Recapping: 2012 Commit Nik Stauskas

This is a recruit that I believe is going to surprise a lot of people over the course of the season.  He doesn't have the recruiting profile of players like Mitch McGary or Glenn Robinson III, but he is still pretty highly rated and brings some high expectations to Michigan.  Stauskas has been a long-term commit for Michigan and I had the chance to talk with him last summer (read here).  He's a great kid and one that I expect many fans will gravitate towards pretty early.

Stauskas is far from a one-dimensional player, but he certainly has one skill that sets him apart from other players and that's his shooting ability.  If there's one word that describes his shooting, it's sharpshooter.  He is deadly outside the arch and demands defensive attention on almost the floor.  If you leave him open, odds are that the ball is going through the net.  Stauskas has some other offensive skills, but his main weapon is his shooting.  He has a solid handle and ball handling skills, but I don't anticipate he will get a lot of time at the point, even though he is probably capable of playing the position pretty well.  His one knock is that he is not the best on the defensive side.  He's not a horrible defender, but he will need some improvement there if he wants to see a lot of time on the court.

Recapping 2012 Commit Caris LeVert

One of the later additions to the 2012 recruiting class was shooting guard Caris LeVert from Pickerington  Ohio.  Yes, the same hometown as 2013 football commit Taco Charlton and 2014 prospect Jae'sean Tate.  Of course, that was probably part of the reason that LeVert decided on Michigan, but the biggest factor was when Ohio coach John Groce left Ohio for Illinois.  LeVert quickly decommitted from Ohio and was swooped up by Beilein.

LeVert has a multitude of skills that make him a big pickup for Michigan in the 2012 class.  Not only is he a good shooter, but he can attack the basket and play good defense.  His skills are so diverse that teammates have actually compared him to Kevin Durant, arguably one of the best players in the NBA.  However, another reason they have compared him to Durant is because of his tiny frame, which could be a negative aspect for him when Big Ten season arrives.  Of course, bulking up isn't as important in basketball as it is in football, but the challenge of facing teams like Michigan State and their huge lineups are a reason why LeVert probably needs to bulk up some over the course of this year.

Recapping 2012 Commit Spike Albrecht

The latest addition to Michigan's 2012 class and one of the more unexpected commitments in recent years was Spike Albrecht.  At the time of his commitment, Michigan was in the middle of Trey Burke's decision on whether or not to enter the NBA Draft.  Most speculate that the decision to offer and sign Albrecht to Michigan's 2012 recruiting class was primarily an insurance move in case Burke decided to take his talents to the NBA.  While this is true and Burke decided to return for his sophomore year, Albrecht has a lot to offer to both this and future Michigan teams.

Albrecht is a very different type of point guard than Burke.  They are both smart players that can get others involved, but Albrecht primarily uses his high basketball IQ to move the ball and get others involved.  Burke uses his knowledge of the game, but he also uses his exception handle and athleticism to pass the ball and attack the basket.  Burke can also be reckless at times with the basketball, which is the complete opposite of Albrecht.  He very rarely turns over the ball and makes sure to avoid wasteful turnovers.  He is nowhere near the athlete of Burke and can struggle a bit with his defense, but he easily has the ability to run an offense and has the potential to grow into a solid point guard.

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.

Recapping 2012 Commit Jeremy Clark

Ok, so Defensive Back wasn't a position of need THIS season, but it will be in the future and another guy that will go towards solidifying the Secondary is Safety Jeremy Clark out of Madisonville, KY.  Not the highest rated guy but the coaches have said they wanted taller and bigger defensive backs.  Well they certainly got that in Jeremy, as he checks in around 6'4" and just over 200 pounds.  The Big Ten is famous for having big play-making receivers that are very difficult to match up with, so the need for bigger guys in the secondary definitely makes sense.

