Previously: Last year’s profiles. S Damani Dent, S/Nk Zeke Berry, S/HSP Keon Sabb, CB Myles Pollard, CB/Nk Kody Jones, CB Will Johnson, LB Deuce Spurlock.

Chicago, IL – 6'2”, 230
[Sean Bock]		247: 6'2/220      3.95*	4*, 90, NR overall #31 LB, #8 IL
		Rivals: 6'2/220      4.21*	4*, 5.8, #196 overall #7 ILB, #6 IL
		ESPN: 6'2/230      4.19*	4*, 82, #29 MW, #234 ovr #8 ILB, #6 IL
		On3: 6'2/220      4.76*	4*, 96, #60 overall #4 LB, #4 IL
		Composite:      4.15*	4*, 0.9151, #220 ovr #21 LB, #6 IL
		Other Suitors	OSU, Wis, Iowa, IL
		YMRMFSPA	Ben Gedeon
Previously On MGoBlog	Hello post by Alex Drain.
Notes	Butkus semifinalist. Twitter. Instagram.
Film:
Senior Highlights: Game film.

I told you the story of Michigan's linebacker recruiting this cycle. Well, that story ended with Michigan getting as lucky as all get out. If Will Johnson was a create-a-player at a position of need, Jimmy Rolder was someone having their prayers answered. Just as the linebacker class looked like it was going to settle for a couple of fliers, out pops a Chicago kid who had been committed to Illinois, where his stepdad played in the 1980s, for baseball. Bielema's football program didn't even look at him until last June, and didn't offer until October, when the floodgates were about to open.

He never went to a camp—baseball was going on. There was no sophomore film because he wasn't yet on varsity. There was no junior film until a few games tricked in after the COVID-delayed season in 2021, Rolder's first at linebacker. Word spread only once his senior season got underway, and scouts were dispatched to Chicago to see what the alarm was about. They came back rubbing their eyes. Minnesota jumped first, then Illinois, then Michigan offered in mid-October, swiftly followed by Purdue, Cincy, Iowa, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.

Wisconsin!

Florida and LSU jumped in as well, but Rolder wanted to stay within a 3.5-hour radius of his home, and Michigan wrapped it up in a month. Kid didn't even wait for 42-27, being all like "I knew it was gonna happen."

---------------------

He is the very model of a modern Badger linebacker

That senior film reminded the analysts most of Harbaugh's game tape. 24/7's Allen Trieu praised the size and "aggressive, hard-hitting style of play," calling Rolder "a throwback type of middle linebacker" and comping him to Alex Singleton, the CFL linebacker who thunked his way to the NFL and was starting for the Eagles over several former Badgers. Trieu:

Physically has the size to play his style of ball at the Power Five level. Big hitter who plays with aggressiveness and shows explosion through his tackles. D1 baseball prospect who has a 6.92 60 down, a very good time for someone of his size. Uses that to get to the ball carrier on the football field and can get to the edges to make plays.

On3, which launched around the same time as Rolder's takeoff, put him far higher than any other service, which Charles Power explained was all about "some of the best linebacker video in the 2022 cycle" and the tacking: "He drives through the ball carrier with considerable pop and form."

“When going back through the rankings, we always kind of refresh on critical factors, look at NFL draft picks, like things that that really mattered for position. And, you know, play speed is definitely one of them. And, I know I’ve said this for a while but I think Jimmy Rolder’s video in terms of his instincts, play speed, how fast he plays, how fast he sees the game and how physical he is as a form tackler. He’s not going around, just like lowering his shoulder hunting for big hits, he’s actually form tackling these guys, but still kind of blowing up the ball carrier while doing it. That was all really impressive to me.”

Emphasizing he's a "true MIKE," the Michigan comp Trieu came up with was Jake Ryan, which, uh, paints a picture. Rivals national recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove called Rolder "smart, tough, dependable," and predicted success in "quarterbacking Michigan's defense."

At 6'2" 220 pounds he is the prototype of what you want a young linebacker to look like in today's age of football. Not only is Rolder capable of being a downhill thumper and force against the run, he is fantastic in space and can also rush the passer. Rolder is a high motor kid that shows his love for the game through his hustle, and he is a big time competitor to boot.

