Michigan's 2009 class: So Far, So Good for Rich Rod's First Recruits

We are only a short way through the football season and so far, in just his first year as UM head coach, Rich Rodriguez appears to be fixing up what may eventually be one of Michigan's best recruiting classes in recent memory.

The class consists of 18 commits as of now (one of which is only a soft verbal from FL WLB Brandin Hawthorne). According to rivals.com, our class is currently rated sixth in the nation, with OSU at No. 1.

I, however, don't agree with these recruiting sites.The star scale is for the most part a joke; however, it still can at least give you a gauge to how good a player might be.

Going into the season our biggest question was QB...that is no longer the issue with RR getting commits from Shavodrick Beaver and highly sought after QB Tate Forcier.After the decommittment of highly ranked Kevin Newsome it seemed we took a hit until Forcier made his commitment after the Utah game.

It seems RR is hitting most of his needs by adding speed at LB and depth at Safety. Classes like OSU have impressive talent but lack players they really need.

OSU is ranked #1 right now because they are heavy in talent, unfortunately for them it's all defensive players (very fortunate for us). Why is this unfortunate you ask? Well, they have 25 commits, which means they practically have no more remaining scholarships to hand out, but of the 25 commits only 11 are offensive players.

Of those 11, two are RB's, two are FB's, two OT's, one OG, three are WR's and one is a TE. They always have great defense but lack on offense and this class isn't going to improve. Only two of these kids (RB Jaamal Berry and WR James Jackson) really look as if they will make any impact for OSU on offense.

Michigan does have an issue because they are now at their current scholarship limit, as in the total amount they can currently hand out thanks to NCAA rules. However, once graduations are over and players leave, our number will go up once the season ends, allowing us to offer more, thankfully. Now for the breakdown on the '09 class.

Starting with QB's(our biggest need):

As of now (pending they stay commited) Rich Rod has struck gold with his two QB commits: super-recruit Tate Forcier (Scripps Ranch HS; San Diego) and Shavodrick Beaver (Rider HS; Wichita Falls,Texas).

If you go by scholarship offers, Tate Forcier is the second most sought-after QB recruit (with 34 offers) only behind Aaron Murray (UGA commit; 52 offers). Tate is short in stature (6-foot, 185 pounds) but plays big.

He is rated as #1 accuracy QB by rivals.com and won the Golden Gun accuracy competition at the coveted Elite 11 regional camp at Cal University. He is very elusive in the pocket and has very good pocket presence.

He is a pure dual threat, meaning he is great at running and throwing the ball. He is fast and is a real threat once he leaves the pocket (listed at a 4.63 40 but is faster than that).

He has been compared to Florida QB Tim Tebow (yes, I've heard the comparison from Gator fans themselves). Poise in the pocket is outstanding, and his ability to throw in almost any direction is maybe the best I've ever seen.

He can throw across his body with great accuracy and while running forward. Has a very strong arm, can bomb it about 60+ yards, give or take. Completed 77 percent of his passes as a junior, which is in large part due to his excellent mechanics.

Isn't afraid to take hits. Plays smart and can turn a busted play into a big gain. Reads the defenses very well. Overall he is a near-perfect athlete at QB; if he were 2-4 inches taller, he would be perfect.

Now for the Beav. He is sort of Newsome-like, minus 2 inches or so and about 20 pounds. He is another true dual-threat QB. He, like Forcier, is a pass-first QB but when something breaks down on the play, he has the ability to break away from defenders and make a big play with his feet.

He is faster than Forcier but lacks in arm strength and accuracy (but not far behind Tate). He too has great awareness in the pocket.He has great poise as well just like Tate.

Not quite as good of mechanics as Forcier, but he still looks well-coached in that area. Is a tough tackle in open field. After seeing him in his game on ESPN, he looked like he had a fumblitis problem but that may have just been an isolated thing.

Overall, Beaver is a great addition but I think Forcier will be the future Wolverine star. At least we will have a great backup, though I do believe Beaver may red-shirt his freshman year.

Both guys are also expected to be on campus in December, which will help them be more prepared for spring ball giving them a better shot at a starter's role in the fall next year.

QB overall grade: A+

The RB unit:

This class is looking good (not as good as last year, but still good). So far, we have commitments from four RB's, starting with Teric Jones (Cass Technical HS; Detroit), Fitzgerald Toussaint (Liberty HS; Youngstown, OH), Jeremy Gallon (RB/ATH; Apopka Senior HS; Apopka, FL), and Vincent Smith (Pahokee HS;Pahokee,FL).

