The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE and maybe even three, in this class with four-star Drew Singleton, the nation's No. 33 recruit in 2017, prob- ably the No. 1 target on the board, plus: Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's four-star Joshua Ross The 6-1, 219-pound Ross is a little taller than his older brother, three- year U-M starter James Ross III. That may give him a bit more up- side, since he sacrifices nothing in athleticism. He is the No. 4 player in Michigan, and the No. 11 outside linebacker and No. 181 overall pros- pect nationally. DEFENSIVE BACK Scholarship Players In 2017: 11 Need: 3-4 Commits: 1 Michigan will feature seven cor- nerbacks and four safeties in 2017, but that's assuming Jabrill Peppers sticks around for his redshirt junior season (he would be eligible to de- clare for the NFL Draft after 2016). It's also possible that cornerback Reon Dawson is not back for a fifth year. U-M needs safety help more than cornerbacks in the 2017 class, and it would make sense to sign two safe- ties, one cornerback and one versatile player that could play both. Three-star signee Khaleke Hudson was likely brought in to play the role Peppers did in 2015 and will again in 2016: a dime linebacker, nickel back and part-time safety, and would be insurance if Peppers leaves after 2016. The cornerback post in 2017 is a wild card after the departures of Jourdan Lewis, Jeremy Clark and Channing Stribling in 2016, but in redshirt sophomore Keith Washing- ton, and redshirt freshmen or sopho- mores Lavert Hill and David Long, Michigan has three very promising young talents. Like at linebacker, U-M is operat- ing from a position of strength, and already has a commitment in the fold from three-star cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. Still, the Wolverines will want complements like: Clairton (Pa.) High five-star cor- nerback Lamont Wade The No. 6 overall player in the country makes up for a 5-9, 182-pound frame with elite athleti- cism and long arms. The top corner- back and Pennsylvanian in the 2017 class is looking forward to his first trip to Ann Arbor. Pembroke Pines (Fla.) Flanagan four-star cornerback Stanford Sam- uels III Pulling a Florida State legacy out of the Sunshine State may be a tall task … but U-M just did it at Samuels' own school with the head coach's son, Devin Bush Jr. The 6-1, 161-pounder is rated No. 10 among Florida juniors, and is the No. 7 cor- nerback and No. 63 overall prospect nationally. Detroit Cass Tech three-star safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell Though his 6-0, 180-pound size may sound more cornerback than safety, Kelly-Powell has a skill set that should allow him to play be-