Hello: Jordan Elliott Comment Count

Ace

While Michigan fans were drowning their sorrows in the aftermath of the OSU loss, the coaches landed a big-time commitment from four-star Houston (TX) Westside DT Jordan Elliott, who was in Ann Arbor on an official visit. After prior commitments to Baylor and Houston didn't stick for long, Elliott slowed his recruitment and eventually narrowed his focus to Michigan and Texas; this weekend's visit sealed it for the Wolverines.

Elliott is the 22nd commit in the class and the second at defensive tackle, joining Rashad Weaver.

GURU RATINGS

Scout Rivals ESPN 247 247 Comp
4*, #13 DT,

#103 Ovr
3*, #28 DT 4*, 85, #11 DT,

#47 Ovr
4*, 96, #7 DT,

#43 Ovr
4*, #14 DT,

#98 Ovr

There's a significant gap between Rivals and the other three recruiting sites, which all have Elliott as not just a four-star but a borderline top-100 prospect or better. When asked on The Fort to explain Elliott's ranking, The Wolverine's Brandon Brown gave some insight ($):

He didn't do any Rivals camps....unfortunately that's where a lot of guys get evaluated against other big time prospects by Rivals staffers.

I understand wanting to evaluate a prospect in person, but if this is really their methodology, that's a rather huge conflict of interest.

Elliott has college-ready size; he's generally listed at 6'4", 300 pounds, with Rivals adding an extra inch and 247 tacking on five pounds. He could conceivably play the nose, three-tech, or even SDE in Michigan's defense.

SCOUTING

Scout's free evaluation talks up Elliott's athleticism and versatility:

Evaluation

Athletic enough to play defensive end and powerful enough to play inside and take on the double team as a defensive tackle. Very quick off the ball, and you often forget that he is a legit 300-pounder moving around the way he is. Very smooth and plays with a low center of gravity making it tough for offensive linemen to outposition him. Could be scheme versatile in college and play in many defenses, and that is why offers poured in for him. - GP

Strengths

  • Body Control and Balance
  • Quickness off Ball
  • Size

Areas to Improve

  • Hand Quickness

ESPN is very high on Elliott's potential, calling him a potential early contributor. They see his potential to develop into a "disruptive interior rusher" against the pass, and with some technical refinements he should also be a major plus stuffing the run ($):

Demonstrates ability to fire out low and uncoil at contact and when he plays with leverage can be very tough at point of attack. At times can knock blockers back and flashes powerful upper body to separate and shed from blockers. Does need to watch pad level as it can quickly rise at times and needs to continue to refine hand usage and work getting off blocks little quicker at times. Displays adequate lateral mobility to be active between the tackles.

After Elliott committed to Michigan, ESPN analyst Craig Haubert compared him to one of the better Big Ten interior linemen of the last half-decade ($):

A bit fitting that the talented 2016 defender eventually landed in the Big Ten as in some ways he reminds us of former Iowa defensive lineman Carl Davis. Like the former Hawkeyes lineman, Elliott brings nice size and can move well and offer some versatility to a front. Like Davis, he also possesses the tools to be a very good and productive three-down-type player.

Davis anchored some very good Iowa defenses, recorded nine TFLs as a senior, and went in the third round of this year's NFL Draft. A similar career arc would be more than acceptable.

247's Clint Brewster added his analysis of Elliott's film in the aftermath of his commitment:

Elliott has the chippy demeanor you want on the defensive line and he's in the mold of a brawler in the trenches. He's a guy you can keep on the field for all three downs because he can help collapse the pocket against the pass. Elliott has a raw upside to him that coaches love to the get their hands on. He has the exclusive power combined with agility elite defensive lineman possess. 

Brewster thinks Elliott can provide depth early in his career, which is really saying something considering the returning talent on the D-line.

OFFERS

Elliott holds offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Cal, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Houston, Illinois, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Miami (YTM), Minnesota, Mississippi State, Mizzou, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington, among others. That's a heck of a list with elite programs from just about every area of the country.

