Thoughts on top Michigan targets from Under Armour New Jersey
Thoughts on top Michigan targets from UA New Jersey…
*** I gave a rundown with my thoughts on new Michigan defensive lineman Jerod Smith, who had a dominant camp at UA New Jersey on Sunday. You can read that here. His brother, Jacob Smith, also had an impressive day. The four-star EDGE out of Cheshire (Conn.) Academy looked fluid when going through individual drills and was at his best in 1v1s. Smith was lightning quick off the edge. In one 1v1 rep, Jacob got to the cone representing the quarterback in just two seconds. Jacob has adequate length but what makes him a high level prospect is his get off, quickness and elite technique. Jacob, who earned an invitation to the Under Armour All-American Game, has one of the safest floors on Michigan’s EDGE board this cycle.
*** On300 Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep defensive lineman Jordan Thomas is a massive prospect. Thomas is listed at 6-foot-6, 267 pounds but is much closer to 287 pounds. He can grow into a mammoth in the same mold as Kenneth Grant — from a body standpoint. Thomas size and brute strength make him such a valued commodity in the trenches hence why Michigan is battling a handful of SEC programs. He looks like the type of nose/three-tech you’d find in the south. Thomas has the potential to be dominant at the next level, but he has to fix a couple of things. One is standing straight up. Thomas was scolded for playing too high throughout the camp. The second is his get off and quickness. Right now, he’s a massive body with power.
*** Michigan recently extended an offer to three-star Cheshire (Conn.) Academy prospect Elijah Newby. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder worked with the linebackers during this camp but is being recruited Michigan as an EDGE. Because of this, it was tough to get a true evaluation. Newby is definitely long but has a very thin frame. He looked fluid an athletic in the individual linebacker drills as well as 1v1s where he had to cover running backs. But I didn’t get to see anything from him in terms of pass rush. My grade is incomplete.
*** On300 2025 Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s Prep defensive lineman Maxwell Roy is listed at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds but is closer to 6-foot-3. Roy likely projects as a three-technique in Michigan’s scheme. While he didn’t have a dominant day, Roy was one of the more consistent defensive linemen at the camp. He didn’t wow in any one particular area but showed good quickness, power and technique. Michigan extended an offer to Roy in the winter and is looking to bring him in for a closer look this offseason.
*** One prospect that really caught my attention at the camp without even having to look at the roster was four-star 2025 Pittsburgh (Pa.) Imani Christian linebacker Dayshaun Burnett, who just notched an offer from Michigan last week. Burnett is listed at 6-foot-2 but is a legitimate 6-foot-3 and has an athletic build with room to add plenty of weight and strength. Burnett told me Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partrige was actually surprised at how big he was when he stopped by his school. Burnett looked extremely athletic when going through individual drills and displayed great speed for his size when covering running backs in 1v1s. Burnett is still raw, but I love his upside.
*** Michigan already has an offer out to rising 2026 Buffalo (N.Y.) Bennett Demari Clemons, who visited last month. Clemons is listed at 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, but I believe that was a middle school listing. Clemons has grown a couple of inches and is starting to fill out his frame. At this point in the camp, the rain really started to come down hard, so it was tough to get a true feel for Clemons’ game. I can say he projects best as a cornerback at the next level and is a prospect I’m really interested in following moving forward.
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