Now none of these guys are any taller than 5-foot-10, which I find to be a great thing. I like going after small, shifty, speedy backs because they are nightmares for defensive players once they hit the open field, which they will in RR spread option attack.

I'll start with Teric; he is a current teammate of big-time recruit DT William Campbell (more on him later) and current Wolverine freshman CB Boubacar Cissoko. He is the best of the four commits thus far in my opinion.

He is tough runner and, despite his size, is not afraid to run it through the tackles...in fact, he is quite successful doing so. Displays very good field vision and acceleration once down field. Quick and shifts directions very well.

He is a speedster like the rest, but he may be the fastest of the four RB's. Very strong lower body, making him hard to take down for DB's or small LB's. He could improve on his size, but overall is a great pickup for UM.

Fitzgerald is another blazer. He is a high school track star, so that should let you know a little about his speed. He may not be the best overall running back, but he most certainly is the most exciting.

He has big play written all over him. Like I said, he isn't the best RB overall but he (in Rich Rod's offense) has the most potential. He is slippery and elusive as hell.

Great at changing direction on the spot. His ability to stop on a dime causes defenders to over-pursue, allowing him to get more yards. His speed and acceleration, mixed with his moves, makes him my favorite commit (besides Forcier).

He can make huge plays in the run, receiving, and return games. Not a big threat running up the middle, though, but if he gets outside, say goodbye, because he is gone.

Reminds me of a Reggie Bush or Noel Devine type player. Has an instinct for finding holes in defenses and taking advantage, breaking it for a huge gain. He is also a high school teammate of fellow UM commit safety Isaiah Bell (also more on him later).

I haven't seen much on RB commit Vincent Smith out of Pahokee, Fla. From the little video I have seen of him, I'm not that impressed. Jeremy Gallon, on the other hand, is similar to Toussaint, but he doesn't seem to have that second gear that Toussaint has.

Still an exciting player who can give us something on offense. Has the same cutback ability as Fitzgerald. Great vision and balance. Can be used for trick plays (he plays QB also for his high school team).

So in this class, the best overall commit is Teric Jones, while Fitzgerald Toussaint holds the most potential. My only question is how will these guys do in pass protection? I haven't seen how they will do vs. the pass rush.

Teric I believe could hold his own in pass protection where the others need to do some work. Also of the four guys, I believe Jones and Toussaint are the only ones that will remains as RB's, while the other two will move to the slot.

RB overall grade: B- (for now ; > )

WR unit:

So far we only have two commits in the WR position, but they are more than enough. Bryce McNeal (Breck School; Minneapolis) and Dewayne Peace (South Grand Prairie HS, Grand Prairie, Texas) are highly athletic receivers, both are very different in play styles.

Bryce is a big time deep-threat who has great hands and is quick off the line and seems to blow by DB's. Has ability to find holes in coverage, therefore is open a lot.

He sits in the coverage and at his size (6-foot-2, 180 pounds), so he is an easy target to find. Good special teams skills and great speed. Is a weapon downfield or on short screen passes. With his speed, he can make a screen into a big play.

Great at getting yards after catch, kind of Steve Breaston-like. Dewayne on the other hand is a little smaller (6-foot 178 pounds) and lacks in the speed department in comparison to McNeal.

However, Peace has sure hands, he doesn't use his body. He runs smooth crisp routes and is very good at making his breaks. Can fake CB's very well on his routes.

Is shifty but isn't a deep threat compared to McNeal. Can still make a big play, though. He is more a short-down receiver who you can rely on to get those needed yards.

Reminds me of Marvin Harrison as far as his style of play goes. Great pick up in my mind. At first, I was skeptical of him, but as of now I really like what he can bring to the table for us.

WR overall grade: B

O-line unit:

This is a small class so far as we only have one commit.Well if you wanna count Anthony LaLota (The Hun School; Princeton, N.J.) that makes two but he most likely will project as a DE.

Michael Schofield (Carl Sandburg HS; Orland Park,IL) is our only guaranteed o-lineman for now. He is an OT and a very athletic one at that, more of what Rich wants to see on his line. Has great size(6-foot-6 270 pounds), but could bulk up more would be nice to see him in the 290 range.

Has good speed for his position (hurdler on HS track team and a converted TE). Is dominant on the line.

Has pretty quick feet and gets of line fast. Pushes opposition away from ball carrier opening big holes. Usually finds himself working up field. He needs to stay a little lower, he has inconsistency off the line as far as how high or low he is standing.

Pancake machine it seems. He appears to be a very good hustler with most plays seeming to end with him near the ball carrier down field. Overall, a good pick up but need to gain bulk and needs to find some consistency.

