so much for that
Hello: Brennen Beyer
2011 MI DE Brennen Beyer received his Michigan offer in January, and didn't seem like it would be long before the lifelong Wolverine fan would commit to Rich Rodriguez. At long last, he is Blue! On that note, apologies if anything in here is slightly out of date...
BOOM COMMITTED

GURU RATINGS
| Scout | Rivals | ESPN |
|---|---|---|
| 4*, #15 DE | NR DE | 45, NR DE |
With 2011 prospects, there is a very limited amount of information available, especially for the guys who are a little more under-the-radar. Rivals's MichiganPreps has a brief breakdown of Beyer's game in the lead-in to a highlight package:
Brennen has excellent size at 6-foot-4 215 lbs. He has unbelievable hands as a TE and is a tough physical blocker. On defense Brennen plays D-End and was in opposing backfields most of the season recording 9 sacks and 9 tackles for loss.
On top of that brief breakdown, there is also indication from Scout.com's Allen Trieu that Beyer will probably be ranked third in the state in the class of 2011:
Detroit Renaissance linebacker Lawrence Thomas is definitely the top kid in the state. I think Saginaw wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett is pretty locked in at No. 2. Then there is some debate between three through six. We're supposed to submit our rankings this weekend for the Midwest. I think it'll go Thomas, Arnett, Plymouth DE/TE Brennen Beyer, Grand Blanc RB Justice Hayes, and then I'm not sure after that. Ogemaw Heights guard Anthony Zettel and Cass Tech corner Delonte Hollowell are certainly in the running for No. 5.
The third prospect in the state for 2010, for the sake of a reference, is 4* QB Robert Bolden on Rivals (the top 7 are all 4* or better) and 4* CB Mylan Hicks on Scout (the top 9 are all 4* or better). PlymouthCantonSports.com also has a profile on Beyer:
"There have been a number of times this season when the other team will run away from Brennen's side, but he'll make the play any way," said Plymouth coach Mike Sawchuk. "His effort is amazing. He squeezes as hard as he can and makes plays, no matter if the play is coming at him or away from him."
...
"The thing about Brennen that stands out is that he is so athletic, he can play any position out here. He's proven he can play wide out, but he could also play center, tackle -- he could even play quarterback if he wanted to. He's just that athletic.
...
"Brennen is just a great, all-around kid. He's great academically and he has awesome morales [?, sic] and values."
Beyer excels in the classroom, having earned a stellar 3.9 grade-point average so far. "I'd love to play college football someday," he said. "I don't really care where right now, but the Big 10 would be nice."
High effort player with good academics and character, sounds great. Opposing basketball coaches say, "He's a man." From watching Beyer's video, I'd say he's reminiscent of a less-explosive Craig Roh type defensive end, right down to that low crab-stance. One issue I see with his game defensively is that he often doesn't hit the ball carrier as much as he grabs with his hands as he goes by, and drags the guy down. Offensively, he's a good pass-catching tight end.

OFFERS
Michigan was Beyer's first offer. He grew up a lifelong Wolverine fan, just 15 minutes away from Ann Arbor, and wasted little time in accepting it. He then grabbed three more offers ($, info in header) from the likes of MSU, Northwestern, and Stanford, and followed those up with UCLA and Texas Tech.
Notre Dame also offered, and he visited for their March 20th Junior Day. According to Tom, they were the other finalist along with the Wolverines. However, with all the time he spent on campus, Michigan was his clear winner. Syracuse and Vanderbilt were his other BCS-level offers.
STATS
As noted above, Beyer finished his junior season with 9 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. Offensively, he had at least 6 touchdowns, but PlymouthCantonSports.com isn't exactly the pinnacle of great sportswriting, so there's always the possibility he had even more than that.
FAKE 40 TIME
Rivals lists his 40 time as 4.78, and ESPN credits him at 5.07. As a pass-rushing defensive end, those hardly sounds FAKE at all, and I'll give it just one FAKE out of five. I expect to see several articles with 4.2 40-yard dash times for him, so I can get my fill on FAKEness.