HIGH SCHOOL

Westside is part of Texas' largest classification (6A). They're not among the elite programs in that group—they lost to powerhouse Katy 77-0 in this year's playoffs—but they've produced 16 D-I signees since 2002, with most of them sticking in Big 12 country.

STATS

From Scout:

As a junior, Elliott accumulated 41 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles.

MaxPreps has incomplete senior stats that credit Elliott with ten TFLs and four sacks in eight games.

FAKE 40 TIME

Elliott's Hudl page lists a 4.86 unverified 40 that gets four FAKEs out of five; for a 300-pound high school lineman, that'd be a remarkable electronic time.

VIDEO

Half-season senior highlights:

Full junior highlights and single-game reels can be found on his Hudl page.

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

Elliott should eventually make his way to nose tackle, where he's got the potential to be a star. He's already got the size to contribute early as a three- or five-tech, but that just happens to be where Michigan boasts the most depth next season. Elliott should be able to either redshirt and preserve some eligibility or, if the coaches expect him to be a major contributor as a sophomore, ease his way into some rotation snaps as a freshman.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

I'll have much more on this in the recruiting roundup tomorrow. For now, I'll note Michigan has 22 spots filled in a class Steve Lorenz reports will have 27 players. With some in-class attrition still expected, the coaches should be able to fit in several of the big-time prospects they're still recruiting, first and foremost among them Rashan Gary—Elliott's commitment by no means takes away his spot.

The recruitments of two other five-stars, Mecole Hardman and Isaac Nauta, just got a whole lot more interesting with today's news that Georgia fired Mark Richt, as well.

Comments

pearlw

November 29th, 2015 at 3:07 PM ^

Regarding Brandon Brown's comment...I attribute that more on his uncanny ability for stupid and awkward reponses than on any agenda by Rivals. Brown annoyed more than his share of people here by saying dumb things to recruits, annoying them, or saying dumber things to posters here.




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xxxxNateDaGreat

November 30th, 2015 at 10:10 AM ^

I do, too. Maybe it's just that I don't particularly enjoy seeing someone get shit on unless they are being a truly obnoxious jerk, but on the other hand, (IIRC) he did spark a topic that would result in The MGoPurge and Tremendous had some beef with him for piggybacking off Tremendous' twitter and website to post links to his own stuff. I actually think I might still have the DMs of Steve thanking me for helping explain the situation when he started getting attacked by a couple people on this blog, haha.

Magnus

November 29th, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

Frankly, anything said by Brandon Brown should be taken with a grain of salt. He's in a bit over his head. And even at Rivals, he has continued the trend of interviewing prospects who are not being recruited by Michigan, which was one problem he had here, too.

Magnus

November 29th, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^

Here's the link to his commitment post:

http://touch-the-banner.com/jordan-elliott-wolverine/

A commenter mentioned the same thing that I had said previously, which is that Chris Wormley had the same issues in high school. Wormley has turned into a pretty good player, but I think his motor has been an issue at times in college, too. He flashes great plays and then disappears for stretches of time.

xtramelanin

November 29th, 2015 at 3:39 PM ^

interesting comment about the possible correlation b/w a highly-rated guy who decommits during the process, and the greater likelihood of that guy washing out at the next level.   here's to elliot negating that possible connection. 

San Diego Mick

November 29th, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^

especially if his 40 time is at all close to accurate. I say the hell with RS'ing him, any guy that can play well is not going to stay 5 years, they'll want to go make money in the NFL.

With the way we'll be getting recruits under harbaugh, I say any guy that proves he can play well as a freshman should get that opportunity and keep the roster rolling.

Besides, we need to get guys game experience for 2017 on the DLine.

Magnus

November 29th, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^

The concern I have with playing him early is that literally every body returns on the interior of the line - Henry, Glasgow, Wormley, Hurst, Godin, Strobel, Pallante, and Mone (assuming nobody transfers, leaves for the NFL, etc.). And of that group, Hurst, Pallante, and Mone have eligibility for 2017. I'm more concerned about the WDE spot for next year and the future.

