2019 Recruiting: Zach Charbonnet
Previously: Last year's profiles. S Quinten Johnson, S Daxton Hill, CB DJ Turner II, CB Jalen Perry, LB Joey Velazquez, LB Anthony Solomon, LB Charles Thomas, DE David Ojabo, DE Gabe Newburg, DE Mike Morris, DT Chris Hinton, DT Mazi Smith, OL Jack Stewart, OL Nolan Rumler, OL Zach Carpenter, OL Karsen Barnhart, OL Trente Jones, OL Trevor Keegan, TE Erick All, WR Giles Jackson, WR George Johnson III, WR Mike Sainristil, WR Quintel Kent (probably), WR Cornelius Johnson.
Westlake Village, CA – 6'1", 220 | |||||||||||||||||||
24/7 | 4*, #38 overall #4 RB, #6 CA |
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Rivals | 4*, #60 overall #4 RB, #8 CA |
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ESPN | 4*, #101 overall #5 RB, #15 CA |
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Composite | 4*, #46 overall #4 RB, #8 CA |
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Other Suitors | ND, OU, Wisc, Wash, UCLA, USC, LSU | ||||||||||||||||||
YMRMFSPA | Tim Biakabutuka | ||||||||||||||||||
Previously On MGoBlog | Hello post from yrs truly. Future Blue Derivatives from Adam. | ||||||||||||||||||
Notes | Twitter. | ||||||||||||||||||
Film |
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Senior Year:
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I begged him. I implored him. I exhorted Steve Lorenz to keep Zach Charbonnet's final ranking out of the top 50. I was reasonable about this. Sure, shoot him up 200 spots. Just make sure that he's not a five star or anywhere close. Well, nuts to Steve. Does he have any influence on 24/7 rankings? No. But still!
The reason I held a boombox outside of Steve's house in a futile effort to depress Zach Charbonnet's rankings is Michigan's beyond dismal history with very highly touted high school backs. Seth has a spreadsheet about this. Since Anthony Thomas—the last good mega-recruit back—arrived in 1997 these are the highest-rated RBs Michigan brought in:
- Justin Fargas (1998): was pretty good and a third round draft pick… for USC.
- Kelly Baraka (2001): never enrolled.
- Kevin Grady (2005): converted to fullback.
- Carlos Brown (2006): never had more than 79 carries in a season, fell over if you told him a rumor about cheese.
- Justice Hayes (2011): 63 career attempts before transfer to USM.
- Derrick Green (2013): lost job to De'Veon Smith, transferred.
- Ty Isaac(2014): career backup.
- Kareem Walker (2016): transferred.
Busts, one and all.
Charbonnet slots in between Green and Isaac on Seth's recruiting spreadsheet. I'm going to ignore this and assert that Charbonnet is going to be good but secretly I think we are all doomed and it's Steve's fault.
[After THE JUMP: I'm going to play this straight.]
But seriously folks, Charbonnet's probably going to break this streak. In the midst of watching Charbonnet's film I was frustrated because the player comparison in my head was just right there on the tip of my tongue, and then I suddenly realized he ran like Chris Evans. Evans is slippery in tight spaces, capable of dusting unblocked defenders with change of direction. So is Charbonnet:
There's another change of direction run at 4:30
The thing about Charbonnet is that he's 40 pounds heavier than the high school version of Evans. Charbonnet runs do not end like Evans runs. They end like De'Veon Smith runs. This is often the headline for evaluators:
- Adam Gorney, Rivals: "…physical presence and toughness … does not shy away from contact ever, he looks for it as he’s dragging defenders for more yardage or on the sideline he’ll lower his shoulder" Also: "…gritty, relentless and he takes no prisoners. … can run between the tackles, drag defenders, he keeps his feet moving and falls forward for extra yards."
- Shotgun Spratling, 24/7: "…absolute load. He runs as hard and as physical as any back to come out of the SoCal region in a long time and still maintains the quickness and top end speed to run away from a defense. … ability to make something out of nothing, take a pounding but not flinch and look even stronger in the 4th quarter than he did in the 1st really makes him special."
- Greg Biggins, 24/7: "… load at 6-2, 220 pounds and runs with tremendous power. He shows surprising burst and top end speed for a big back and has the ability to run between the tackles or bounce it outside for plus yards.
- One more from Gorney, who saw Charbonnet a lot: "… runs the football like a man - fearless, tough, he lowers his shoulder and he drags tacklers down the field … embraces contact, knocks people over and keeps on trucking for more yardage. … dominated running the ball in between the tackles … physical nature really stood out."
