Bowman's Football Planet: DT TARGETS FOR 2013

Bowman's Football Planet: DT TARGETS FOR 2013:      Will Campbell........Richard Ash.........Quinton Washington.......These three players make up the depth chart for Michigan's NG positio...

DT TARGETS FOR 2013

     Will Campbell........Richard Ash.........Quinton Washington.......These three players make up the depth chart for Michigan's NG position currently.  Come August,  Ondre Pipkins will join these three, adding one more 300lber to the bill.  This is a very important position and one of the most talked about especially when it comes to recruiting.  A devastating NG is your run stuffer, space eater and the difference between a goodnight sleep or  miserable existence for opposing coaches the night before the big game.  With just a short list of high quality DT's in the class of 2013,  Michigan may be headed for plan B at this position.  Let's look at some realistic options.


 Henry Poggi - DT 6'4" 265lbs, Baltimore , MD

http://youtu.be/dIExCICyzEM

  Here is the deal with Poggi, he's not a NG, he's a 3 tech or SDE.  He would have to gain 40-50 lbs to become the horse in the middle.  He is quite a player though, great hands and pursuit.  Hopefully he will find Ann Arbor as exciting as all the other 2013 recruits.


  This is where plan B comes in.  With all the top NG's becoming a long shot, I think Kenton Gibbs and Poet Thomas are the realistic options.  I think Michigan could possibly land both of them if they recruited them hard enough, but one of these two seem most likely to become part of the class unless one of the top guys make a surprise commitment.

 Poet Thomas - DT 6'6" 285lbs, Detroit Country Day


http://youtu.be/VKjcl_S080w

 Am I not suppose to like this kids potential because he is not a top tier ranked player?  Actually, I think he is a good DT, and with plenty of time to gain good weight, he could become that pillar in the middle.  He is absolutely massive and isn't a slobby 285 by any means.  Watch his hands at the :30, and 1:19 mark, he simply throws kids aside.  Not that he could do that at the college level but it's great potential.  He's not a great athlete but he looks unstoppable when he wants.  6'6" is a bit tall for a NG but playing at pad level erases that myth, he shows signs of being capable of doing that.


Kenton Gibbs - DT 6'2" 285lbs  Cass Tech

http://youtu.be/qPg3ldn9q8k

 Gibbs looks like a better athlete than Thomas but 285lbs may be a few extra than what he really is.  He's a good DT but a true NG? I don't know.  He makes plenty of plays in the backfield and gets down the line really well but doesn't face the double teams Thomas was facing. 
Thomas may be the best plan B if Michigan wants to recruit and mold a true NG.

Bowman's Football Planet: ND 2013 updated recruiting class

Bowman's Football Planet: ND 2013 updated recruiting class:        ND's team is getting a little long in the tooth as you can see here above.  Hey, but they have the experience to get to a BCS game t...

ND 2013 updated recruiting class

  
    ND's team is getting a little long in the tooth as you can see here above.  Hey, but they have the experience to get to a BCS game this season. 

     As a Michigan fan I like to keep updated on all their rivals recruiting classes.  Do I have the hate for ND like I do for Ohio? Absolutely not, a matter a fact I have respect for their program because their fans don't wear jean shorts and jersey's.  ND's alumni are known to greet the opposing teams bus as they pull up with handshakes and "welcome to South Bend".  That's a far cry from ohio's tradition of a pepper spray to the face and a possible five on one beating after the game , win or lose.  I love evaluating anyways and ND is off to a hot start.  There is a surprise player on this list that tickles my fancy and may just have ND fans smiling after I point out some details to his game.


 Steven Elmer - OL 6'6" 297lbs   Midland, Mi

http://youtu.be/pmyo4_tOYgY

Half these highlights are Elmer destroying #54, it's pathetic.  Elmer is massive at 6'6" and pushing 300lbs.  Elmer plays very physical until the whistle blows.  Watch him at the 1:02  mark, yea that's number 54 again.  Excellent run blocker and adequate in pass protection also.  He deals with the cut blocking real well, keeping his man at arms length or getting lower than him. All the potential is there for Elmer to become a starting lineman at ND in a couple years. 


Hunter Bivin - OL 6'7" 287lbs  Owensboro, Kentucky


http://youtu.be/nJGz6DN1CHw

WOW, here I was preparing to watch some fat hillbilly beating up on some chumps. I was sadly mistaken my friends.  Bivin is one of the most well rounded OL I have seen on film up to this point. His pass protection skills are great, he gets out of stance and retreats with good balance and footwork.  He's athletic, playing the center position at 6'7"? It's impressive the way he gets off the line after he snaps, he's out in front of everybody and watch the way protects the whole middle of the field.  Then there is his run blocking, very solid, he's strong and gets low. His posture is nice and high when pass protecting, keeping his man at arms length and low during run blocking.  At 290 lbs, Bivin can easily hold more weight and looks to be a true LT.


