The Wolverine

June July 2018

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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JUNE/JULY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 51   MICHIGAN RECRUITING tionally, is being recruited by many schools as a defensive lineman and, with Washington being the guy to scout the 6-4, 270-pounder, it looks like his future position could be up in the air if he were to choose Michigan. The evaluation period is not just about targets though. Passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton stopped by Reno (Nev.) Damonte Ranch to see four-star quarterback commit Cade McNamara May 15, and wide receivers coach Jim McElwain is ex- pected to do the same May 22. Hamilton and McElwain will be the battery in charge of U-M's pass- ing game this fall, and they want to see what they're getting in the 6-1, 202-pound McNamara. As of mid- May, McNamara was Rivals.com's top player in Nevada and the No. 9 pro- style quarterback in the country. Defensive coordinator Don Brown also got to see a U-M commit, but he was down in the Sunshine State. Four- star safety and U-M pledge Te'Cory Couch attends Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood, Fla., which hosted Brown May 10. At 5-10, 165 pounds, Couch actually projects as a nickel cor- nerback at U-M, but is currently listed as the No. 20 safety in the country. Brown also got to see two of Couch's friends and teammates who happen to be big-time Michigan tar- gets as well. Four-star wide receiver John Dunmore plus four-star corner- back and Kentucky commit Keon- tra Smith also call Hollywood home, and worked out in front of Brown. Dunmore, a 6-3, 170-pounder, is con- sidered the No. 7 wide receiver and the No. 41 overall prospect nationally. Smith, who may actually be viewed as a viper target by Michigan at 5-11, 193 pounds, is the No. 30 cornerback in the country according to Rivals.com. These aren't all the stops the U-M coaches made, but they do give a glimpse at how committed the staff is to getting back to an elite level on the recruiting trail. After back-to-back No. 4 classes in 2016 and 2017, the 2018 class came in at No. 24. Michigan's 2019 haul sits at No. 8 as of May 15, and the coaches and fans would love to see it stay at least that high. WILL MICHIGAN LAND TWO QUARTERBACKS IN 2019? The evaluation period has also al- lowed the Michigan staff to find an additional target at quarterback. With four-star Cade McNamara in the fold, the coaches are trying to find the right kid to come in as "another" signal- caller without being deterred. The staff absolutely loves Over- land Park (Kan.) Blue Valley North four-star quarterback Graham Mertz, but he's committed to Wisconsin and doesn't like the idea of sharing the spotlight in a class. "They've been pretty clear that they want two quarterbacks," Mertz said of the Michigan staff. "Personally, it sounds like I'm shying away from competition, but it's not smart to go somewhere where there's already a quarterback there. I like competition, but that's just not smart in my mind." The 6-4, 205-pounder is the No. 6 pro-style quarterback and No. 243 overall prospect nationally, and he's definitely coveted. If anyone can steal him away from the Badgers it might be Ohio State or Notre Dame, which are still looking for their guy in 2019. For a while it appeared Walled Lake (Mich.) Western three-star quar- terback Sam Johnson III would end up in Ann Arbor, but after McNa- mara committed the 6-4, 194-pounder started looking for a better situation at other schools. The No. 15 pro-style quarterback ultimately committed to Boston College May 7 and is excited to fly with the Eagles. The Wolverines also courted Truss- ville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville four- star quarterback Paul Tyson. In fact, the 6-4, 210-pounder was in Ann Arbor when McNamara committed to the Wolverines, and although he didn't admit it at the time that all but ended U-M's chances with the No. 8 pro-style quarterback in the country. Tyson ultimately committed to Alabama in early April and shows no signs of looking around. That means that if U-M does land an- other signal caller in 2019, he probably doesn't have an offer as of mid-May. There are at least two potential candi- dates who could become options over the course of the spring and summer. Greenville (S.C.) High three-star pro-style quarterback Davis Beville has offers from schools like Cincinnati, Colorado State, Northwestern, Pitts- burgh and Western Kentucky, along with a few smaller schools and Ivy League programs. Michigan gave the 6-6, 205-pounder a pretty serious look. "I've had some contact with Michigan," Beville said in mid-May. "Coach Hamilton and I have talked on the phone. He told me that he's coming to see me and that they want to take two quarterbacks in the class." When asked if Beville was deterred by Michigan already having a com- mitment from McNamara, his an- swer was short and direct. "Not at all," he said. "I love to compete." The Michigan staff has also reached out to Calera (Ala.) High three-star pro-style quarterback Cornelious Brown IV. The 6-5, 180-pounder has been in communication with one of U-M's offensive analysts and looks for- ward to continuing to bond with the rest of the staff — perhaps in person. "A couple of the coaches and staff members followed me on Twitter," Brown noted in mid-May. "They told me that they have reviewed my tape and like me a lot. They like what I do on the field and the way I move. They also said that they are impressed with some of the throws I made." Brown's offer list consists of Bowl- ing Green, Eastern Kentucky, Troy and UAB, but schools like Auburn, Duke, LSU and Mississippi State also know about him. Depending on how things go, Michigan could be added to that list. ❏ Greenville (S.C.) High three-star Davis Beville could emerge as Michigan's target for a sec- ond quarterback in the 2019 class. PHOTO BY NICK LUCERO/RIVALS.COM On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com.

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