Demar Dorsey: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Cornerback -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 3/1/2010

Demar Dorsey: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'1
Weight: 175 lbs.
Position: Cornerback / Safety
High School: Boyd Anderson Cobras (Florida)
Head Coach: Mark James
Recruiter: Coach Calvin Magee
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Demar Dorsey is probably the number one overall athlete in the Michigan 2010 class; simply he has super athletic ability. Demar is capable of playing safety, corner, split end, and has the ability to be an excellent special teams player.


Strengths:
Demar has super movement skills, excellent quickness, a smooth easy backpedal, a dynamic burst and make up speed, his feet never stop moving. He is explosive and sudden with the ball in his hands, is not afraid of contact, and shows a physical side to his game.


Needs work:
Demar’s tackling is only average, he needs to do a better job of wrapping up. Also, he has some problems getting off blocks, gets lost in coverage and does not always maintain proper leverage.


Demar reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
Denard Robinson.


Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
No he plays right away.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 5-Star .. #2 at position.
Rivals: 4-Star .. #13 at position.
Scout: 4-Star .. #19 at position.


Final Thoughts:
Dorsey has athletic ability to either play cornerback or safety at Michigan. He has very good size and still as great speed/quickness. He has the total package and is one of the very best players in the 2010 recruiting class. He has quick feet, instincts, and is quick in transition. Be interesting to see where Michigan starts him out at either cornerback or safety, but we expect to see him on the field very early and would assume they try him at cornerback first and then maybe move him to safety in a couple of years if needed.


Written by GBMW Staff

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Jibreel Black: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Defensive End -- Signing Day Recap

Posted by at 4:00pm -- 2/28/2010

Jibreel Black: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'2
Weight: 253 lbs.
Position: Defensive End
High School: Cincinnati Wyoming (Ohio)
Head Coach: Bernie Barre
Recruiter: Coach Bruce Tall
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Jibreel makes up for his lack of ideal size with effort and intensity. He has look of a defensive tackle, but possesses enough athletic skill to play defensive end. GBMW would not be surprised to see him play defensive end on early downs and defensive tackle on passing downs.



Strengths:
Jibreel has an excellent first step and get off. He really moves his feet and demonstrates decent, solid pad level. Jibreel has a nice burst and closing speed, both in pursuit and pass rush. He has good lateral movement and does a good job maintaining outside leverage.



Needs work:
Jibreel does not use his hands very often and he also needs to work on his press-out. Also, Jibreel has a tendency of getting too deep and over running plays.



Jibreel reminds us of former Michigan Wolverine:
Chris Hutchinson



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Red-shirt would be a big help, but because of depth issues Black maybe forced to play.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #45 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #25 at position.
Scout: 4-Star .. #15 at position.



Final Thoughts:
Very good player that Coach Rod was able to get at the end especially at a position of need in our opinion. He could be that pass rusher that we have needed for the last couple of years in recruiting. Has a excellent get off the ball and also burst that helps him get past the linemen. Just needs to work on technique and will be a solid player at Michigan.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Jake Ryan: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Linebacker -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/27/2010

Jake Ryan: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'3
Weight: 220 lbs.
Position: Linebacker
High School: Cleveland St. Ignatius (Ohio)
Head Coach: Chuck Kyle
Recruiter: Coach Bruce Tall
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)


Overview:
The difference between Jake’s junior year film and that of his senior year is stark. Ryan has grown two inches or so and has picked up his game noticeably. Jake plays both middle linebacker and outside linebacker for one of the top high school programs in Ohio, maybe the entire country. His high school, St. Ignatius, is not only an outstanding athletic school, but also a top academic institution within the area. GBMW envisions Jake as a middle linebacker at Michigan. But so far some discussion has him starting out on the outside.



Strengths:
Jake plays a physical and aggressive game, is an excellent blitzer, takes very good pursuit angles and shows an excellent motor and hustle. Jake really finished his tackles and shows a surprising burst and runs well in straight lines.



Needs work:
Jake is a step slow filling the hole and his lateral movement needs to improve. He does not use his flipper very well and does not show the ability to shed blocks. He also needs to work on changing levels and bending his knees.



Jake reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
Carl Diggs or Sam Sword.



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Jake will most likely red-shirt.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #58 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #30 at position.
Scout: 3-Star .. #81 at position.