 Colin McGovern - OL 6'6" 290 lbs New Lenox, Ill
http://youtu.be/1E4wGdHAaHY

Hate to throw a Michigan reference in here but I have to.  I understand why Michigan offered all the same kids that ND did and McGovern is a perfect example.  You would never know he is 6'6" by the way he plays, great pad level once again out of another recruit.   He's physical, violent, strong and isn't lazy.  He brutalizes a couple DL in this clip and then goes to the next level to wax a LB.  This kid is passionate about his game and plays with attitude.  Quick off the snap, drives his man out of the picture a couple times.


Mike McGlinchey - OL 6'7" 265lbs , Philadelphia
http://youtu.be/4aiG8ByzHnA

 Short clip here, three plays. Your probably thinking what the hell can I see in three plays.  Let me tell you, he needs weight.  He is the biggest project of the four I think simply because he doesn't move guys the way the other three do.  He gets stood up in one of these plays by a smaller player.  He has the all the tools to work with and coaching is everything , his frame can't be coached.  He also has another year of high school to grow into that tall body. 


Jacob Matuska - TE 6'4" 220 lbs, Columbus, Ohio

http://youtu.be/5nSZpZYYFLs

Matuska is a nice player, first time I watched his film.  He's getting no competition here.  He's outrunning the whole secondary, out jumping the DB's on fades, yet if you pay attention you'll notice he catches the ball with his hands.  He has a couple nice blocks also, pretty much manhandling the opposition.  This is a kid who could flourish, he doesn't look to be challenged by these other kids.  I know what league he plays in and it's not full of studs, but he looks to be one.


Corey Robinson - WR 6'4" 195 lbs, San Antonio

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Corey-Robinson-commits-to-Notre-Dame-1103522

Yes this is my sleeper.  This video is not a game situation and there are no pads on either but please tell me you see what I see.  Watch his veteran move off the line, quick, his hands are deadly, watch him smack those corners hands down with authority, this DB stands no chance.  Robinson looks like a NFL WR in this film.  He runs strong, tight routes and his hands are soft.  He kills the press coverage and does a great job of cutting his routes short against soft coverage. He absolutely glides when running, very controlled  and  soft upper body. In one clip he comes out of his route just in time for the ball to hit his hands and he doesn't miss a step.  He can run, jump and uses his big body to shield dB's off.  I love this kid and cannot believe he isn't higher than a three star recruit.


James Onwualu - WR/RB  6'1" 185 lbs , St. Paul Mn

http://youtu.be/TMxQS9PCt2g

 Well, Onwualu does some good things on the field, decent vision and speed.  He's not the total package by any means.  Not big or physical enough to play RB and uses his body to catch the ball on a couple tough throws in this clip, just makes you wonder how much confidence he has in his hands in clutch situations.  To say the least, I'm not very impressed with his skills, he's not close to being a game changer.  Has potential to be a possession receiver but doesn't look to be much more than that.


Rashad Kinlaw - RB 6'1" 180 lbs , Absecon, NJ

http://youtu.be/ghAo1HYOrDg

Sometimes it's hard to judge a QB's RB skills because it's a totally different running situation.  Kinlaw looks much bigger than 180 lbs and runs bigger also.  He is the best athlete in all these clips which is why he is playing the QB position, they want the ball in his hands at all times.  He does show good RB instincts, he's quick and fast and isn't timid about hitting the hole's quick.  He will need size and still has another year to grow before hitting campus.  Kinlaws athletic ability is at a higher level than Onwuala in my opinion and if RB isn't his primary position he does have the ability to play elsewhere.


Malik Zaire - QB 6'1" 190 lbs, Kettering, Ohio

http://youtu.be/3Nyd6LSCBtU

 This kid makes great throw after great throw in this film.  I was thinking I was going to see a run first pass second type of QB here, that wasn't the case.  I said Kyle Kempt was the best QB in Ohio for 2013 but I'm not so sure after seeing these highlights. It doesn't take a genius to see the details of why I am thoroughly impresses by this young man.  I will let you in a few, when the ball hits his hands from the initial snap, he gets the ball up by his ear and ready to release.  His footwork in his drops are quick and controlled, his eyes down field.  Watch his presence and poise in the pocket,  immature, young QB's will tuck and run if the pocket starts to collapse quickly, not Zaire, he gets rid of the ball to an open receiver.  Look at the throw on the run at the 1:00 mark, look at the 45 yd dart he throws at the 1:15 mark, right over the hand of an outstretched safety and in front of the cover man.  The next pass is a 10 yd out that is perfectly thrown and a pass that only a handful of high school juniors can make.  At 2:12 mark, that's a tight window folks, at 3:23 mark, looks off two receivers to find a third one wide open, at 3:38 mark, he escapes the trouble in the pocket with ease and keeps his head up and eyes downfield.  This kid is beyond his years.

Bowman's Football Planet: Ohio's early recruiting class

Bowman's Football Planet: Ohio's early recruiting class:      Above is ohio's latest commitment, Asian super athlete , ching chong chin.  This young man looks short but packs quite a punch with hi...

Bowman's Football Planet: Ohio's early recruiting class

Bowman's Football Planet: Ohio's early recruiting class:      Above is ohio's latest commitment, Asian super athlete , ching chong chin.  This young man looks short but packs quite a punch with hi...

