Monday Recruitin' Puts On A Show
Commit Updates: The Brandon Peters Show
While Dave was in Farmington filming David Reese on Friday night, I stayed home to watch Brandon Peters and Avon take on rival Brownsburg on ESPNU. His 90-second highlight reel from the game would stand as an impressive season highlight reel for many prospects:
The highlights are representative: Peters completed 20 of 28 passes for 335 yards, six touchdowns, and a lone pick that looked like another touchdown pass until his receiver dropped it into the defender's arms. He easily outperformed 2017 five-star Tennessee commit Hunter Johnson, Brownsburg's quarterback. After seeing him two weeks ago in person and taking in this game on TV, I'm convinced he's the best Michigan quarterback prospect since Devin Gardner, and those who take that as any sort of backhanded compliment need to remind themselves of how good Gardner was coming out of high school.
Garrett Fishaw, making his Maize n Brew debut, rounded up the other commit stat lines from last weekend. Other notables:
- LB David Reese had 12 tackles, three TFLs, a sack, a fumble return TD, and a rushing TD in a loss against Southfield. I'll have scouting and highlights from this game tomorrow.
- RB Kingston Davis had 165 yards and a TD while LB Dytarious Johnson chipped in nine tackles in a 28-7 Prattville win.
- ATH Chris Evans had 120 yards and two scores on 17 touches in a 31-19 loss to the state's top-ranked team, Center Grove.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Mayden Visit Reaction: First-Person Tunnel Run
Four-star TX CB and Oregon commit Jared Mayden took his official visit to Michigan on Saturday. This looks fun.
Video of Oregon ESPN 300 commit Jared Mayden running down the tunnel on his Michigan visit pic.twitter.com/bQqqBZ9Gxk
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) September 13, 2015
As exhiliarating as that may have been, it doesn't sound like Mayden is a strong candidate to flip, per Scout's Greg Biggins:
For now, without a direct comparison, Mayden is giving the Michigan trip an "8" on a scale of 1-10.
When asked if he was still firmly committed to Oregon, Mayden answered, "I am".
Mayden still has officials to Florida, Georgia, and Oregon left on the docket.
Other Visit Reactions: Peoples-Jones, Kelly-Powell
Five-star 2017 Cass Tech WR Donovan Peoples-Jones took in both the Michigan and MSU games on Saturday and enjoyed both visits, per 247's Steve Wiltfong ($):
Ranked by the 247Sports Composite Composite as the nation's No. 2 receiver and by 247Sports as the No. 14 player overall, Peoples-Jones continues to like where Jim Harbaugh and the staff are taking Michigan.
"I'm starting to see their ambition," Peoples-Jones said. "I do understand it's going to take a couple cycles before it's considered his team."
Harbaugh and company will see a lot of Peoples-Jones moving forward.
"Very good," he said of his latest visit. "Enjoyed the game and am excited to visit again."
While Peoples-Jones' recruitment is a national one, Michigan may have an early edge. They look to be in very good shape with DPJ's four-star 2017 S teammate Jaylen Kelly-Powell, who compared the feel at U-M and MSU when talking to 247's Steve Lorenz ($):
"Michigan is always a more traditional type atmosphere and visit," he said. "The atmosphere at Michigan State has more of a modern and youthful feel to it. They're completely different types of atmospheres, but are both really enjoyable in their own way. I had a great time at both games."
That's... fair.
I'm Sure State Fans Will Take This Well
Well, this is a teaser:
4-star WR Donnie Corley was at #MSU last weekend, but he was still thinking about #UMich: http://t.co/aH4CARTU50 pic.twitter.com/yAeVRGxjIQ
— Rivals.com (@Rivals) September 14, 2015
Four-star Detroit King WR Donnie Corley told The Wolverine's Brandon Brown heading into his official visit to MSU for the Oregon game that he'd be taking in the Michigan game on TV; he's keeping a close eye on the Wolverines ($):
"I've been talking to Coach Harbaugh a lot about how they would use me. I probably talk to someone from Michigan probably twice a week - either Coach Harbaugh or Coach [Jedd] Fisch. I love what they're doing. My dad isn't lying when he says that, I like what they got going on."
Corley made it out of his MSU official without a commitment. The safe bet is still that he'll end up in East Lansing, but Michigan continues to make this interesting.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^
DONNIE CORLEY USES HUGE FOOTBALLS!
September 14th, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^
It's not that. He's only 3'6" and 52 lbs. right now. Gotta get that kid in a college weight training program.
September 14th, 2015 at 3:39 PM ^
September 14th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^
~Fred
September 14th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^
I know other programs are doing it, but I am pretty disappointed that UM has decided to start offering scholarships to Kindergarteners...
September 14th, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^
When he was a recruit he could balance huge footballs on his forehead.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^
that would be some WR haul for this year and next, lots of playmakers.
I watched the Peters game too, so impressed by his poise, arm and athleticism, beautiful touch on his throws.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:16 PM ^
Maybe it's just me, but Peters pocket mannerisms remind me a lot of Andrew Luck's.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^
has to be influential for the HS QB's in that state.
