Hello: Drew Dileo Comment Count

Brian

Well… yeah, so this LA WR named Drew Dileo committed to us over… uh… Tulane, Stanford, and Rice. He plays in the slot so it's not like a totally crazy commitment. Informative update coming.

Informative update:

GURU RATINGS

Drew Dileo

Scout Rivals ESPN
NR NR 75

Okay, so Dileo is a 5'9", 170 pound slot receiver from Louisiana. He's white.

Dandy Don, who must be taken seriously at all times about everything, ranks Dileo the states' 42nd best prospect. Tiger Rag is considerably more enthusiastic but wasn't exactly glowing:

19. Drew Dileo (5′9.5, 165, 4.5) Athlete Parkview Baptist HS - Dileo might not have as much bulk as some of the running backs in this class, but without question he has the heart. In 2007 he was selected as the MVP of the Class 3A championship game and in 2008 his role was not much different as he served as a running back, defensive back, and return specialist. Dileo’s size may be the only factor that keeps him from playing at the Division-1 level. However, there may be a team out there willing to give him a shot.

Heart: one gritty white guy descriptor ah ah ah.

ESPN's ranking is pretty meh but the writeup has some promise:

He is a good athlete with quickness and agility. … As a punt returner he fields the ball and accelerates while reading blocks on the run. Maintains balance even after being hit. Fights for every inch of return yardage and can make defenders miss in the open field. … Catches the ball easily in traffic and hauls in the pass even knowing he will be hit immediately after the reception. Can turn back across his body to make the difficult catches. As a slot, runs the counter and reverse to perfection. Hits and spins for extra yardage and is tough to bring down.

They end by suggesting he's "solid" and will be "sound" at any position he plays and "can be a very sure and productive player" and wow we're up to five gritty white guy descriptors (ah ah ah), four of which came in one sentence. Touch the Banner—which I have just discovered is run by frequent commenter Magnus—had a scouting report earlier in the year. In sum:

Dileo looks to be a low to mid 3-star player. He's a standout at a small school against weaker competition, but I question his ability to be fast enough or elusive enough to be a major contributor at the next level.

LSU message boards are also doubtful about his ability to play at a high D-I level, but he won the "fans choice" vote so we've got that going for us.

Coach quote:

"Any way we can get him in open space," Guillot said, "we're going to do it. He has great vision and is great at making people miss."

No white guy descriptors from the coach. Score for you, Mr. Guillot.

OFFERS

Well, he picked up an offer from Stanford after Michigan extended theirs. Given the way Harbaugh is recruiting these days that's a respectable letter to have. But… uh. Yeah. The local paper's commit article also claims a couple additional BCS offers:

Dileo chose the Wolverines with scholarship offers from Stanford, Virginia and Northwestern (Illinois) as well.

So not just Tulane and Rice. Not LSU and Miami, either.

STATS

Dileo was a jack of all trades for his team, rushing for 760 yards on 102 attempts (7.5 per) and catching 21 passes for 315 yards. Rivals doesn't have full return stats but they do have him averaging 42.2 yards on kick returns(!); he had four touchdowns in the return game..

FAKE 40 TIME

4.5 is the number, which awesome NFL guys barely run at their combines. So probably not a guy who's other big offer was Stanford. I give it one FAKE out of three.

VIDEO

Highlights of last year's Louisiana 3A state championship game, of which Dileo was the MVP; he's #3:

Mmmm. Fumbles. Also: I think that reverse flea-flicker was in Super Tecmo Bowl.

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

Um. Well, this is not Kenny Shaw. Not to be a know-it-all but I'm not terribly enthused about Dileo's commitment. He's small, he's not ultra-productive or anything, and the other offers are teams Michigan should be recruiting on another level from with the possible exception of resurgent Stanford. Also, Fred Jackson's last obscure Louisiana wideout find was Laterryal Savoy, who Michigan took over Desean Jackson.

fed_fail

There are a lot of metrics that indicate Dileo isn't going to contribute. It's early in the year yet and maybe he'll have some sort of blowup senior year, but a guy like Dorrell Jalloh is probably Dileo's maximum upside.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

They've got to be done at wideout, right? I mean: they've got five in the boat. Even if one—probably Jerald Robinson—is ticketed for the secondary, that's a lot of wide receivers in one class. I think they'd take one more slot if they really liked him, but that's unlikely.

As for the burgeoning class… well. One kid who has no major offers outside of Michigan is one thing. It's okay if the recruiting sites are enthusiastic about him, as they are with Robinson. But now we're up to like four (Kinard, DJ Williamson, Dileo, Tony Drake) players who don't have the offers or the rankings to suggest they're going to be anything more than serviceable if they work out. Trust the coaches and all that, yes, but at some point this goes beyond kids Michigan got on quick because they are awesome and just goes right to kids Michigan thinks they can get commits from after a 3-9 season.

