2013 RB Wilkins Visited by Michigan
Without revealing too much of the paywalled article on 247sports, Coach Heck visited Jordan Wilkins (4* RB from TN) school Monday. I thought this brought up some interesting discussion points...
1. Michigan is still looking for a RB for 2013. Do we really need one?
2. Even though we haven't heard much about him, Wilkins sounds to be the next top choice at RB after Isaac (coaches told him they're looking for one more RB and they want him "to be the guy.").
3. This brings up timing questions... if Coach Heck visited and talked to him on Monday, but Isaac announced on Tuesday?... hmmmm
4. How does he look / how would he fit in? (I'll leave that to the gurus on the board)
5. What does he eat for breakfast? (but seriously, I hesitated posting this, because I thought the board got a little obsessed with Isaac, but maybe we've learned our lesson?)
Link($): http://247sports.com/Article/The-Wolverines-recently-visited-Top247-RB-Jordan-Wilkins-73939
1. Do we need one? No. Do we want one? Yes.
2. I think Green in is their next choice, but they aren't very optimistic about him.
3. Clearly, they had doubts about Isaac once he decided not to visit.
4. Everything I have heard of Wilkins is he is similar to Isaac, but doesn't have the same burst of speed.
The biggest problem with Wilkins is he keeps saying he wants to stay south. I think this is going to be a long shot.
5. Can't go wrong with Toaster Strudel when you're in a rush. But this is the south, so who knows?
The good thing is that its normal for southerners to make breakfast-- my wife does it sometime (the woman works as a nurse, though, so I don't think expecting that everyday is resonable or fair) and her family does it everymorning: Sausage, Country ham, eggs, and biscuits. The bad thing is that there aren't any local "diner" places down here (Waffle house doesn't count) where one can get a good omlette. I guess thats a worty trade off, but I still wish that we had both.
Now, please return to your regularly scheduled rectruit drooling.
Tim Sullivan is very optimistic on Green, FWIW.
Wilkins would be my next choice behind Isaac.
Actually, I'd prefer Justin Davis, but he's not really an option.
But I think it comes down to what Michigan needs. Green would be a great pickup, I think he's the best RB left that Michigan has offered, but he has similar qualities as other backs committed or on the roster already. I think Wilkins offers something different than what Michigan currently has. Michigan doesn't need another RB, but I think grabbing another would be good because I think there are guys out there that can still contribute in this class.
In conclusion at this point is probably: the best RB (IMO): Green; the best RB for Michigan (IMO): Wilkins (I prefer Wilkins to Davis personally).
here, but I do feel we need another running back. Smith looks pretty solid himself however I believe we need that explosive game-changing running back (and keep in mind I'm talking in the context of a team with a realistic shot at winning a national championship). Both the 2012 and 2013 defensive classes look very very good so I'm completely ok giving another slot to offense.
2. I'm not sure if Green or Wilkins is our next option. Green's measurables are very impressive and so is his offer sheet although I wasn't as impressed with his film as I thought I would.
3. Yea, what neoavtara said.
4. I just watched his highlights (albiet a quick 3 minutes), and was very impressed. Looks like a fairly big back with really good agility. Reminded me a little bit of Ronnie Brown at Auburn.
I don't think we NEED another running back just to get another running back. The numbers are fine at the position. It's the talent/speed that needs an upgrade. Right now we have a bunch of bowling ball backs (Rawls, D. Smith, Shallman, etc.) to carry the load and a couple change-of-pace guys who may or may not run the ball much (Hayes, Norfleet).
I would take Wilkins (or Isaac, Davis, etc.), but if we miss on guys like those, then we might as well wait until 2014.
But like you said adding some explosion to the running back is probably what we are looking for.
You're not a huge fan of green, magnus?
He's a bull who doesn't show any lateral agility. We've already got that in Rawls and Smith. Green might be a little faster if he gets out in the open, but I'd rather have a guy who can make someone miss once in a while. That's something we don't really have outside of Toussaint (who might be gone after this year) and Norfleet/Hayes (who might not run the ball much). We ought to be diversifying a bit, not just getting clones.
Why is Drake Johnson overlooked in pretty much everyone's discussions about our RBs? I like the kid; he is big, fast, and deceptively elusive athough maybe a tiny bit stiff in the hips.
I could see him surprising some people. I think he has the best combo of size and athleticism/speed out of all the RBs we have in '12/'13.
What don't you like about him Magnus?
I think you sort of hit the nail on the head. He's pretty big and pretty fast, but he's not all that elusive. I think you've got to make some people miss to be successful, especially if you're not a 240-250 lb. bruiser. I do think he has a chance to make an impact, and he's probably a guy who will stick with Michigan for four or five years even if he doesn't play much...but if you're looking for a superstar, I don't think he's it.
Fair enough.
The pretty big, pretty fast, and sorta-kinda elusive description sounds an awful lot to me like a certain starting RB for us right now though.
Eh, I think Toussaint it decently elusive. Either that or I am confusing his elusiveness with his vision. Could he improve, yes, but I think he is a pretty good running back in that category.
I think his vision is excellent which is often confused for being elusive. I do not recall seeing him make too many people miss in the open field..
That is not to say it didn't happen, just that it was not something that happened on a very regular basis.
I want MOAR running backs like these:
Toussaint and Johnson aren't anything alike.
Do you think Shallman will stick at RB? I feel like his eventual spot is somewhere on the DL.
I think he would be best served by switching to defensive end. For some reason, I doubt it's going to happen, though. He is very adamant that he wants to play running back and expects to play running back. Some guys are like "I'll play wherever they want me," and I'm not saying he wouldn't accept a position change...but he's definitely got his mind set on playing RB.
