TE Jake Butt's rise helps keep Michigan atop ESPN's football recruiting rankings
ESPN has updated its list of the top 300 recruits in the 2013 class -- and, true to recent form, the Michigan football team makes out very well.
Fifteen of the Wolverines' 22 commits made the list, which narrowly beats Alabama's 14 to pace the country. USC has 13 on the list, and Florida features 12.
Michigan's tally easily edges everyone else in the Big Ten, with Ohio State the next closest at 11. Penn State follows with five, Nebraska three, Michigan State two and Wisconsin and Northwestern one.
The Wolverines' overall representation on the top 300 list didn't change since ESPN's last release, but there was some player movement. The biggest winner of all was four-star tight end Jake Butt (Pickerington, Ohio), who jumped from No. 234 to No. 171.
Butt posted a breakout performance last weekend at The Opening, a prestigious event covered by ESPN at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., and did so despite a deep field of impact tight ends.
"He’s a tight end who is kind of the new-age tight end, where he can flex out and play a little split, or they can line him in the slot," Scout Midwest recruiting analyst Allen Trieu told AnnArbor.com. "He can run pretty much any kind of route.
"He was running short routes over the middle, he was running wheel routes, he was running routes up the seam. Basically anything you need him to do in the passing game, he can get it done. Even though he’s a highly ranked guy, highly regarded guy, the extent to which he’s performed and stood out here is a little bit surprising."
Four-star cornerback Jourdan Lewis (Detroit Cass Tech) also made a nifty jump, rising from No. 107 to No. 92 after a strong performance on the camp circuit. Trieu said Lewis was Michigan's best player at The Opening, and that he was particularly effective against bigger receivers, which had been a concern for him.
Lewis stands only 5-foot-10, 160 pounds.
Four-star quarterback Shane Morris, the face of Michigan's recruiting class and the Wolverines' first commit for 2013, moved up from No. 32 to No. 26. He was the only top-four quarterback not to lose ground.
Morris is ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 pocket quarterback in the country. In fact, after the re-release, Michigan now has 13 recruits ranked in the top 10 at their respective positions.
Check out ESPN's list of the top 300 recruits in the country by clicking here, and see the four-letter's take on Michigan commits 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
Mick52
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.
I really don't care much about these rankings since players can succeed or fail for a lot of reasons but one thing really sticks out here. Michigan 15 recruits in the top 300, Michigan State: 2. Got to give MSU a tip of the hat for 4 wins in a row, but this is not evidence that will continue. How D'Antonio or any MSU fan can think MSU is becoming equal to top programs has some explainin' to do. Am I wrong thinking top players are attracted to top programs?
Wally the Wolverine
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
Mick, we have always out-recruited msu for as long as I can remember. Is there any doubt that much of their success is likely more related to coaching stability than recruiting rankings? I mean,that's the reason we point to for our resurgence. Even the most ardent Go Blue supporter has to admit Dantonio does more with less (less as perceived by the pundits).
Tom
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 2:16 a.m.
Terry - Why wasn't Michigan the right fit for your education?
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 4:08 a.m.
Probably the expense! BOOOO! Michigan students and alumni don't hold prejudice against people who love Michigan football but didn't have the means to attend themselves, and you shouldn't either.
Terry Star21
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
'New-age tight end"......I love it. Sounds like this kid has a lot of desire, lot of drive. Michigan is definitely the right fit for him. MgoBlueForTiM...try catching this kid on your xbox.
D21
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
Scott, Me thinks Jake Butt looks alike Butthead from the "Beavis & Butthead" MTV show. GO BLUE!
Scott
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:36 p.m.
And their is a picture of Shane Morris instead of Jake Butt because? I don't even know what Jake Butt looks like.
Joe Rob Smith
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 8:38 p.m.
Here's a link to a picture of Jake at the Opening. Nice picture! http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/opening-awards-jake-butt-and-jourdan-lewis-make-all-tourney-team
Hailmary
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:22 p.m.
Yes, this all looks good in print now let's wait and get the facts which will be stated on the field of play.