CJ Stokes Has Committed to Michigan
Victors Weekend Visitpalooza has its first catch of…the weekend in Scout Carolina 3* RB Capers “CJ” Stokes III, one of the Wolverines’ top targets at the position. While other schools looked at the strong connections (both his dad and his former coach work there) to South Carolina and figured it wasn’t worth the pursuit, Michigan’s staff wasn’t going to let the film they saw fall to the locals without a fight. Apparently Stokes appreciated the love.
Ann Arbor I’m coming! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/3fXg23rVvm
— “” (@CapersStokes) June 19, 2021
I’ll have a writeup next week—initial thoughts are he’s way underrated but I’d like to know why South Carolina would let this go:
According to EJ Holland the Gamecocks cooled their pursuit so it might get dicey if they change their thoughts later. Michigan also has George Pettaway, an elite prospect, on campus right now, and are pursuing Chris Evans type Dillon Bell regardless, so it’ll be interesting to see how RB recruiting changes.
Nothing after the jump.
Scout Carolina is the best place to analyze potential players.
You sure he isn’t originally from the New England area?
There's the cynical way to look at this, a pessimistic way, and the optimistic way:
Cynical - Bell & Pettaway commit, CJ suddenly says "you never call or write anymore" to the M staff!
Pessimistic - they don't, the jump in talent level exposes him, and Stokes ends up being used less often than Chris Evans.
Optimistic - how great was the talent Mike Hart played against anyway?! Games knows game!
Welcome aboard Mr. Stokes!
Are you Stoked?
Well, are ya?
How's the competition level in his division? A lot of that tape is the opposition taking horrible angles to try to get to him. Is he creating those angles or is he playing mediocre talent?
That second clip of some middle school looking LB/Safety trying to cover him in the slot is just man among boys stuff. He goes to a private school in South Carolina and those film clips reflect some weak competition (there's an LB who gets blocked 20 yards downfield by an OL, two LBs who literally stop their feet and let him run right through them). He's flat out physically better by about 3 levels than almost everyone else on the field.
To his credit he dominates those guys, but he also should dominate those guys. He also flashes some remarkable athleticism and I'm guessing his metrics also reflect that. But I can see why other schools would pass.
Seriously some of those defenders are scrawny and have no desire to square up their shoulders and deliver a hit.
New Mexico RB of a few years ago had a similar talent gap. Looked all world vs the opposition he had, then barely saw the field before being dismissed from the team.
Not to suggest Mr. Stokes would have a similar outcome, just playing at a similar talent level in HS.
It’s not the best and I’ll stop there.
Looks like a solid recruit and someone I could see be a nice upperclassmen contributor. Also bodes well for UM's inroads in the south.
are pursuing Chris Evans type Dillon Bell
I wish we’d recruit players we actually intend to use.
Personally, I think Harbs should have another sleepover with a kicker that gets a scholarship and converts 2/3 of his FG attempts! Maybe another long snapper too! SHOLARSHIPS FOR EVERYONE!!
So an offense consisting of only offensive lineman, tight ends, and fullbacks?
Strictly based on the HUDL highlights, Pettaway looks quicker and faster than Stokes, but I know highlight reels can be deceptive.
That's possibly why Pettaway is about 30 spots higher than Stokes in the RB ranks?!
Maybe ?♂️
I love that the run at 0:41, instead of angling away from the defender to hit the corner of the end zone, he veered toward the defender to outrun him. Now that is some subtle but major trolling.
His film is very good. What am I missing here in regards to his ranking?
Did you watch any of the competition he's facing? It's not very good at all.
Not overwhelming but he does have some above average vision at the LOS. Welcome CJ.
Deveon Smith but fast?
I had the same thought—he’s a physical runner who seeks contact, and while he’s not a real burner he looks faster than Deveon.
My first thought was Karan Higdon vs the Minnesota third stringers.
I saw somewhere that he ran a 4.41 forty, which gets seven fakes out of five.
No, he runs 4.4 in comparison to his Division.
It's on a curve! 0 fakes
Oh man, do you have the link by any chance? That's gotta go in the writeup.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2021/06/19/three-star-running-back-c-j-stokes-commits-michigan/7755454002/
https://www.thestate.com/sports/high-school/prep-football/article231864063.html
Great News and Welcome Aboard!
Looks like a good one cut back, nice vision, good power, not elite top end speed. Competition didn't seem great. Just based on that one highlight video. Solid guy to add.
Edit- I like the Karan Higdon comp, another underrated 3* type whose tape I liked a lot.
All I care about ..... keep OSU within 4 TDs or less this year and that’s progress.
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