Hello (Walk On): Blaise Stearns
Per Twitter
WR/CB Blaise Stearns – Walk-on
@TheD_Zone: Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 2013 WR/DB Blaise Stearns will walk-on at the University of Michigan. #TheDZone 10:53P
http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/qqR7rhJMPUm_Ni9-iMqApA/football-fall-12/profile-blaise-sterns.htm
April 16th, 2013 at 12:35 AM ^
Welcome aboard sir.
April 16th, 2013 at 12:38 AM ^
Ann Arbor (MI) Gabriel Richard WR Blaise Stearns looks better than most walk-on wideouts - youtube.com/watch?v=Mal1Wr…
— TouchTheBanner (@TouchTheBanner) April 16, 2013
Because he has good foot speed and he gets in and out of cuts well. He also is able to track the ball in the air. He looks like a taller, less athletic version of Dileo with the way he runs routes and has quick feet, but not necessarily great straight line speed.
Don't get me wrong, I doubt he will play significant minutes at any point while at Michigan (maybe a Joe Reynolds amount), but he still looks better than your typical walk on WR.
Of note: if you want to earn a walk-on spot at WR at a major university, show a willingness to block. I'm sure the coaches do actually look at something like that when thinking about walk-ons and scout team people.
It's pretty cool to see a WR's hype video include blocks as well as catches.
I don't know who's "hyping" this video. Was anyone claiming that Stearns will be the next big thing?
April 16th, 2013 at 12:38 AM ^
Bizzare. It's a rare 2013 candidate, walkon or no, that doesn't even have a rivals or scout profile. Student body walk-on, I presume? What's the story here? After walking-on during spring, he was asked to work out and show again at fall practice?
April 16th, 2013 at 12:38 AM ^
Welcome young man.
April 16th, 2013 at 12:43 AM ^
GO MAIZE and Blaise!
April 16th, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^
Though a nose tackle with that name could be amusing.
congrats to the young man on getting an opportunity to don a winged helmet, I wonder what his height, weight and speed is.
He'll probably hardly ever see the field except for mop up duty and/or special teams and scout team duty as well, those things are important and guys that fill those roles don't get the credit they deserve.
Good luck Blaise, hope you have a fulfilling experience at the greatest school in the world!
and around 200 now.
down the road. 2 way athletes like him can play a lot of positions on special teams.
If nothing else, love the blocking.
His fathers name is Gabriel Richard and his name is Blaise Stearns??? Thats weird.
s/
You never know...
JDK and Joe Reynolds! Actually, Reynolds looks like he may get meaningful playing time this year. Also Graham Glasgow.
MLive's database seems to have his stats from this past season too - (HERE)
Actually, his receiving, rushing and defensive stats are here - it looks like he had two defensive TDs as well (presumably INTs from playing corner).
A name like 'Blaise' is so 90's it's ridiculous. Excellent work Mr. and Mrs. Stearns.
I hope he has a brother named Tanner or Colt.
No doubt named for Blaise Pascal, the 17th-century French mathematician and philosopher who was one of the distant fathers of today's computers.
Best of luck, Blaise. Regardless of how your football fortunes turn out, your college education will be among the best obtainable.
April 16th, 2013 at 12:21 PM ^
Or Saint Blaise? Or the race car driver-cum-PA auto dealer Blaise Alexander? Or Blaise Boles, a principle investigator at UM's Boles Lab?
Seriously, your guess is probably correct.
Or Blaise Zabini from Harry Potter?
Grain of salt for competition and all, but I see:
- great hands
- decent size
- toughness
- blocking
- quick feet for a bigger guy (speed may not be elite, but not slow either)
- catches the ball with his hands
He could be great over the middle or 3rd down possession type. I think he sees the field at some point.
Welcome aboard sir.
April 16th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
I wonder if Harris knew about this before he committed. I assume the coaches would be honest with him and let him know they'd be bringing another guy in who'd be playing the same role as him ie. bigger WR.
April 16th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
I don't think Drake Harris would be scared of a walk-on.
April 16th, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^
You forgot to tag your post as sarcasm.
not good sarcasm if you have to tag it. Do you say "Get it?" after you tell a joke?
April 16th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
Ever hear of a walk on named Jordan Kovacs...
April 16th, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
That kid is a good football player. Enjoyed watching his video, he's a gamer.
If he was quicker and a little faster, he would have a bunch of stars next to his name.
Really nice pick-up for a walk-on.
Anyone given a chance to play to the University of Michigan is probably pretty darn good.
Blaise looks like a pretty capable athlete, though not as quick or fast as you'd like for a college WR. Perhaps he can put on some weight and become a U-Back type? Sure, the odds are against him seeing much of the field during his Michigan career, but he is obviously a willing and aggressive blocker, has very good hands, and is a capable athlete. I'm glad to have him.
Welcome to the family, Blaise.
Go Blue!