Magnus

November 29th, 2015 at 4:52 PM ^

I don't think game experience is all that important for defensive tackles. I think size/strength/conditioning are more important. So if you have a couple redshirt freshmen contributing in 2017, that's okay because they've had a year to get their bodies right. If your contributors in 2017 are seniors in Hurst and Mone, then Pallante, a sophomore Rashan Gary, and redshirt freshmen Jordan Elliott, Rashad Weaver, etc., you'll probably be okay.

schreibee

November 29th, 2015 at 7:47 PM ^

That's 2 or 3 times you mentioned Pallante in the space of a couple posts - did he see the field at all in '15, or is he expected to in'16?

I never heard his name mentioned as even a possible contributor except in direst emergency, so is there something come out recently that suggests Pallante would earn PT above even true frosh like Elliott and (God willing) Gary?

Without R. Glasgow, any contribution he could've made would've been much needed and appreciated... but all I recall seeing was Henry and Hurst, terribly out of position (aganst the spread teams) and being pushed away from the plays.

I've posted this a couple times already, and Magnus you always seem ready with a contradictory opinion when you think someone on this blog or a recruiting service have a different view of a player than you do - Onwenu just seems more NT than OG to me.

His build, his power, it all says "push forward & disrupt" more than "pull and trap" to me... I think he's a guy who should be considered for NT, allowing them to allow T. Davis to commit while still making a push for more OT (Delance, others?).

CoachBP6

November 30th, 2015 at 1:54 AM ^

Any stats to backup your claim? Or you just spewing BS bc you disagree with someone?

I would think game experience at a position where technique is so important would be a very beneficial thing. The only reason you redshirt him is if he can't contribute next year. If he can contribute, you get him some valuable experience because we're going to lose a bunch of good defensive linemen at the 2016 season end.




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Magnus

November 30th, 2015 at 6:59 AM ^

You know, I said "I don't think that..." There's room for me to be wrong. I haven't done a study on every redshirt freshman DT in the history of NCAA football. If you would like to do one and let us know the results, I'm sure we would all be enthralled.

All that aside, Chris Wormley and Willie Henry are two recent examples of players who did pretty well as redshirt freshmen. Wormley had 19 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and 2 sacks in 2013. Willie Henry had 32 tackles, 3 TFL, and .5 sacks in 2013.

If you want to get him "valuable experience" behind a bunch of experienced players blocking the way to playing time (Henry, Wormley, Godin, Hurst, Mone, etc.), then that's certainly an opinion that is allowed. But then it quite possibly prevents a fifth year of eligibility, which we're about to get from Henry and Wormley, presumably. That's not worth the trade-off, in my opinion.

StraightDave

November 29th, 2015 at 4:21 PM ^

I have no idea where these schools get kids this size.   Elliot played for an average team, just think what the elite schools have on the team. 

 

Of course it does help with the average enrollment of a 6A school well over 2k.

Albatross

November 29th, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^

Comments like that from Rivals, underminds their credibility. If you are a talent evaluator, you should be able to look at a kids film and determine what type of prospect a kids is. But there is even a better and more fool proof way, just look at a kids offer list. That will tell you what type of recruit he is. Not rocket science. I would much rather take a recruit the Rivals is telling me is a 3 star but has an offer from nearly ever elite program, then a player that Rivals is telling me is a 5 star and has a less impressive offer list.

Albatross

November 29th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^

I am not sure how evaluation goes to be honest, cause if anyone has watched Brad Tanner, (who just helped his team beat Cass Tech for the State Chapionsihp) play this year, there is no way that anyone can say he isn't a Division 1 prospect and yet he doesn't have one D1 offer. Lots of people are falling asleep on that one.

 

M-Dog

November 30th, 2015 at 9:50 AM ^

That's the thing with a Harbaugh staff . . . they really are very good and you have to expect that they will be sought after at higher levels.  

Recruits should expect this coming in.  As they should at any elite program.

It does help us a little bit that Mattison is going to stay put, but that is an exception.