The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/575020
FOOTBALL RECRUITING traffic and serving as a willing blocker on the edge. Michigan State leads for his ser- vices, but after several months of lukewarm feelings toward U-M, he's much higher on the Wolverines than he has been since the beginning of his recruitment. Ohio State and Tennessee are two other contenders for him. ISAAC NAUTA 6-4, 235 • Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy Five-star talent, No. 5 player in Flor- ida, and No. 1 tight end and No. 18 over- all recruit in the land Nauta decom- mitted from Flor- i d a S t a t e o v e r the summer, and many folks expect him to end up at Georgia (where his family lives while he attends IMG Academy as a board- ing student). However, he insists that he's not a done deal to the Bulldogs, and his family connection to Michi- gan — uncle Joel Smeenge played for U-M defensive line coach Greg Matti- son at Western Michigan before going onto an NFL career — is a boost. Nauta is the top tight end in the country because he's a do-it-all player at the position. He has the size and temperament to be a solid blocker, and the athleticism to stretch defenses down the field. JEAN DELANCE 6-5, 270 • Mesquite (Texas) North Mesquite Four-star prospect, No. 16 prospect in Texas, and No. 13 offensive tackle and No. 159 overall player nationally Delance prefers to stay quiet about his leanings, but Michigan really caught his eye af- ter the U-M satel- lite camp in the Dallas area. He plans to take an official visit for the season-ending c o n t e s t a g a i n s t Ohio State, which could give Michi- g a n t h e b o o s t needed to get past Alabama, Texas A&M and other contenders. He is a classic tackle prospect, and though he doesn't have the height ex- pected of a blindside protector at just 6-5, his long arms and quick feet allow him to cut off pass rushers and make life easy for his quarterback. JARED MAYDEN 6-0, 199 • Sachse (Texas) High Four-star recruit, No. 13 player in Texas, and No. 9 cornerback and No. 106 overall prospect in the country Like Hill, Mayden is not currently on the open mar- ket. He committed to Oregon over Michigan, Ohio S t a t e a n d o t h - ers at Nike's The Opening in July, but has softened his pledge to the Ducks in recent weeks. He took an official visit to Ann Arbor for the Or-