Well first of all, let it be known that I'm a huge fan of tall defensive backs.  Too often teams that have these tall receivers give Michigan big fits (Marvin McNutt from Iowa) just to name one, but there are plenty more.  I'm not knocking the defensive backs we've had in the past or currently have because there are legends, but I think it's important to have taller guys in the secondary, if they have the abilities.  Jeremy certainly does.  He's not highly rated, but he is a great tackler and is solid in run support.  Because of his height it allows him to attack the football in the air because he doesn't have to jump as high as most guys because he's so tall.  He's not the heaviest guy as he's right around 200 pounds so putting on some weight will be key for him especially if he is to play Safety in college.  Jeremy is one of those raw guys with a lot of upside and he's got the physical tools to be a good one..  He needs to work a bit on his hip movement and his back pedal but other then that he's got great upside.  Also a big hitter and that's something nice to have especially in a Safety.

Recapping 2012 Commit Allen Gant

Another top DB commit in the 2012 class for Michigan is Allen Gant out of Sylvania, OH.  Allen checks in at 6'2" and around 220 pounds, so he has good height and weight.  Michigan is looking for taller defensive backs and Allen fits that mold.  Allen is what many would call a "Michigan Legacy" because his father Tony Gant played football for the late great Bo Schembechler.  Coach Hoke has done a great job getting top talent out of the state of Ohio and Allen Gant definitely fits that description.  Along with fellow commit Terry Richardson, Allen is one of those guys that could see some early playing time, if things go right.

Allen is another one of those mid-ranked guys, but he is one of the top defensive backs in the state of Ohio.  He's got good size which helps him in coverage and pretty decent speed.  He's another great "cover" corner and also a good tackler.  The Michigan coaches have been very vocal about wanting to get taller and bigger guys at defensive back and Allen is one of those.  He's fast and has the ability to go after the ball when it's in the air.  I like the fact that he's out of Ohio, Michigan has gotten very fortunate over the years when it comes to defensive backs out of Ohio (Charles Woodson) to name one in particular.  I like the fact that he's 6'2" which means he will match up very well against taller receivers and has good size which should help him out if he has to match up against Tight Ends.  I like Allen's game he's one of those guys that isn't afraid of contact and will support the run.  I'm one of those guys that likes physical defensive backs who are good tacklers and can cover.  Allen is a great player and will hone his skills at Michigan.

Recapping 2012 Commit Ben Braden

The last man up front we are recapping is Offensive Linemen Ben Braden hailing from Rockford, MI.  This kid is a load at 6'6" and around 320 pounds and he's nobody to mess with.  He is pretty versatile as well, splitting his time at offensive tackle and defensive end.  Not the highest ranked guy in the world, but one of those mid-level guys that with some great coaching can turn into a player that will carry the line, team, and program into the future.

First thing that jumps out at me about Ben is that he's a big kid.  He's over 6'5" tall and he's got long arms to go along with his 320 pounds.  Ben has good speed and quickness and does a great job getting into defenders. He's one of those kids with great athleticism and superior strength.  Ben might not play time at left tackle at Michigan in the future, but he could be a formidable right tackle for the team.  I would say that he's better in run-blocking, but is coming into his own as a pass blocker and will definitely improve as he gets more experience.  With his size and strength, it's hard to keep a kid like this on the sideline so he has the chance to play early depending on how good he does in fall camp and beyond.  Michigan isn't the deepest at offensive line, so anything is possible.  If Ben is able to improve his skills as a pass blocker, he could turn out to be one of the good ones and definitely has a legitimate shot at early playing time.

Recapping 2012 Commit James Ross

Here's my recap of another big time Linebacker in the 2012 class, James Ross out of Orchard Lake St. Mary's in Orchard Lake, MI.  James happens to be an Army All-American and checks in at 6'1" and around 215 pounds.  One of the top linebackers in the country, Coach Hoke and the staff made an emphasis of addressing the linebacker position and James is definitely part of that fold.  2012 was a linebacker haul for Michigan with four phenomenal commitments in Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone, and Kaleb Ringer.  James is right in the mix and is certainly in the argument for the best linebacker in the class.

