Hello: Henry Poggi Comment Count

Ace



Alabama bangs, Michigan commit.

Michigan's next commitment has been the subject of much speculation since Maurice Hurst Jr. pledged to the Wolverines on Saturday and proclaimed he'd be joined by another imminently. Now the guessing game is over, as Baltimore (MD) Gilman DT Henry Poggi has announced his choice to become the 20th commit in Brady Hoke's class of 2013, via GBW's Sam Webb. The consensus four-star is Michigan's second defensive tackle in the class, joining Hurst and defensive end Taco Charlton on the D-line.

GURU RATINGS

Scout Rivals ESPN 24/7 Sports
4*, #15 DT,

#135 Ovr
4*, #2 DT,

#52 Ovr
4*, 81, #23 DT 4*, 94, #7 DT,

#105 Ovr

Poggi is univerally regarded as a four-star, and only ESPN doesn't consider him one of the top 150 recruits in the country. Rivals is the most bullish, putting him all the way up at #52 overall. All save ESPN list Poggi at 6'4" and between 260 and 270 pounds; ESPN is a serious outlier at 6'3", 245.

Football runs in the family for the Poggis; Henry's father, Biff, is his coach at Gilman, while his older brothers Sam (Duke) and Jim (Iowa) each earned BCS football scholarships. His father, for what it's worth, says Henry is the best player in the family.

ESPN's evaluation isn't particularly glowing, largely due to concerns about Poggi's size and potential status as a tweener ($):

As a D-Lineman he flashes a good initial burst, but is inconsistent and can be a beat slow at times. He does need to watch his pad level, but displays the ability to fire off the ball low and gain leverage. He is a hard nose player who can make good contact and be tough at the point of attack. He is active with his hands, but needs to do a better job of consistently separating from blockers. He is a coach's son and comes across as a fairly smart player who reads schemes well and can get himself in good positions. He is a physical and high effort player who works to get around the ball. He is a good tackler who tries to drive through the ball carrier and wrap-up. He does display some rigidness and could struggle in space to quickly re-direct and wrap ball carriers up. As a pass rusher he comes up-field hard. Will try and attack half-a-man and displays the ability to be violent with his hands. ... While Poggi looks to carry his weight well, he may be somewhat limited in the good size he can add making him an undersized D-Tackle or more of a swing player if he stays on defense at the next level.

Poggi will likely come to campus as a three-tech DT, but there's also a chance he ends up at five-tech DE if he can't add the necessary bulk to play on the interior. The criticisms about his technique shouldn't be of great concern; remember, he's a junior in high school and Michigan has three defensive line coaches to work out any kinks at the next level.

Rivals—unsurprisingly, given his comparative rankings—was much more positive in their evaluations of Poggi than ESPN; here's MDHigh.com's Wayne Yarborough after scouting a Gilman game last October ($):

At 6-4, 255, Poggi has a great frame; he's a tall, thick defender with a wide base, stout legs and broad shoulders. He plays with a low pad level, which makes him difficult to move off the ball. He also has tremendous upper- and lower-body strength, allowing him to collapse the pocket and toss offensive linemen around like a dog with a chew toy. Indeed, Poggi can be a bully up front; he likes to scrap inside and goes at it like he has a massive chip on his shoulder. What's more, Poggi is very nimble for a big man. He showed surprising quickness and closing speed on stretch runs and a relentless rush on passing plays.

Gilman assistant coach Hank Russell echoed the praise for Poggi's strength, pad level, and motor in a March article on MDHigh.com ($):

Henry (6-3, 250) is a big, country-strong lineman who moves extremely well for his size. He has quick, heavy hands and gets off blocks exceptionally well. He is very powerful at the point of attack and can [overwhelm opponents]. Then Henry has a non-stop motor; he just will not stop coming at you. [Fundamentally], he plays with a low base and consistently keeps his pads low. He has great lower-body strength, which makes him very difficult to move off the ball. He's just a tough kid to block; he can [occupy] multiple blockers and break through double-teams.