Comments

daveheal

April 30th, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^

Yeah, I think I'm officially in the camp of those people scratching their heads about our recruiting. Granted, I don't have a whole lot invested in this process until LOIs are signed (and therefore don't know a whole lot about the timing of offers and whatnot), but it wouldn't seem to me that you'd want to offer a whole lot of guys with a marginal shot at being big contributors this early in the process. Are we really going to miss out on Kinard and Dileo and whoever else if we wait until they've hit a bunch of camps this summer or played a handful of games in the fall? And does it matter if we do?

Braylon Edwards

April 30th, 2009 at 5:27 PM ^

I hope this isn't true,I don't mind Kinard, b/c he plays D one of the few we have so far and the coaches got to scout him while recruiting Bell and Fitz, but I hope this kid de-commits and goes to Tulsa (too soon?).

West Texas Blue

April 30th, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^

I'm not excited at all on this commit. Dileo's level of competition is weak, he didn't put up gaudy stats, his offer list is shitty, and the only positive thing people seem to bring up about him is his special teams play. Really? A team that just went 3-9 now has the luxury to bring in players because of their special teams play?

Magnus

April 30th, 2009 at 5:47 PM ^

"A team that just went 3-9 now has the luxury to bring in players because of their special teams play?"

I wouldn't really call it a "luxury." I might call it a "necessity" considering all the trouble we had with muffs/fumbles on returns last year. Of course, there's no guarantee that Dileo would adjust well to the cold, but Odoms, Cissoko, Shaw, etc. haven't really shown an ability to be standout return men, either.

bouje

April 30th, 2009 at 11:16 PM ^

"dear god, dude. you know fuck all about him

if i were this kid i'd be wondering if i could commit somewhere were the fans weren't assholes"

You know fuck all about him? What the hell does that even mean? Is that English?

I know this isn't a dissertation or anything but when you say things like "I'd be wondering if I could commit somewhere WERE (oh you mean WHERE like WHERE we live...) the fans wheren't (haha) assholes"

Seriously dude the red squiggles underneath the post that your typing means that there is an error. If you right click on it it'll tell you what's wrong with it. Isn't technology grand?

Onto the actual topic. If this kid was a linebacker... or a QB... or a kicker... or a towel boy none of us would give a shit. But it's another WR a place that is already stuffed to the gills in this recruiting class with commits. Shouldn't we be saving these spots for kids at other positions? Are we the Lions?

And no offense but I really wouldn't be all too sad if the kid did came on here and saw that we all said "what a scrub" and de-committed. We don't really need any more slots and definitely do not need to REACH for 2* slots (Pat Whites, Steve Slatons not-withstanding)

bouje

May 1st, 2009 at 5:35 PM ^

And:

1. It's better than your job

2. To be good at my job it is inherent that the person is an asshole. If you're not an asshole you're going to do poorly.

And I will say it again for the record there is a very small chance that this kid does anything for this program. Could he be Mike Hart? SURE! But the odds of that are not very good.

Rankings matter we've proved this on this board before the percentage of 5* that go on to be AA's is a higher percentage than 4* (by a lot) and then the margin is even higher from 4* to 3* and frankly I'd hate to see what it is from 3* to unranked. Here's a hint there's like A MILLION unranked kids they are unranked for a reason and it's because they are not very good (GENERALLY)

The US has become too nice to everybody when I was a kid you got a medal for 1st 2nd or 3rd but nowadays people get medals for just participating. IT'S BS your kid isn't special he's like everyone else.

therealtruth

May 1st, 2009 at 11:03 AM ^

It is not possible for you to have been a larger asshole in this post, in every single way imaginable:

1. Complaining about grammar/spelling is fine when it obscures the meaning of what the person is saying. You took 3 paragraphs to do it in the rudest way possible? Fuck. Off.

2. No matter your opinion of Dileo (I understand some skepticism about him, myself) calling a 17 year-old kid somewhere a "scrub" passes some line of propriety. So again - Fuck. Off.

Really - go light yourself on fire.

bouje

May 1st, 2009 at 12:07 PM ^

I said: "And no offense but I really wouldn't be all too sad if the kid did came on here and saw that we all said "what a scrub" and de-committed. We don't really need any more slots and definitely do not need to REACH for 2* slots (Pat Whites, Steve Slatons not-withstanding)"

Where did I call this kid a scrub? I said "came on here and saw that we all said 'what a scrub'".

And secondly I was trying to be an asshole. How the fuck do you not know the difference between where and were? Must be a Wal-Mart Wolverine.

bouje

May 1st, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^

Is extremely productive and seriously if I was so insecure with myself wouldn't you feel like a fucking douchebag if I really did go home and off myself.

Now if you want to talk about fans that have an insecurity I'm pretty sure that we can look at you who has the name "the real truth". Seriously and what truth is that?

