challenging in-state programs Michigan and Michigan State. The Spartans were an early favorite, but U-M is making up ground. 3. Michael Onwenu, OL/DL Detroit Cass Technical High School Onwenu has outstanding size (6-4, 368 pounds) without looking like he is carrying much bad weight, and he can contribute as an offen- sive or defensive linemen at the next level. His build resembles that of a defen- sive tackle, but he is more experienced playing on the offensive line. Rivals. com rates him as a four- star talent and the No. 191 overall recruit in the country. Onwenu made a pledge to Michigan in June over offers from Alabama, Miami (Fla.) and several Big Ten programs. including Michigan State. 4. Michael Jordan, OL Canton Plymouth High School Jordan is a big body with plenty of natural athleticism. He is a wrestler in the winter and throws shot put in the spring, and more time focusing on football technique at the next level will allow him to make the most of his 6-6, 275-pound frame. A defensive lineman early in his high school career, he has more upside at offen- sive tackle. He has been identified as a four-star player, but he has yet to break into Rivals.com's top 250 players nationally. Jordan surprised many by committing to Ohio State over local programs Michigan and Michigan State in May. 5. Khalid Kareem, DE Farmington Hills Harrison High School Kareem has plenty of talent and show- cased it on the big stage for the first time as a ju- nior after transferring to Harrison, where he played defensive end (after he was a defensive tackle and middle linebacker at his previous school). A 6-4, 257-pounder with a quick burst off the edge and the size to hold up against the run, he has high potential. The four-star prospect briefly committed to Michigan State in January, but has since re-opened his recruitment with Michigan, Alabama and Ohio State among the standouts MICHIGAN TOP 15 The Best In The State In The Class Of 2016 Last Year's Cream Of The Crop A down year for the Maize and Blue — both on the field and on the recruiting trail — opened the door for other programs to swipe many of the state's top players. Rk. Player Pos. High School College 1. Mike Weber RB Detroit Cass Tech Ohio State 2. Brian Cole WR Saginaw Heritage Michigan 3. Alex Malzone QB Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Michigan 4. Kyonta Stallworth OL Detroit King Michigan State 5. Dior Johnson S Southfield Minnesota 6. Joshua Alabi OL Detroit Cass Tech Ohio State 7. David Moorman OL Northville Wisconsin 8. John Kelly ATH Oak Park Tennessee 9. Tyriq Thompson LB Detroit King Michigan State 10. Wesley French OL St. Joseph Western Michigan 11. Khari Willis ATH Jackson Lumen Christi Michigan State 12. Grant Perry WR Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Michigan 13. Tyson Smith CB Orchard Lake St. Mary's Michigan State 14. Ray Buford ATH Southfield Minnesota 15. Joshuwa Holloman RB Auburn Hills Avondale Cincinnati Ann Arbor Skyline standout Daelin Hayes, who made an early pledge to USC, is rated as a fi ve-star prospect and the nation's No. 11 overall player by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM