The first commit of Michigan’s massive weekend of visitors barely got past lunch. South Carolina 3* RB Capers “CJ” Stokes III announced at 2pm on Saturday that he was pledging to Michigan. Pulling this guy out of Columbia was something of a coup—his dad’s been working for the school for 20 years, and his high school’s head coach recently joined the South Carolina staff. The parting of ways appeared to be mutual:

No bad feelings towards South Carolina or the staff there from me! But even if my offer was committable (and it was before), I wouldn’t have gone. I’m trying to leave home and build my own legacy. I wish South Carolina and the staff the best, much love!

— “” (@CapersStokes) June 20, 2021

The SC boards are bummed, and don’t have even a shred of optimism about flipping him back, which was one of the fears we had after EJ Holland suggested South Carolina’s staff had cooled on Stokes and Lorenz noted just before the visit that the new Gamecocks staff hadn’t offered Stokes yet($). That’s even weirder considering national interest picked up after the March camp circuit—Michigan offered March 28.

GURU RATINGS

Rivals	ESPN	247	247 Comp
3*, 5.6, NR Ovr #50 RB, #9 SC	No rating	3*, 87, 560 Ovr #42 RB, #7 SC	3*, 0.8627, #704 Ovr #59 RB, #9 SC
3.67	n/a	3.74	3.63

There’s a slight difference in size between 24/7, who reports 5-11/190, and Rivals, who has him at 5-10/188—ESPN’s 5-10/180 matches a Hammond School roster from 2019 so I’m guessing that’s outdated. Like 24/7 I use the lack of a rating as a slight downgrade from the average in my formula, which puts Stokes at 3.68, one spot above Vincent Smith (3.66) and Karan Higdon (3.65) in my rankings since 1990.

For what it’s worth Higdon was also 5-10/190 but much higher on the composite after 24/7 gave him a fourth star. Could that happen when they get a look at Stokes? Possibly? It’s clear from Steve Lorenz’s reporting that Stokes was Michigan’s #2 pure RB still on the board behind George Pettaway, who was also on campus this weekend, with ATH Dillon Bell a “take no matter what” because there are a lot of places he could fit. Both Mike Hart and Jay Harbaugh have fantastic track records at scouting RBs, so it’s meaningful that Stokes was such a big target for them. It’s curious why he wasn’t for others, especially the local one.

[Hit THE JUMP for scouting, video, and a wild appearance from Gaige Garcia.]

SCOUTING

There isn’t much since Hammond School plays in a fairly low league. One of the people who watches that league the most is Cody Williams/PalmettoPreps.com, which covers South Carolina high school sports. Stokes was a household name to Williams by last fall:

We will lead with the big name everyone knows. Stokes in the offseason made it known during multiple interviews that he was looking to silence the doubters on his lack of physical running ability and his between the tackles running approach. He clearly focused on that in the offseason. On the hoof he is noticeably bigger, especially in his lower body. After watching him play this season, all doubts around physicality are out the window. It is evident in reviewing film he is truly focusing on finishing runs with physicality and not shying away from contact at any point. From a coaching standpoint, one thing I noticed is the number of run calls going between the tackles this season. He does a great job of following his blockers and setting up his blocks with cuts and patience. Stokes has missed a couple games but has been extremely productive the last two weeks, including a 23/260yd/2TD performance against Augusta Christian last week.

Augusta Christian (which is in Georgia) is the other decent school in their division, for the record.

247’s main guy Steve Wiltfong offered this analysis:

The initial quickness, balance and body control is evident on film, a powerful runner with make you miss ability, Stokes is a decisive runner that also plays with a lot of toughness, and can also stretch the field as a receiver.

has good speed, instincts and vision … downfield tackle breaker with a nose for the end zone.

And Magnus sees a guy more in the vein of Higdon:

Stokes is a solidly built runner whose best attribute is his balance. He has good vision and an ability to plant his foot in the ground and get north-south quickly, sometimes using a jump cut. He runs low to the ground and can survive high tackle attempts by ducking underneath. He shows good patience and a willingness to set up his blocks in the open field. Stokes also displays some ability in the passing game.

The #1 thing Stokes lacks is breakaway speed. He does not have the burst to outrun angles, and he gets chased down by players who do not necessarily have great speed themselves.

That’s about the exact opposite of what Rivals’ EJ Holland said:

On film, Stokes is slippery between the tackles and has 4.41 speed, which he uses to break off long runs. He runs with physicality but is also athletic enough to line up in the slot and do damage there. Overall, Stokes’ film doesn’t pop, but he’s solid in a lot of areas, has speed and would be a good take in a weak year at the position just a cycle after landing an elite back in Donovan Edwards. … Stokes has the speed to add to Edwards' power and can also be used in various spots in U-M's speed in space offense.

Holland also reported that South Carolina “cooled on him” but also updated the post over the weekend after it became clear the Gamecocks were still in pursuit this summer and Stokes’s tweet put to rest any fears that the hometown program could turn him if they chose.

Unfortunately that’s where the analyst analysis ends. Stokes would pop up at camps but those camp evals are either behind non-Michigan team-specific paywalls or ignored by the army of recruiting reporters. The Under Amour (24/7) camp in Atlanta on March 21 produced a video of Stokes running a 40 and a new level of offers, including from Penn State and Michigan. Some of the paywalled articles are from the aftermath of the Rivals Atlanta camp, after which the site shot Stokes up from the #16 to the #9 player in South Carolina without changing his position ranking.

As of last August Stokes was telling people he was 5-11/190 with FAKE speed:

“Last year, I didn’t do everything I can do. … I’m really good at slot (receiver),” Stokes said. “I run some really good routes. I’ve gotten way better at my catching, so I’ve been working on that, working on being more of an all-purpose back.

And said he was working on slot receiver stuff and blocking:

“I’ve been working on that a lot, lining up and motioning out of the slot, or just lining up out of the slot,” Stokes said. “My catching has improved tremendously. And picking up blocks, I’ve been working on that. I can do better on that, and I will. I’ve just got to keep working on it. But my catching and my ability to line up in the slot and run routes has improved.”

That tracks with what South Carolina’s new RB coach was pitching, via 24/7 East Coast analyst Brian Dohn, who’s quoting Stokes here:

"When they offered me, they were showing me everything they can do with the running backs," he said. "No. 34 (Larry Rountree) is more of their natural, all-around running back. No. 1 (Tyler Badie), they send him out on wheel routes and stuff like that. They say he is a faster guy.

"(Running backs) coach (Curtis) Luper was showing me that before he offered me, and seeing if I liked that. Everything looked really good running back wise with how dynamic the offense is. It looks like a really good offense."

…and with Missouri:

“Their system is great, as far as how they use the running back out of the backfield. I feel like it fits me a lot, as far as what they did this past year. They had their starting back, he was more of an every-down back, except for third-downs, then they had No. 1. He would come in and do passes and stuff like that. I could really play every down over there.”

Stokes said “speed, size, and one-cut ability” were brought up again when he got the offer from West Virginia, which, well..

"Coach Scott was telling me how they use the running backs in every way possible in the offense, and I like that."

Gophers 247 writer Ryan Burns offered his analysis of the highlight reel($):

The tape shows a back that's very slippery in space. Stokes isn't the fastest player on the field, but the way he's able to maneuver around defenders and maintain his speed is very promising.

Via the local paper Stokes is a straight-A student, and academics were clearly a major consideration. I’m new at covering recruiting still, so correct me if the actual policy is public knowledge, but from what I’ve pieced together over the winter the football program gets a handful of (reasonable) academic exemptions per year, and then every other commit—most of the class in fact—has to be a candidate (plausibly) on par with the rest of the applicants accepted that year. This system is not unique to Michigan, and every school in the country likes their recruits to be scholars, so please don’t go around using this as an argument about Michigan’s academic purity. I mention it only because  a guy like Stokes is not going to use up a counter, which is a data point when considering why he was such a highly rated target for the staff.

OFFERS

Everyone expected South Carolina, even after Muschamp was fired, since they were still coming heavily as of last January. The Gamecocks suddenly cooled around the time Michigan, Penn State, Colorado, and West Virginia jumped in, and Notre Dame had him on a virtual visit, in late March. I don’t know why. He took visits to Vandy and Mizzou earlier this month, and had trips to Colorado and Louisville planned before the Michigan one ended his recruitment.

The local paper was reporting Harvard, Yale, and Columbia interest by last fall as well.

HIGH SCHOOL

Hammond School is a private school in eastern Columbia, SC, and has a dark history. It was founded as a segregation academy in 1966, and remained so, under a Confederate flag, until the 1980s, when a new headmaster led dramatic efforts to desegregate and distance themselves from their shameful past and the real winner they’re named for. That included reviving the sports programs.

The football program is the reigning state champ at the top level of the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA, pronounced “Skee-zah”), which controls athletics for 50 former segregation academies in South Carolina and Georgia (and uses a photo of Stokes on top of its website). Hammond has had some big-time players come through recently, but they’re a whale in a pool in that league, as SCISA’s other ten AAA-level teams don’t usually produce Power 5 athletes. Augusta Christian, who finished second in Hammond’s division, sent a lineman to Clemson in 2015. First Baptist in Charleston, the champ of other AAA-level division, sent a 3-star RB to Clemson in 2019.

Former Hammond head coach Erik Kimrey, an SC alum, was hired to coach tight ends at South Carolina last December, and recruited Stokes to the Gamecocks before and after. As you might expect, the school has a lot of the coaches’ kids, and four alumni currently on their football team, including 5-star 2020 DE Jordan Burch and 4-star DT Alex Huntley. The last two QBs were Will Muschamp's sons and the star OT was Mike Bobo's kid—it’s fair to assume the staff shakeup there helped shake Stokes loose.

