Name: Shane Lemieux
Position: Offensive Tackle
Ht/Wt: 6’6" / 300 lbs.
Location: West Valley – Yakima, WA (2015)
Offers: Oregon, South Carolina, Arizona State, Arkansas, Boise State, East Carolina, Miami, NC State, Washington State, California, Georgia State, Idaho, Louisville, Michigan, Purdue, Utah
Rating: ★★★ .8517 (247 Composite)
Ranking: #770 NAT  (247 Composite)
FILM

Michigan hasn’t recruited the state of Washington a lot but with new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier having ties to the state, that appears to be changing just a little bit. A few offensive linemen prospects have been offered from the evergreen state, one being Shane Lemieux. Lemieux is a big boy, already tipping the scales at around 300 lbs. and with that size and his versatility he could probably play guard or tackle at the next level. Shane participated in a track meet the day we spoke, one in which he placed first in the shot put, but he’s not just a typical big guy when it comes to his events. I asked him to expand on the type of athlete and football player he is.

Yeah, my meet went great, I took first in the shot! I do the 100m sometimes, but not in varsity meets, only in league meets. (laughs) I’ve run the 40 yard dash in 5.1. I like to model my play after Taylor Lewan and Kyle Long, especially Taylor because he plays tackle. I feel like I have all the traits he does because I am a long and strong left tackle who can explode off the line. I am athletic enough to block safeties when I have to, but I can also drop back in a pass set and go up against anyone. Considering that my high school runs the same type of offense upfront that Michigan does, he’s (Lewan) someone I look at.

Lemieux swore that the Michigan reference didn’t have to do with me. He says he definitely took notice of a player like Lewan on his own and realizes the type of opportunity a place like Michigan offers.

Looking at a player like Taylor Lewan and what he did at Michigan definitely carries some weight with me. Coach Funk really developed him and I feel like he could do the same with me.

Michigan has obviously gotten Lemieux’s attention, but there are plenty of other suitors that he has taken a liking to.

My recruitment is going pretty good. I’d have to say that Boise State, Oregon, Arizona State, South Carolina, and Cal have been showing me the most interest. Michigan and I have talked a bit before the offer but I am positive it will pick up now. As of right now I will have to say that Oregon, South Carolina, and Boise State are all in a tie for first, but my other top schools are Michigan, Arizona State, Miami, and Arkansas. They aren’t up there with Oregon and those others only because I haven’t visited. I know that Michigan will be up there because I have always been a fan.

Lemieux has an eclectic collection of high interests, but his desire to learn more about the Wolverines is strong.

I just want to see Michigan in person because I have never even been to the state. They just have so much tradition. I know about the 11 championships, their Heisman winners, the most games ever won. When I was little I started liking Michigan because their helmets really stood out. (laughs) I love those helmets! And they are just a really good team. I mean they won 7 games last year and that was considered a bad year for them. Two years ago they had an 11 win season and lost to a good South Carolina team by just a little bit. I like how they have such high expectations. I’ve also heard that Ann Arbor is a great college town. Not too big, not too small.

Lemieux obviously knows his stuff when it comes to Michigan history, but the Wolverines do appear to be playing catch up behind the three schools he mentioned and until he visits Ann Arbor that probably won’t change. Lemieux did mention Alabama and Wisconsin as very respectable programs he’d like to earn offers from as well.

Lemieux’s dad lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina, explaining his high interest in the Gamecocks, but his step-dad thinks that Michigan is “badass” and has spoken very highly of the Wolverines even before Shane earned his offer. The helmets, the history, and his step dad have all piqued Shane’s interest enough to put Michigan squarely on his map when it comes to visits and a decision.

I would like to commit before my first game next season. Once I commit I would probably still take my official visits though. I am very interested in Michigan but like I said, I want to see them before I really rank them among the schools I have visited. I plan on visiting Michigan June 22-June 24. Even still I would put Michigan in my top list right now.

Shane described himself as a blue collar kid just trying to get to the next level. He’s not going to have a problem doing that with a solid offer list already, but where he ends up seems to be pretty open.

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THE VIBE

5 – Trending Blue
4 – Solidly in a top 2-3
3 – Contender in a top 3-7
2 – Among large (8-15) group under consideration
1 – Let’s see if he visits before we talk
0 – Passing interest or none

There’s no guesswork when it comes to Lemieux’s top three. Oregon, South Carolina, and Boise State are front runners for him right now, but if his trip to Ann Arbor materializes it sounds like Michigan could find itself squarely in the mix.

*I informed Shane about Coach Hoke’s visit policy once committed after he made his comment about post-commitment officials and he said he understood that approach. If Michigan jumps to the top of his list after a visit and he were to commit to Michigan, he said he’d re-think the idea.

Mandatory last name reference:

EDIT: I talked to Shane briefly today and he said that he did not plan on committing while in Oregon, it just sort of happened. He described it as very spur of the moment. He also said that a visit to Michigan is still a possibility. I doubt his recruitment is over, but his verabl to Oregon was definitely a surprise to me, and sounds like it may have been to Lemieux himself as well.