Hello: Sione Houma
Caution: this draft is from June, so some portions may be slightly out-of-date. If I see anything glaringly wrong or in need of update, I'll fix it.
UT FB Sione Houma committed to Michigan today, showing that Brady Hoke was VERY SERIOUS INDEED about landing a blocking back in this crop. That brings Michigan's commitment total for the 2012 class to 20, with a class of 23-26 on tap (though there aren't that many spots available yet).
GURU RATINGS
| Scout | Rivals | ESPN | 24/7 Sports |
| 2*, NR RB | NR RB | NR RB | Not in Database |
So, uh, I think it's fair to say this kid is a bit under-the-radar, no? Oddly, it seems that Michigan is recruiting him strictly as a fullback, although all three sites that have heard of him list him as a running back. And, well, they might be onto something. He's listed at a consensus 6-0, 215ish, which is really small for a fullback, unless his frame is really underdeveloped. Considering Michigan has offered a 6-3, 245-lb kid as a tailback for next year's class, it is quite curious indeed.
As a high schooler, he's the A-back (dive man) in a wishbone offense. That may be why schools think he's capable of playing fullback, but it also means he hasn't done a whole lot of lead blocking at this point. His video shows exactly what you'd expect: a guy who gets the ball surrounded by defenders, and instead of trying to go around them, he just keeps his legs churning and grinds out tough yardage. He's not going to go down on first contact, but that's more a result of effort and power, rather than impressive balance.
What is impressive is his ability to pull away from defenders should he happen to get through the first line of defense cleanly. He also shows the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, an important skill in a West Coast(ish) offense.
OFFERS
Apart from Michigan, it was mostly local(ish) schools that had offered. Utah and Utah State were joined by PAC-12 member Washington as the other schools that had extended offers to Sione.
Georgia Tech (noted fullback-users) had also showed interest, but did not extend an offer.
STATS
Scout and Rivals have the exact same stats for him, so I'm guessing they come straight from his coach's mouth:
As a junior Houma rushed for 1,211 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Without knowing how many carries that spans, it's impressive, but we can't be sure quite how impressive it is (his highlight reel embedded below says only 1,064 yards and 7 TDs, for the record). He was named first-team all-state.
FAKE 40 TIME
Once again, Scout and Rivals have the exact same information, so it's likely to be straight from the source: 4.53 seconds. If Michigan is indeed looking at this kid as a fullback, I would guess it's because he isn't very fast (the competition in Utah probably isn't the greatest either, so take the highlights with a grain of salt), so... four FAKEs out of five.
VIDEO
For a kid that the recruiting sites know next-to-nothing about, there certainly is a lot of video available on him. Highlights:
Utah Sports Action also has a couple short clips, and some game highlights of his team.
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
Michigan has a couple fullback options in the class of 2011 (be they position-switchers or preferred walkons), which means they'll have at least a year in the system - and possibly a year on the field - on him by the time Sione enrolls next fall. That spells immediate redshirt, especially since he needs to bulk up to play fullback.
After that, however, your guess is as good as mine. A couple years on special teams (he would make a good coverage man with his toughness and surprising speed) are likely if he can't beat out those ahead of him. If he can, four years of starting is probably in the cards.
Fullback is not a glory position, and he's not going to be a Kevin Dudley-type masher, either. What he will bring is more ability with the ball in his hands, either running or catching it. That provides an offensive versatility, particularly because he could also be the lone back in sets where the running back motions, etc.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS
The staff seemed intent on landing a fullback in this class, and they got one. Defensive tackle is still the biggest need for 2012, and other positions are rounding out nicely. Brady Hoke says this will be a nearly-full class of 23-26 kids, so the staff can fill a couple needs, while only worrying about elite prospects.
I like this guy. Always good to have a bruiser who can also run and catch the ball out of the backfield. Adding weapons to an offense is never a bad thing.
This kid looks a hell of a lot better than a 2*. I'd think with his Samoan awesomeness he'll be able to gain another 25-30 lbs of manball-steel over his Sr and redshirt year. If he maintains most of that speed, he'll be without question an elite FB (speed-wise) that teams will have to seriously respect his running ability. I really like this pickup now that it's happened. We need more spots available, things are getting tight now.
He is the #6 recruit to come out of the state of Utah and play for Michigan. Welcome to the family!
Tim, Love the profiles. Thanks for your hard work! Quick suggestion: It would be nice, for added convenience to the reader, if you could include links to the rating agencies' profiles of the players you discuss. Just a suggestion, do with it what you want
With a Michigan offer, I look for Houma to be moved to FB and move up to 3* status.
Also, I'm surprised no one has mentioned BJ Askew...Hoke and the staff have said a few times that they're looking for that type of player. Houma seems to fit that role. A running FB that they can put in their prostyle split back sets.