STATS

Cody Williams listed 76 carries for 835 yards (11 YPC) and 14 touchdowns in a shortened 2020 season, but didn’t mention the receiving totals. His Hudl reports 122 carries for 1306 yards (10.7 YPC) and 18 TDs as a sophomore.

FAKE 40 TIME

Hit 4.4 (laser) multiple times, coming for a 4.3 pic.twitter.com/JBprGhiZHd

— “” (@CapersStokes) March 16, 2021

The talk is he’s fast; it’s clear people are excited when Stokes steps on the field at any camp, that the reporters are waiting to see him put up some blazing time. The first time he appeared on recruiting radars it was for an 11.43 in the 100 meter dash in early 2019 (when he was 14 years old) and a 7.12 in the 60-meter indoor.

Stokes had a reported 4.41 at the Will Muschamp camp two years ago, which is when he earned his Gamecocks offer. In July of last year, SC writer John Whittle said Stokes “recently” ran a laser-timed 4.4, which could be in reference to a claim made by Stokes at Minnesota’s camp or at a July 2020 ESPN underclassmen camp. Whittle said Stokes clocked a 4.51 last April, while also calling him a speedster. That’s probably real enough for three FAKES out of five. The 4.41 gets the full five FAKES out of five.

VIDEO

Sophomore and freshman highlight reels and individual game footage are available at his Hudl page.

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

I’m inclined to agree he’s not an ELITE elite burner if we’re basing this on highlight film instead of reported 40 times. The 4.41 camp time is two years old, as are the track numbers. He’s dusting a bunch of kids from a South Carolina private school league, and not dusting them other times. Perhaps the mid-season injury had something to do with that?

But let’s inflate our expectations back from the deflated inflated expectations, shall we? If you’re getting a running back from the SCISA you want to know he’s the kind of player who makes a cut at the 35 to seal a state championship and it’s so undramatic you’re already saying “touchdown” before he’s even past the safety…

That might do it @CapersStokes with 35 yd TD run. Muschamp to Weston on 2 pt play@HammondFootball leads 26-6 3:50 left pic.twitter.com/xfj049hVqm

— Lou Bezjak (@LouatTheState) November 21, 2020

And such a cheat code that when they use him in a blowout the announcers’ only response is “Lol.”

That's 4️⃣ touchdowns tonight for @CapersStokes as Hammond takes a 47-7 lead into the 4th qtr. over Porter-Gaud.#FridayNightRivals #schsfb
WATCH LIVE ⬇️https://t.co/1K32qjZhZO pic.twitter.com/VMA8npuqT3

— ABC News 4 (@ABCNews4) September 5, 2020

Touched by a few, tackled by none.

I also don’t think it matters that much because top speed is the fifth most important thing to look for in a running back, and it’s not like the guy with a reputation for blazing in a camp setting is going to be a minus in that department. The best run on that tape, IMO, was the one at 1:24 of the video. Here’s another angle:

CJ Stokes @CapersStokes makes it 14-0 with nice run and leap. 14-0 @HammondSports 1:06 left in 1st pic.twitter.com/2Zm6Qy8QsD

— Lou Bezjak (@LouatTheState) August 29, 2020

That’s a serious jump cut, and the dive at the end feels superfluous, except he had a very good reason.

“He was trying to cut me, and I remember last year I was getting cut and I would just try and go down and try to get lower than them,” Stokes said. “And i just saw the goal line, so I just jumped over and tried to get over it.”

Remember this is a guy Hart loves, and this mindfulness is such a Hart thing that we were pointing it out in Indiana previews about Stevie Scott III.

There are also a few plays he made on the SCISCA kids where he’s toast if he tries that on FBS players. You can see it against Southern Columbia, which is from Pennsylvania, but had 5-star Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming (#4), a pair of linebackers who went to Michigan State (Cal Haladay #28 the MLB) and Wisconsin (#14 Preston Zachman), and Michigan “wrestling” recruit Gaige Garcia (#23) last year:

The safety who streaked out of nowhere at 1:20 is a wrestler at St. Cloud State now if you’re wondering.

Anyway it’ll take some adjustment, but I really like this pickup for a class that needs to add depth behind Donovan Edwards.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

Fellow RB target Dillon Bell seems likely to commit soon, which could mean #1 RB target George Pettaway got preempted, though I imagine the Wolverines won’t stop pursuing the #100 overall prospect, especially considering all three were on campus when it happened.

Michigan also picked up a commitment (sorry I was at the DCFC Women’s game so I didn’t publish an announcement) from Belleville LB Aaron Alexander (hello tomorrow), and crystal balls for a few more visitors, including 4* TN safety D’Arco Perkins-McAllister, AL 4* DL Justice "Doc" Finkley, and CT 3* OT Alessandro Lorenzetti, a guy Michigan State had put a lot of effort into. Hopefully, for my sake, they space these out so I can get HTTV out the door.