Hello: Pharaoh Brown Comment Count

Tim

It's a commitment-palooza! OH DE Pharaoh Brown is the newest Wolverine. Also, I'm really going to have to practice spelling "Pharaoh" (not "Pharoah").

GURU RATINGS

Scout Rivals ESPN 24/7 Sports
3*, #45 DE NR DE NR DE 4*, 90, #10 TE, #14 Ohio

There's alllllllllmost a consensus among the recruiting sites about Brown's size. ESPN is the outlier in height at 6-5 (all the others agree he's 6-6, except the guy quoted below), and 24/7 Sports is the odd site out at 230 pounds, whereas the others all agree that he's 220.

Though 24/7 Sports calls him a tight end, Pharaoh told Tom that he's a defensive player in Greg Mattison's eyes:

"I talked to Coach Mattison today, and then he put the head coach on the phone and they offered me right there. They said they saw my film and they really liked me."

Pharaoh said he plays quarterback, defensive end, and tight end but Michigan is recruiting him for DE.

He's a big guy, but to play at the next level, he's definitely got plenty of work to do in the weight room. There's not a ton out there on him, but Ohio recruiting guru Duane Long has talked about Pharaoh a couple times:

Pharaoh Brown is 6-7 and 215. He runs so well and is so long. Right now he prefers tight end which is very odd as he plays quarterback on offense. The way he plays end I don't know who would waste him at tight end. Yes, I said waste him. I like a good receiving tight end as well as anybody but defensive linemen are what win championships.

He's not sold on Pharaoh's apparent attitude:

I can tell you I did not consider him [for his projected 22-man OSU class]. He says he wants to play tight end. He is willing to play defense but he wants to play tight end. That is not good enough. We talk about defensive players mindset. He has all the skills to be a great defensive end but I can't put a player on defense who does not want to play defense.

But, like, the film, man. It is good. If he's willing to play defensive end, he's an outstanding player at the position. Despite not being in Long's projected Ohio State class, he's listed as one of the scariest to get away:

I have been very excited about Pharaoh Brown. My enthusiasm has been dampened a bit after hearing about his desire to be a tight end. No matter which side of the ball he lines up on he could come back to haunt us...

Long doesn't really have a whole lot to say about Brown's specific skills other than "they exist." His highlight video shows off great athleticism, but a lot of the plays feature some 5-7 white kid whiffing on a block, so don't read tooo much into some of it.

He's physically reminiscent of Terrelle Pryor in high school, though probably not quite that athletic (and he appears to be much worse as a passer). I'm a little surprised with Scout's ranking of him, but it's still pretty early in the process, so whateva.

OFFERS

pharaoh.jpg

Brown had a strong regional offer sheet, with a couple of national names mixed in. Arizona State, Boston College, Colorado, UConn, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State, Nebraska and West Virginia are some of the more notable names on his list.

Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oregon also showed interest, but did not offer him.

STATS

Scout has junior year numbers:

Had 49 tackles (13 for loss), seven sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a junior. Also played quarterback.

The amazing defensive end/QB combo!

FAKE 40 TIME

None of the premium sites have listed 40 times. Default five FAKEs out of five.

VIDEO

I'm no professional scout, but color me very impressed:

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

So he's not Ojemudia-skinny, but Brown is still going to have to really put on some weight to be a top defensive end at the next level. With Michigan's haul of defensive players in the 2011 class and so far this year, he'll be able to redshirt and do some work in the weight room.

After that he should get some work into the rotation as a freshman and sophomore. Kenny Wilkins, Chris Rock, and Keith Heitzman are good players, but somebody with Brown's athleticism is a rare treat, so I think he's able to pass at least one of them on the depth chart by his redshirt sophomore season.

As a redshirt junior, he'll burst onto the scene, acting as a disruptive force in opposing backfields. Depending on his production that season, he has the potential to even be an early entrant to the NFL Draft. He could have All-Big Ten potential by the time he graduates. However as a prospect with a lot of developing to do he has to put in the hard work to reach that potential.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

The recruiting along the defensive line is going to get a lot more selective, especially at end where the Wolverines got two commits today alone. With Matt Godin announcing soon, and the likes of Chris Wormley (and a host of others from Ohio) still out there, Michigan has the opportunity to only go after the best.

