USC Takes Over Top Spot On Rivals for 2013 Team Rankings

According to Rivals, Michigan has been surpassed in the 2013 Team Rankings.  Picking up their most recent commit today from 4-star DB Jalen Ramsey, the Trojans have passed the Wolverines.  Most say that when new individual player rankings come out in August Ramsey is likely to pick up his 5th Star.  What is incredible is that USC is operating with scholarship reductions for the 2013 class.  


Scout and ESPN have yet to update their team rankings so I'm curious to see what they do with things.  I'll give you a quick breakdown comparing each team's class as they are viewed on Rivals.  You can be the judge regarding whether you agree and I'll give my opinion at the end of which team I think has the best class.

Thoughts on Michigan's Needs To Finish 2013 Recruiting Class

As we all know, things have been a bit slow lately on the recruiting front following Michigan's red hot start, but there are a few needs that the coaches still would like to fill.  I would have to say DT, WR, and RB.  Here's a few prospects at each position that I believe Michigan is recruiting very hard and would be great fits in Ann Arbor.

Henry Poggi.  Ranked 2nd at the DT position according to Rivals, and is another consensus 4-star at 6'4" and weighing 260 pounds.  He could put on a few more pounds, but he is definitely a great prospect.  He's being recruited by all of the major programs and would be a welcome addition to the class. 

Now onto WR and the person I believe is the most important person left on Michigan's board as far as needs go, Laquon Treadwell.  The top player in Illinois and for good reason.  At the 7-on-7 representing Core6 he pretty much was unguardable, also getting interceptions on the defensive side.  4-star across the board and at 6'3" 185 pounds, he's got great size and also has some good speed.  He's proven to be the best WR at every camp he goes to and has showed some solid interest in Michigan.  He has been to visit and has developed a relationship with some of Team 134 commits especially Shane Morris, which doesn't hurt.  Treadwell is one of the top WR prospects in the country and would definitely be a great "catch" for Michigan. 

Sebastian La'Rue.  At 5'11" and 185 pounds, he isn't the tallest kid on the planet, but he is very talented.  He hails out of California so it could be a difficult pull for Michigan, but is definitely on the board and has shown interest.  Hope to get him on campus this summer, but he is definitely a great prospect and would be a nice get.  However, this will largely depend on what happens with Treadwell.  He's Michigan's main WR priority and would likely fill the class.

RB. I believe the main choice is obvious and that would be monster back Derrick Green.  Derrick has shown that he wants to be in a smashmouth running style of offense and that's what Coach Hoke and company want to use at Michigan.  With the monster offensive line they have recruited, I see that happening very soon and that's why Derrick is such a very important player for Michigan to get.  He has the nickname "Man-Child" and for good reason.  At 6'0" 215 pounds the kid is a freight train and he also happens to be the top tailback in the nation according to Rivals.  He's a 5* with Rivals and a 4* with everyone else.  The recent commitment of Ty Isaac to USC definitely has forced the coaches to put on the fullcourt press.  However, I believe that Green may be the better prospect, he has more size and if you haven't watched his film, I suggest you do so because the kid is an absolute nightmare once he gets the football.  Green should be visiting soon and it will be of vital importance for the coaches to get him on board. 

Another guy that isn't one of the 3 positions that I listed, but would also be a great get for Michigan is DE Joe Mathis.  He happens to be the cousin of heavily touted CB Su'a Cravens.  Su'a is deciding on June 6th and many people have him as a USC lock.  Michigan is in the hunt so maybe we all get surprised.  Joe Mathis has been dominating camps all summer and he's 6'4" 254 pounds and has great speed and strength off the edge.  He has repeatedly shown that he's a nightmare off the edge and would be a great pickup for the Michigan coaches.  4-star across the board and is ranked 6th at his position has at one time named Michigan as his leader, but the next week named Nebraska as his leader.  Could be a long time before we see where Mathis decides to commit, but I think Michigan is in the hunt and has a great shot at landing him.  We shall see where his cousin Cravens decides to go because that could be a factor in Joe's recruitment.

Well, why not talk about Su'a Cravens.  One of the best prospects in the nation and is a 5* across the board.  He has announced he is making his decision on June 6th, which is coming up in a few days.  Many people have him as a USC lock, but I have a bit of hope he may commit to Michigan.  He has said distance isn't a factor and seemed to like the Wolverines.  He's the top ranked safety in the country and rated as the 8th overall player.  He's got great size at 6'1" 205 pounds and with an already improving secondary for Michigan he would be a phenomenal get.  Michigan is in his final three so everyone should pay attention June 6th and hopefully we get an early Christmas present.

Alright, obviously, there are plenty more prospects out there, but these are some of the names for you guys to keep your eye on.  Michigan has been recruiting them very hard as of late which tells me that they are all high on the board.  Maurice Hurst, Jr. has told everyone to be on commit watch, so hopefully he isn't the only one off of this list as these are all great players that all have interest in Michigan.

Catching Up With Su'a Cravens

ESPN

I promised you guys an interview with Cravens and here it is! Cravens was a great interview, as he seemed really honest, and is ready to get moving with the recruiting process. In case you haven't read it, here is a full breakdown I wrote on him a while back. This kid is an absolutely beast, and if you watch him on film, you'll see what I mean.

