Recapping 2012 Commit Jarrod Wilson

The last, but certainly not least of the defensive back commits in 2012 is Safety Jarrod Wilson out of Akron, OH.  Coach Hoke definitely did it again, nabbing great talent out of Ohio.  Jarrod was able to enroll early and he is arguably the best defensive back in this class.  In the initial depth chart, he is listed as the number 2 Free Safety and that says a lot about him.  He's got good size, measuring up around 6'2" and around 200 pounds.   Heavily recruited by pretty much all of the Big Ten and many others, Jarrod was a great get for Michigan.

Jarrod is another one of those taller guys that the coaching staff has seemed to express interest that they really want.  He's around 6'2" and he's got great height.  He's just under 200 pounds so look for him to add some weight especially playing safety.  Jarrod is a good solid tackler and has great cover skills.  He is one of those guys that closes well on the football and makes big plays constantly.  He definitely needs to get stronger and isn't a big sideline to sideline type of player, but he's a lot better when he's just in straight pursuit of the football.  Jarrod is versatile as he does do work in the return game and seems to make big plays when he touches the ball.  He's a playmaking Safety so he can play time on defense or get utilized in the return game, which is a big part of football.  His real knack in my opinion, is this weight. If he can bulk up and turn it on in the weight room, look for him to be big time here in the near future.



Here are the basic ratings on Wilson:

	ESPN	Rivals	Scout	247Sports
Height	6’1"	6’2”	6’2”	6’3”
Weight	190 lbs	190 lbs	190 lbs	190 lbs
Position	S	S	S	S
Rating	4*	4*	4*	4*
Position Rank	#13	#12	#19	#15
National Rank	N/A	NR	N/A	NR

So as you can see, Jarrod is a bit over 6 feet at around 6'2" and 190 pounds.  So right off the bat he definitely needs to add some weight.  He's a 4* recruit across the board and top-20 guy at his position.  However, he isn't ranked nationally, but still one of the top guys in the secondary.  The experts love his playmaking ability and his speed to the football.  He's got to work on his hips and technique in coverage, but he does have good ball skills and is an excellent tackler.  If he gets beat he has the ability to recover quickly which is crucial and he can get after guys once they have the ball.  He is good in the return game and has the ability to take it the distance once he gets his hands on the ball.  Jarrod has the ability to play right away but also has upside and if he can put the weight on, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

The sky is the limit for Jarrod, in my opinion.  He is listed as the #2 Free Safety on the depth chart for Alabama so that right there tells you that he could have an immediate impact.  Coach Hoke doesn't like to play freshmen but with the departure of many key guys, he might be forced to at certain positions.  While the secondary is very good look for Jarrod to definitely see some playing time.  If Wilson somehow ends up with a redshirt it will be because of an injury.  Expect him to contribute in 2012.

Here's his highlight video: