Showing posts with label 2012 Commitments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012 Commitments. Show all posts

Monday, February 6, 2012

Class of 2012 Breakdown: Defense II

Here is the last of the breakdowns for the class of 2012. 


Kaleb Ringer
Kaleb Ringer is one of four linebackers that Michigan signed in the class of 2012. Ringer is from Clayton (OH) Northmont HS and is listed at about 6'1" and 225 lbs. Ringer was the least highly rated linebacker recruit, but I don't think he is someone to sleep on. He has decent size already and would at least provide some depth at linebacker. He early enrolled for this semester at Michigan, so he will be able to participate in the spring practices / game. Because of this, he will be ahead of some of the other linebacker recruits, but I am not so sure he plays this year much, unless he just absolutely wows the coaches. He will probably play the WILL linebacker position but I am not all that sure (again, as my 4-3 under defensive knowledge is not great).

The following are Kaleb Ringer's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #35 MLB
   Rivals: 3*, #17 ILB
   ESPN: 3*, 78 - Scouts Grade, #23 ILB
   247:     3*, 88 - 247 Rating, #20 ILB

Royce Jenkins-Stone
Royce Jenkins-Stone is a middle linebacker out of Detroit (MI) Cass Technical HS and is listed at about 6'2" and 215 lbs. RJS (easier to type) is slated for either middle linebacker or SAM linebacker. He needs to put on some weight in order to take on blocks effectively. I really think that he redshirts this year in order to put on that weight and figure out which linebacker spot he plays. He should be a contributor his RS freshman or RS sophomore year.

The following are Royce Jenkins-Stone's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #2 MLB, #111 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #9 OLB, #184 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #9 OLB, #113 Overall
   247:     4*, 93 - 247 Rating, #25 OLB, #209 Overall

Joe Bolden
Joe Bolden is a linebacker from Cincinnati (OH) Colerain HS. He is listed at about 6'2" and 225 lbs. and is also an early enrollee currently at Michigan. Bolden is another player that I am really excited about. He tore up the Under Armour All America game in January as he was flying all around the field and making plays. Bolden has a good chance of rotating in at middle linebacker this season in order to give Kenny Demens a play off here and there. 

The following are Joe Bolden's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #4 OLB, #69 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #7 OLB, #111 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #5 ILB, #142 Overall
   247:     4*, 96 - 247 Rating, #3 ILB, #59 Overall

James Ross
James Ross is the fourth linebacker that Michigan signed. He is from Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's HS and is listed at about 6'0" and 209 lbs. While Ross may be a little small for linebacker (currently) he has been praised as being the most college ready out of the group. Ross has a great chance at significant playing time at WILL linebacker, if not starting, because of his instincts and tackling ability. He could really use a few 15-20 lbs. but that is not to say that he isn't already higher than that listed weight. Ross and Bolden have the highest chance of playing this year, but I am really excited about the linebacker class Michigan picked up.

The following are James Ross' recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #7 OLB, #83 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #14 OLB, #172 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #8 ILB
   247:     4*, 95 - 247 Rating, #6 ILB, #116 Overall

Terry Richardson
Terry Richardson is the only cornerback that Michigan signed this class. While the Wolverines were clearly trying to get another one, they missed out on several prospects and ended up with just Richardson. He is listed at about 5'9" and 165 lbs. and is from Detroit (MI) Cass Technical HS. While Richardson is a little on the short side (just like the past Cass Tech corners that have played for Michigan), he does seem to have good coverage skills and speed. Richardson will benefit from some depth in front of him to hopefully redshirt and put on some weight and strength, as he will need it for the B1G wide receivers. 

The following are Terry Richardson's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #14 CB, #183 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #18 CB, #224 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, 81 - Scouts Grade, #5 CB, #68 Overall
   247:     4*, 95 - 247 Rating, #12 CB, #142 Overall

Allen Gant
Allen Gant is a strong safety out of Sylvania (OH) Southview HS. He is listed at about 6'2" and 210 lbs. Gant is not highly rated but he could be a decent backup for Jordan Kovacs. Depending on who exactly is in front of Gant (Kovacs, Marvin Robinson, and possibly Josh Furman), he will most likely redshirt. Some scouts have said he may even grow into a linebacker position and with me not seeing any film on him, I do not know for sure. Only time will tell with Gant.