Cravens is a consensus 5* player. Here are all his current ranks: 

Rivals - #1 safety, #5 player in the nation

Scout - #1 safety, #6 player in the nation

247 - #1 safety, #8 player in the nation

ESPN - #1 safety, #15 player in the nation (ESPN150)

Enjoy!

Me: What made you move your decision date to early June?

Su’a: I just didn’t wanna drag on the process of being recruited and if I know where I wanna go, then why wait to make the decision? I feel like after I take my unofficial visits, I will know by June 6th and that’s when I’m gonna make my commitment.

Me: [Laughing] Sounds to me like you know where you wanna go...

Su’a: I have an idea but I mean, anything’s possible. I don’t know where I’m going but like I said, after I take these unofficials, I will know for sure. 

Me: It sounds like you’re kind of over the recruiting process. Does it gets a little overwhelming at times?

Su’a: Yes, it’s overwhelming all the time. I got reporters and recruiters calling me at all times, everybody wants an interview and sometimes you just gotta ignore your phone. But at the same time, I’d rather be in this situation than not getting any calls at all and looking for offers. 

Me: Very good point. Speaking of offers, how does it feel to be a top recruit in the class of 2013? Is it hard to stay grounded?

Su’a: It’s an honor. It’s not hard to stay grounded because my parents raised me to stay humble and that’s how I’m gonna remain. 

Me: How long has Coach Hoke been recruiting you? I’ve heard conflicting reports. 

Su’a: He’s been recruiting me since I was a sophomore, when he was at San Diego State. So he never really stopped recruiting me when he switched teams. 

Me: I know you must have heard how great of a visit your cousin, Joe Mathis, had to Michigan. Does that get you excited about visiting?

247

Su’a: Yeah he said he loved it up at Michigan. So I have to see it for myself, but he’s not gonna sway my decision. I still have to see it myself. I can’t just go off of what another person tells me, you know? 

Me: Oh, definitely. I know you told me you’re visiting Michigan for an unofficial visit, but have you decided on any other schools to visit before June?

Su’a: [Laughing] I can’t say. 

Me: [Laughing] I had to try! So what do you think is your biggest strength? Weakness?

Su’a: I’d say my biggest strengths are open-field tackling and my instincts. My weakness is back pedal speed. I haven’t been at safety so I haven’t had the chance to work on my back pedal. 

Me: What do you mean you haven’t been at safety?

Su’a: I’ve been playing OLB since sophomore year. They put me at safety from time to time but it hasn’t been my main position. I’m getting moved to safety [officially] this year. 

Me: What do you think is the biggest difference between playing football in California and playing in the Midwest?

Su’a: Umm, I couldn’t tell you. I know everyone in Cali is either big or fast and it’s tough because everyone’s starting to move to the spread offense out here. 

Me: So are you saying you’d rather play in a pro-offense?

Su’a: No, I like the spread, but the pro is more ideal for the NFL. 

Me: Last question. Is it true you’re a “USC-lock” or is it just one of your top schools? Do you have a top-5?

Su’a: USC isn’t a lock, they’re just a top school. I have a top-5 but I can’t say... [laughs].

Get to Know Su'a Cravens

Total. Beast. I could probably end this analysis on him there. Seriously, this kid is amazing.

Cravens is a consensus 5* safety from Murrieta, CA. He stands 6’1” and 205 pounds. Rivals ranks him 5th overall in the nation and he has over 30 offers from all over the country. Offers include Michigan, Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford, and USC. Normally, it’s pretty rare for a California kid to choose Michigan, but with Coach Hoke at the helm, things could be different. Hoke landed 4* offensive tackle Erik Magnuson in 2012 because of their prior relationship when Hoke was at SDSU. Hoke has a connection with California kids, and this could help when pursing a player like Cravens. Of course it’s exceptionally difficult to get West Coast kids to Ann Arbor, but it’s not impossible. 

There a few reasons we would be able to lure someone like Cravens to Ann Arbor. First of all, like I said above, we have the Hoke factor. I would not be surprised if at least one player for the 2013 class is from the West Coast. Coach Hoke realizes that although he made some great connections while coaching in the West Coast, it’s a different story now that he’s at Michigan. All the athletes that were once interested because of him are now doubly interested because he coaches at Michigan. This could be a big help going forward. Another West Coast offer we’ve given out for the 2013 class is 5* LB Michael Hutchings out of Concord, CA, who happens to have a high interest in Michigan. Like I’ve said, Hoke has a West Coast connection. 

Secondly, since Michigan already has their safety of the future in Dymonte Thomas, Cravens is being offered as a running back. This may sound surprising, since he’s such an excellent safety, but Cravens is an excellent athlete in general. Being offered as a running back is something I’m sure intrigues him. It’s something different, it’s new, and it’s a challenge. Granted, I’m not sure if any other school has offered him at another position. However, Dymonte Thomas has been our safety commit for some time now, and it’s quite known the coaches were only planning on taking one safety. Cravens is athletic enough that if he were to bulk up, he could play weakside linebacker too. Honestly, he could probably be listed as an “athlete” on most sites considering the array of positions he is capable of playing. 

The last reason is that Cravens actually has shown some interest in Michigan. Although his “top-3” consisted of USC, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, those were given almost 3 months ago. He’s gotten tons of offer since then. He has also said himself that Michigan intrigues him enough to want to take an official visit. “I’m looking at TV coverage, a school that is a championship contender, and a school with strong academics,” he said. Well, come on down Mr. Cravens. And we know what can happen when a recruit gets on campus...