- 24/7 summary: "…naturally powerful runner. …great pad level and leverage. Has a rare combination of size, strength and speed and runs with decisiveness. … improved burst allows him to run outside. Can run away from a defense as well. … load to bring down in the open field. … Can improve his flexibility and change of direction.
I do not necessarily agree with the police work in that last bolded bit there. Charbonnet appears to have ridiculous change of direction for a guy his size. But because he brings so much burliness to the table evaluations sometimes skip over or downplay the truly outstanding 220-pound-Evans bit of his game. His coach does not:
“He’s tough and relentless … His pad level … power and leverage … he’s not a big stiff guy. He has some wiggle. … ability to make guys miss at his size … people are going to be shocked with how nimble he is.”
Adam:
…sets up hits well, lowering his pads and displaying the all-important balance through contact …. ability to get to top speed while still behind the line of scrimmage to avoid unblocked defenders is impressive in its own right [1:58], but to then be able to come to almost a complete stop over the course of two yards to force a missed tackle is just ridiculous.… rare ability to accelerate to top speed in just a few steps and the patience to stop himself from doing in order to read his blocks. The ease with which he changes speeds causes defenders to lose their angle and allows Charbonnet to run through contact or, at the very least, fall forward for extra yards … uses his vision and quickness to set defenders up to fail. … can see a gap open backside, change his path to hit it, watch it close, and think to bounce the run outside over the course of two seconds.
Even Gorney, the foremost purveyor of "runs like a man" takes that went light on Charbonnet's giddyup, actually started out highlighting his darting elusiveness:
“…very elusive … In a crowd, he can evade tackles and he has really quick feet allowing him to dart in and out of holes and he has excellent vision. … very good speed. … not an elite flyer … can make people miss and he can really run between the tackles. … a lot of patience.”
Brandon Huffman of 24/7:
“… runs so powerfully, he runs so gracefully, he’s got incredible balance, vision, feel… he sees the hole before it gets there. Then when he gets to that hole and hits that hole, he’s gone.”
And Harbaugh had an interesting NFL comparison/trait:
"… big, tough, hard running player who has light feet and great balance. He has speed. … can carry a team. He's serious too. It's the rare true freshman that comes in with the attitude that they're a 40-year old guy who has a mortgage to pay. … an Edgerrin James … He can jump a gap. He has the ability to do that."
Also in this vein: "…great feet, suddenness and twitch"; "excellent in tight spaces, has shown great feet and he’s tough to tackle"; "a lot more fluidity then most 215+ pound backs … nose for finding a seam and then exploding through it."
Charbonnet also draws praise for his "good hands" out of the backfield as he was frequently targeted on swing passes and even occasionally lined up in the slot to go downfield. Pass blocking is more of an open question but he's got the size and the attitude for it.
Put all of those things together and you have a five-star back. Charbonnet is one. The "areas for improvement" section that features in a lot of scouting reports usually read like this for Charbonnet: "really aren’t any discernible weaknesses … high end student, a high character kid "
24/7's Brandon Huffman also saw Charbonnet a ton and told Sam Webb that he'd take Charbonnet over composite #2 player Kayvon Thibodeaux, a teammate. He didn't get ranked as a five-star because he did exactly zero camps and sat out the UA game with a meniscus injury. That latter caused him to fall 21 spots on Rivals and 12 on 24/7. Hooray?
The drop was not based on anything he did, obviously. Analysts did mention his dinged-up senior season as a minor red flag:
"… one concern there has been with him is injuries. That’s the reason he missed the Under Armour game. …don’t want to get ridiculous with his carries."
So it seems bad that Charbonnet did not practice after enrolling early this spring. But this was planned, as it sounds like Michigan wanted their doctors to fix his meniscus issue:
“It was expected," [Jay] Harbaugh said. "It was the kind of thing that we knew for quite some time. Based on the expertise of doctors here, being able to do a surgery, rehab, the post-op, everything in house, it’s really reassuring when you can supervise and structure the entire recovery. There’s no downside.
He was still able to get in 215 carries his senior season, but if we're looking at ways Charbonnet will succumb to the Curse Of Fred Jackson that's the most prominent.
Takes from this spring are thus limited to off-field stuff. Those returns are good. Harbaugh:
“…a lot like Ben Mason … strength coaches are saying that he’s a ‘stalker.’ That he stalks them in the weight room all the time, living in there."
Charbonnet cited Ben Herbert as a major reason he committed, which says something. Harbaugh's praise was echoed by Khaleke Hudson ("I really liked the way he conducts himself, and he just goes about his business") and Ben Bredeson ("been working really hard … looks great") at Big Ten Media Days.
