Michigan Football: Checking in with the 2013 Recruiting Class

With 16 commits in a 2013 recruiting class which may total 23 or 24, one might think the class would be filled very soon. 

But Michigan is no longer awaiting word from 3-star or lower-level 4-star prospects. Instead, Coach Brady Hoke is now shooting for “home run hitters” at every position.

This, of course, was made possible by the team's on-field performance in 2011 and a stellar recruiting class in 2012.

Let's not forget the Michigan “brand” is once again among college football's elite. The Rich Rodriguez regime was a mere flesh wound in a program which has often dominated the likes of Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State since the late 1800s.

Hoke, Mattison and the staff have held their own along the recruiting trail with Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly and the new kid on the block, Urban Meyer. 

Let's review how the 2013 class shapes up thus far and which of the remaining blue-chippers may become Wolverines.  

Offensive Backfield

Receiving commitments from quarterback Shane Morris and running back Deveon Smith guarantees that Michigan will be set at those positions for some time to come.

But the Wolverines are still in contention for two of the nation's top rated recruits, running back Ty Isaac and multiple-position athlete Su'a Cravens. 

Isaac, at  6'2, 220 pounds, has combined speed, size and elusiveness to become Scout's top-ranked back in the nation.

Cravens, the ninth-rated overall player by 247sports, has been projected as a safety, but could play several positions at Michigan, including running back, linebacker and wide receiver. Cravens plans on visiting Ann Arbor this fall, possibly with his cousin, Joe Mathis, a prospect at defensive end.

Another possible commit would be Richmond (VA) Hermitage running back Derrick Green. Clocked at 4.31 in the 40, Green is also considering Ohio State along with his in-state schools, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Key 2012 Departures

Denard Robinson, QB

Vincent Smith, RB/SB

2013 Commits

Deveon Smith, RB

Wyatt Shallman, FB/RB

Shane Morris, QB

2013 Targets

Ty Isaac, RB

Su'a Cravens, RB/OLB/S/WR

Derrick Green, RB

Offensive Line

Since the 2012 class featured five offensive linemen and the 2013 class has already received five verbals, chances are the position is full.

The Wolverines are still looking at two-way prospect Wyatt Teller, however, but he'll most likely begin his Michigan career on defense if he decides to commit.

Michigan has already landed three of the nation's top offensive linemen. Patrick Kugler is Scout's No.1 rated guard, Chris Fox is their No. 4 tackle and Kyle Bosch is their fourth-rated tackle.

The son of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler, Patrick certain has the knowledge to play center for the Wolverines. "Yeah I am just open to anything," Kugler told Scout.com. "Anything really to get me on the field quicker. I'm not trying to start freshman year. I'm ready to red shirt and pay my dues and everything. I definitely will play any position to see the field.”

Scout.com describes Fox as Colorado's top prospect who "plays (offensive) tackle for Parker Ponderosa and is also a talented defensive lineman, but we think he projects best on the interior of the line. He’s a physical and nasty player who moves well in space. He’s very athletic for a big man, has a great frame, plays with a motor and has a great upside to him."

Bosch, a 6'5”, 280-lb tackle from Wheaton (Ill.) St. Francis, had over 20 offers, including Notre Dame, Florida and Alabama.

Key 2012 Departures

Patrick Omameh, RG

Elliott Mealer, LG/RG

Ricky Barnum, C/LG

2013 Commits

Patrick Kugler, OG

Logan Tuley-Tillman, OT

Chris Fox, OT

David Dawson, OG

Kyle Bosch, OT

2013 Targets

Wyatt Teller, DL/OT

Receivers

Maybe there's something attractive about Michigan, after all. Finding prospects with ties to other programs is becoming commonplace once again. 

The Wolverines have an eye on a pair of recruits to complete the 2013 class at wide receiver. 

Zack Bradshaw's dad was a Spartan alum, while Kevin Gladney grew up a huge Buckeye fan.

Both fit the mold of taller receivers Michigan has been recently recruiting.

Bradshaw, a 6'3”, 205-pounder from Damascus, Maryland, was impressed with Michigan during a visit to Ann Arbor last month. He's also being recruited as an outside linebacker.

Gladney, a 6'2”, 180-pounder from Akron, Ohio, will be participating at the Adidas Invitational combine this weekend (April 7). He'll be working out with Michigan commits Shane Morris, Khalid Hill, Jourdan Lewis, David Dawson and Wyatt Shallman.

Laquon Treadwell, another tall WR prospect at 6'3", remains in the mix. 