James isn't the biggest guy, at only 215, but man can this dude lay the wood.  He has phenomenal quickness and reaction time.  He defends the run very well and has great instincts along with the fact that he has great cover skills and is such a physical defender.  James doesn't shy away from contact and has great discipline when it comes to gap responsibility.  He can get after the passer whether it's blitzing up the middle or coming off the edge as a type of speed rusher.  The only real knock on him, in my opinion, would be his weight at around 215 lbs. He could definitely use some bulking up in the weight room, which I can definitely see happening now that he's on campus.  Also, he's quick but it doesn't have great top speed.  This can hurt him at times in coverage.

Recapping 2012 Commit Chris Wormley

One of the recruits that got a lot of excitement for his commitment to Michigan's 2012 class was Chris Wormley.  He comes out of Whitmer High School in Toledo, Ohio and was just one piece of Brady Hoke's massive Ohio haul in the 2012 and 2013 classes.  Wormley was also slated for a role in the 2012 season as the likely backup to Craig Roh.  Of course, this plan went out the window when Wormley tore his ACL in fall camp and will now redshirt the 2012 season, but he was getting some consistent play before that happened, giving fans a lot to look forward to in the future.

Wormley has a large skillset that makes him a great pick-up for the Wolverines.  He has solid size and strength, standing at 6'4" and weighing 279 lbs according to the official website.  Some think he's even big enough to eventually move to the inside once he increases his strength a little more.  He is also cited as having a great motor and speed off the snap, which is exciting for a defensive end.  Ace from MGoBlog had some concerns that his "pad level" was significantly decreasing his production.  This and Wormley's general technique will take some improvement if he truly wants to make an impact as a strongside defensive end in the future.  He seems to be pretty good at getting off the blocks, but if he can come off the ball right, he could be simply running through opponents because of his speed and strength.

Recapping 2012 Commit Terry Richardson

Now we get into the guys that are helping bolster one of the more scrutinized parts of the Michigan defense in recent years, the secondary.  First of this group of commits is highly touted Defensive Back Terry Richardson out of Detroit Cass Tech.  Terry is an All-American and one of the top corners in the country and was a huge get for Michigan.  Michigan improved its secondary play in 2011 and should have a good 2012, but Richardson should be a player to secure it for the future.  Terry's 5'9" and 165 pounds so he's not the tallest guy in the world, but nonetheless he's got great cover skills.  Detroit Cass Tech is pretty much a Michigan pipeline and many of their players go onto play Division 1 football and many of them attend Michigan.  Cass Tech Michigan commits also includes Royce Jenkins-Stone and 2013 commits David Dawson and Jourdan Lewis.

Terry isn't the fastest guy on the field, but he rarely gets beat and has good recovery skills.  He can blanket receivers and is good in coverage.  He's only 5'9" so that worries me a bit as he will face taller receivers in college, but he has great leaping ability and is still has the skills necessary.  He will definitely put on some weight, which will help and he just has some outstanding raw talent.  In my opinion, I think he will be a nickel type guy on defense.  He can cover guys one-on-one but I believe with the guys Michigan has at corner I think he would be a 3rd or 4th guy.  This would be a good way to get him on the field in the near future.

Recapping 2012 Commit Kaleb Ringer

Another one of the great 2012 commits is Kaleb Ringer out of Northmont, HS in Clayton, OH.  Kaleb happens to be the cousin of former Michigan State RB Javon Ringer so he made a bit of noise when he picked Michigan.  The sad news is that we won't be seeing Kaleb in 2012 because of a season-ending injury during fall camp.  It was already likely that Kaleb was going to a redshirt anyways, but still a big loss to the team in terms of depth and experience as time goes on.  Kaleb doesn't have the recruiting profile of some players, but he is experienced to be a pretty reliable guy during his career.

Kaleb is a versatile kid playing linebacker and also running back in high school.  He's one of those guys that has great speed and can make plays moving sideline to sideline.  He's not the tallest guy at 6'0" or the biggest at 220 pounds, but he is very mobile.  He's one of those physical guys that isn't afraid of contact and is good at fighting off blocks and getting to runners.  He looked pretty decent in the Spring Game and you can definitely tell he's progressing, but he will take some time to develop.