VIDEO
Beyer has both offensive and defensive highlights available on Youtube. Since I think he's being looked at as a defensive prospect, I'll embed his highlights from that side of the ball:
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
Beyer is so far from campus that it's nearly impossible to predict exactly what he'll do in Ann Arbor. He could bulk up over the course of his senior year and be ready to contribute immediately. As a high school junior, there's also a chance he's still growing and could get taller. Not even taking into account how members of the classes of 2009 and 2010 end up contributing, there are so many variable to take into account that it's an exercise in futility.
So of course I have to try anyway, right? He has a very good frame, and he will probably redshirt as a freshman to add sufficient bulk to it. He's one of Michigan's only true speed rushers in the past couple classes (Craig Roh being the other, depending on how some guys develop), so he should be able to contribute early in his career if he can get up to the right weight. He should play Craig Roh's position (either blitzing OLB in the 3-3-5, or the Quick DE if Michigan's defense goes back to last year's scheme).
For such an early commit, there's also a chance that he can work to enroll early (there has been no talk of this that I've seen; I'm just speculating), which would get him into a college weight program quicker, and let him tackle the playbook sooner, getting him on the field as a true freshman.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS
Michigan is looking at a small class of 2011, and with four spots already taken, they'll be very careful about who they allow to commit. Offensive line and linebacker are big priorities, along with at least one true defensive tackle.
Probably about 15-18.
Brennen gave his commitment at a Michigan practice today. He had an excellent combine with us several weeks ago, I was definitely impressed with his speed for a DE that's probably going to play with hands-down technique.
If either Tim or Brian want to contact me I'd be willing to give some more information. My Twitter is Bryan_MichPreps.
Bryan
MichiganPreps.com
http://MichiganPreps.Rivals.com - The Home of Michigan Elite Football and Basketball Coverage.
(See mgoblog@gmail.com)
Twitter // Recruiting Work// Email
Thank God he's somewhat high profile... because that means no board meltdown.
Galileo was also chastised.
Never count out the possibility of a board meltdown. Somehow, someone always finds a way to cause PANIC.
"They're running out of spots in this class! Was this really the guy we wanted to get a commitment from? Why aren't we recruiting any 5 stars!"
- a "friend" of mine
Ok I'll play too. OMG once Barwis gets a hold of him, he will be 6'9" 452 pounds and run a 4.4 40. He will be a BEAST!
Rivals only had 26 5-stars last year, so with a class of 16 or so we already have to turn away TEN 5-stars. Why increase that number by accepting commitments from mere 4-stars?
Well, much like NCAA Football 2010, we need to recruit four stars because if we recruited five stars, of course we'd get every single one, but then it'd be too easy to win and we'd be bored by 2015...and what would we do then?
I just talked to him briefly, nothing earth shattering.
He said, "After seeing all the other schools, I knew that this was the right place. I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to go."
He has been a lifelong Michigan fan, and added an emphatic, "Go Blue!' at the end.
Tom VanHaaren I TomVH on Twitter I U Recruit I Email
Could see him be a very productive college player in the maize and blue!
What was that about not recruiting the local kids last year???
"Anyone who isn't confused, really doesn't understand the situation." - Edward R. Murrow
I really like his athleticism. Since he will likely be the replacement for Craig Roh, it's nice that he can redshirt and bulk up for a year or two before being forced into the action.
Isn't the thought of "reloading" on defense nice?
Let the flood gates open for some more commitments saturday...
...for RichRod and GERG. It's not hard to see Beyer as Roh's understudy. Beyer's redshirt freshman year = Roh's senior year (2012) sounds just right.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe
I have been waiting for another Hello post for some time. Now bring on Dee Hart!
When you reach the end of your rope tie a knot and hold on...
He seems to read that play well and blows up the QB quite a few times. BTW what school was that with the winged helmets?
"Relax you panic monger" -Megatron
I think that is Wayne Memorial HS (western suburb of Detroit).
Welcome to the Michigan family, Brennen. We're proud to have you.