Ohio's early recruiting class

  
  Above is ohio's latest commitment, Asian super athlete , ching chong chin.  This young man looks short but packs quite a punch with his lightning fast handwork.  Chin, a 5'3" 330 lb left tackle grew up on the tip of  Mt. Fuji and has been practicing the art of  "fluja", an Asian arm swinging exercise (pictured above) only mastered by a handful of ninjas.  Meyer has his plate full with this young stud, sources are saying that Chin won't wear cleats and plays only in these open toed gut smashers.


  With Michigan having a stellar start on 2013 recruiting, it's time to look  at one of the enemies progress.  Urban Meyer has a decent start on 2013 and has just received another  RB commitment as of yesterday and a S today. Ohio has seven commitments and I will review the film on each player and give you my honest opinion.


   Jalin Marshall - RB  6'0" 190 lbs, Middletown, Ohio

http://youtu.be/3PHIzZ-gVz0

 I said after Marshall's sophomore season that he was an SEC type of talent and I will stick with that.  Athletically, he's as good as it comes in Ohio.  As a QB? No, and Meyer knows it, his film is loaded with great runs not great passing.  He has vision, speed and phenomenal agility.  A majority of recruiting sites have him listed as a RB, he's never played that position on a consistent basis.  My opinion is that Marshall needs to be in space to do damage and Meyer is one of the best at getting players like him in one on one situations.  Marshall will end up as a slot guy I believe considering they have RB's on the roster and two more freshman RB's will be added this season.


  Cam Burrows - CB  6'0" 180 lbs , Trotwood Madison High, Dayton, Ohio

http://youtu.be/VebUevdsw-U

Burrows has good size and is a solid corner in the zone defense.  Not that he can't play man but he is a physical player that helps in run support also.  His man to man cover skills are lacking a bit, he doesn't have great quickness or footwork but puts himself in good position to defend the ball.  He isn't a field corner, he's a liability against the top WR in one on one situations.  That was evident against Marion Franklin when matched against 6'5" Jaron Dukes, Dukes torched Burrows for 6 catches 170 yds and two TD's.  By the way, Dukes committed to Michigan.  Burrows is arguably the best corner in the state and any team would have accepted his commitment, his offer sheet was full of the top D1 teams in the country.

Eli Woodard - CB 6'1" 185 lbs, Eastern Regional HS, NJ

http://youtu.be/gI0UHLvc4gM

Woodard is one of those players that could play four or five different positions.  When you get a kid with that type of athletic ability though, you have to put them at the toughest position to play, CB.  He is physical ( :30 mark, damn near decapitates ol boy) .  Not timid or scared of contact.  When you combine that physical play with his type of finesse  ( watch footwork at 2:25 mark) that's textbook backpedal technique, you have a unique talent.  I like Woodard as a corner more than Burrows, Burrows seems more of a safety out of position, Woodard has the potential to man the oppositions best WR and be successful.


Evan Lisle - OL 6'6" 265lbs, Centerville, Ohio

http://youtu.be/zuDcybPtOE8

Lisle caught my eye after his sophomore season. He plays with exceptional leverage by playing at pad level (very low).  The way he tangles up his man and controls him from the start of contact is tremendous.  His size screams OT, has the ability to play either edge.  He's athletic and does a great job of getting to the second level and burying LB's.  His pass protection skills are on par as well. Lisle is a great pickup and shouldn't have a problem gaining weight on his lean frame.


Billy Price - DT 6'4" 285lbs, Austintown Fitch, Ohio

http://youtu.be/zjbpLLKghjc

 Price is so strong, upper and lower body proportionate.  Strong leg drive and simply throws kids around like rag dolls.  He looks to be playing the three tech and even WDE on a couple plays, they move him around quite a bit.  If he's pushing 290 already then he's looking at 3 bills by his freshman season.  His skills are an interior lineman type, looks more like a space eater than a three tech.


Ezekial Elliott - RB 6'1" 190 lbs, ST. Louis, Missouri
http://youtu.be/U-PPyXZ7UIU

Elliott has good size and clocks a 4.4 40. He's ranked a top ten RB by scout ( the site I follow) but looks more like an all around back.  He's a typical Urban Meyer player,  great in space.  He can line up at slot, runs the bubble screen well also.  This kid possesses nice hands, great agility and the open field speed  that makes up a quality player.  A top RB? Not so sure, he's a slasher not a polished every down RB but that isn't what ohio's coach is looking for.  He wants mismatches and Elliott has the potential to cause problems in the open field.


 Jayme Thompson - S 6'1" 180 lbs, Toledo Central Catholic

http://youtu.be/1S7rAbpYgwA

 Rumor has it that ol Urbs flipped Thompson from WVU to ohio over the weekend.  After reviewing Thompson's film, well, he's a dime a dozen.  He shows good awareness and is athletic but he's not real physical.  Not very impressive but Urbs likes his athletes, he got him one here but as far as a football player?  Don't see it.