Ohio Running Back Alden Hill Offered by Michigan

Submitted by TomVH on

Ohio running back Alden Hill (6'2", 220 lbs) planned on going up to Michigan's camp to prove to the coaches he was worthy of an offer. He was happy with his performance and so were the Michigan coaching staff. Hill called me today to let me know that he spoke with the coaches and they have offered him a scholarship. Here's a look at his film and what he said about the offer.

TOM: What did the coaches say?

ALDEN: I talked to Coach Hoke and he said that I have an offer to Michigan. 

TOM: Did they tell you what role you would be playing, or what position you would have on the team?

ALDEN: They want me as an all purpose back, a full back and running back. Someone they don't have to change personnel if they switch plays out of the two back system. I'm definitely good with that role, it's good for competition. I actually just got an offer from Iowa too, so the Big Ten is starting to come in now.

TOM: What's next for you then, are you heading out to any other camps? Are you going to try to make it out to Iowa?

ALDEN: I haven't been to Iowa yet, but I'll be at Ohio State on Saturday. I'll go up there and workout because I know there will be other coaches there too.

TOM: What do you want your timeline to look like? How is your recruitment going to play out?

ALDEN: I'll probably make my decision early to mid football season, I'll have it done by then. I'll have it narrowed down by the time my season starts up.

TOM: With this Michigan offer now where does that put the Wolverines? Are they in your top group?

ALDEN: Oh definitely. They're in my top five with Illinois, Boston College, Vanderbilt, and Iowa now.

TOM: You have a few teammates that are also being recruited. I know Zach Higgins is committed to Michigan State and 2013 ATH Dymonte Thomas has a Michigan offer. Are you close with them?

ALDEN: Yeah, we are real good friends. I have been friends with Dymonte before he came to our school through sports. Dymonte, Zach, and I all stay close through this recruiting process because we can all relate in this unique situation. We would love to play together, not too many guys get to play with their teammates from division three high school to a division one college.

Comments

superstringer

June 22nd, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^

I don't get this recruiting thing.  Is this a "commitable" offer?  Meaning, the numbers are getting crunched here -- assume best-case scenario with Kalis, Pipkin, Keil, Dunn, Wormley, etc. -- and there isn't room for a guy like Alden particularly if Dunn and/or that Utah FB commits.

So, my question is, could Alden immediately say "yes" to this offer?  (From your interview I assume its hypothetical only, he is still lqqking around.)  Or is it like, Hoke said to him, you have our offer but let's talk before you accept it.

The Pitman situation comes to mind.  Pitman calls up to say I'm accepting, and the UM staff goes, not so fast?  So every offer is not, of course, completely open.  Is that how it works with Alden too?

Mr Mackey

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^

Just stop.. Alden Hill is a very good football player. We're probably going to take a FB and a RB, because we NEED a FB. So we can take Dunn and Hill. He's an extremely versatile runner, and I was impressed with the highlight reel. I'll be very happy if he comes to AA

rockediny

June 22nd, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^

The coaches want a rb and a fb so we'll definitely take Dunn if he commits. As for fb, whoever out of Hill and the Utah fb commits first, I guess. Don't know much about the Utah guy so I'm hanging my hat on Hill. Another scenario could be Dunn not committing to us (no one wants that, except osu). In that case we'll probably take both since Hill plays rb too.

P.S. not the best time to bring this up.

ken725

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^

I like how he is a versatile back that can be utilized in many ways.  How is he catching the ball out of the backfield?  His film pretty much only showed handoffs.

Dreisbach1817

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^

Could be part of a great 1-2 punch in this class.  If we can get Hill and Dunn in this class with Thomas in 2013, then Big Ten domination is only a matter of time.

Mr Mackey

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^

I mentioned this in the other thread about Alden's offer, but I think we're recruiting Dymonte as a Safety.

But, that being said, I'd love a RB corps with Dunn, Hill, Shallman, Rawls, Hayes, Hopkins.. That's some talent right there.

turtleboy

June 22nd, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^

underrated then you should watch Sione Houmas footage and then rate his star. Pretty much the same story. Houma has more speed and gets 10 yards after contact regularly. Only rated a 2 star to Scout but I'd prefer him to any other FB at this point, ratings or not.