Look for the Hopkins/Cox/Rawls loser at RB to play that role too (maybe 2 of the 3)
Oh, and if Dunn doesn't commit during this BBQ, I think we're finished at RB/FB. OSU doesn't look like they're going to get hit hard...meaning Dunn, Stanford and Washington are probably all headed to Columbus. But if we get Diamond, Wormley, Pipkins, O'Brien and 1 or 2 WRs...who cares?
Sad part is, i really wanted us to go after Norfleet, oh well i like me some power back.
Houma > Norfleet
Especially in this offense
Dude's got some nice wheels once he gets open.
Love the name. Hopefully he can bulk up a bit and fit in well blocking for Denard and Co. for the next couple of years.
Good to see a kid sign up for the Wolverines after some of the tough losses we learned of earlier today.
Utah is in the Pac 12 too
Found the following stats for his junior season.
"Overall, Houma has rushed for 716 yards and six touchdowns on 76 carries in his last four games. To put it in perspective, he had just 191 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries for the previous nine games prior to that point."
So he averaged 9.5 or so yards per carry his last four games, and a lowly 6.2 YPC his first nine games.
His stats are pretty similar to Dunn's. He's a one cut and hit the hole type back with similar size and speed. He looked fast in the highlights. It was against Utah DBs, but that game at the end being played in Utah's stadium must have been some sort of conference or state playoff, I would assume, and he just seperated from guys who had angle on him. The final ranking of him will probably sound like a 3* version of Dunn, and I don't think you allow a committ from a 3* version of Dunn with only a half dozen spots left.
My bet is that the coaches look at him as a under-recruited FB, with an outside potential to be an Anthony Thomas like RB.
This kid seems to be a solid football player. I do have a few observations from his highlight video from this thread. First, it appears these highlights are against the same 3-4 teams. I understand it is a highlight video, but it makes me curious how he performed against better competition? Also, did anyone else see in the highlight video how wide the O-Line splits were? Any decent DL/LB should be able to shoot those gaps and make plays. Still glad to have another one on board. Let the Brady train keep on rolling down the tracks. Go Blue!!!!
Who is the 6-3 245 pound tailback we're recruiting that Tim mentioned?
Wyatt Shallman (2013)
Thanks! :)
Havili was a good do-it-all FB for SC. Maybe this kid can be UM's version of Havili.
Welcome to the family Sione Houma! If he can keep that speed at a 230 or 240 weight it will be crushing to lb's and db's. Has great hands coming out of the backfield. Nice pad level as well.
Welcome Sione. Nice name sir.
It is going to be tough to get FNL footage for Houma I would guess. Road Trip!
Just for comparison. Does anybody know what Zach Boren's ranking out of high school was?
Thats my close comparison ..He was 6'0 225 could run ,block and leak out the backfield and be a threat in the passing game ..This guy could end up being like that since our offense will be similiar ...
I like this quote
"I am just going out and trying to run hard," said Houma. "I want to do my part is all. If that means I get the ball, I will run as hard as I can. I think it is all because my line made good blocks."
from the article HERE. This guy definitely "gets it" and I'm really excited to have him in the class. I'm no expert, but I think you need some under the radar type guys to go with the big names to have a balanced class. Good luck Sione.
LOL, watch the play at 2:04. Sione runs into the flat with the QB booting to that side. The defender who Sione is running away from reaches out and grabs his jersey, plain as day, and yanks him back. Sione just pulls away from him again and makes the catch.
I don't know if the refs didn't throw a flag because of the result of the play or because they are blind but yeah, no flag.
of recruiting, or really of anything...but at this point in our numbers game of recruiting im a little shocked by this addition to the class.
theres obviously a lot of guys higher on the board that i would prefer, but the coaches must know something to the effect that no other backfield players are an option. i think he looks very good on tape, and fast. for some reason though i wouldve liked to see him be our 26th committed recruit as oposed to our 20th.
but i guess i wasnt expecting this. in my head i thought we would end up only getting a rb like dunn if he switched, and waiting on fb for next year like wyatt shallman.
what about the fatu kid from texas? is houma better? hes smaller right?
...I call bullshit.
Some of you may not be old enough to remember, but this guy reminds me of Jesse "The House Cat" Johnson. Stocky build, low center of gravity, great leg strength, and plenty fast enough to break a big run.
This guy played for Gorgeous George, I'm down with him and Wyatt next year
Maybe this with Maize and Blue.
Great news welcome aboard Sione!
of the East Kentwood fullback from a several years back. Noel Aleman (sp), i believe was his name. In the state championship (vs. maybe Lowell) he had the single best high school rush I've ever seen, breaking more tackles than the other team had players to score a 60+ yardf touchdown.
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