The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING DE/LB RAHSHAUN SMITH 6-2, 226 pounds Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy Five stars, No. 3 prospect in Florida, and No. 1 outside linebacker and No. 11 overall player nationally Smith is one of the country's top prospects, a high school linebacker who also projects to be a pass rusher with a hand in the dirt on the next level. His versatility and ability to play multiple positions is just another boost to his overall profile as a prospect. The Baltimore product recently trans- ferred to powerhouse IMG in Florida. Smith has offers from just about every program in the country, including Michi- gan. He has yet to take an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor, but is intrigued by the hire of Harbaugh (whose brother, John, is the coach of Smith's hometown Baltimore Ravens). LB DARRIAN FRANKLIN 6-2, 210 pounds Downey (Calif.) High School Four stars, No. 21 prospect in California, and No. 9 outside line- backer and No. 120 overall player nationally Franklin has the size and hard-nosed attitude to play on the inside, but is athletic enough to make plays in space and could slot at outside linebacker at the next level. Although he lives on the West Coast, Franklin has family in Detroit — his dad is a native and his grandmother still lives in the area. That has U-M among his top choices, along with hometown programs USC and UCLA. A spring visit to Ann Ar- bor should boost the Wolverines. LB JONATHAN JONES 6-2, 210 pounds Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge Three stars, No. 81 prospect in Florida and No. 23 inside linebacker nationally Jones is a downhill, true middle linebacker. He ex- cels at stopping running backs in the backfield and is also able to drop into pass coverage. Jones has named Mich- igan his leader over programs such as Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, de- spite never having visited campus. He's a high academic achiever, and the Wol- verines can pitch their education when he makes his first campus visit in the summer. S JAYLON JONES 5-11, 172 pounds Allen (Texas) High School Four stars, No. 31 prospect in Texas, and No. 15 safety and No. 226 overall player nationally Jones is one of three rising seniors from a loaded Allen ( Texas) High team. He is capable of playing man coverage, but excels at being a ball-hawk in zone coverage and coming up to play the run (despite his size). Jones plans to take an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor during the spring or sum- mer, and that will give the Wolverines the chance to make a move. Duke, Ohio