Recapping 2012 Commit Tom Strobel

As we start to wind our way toward the end of our 2012 recruiting recaps, we reach what could be one of the more surprising recruits in the 2012 class, Tom Strobel.  Not only did he grow up as an Ohio State fan in Mentor, Ohio, but he also took advice from Drew Brees on making his college decision.  Talk about a cool way to pick Michigan.  I think that will do all the more to make him value his decision and should make the rivalry with the Buckeyes all the more meaningful for Strobel.

Strobel comes in with a good amount of hype from the major recruiting services and the fans.  He stands at 6'6" and weighs 252 lbs according to Michigan's athletic site.  Will that be enough to get him some early playing time?  Perhaps, but he does need to work on his strength and he's pretty raw in terms of his technique.  I anticipate both of these problems will pass in time, but it is something to note, especially when we're discussing the 2012 season.  There are some positives about Strobel.  His body size is perfect for a defensive end spot and he has great balance and speed off the ball.  If he can get a little stronger and work on his technique, he could be an absolute monster at the defensive end spot.  I see him more of a strongside defensive end, but there is some debate about where he will end up during his career.

Recapping 2012 Commit Mario Ojemudia

Today, we continue on with the defensive line recruits and reach Mario Ojemudia.  He's a defensive end out of Farmington Hills, Michigan and has one of the fiercest stares in the history of the world (see here).  He brings in some decent hype and is expected to progress into a defensive end that wrecks havor in the backfield.  Of course, this will take time, but his talent could definitely be important in the future at a position of need for Michigan.

Ojemudia has several skills that can make him absolutely lethal as a rushing defensive end.  First, he has incredible speed off the snap and is often able to get in the backfield before offensive linemen can even react.  This is one of the reasons he was able to amass so many sacks in high school.  He also possesses a solid wingspan and some good fundamentals.  Of course, with just about every recruit, there is a negative side and Ojemudia certainly has one.  He is pretty undersized at this point, coming in at 225 lbs according to the media guide.  Along with this, he's just 6'2" and doesn't have nearly the level of strength needed to be a major factor on the line in the near future.  Yes, he will be playing weakside defensive end, which is closer to a linebacker than a defensive tackle in Mattison's scheme, but he's just doesn't have the size and strength to be a factor at this point.

Recapping 2012 Commit Royce Jenkins-Stone

Michigan's 2012 linebacker recruits were outstanding and one of them is Royce Jenkins-Stone out of Detroit Cass Tech.  Cass Tech is one of the top high school programs in the country and certainly in the state of Michigan.  Along with this, it's almost a forgone conclusion that any elite player from Cass Tech will take a scholarship offer from Michigan.  Royce is another elite guy and he's dominant at the Inside Linebacker position and will do great things to sure up the Michigan defense.

I truly believe that Royce is one of the better players in the state and one of the best linebackers in the country.  He's a pure athlete and has great strength and speed.  I am a huge fan of aggressive guys that aren't afraid to attack the line of scrimmage in the run defense or can drop back and play coverage and Royce is one of these players.  Versatile linebackers are hard to come by, but I believe that Michigan got one in Royce.  Royce also happened to play some Running Back for Cass Tech, had good speed, and could catch the ball, so he's versatile in that aspect.  He tends to overrun plays, but I think it's due to his aggressiveness so he could work on his patience in defending the run.  I believe that Royce is very coachable and can improve while he's at the next level.  Greg Mattison is a phenomenal defensive coach and he will get the best out of Royce.  I may be considered by some to be a little bit too "high" on Royce, but he just has that kind of potential.  He's not quite developed yet, but his potential is astronomical.

Recapping 2012 Commit Ondre Pipkins

We've been breaking down 2012 recruits all month and as we continue along with the defensive line, we reach Ondre Pipkins.  Pipkins is an immense player that brings in large expectations and potential for both the 2012 season and for the future.  There have been concerns about his ability to contribute in his freshman campaign, especially with his recent injury, but most believe he could be one of the most important pieces of the 2012 recruiting class, especially for this season.