Final Thoughts:
Jake showed a big improvement from his junior year to his senior year in high school -- can that continue? Jake will be a very good special teams player and possibly in a couple of years become a good linebacker for Michigan. He shows the qualities you want, being a good blitzer, taking good pursuit angles and also just making plays.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Davion Rogers: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Defensive End -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/26/2010

Davion Rogers: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'6
Weight: 210 lbs.
Position: Defensive End / Outside Linebacker
High School: Warren G. Harding (Ohio)
Head Coach: D.J. Dota
Recruiter: Coach Bruce Tall
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)


Overview:
Davion Rogers is a tall rangy defensive end/outside linebacker prospect. He was a good enough overall athlete to actually play some safety in high school. Davion moves his feet well for being a taller player.


Strengths:
Davion is a hustle player and makes a lot of plays in pursuit. He shows very good range and has a solid get off. Davion shows a nice little rip move that he uses to maintain outside leverage. He has good lateral movement skills and range. Davion is a solid tackler, but not overly physical.



Needs work:
Davion’s size and strength are definitely issues. He also tends to get too deep and turn his shoulders. Davion, like many tall players, plays high and needs to do a better job of squeezing plays.


Davion reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
Pierre Woods.



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Very likely a red-shirt.


Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #29 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #28 at position.
Scout: 3-Star .. #102 at position.

Final Thoughts:
Davion has the height to play defensive end or outside linebacker, depending on what defense Michigan uses. He has a lot of athletic ability with his size, a solid get off from the line and shows a good pursuit of the ball carrier. Can he learn to play in space as an outside linebacker, or can he add the necessary weight and strength to become a good pass rushing defensive end?

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Josh Furman: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Linebacker -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/25/2010

Josh Furman: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'3
Weight: 194 lbs.
Position: Outside Linebacker / Safety
High School: Old Mill (Maryland)
Head Coach: Damian Ferragamo
Recruiter: Coach Tony Dews
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Josh is a super, all-purpose athlete with excellent to superior physical measurables. He possesses a good combination of size and speed. Josh is capable of playing either linebacker or running back, but he will probably end up on the defensive side of the ball (hopefully).



Strengths:
Josh clearly has above average quickness and gets off the ball well. He also has excellent straight-line speed and acceleration. Josh is an aggressive defender who will hit hard and plays with some edge to his game. Josh hustles, is very good in pursuit, and is an excellent blitzer!



Needs work:
Josh is a bit stiff at times and must learn to bend his knees and play with better leverage against top-notch college athletes. Josh’s coverage skills need to improve and his lateral movement is not on par with his straight-line speed. He plays better at the line of scrimmage than in space and his backpedal needs some work.



Josh reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
With his linebacker size combined with safety speed, Josh reminds us of former Michigan Wolverine great Larry Foote.



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Might red-shirt or might play on special teams.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #38 at position.
Rivals: 3-Star .. #38 at position.
Scout: 4-Star .. #7 at position.


Final Thoughts:
Josh has excellent speed, ability, and seems to be a solid tackler. He is a great athlete who has the body of a linebacker and the speed of a safety, and plays with a lot of intensity and strength.


Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Richard Ash: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Defensive Line -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/24/2010

Richard Ash: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'4
Weight: 263 (rumored to be 300lbs. now)
Position: Defensive Tackle / Defensive End
High School: Pahokee (Florida)
Head Coach: Blaze Thompson
Recruiter: Coach Rod Smith
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Richard is a classic Coach Rod recruit, a bit of a tweener, who runs well and shows a decided defensive mentality. Richard is a solid, versatile athlete, capable of playing defensive end or defensive tackle at the college level.

Strengths:
Richard has good get off and a solid first step. He uses his hands very well and shows a nice swim move. Richard separates well with his hands and gets good penetration. He has good stop and go and retraces his path well.



Needs work:
Richard tends to play a bit high and therefore sometimes loses leverage. He also gets too far up field and must learn to play laterally. Richard shows just average closing speed and burst.



Richard reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
James Hall.

#54


Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Richard would likely benefit from red-shirting, but may be needed for immediate depth.

#54


Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 3-Star .. #54 at position.
Rivals: 4-Star .. #25 at position.
Scout: 3-Star .. #52 at position.

Final Thoughts:
Richard is rumored to now be around 300 lbs. (from the coaches press conference). So will he maintain that weight or lose some once Coach Barwis gets Richard under his charge? Hopefully he does not lose his quickness and athletic ability with the added weight. With the added weight Richard will probably be a defensive tackle, but if he slims down could play defensive end as well.


Written by GBMW Staff

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Ray Vinopal: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Position -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/23/2010

Ray Vinopal: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 5'10
Weight: 178 lbs.
Position: Safety
High School: Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (Ohio)
Head Coach: Patrick (PJ) Fecko
Recruiter: Coach Tony Gibson
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Ray is a versatile high school player who can play all three phases of the game. Ray is a solid athlete who does many things okay, but nothing great.



Strengths:
Ray is a physical player who delivers a solid shot. He maintains solid leverage and is fundamentally sound. Ray possesses good quickness and okay feet and shows good instincts and ball skills.



Needs work:
Ray plays upright and needs to learn to bend his knees. His backpedal is not as smooth as desired and this hurts his ability to come out of breaks. Again, Ray is a solid hitter when tackling, but he needs to learn to wrap up when tackling.



Ray reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
Rick Hassel



Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Almost certainly, Ray red-shirts.



Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 2-Star .. #270 at position.
Rivals: 2-Star .. #N/A at position.
Scout: 3-Star .. #103 at position.

Final Thoughts:
The concerns that have kept Ray from achieving “star status” in the recruiting services are his height, weight, and quickness. Ray can clearly play and excel at the Division Three Ohio High School level, but can he play at the Division One college football level at a big time program like Michigan? Some people have Ray listed at 5'9, 5'10 and we even viewed a listing at 5'11. So which is it? Also, weight wise Ray has been listed anywhere from 175-185 pounds. Several places have him clocked from a high 4.4 to a 4.6 forty time, so, again, which one is it? In our opinion, Ray will likely be a special teams player before seeing the field in the defensive backfield and maybe in a couple of years, who knows what happens as Ray develops into an upperclassman.

Written by GBMW Staff

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Cullen Christian: 2010 Michigan Wolverine -- Cornerback -- Signing Day Recap

Posted at 4:00pm -- 2/22/2010

Name: 2010 Michigan Wolverine

Height: 6'0
Weight: 180 lbs.
Position: Cornerback
High School: Penn Hills
Head Coach: Ronald Graham
Recruiter: Coach Tony Gibson
Class: 2010 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed)

Overview:
Here is a solid overall athlete, who combines good size (6-1, 180 pounds) with sound movement skills. Cullen can help UM at either safety or cornerback, and also on special teams. He has played some wide receiver in high school, but in our opinion his future is clearly on the defensive side. Here is a guy who expects to get to the next level.



Strengths:
Cullen uses his long arms and size to jam and reroute wide receivers effectively. He moves his feet well and shows a smooth and easy backpedal. Cullen also shows solid explosion and good jumping skills (listed on sites and combine results as 35 inches in the vertical jump). Cullen plays a sufficient physical game and is not shy about hitting. He has excellent hips for his height and does a solid job at jumping routes.

Needs work:
Cullen definitely needs to improve his overall strength and he also could use some additional weight. His transitions need some work and so does his ability to come out of breaks (seems to lay on the backside). He is not a burner and speedier split ends might cause him some problems. Cullen is somewhat new to the role of lock-down, press cover-corner, but many state his potential as excellent. This is not track, but his 40 times are hard to find and what is available demonstrates a large range. Cullen appears to be a football player, like Roy Roundtree and Vincent Smith, and not a track athlete on a football field.



Reminds GBMW of this former Michigan Wolverine:
Jeremy LeSuer

Red-shirt or play his freshman year:
Cullen likely plays if he picks up the system quick enough and an obvious need is apparent.

Where do they rank him:
ESPN: 4-Star .. #18 at position.
Rivals: 4-Star .. #8 at position.
Scout: 4-Star .. #3 at position.


Final Thoughts:
Cullen has been a long-time fan of Michigan football and has expressed admiration for Charles Woodson (good idea). It is nice to get fine student-athletes out of Western Pennsylvania. He has good size, speed and good arms, all helpful in becoming a very good cornerback.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!