ladarius henderson
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Portal In: LaDarius Henderson Comment Count

Brian December 6th, 2022 at 1:42 PM

Yesterday, the portal took. Bad portal. Today, the portal gives:

All hail portal.

Henderson started at left tackle as a true freshman in 2019 (at 17!), played sparingly during the COVID year, then moved to left guard in 2021. He was named a captain this year. He missed a big chunk of this year with a finger injury. PFF OL grading is weird, granted, but it's better than nothing. FWIW, they had him as a stronger pass blocker (averaged a 76 the past two years) than a run blocker (65). This does not mean he is a finesse player:

Henderson was high on NFL draft radars to the point where people are calling his decision to stay in college football a "shock."

[After THE JUMP: pro scouting and some what does it mean]

Pro Football Network's latest mock draft has him as a late first-rounder:

31) Buffalo Bills: LaDarius Henderson, G, Arizona State

Rodger Saffold gives the Bills a short-term boost at guard, but they could use a succession plan behind him. If you’re looking for a guard with tools to develop, you can’t do much better than Arizona State’s LaDarius Henderson. Henderson is around 6’5″, 310 pounds, with arms over 35″, and he explodes off the line. He can struggle with pad level at times, but his athleticism is eye-catching, and his length provides a conduit for elite power.

More from them:

Henderson is one of the most exciting 2023 NFL Draft iOL prospects on tape, and he also has one of the most intriguing backgrounds in the class. Despite being a senior, Henderson will be just 21 years old through most of his rookie season, if he declares. …

There might not be an offensive guard prospect with a more exciting blend of physical tools than Henderson. At 6’5″, 310 pounds, Henderson has good height and above-average overall mass. But his chief defining measurable is his length. He has quantifiably elite length, with arms that measure safely over 35″ long.

Especially on the interior, Henderson’s length can be an overwhelming conduit for force at contact. But Henderson supplements that length with near-elite explosiveness and linear athleticism. He’s an extremely explosive athlete who surges off the line and into contact with dangerous momentum, and he also has the lateral explosiveness to get outside the 3-tech on running plays.

One of The Draft Network's analysts also likes him:

Picking up an NFL-level senior OL who still has some ramp-up since he's just 20 is nice portalling. Go portal.

Upshot? Well, Michigan knows they're losing Ryan Hayes, who's already announced as a Senior Bowl participant, and Olu Oluwatimi. Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter may have NFL options. If they get the guards back, Henderson is 6'5, 310" with long arms and NFL athleticism. He could certainly compete at tackle even if he's a guard at the next level. Plenty of NFL guards were excellent college tackles. If one of them leaves that looks like a plug-and-play situation.

Meanwhile Gio El-Hadi, Trente Jones, and Jeff Persi all started games this year and performed decently well, so unless the portal starts taking again Michigan should have another deep and good OL in 2023.

Comments

schreibee

December 6th, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^

It isn't mentioned here nor any other post about this transfer I've seen - is this a grad transfer? 

I'm really hoping UM Admissions finds a way to admit more than just grad students in the future. I see these literally hundreds of players hitting the portal & know that 99% of them wouldn't be admitted. Sucks!

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 21143

DennisFranklinDaMan

December 6th, 2022 at 7:05 PM ^

I like our transfer policy. For one thing, it doesn't seem to be hurting us too badly, seeing as how we're 13-0 and in the CFP.

But also, remember that Michigan's academic reputation is one of the things that honestly does separate us from the Alabamas, Ohio States, and LSUs of the world. For those highly recruited kids -- and their families -- who really do care that they get also get a degree that carries some weight, nobody else can compete with us.

In fact ... I'm trying to think of other schools that can even try. Stanford and Northwestern have fallen off athletically, Vanderbilt and Duke were never there to begin with (on the football field), and ... what else is there? Virginia? Cal?

Let's not be so quick to abandon our high standards in our desperate attempt to compete for talent. The fact that we alone can offer football at the highest level and a degree that carries genuine weight is a significant recruiting asset. It's a damned difficult feat to maintain it, certainly, but abandoning it seems like fools' gold, to me.

