Justin Meram didn't just score
Hello: Antonio Kinard
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Michigan's junior day netted a few commitments while this site was busy hoping the world didn't cave in the day before the NCAA tournament was selected.
Antonio Kinard is a 6'4", 200 pound linebacker from Youngstown Ohio. He committed to Michigan over the weekend. The details:
GURU RATINGS
| Scout | Rivals | ESPN |
|---|---|---|
| NR | NR | NR |
It's too early for all but the most preliminary rankings; basically all we have to go on is that he's not in Rivals' initial top 250. He's #22 in the state to Ohio High magazine, for whatever that's worth.
OFFERS
Just the one from Michigan, with that issued shortly after Signing Day. FWIW, in mid-February a BP mod asserted he was likely to receive an OSU offer within a week or so; that apparently did not transpire. Penn State and WVU may have been on the verge.
STATS
ESPN says 86 tackles and 6 sacks a year ago.
FAKE 40 TIME
We have two times here, one of which might not be fake:
Kinard combines size with speed. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and is also on the Liberty track team. He has run the 200 meters in 22.8 seconds and also long jumps.
VIDEO
Video from Scouting Ohio.
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
Well, the evidence here is flimsier than normal: there's no scouting reports and only one ranking, that from a local, not national source. Preliminary indications—the Ohio High ranking and lack of other offers—are that Kinard will be a three-star sort. If the potential Penn State and Ohio State offers were
While that's not ideal, Michigan was familiar with Kinard after recruiting a couple of his Youngstown Liberty teammates and was quick to offer, so they obviously thought he was a talent they shouldn't wait on. One thing seems assured: a redshirt. Kinard is 6'4" and 200 pounds, so unless he puts on a ton of weight this year he'll need to bulk up some once he arrives if he's going to be effective.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS
It's unclear what position Kinard is slotted in: it could be linebacker either inside or outside or DE—as Varsity Blue notes, Greg Robinson's schemes often deploy a "spinner" who's a hybrid DE/OLB. Kinard's also the first defensive commit of any sort, so he won't affect Michigan's recruiting going forward. They'll still pursue TX LB Caleb Lavey and so forth and so on.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:38 AM | 
Invading Ohio
Invading Ohio
March 17th, 2009 at 12:14 PM |
Ohio State has 2 commits who
Ohio State has 2 commits who
Ohio State has 2 commits who are of similar build who have already put on the bulk who are ranked higher. They let Kinnard go.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:02 PM |
i think
i think
that's the biggest thing. they had two guys they felt were better. on top of that, they don't seem to like that school. (shrugs shoulders) oh well.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:54 AM |
by measurables alone
by measurables alone
it seems like a good pick-up. You can pack on weight and make kids stronger and faster but no amount of training can make a kid 6'4" as a incoming senior.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:02 PM |
Extenze?
Extenze?
Extenze?
March 17th, 2009 at 12:04 PM |
I liked what RR said at the
I liked what RR said at the
I liked what RR said at the presser on signing day. Not word for word but basically he said he does not care how rivals ranks these kids or how many stars they have he just wants the kids that he feels are a good fit for the team. He said that he cares more that they are going to work hard and be smart enough then whether or not they have 5 stars.
"You're making too much out of this, I didn't go to college and look at me, I'm kick-ass"
March 17th, 2009 at 12:13 PM |
lack of OSU offer
lack of OSU offer
OSU is pretty stacked at LB, so a lack of an offer from them probably only means that he's not an elite prospect. He could still be a very good one...I've been told that a good amount of OSU recruiting watchers thought Isaiah Bell was a hell of a player but OSU just didn't have room for him.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
March 17th, 2009 at 12:39 PM |
Are there any HS teammates of his we're interested in?
Are there any HS teammates of his we're interested in?
I'm wondering if this offer also is way of building up or solidifying efforts to recruit any classmates of his at his HS.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:25 PM |
I think Kinard is the result
I think Kinard is the result
I think Kinard is the result (partially) of Toussaint and Bell, not the tipping off point for any further recruits on their radar.
(Obviously, there might be more in future years, but not this year as far as I know.)
March 17th, 2009 at 12:40 PM |
Rivals/Scout
Rivals/Scout
I have a feeling RichRod and his staff spend maybe 3 or 4 seconds on recruiting-websites every year. And that's probably only when they accidentally click on a link before they realize they've gone to a site unintentionally.
"You smiled, luring me on
My heart was gone, you were temptation"
RAVEN - Remember Affect Verb Effect Noun
March 17th, 2009 at 2:27 PM |
There's usually a guy in the
There's usually a guy in the
There's usually a guy in the athletic department who spends at least part of his day cruising around the internet and looking at updates. Rodriguez himself (and the other coaches) might not visit Rivals or Scout, but they're told the important developments.
March 17th, 2009 at 5:25 PM |
Seems a bit early in the
Seems a bit early in the
Seems a bit early in the process to be offering 3-star projects, don't you think? And from the looks of this kid's tape, he seems to be just that. Maintaining loyalty to a school is one thing, but shouldn't you offer this type of guy later in the recruiting process?
March 17th, 2009 at 9:40 PM |
No. This offer was fine. He
No. This offer was fine. He
No. This offer was fine. He has size and speed. This kid is going to be good as the mental part of his game matures.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:40 PM |
Rich Rod, Recruits, and the Intranets
Rich Rod, Recruits, and the Intranets
While there are many UM fans buying into the "Well, the guy may not have any other offers, but with a lil chocolate milk and Barwis, he'll be great" theorum, I'm not so sure. Sure, Rich Rod may say he don't care 'bout no stars 'n sich, I'm not so sure.
What I'd like to see is some of this "Hey, this is MICHIGAN" stuff pay off with a dynamic new coach who knows that THIS is MICHIGAN and recruits PLAYAS instead of a roster full of diamonds in the rough. I hope Rodriguez learns that he is recruiting to Michigan and lands talent to go with what I believe are some pretty serious player development skillz. And I agree, this is kind of early to be offering kids like Kinnard, who would have been just as available in August as he was today. Can you say, "future decommit"? As in, kind of given the cold shoulder and pushed aside as the recruiting heats up and UM lands or is in position to land more talent at this position? From what I've garnered, UM has about 17 scholarships for 2010---let's do a lil cherry picking.
And oh yeah, I'm sure Rodriguex has a guy checking Scout and Rivals for "important developments"--Ahem. Maybe like the 1294th thread asking if George Morales has earned a scholrship?
Winning breeds confidence. Losing breeds reality.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:00 PM |
We have about 20
We have about 20
We have about 20 scholarships, and Coach Rod is friends with the Liberty coach. Kinard will not decommit.
I love the fact that we are recruiting those Ohio boys. I think Osu and Psu waited too long and Michigan was there to jump right on him. Good job RR and GO Blue!!
It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong...and I am that big man.-Micheal Scott