The pads have barely been on in fall camp so information is limited there as well, but it has repeatedly been asserted that Charbonnet is not a normal type person. Steve Lorenz relates that sources have called him a "horse" who is "built differently than normal people" and asserted he "looks like a linebacker but runs like gazelle."
I give up. My skepticism is defeated. All aboard the Charbonnet Express.
Why Tim Biakabutuka? Biakabutuka was big back with super quick feet and the kind of read-and-then-burst playstyle Charbonnet has. Both guys have a great feel for how blocks developed.
Charbonnet's bigger; Biakabutuka might have more burst and top end speed.
Elsewhere in comparables: Chris Perry. Perry is the only guy in the same universe as Charbonnet over the past 20 years. Both guys are big, burly backs; Perry checked in at 6'0", 225 in the NFL. Both guys have outside burst that's rare for guys their size, and the stiffarms are comparable. Honestly, though, Perry was a bruiser and a fast guy but when you go back and look at his career it doesn't feature the same kind of close-area agility Charbonnet has:
Chris Perry, but with a jump cut.
Guru Reliability: Very high. No all-star appearance thanks to the injury but guys at Oaks Christian are some of the most heavily scouted in the country.
Variance: Low. NFL-sized back with 400 impressive carries to his name. Senior dings to ankle and meniscus are a slight concern.
Ceiling: Vast. If Charbonnet hits he will be the best Michigan running back since Biakabutuka. His film looks really good in ways that are about his change of direction, not his opposition, and he needs to gain zero pounds to translate his ability directly to college.
General Excitement Level: Fine: vast. I am trying to be vigilant about RB busts past but Charbonnet doesn't have weight issues (Green) or balance issues (Brown) or off-field issues (Grady, Walker, Baraka), so it's just Hayes and Isaac he's fighting, really. Isaac's tape was not at Charbonnet's level, and Hayes was a scatback being used as a cudgel.
Projection: Instantly part of a three-man rotation at running back with Christian Turner and Tru Wilson. Charbonnet will probably have a slower start than desired thanks to his spring surgery, and your author has been banging the drum about Tru Wilson, the importance of pass protection, and his fit in this offense for a while. I don't think he's getting usurped as the nominal starter this year.
Over the long term there's nobody on the roster who has a chance of holding off Charbonnet if he remains healthy. He should emerge into the starter in year two and have a rousing NFL sendoff as a junior.
Or he will be selected for a mission to Mars that leaves tomorrow. One of the two.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
This kid the Real Deal.
Do it 24. All of La is watching.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
He's got fans in Cali and Louisiana? Well now Michigan will be rooting for him as well.
LA = Los Angeles
Thanks Carlos!
August 10th, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
Ooo La La
August 9th, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^
Definitely trying to contain my enthusiasm for ZC. It's been too long since UM had a dominant RB.
Quick note - both videos are the Chris Perry tribute; there are no Tim highlights.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
Aw man, I miss De'Veon Smith. I'll happily take "faster De'Veon Smith with a jump cut".
I'll also take 313 rushing yards & a win against Ohio State, thank you very much.
I'm dying here wondering how many ppl are gonna name De'Veon or Chris Perry, or go back 25 years fergodssakes to TD Timmy, without mentioning the most nimble-footed, make-guys-miss, fall-forward RB Michigan has had in my long life?
Talking about all-time leading rusher Michigan Mike Hart!!!
So, I'M seeing ZC as a kinda Mike Hart juke 'em, De'Veon rock 'em, Timmy outrun 'em combo package (plus obligatory ""But FAST!)
But like, no expectations man.
Probably the fact that Mike Hart is only 5'9" and Charbonnet is 6'1" - 6'2"
I would've gone with A-Train.
Hart was a "big brother-like" 5'9".
It’s not that we wouldn’t talk about him; it’s that there’s only one Mike Hart. So don’t expect him to get much mention in the context of a YMRMFSPA.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
"General Excitement Level: Fine: vast" ... Go Blue !!!
B1G Freshman of the Year could be in our backfield, just say'in as "vast" from Brian is huge.
I would settle for half vast...
After that write-up I'm already at half vast
Isn't half-vast what we've been settling for?!
August 12th, 2019 at 6:43 PM ^
That was no half-vast writeup; that was Brian at his best.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
#1 RB sooner rather than later.
Maybe by mid-season. It all depends on how quick he can pick up the offense.
Man, I think you are sorely undervaluing Tru's blocking there!