O-line overall grade:C (could go up pending on LaLota or if we land someone else)

  D-line unit:

This group looks very good so far with  DE/DT DeQuinta Jones(Bastrop HS;Bastrop,LA), DE Craig Roh(Chaparral HS;Scottsdale,AZ), and DE Anthony LaLota. Dequinta i'm hoping is as good a sweet talker as a football player(he is HS teammates with mega-recruit WR Rueben Randle).Now I can't comment much on Jones because I've seen no good video of him, he does have the kind of speed Rich Rod loves to have on his defense.He is rather small in stature for his position(6-2 265lbs) which worries me.He is being projected as a DT in college but he would have to bulk up a lot for that. For Craig Roh(one of our three Under Armor All-Americans),however, he is a stellar athlete on the end.Smart player with great instincts.Great hands and speed.Blows through defenders off the line.Solid tackler and is someone the QB is always watching.Needs to add some bulk(6-5 225lbs).Has violent hands.Great lateral movement across the field.Top level speed for a DE.Creates good separation from opposing o-linemen blocking him through use of his hands.Uses hips very well and works out of a sprinters stance giving him better explosion off the ball. Has good swim moves to move around blocker and get to the QB.He is an excellent talent for UM.LaLaota is a very raw talent and is a natural at the game.He first began playing football his Junior year of HS and is now one of the top prospects in the country.I don't need to explain much on him other than if he got to were he is now in only two years,how good will he be in another two.That kind of upside is very rare to come by.At 6-6 260lbs he is excellent size for a DE.Can be erratic as a tackler though often diving at the ball carrier,and yes sometimes clothes-lining them.

D-line overall grade: A-

  LB's unit:

This maybe where the big head scratchers are in my opinion. LB is the one position we really need speed at.Well we got speed but at a price it seems. We have two speedy LB's so far in Jordan Barnes(Homestead Senior HS;Fort Wayne,IN) and Brandin Hawthorne(Pahokee HS;Pahokee,FL). These guys do have speed and the hard working attitude RR like but they lack in size. Hawthorne is only 6-0 197lbs and Barnes is 6-0 225lbs. In Big 10 play that is going to be a factor when against power teams like Ohio State and Wisconsin.Players like a P.J. Hill will run over, through, and around these two guys at their current size. I will say this Barnes size isn't that bad it's just his height that gets me.Hawthorne doesn't excite me too much with his total size. Barnes does bring a lot to the table though and shows he has a nose for the ball(146 tackles with 38 for loss as a junior).Hawthorne is a weaker guy which will hurt him when you add that with his size.He does have a nose for the ball and is a flyer and is usually quite disruptive in the backfield.

LB's overall grade: D+

  DB unit:

The team is currently sitting at three DB commits all at the safety position,which is in need of depth. So far we have the ever talented Justin Turner(or J.T. Turner)(Washington HS;Massillon,OH), Mike Jones...not the rapper fyi(Edgewater HS;Orlando,FL), and Isaiah Bell(our second of three Under Armor All-Americans;Liberty HS;Youngstown,OH). I don't know who to start with Turner or Bell they both are big time players.I'll start with Bell. This kid,as mentioned before,is HS teammates with RB commit Fitzgerald Toussaint.I don't know what's in the water in Youngstown but these kids are playmakers. Bell is a strong tackler and will straight up lay you out. Great ball awareness when ball is in air and has excellent play recognition and snuffs out the run before the ball carrier makes it 5 yards. Solid tackler in open field.Great hands doesn't drop INTs.If he gets a INT look for him to be a threat at taking it back for a TD. Like I said big playmaker. Strong runner, has great lower body strength. Fast cutback kid like Toussaint but can run you over. Is very under the radar type player and UM got a steal.Solid size(6-2 205lbs) for a safety but needs some bulk.Big time commit. Turner has me very jazzed. Call me crazy but this kid reminds me of a former Wolverine from an athletic standpoint....here is a clue he wore #2,won a Heisman, and won a national championship.If you don't know he looks like Charles Woodson in my opinion,hopefully he is the second coming of the UM great.He is 6-2 and 185lbs and very athletic. Has good speed and explosiveness,can beat WR's in jump balls, he gets the ball at highest point, very good tackler in open field, Strong, physical player, Great instincts, makes plays in run game by detecting the run early and stopping it around the line of scrimmage.He is a pure athlete who can do big things on all sides of the ball.He can be used in various ways on offense.Good return skills.Excellent coverage guy.Could get a little more bulk as well unless he converts to corner which I think he will.He has me very excited.Mike Jones is fast,physical,and smart.He is similar to Bell in size at 6-2 200lbs.As a junior he recorded 56 tackles,8 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles...in just 5 games before injuring his shoulder sitting him out for the rest of the year.The injury makes me wonder if maybe he might be injury prone or if he may have recurring issues with his shoulder.He is an intimidating player at safety and his blitzing ability is perfect for Scott Shaffers defensive style.Has great athleticism and change of direction ability.Great leaping ability and gets great air allowing him to get up and knock down or intercept a pass.Needs more consistency in his tackles.Wreaks havoc when blitzing his speed rush is impossible for the opposing OL to stop.RB's have very hard time blocking him,if they even try.comes up quick on the run play.He may be the best all around safety in the class so far.Though I still give the edge to Bell.I really like this class they each offer something different to our defense, all of which is something we need.Only question is can Mike Jones rap as well as he plays?Kidding of course.

