The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/382426
FOOTBALL RECRUITING Grant Newsome, a four-star out of Lawrenceville (N.J.) Prep is the fifth- best prospect in New Jersey, and the No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 199 overall player nationally. The 6-7, 280-pounder is expected to play the left tackle position in Ann Arbor. Jon Runyan Jr. — the son of the former Wolverine All-American (1995) of the same name — is ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 13 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 39 offensive guard nationally. The 6-4, 275-pounder can play either guard position in college, as well as center. Despite those two pledges, Michi- gan is in need of one more offensive lineman. That's especially true af- ter 2014 signee Mason Cole's early- season contributions for the Maize and Blue, meaning only one member of the 2014 class (three-star Juwann Bushell-Beatty) will redshirt. Three linemen over two years would be scary depth-wise going forward, so a third in 2015 would level off the ros- ter 's distribution by class. A player who can contribute either at guard or tackle would provide nice balance to the 2015 group. PAT ALLEN Reisterstown (Md.) Franklin 6-4, 285 pounds • Georgia commit No. 17 offensive tackle and No. 170 overall player nationally Allen committed to Georgia in early August, with the knowledge that he'd still be taking visits to other schools. That includes Michigan, which finished second in his initial decision even though he's never been to Ann Arbor. That changes Sept. 27 when he sees the Maize and Blue take on Maryland in Michigan Sta- dium. He has the athleticism to play tackle, but the body shape to also play guard at the next level. ZACH ROBERTSON Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco 6-5, 308 pounds No. 19 offensive tackle and No. 188 overall player nationally Robertson picked up a Michigan offer late in the summer, and al- though the Maize and Blue weren't in the mix early, he's quickly warm- ing up to the Wolverines. Robert- son will visit U-M for the Penn State night game Oct. 11, and Michigan will have a chance to make a major move for the California native. Rob- ertson, who currently favors UCLA, has the pure mass of a guard, and while he could move outside to tackle at the next level, staying in- side is more likely. WILLIAM SWEET Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast 6-7, 280 pounds • North Carolina commit No. 24 offensive tackle and No. 236 overall player nationally Sweet committed to North Caro- lina in April, but a spring offer from Michigan opened his eyes just a little bit. While he remains committed to the Tar Heels, he tentatively plans to visit Ann Arbor for the Oct. 11 night game against Penn State. His height makes him a true tackle prospect that could also slide inside.