The following are Allen Gant's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #30 S
   Rivals: 3*, #45 S
   ESPN: 3*, 75 - Scouts Grade, #150 WR
   247:     3*, 85 - 247 Rating, #66 Athlete

Jeremy Clark
Jeremy Clark is a safety from Madisonville (KY) Madisonville North Hopkins HS and is listed at about 6'4" and 205 lbs. Clark was originally offered a gray shirt (he would be on the team but would have to pay his first semester of school and be included on scholarship for the class of 2013). However, later in the fall, Coach Hoke offered Clark a scholarship for the class of 2012. I think this was because Clark was about to blow up recruiting wise after his film came out. He seems like a rangy safety that would be a ball hawk. He has good size and speed and it will be interesting to see the competition between Clark and fellow 2012 signee Jarrod Wilson. Then again, he may be one that could possibly switch positions, as his size would be good for a wide receiver as well.

The following are Jeremy Clark's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #71 S
   Rivals: 3*, #37 S
   ESPN: 3*, 76 - Scouts Grade, #52 S
   247:     3*, 85 - 247 Rating, #47 S

Jarrod Wilson
Jarrod Wilson is a free safety from Akron (OH) Buchtel HS. He is definitely a ball hawk that is listed at about 6'2" and 190 lbs. Wilson is the third early enrollee that Michigan had this year and with that extra time practicing and working out at Michigan, he could push for some playing and even starting time. He has center field skills that we haven't seen at Michigan in a long time. I am hoping that Wilson can come in and at least share snaps with Thomas Gordon at free safety.

The following are Jarrod Wilson's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #19 S, #245 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #12 S
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #13 S
   247:     4*, 91 - 247 Rating, #15 S

That wraps up the Class of 2012 Breakdown. This recruiting class turned out pretty well (so far of course). Hopefully each one of these players will be part of consecutive B1G championships and a national championship or two... or three or four. The class of 2013 recruiting is now in full swing. Look for a breakdown of the needs that Michigan has for the upcoming class and beyond.

Class of 2012 Breakdown: Defense

Here is my breakdown for the class of 2012 defensive signees. Just like the offensive breakdown, there will be two separate sections to shorten up each post. Again, this is mostly facts, with some personal opinions thrown in. 


We will start with the defensive line and the defensive end spot:


Mario Ojemudia
Mario Ojemudia is a weak side / rush defensive end from Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison HS. He is only listed at about 6'2" and 220 lbs. so he is a little light to be on the line. Ojemudia has said that Coach Mattison has told him that he will be more of a rushing linebacker that also puts his hand down as a defensive end at times. Mattison referred to Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens as a player Ojemudia could become like. I like the burst that he has off the line, but he is not very good at getting off of blocks. Adding some weight should help that, but I can't wait to see him flying into the backfield and terrorizing the quarterback. The future is bright for Mario Ojemudia in my opinion. 

The following are Mario Ojemudia's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #20 DE, #162 Overall
   Rivals: 3*, #30 WDE
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #23 DE
   247:     3*, 89 - 247 Rating, #28 WDE

Matt Godin
Matt Godin is a strong side defensive end / defensive tackle out of Novi (MI) Detroit Catholic Central HS. Being listed at about 6'6" and 270 lbs. Godin is more than likely going to take Ryan Van Bergen's spot at the 5-tech position. I am not very knowledgeable along the defensive line when it comes to the 4-3 under that Michigan's defense runs, but the 5-tech is the strong side defensive end. Also, if I am correct, the 5-tech is supposed to be pretty interchangeable with the 3-tech defensive tackle, as far as personnel. Godin has a big enough body that he could play either position, I think it just depends on the depth and who is in front of him. Godin will be a decent player at Michigan and if he comes close to being a Ryan Van Bergen like player, we will be in good shape.