I feel for the kid, because wanting to play a position does not alway correlate to playing the position. Its the coaches who dictate what position they play, if the coaches decide to switch him to DE then he has 2 choices, play DE or transfer. I admit to not knowing the Xs and Os of football but I don't think shallman will end up at RB if we take another RB in this class.
I had thought that it was more of a case of the coaches saying, "We'd really like to try you at RB," than Shallman begging for it. I thought Shallman was happy to play wherever he was needed, but that he was excited because the coaches really wanted him to give it a shot at RB. And a redshirt year might take all the pressure off any decision.
I think that's part of it. Everyone wants to play running back. Once the coaches told him he could, he got all excited about it and now thinks that he has a good career ahead of him. We shall see...
I was under the impression that he'd probably be used as a situational/change of pace back, with the possibility of playing a some hybrid tight-end in the pass game. Do you think he could be valuable in that sort of a role (more valuable than him being a DE)? I really don't know if Borges runs that kind of offense but he seems like a pretty innovative guy.
I have been told - vehemently - that he is strictly being brought in as a tailback. That might refer to goal line situations and short yardage situations only, but fullback/H-back does not seem to be an option right now.
If you watch his highlights tape it's pretty obvious that he doesn't care nearly as much about defense as he does offense, and his technique isn't really very good either. I think he'll be a situational back for sure, and unless it gets pretty obvious that he's not going to pan out he will be sticking as a back. They won't move him I think until at least 2 years as a back.
I think the outlook for the position is muddled as far as what Michigan has after Toussaint leaves. I like Rawls, and I like DeVeon Smith, but nobody really stands out.
Apparently he was just offered by Auburn yesterday, which was an offer he really wanted. Looks like a great kid, but I don't like our chances.
...looks a little like Butch Woolfolk. Track speed, straightaway. Maybe a nice kick returner. Does Wilkins run track? He looks like a helluva 100/200m sprinter. Does Butch still hold the Michigan 200m school record after 30 years?
I don't see the Butch Woolfolk track speed with this guy. He has good speed, but wasn't pulling away from most of the DBs.
Just curious why, when we talk about the RB position on this board, there is not more discussion of Justice Hayes. When he was being recruited, I recall him being considered a top prospect who generated a huge amount of excitement around here. But, when we talk about our RBs, he is mentioned as a toss-in by most.
Re: Magnus' point above about not just getting clone of the same player and needing diversification, I agree. Obviously Rawls, Shallman and Smith are the "big backs." I don't mention Hopkins because he looks to have locked down the FB spot well. But, we do have some smaller, "make people miss" backs on the roster in Hayes and Norfleet. Why is it assumed that neither of these guys can be every down backs?
Hayes isn't the toughest inside runner. Borges sort of hinted that Hayes has some speed to get to the outside, but he doesn't seem that gifted at finding holes up the middle and running through tackles.
That makes sense. I do recall something from Borges along those lines. That being said, what do you see Hayes' role being both this year and beyond. Perhaps a return specialist, with spot duty as a change of pace back in certain sets?
Hayes might return kicks, and I expect him to take the Vincent Smith role once Smith graduates (and if Norfleet doesn't beat him out).
A good deal of the giddiness surrounding Hayes had to do with him decommitting from Brian Kelly and coming to Michigan. He could still be a solid contributor, just doesn't seem like an ideal every down type of back which Borges prefers (although he has proven to be flexible in other areas).
I'd say we need another every down back. We currently have Fitz and Rawls, and hopefully Drake will work out, but that's it. Hayes, Smith, Schallman, Norfleet are not every down backs. Every down backs tend to get beat up, so it would be nice to have a couple of solid options.
DeVeon Smith is every bit the "every down back" that Rawls and Drake Johnson are. I'm not saying he'll be a good every down back, but that's the mold that he fits.
What are your concerns with Smith? Highlight tapes are what they are of course, but I love what I've seen of him. His top-end speed isn't that great, but as was pointed out many times in the "Isaac to USC" thread yesterday, top-end speed isn't really that important for success at running back.
I just think he lacks elite speed and explosiveness, and I'd prefer a running back who can break a big play.
You think Smith should run away and explore other options because he has doubters? I would use it as fuel and try to prove them all wrong. Many athletes do the same thing. There are always going to be "haters" and I think he knows that.
Agreed. I love how Smith does not go down. He may not be the fastest guy but his determination makes him tough to bring down.
Well it seems from this blog that many don't like him or should I say, don't think he's good enough. It seems the majority want yet another running back, because Smith isn't as good as others. Maybe I shouldn't have said the whole fan base, I guess I should have said the majority. I was exaggerating about the whole fan base thing, basically making a point that the majority here don't think he'll be an every down back.
He was offered by Auburn yesterday. That was an offer he mentioned wanting to me when we talked a few weeks ago. I don't know how great Michigan's chances are with him, especially after that offer.
EDIT: Didn't realize the guy with the pizza avatar already pointed that out. My fault. That pizza looks yummy btw.
Smith is an excellent back. But like other schools (OSU, USC), if you need RBs, you don't just take one. USC is on the verge of taking THREE this year alone, with limited scholarships. That should tell you all you need to know about how to recruit RBs.
am glad things are shaping up this way. I wanted Isaac but don't feel that any of our remaining targets are more worthwhile than more defensive linemen. Great backs will always keep Michigan in mind. I have no doubt that the coaches will continue to diversify the backfield in 2014. Edit: Based on 90 seconds of film, Jonathan Hilliman '14 looks to have gamebreaking ability. He's the only 2014 RB offered so far unless you count Scarbrough. He also says that USC would be a dream offer.... doh.