The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/122487
michigan recruiting One Linebacker Out, New Offers Roll In The Michigan coaching staff has consistently told recruits throughout the 2014 cycle that they would be bringing in only two linebacker prospects in the class. When four-star Michael Ferns from St. Clairsville, Ohio, committed to the Wolverines Aug. 9, 2012, that meant only one more linebacker would be in the class. For a while, it seemed like that second linebacker would most likely be Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius four-star Kyle Berger. The 6-3, 205-pounder had narrowed his list to Ohio State and Michigan in February, and multiple trips to Ann Arbor looked like a good sign for the Wolverines. However, Berger committed to Ohio State April 8, and it was back to the drawing board for the Wolverines. The U-M coaches reacted quickly, sending out a new wave of offers at the position. Jefferson Hills (Pa.) Thomas Jefferson three-star Chase Winovich and Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University school three-star Richard Yeargin III were offered within hours of Berger's Buckeye pledge. Winovich even set a visit for the U-M spring game — which was just days away. In the following days, three-star prospect Kyron Watson from East St. Louis, Ill., and Orange Park (Fla.) Oakleaf safety/linebacker Darrion Owens snagged offers from the Wolverines, followed by a little-known prospect from an area Michigan has recruited hard: Northern Ohio. Kenton's Noah Furbush is a big linebacker, standing 6-4, 215 pounds as a high school junior, and Michigan was the first program to take the plunge on him. The Wolverines' 2014 class is short on space — the Wolverines have only about 16 scholarships to offer — but it's clear that, even if the first option isn't on the board, a second linebacker will eventually join Ferns on the commitment list. Spring Practice Brings Big Visitors Michigan's coaches are used to recruiting with the big boys. The 2012 and 2013 classes both ended up in the top seven nationally, but if the Wolverines can land just a few of the talented high schoolers who have visited campus this spring, 2014 could set a new high-water mark for U-M's class ranking under the current regime. The nation's top two prospects, de- Class Of 2014 Football Commitments Name Mason Cole Michael Ferns Drake Harris Bryan Mone Brady Pallante* Wilton Speight Pos. OL LB WR DT DT QB Ht. 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-1 6-6 Wt. 275 235 180 315 270 217 *May greyshirt and be part of the class of 2015 Hometown (High School) Tarpon Springs, Fla. (East Lake) Saint Clairsville, Ohio (Saint Clairsville) Grand Rapids, Mich. (Christian) Salt Lake City (Highland) Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier) Richmond, Va. (The Collegiate School)