"YOU TALKING TO ME"?
What Brady Hoke and staff have done in the last day and a half is nothing less than mind boggling. With three commitments for the 2013 recruiting class headed into Saturday, Michigan wrapped up the weekend with an additional 8 commits, bringing the total to 11. There were people calling Michigan's 2012 class "a fluke", saying that Hoke benefited from ohio's unfortunate situation with a coaching change and the scandal. What was just witnessed over the weekend leads many to believe that was not the case, Hoke and his staff can flat out recruit. They have just become the class that others will be compared to. Do some of these kids have time to change their mind and go elsewhere? Yes, no doubt, but only one player decommitted from the 2012 class and has yet to sign with anyone. This leads me to believe that, if you leave Michigan then you are lost.
Those who follow this blog probably understand my theory on why Hoke and his staff land so many early commitments. They don't sit around waiting for recruiting services to rank players and then offer the 5 stars. Michigan understands what they want in a player regardless of services rankings, they recognize a "Michigan type of player" and pursue with confidence that is who they want. Hoke and his staff throw out a ton of offers and if you want to be a Wolverine, then you best commit early. They want to build a team now, and plant that "Michigan way" ASAP, get that bond started immediately. These kids will return to Ann Arbor repeatedly for games and to help recruit new prospects, and when they do, they will be comfortable and familiar with each other already. Who questions Hoke now?
Look at these 8 players that committed this weekend. This includes 4 highly touted OL that have offer sheets that leave no top program off the list. 1 player who is a FB/DE/LB, 1 TE/DE, 1 DE, 1 ATH. Everyone of them are no less than a 4 star player and that is after their JR seasons. Half of them could become 5 star players and that is the beauty of the coaching staff. You don't wait until a kid becomes a 5 star player to offer them, you offer a four star player who has 5 star potential, then you mold them.
OL
Logan Tulley-Tillman - 6'7" 285 lbs, Peoria, Illinois
http://youtu.be/L3qnJdSVmSc
20 offers as a JR with every school on board. Why? He's a massive left tackle prospect with all the tools. Who knows, he could move to right tackle if necessary to protect southpaw Shane Morris's blindside. He was looking to take all his official visits this summer but a couple hours ago decided to be a part of something special. He chose Blue. His highlights show nothing but sound skills and no risk factor.
Kyle Bosch - 6'5" 280 lbs, Wheaton, Illinois
http://youtu.be/mldlqXERw4g
Will Bosch be the center they are looking for? He could transition over I'm sure. If he stays at guard, no problem. This kid is a bulldozer to say the least. He moves DL and if there happens to be a LB in his way when he gets to the second level, he will be flattened. He's a very physical run blocker and seems to win a majority of the battles up front. With the depth that Michigan has added on the OL, there will be plenty of battles to be won and loss in the next couple years.
Chris Fox- 6'6" 290 lbs, Colorado
http://youtu.be/e6ugsCrICbo
It makes you wonder with all those defensive highlights if Fox may transition over to DL if necessary. With the depth issues being answered, he seems to be a a nice defensive prospect. Watch him deal with double teams and cut blocking with nice technique. Hoke wants massive lineman and Fox fits the bill. He's capable of playing on both sides of the ball.
David Dawson - 6'4" 295 lbs, Detroit Cass Tech
http://youtu.be/fiz_2Z9FBh0
Dawson is another who could play the center position. He looks to be as athletic as any of the OL and is equally productive in run blocking and pass protection. He opens holes with excellent timing, and runs his man totally out of the picture. In pass protection he doesn't let him near the QB, his man is no threat whatsoever. Another stud and all of these kids are quality OL and be honest with you , can't find many flaws with any of them.
Jourdan Lewis - 5'9" 165 lbs, Detroit Cass Tech
http://youtu.be/zZFJOJV7EUs
Lewis is one of those freakish athletes with exceptional quickness, agility and speed. Obviously not very physical but is a prototypical field corner who can deal with man to man coverage. He also is a return specialists with the open field vision and moves that make him a threat to make big plays. He's a special teams nightmare for opposing teams.
Wyatt Shallman - 6'3" 245 lbs, Detroit Central Catholic
http://youtu.be/ziraqwcsJNs
Shallman is a FB/DE/LB at the next level. He's a blue collar guy who makes plays but doesn't impress me with anything imparticular. My guess would be that he's a FB in college, he can block and can catch the ball out of the backfield. I am sure it is possible that DE or LB could also be his future position but Shallman looks to be a role player and not a star.
Jake Butt - 6'6" 220 lbs, Pickerington North HS, Columbus, Ohio
http://youtu.be/nsAsJOEnlhk
When evaluating Jake Butt last week, I made a prediction that he would be a TE at the next level but Michigan may have different ideas. He is a blue chip player on both sides of the ball. Here is is the thing with Butt, he is only 16 yrs old and a legit 6'4" currently. I have met this young man and his frame could hold 30 to 40 lbs with no loss of atleticism whatsoever. He shows up to Michigan campus at 6'6" - 6'7" 240 lbs with his athletic ability and aggresiveness? You possibly have the makings of a tremendous WDE/rush end. If not, then you have a massive athletic blocking TE with exceptional receiving skills. You can't go wrong with this commitment. Jake Butt was already closing in on 20 offers with more to come in the near future.
Taco Charlton - 6'6" 240 lbs, Pickerington Central HS, Columbus, Ohio
http://youtu.be/hnSYLLyPYNE
There is a few things about Charlton that have made me skeptical of his game. Yes, I know he passes the eyeball test, long and athletic with good speed. He doesn't show the physicalty to penetrate the OL from the SDE position. He is inconsisitent, there are times where he is quick off the ball, sheds a blocker and is in the QB's face in a split second. Then there are times where he takes plays off, looks slow and lethargic and his desire to play is in question. That's why his offer sheet is a bit smaller than Jake butt's, he is a combine monster but in game situations there is no time for relaxing. Michigan's staff see's the potential and to be honest with you, Charlton's frame is made to hold some serious weight as well. Looks to fit the weakside better, either at WLB or WDE.
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