The following are Matt Godin's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #31 DT
   Rivals: 3*, #26 DT
   ESPN: 3*, 79 - Scouts Grade, #32 DT
   247:     4*, 91 - 247 Rating, #17 SDE

Tom Strobel
Tom Strobel is a strong side defensive end from Mentor (OH) Mentor HS. Like Matt Godin, Strobel is listed at about 6'6" and 265 lbs. and will most likely take Ryan Van Bergen's spot. While Godin has a good chance of moving to defensive tackle, I do not think that Strobel will move. Strobel was the higher ranked recruit coming out of high school and I do think that he will contribute sooner than Godin, but both will be decent players along the defensive line over the next few years. 

The following are Tom Strobel's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #12 DE, #93 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #16 DE
   ESPN: 3*, 78 - Scouts Grade, #61 DE
   247:     4*, 93 - 247 Rating, #14 WDE, #198 Overall

Chris Wormley
Chris Wormley is another strong side defensive end that Michigan signed this class. He is from Toledo (OH) Whitmer HS and is listed at about 6'5" and 250 lbs. Like Godin and Strobel, Wormley could be taking over the 5-tech position. I have heard some rumblings that Wormley could also move down to the defensive tackle spot like Godin. I think for Wormley, it will depend on how big he truly is when he shows up on campus. If he is constantly around that 250 lb. range, I think he stays at defensive end. He is definitely a player I am excited to watch, as I am from the Toledo-ish area. 

The following are Chris Wormley's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #21 DE, #164 Overall
   Rivals: 3*, #21 SDE
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #17 DE
   247:     4*, 96 - 247 Rating, #4 SDE, #73 Overall

Willie Henry
Willie Henry is a defensive tackle out of Cleveland (OH) Glenville HS. He is currently listed at about 6'3" and 273 lbs. As I said in the New Wolverine post last week, Henry is a raw player that has a ton of upside, but he will need to add some weight and work on his fundamentals. Henry is a big pickup in my opinion because of the depth at defensive tackle. I would like to see him redshirt this coming season to add weight and refine his skills. In a couple years, Henry could be a nice contributor with Godin and possibly Wormley rotating in (again depending on who moves / stays where). 

The following are Willie Henry's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #38 DT
   Rivals: 3*, NR DT
   ESPN: 3*, 75 - Scouts Grade, #97 DT
   247:     3*, 83 - 247 Rating, #75 DT

Ondre Pipkins
Ondre Pipkins is a nose tackle from Kansas City (MO) Park Hill HS. He is listed at about 6'3" and 320 lbs. Pipkins is probably the player I am most excited to see play for Michigan. He is a high motor guy that doesn't seem to give up on any plays. This was shown during the Army All America game in January. He chased down the opposing quarterback and crushed him just before reaching the sideline and also chased down wide receiver prospect Stefon Diggs (while also causing a fumble). Pipkins is definitely in line for some playing time this year, if not starting time. While Pipkins is a little outspoken, especially when it comes to Ohio State, I think it's good to have somebody that will cause some ruckus. I just hope that he lives up to the expectations we all have for him and "walks the walk."

The following are Ondre Pipkins' recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #7 DT, #65 Overall
   Rivals: 5*, #3 DT, #14 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #16 DT
   247:     4*, 96 - 247 Rating, #6 DT, #51 Overall

Friday, February 3, 2012

Class of 2012 Breakdown: Offense II

Here is the second section of my class of 2012 offensive breakdown. Here I will discuss the tight ends and offensive linemen Michigan signed for the class of 2012. 

To start off here are the tight ends. Michigan signed two this year:

A.J. Williams
A.J. Williams, out of Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore HS, is the first tight end that Michigan picked up. He is a big body tight end that is listed at about 6'6" and 275 lbs. Some recruiting analysts have said that Williams will become an offensive tackle in college and have ranked him accordingly. However, Coach Hoke has told him that he will play tight end first at Michigan, before possibly moving. Williams kind of reminds me of Martell Webb because he appears that he will be a blocking tight end in college that catches a few balls here and there throughout his career. Will he move to offensive tackle? Personally I don't think so because our depth is decent for now there, but you never know what could happen after he gets on campus. 

The following are A.J. Williams' recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #27 OT, #225 Overall
   Rivals: 3*, #22 TE
   ESPN: 3*, 77 - Scouts Grade, #36 TE
   247:     3*, 86 - 247 Rating, #25 TE

Devin Funchess
Devin Funchess is the second tight end that Michigan signed. He is from Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison HS. He has more of a wide receiver body currently than tight end at 6'4" and 205 lbs. However, Funchess could see the field sooner rather than later because of the lack of depth at tight end and his ability to catch the ball. He needs to put on some serious weight for him to be able to block down on defensive ends and even line backers. But because of no one really in front of him at the position, he may be pressed into playing time right away. 

