QB Shane Morris among 3 Michigan football recruits to pick up fifth stars in Scout rankings
Scout has released its first ranking of the country's top 300 recruits for 2013, and the Michigan football team, which has picked up 11 commitments in the past three weeks, comes away a big winner.
The Wolverines have verbal commitments from three players who received fifth stars, the most in the country: Pennsylvania guard Patrick Kugler (No. 25 overall), Warren DeLaSalle quarterback Shane Morris (No. 28) and Ohio safety Dymonte Thomas (No. 35).
Texas is the only other school that has multiple five-star recruits. It has two.
Morris was Michigan's first commitment for 2013, then became integral in the recruitment of several others, including Thomas. The class now numbers a Big Ten-best 14.
Overall, Michigan's class is impressive both for its top-end talent and its depth.
It has four recruits among the top 50, which trails only Texas (five) nationally. It is more than the rest of the Big Ten combined (one, from Ohio State).
Among the top 150, Michigan has six prospects, Ohio State has five and the rest of the Big Ten has none. It appears no one has come close to matching the recruiting prowess of Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer in this cycle.
Michigan has 12 players on the list of 300, the most in the country and more than the rest of the Big Ten combined. Ohio State has five, and Michigan State, Nebraska and Penn State each have one.
The ranking of the Wolverines' top-12 recruits, per Scout: Kugler 25; Morris 28, Thomas 35, OL Kyle Bosch 49, OL Chris Fox 137, TE Jake Butt 147, OL Logan Tuley-Tillman 153, FB Wyatt Shallman 179, LB Mike McCray 202, CB Jourdan Lewis 251, OL David Dawson 264 and WR Jaron Dukes 287.
The only Michigan prospects who did not make the list were Detroit Crockett tight end Khalid Hill and Ohio defensive end Taco Charlton. Both are three-star recruits.
The Wolverines didn't have any commitments at this time last year.
For the full list of Scout's top-300 recruits, click here.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
KeepingItReal
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
As long as the Big Ten officials protect Shane Morris from contact, he might be ok. Like in high school. The code word for a pro style quaterback is don't touch the QB! A little contact and poof!. That's what makes Shoelace so special.
michboy40
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
This puts a lot of things in perspective. The fact that the coaching staff is pegging talent, even before it is fully rated, means they are doing their homework! There may be some truth to the idea that stars mean nothing, but a team full of four and five star guys is more likely to win on a regular basis than a team without. That is a fact. It doesn't mean we are automatically going to win all of our games, but it does mean that we will win most of them, and I can live with that, especially if Hoke is running the program with class, which it appears he is. THIS IS MICHIGAN FOR GOD SAKE'S!
81wolverine
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
I don't think these guys will be the last of the 5* players Michigan gets this year. The coaches are getting serious attention from a lot of elite players this year - more than last year's class by far. How many of those end up committing is another story of course. But, it's a great sign that Hoke and staff are doing and saying the right things to recruits. Also, it's just a matter of hard work and putting in the time. One of my biggest worries when the RR experiment didn't work out was that firing him and hiring a new staff would set us back several more years. But, Hoke has proven that worry to be unfounded.
Blue Marker
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 4 p.m.
Your point is taken; I'm not carving any statues yet. But even an MSU fan would have to admit things have gotten off to an excellent start for Hoke. I'm a big picture sort of guy and will wait and see how this turns out. But I couldn't imagine a better start. One other difference I'll point out is Weis always came off as arrogant. Hoke may look like Fred Flintstone but comes across as an everyday sort of guy without pretension. I believe that's a big part of the recruiting success.
j
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
Don't forget Charlie Weis began his tenure at ND with consecutive BCS game apperacnces . . . .
Blue Marker
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Excellent point about how far back a program can be sent if the right hire isn't made. Look no further than South Bend for a team still trying to make the right hire post Holtz. I wasn't thrilled when Hoke was hired. The Carr coaching tree isn't exactly an oak. But I'm certainly coming around to this staff. I've followed recruiting a long and have never seen Michigan as hot as they are now. Go Blue!!!
Steve McQueen
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 6:28 a.m.
This will be the 2nd top 5 recruiting class that Coach Hoke and his team have brought in. The resources that Michigan offers have always been there, which is why Michigan is number 1 all time in wins and winning percentage and has the most BT championships of any other school. Coach Hoke is now taking that to a whole nother level. Domination on the field will follow. Love it. Go Blue.
ted
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:28 p.m.
We can expect more commits after this weekend. Anyone know the list of visitors ? It's on the rivals site, but you have to be a member. I know Ty Isaac is coming.
j
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
Will Campbell 5 star, Jerel Worthy 3 star . . .
Steve McQueen
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 6:33 a.m.
oooh poor green man still has to compare himself to Michigan... lol ... enjoy your upcoming annual beatdowns green man... 3 out of 4 games you will lose to Michigan, just as it has been for the past 100 years. ha ha.
TheWay
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 2:27 a.m.
It's true. 5 stars doesn't guarantee you'll be great in college. Just as 3 stars doesn't guarantee you'll be mediocre. But statistically speaking, more stars = greater chance of being great. And statistically speaking, one of these 3 stars is going to be all-conference.
Terry Star21
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 11:39 p.m.
j - 0 stars.........
Blue Marker
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
I think it's a great point. But I think that's the exception and not the rule. You want to get the best kids you possibly can knowing some will work out and some will bust. Stars don't mean everything but it's a pretty reliable system.
j
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
Its called putting too much emphasis on rankings, these KIDS have potential, but sometimes it dosen't translate. Just be realistic. As my "little brothers squad"? Whatever . . . I can tell your a smart guy
D21
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
Who cares as your little brother squad's days are already numbered. Michigan is IN, Little brother is OUT. GO BLUE!
Terry Star21
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
So predictable, I'm thinking by next February we will have at least 15 five star athletes for 2013. Brady is such a master of the recruiting art, bet he saw this coming. Yeah, expect urban to get ill again and another early medical leave coming....poor guy, can't win for losing. And up north, their coach is probably ready to throw the towel in. MgoBlueForTiM........it was getting better by the day, now it's by the hour..
Terry Star21
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 11:37 p.m.
j.....seriously, come on - seriously ????
j
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
"it was getting better by the day, now it's by the hour." No. They are still the same kids. Just cause they changed rankings dosent meant they are magically better now. We will find out about these kids when they come to practice with Juniors and Seinors
umgoblue47
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.
CONGRATS TO SHANE MORRIS for your 5*!! poor albee. . . he said only Oscar meyer get's 5* recruits. . . he is going to be crushed! GO BLUE!!!!!!
heartbreakM
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 9:35 p.m.
Well, just wait till Urban Meyer picks up those Rivals athletes with SIX stars!!! He can do anything!!
#58ontheroster
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 3:13 a.m.
He can do anything....except beat Michigan. He's 0 for 3.
Terry Star21
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
That's why his slappies will say, "Oh, we'll let Michigan have the five stars"...LOL
Buster W.
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
"QB Shane Morris among 3 Michigan football recruits to pick up fifth stars in Scout rankings" "The Wolverines have verbal commitments from three players who received fifth stars,..." Fifth???
Terry Star21
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 11:50 p.m.
"Fifth" is correct for the way that statement was made
mookienation
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.
No, I think fifth is correct.
D21
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:30 p.m.
DVB, Busta is merely pointing out that it should have read, "five" instead of "fifth"
David Vande Bunte
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Yeah...as in they previously were rated as 4-star players, who had the amount of stars behind their name increase by 1...they had 4 stars, now they have received their fifth. IE, they are now 5-star recruits. What's so complicated?