Russell also told Scout's Kristen Kenney($) that Poggi "plays with incredible passion and has a non-stop motor." In short, Poggi may not have ideal size for a tackle, but he has great strength and pad level, relentless energy, and very solid athleticism for a lineman.

OFFERS

Poggi chose Michigan over Alabama and also held offers from the likes of Auburn, Cal, Florida, Iowa, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Mizzou, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and others. Needless to say, he's got a strong list of suitors.

STATS

Poggi recorded 49 tackles, 11 TFL, ten sacks, and a forced fumble as a junior in 2011.

FAKE 40 TIME

247 lists a 4.70 40 time for Poggi, which merits a three FAKEs out of five.

VIDEO

Junior highlights:

You can see some additional highlights in this video feature on Poggi in which he also answers a few questions. His dream prom date will be met with approval around these parts, I'm sure.

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

Here's where I get lazy and slightly modify what I said about Hurst on Saturday:

If he ends up at three-tech, Hurst Poggi should get a redshirt year since Michigan brought in Willie Henry, Matt Godin, and potentially Chris Wormley at the position in the 2012 class. After that redshirt year, he'll be in position for fight for time against those three and a senior Kenny Wilkins; given that he's got a higher recruiting profile than all the '12 recruits save Wormley, he's got a good shot at contributing as a redshirt freshman.

Hey, that worked. Poggi could also end up at strongside DE, where he'd be competing against Wormley, Tom Strobel, and Keith Heitzman for time. Neither position that Poggi projects to play has much at all in the way of upperclassmen, so he's got a good shot to make a relatively early impact regardless of where he ends up. That said, a redshirt year will likely be a necessity to allow him to add some good weight.

If Poggi comes in at the three-tech, I assume the coaches will see how Hurst holds up at the nose unless Michigan takes another lineman who better fits there.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

The Wolverines now have three or four spots remaining, in all likelihood. One of those is reserved for IL WR Laquon Treadwell, while it's becoming clear the coaches would like another defensive back in the class—MD CB Kendall Fuller and FL CB Leon McQuay III are the top targets, while AZ CB Cole Luke and NJ CB Nadir Barnwell are also possibilities. Michigan also is in the market for another running back—or at least an elite-level back—with the coaches pursuing VA RB Derrick Green and TN RB Jordan Wilkins.

I'd expect the class to be filled out with a receiver, running back, and cornerback, with the coaches taking a best player available type or possibly a strongside DE if there's another open spot. The options should narrow down considerably with so little room left in the class, a process we've already seen in motion along the offensive line and at linebacker.

Comments

uncleFred

June 4th, 2012 at 9:12 AM ^

What a great addition to an already great class!

What a great 2fer!

I checked in this morning hope for one and instead... Great start to the week!

StateStreetApostle

June 4th, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^

Ace,

Do you ever read recruit descriptions from the sites and wonder if they're just copying and pasting themselves?

Or perhaps, like a kind of post-modernism generator, they just type in a few values for "pad level", "relative size" "compete level", etc., and the computer puts together yet another paragraph for them...

Bosch

June 4th, 2012 at 9:42 AM ^

RDT was wrong again on his prediction (this one being that Poggi was going to end up at Bama). 

RDT has some insightful commentary, but we can rule him out as some Michigan recruiting insider.

Carcajous

June 4th, 2012 at 10:25 AM ^

Well, he talks nebulously about "what he is hearing" from his "sources" so I guess you can interpret that however you want.  Look, I hope he leeps posting.  I like his posts.  No worries there.  He just doesn't have any more information than any of the rest of us who read recruiting info, are on twitter, etc.  That's OK... not being an insider doesn't make you not welcome here.

teldar

June 4th, 2012 at 9:53 AM ^

"word around campus"
So he wasn't calling it himself. He was saying what he heard some people say. I don't remember him saying he was a lock to Bama.
I don't understand the hate for him.

UMgradMSUdad

June 4th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^

I never quite understood the infatuation either.  I guess they go hand in hand, love and hate.

Your sense is similar to mine.  He was providing what buzz there was at Alabama regarding recruits both Michigan and Alabama are recruiting. I still enjoy getting a different perspective.on things, so I hope he keeps posting.