Joined: 01/23/2021

MGoPoints: 14418

schreibee

December 6th, 2022 at 9:10 PM ^

Well much as with NIL, the portal is simply too new to say Michigan's doing it right (or wrong).

In another 2 years, or 5 or 10 - if Michigan keeps playing as if it's a golf match, when their competitors are going pro wrestling (in terms of abiding by the rules) you might feel very differently about how successful the approach is! 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 21143

bluebyyou

December 7th, 2022 at 6:49 AM ^

We have been more than a bit fortunate that a bunch of players have worked out as well as they have on both sides of the ball.  Any Michigan fan with a memory knows about 4* and 5* busts.  Haskins, Corum, Edwards and JJ don't always happen, regardless of star level.  Ditto for our O-lines the last two years and Hutchinson, Hill and Ojabo. 

It has been a while since I've seen any articles dealing with the average SAT score for college football, including Michigan.  The difference in score between football players and the average student was significant. Here's a recent piece:

 https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/fotw-1237-may-9-2022-fuel-economy-all-vehicle-classes-has-improved

With NIL and the portal, life as we knew it has changed.  My hope is that Michigan changes with it.  Our recruiting results will likely tell us if we have rolled with the punches.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18566

MNWolverine2

December 6th, 2022 at 1:50 PM ^

Love it!  Though I'm also nervous on the impact of guys on the roster.  Guys like Gio and Trente have to see this and think "do they not think I'm good enough to start next year?"

Joined: 08/07/2017

MGoPoints: 3093

The Oracle 2

December 6th, 2022 at 2:32 PM ^

A player’s decision to stay or transfer is most often based on playing time. This guy certainly sounds like a starter and his presence will no doubt have an impact on the thinking of the some of the current linemen.

Joined: 02/25/2018

MGoPoints: 19189

1989 UM GRAD

December 6th, 2022 at 2:51 PM ^

I understand the concern about younger players possibly getting frustrated with older players transferring in. 
But I think it’s clear to the players that at least eight OL will get significant time every year. 
Plus I think it’s also clear that an ideal OL is made up mostly of 3rd 4th 5th year players. 
I’d also guess Zinter is leaving. Plus filling Olu’s and Hayes’ spots leaves three open positions on the OL. 
Barnhart Jones Crippen Keegan Henderson El Hadi Persi as the top seven. All but Crippen with significant playing experience. Basically six returning starters and a very highly regarded third-year center. 

Joined: 03/08/2012

MGoPoints: 1530770

AlbanyBlue

December 6th, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^

Yep 1989, I scrolled down to say exactly this. With the way we run our offense, we'll have around 8 OL getting significant, noticeable time. Any OL in the rotation will get plenty of looks from NFL scouts -- I don't think that needs to be a real concern.

The top OL and RBs should be beating down our doors to transfer in, especially after seeing Olu flourish -- probably winning the Rimington in the process.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 22040

leidlein

December 6th, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^

So you are telling me we are getting a 1st Round NFL Draft Pick caliber transfer? Um, ok more please.

Also, I know, camera angles, vantage points and all that. But good grief if Grant Newsome is leaning in and still visibly taller (and bigger) than the new transfer, what a beast he is. Really sucks his career was derailed, felt like he was the next elite LT from UM.

Joined: 09/23/2015

MGoPoints: 1097

NotADuck

December 6th, 2022 at 2:17 PM ^

Seriously.  I know teenagers aren't the best decision-makers but man, after seeing what M's RBs have accomplished this year and possibly winning the Joe Moore Award 2 years straight what more could you ask for from an on-field perspective?  Oh yeah and your coach would be one of the greatest college RBs of all time AND we might have 2 1000 yard rushers in a single season.  Get in this program 5* RBs!

Joined: 12/20/2013

MGoPoints: 18267

M-Dog

December 6th, 2022 at 2:01 PM ^

I can see why he wants to leave ASU.  He made that crunching block . . . and the RB gets tackled at the LOS anyway because nobody else makes a block.

Come to Michigan: Some other folks will block too!

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257507