NEW RECRUIT AND TIDBITS

     Most of my thoughts are not original but my evaluations are.  According to Scoutingohio.com, which I visit often to look at ohio's best talent,  Michigan's latest recruit Jaron Dukes is ranked somewhere around 23rd in the state.  Now the top ranked player will probably be CB and ohio recruit Cam Burrows from Trotwood.  Now here is my tiff.  Last time Dukes and Burrows matched up against each other when Marion Franklin faced Trotwood, Dukes had 6 receptions for 173 yds and two TD's.  Burrows could not deal with him, plain and simple.  Burrows is supposively 6'2" 180 lbs, I stood right next to him and I predict 6'0" - 6'1" tops, maybe 175lbs.  I am not saying Burrows is a bum by any means, he had an impressive offer list before commiting to ohio.  Scoutingohio is somewhat of a homer site to say the least. 

    Before the rankings come out of their top ten players in the state,  I will give you their top two before it happens. 1. Burrows 2. Jalin Marshall, both ohio commits.  Last years rankings at the end of the season had 8 of the top ten as ohio commits and NO.1 being OLB, Josh Perry.  Now if you watch highlights of Perry you see potential but far from a polished LB and definitely not the top player in the state.  Putting him in front of Bolden is somewhat amusing, go look at the highlights, Perry's not even in the same building as Bolden.  They also ranked Dodson and Decker higher than Kalis, resentment possibly?  A matter a fact, Decker is ranked higher than both Dodson and Kalis and he is the least impressive of the three.  Adolphus Washington was 11th and should have been no.1, and he is an ohio recruit, what gives? How about Frank Epitropolous from Arlington in Columbus?  A top 20 player?  Hysterical.  Get it together or higher me to do your evaluations. 

  By the way, here is Jaron Dukes highlights.  Look for Burrows to be worked by the Michigan commitment in a couple of these babies.  Trotwood wheres the ram looking helmets.

http://youtu.be/D9_QuTL1HxI

Bowman's Football Planet: FULL STEAM AHEAD

Bowman's Football Planet: FULL STEAM AHEAD: "YOU TALKING TO ME"? What Brady Hoke and staff have done in the last day and a half is...

FULL STEAM AHEAD

                                                "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.

Bowman's Football Planet: TACO AND BUTT!

Bowman's Football Planet: TACO AND BUTT!: Jake Butt - DE/TE - 6'4" 210 lbs, Pickerington North HS, Columbus, Ohio http://youtu.be/nsAsJOEnlhk The Touchdown Clu...

TACO AND BUTT!

         Jake Butt - DE/TE - 6'4" 210 lbs,  Pickerington North HS, Columbus, Ohio

   http://youtu.be/nsAsJOEnlhk

    The Touchdown Club Of Columbus banquet was a great place to talk to some blue chip HS football players and their parents as well.  Two people that I talked to for quite a while was the parents of Michigan recruit Jake Butt.  When I seen Jake, the first thing I thought was QB, this was before I was introduced to the young man.  He is 6'4" and not 6'6" but his dad told me he was placed a grade ahead as a youngster instead of the typical holding them back.  Some parents hold their kids back so they will be ahead of other players physically and also in the maturation process.  This kid is actually 16 yrs old currently, he has some filling out to do to catch his height and his dad told me that he was informed by his DR that he is going to grow.  Your looking at a kid who could be a legit 6'6" -6'7" and 230 lbs by the time he graduates.


  I think Jake is a TE even know this clip is of all defensive highlights.  He is a standout basketball player, he is a great athlete and has hands to go with it.  He has the ability to play DE with some weight gain but doesn't have that killer instinct of a SDE of doesn't look to be a pass rusher.  I noticed he gets stood up and pushed back before he can get off his blocks and make plays.  I got a feel that TE is where he wants to play as well.  His dad loves Ohio but had nothing but great things to say about Hoke ( he focused on the Hagerup muffed punt during the Ohio game, Hoke took Hagerup aside and consoled him and told him to shake it off )  that type of coaching is respected by people and parents also.  He pointed out he didn't like the way coach Kelly screams at his players, even know Jake likes ND quite a bit.  Jake's mom said she was headed up for this weeks visit and loves Ann Arbor and coach Hoke.  Her quote was " I have not found a flaw yet about Michigan ".  It seems that Michigan is favorite currently but when I asked him about ND, he said " if they would offer me I might go there".

     

      Taco Charlton- DE - 6'6" 250 lbs, Pickerington Central HS, Ohio



http://youtu.be/hnSYLLyPYNE

 Charlton plays at the rival school of friend Jake Butt.  Pick Central was also the high school of all the Boren brothers, Jamie wood , Raymon Taylor of Michigan to name a few.  I am skeptical about Charlton.  He isn't 6'6" 250 lbs first of all, he's nut much bigger than Jake Butt. I've heard rumors about his desire for the game and it shows on the highlights.  He doesn't play with that sense of urgency of a blue chip player. He seems slow and lethargic at times and then shows glimpses of  playing hard and with an attitude.  When watching a player that is a major D1 DE, I would like to see him either blow his man away with speed or just manhandle his opponent, both seem to be missing. 

http://youtu.be/cmAI_feqxEs

This is the 2011 D1 state football championship between Pick Central and Cleveland St. Ignatius.  I wanted to see Charlton on a big stage against equal talent.  This is my concern with him, no penetration or ability to get past the OL.  He's good on sweeps and stretch plays as far as getting away from his man and chasing RB's down.  He lacks upper body and hand strength.  The Michigan coaching staff sees potential in him and so do I but currently he's a risk.  Regardless, both these kids have Michigan offers.
 

Bowman's Football Planet: OHIO VS MICHIGAN, WHO WON THE RECRUITING WAR?

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