The Wolverine

May 2017 Issue

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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46 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 BY BRANDON BROWN A s of mid-April, U-M had offered somewhere around 10 or 11 quar- terbacks in the 2018 class with varying levels of legitimacy and different com- mitment statuses among the group. Of those offerees, there appear to be just three realistic targets on the board. Las Vegas Bishop Gorman four-star Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been U-M's top target for a while. Orlando (Fla.) Olympia four-star Joe Milton was offered in February and has be- come another viable option, while Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton three-star Tyler Shough picked up his Michigan offer about a week before the spring game and already seems to be seri- ously considering the Wolverines. Milton — a 6-5, 210-pounder with a cannon for an arm — has really shot up the ranks because of his size, arm strength and overall athleticism. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and assistant head coach/passing game coordina- tor Pep Hamilton see a lot of upside in Rivals' No. 6 dual-threat quarter- back and No. 113 overall player in the country, and Milton also sees some things he likes about Michigan. "I really like the coaching staff at Michigan," Milton said. "Coach Har- baugh coached my cousin Anquan Boldin when he was with the 49ers, and he told me a lot about Coach Harbaugh. He said that he's a really good guy and that he's very smart. "I like Coach Pep also. He's very smart and he knows what to do with the ball. He's told me about keep- ing my grades up at all times, make sure I do the right things, stay out of trouble and just ball out on the field." Because Milton is a native of Or- lando, Fla., he has looked like a Flor- ida lean for some time. At 6-5 and 195 pounds, Shough has a great frame to grow into and looks quite polished on tape for a three-star kid without any in-state offers. His father is a Michigan native and that slight connection seems to have him very interested in the Maize and Blue even though he's the most recent re- cipient of an offer in the group. "I actually grew up a huge Michi- gan fan because my dad is from Te- cumseh," Shough explained. "I know quite a bit about them so far, so it's pretty awesome to have that offer. "My dad moved out here for the weather, but it gets pretty hot. I'm looking to get out of the heat. It would be nice to have a little change of pace." With not much time to give it major thought and more than 2,000 miles to cover, a visit to Ann Arbor is not on the books yet but it will take place. Shough — a pro-style passer who is listed as the No. 8 player in Arizona by Rivals — has to be looked at as a very serious option for U-M, and he is certainly one to watch. Thompson-Robinson has been viewed as Michigan's top quarterback target for some time, but unfortunately for the staff and the Wolverine faith- ful he may be leaning toward UCLA. Michigan is still going to have a shot with Rivals' No. 2 dual-threat quar- terback and No. 41 overall prospect nationally because of his respect for Harbaugh and connection to the uni- versity, but staying out West seems like the move for him at this time. When asked for the reasons why U-M made it into his final group, Thompson-Rob- inson was clear and to the point. "Coach Harbaugh and Coach Pep," he noted. "The offense, and a degree from Michigan will set you for life. My mom graduated from U-M and it obvi- ously helped her in life and she's a very successful woman so that's the factor that I look at. I've been there numerous times and love it every time I go." It feels like Milton and Thompson- Robinson may be headed elsewhere, so Shough is definitely a candidate to end up in the class. Whenever his visit to Ann Arbor materializes, he'll be placed on commit watch almost immediately. MICHIGAN RECRUITING THE STATE OF GEORGIA HARD With five members, Michigan's 2018 class was considered No. 17 in the country by Rivals as of mid- April. The total number of pledges and ranking aren't overly notewor- thy, but the fact that three of the com- mits hail from Georgia certainly is. When Atlanta Westlake four-star cornerback Myles Sims and Buford (Ga.) High three-star running back Christian Turner joined Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County four-star outside linebacker Otis Reese among Michi- gan's 2018 commits during the first two weeks of April, it meant that the majority of U-M's class originates di- rectly from SEC country. With nearly 10 months left until National Sign- ing Day, Michigan already had more Peach State products committed than any class ever has in the Rivals era. Since the Rivals era started in 2002,   MICHIGAN RECRUITING U-M's 2018 Quarterback Picture Is Taking Shape 2018 Michigan Commitment List Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Emil Ekiyor OL 6-4 315 Indianapolis (Cathedral) Aidan Hutchinson DE 6-4 227 Dearborn, Mich. (Divine Child) Otis Reese LB 6-2 195 Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County) Myles Sims CB 6-3 173 Atlanta (Westlake) Christian Turner RB 5-10 180 Buford, Ga. (Buford) Orlando (Fla.) Olympia four-star Joe Milton — a 6-5, 210-pounder who is rated as the nation's No. 6 dual-threat passer and No. 113 overall prospect by Rivals — is one of three realistic quarterback targets on the board for the Wolverines. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM/NICK LUCERO

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