Tight End and Wide Receiver Rucruiting 3/16/2011

Rich Rodriguez's staff had all but locked up two receivers this past season in Devin Lucien (UCLA) and Hakeem Flowers (NC State), but when Brady Hoke arrived he decided that the Wolverines would no longer need to sign a wide receiver in the 2011 class, and the staff ultimately pulled both Lucien's and Flowers' scholarship offers. It's understandable, seeing as Rodriguez's spread offense implemented many more receivers than a pro-style offense does, and Michigan didn't lose any receivers to graduation or the NFL after the 2010 season. However, Junior Hemingway, Darryl Stonum, Martavious Odoms and Kelvin Grady are all receivers that are entering their final year eligibility and the void that will be left will have to be filled. Michigan won't need to replace all five seniors, due to the personnel that the offense calls for, but they will need to sign at least a couple wide receivers.

Tight end is a position that is in a complete opposite condition depth wise in comparison to the wide receivers. Rodriguez's spread hardly implemented any looks for tight ends, and when Hoke arrived there were only two tight ends on the roster who would be eligible in 2011. Hoke gained a vital commitment on signing day from Texas TE Chris Barnett, who had offers from the likes of Oklahoma, USC, and Florida State, but even that won't be enough for the coming years. Most pro-style offenses will use four to five tight ends through out a season, depending upon injury, and Hoke and co. will look to start gaining needed numbers at tight end position in the 2012 class. 


We'll look at both positions exclusively in this segment.

2012 WR Stefon Diggs

Wide Receiver
No current Michigan receiver has proven himself as worthy for the number  one jersey that was worn by such players as Anthony Carter, David Terrell,  and Braylon Edwards, and though the likes of Roy Roundtree, Junior Hemingway, and Darryl Stonum will battle for the honor this Spring, there is one receiver on Michigan's radar who could vie for the number one next year as an incoming freshman. Stefon Diggs (Our Lady of Good Counsel, MD) is a 6'1", 190 lb play maker who was just recently honored as one of
Rivals' first twelve five star players of the 2012 class (for a little perspective, of the thousands of football recruits across the nation, Rivals only assigns a five star rating to around 20-25 players per year). Among others, Diggs has offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame and Ohio State and Rivals' Mike Farrell touted him as possibly the best recruit at slot receiver since Desean Jackson. Blake Countess, a cornerback who signed with Michigan in February, attends the same high school as Diggs and he will hopefully convince Diggs to make a visit to Ann Arbor. Diggs' recruitment should be magnified by his teammate and best friend, RB Wes Brown, who has also been offered by Michigan. The two have hinted that they would like to play together in college and both would be great gets for any school.


Diggs' versatility is what makes him so attractive to me. He could line up at wide out, slot, running back, safety or cornerback if he wanted to and every time he touches the ball he's a threat to go all the way. He doesn't have world class speed but he's agile and he has good size. Diggs runs concise routes and he has great hands. He's the perfect play making threat and he could be deadly on special teams. 


Keep An Eye On:
Aaron Burbridge (MI)
Efe Scott-Emuakpor (MI)
Dwayne Stanford (OH)
Derrick Woods (CA)
Amara Darboh (IA)

2012 TE Ron Thompson

Tight End
Ron Thompson out of East Detroit received one of Brady Hoke's first offers and Michigan should be cemented at the top of Thompson's list throughout his recruitment. The 6'4", 210 lb product grew up a Wolverine fan and don't be surprised if he commits before the 2011 season begins. Including Michigan, Thompson claims offers from Toledo and Syracuse, but don't be surprised if more offers come if he keeps up impressive performances at camps and combines. Thompson is very athletic and it shows in his videos. He'll be a definite threat as a pass catching tight end and his effectiveness as a blocker, which will be necessary at the next level, should improve as he fills out his frame. He has a lot of potential as a difference maker on any pro-style offense.


Keep An Eye On:
Devin Funchess (MI)
Matt Doneth (MI)
Sam Grant (OH)
A.J. Williams (OH)
Taylor McNamara (CA)