September 14th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^
September 14th, 2015 at 3:45 PM ^
I wasn't so good in high school; I was trying to play like Joey Harrington.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 12:51 AM ^
... multiple reasons why you shouldn't have had a picture of Kelly Holcomb in your wallet.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^
Getting Corley, DPJ, and Hamler would really go a long way towards shoring up the WR depth chart.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
that would be scary for opposing DB's...
September 14th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^
September 14th, 2015 at 2:34 PM ^
Peters puts a nice touch on balls. As opposed to balls without a Peters. Just sayin'.
September 14th, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^
September 14th, 2015 at 2:34 PM ^
Just give him the damn fifth star already.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^
I think at this pace its only a matter of time if he keeps it up. My professional opinion...
September 14th, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^
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September 14th, 2015 at 3:54 PM ^
I think arm strength could be an issue with Peters. He's showing nice touch, so maybe the highlights don't do it justice. But if you watch, say, Jacob Eason's tape, it's easy to see the difference.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^
Also possible that he doesn't put a ton on his passes because HS recievers can't catch balls like that. I feel like he had the strongest arm during the QB camp at Michigan this summer. Scouts considered Andrew Luck to have a weak arm in HS for that reason, not saying it's true with Peters, but it's a smart move as a HS QB if you don't have D1 wide recievers.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:24 PM ^
very few hs QBs flick it quite like jacon eason. i typically only watch tapes i see linked on michigan sites so i certainly havent seen all hs QBs out there but not many have stronger arms. eason is the only kid ive seen this cycle with that type pro arm strength. might not be the best comparison for peters.
ive been really impressed with peters awareness, decision making and ability to make variety of throws. he seems comfortable sliding around the pocket, feeling the rush, throwing into blitzers, etc and thats all tough to do in hs. plus hes pretty decent at deciding when to run - he does not hesitate, he gets upfield and picks up the 8-15 yards available to him and moves the chains.
of course peters could struggle jumping a level when adjusting to college Ds, timing, smaller windows, etc, but many do - its hardest position in sports, even more so if coaches and teammates do not pull their weight. can peters make those big time throws on contested comeback routes or squeeze into smaller windows or in between zones on 5 or 6 routes? well see. he does not have the strongest arm, but hes also not denard, he makes all throws hes currently asked in hs
September 14th, 2015 at 2:47 PM ^
I love what Harbaugh has done at the QB position. Peters is another great one to add in with O'Korn and Gentry.
September 14th, 2015 at 2:48 PM ^
Man, does Peters throw a pretty ball. I don't know anything about scouting qbs, so I won't comment on arm strength, but he sure looks like he's got perfect weight on those passes. WRs are effortlessly catching most of them in stride.
September 14th, 2015 at 3:08 PM ^
With such a big stage last weekend, I expected MSU would get a couple commitments. The fact that neither Corley nor anyone else commited has got to have Dantonio even grumpier.
September 14th, 2015 at 3:15 PM ^
Was definitely happy to not see any commits or a flood of 247 CBs to MSU after what has to be their biggest recruiting weekend of the season.considering they play Michigan and OSU away.
September 14th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^
Something I never really thought about before was how strength of schedule affects recruiting (outside of being a good team and beating good teams obviously). Now sure MSU didn't get any commits this weekend, but you have to figure a marquee top 10 matchup with College Gameday in town is gonna have a bigger wow factor on recruits.
I'd be curious to see if there are more commitments when you beat a top 10 team at home, vs a random non P5 school. Or if there's more commitments when College Gameday is in town.
I doubt it's a big number, and I'm way to lazy to figure it out, but still it would be interesting to compare.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:41 PM ^
Recruits follow teams for a long time. I don't think one game, even a big one, is going to turn on a light switch.
September 14th, 2015 at 3:54 PM ^
Brandon Peters is very good at football. But I hereby demand that he stops running the ball until he is here on campus...
September 14th, 2015 at 6:11 PM ^
September 14th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^
Peters looks excellent except for the whole stare down his receivers thing that almost every HS QB ever does.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:15 PM ^
Peters looks so good not just with the way he throws it but in his poise, presence, and even-keeled demeanor. I know it's a long way off but I could see him starting early and really forcing Gentry to TE where I think his athletic 6'7"+ frame and good athleticism would flourish.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:24 PM ^
of Brandon Peters, the guy who would be throwing to them....
September 14th, 2015 at 5:47 PM ^
Do we need a shitty stadium and a seizure-inducing scoreboard in order to generate a "modern, youthful feel"?
September 15th, 2015 at 1:08 AM ^
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September 14th, 2015 at 7:24 PM ^
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September 14th, 2015 at 9:32 PM ^
I don't remember Devin Gardner's high school film looking nearly this good. He was an outstanding athlete, but had that funny throwing motion and wasn't overly effective passing the ball.
Maybe Peters is the best QB prospect since Chad Henne.
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