Rivals' Michigan new writer Tanner Wooten saw Rolder in spring 2021 and fall 2021 and noticed some major differences:

That added bulk allows him to be a very physical tackler in the run game. He finishes through the whistle and has that nastiness you want to see from someone who projects to the MIKE linebacker position. … Despite the added bulk, his athleticism is mightily improved over last season. When you watch his film, you feel the impact Rolder has in the run game. He is very instinctual, diagnosing plays in an instant and using his athleticism to meet the ball carrier at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Touch the Banner was also a huge fan of the tackling:

He has good acceleration, and I like his ability to attack downhill while moving laterally. He does a good job of keeping his shoulders square and tracking a ball carrier’s inside hip. I also really appreciate his ability to roll tackle, going low to wrap up legs and stop ball carriers in their tracks.

Iowa's 24/7 site dispatched Sean Bock to a game, and didn't have a hard time spotting his quarry:

Rolder is put together well physically. When he's in pads, he certainly stands out, even amongst offensive linemen on his team that are a few inches short than him. Rolder's main part of his game is his physicality. He plays with a mean streak on both sides of the ball and his aggressiveness certainly adds a strong aspect to his game.

Bock shared a moment at tight end:

On offense, Rolder is the H-Back. He's used sparingly in passing situations but is more of a blocker. His physicality stands out there and he showed a number of times that he can put defenders in the ground with his strength. In one sequence, Rolder was behind the play, caught up to the ball carrier at mid-field, and completely de-cleated an opposing defensive back that looked like he was going to attempt a tackle.

Yes there's video:

24/7's Illinois reporter Jeremy Werner also caught a game, and came away thinking Rolder "has a lot of similarities to the linebackers Wisconsin and Iowa routinely develop," which is evocative, and also precisely what you want to hear about a middle linebacker. In case that wasn't clear:

Rolder also plays with great aggression and hits with authority, driving through opponents rather than dragging them down. He also is a smart football player and does a nice job of using leverage and setting an edge to cut off running lanes.

Of course EJ Holland made it out to a game, finding "more of your traditional inside linebacker that can come downhill and smack people."

Rolder filled gaps quickly and recorded several tackles in a big win. He is physical and moves well sideline-to-sideline. Rolder is impressive on the hoof and looks huge at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. However, he has the frame to carry more weight. Rolder has a high football IQ and did a nice job commanding the defense.

Except he's more athletic than your common Hawkeye talk-smacker

Every single one specified he was ticked for the middle, then explained why he was so athletic he didn't have to. Marist head coach Ron Dawczak described a kid who's "gifted athletically. You don't see kids of his size move the way he does." Cosgrove called Rolder "a great example of a player that was always heavy on talent, but blew up late because of Covid," and an "all-around athlete." This is "for his size" athleticism, not a safety in a linebacker's body. Even On3's Power, who put Rolder in his site's top-100, tempered the speed talk with and "outstanding play speed" clause.

Trieu and several other sites noted that a 6.92 60-yard dash according to Prep Baseball Report, which Trieu translated into a 4.60 forty "that is evident on his film." On3's EJ Holland used "deceptively athletic." Wooten called him "not exactly Devin Bush":

Rolder is a plus-athlete and gets downhill in a hurry. His ability to diagnose plays is extremely impressive and he gets from point A to point B in a hurry. While Rolder is not as athletic as Michigan’s star freshman linebacker Junior Colson, he is certainly capable of getting to the ball carrier swiftly. He uses that athleticism sideline-to-sideline to cut off ball carriers before they get upfield on outside plays.

Bock, the Iowa guy, thought Rolder was a sure MIKE/WILL but has the athleticism to potentially play anywhere from Iowa's hybrid safety position, or the hybrid LB/DE position:

On film, I was very intrigued with how Rolder can shoot the gaps. He's able to read the ball carrier and fill the lane quickly enough to stuff it. He has good pursuit and closing speed which allows him to be effective against the run.

Werner though Rolder "has enough length, strength and explosiveness to be a pass-rushing outside linebacker as well," praised the sideline-to-sideline speed, and noted "he can quickly flip his hips to turn into coverage, fill a hole or track down a back."

He's learning his position still in matters spill and coverage

Whether grading the film or getting out to games, the universal take on Rolder against the pass was "ask again later." Trieu:

Have not seen him in coverage as much but looks to have the athletic ability to do that. Has played some defensive end but projects as a true MIKE who could rush the passer in passing situations.

Bock:

There was not a ton of clips in him in coverage. However, his foot speed and athleticism we saw throughout the game make us believe that he'll be just fine in that area.

Even Power is just projecting:

He’s a natural in space and shows the movement skills to run sideline-to-sideline and cover downfield.