August 10th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
I would suspect Tru has a strangehold on the passing down / 3rd down back at minimum. I doubt Charbonnet is gonna be able to take those snaps from him anytime soon. Vincent Smith was amazing back there and there was a steep dropoff without him. I would suspect the dropoff from Tru to a true freshman will be similar
I'd love to see it too, but in any event give me a healthy and seasoned Charbonnet in NOVEMBER...not the freshman having trouble getting used to the grind of Big Ten football in November.
We are definitely due for a star running back...please let it be at long last!
August 9th, 2019 at 12:27 PM ^
My favorite recruit in this class. I don't understand how he isn't a consensus top 10 recruit, outside of him not showing up at camps.
Well maybe you've answered your question. Also, see Ronnie Bell.
August 11th, 2019 at 7:42 PM ^
At least he was moving up in the rankings. The 3 most recent guys on that list were early-bloomers that were ranked high as sophomores and overrated as seniors. They basically ended up at Michigan because other schools moved on
August 9th, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
Hopefully he stays more than 3 years.
why? hopefully he blows up, has 3 great years while michigan plays well and then he cashes in. and they try to recruit comparable talent behind him...ideal model
This ^. If he blows up, may the epic RB stream of recruits start to flow our way please and thank you.
Running backs get injured at a high rate. I'd like to see him do well at Michigan, then start making money as soon as possible. I reviewed Biakabatuka's career just now, and see that he was injury plagued in the NFL, only lasting 5 years there. Touchdown TIm's game against undefeated Ohio State has to go down as one of the greatest Michigan performances of all time.
No way. RB is the most "go get paid as soon as possible" position on the field.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
I am ashamed this post does not include 3-1-3.
Also I told you Baraka made it to April '02. What are you ever (barely) paying me for?Do I sense some discontent with Dear Leader?
I could watch that video all day long!
Biakabutuka making Buckeyes look stooopid. I guess that isn't hard to do, but I did mean on the football field.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:52 PM ^
Player I'm most excited about this season. Should be a part of Heisman talk next season.
Wrong. This is Michigan we are talking about. This kid should already be a Heisman finalist before playing any college football.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
I'm really excited about this guy. I'm anxiously awaiting some positive reports from fall camp. But if he's anything like Tim B, we'll be in great shape. I've seen Michigan running backs since Gordie Bell, and I've never seen a guy with more explosiveness out of the backfield than Biakabutuka. The guy's first several steps were unreal. He was usually through the hole before the defense could respond.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
If he’s really as good as the hype, he won’t have to wait until year 2 to be the main guy.
Brian: (In your eyes)...ZC is not that good...(in your eyes)...rank him over 50, understood?...(in your eyes)...
Lorenz: Um..I'm calling the cops
His build and desire to thwack dudes should make for a bruising pass blocker. Couple that with quick feet and vision and he projects to "I be like dang!" material.
I am wrong a lot, but I see a little bigger David Montgomery.
Video of Montgomery's Highlights:
Can't wait to see him play, just hoping his payoff and success in Ann Arbor is equivalent to his YMRMFSPA from Zaire and his secondary comparison who ended his career as a finalist for the Heisman.
Walking down coaches corridor in Schembechler Hall.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Come on in, I've been expecting you". /Coach cracks a fresh Coke and sets it next to 2 other open drinks./ "So you'd like my opinion on Zach Charbonnet?" /Packs huge dip and opens bag of BBQ chips/ "Well, let me think a moment..." "Do ya'll remember the Devito/Schwartzenegger movie Twins?" "How about instead of scientists and stuff the fathers for the experiment were: Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Ladainian Tomlinson, and Jerome Bettis." "And instead of some random woman, the mother was Flo-Jo" "Zach Charbonnet would be the result of that experiment."
Sounds like Saquan Barkley could be a good non-UM comparable also.
Just quit with the comparisons...Michigan has never had a back like Zach. Top Billin's Forte comparison is apt. The power-spread is designed for Zach.If this kid can survive the grind he is going to be a superstar.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^
You think he'd be the first superstar?
Is that an Instagram filter, or painting of Charbonet? Or does he look like a graphic novel in real life?
How do you say Charbonnet's name? Can we pronounce it with a sweet french accent whenever he trucks people?
August 11th, 2019 at 12:18 AM ^
Upvoted for your screen name.
I feel like there are guys who are surprisingly athletic and fast for their size, and then there guys that are simply athletic and fast and it's not until you see their height and weight that you even realize how big they are. Charbonnet seems like the latter. Hopefully they can teach him to block sooner rather than later so he can see the field early.
The most notable thing I got from this post is that there's a guy out there called Shotgun Spratling
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