DonAZ

June 4th, 2012 at 10:29 AM ^

"I never quite understood the infatuation either."

"Infatuation" might be too strong a word.  "Respect" might be more appropriate.

RollDamnTide strikes me as sensible guy offering his viewpoints, and offering them in an even-handed way.  In the world of internet forum commenters that's a bit of a rare thing.

My two cents.

Gulo Gulo Luscus

June 4th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^

I think the infatuation part is strictly because we kick off the season against the Tide this year.  Sure, people may have bought into him as an insider on the recruiting trail, but if his handle were "War Eagle," would any of us really give a shit?  It's not just a different perspective on things, it is the Alabama part in particular that gave him some kind of notoriety and in turn a supposed credibility.  Regardless, I hope to see him continue posting despite the whiffs.  Glad to have a non-troll fan of another big program contributing.

M-Wolverine

June 4th, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^

Said in a post that Poggi was leaning both ways. But isn't what he hears the point? His "sources"?  And the word he was getting was, well, wrong again.  I mean, it doesn't matter if he "feels" like a recruit is going to do something....because there are hundreds of posters on here who can do the same thing. I "Feel" like they're going to find a hidden year of eligibility for Tom Brady and he's going to come back and play for a year. Take it for what it's worth.  Because it doesn't matter. What matters if someone who actually knows slomething hears it, and I pass it along. And theses insiders are now 0-3.

No one hates RDT. He's an entertaining poster. It's just the gushing love some of us don't get, especially when he's shown to not know anything more than the anybody else who follows recruiting and recruiting sites. It's not the comments...everyone gets an opinion on here. It's the elevated status that his insight means anything more than mine, yours, or most anyone else.  His claim on being wrong on the last one was he's never been so surprised in all the time he's followed recruiting......   And he's what? Early twenties? It's not like he's been an insider for decades.

He should post. Everyone should enjoy his posts. They just shouldn't take them that seriously.

M-Wolverine

June 4th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^

It's always interesting to hear what they're saying in different parts of the Country, because I'm sure they're hearing things, or interpreting them differently than the Sam Webb's of the world in this neck of the woods.  It's summer...what else do we have to talk about?

Just that RDT should be giving the impression of, and (as you say, more importantly) those that are reading it should take it all, a little more FWIW.  

KAYSHIN15

June 4th, 2012 at 9:58 AM ^

Like you stated he provides good insight from a non-MGo prospective which is refreshing. Its pretty safe to say his credibility is shot, but he's still a pretty good read.

triangle_M

June 4th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^

I think saying his credibility is shot is a bit of an overstatement.  I like his posts, I enjoy the perspective as many on here have stated.  If Alabama insiders thought he was theirs and that's what RDT shared with us, how does that ruin his credibility? RDT is credible in his reporting of what those around him (who may claim to be insiders) share.  They were wrong.  It happens.  I thought for sure we were going to get Garnett or Diamond based on what people on these boards were saying. Didn't happen.  I don't see anyone calling their credibility into question.

As a rule, I really enjoy posts from thoughtful members of other fan bases.  RationalBuckeye, RDT, that Irish guy, etc and want to encourage them to post as long as they aren't trolling.  

a2_electricboogaloo

June 4th, 2012 at 9:52 AM ^

We currently have 2,569 points in Rivals team rankings, which would have given us 2nd overall in last years rankings behind only Alabama (who had 2,621), and we still have a few more spots left!

Magnus

June 4th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^

I don't really know how to answer that question.  I don't think assigning points to a person depicts "reality" in any way, shape, or form.  It's a different formula, intended for more clarity, but whether it's actually clearer or not is for other people or the future to decide.

reshp1

June 4th, 2012 at 10:07 AM ^

Welcome to the family Henry!

What impresses me most about this class is not just that it is stacked with talent but that the coaches are able to address areas of need so effectively. It's awesome they have the confidence to turn away top talent at positions that are "full" to focus on needs and actually get commits of equal quality in those positions of need as well. If we get Treadwell, this class will be pretty much flawless.