Michigan Commits And Targets Named To All-USA Team
USA TODAY High School Sports has unveiled the 2015 American Family Insurance Offense and Defense teams for football this week. The team was chosen by USA TODAY Sports’ Jim Halley in consultation with high school coaches and recruiting analysts.
On the offensive side of the ball, Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead guard Ben Bredeson was named to the All-USA First Team. The 6-4, 280-pound four-star lineman is the No. 4 offensive guard and No. 65 player in the nation. Bredeson is the top player in the state of Wisconsin and is the first offensive lineman from his conference to be named Offensive Player of the Year for his state. He’s been committed to the Wolverines since June 17.
As of right now, Bredeson is the only future Wolverine on the first team, but several offensive targets made it on the list.
Detroit Martin Luther King wide receiver Donnie Corley’s 59 receptions for 1,403 yards and 16 touchdowns earned him first-team honors. The four-star wide receiver also recorded 90 tackles and 10 interceptions on defense. The 6-2, 187-pounder is the No. 14 wide receiver and No. 70 overall player in the country and was a key piece of his teams Division II state championship run all year and capped it off with a legendary moment. Corley caught a 40-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the title game to give his team the win.
Corley has taken official visits to Michigan State, Tennessee, and Ohio State, and is will likely pick on of them when he makes his announcement, which could happen during the Army All-American Game, Jan. 9.
Five-star tight end Isaac Nauta out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy averaged 17.7 yards a catch and was a two-way starter for the Ascenders. The 6-4, 235-pounder is the No. 1 tight end and No. 18 player overall and is the No. 5 player in Florida. Nauta is down to Michigan and Georgia and is believed to be leaning toward the Bulldogs.
Current Penn State commit, kicker Quinn Nordin, is a Rockford (Mich.) native and is seriously considering the Wolverines. The No. 1 kicker in the country and No. 22 prospect in Michigan averaged 52.9 yards a punt as a senior and has kicked a 65-yard field goal in his career. The 6-2, 200-pounder seems likely to end up in Michigan’s class but as of now, remains a Nittany Lion.
On defense, Fresno (Calif.) Clovis West outside linebacker Caleb Kelly also earned first-team honors. The five-star prospect is the No. 4 outside linebacker and No. 17 overall prospect in the nation. He’s No. 2 in California and is still considering the Wolverines along with Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
The 6-3, 214-pound Kelly was the Butkus Award Winner as the top high school linebacker, recording 115 tackles, including 23 for loss as a senior. Kelly will participate in the Army All-American Bowl.
Bredeson’s future line mate, Downers Grove (Ill.) Downers Grove South offensive tackle Erik Swenson, was named to the second team. The 6-5, 300-pounder was the first commit in the 2016 class, pledging to the Wolverines back in November of 2013. The No. 17 offensive tackle and No. 223 player nationally is the No. 2 player in Illinois and carries a four-star rating.
Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha offensive guard Terrance Davis, Bowman (Ga.) Elbert County athlete Mecole Hardman Jr., and Houston Episcopal junior defensive tackle Marvin Wilson were also named to the second team and are all considering Michigan as National Signing Day 2016 approaches.
The biggest fish left on Michigan’s recruiting board is the No. 1 overall prospect in the country, Paramus (N.J.) Paramus Catholic’s Rashan Gary. The five-star defensive tackle was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year by USA TODAY. That also makes him is part of the First Team All-Defense team.
Gary had 13 1/2 sacks and 55 tackles in nine games and forced four fumbles and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. He is the consensus No. 1 recruit in the 2016 class.
Former five-star prospect and No. 3 overall recruit, current Michigan redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers, was also selected as the defensive player of the year as a senior and happens to hail from the same high school as Gary. Peppers was also a first-teamer as a junior.
Michigan junior running back Derrick Green and former Wolverine offensive lineman Kyle Bosh were second-team members in 2012, but with Green’s future at Michigan in limbo and Bosch now a member of West Virginia’s football team, Peppers is the only current Wolverines making a mark on the field for the Maize and Blue to have earned honors from USA TODAY.