The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/465847
FOOTBALL RECRUITING away from Ann Arbor will remain a priority. DEFENSIVE TACKLE Scholarship players in 2015: 8 Seniors in 2015: 1 (Ondre Pipkins) Needs in 2016: 1-2 Michigan landed two defensive tackles in the 2014 class, but didn't pursue many in 2015. That means it will become a need in 2016, and Michigan would be well served to take more than one prospect in the class. Fortunately, there's a strong con- nection to the nation's best at the position. The Wolverines hired Para- mus (N.J.) Catholic head coach Chris Partridge to serve as a non-coaching assistant on the recruiting front, and one of his top players from his fi- nal year at the New Jersey power- house is No. 2 overall 2016 prospect Rashan Gary. The 6-4, 290-pounder transferred from Scotch Plains (N.J.) Fanwood High School in part to play for Partridge, so he could be follow- ing that path in the future, as well. Michigan has also offered a pros- pect closer to home in Detroit Cass Tech four-star Michael Onwenu. U-M had faded as the hot program for the state's top producer of Division I tal- ent (three Technicians signed with Ohio State in 2014 and 2015 alone), but a new coaching staff in Ann Ar- bor can reverse that trend. The 6-2, 320-pound Onwenu is the No. 170 overall player and No. 17 defensive tackle in the nation (and the third- best player in Michigan). He has played mostly offensive line in his high school career, but has the build of an elite college defensive tackle. DEFENSIVE END Scholarship players in 2015: 6 Seniors in 2015: 1 (Mario Ojemu- dia) Needs in 2016: 2 Michigan addressed a strong need at defensive end in the 2015 class with two late grabs in three-star Reu- ben Jones and Shelton Johnson. Both have long-term potential and will probably take some time to adjust to the college level. An instant-impact player would be a huge boost to the U-M recruiting class in 2016, espe- cially with extremely light depth on the current roster. U-M doesn't have much early trac- tion with elite defensive ends, but one of the best in the country is right in the Midwest. Darien (Ill.) Hinsdale South four-star Josh King is the No. 4 strongside end and No. 57 overall player nationally, and has already made it to campus in Ann Arbor for a visit in summer 2014. He's on the lighter side at 6-6, 230 pounds thanks to keeping his weight down to partic- ipate in wrestling, the sport in which he was a state qualifier as a junior. When he can focus on football, he has a world of potential as an edge rusher. Washington (D.C.) St. John's Col- legiate four-star Terrell Hall is a 6-5, 251-pounder ranked the No. 178 overall player and No. 9 weakside defensive end in the nation. He plans to take an unofficial visit to Ann Ar- bor prior to the start of his senior