Going forward, the needs are (as you know, since there has been a commitment post approximately every 20 minutes for the past month) quarterback, offensive line, defensive tackle, and some top offensive skill players. A couple defensive backs would be nice as well.

Comments

fire lloyd carr

May 7th, 2011 at 11:13 PM ^

The Ark? Or has that name already been taken. Good thing he hasn't recruited a punter this year. Don't need two of those. Kickers are kind of like unicorns. Only need one on the ark. Maybe it's why they became extinct.

M-Wolverine

May 8th, 2011 at 1:46 AM ^

Nothing, because they just mean "I didn't like your post". In a more general sense, while there's overlap, flamebait would just be saying something just to be a dick and start a fight; trolling would just be posting things to be obnoxious (and often just a member to do that).

rederik

May 8th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^

So excited about this recruiting class. Hoke thus far is killing little brother in the recruitng game, both in-state and in the midwest. WIth this class, plus decisions like hiring Greg Mattison and making sure Al Borges utilizes Denard Robinson and the other offensive skills we currently have, he continues to demonstrate that he knows what he is doing. He seems confident the team will get there under that direction, and I think these recruits are the dividends of that. I think his geunine passion for the program is both obvious and contagious.

OT (but having my points having nowhere else really to share this):

Having just read Mitch Album's co-written Bo Schembechler autobiography, Hoke's character-first "I will mold men through football and they will work like dogs to develop that sense of comradare and character" attitude, the particular attention to tradition, even Ohio roots, the resulting hatred for that "Ohio school," insistence on tough, physical football, and a particularly strong defensive emphasis are all remarkedly similar to Bo. In the times of the scandal(s) at OSU. and insert-whatever-petty-Sparty-crime-is-most-recent, these backyard recruits are flocking to our program, seemingly reborn, from left and right. It's all but official: Michigan is back. All in for Hokemania.

Thanks for reading, and go blue.

AlbMichFan

May 8th, 2011 at 3:59 AM ^

Waw i wake up sunday morning and see two new DE commited! What more could you want? I really like both commits, but i hope that this doesnt hurt our chances with Wormley. What do you guys think?

Sgt.Rock

May 8th, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^

I really like this pick up because he could play DE or TE down the road. Obvious Red Shirt his frosh year b/c he is so thin/ raw.  Should not impact Wormley decision which I still believe is a Michigan lean.

 

Chi-Blue

May 8th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^

This is the guy I was really excited about. He really seems like a great athlete with a lot of potential. a couple years down the road to be 6 feet 7 inches 265 pounds
coming off the edge. Reminds me a lot of a shawn crable type of athlete with a huge upside. If he really wants to be good this could be the 1 of those steals that no 1 ever expected!!

Seth

May 8th, 2011 at 1:04 PM ^

Pharaoh (not Pharoah): I screw this up all the time too, but his parents correctly spelled it the same as the Egyptian kings; file under words - e.g. Schadenfreude, Tshimanga - that Michigan fans mysteriously spell correctly!

docwhoblocked

May 8th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^

On the film there is a breakaway run for a TD and from about a dead stop at his 40 to their twenty takes less than 5 seconds on the video.  He outruns the safeties who have the angle on him to the endzone.  Hmm not fake and pretty fast i'd say. 

john22

May 8th, 2011 at 4:31 PM ^

long will it be before we switch to a 3-4 defense? We have signed 10 LB's in the last 2 classes,if you count are last 2 commits. Either way after Brown puts on about 30 to 40 pounds,he will be a stud at the rush end.GO BLUE!!!

NoMoPincherBug

May 9th, 2011 at 2:40 AM ^

Every time I come here and see the pic of Pharaoh Brown...he reminds me so much of someone and i have not been able to figure it out until tonight:



 

 

Whats Goin On Pharaoh....