Before next fall's football season, the Rivals rankings will be revised and there's always plenty of movers and shakers. Guys will shift up and down the ranks and Brennen is someone who I can at least personally say at our division of the site that we think fairly highly of.
His speed is solid but can use work in the weight room (Eight reps of 225 at our combine). I believe his vertical was fairly solid as well though I'd have to check. Either way, I can assure you he's one of the top 10 players in the state, and as a neutral observer I think it would do Michigan well to recruit the state a little better even though some of the players that fit Rodriguez's system might be found elsewhere. Brennen's room is littered with Wolverines garb, and I think those are great guys to have in the locker room and on the gridiron.
Brennen will be at our Midwest Elite camp on May 2, so I know that we'll see some more numbers and get to see how he stacks up even more then.
http://MichiganPreps.Rivals.com - The Home of Michigan Elite Football and Basketball Coverage.
that Michigan loses out on the few TEs their offering this year and decide to move him to the offensive side to play TE?
Welcome to Michigan, Brennan. You'll look great in maize and blue.
Welcome to our fantastic city and exemplary University, Mr. Beyer.
Another great prospect from Michigan to the Wolverines. Two of the top prospects in Delonte Hollowell and Brennen Beyer, plus an apparently underrated prospect in Shawn Conway. I'm already very excited for the class we will pull in.
Those who stay will be champions.
what is up with that BORING highlight reel? No cool urban hip-hop music? No awesome slow-motion replays? No speed-em up film manipulation to make me think he runs a 4.25 40? And the most heinous omission, not one single lightning bolt?!?
We ARE Michigan....COME GET SOME!!!
...old school film. I guess that's how The BB rolls.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe
OL Anthony Zettel, RB Dee Hart, RB Justice Hayes, OT Aundrey Walker, OL Christian Westerman, DL Kevin Williams, LB Kris Frost, all verbal by Sunday so I can get some sleep. Again it nice to dream.
Fuck it, Dude, let's go bowling.
to dream about DeAnthony Arnett. WR not a position of need relative to the rest, but his skill can't be denied. I'm sure RR and staff would make room for him.
Every man at some point is gonna lose a battle. He's gonna fight and he's gonna lose. But what makes him a man, is that in the midst of that battle he does not lose himself. This game is not over, this battle is not over. So let's hear it .
This commitment, and the huge recruit presence expected at tomorrow's game has me feeling good times are a comin for our program:
1. Secure another solid, 4 star laden class.
2. Put the NCAA slap on the wrist behind us.
3. Win 7 or 8 games this year.
4. Beat two or three of our four rivals (probably ND, MSU, PSU).
5. Go to a decent bowl game.
6. See all our horses develop over the year and get better.
7. Avoid the injury bug (fingers! cross them fingers!)
8. Look ahead to a fantastic 2011 with a favorable schedule.
It's all uphill from here and a great time to join the UM family and I'm glad smart kids like Brennen see that.
Welcome aboard mate!
The little one should arrive any day now, if the baby is a "he", he will be Brennen. I first mentioned the name to my wife after seeing his name on this site a few months ago, she loved it...
Good thing he didn't go to Notre Dame, that would have caused some emotional damage on game day...
Just to cause you unnecessary angst...he could still switch his commitment. Cue Baby Name Board meltdown...
And he's the next Jared Allen...SACK!
"The choice is yours, and yours alone." -Olmec
RR seems WAY too focused on recruiting kids with alliterative names:
Cullen Christian
Demar Dorsey
Drew Dileo
Jeremy Jackson
Roy Roundtree
Terry Talbott
Terrance Talbott
...and now, Brennen Beyer
What gives?
Now we need Beyer to play the Ricardo Miller role this weekend and convince those other guys to commit as well. It makes a difference when there are highly rated guys saying "yeah, this is where I want to come to win football games." I have a feeling he knows Zettel pretty well by now and should be putting the full court press on him to commit. That would be another very solid pick-up.
Awesome that he finally committed to us, he is going to be good. What makes it even cooler is that I'm a senior at Plymouth High School, so it's sweet someone from my high school is going to play football at Michigan.



Awesome. How many kids will Michigan take this year?