You people who have been following recruiting for a season are ridiculous and frankly don't know what you're talking about.

Also acting like an internet tough guy and telling me that you'll buy the gasoline if I'll light myself on fire is quite... well MSU? Don't they burn things?

I could give a fuck what you or BSB thinks and I'm sure that you couldn't give two shits what I think but ya know what I DO NOT like handing out scholarships to kids that are MOST LIKELY not going to do ANYTHING for the problem AT AN AREA WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH FUCKING COMMITS. If he was a TE sure he could be moved to the line but in that video kid couldn't tackle so I don't see how we need another MFT.

therealtruth

May 1st, 2009 at 5:37 PM ^

Who has been following recruiting for one season? I've been following it for longer than that.

I'm more opposed to your need to mightily point out someone's typo, then write 3 paragraphs about it, and then turn around and shit on a 17-year old kid. I'm not debating whether Dileo will turn into a productive player, I'm debating about whether you're being a choad for no reason. Answer: Yes.

therealtruth

May 1st, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^

Honestly, I'm generally on board with the grammar nazis, as poor grammar and spelling can make a post incomprehensible. That wasn't the case here, and to spend 3 paragraphs in an out-sized effort of faux-intellectual superiority says infinitely more about the person bitching. Like, it says they're a complete choad.

jamiemac

April 30th, 2009 at 5:51 PM ^

Did you guys see the punt and kick return teams last season?

It could use all the improvement that's out there, including bringing guys in like this who may only contribute on kick returns. Sounds like he could be the best handler of punts on the roster if he were on the team today. I love his potential there and see a lot of Vinny Sutherland in his game.

See? Its not that hard to be optimistic.

There's been a lot of hand wringing by all of us about our woeful special teams over the years. I dont have any problem recruiting for need in that department.

JWMU_01

May 1st, 2009 at 9:36 AM ^

The 2nd biggest issue with the return game, after not holding on to the ball was that the returners were getting their bell rung and didn't see the field again for an average of two games after attempting a return... It is hard to develop a dependable return man if he is playing with a Nerf helmet....

wolverine1987

April 30th, 2009 at 6:16 PM ^

Ok, I've participated in and occasionally led the bashing of posters questioning our recruiting regarding size, position, and star level. I still believe that we're on the right track. But, now, like Chris Rock once said about OJ Simpson, "I understand." I just don't get this--another small slot guy, and one who likely will struggle to be a 3 star to boot? Someone rational please help me out, I can't suddenly be sympathizing with McFarlin, this is an emergency...

Coldwater

April 30th, 2009 at 6:23 PM ^

I think this kid is just what RR needs to help beat Ohio State. He's quick, elusive, and has great hands on punt returns. Not only that, he's a hard worker, he's like a coach on the field, he's gutsy, and he runs precise routes.

OSUckSteverMSUcks

April 30th, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^

Dileo is small, thin, undersized, and runs like Dan Quisenberry. He is not a major college WR or RB.

I really feel sorry for him, because someone is giving him some incredibly bad advice.

Wolverine In Exile

April 30th, 2009 at 6:32 PM ^

is the Northwestern offer. I know we shouldn't be in recruiting battles with Northwestern, but I think we can all agree that Northwestern is a solid program now compared to what it was and a lot of its offensive prowess in the past decade has been with guys like this in the slot or playing special teams. I think it's analogous to "why couldn't we get a guy like that" syndrome we had for years in basketball with those typical Purdue or Indiana role player recruits. If RichRod and Magee see a way this kid can contribute, even if it is in a special teams role, I say good. Hell, if he turns out to be Vinny Sutherland, I'll be happy b/c Sutherland was a solid contributor on winning Purdue teams.

Blazerine

April 30th, 2009 at 6:54 PM ^

Um...agree with everything you said, however:

"Rivals doesn't have full return stats but they do have him averaging 42.2 yards on kick returns(!); he had four touchdowns in the return game.."

I'd give him a scholarship if he could field every punt and avg. a 1/3 of that yardage, oh and never fumble.

Your write up is so spot on (perhaps a tad politically uncorrect) but hilarious and true none the less.

Love these write ups.

Durham Blue

May 1st, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^

You beat me to the "What's the Dileo?!" line!

Michigan needs a big recruiting haul this year and there are not enough 4- and 5-stars to go around. RR has no choice but to offer a bunch of 3-star guys just so he can fill out his class. The 3-star guy will typically commit quickly when they get an offer on the level of Michigan.

That's the Dileo.

nmwolverine

April 30th, 2009 at 6:59 PM ^

We fans are used to the old style of recruiting which, at a certain point in time, failed. Many high recruits were duds. We all know what happened in the last seven years. We all need to be sent to re-education camps. Yes, I too have this problem, but I can't do anything about it. I must be re-educated. RichRod needs new and better fans than us.