There are all kinds of things to be excited about for Pipkins.  To start, he's a great kid who has been known to joke about all things related to the program.  Along with that, he's a pretty good football player too.  His major asset is his impressive size, coming in at 6'3 and 340 lbs according to the athletic site.  For a true freshman, that's pretty big.  So big that he has actually had to undergo a weight loss program during the summer.  He should be trimmed down a bit before kickoff, but getting rid of his "bad" weight will be important for his career as we saw with the whole Will Campbell situation.  Pipkins also has the ability to shed blocks at will with the great use of his hands and ability to shed double teams.  What is even more impressive is his ability to run down plays.  If you watched the All-American game, you can watch Pipkins seemingly chase down plays similar to Mike Martin did last year at Michigan.  With these skills he has the ability to be a factor in multiple parts of the game.

Recapping 2012 Commit Joe Bolden

One of the bigger needs as far as the defensive side of the ball heading into recruiting 2012 was the Linebacker Position.  Well, one of the more hyped commits at the position in 2012 was Under Armour All-American Joe Bolden out of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Hoke has done a magnificent job getting top talent from the state of Ohio and Joe definitely fits the billing.  He measures at around 6'3" and 230 pounds.  Joe is one of the top linebackers in the country and was definitely a huge grab for Michigan.  Mattison and Hoke have found some younger contributors at the linebacker position, but having a player like Bolden waiting in the wings to take over should be a major advantage in the future.

If you didn't watch the Under Armour game, you missed one of the better performances in the game by Joe.  He was flying all over the field and making tackles.  He showed that he has great sideline to sideline speed and is a phenomenal tackler.  Joe is a good pass rusher, can play out in coverage, and can stop the run.  His 230 pounds is good size, but look for him to put on a bit of weight because he does struggle a bit in shedding blocks.  Playing in the Big 10 conference he is going to go up against big monster offensive linemen so whether it's using his speed to beat blockers or actually shedding them off once they make contact, it's something that he will need to improve on.  Joe has had the privilege of enrolling early and it has helped him big time.  Coach Hoke has praised Joe on a couple of occasions already and in terms of the freshmen, he is already standing out.  I think that he will continue to improve now that fall camp is upon us and they are practicing in full pads.  He's got some outstanding talent and should be very key as time moves on.

Recapping 2012 Commit Willie Henry

The defensive line for Michigan in 2012 has been filled with question marks since Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen left for the NFL.  Experts have cited all kinds of reasons to either believe or doubt Michigan's defensive front for next year.  Much of it has focused on returning players, but Michigan is actually bringing in several defensive lineman that could make an impact in their freshman campaign.  One of them is Willie Henry, who was a very late addition to Michigan's 2012 recruiting class.  He didn't receive much coverage during the recruiting period, but he could prove to be one of the more important recruits in the class.

There are a multitude of reasons to be excited about Henry for this season and the future.  First, he is already massive, coming in at 302 lbs according to the 2012 media guide.  That's just 6 lbs lighter than Will Campbell who is projected to start at nose tackle and heavier than Richard Ash and Quinton Washington, both projected backups for the line.  The unfortunate thing about his massive size is that a good hunk of it is "bad" weight and he will need to work to improve on his overall strength before he gets some serious playing time.  However, he has a great wingspan that allows him to get away from blocks, is a solid and consistent tackler, and has good speed, considering his immense size.  He has some solid potential, but there's no doubt he needs to work on his strength, size, and his basic technique, especially in the use of his hands as he can have trouble with double teams and offensive lineman can often get leverage on his lower body.

Recapping 2012 Commit Kyle Kalis

Moving right along with the offensive line, we have Kyle Kalis.  Kyle created quite the storm when he pledged his allegiance to Michigan as he was a verbal to Ohio State and Jim Tressel.  However, he opened his recruitment after Tressel's scandal. Kyle decided to make the trip to Ann Arbor and he pulled the trigger.  Kyle is a monster and was definitely a huge pick up for the 2012 class.  He's one of the top linemen in the country and definitely has the size and the ability to come in and play right away as a freshman.  The four linemen commits that Michigan got in 2012 are all good, but Kyle is definitely the best in my opinion.  Kyle is also another one of those great Ohio players that Michigan has poached and is from Lakewood, Ohio. He's one of my favorite recruits because he has said that he called Coach Hoke from the 50 yard line in the Big House and pledged his commitment to Michigan.  He really spurned a lot of Ohio people with his switch and brings a lot of talent to Michigan.