The following are Devin Funchess's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #8 TE, #221 Overall
   Rivals: 3*, #14 TE
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #5 TE
   247:     4*, 90 - 247 Rating, #10 TE

Now on to the offensive linemen Michigan signed:

Ben Braden
Ben Braden is an offensive tackle out of Rockford (MI) Rockford HS. He was the first player to commit to the 2012 class, if I remember correctly. From the reports I heard over the late summer / fall, Braden is an under the radar tackle. He has good size at about 6'6" and 319 lbs. and is slated for probably right tackle. Scouts had said that Braden has good feet and could surprise some people. Since Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield (more than likely) have the tackle spots taken, hopefully Braden can have a redshirt year to get ready to contribute. But both Lewan and Schofield are RS Juniors, so Braden may not see too much playing time until they graduate or if injury occurs. But then again, he could possibly be in the two deep this season, since after the starters there isn't much else.

The following are Ben Braden's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #40 OT
   Rivals: 3*, #38 OT
   ESPN: 3*, 79 - Scouts Grade, #50 OT
   247:     3*, 89 - 247 Rating, #44 OT

Erik Magnuson
Erik Magnuson is from Encinitas (CA) La Costa Canyon HS. He is about 6'6" and 275 lbs. and is probably slated for left tackle. Magnuson is one of the higher rated offensive tackles in the country. Just like Braden, he would benefit from a redshirt year, but that is mostly because I think he needs to add some weight. He seems a little on the light side to me, but that shouldn't be to big of any issue. Also like Braden, Magnuson could be in the two deep as a freshman because of the little tackle depth. However, with the several guards that Michigan has that could play at anytime, if Schofield or Lewan get hurt, Omameh or Mealer could slide out to tackle and Khoury could play guard.

The following are Erik Magnuson's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #15 OT, #82 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #10 OT, #78 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, 79 - Scouts Grade, #27 OT
   247:     4*, 96 - 247 Rating, #10 OT, #72 Overall

Blake Bars
Blake Bars is the fourth offensive lineman that Michigan picked up. He is from Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell Academy and is listed at about 6'5" and 275 lbs. Personally I think that Bars plays guard while at Michigan, even though the scouts say tackle. Bars may be one that plays later in his career because of the guys in front of him. But you never know. He will definitely redshirt as there is too much depth and experience in front of him to play this year. Plus, he will probably need it since he is a little under weight for the offensive lineman Coach Hoke wants. 

The following are Blake Bars' recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #58 OT
   Rivals: 4*, #32 OT
   ESPN: 3*, 79 - Scouts Grade, #54 OT
   247:     3*, 85 - 247 Rating, #68 OT

Kyle Kalis
Kyle Kalis is the fourth offensive lineman that Michigan signed in the 2012 class. Kalis is from Lakewood (OH) St. Edward HS. At about 6'5" and 302 lbs., Kalis is arguably the most college ready offensive lineman in this class. He has gathered rave reviews about his frame and ability. Kalis has the biggest chance of any of the offensive linemen to be a significant contributor this year, either at offensive guard or tackle and possibly even start by the end of the season. Many scouts have said that Kalis will play guard because of his short reach; I think he plays guard because that will get the best possible lineup on the field. There is no denying my excitement for the Kalis signing. He has a chance to become one of the best offensive lineman Michigan has had in recent memory (along with Jake Long, David Baas, David Molk and Taylor Lewan, just to name a few).

The following are Kyle Kalis' recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  5*, #6 OT, #35 Overall
   Rivals: 5*, #4 OT, #22 Overall
   ESPN: 4*, 80 - Scouts Grade, #10 OG, #132 Overall
   247:     4*, 96 - 247 Rating, #4 OT, #62 Overall

This wraps up the offensive breakdown. Overall. I am pretty happy with the way the offensive side of the ball was taken care of by Coach Hoke and company. Each player has a chance to be a contributor during his career and I am excited to see how each one performs.