Key 2012 Departures 

Roy Roundtree, WR

Brandon Moore, TE

2013 Commits

Jaron Dukes, WR

Jake Butt, TE

Khalid Hill, TE

2013 Targets

Laqoun Treadwell, WR

Eldridge Massington, WR

Devon Allen, WR

Zack Bradshaw, WR

Kevin Gladney, WR

Defensive Line

With the 2012 Michigan class featuring six defensive linemen and DE Taco Charlton already committed, the Wolverines are probably looking for one or two more.  

Leading the way is Henry Poggi, a  4-star DL/TE who visited in March, and Christian Lacouture, who plans on taking in the Michigan spring game.

The wild card, however, might be DE Joe Mathis, who will be visiting this weekend. A 6'4”, 250-lb 4-star prospect, Mathis could join the Wolverines with his cousin, super-recruit Su'a Cravens.

Greg Webb, who also had an interest in Michigan, committed to Penn State this week.

Lacouture, who de-commited from Texas A&M, recently visited Nebraska and plans on visiting LSU this weekend. Michigan is definitely serious about the College Station, Texas prospect, since both offensive line coach Darrell Funk and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison have contacted him. 

“I like them both,” Lacouture told Scout.com. “Coach Mattison—as a defense coordinator I really like what he runs. You know their defense, and I really like their scheme. You know coach Funk thinks the world of Mattison too. He tells me he is a go-getter. He worked for the Baltimore Ravens so he knows what it takes (to make the NFL). They jumped a 100 spots in defense (last season), so it shows what a great coach he is. And I am looking forward to meet him in person.

"I talked to coach Funk for a long time," added the 4-star recruit.  He is a great guy. I know he is the offensive line coach and my area recruiter. He works with a lot of Michigan top offensive linemen and I am really looking forward to meeting him in person."

Key 2012 Departures

Will Campbell, NT

Craig Roh, DE

2013 Commits

Taco Charleton, DE

2013 Targets

Henry Poggi, DL/TE 

Christian Lacouture, DL

Joe Mathis, DL

Josh Augusta, DE

Joey Bosa, DE

Jason Hatcher, DE

Linebackers

With four linebackers signed into the 2012 class, the linebacking corps is now the healthiest in years.

That's not to say Michigan is satisfied with one verbal thus far for 2013.

The new Wolverine is Mike McCray, a 6'2”, 225-lb linebacker/tight end. McCray prepped at Trotwood-Madison in Ohio, the school which produced Roy Roundtree, Michael Shaw and Brandon Moore.

The Wolverines are also in the running for a pair of 4-star prospects, Ben Gedeon from Hudson, Ohio and E.J. Levenberry from Woodbridge, Virginia. Both recruits have Michigan high on their lists. Gedeon could commit at any time, while Levenberry may decide during his trip to Michigan's spring game.

Long-shots are Michael Hutchings, Jaylon Smith, Peter Kalambayi and Dorian O'Donnell.

 

Key 2012 Departures

Kenny Demens, MLB

Brandin Hawthorne, WLB

2013 Commits

Michael McCray, OLB/TE

2013 Targets

Ben Gedeon, OLB

E.J. Levenberry, OLB

Peter Kalambayi, MLB

Michael Hutchings, OLB

Dorian O'Daniel, OLB

Secondary

A huge reason for Michigan's success last season was the emergence of freshman cornerback Blake Countess. From Good Council HS in Olney, Maryland, Countess became Michigan's most reliable corner by season's end.

The Wolverines immediately took notice of the school located in the Washington-Baltimore corridor.

Michigan unsuccessfully pursued Good Council's speedy receiver Stefon Diggs for the 2012 class. This year, Coach Hoke has his sights on a pair of corners, 5-star Kendall Fuller and 4-star Kirk Garner. In fact Michigan earlier courted linebacker Dorian O'Daniel, but that relationship has cooled for the moment.

Meanwhile, Fuller and Garner will be guests at Michigan's spring game. And like other tandem recruits, Fuller and Garner could play side-by-side in the same secondary.

At safety, Michigan could land 5-star Su'a Cravens to go along with Dymonte Thomas who committed in September. 

  

Key 2012 Departures

J.T. Floyd, CB

Jordan Kovacs, SS

2013 Commits

Gareon Conley, CB

Jourdan Lewis, CB

Dymonte Thomas, S

2013 Targets

Kendall Fuller, CB

Kirk Garner, CB

Cameron Walker, CB

Tim Harris, CB

Vernon Hargreaves, CB

Tre' Bell, CB

Su'a Cravens, S/OLB/WR/RB

Priest Willis, S