Like I said, Kyle is definitely the most college ready offensive lineman in the 2012 class and he could definitely see some immediate playing time.  At 6'5" and over 300 lbs, he already has the body to do so and his skills are ridiculous.  I've seen comparisons to Joe Thomas and we all know how good he turned out to be.  Kalis has a great chance to get on the field as a guard next season and it will be interesting to see if or when he wins a starting position.  The biggest parts of his game are his tremendous size, run blocking, footwork, and his mean streak.  In this way, he's pretty similar to Lewan.  Taylor Lewan struggled with extreme aggression issues in his younger years at Michigan and it will definitely be interesting to see whether Kalis will take a similar trend.  Hopefully not.  Either way, even if he does commit a few pointless penalties, his positives probably strongly outweigh his negatives, which is good news for Michigan.

Recapping 2012 Commit Devin Funchess

The second of the 2012 tight end commits is Devin Funchess from Farmington Hills, Michigan.  Devin is a great tight end and has good size at around 6'4", but not as big as his counterpart, A.J. Williams, weighing only around 200 lbs.  He comes from a great high school here in Michigan, Farmington Hills Harrison, which is often in the state championship conversation.  Important for Michigan because it shows they are competing for the top in-state talent once again under coach Brady Hoke.

When I was looking at Devin, it was pretty interesting.  He is basically the polar opposite of A.J. Williams.  Devin is definitely more of your pass catching tight end.  He definitely has great ball skills and ability to catch the football, while A.J. is more of your blocking Tight End.  One of the reasons I like the pick up of Devin is because you need that pass catching Tight End.  These guys are nightmares for defenders to cover.  In watching his film, he lines up at both Tight End and Wide Receiver so that shows his versatility. He has great quickness and football and is also a solid route runner and is able to go across the middle.  When I say the opposite of Williams, I meant it.  His area of improvement is definitely in his blocking.  I could see him putting on a bit of weight to fit the more true Tight End role.  An impressive thing about Devin is he played Linebacker in high school also.  He was a pretty good one as well and you don't find many two way players that are that good at both positions.  Michigan is definitely set at the Linebacker position and he won't play there, but it is something that should be noted.  It's impressive and says a lot about his talent and should help him at the Tight End position because of his understanding of the defensive side of the ball.  Look for 15-20 pounds to get put on so he's able to do a bit more blocking as well to match his great catching ability.

Recapping 2012 Commit A.J. Williams

Moving on to the tight end position for the 2012 class.  First on the list of the two commits is tight end A.J. Williams out of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Brady Hoke snatches another good prospect out of the state below.  Everybody knows that Ohio is a serious talent pool of high school players and Brady Hoke continues to snag some good ones.  A.J. is a monster kid especially for a tight end at around 6'6" and 275 pounds.  That gives him more an offensive lineman size, which should be well suited for the physical Big Ten play.

My breakdown of A.J. is really quite simple.  He is huge.  When I was watching tape, I literally thought there was a 6th offensive lineman on the field.  You've heard of the term blocking tight end.  Well, if you looked it up in the dictionary, you would probably see a picture of A.J.  The kid is quite the load to handle and can definitely do his share of blocking in run and pass protection.  As a Senior, A.J. did happen to play Offensive Tackle and he was purely dominant.  Given the solid depth on the offensive line for at least the 2012 season, he probably won't be playing there.  I don't see A.J. switching positions anytime soon, but he will be doing a lot of blocking without a doubt.  He's a big bodied kid, so when he does go out for a pass he's an absolute nightmare to cover.  He's got decent quickness, having clocked a 4.9 40 Time, but is still big and is way big for a Safety to try and cover.  Look for him to be used in a variety of ways in Ann Arbor.