Cosgrove also didn't seem to have a problem with projecting the learning curve:

As good as Rolder already is, he is only scratching the surface of what he can eventually be. This is the first year where football was his only focus, and once he dedicates himself full time to the sport, he should develop into a force to be reckoned with.

Holland saw a few more aspects of Rolder's game that will need development, understandably:

What’s really exciting about Rolder is his ceiling. This is a kid that hasn’t been playing linebacker full-time for very long. In fact, Rolder excelled in more of a tight end/fullback role before making the transition. Rolder is still learning how to shed blocks and wrong arm and is still improving his overall awareness at the linebacker position. But he is a quick learning and is progressing rapidly hence why his recruitment took off.

Getting off of blocks was an issue to On3's Tim Verghese as well, when comparing Rolder to former Buckeye LB Pete Werner:

Both struggle getting off blocks at time and though both are physical tacklers, both have to improve physicality when maneuvering through traffic.

And Touch the Banner noticed "there are times where Rolder is a half-step slow to diagnose plays" that he attributes to being a baseball player until 11 months ago. Magnus thinks Rolder's been getting away with that with agility, but hand placement and understanding his run fits better will be necessary when those are Big Ten TEs and OL he's trying to dodge.

For doubting him we might all owe Coach George Helow a beverage

Rolder was Ohio State's top LB on the board late, and had Buckeye folks expecting a commitment. This was a true head-to-head recruiting win there. It was also a victory over Wisconsin, though they nabbed the guy Michigan was looking at before Rolder's blowup, MI 3* LB Aidan Vaughan. The late-riser from Walled Lake is getting good press; it'll be interesting, in terms of Wisconsin's linebacker factory, to compare the two careers.

Etc. Was a star 3rd baseman. Told EJ Holland that he prefers football, and baseball is done. 4.5 GPA, and attracted by the B-School ranking.

Why Ben Gedeon? Not hard to sell this one (Magnus chose the same). Gedeon is your typical long, strong, athlete with the adamantine proboscis. Everyone looked at Gedeon and said "middle linebacker" but he had good coverage instincts, could accelerate through a gap, and cover a long of ground. Gedeon was another  consensus 4-star who could have gone to Wisconsin or Stanford and Ohio State wanted, though he blew up much earlier over a more normal recruiting cycle. His watchwords were "athletic" and "throwback."

Gedeon also needed some years of development before he became a key piece of that excellent 2016 defense, but we wanted Gedeon to replace Joe Bolden a good year or two before that. Werner was the same kind of player, and a fair comp if you're going outside of Michigan, but you don't have to here.

Guru Reliability: Very Low. None of them knew who the guy was until the middle of last fall, and then they all played catchup with the film. On3's high on him because they love him as a tackler; the others sprayed him into their rankings and then spent most of his scouting report telling his backstory.

Variance: High. I mean, he looks like a solid 4-star linebacker and is ranked like a solid 4-star linebacker, but his entire passing game right now is "uh, he has the agility for it." He was an H-back until 2021, and mostly focused on baseball until less than a year ago. There's a lot of linebacking to learn. On the other hand he's a natural tackler and has plenty of athleticism. Could be Joe Bolden, could be JMFR.

Ceiling: High. Probably not a 1st or 2nd rounder if he's not running a 4.5, but a mean ol' fashioned middle linebacker with speed and agility to keep up gets you into Wisconsin linebacker territory, and what would you give for a TJ Edwards in a few years?

General Excitement Level: High. I mean: Wisconsin. Linebacker. Doesn't have the ceiling of Junior Colson, but also doesn't have to start as a true freshman, has no bad habits, fits the Harbaugh type of guy so well they literally watched film of '86 together.

Projection: As much as Michigan could use a third linebacker right this minute, there's no way the guy position learned enough in the 1.5 seasons he played in 2021 to be viable in 2022. He didn't enroll early either, so the redshirt (or 4-game redshirt) should be a holy lock. Given the depth chart, however, I could see him in the rotation in 2023, and the odds favorite to be the starter when Colson and/or Hill-Green depart.

Usually Late risers tend to not rise high enough, and great tacklers tend to be underrated until someone's running back is getting chopped down behind the line of scrimmage on a play you were sure you had blocked right. However, linebacker is hell in this system, and that's largely because the coverages ask him to cover a lot of extra space so the DC can play his games up front. Put him on the shelf for a year, dip his toes in the rotation the next, and he probably develops into a solid Big Ten linebacker who wracks up the tackle numbers and garners a lot of all-conference talk that is mostly warranted, and a little bit old school.