The Denarding

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:03 PM ^

Alden is a very, very good player and a tireless worker.  Imagine BJ Askew with more speed.  It would be a great get to have Alden be a Wolverine especially because I suspect his offer list will heat up as he attends more camps....

Seems like a solid human being as well which may matter only to me, but I love to see that in recruits ...especially Michigan recruits.

Six Zero

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^

Leroy Hoard and Jarrod Bunch were the first two names that popped into my head after watching his video.  Big bruising back that doesn't go down easy.

Kinda kid that'd have Bo saying "now THAT's a football player!"

Promote RichRod

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^

Do you think he will bulk up and play more FB than RB?  I also think this is telling WRT to the Dunn offer - I can't see us taking a RB and FB in this class - one or the other.

Deep Under Cover

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^

Congrats to him on getting an offer! Hoke and Co. must've seen something special in him at camp, and from the looks of it we got an offer in just before his offers list really starts filling out!

BayWolves

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^

Many offers have conditions - whether intentional or not - due to the number of students who receive offers and when. Still, I think the coaches are doing a good job. It only appears thus far that Pittman and possibly Wayne Morgan have been squeezed from what I can see, and not being an insider.

I do like the dual use back recruiting that the coaches are using here. This guy is already 6-2, 220 so he will be someone who can be plugged in as an FB. On top of that, we don't have a lot of FBs right now so I think its a good choice even in light of our other needs at DT and on the OL.  Most of the remaining commits will have to be for the trenches, but the coaches really need to have some offers out to some good FBs for what they want to do with this offense.

maizeandblue21

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^

I think he deserves it his highlight film is great and he reminds me of that power back that we used to have and will wear down the defense throughout the game. he reminds me a lot of current michigan TB Stephen Hopkins.

ryebreadboy

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^

I'm definitely down for a combo FB/RB.  A lot of schools just use walk-ons as fullbacks, so I like that Hill is versatile enough to play both positions.  That seems a judicious use of scholarships.  A little trickeration in the backfield is never a bad thing.  It sounded like he had a great camp too, and really impressed.  He's a big kid, and I heard he's really fast for his size, which is great.  I like that we got in ahead of Iowa... other B10 schools probably won't be far behind.

Mr Mackey

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^

This kid reminds me a lot of BJ Askew. I would love to bring him in.

Alden, congrats on the offer and best of luck to you with the decision and your college career

Mitch Cumstein

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^

Congrats to Mr. Hill on the offer.  I look forward to seeing him on the field in the future.  Hopefully, he is on our side and not the opponent's.   Looks like a kid that knows how to play and works hard.  Thats good in my book.

MGoSoftball

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^

is that he is not a "hot dog" or "showboat".  He is a Barry Sanders type of player that plays hard and give the ball to the Ref in the end zone.   Awesome kid.

Brooklyn_Blue

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^

I really like that he already possesses some very good ball habits, two hands on the ball in traffic or running through the line, switching the ball away from the defender, and he does carry the ball high and tight.  

Congrats on your offer Alden, and enjoy the recruiting process.  

tomer

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^

One positive one kind of negative from his film. On his first run I kept waiting for him to switch the ball to his outside hand, my thought was big ten tacklers will attack that if you run down the sideline with it in the inside arm.

Second one, will I guess second and third so call it three points, I was suprised at how fast he looks for his size. Kid looks like he can move. And that last run, where he sheds like three tackles...I love the balance.

Overall I really liked what I saw and the whole wrong arm thing is really very very minor, and something that can be coached up in about 30 seconds. Color me impressed.

tomer

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^

So I rewatched his film again and I have to say that I really like this kid. My gripe above about the wrong arm seems to have been fixed already, as every other run he has it tucked in the safer arm and sometimes double covers it. Really hoping he goes blue.

D.C. Dave

June 22nd, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^

I like the way he runs hard and how he conducts himself on the field after he scores. A competitor who doesn't show any arrogance, that's what we're all about. Nothing wrong with big backs who know what to do with the ball -- no dancing around, just bust it up in there. Alden would look great in a winged helmet.