The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Juniors To Watch A rest for avid followers of recruiting. The end of one recruiting cycle sim- ply means it's time to focus on the next one. Here are some juniors to keep in mind as Michigan pursues the class of 2013. lthough the 2012 class is signed, sealed and delivered, there is no BY TIM SULLIVAN The Commits SHANE MORRIS, QUARTERBACK De La Salle Collegiate/Warren, Mich. the 2013 class, Morris picked the Wolverines back on May 11, 2011. The 6-3, 190-pound lefty threw for 1,644 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, and led the De La Salle Pilots to the state quarterfi- nals, where they fell to eventual Division 1 state cham- pion Detroit Cass Tech. Rivals.com's initial class of 2013 rankings place Morris as the No. 16 player in the na- tion, the second-best quarterback and the state of Michigan's top prospect. Michigan's first commitment in DYMONTE THOMAS, SAFETY/ATHLETE Marlington High School/Alliance, Ohio back Bri'onte Dunn, is headed to Ohio State, Thomas has made a verbal pledge to Michigan. He picked the Wol- verines after wit- nessing the victory over Notre Dame on Sept. 10. The 6-1, 175-pound prospect is a safety and running back in high school, and said Michigan's coaches aren't certain which position he'll play in college. He seems most likely to end up on defense, however, and he recorded 102 tackles and one in- terception at the position during his junior season. Rivals.com ranks him the No. 77 prospect nationally and No. 4 player in Ohio. Although his cousin, 2012 running KHALID HILL, TIGHT END Crockett Technical High School/Detroit Hill is the most recent to commit to Michigan's 2013 class. A lifelong 80 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2012 Detroit resident who grew up watch- ing Michigan, he described his schol- arship offer from the Wolverines as a dream come true. At 6-2, 230 pounds, he is slightly undersized for a tight end, but he fits the descrip- tion of Michigan's "U-back," a motion tight end who can also fulfill some fullback duties. He caught 49 passes for 522 yards and six touchdowns as a junior, and also made 55 tackles defensively. He is not ranked in the initial Rivals250 for 2013. Offered Prospects TY ISAAC, RUNNING BACK Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, Ill. speed more than size to get by at the high school level, Isaac ran for 2,629 yards and 49 touch- downs as a junior. He wants to become a tougher runner by the time he reaches college. He has visited A 6-3, 215-pounder who relies on JARON DUKES, WIDE RECEIVER Marion Franklin High School/ Columbus, Ohio program to offer Dukes, even though he's based right in Ohio State's back- yard. Fortunately for the Wolverines, the 6-4, 185-pound Dukes also grew up a fan of the Maize and Blue, so they have an early lead for his ser- vices. Although he doesn't have elite speed, his size and elusiveness help him come down with jump balls and make plays after the catch. JAKE BUTT, TIGHT END Pickerington North High School/ Pickerington, Ohio Michigan unofficially two times, for the Purdue game in October and again in mid-January. Isaac plans to make a college decision prior to his senior year, if he can narrow his list quickly enough. Rivals.com ranks him as the No. 18 prospect in the nation. LAQUON TREADWELL, WIDE RECEIVER Crete-Monee High School/Crete, Ill. mit Anthony Standifer, Treadwell seemed much more likely to pick Michi- gan when Standifer was in the fold. How- ever, the Wolverines are still strong with the 6-3, 185-pound wideout. He plays a physical game, and has the ability to go up and get the football, drawing comparisons to for Michigan receivers Braylon Edwards and Junior Hemingway. Rivals.com ranks him No. 31 nationally and No. 3 in Illinois. The teammate of ex-Michigan com- the ability to line up at tight end or defen- sive end, but Michi- gan's coaches have told him that they want him to be a pass catcher at the next level. Butt has good body control and soft hands, allowing him to make catches down the field. He also has above- average speed for a player his size and can be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Rivals.com ranks him the No. 96 player in the nation. A 6-5, 240-pound frame gives Butt LOGAN TULEY-TILLMAN, OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Manual High School/Peoria, Ill. of 2013, Tuley-Tillman already holds offers from Michigan, Alabama, South Car- olina, Notre Dame and Ohio State. His 6-7, 295-pound frame and long arms are prototypical of what coaches look for in a left tackle. His ath- leticism is also impressive, and he only needs more experience at the position before he can develop into a top-flight player. One of the fastest risers in the class CHRIS FOX, OFFENSIVE LINE Ponderosa High School/Parker, Colo. first two schools to offer Fox, doing so in the summer before his junior year Michigan and Colorado were the Michigan was the first big-time