DB's overall grade: A

  Kickers:

Well finally Michigan got themselves a big time kicker which we have desperately needed.Anthony Fera(St. Pius X HS;Houston,TX) is the third of our Under Armor All-Americans and is rated as the #2 kicker by basically every recruiting source in the country.This kid has a rocket leg to say the least. He can kick field goals into the 60 yard range in practice, rather or not he can do it in a game we will see.His kickoffs nearly go through the field goal also.He gets it deep in the endzone and will have many touchbacks.Accuracy may be a question but I think this kid is what we have needed and some.I can't get over his leg strength it is phenominal.

Kicking overall grade: A+

O.k. there are some big time players that are still in the market and I'm going to list off the big names in which we may land/need:

DT William Campbell(Cass Technical HS;Detroit,MI). He is a stud at DT and is a major prospect for us. He is a one time commit who decommited to further explore his option.I believe he will recommit within the next month.

RB Tavon Austin(Paul Laurence Dunbar HS;Baltimore,MD).He is a small slithery RB who would be a nightmare in Rich Rod's spread.I have a feeling he will commit but with McGuffie and Shaw along with our 4 new RB commits he may not come.Let's pray he does.

WR Rueben Randle(Bastrop HS;Bastrop,LA). Teammate of DE commit DeQuinta Jones I'm hoping Jones is preaching to Randle about how great Michigan is.Randle is an amazing WR and would be a great addition to an already impressive receiving core.But will he commit when we already have a deep unit at Michigan and add the two guys we have this year.I don't like our odds of landing him.

RB David Oku(Carl Albert HS;Oklahoma City,OK).Another super talented RB that is different from our other backs as he has great strength where he can plow through defenders,while at the same time he has excellent speed and acceleration.I think he will end up in Rocky Top unfortunately.

WLB Jelani Jenkins(Our Lady Good Counsel HS;Wheaton,MD).Perfect LB for the style defense RR wants to have.He is fast,athletic,physical,and smart.Scott Schaffer is hitting this kid hard right now from my understanding.If all the work goes to good use Jenkins will dawn the maize 'n blue next fall, so we hope.

CB Travis Hawkins(Quince Orchard HS;Gaithersburg,MD).Good athletic, speedy corner.I want to land him because getting him may land us talented DE Jason Ankrah,his HS teammate(or vice versa).If we get Ankrah first maybe we will get Hawkins but who knows.

Other notables:

CB Dre Kirkpatrick(Gadsden City HS;Gadsden,AL)

DE Keenan Graham(Silverado HS;Las Vaegas,NV)

QB Eugene Smith(Miramar HS;Miramar,FL)

OT Morgan Moses(Meadowbrook HS;Richmond,VA)

TE Dion Sims(St. Mary Preparatory School;Orchard Lake,MI)

OT Brennan Williams(Catholic Memorial;West Roxbury,MA)

OT Travis Bond(Bertie HS;Windsor,NC)

S Donavan Tate(Cartersville HS;Cartersville,GA)

S Nyshier Oliver(St. Peter's Preparatory School;Jersey City,NJ)

ATH Thomas Gordon(Cass Technical HS;Detroit,MI). I expect Thomas to announce his commitment to Michigan tonight(9/25/08).

Well there is the low down on UM's '09 class thus far and what is to come.You may ask why there is so few negative remarks towards these players? Keep in mind I'm going off highlight videos which display little of the bad things.This class looks great so far and will only get better over the next few months. Michigan's future is looking very bright with the athletes we got this year.I'm expecting NC runs in the year 2010 and beyond. RR was an excellent hire and so far has shown why with his recruiting ability. Hope you enjoyed.