I wish Michigan would have found a way to get another offensive lineman, either it be Joshua Garnett (signed with Stanford), or another one of the guys they were after. After next season, offensive guard will be a little thin and grabbing another guy there would have helped. Plus, a quarterback would have been nice to get as well. We only have three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster and if Denard Robinson and / or Devin Gardner get hurt, we only have RS Freshman Russell Bellomy as a backup. But that's how the recruiting game goes sometimes.

Class of 2012 Breakdown: Offense

The following is a breakdown of the 2012 freshman class. I will be talking about each player on the offensive side of the ball that signed their Letter of Intent on February 1, 2012 to play football for the Michigan Wolverines. The offense will be broken down into two sections, since each the offense and defense breakdowns will be kind of long. Therefore, I will have four different breakdown sections (two and two).


Disclaimer: While I am a fan of football, that is all I am. I have a decent amount of football knowledge, but I do not see myself as an expert... yet. This is just to recap who Michigan picked up in this last recruiting cycle. I will throw in some personal thoughts on each player, but please take them with a grain of salt. Again, I am no expert.


We will start at running back. Michigan picked up the following two running backs in this class:


Drake Johnson
Drake Johnson, a running back from Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer HS, is a pretty underrated player in my opinion. He has decent size at about 6'1" and 205 lbs. and has pretty good speed. Johnson was close to breaking the Michigan state rushing record for his senior season and practically carried his team through the playoffs. If Johnson can add another 10-15 lbs. but keep his speed, he could be a decent running back in a couple years. I definitely see him redshirting this season, since Michigan has some good depth at running back with Fitzgerald Toussaint leading the backfield. 

The following are Drake Johnson's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #77 RB
   Rivals: 3*, NR RB
   ESPN: 2*, 72 - Scouts Grade, #161 RB
   247:     3*, 85 - 247 Rating, #50 RB

Dennis Norfleet
Dennis Norfleet, the second running back Michigan signed, is from Detroit (MI) King HS. Norfleet is a smaller running back coming in at about 5'7" and 165 lbs. He has good speed and good elusiveness but he is not big enough to be an every down back, in my opinion. Norfleet will most likely become Vincent Smith 2.0, especially if he can learn from Smith how to pick up blitzing line backers and catch out of the back field. He could see some early playing time in the form of kick / punt returns this year though. He is fast enough and has that ability to make people miss. 

The following are Dennis Norfleet's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #19 RB
   Rivals: 4*, #5 All Purpose Back, #236 Overall
   ESPN: 3*, 75 - Scouts Grade, #81 RB
   247:     4*, 94 - 247 Rating, #7 All Purpose Back, #169 Overall

Next is full back. Michigan picked up one this class:

Sione Houma
Sione Houma is a fullback out of Salt Lake City (UT) Highland HS. He is about 6'0" and 211 lbs., so he will need to add some weight to his frame to be a good fullback. Thankfully for Michigan, Stephen Hopkins is only a Junior this year, so Houma will have at least a year to bulk up and learn the playbook. He as good speed according to his highlight film, but I will take that with a grain of salt, since I don't know what type of competition he was facing in high school. If Houma is able to gain the weight and become a solid lead blocker, like what Hopkins was able to do this year, I think he will be a under the radar but good player in the future. Coach Hoke has said multiple times on how he believes the fullback position is important for his offense and I could see Michigan taking one every couple of years.

The following are Sione Houma's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #6 FB
   Rivals: 3*, #5 FB
   ESPN: 2*, 74 - Scouts Grade, #4 FB
   247:     3*, 83 - 247 Rating, #5 FB 

Next is wide receiver. Michigan ended up with two of them in this class:

Jehu Chesson
Jehu Chesson is a wide receiver from Ladue (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins HS. Chesson is a tall receiver (6'3" and 175 lbs.) that I believe will become a jump ball and deep threat kind of player. I haven't seen much film on him but his size makes me believe he can take Junior Hemingway's spot on the team and I am hoping he can. Losing Hemingway is going to hurt, but hopefully Chesson can step in right away. 

The following are Jehu Chesson's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  3*, #81 WR
   Rivals: 3*, #91 WR
   ESPN: 3*, 79 - Scouts Grade, #58 WR
   247:     3*, 89 - 247 Rating, #55 WR

Amara Darboh
Amara Darboh is the second wide receiver Michigan signed in the 2012 class. He is from West Des Moines (IA) Dowling HS. He is at about 6'2" and 200 lbs. and seems to me more of a possession type receiver. However, both Darboh and Chesson have the height to be able to get the higher thrown passes. I think since Darboh isn't quite as fast as Chesson, he will be more of a short pass catcher that gets yards after the catch. He is elusive enough to make guys miss and that could make a great one-two combination with Chesson's abilities.

The following are Amara Darboh's recruiting rankings:
   Scout:  4*, #32 WR, #205 Overall
   Rivals: 4*, #30 WR, #215 Overall
   ESPN: 3*, 78 - Scouts Grade, #82 WR
   247:     4*, 93 - 247 Rating, #24 WR, #199 Overall

In the second breakdown section, I will look at the tight ends and offensive linemen that Michigan signed for the class of 2012. That will also conclude the offensive side of the ball.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

New Wolverine: Dennis Norfleet


Dennis Norfleet, a running back out of Detroit (MI) King HS, committed to the Wolverines late last night. Norfleet was previously committed to the Cincinnati Bearcats, but something changed yesterday that got him on the good team. He is a short, super built running back that has excellent speed. At about 5'7" and 160-170ish pounds, he will need to pack on some weight to be a more every down back. But he has the speed and elusiveness to be a contributor on kick / punt returns right away.

This commitment was a surprise to many, especially myself. Norfleet doesn't fit the mold of a bruising pro-style running back that Coach Hoke seemed to be looking for. But there is no denying Norfleet's speed and ability. With Drake Johnson committed as the other running back in this class, these two could be a decent one-two punch, with Johnson having a significantly bigger body.

While this commitment was surprising to me this morning, I am really excited to see what Norfleet will do as a Wolverine over the next few years. He has the breakaway speed and ability to be a threat for the offense and special teams. He may not be an every down back like Touissaint, but Norfleet could be a pretty good third down back like Vincent Smith (small, but strong and full of grit).

Below are the recruiting rankings for Dennis Norfleet:
Scout:  4*, #19 RB
Rivals: 4*, #5 All Purpose Back, #236 Overall
ESPN: 3*, 75 - Scouts Grade, #81 RB
247:     4*, 94 - 247 Rating, #7 All Purpose Back, #169 Overall

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

New Wolverine: Willie Henry


Willie Henry, a defensive tackle from Cleveland (OH) Glenville, committed to the Wolverines yesterday / today (depending on who you listen to). Henry is a mid to low 3* DT according to the four major recruiting services. The scouts mostly like his burst off the line but you can tell that he is a raw player that will need some coaching up. I, personally, love the catch since defensive tackle is a somewhat slim position as far as depth is concerned. Especially with Martin and Van Bergen graduating. 

Henry could turn into a solid contributor in the next couple years if he is able to refine his skills more and pack on some weight. With Hoke, Montgomery, and Mattison as his coaches, I have little doubt in what he could become. Plus, it definitely helps getting a second player from Glenville in as many years, since it has been an Ohio State talent hotbed for years. 

Below is the recruiting rankings for Willie Henry:
   Scout:   3*, #38 DT
   Rivals:  3*, NR DT
   ESPN:  3*, 75 - Scouts Grade, #97 DT
   247:      3*, 83 - 247 Rating, #75 DT



Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Michigan Wolverines Football 2012 Commitments

As National Signing Day approaches, it will get pretty crazy for the Michigan Wolverines as Coach Hoke and Co. put the final touches on the 2012 class. After NSD (February 1, 2012), I will be making a post about the players that Michigan signed for the 2012 graduating class. 


Within the post will be information about each player, including position, high school, and recruiting rankings. I may even throw in my own personal opinion on each player. But keep in mind, that I am just a fan and have little knowledge of player skill and development, especially since I have only played up through high school football myself. However, it may be fun to elaborate on my opinion of the players and the class as a whole.


Therefore, stay tuned over the next week or so and see how the 2012 signing class turns out for the Michigan Wolverines. GO BLUE!