August 17th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Excellent news thanks. As big as he is, he should count as two commits.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
"In the interest of 'fair play', beginning in the 2022 season, the NCAA has decided to cap the University of Michigan's scholarships for football at 84 student-athletes."
Sincerely,
Mark Emmert
August 17th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
How we feeling about this one? Normally, I would question if a 360 lb. senior in high school can actually move or condition enough to see the field at the high D-I level, but this kid actually moves pretty damn well for a guy that big.
https://247sports.com/Player/Tawfiq-Thomas-46098526/Videos/
August 17th, 2021 at 1:16 PM ^
I'm not going to do a tape breakdown, as I will leave that to people who have more knowledge and time than I do, but after 1 min of watching his highlights, it seems any 350 lb kid who is athletic enough to be split out as a WR and then catch (with ease) a ball thrown his way for a TD over a cornerback has potential.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:22 PM ^
Reminds me of when Alan Branch was the punt returner on his HS team. He'd flex out to WR at times and he returned kicks...but was a relatively unknown 3* when we offered.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^
Seems like we would take Kenneth Grant and Deone Walker, so this is an indicator to me that Grant is going elsewhere(hopefully we still get Walker!).
So on that basis, I'm a little pessimistic. Love seeing that size though, can't compensate for space fillers.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
I think Michigan would take all 3 if they all wanted in
August 17th, 2021 at 1:51 PM ^
I think so too, but looks like we're Grant's backup plan
August 17th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
Actually I'd say you are being optimistic in thinking we are going go get Grant and with Walker planning on visiting Bama, that isn't looking like a slam dunk either. For that reason, i think he is a take.
August 18th, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^
The more likely scenario is getting Hastings, and missing on Grant and Walker.... but if we have a good season, there is a chance we get both.
August 17th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
I think Walker is a take no matter what especially since he has potential on both sides of the ball
August 17th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
Size and athleticism, if he is willing to come you take him. As a OSU fan, I am watching it play out right now. They are toying with starting a former 3* guy at RT, moving their RT to LT, moving possible 1st round draft pick next year from LT to LG, and already have a OT playing RG. That would be four OT's and a center across the line.
Why are they doing this? Because Jones is 6'8" tall and 360 lbs and athletic, and has grinded his way into demanding a starting role. If those two attributes click, it pays off greatly.
August 17th, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^
You can't teach 6'4" 3bills+ as a high schooler. He's raw - plays too high and doesn't use his hands at all, but this cat's a take. We need bodies on the interior DL and Tawfiq fits the bill. He's athletic and plays with a motor for a kid his size.
August 17th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
We need him, Deone Walker...AND Kenneth Grant.
All 3.
We're not getting Nolen unless we get to the CFP. But those 3 big men would be GREAT additions to the DL.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
Like from the film Almost Famous....
"its all happening !!!"
Finally we are getting a big boy.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:37 PM ^
He would be a good get but I would like to see us find a way to add Kenneth Grant too.
We need athletic, explosive, penetrating monsters on the DL like a Maurice Hurst. But if we can't have a pipeline of Hursts, then the next best is to add NTs + jumbo DTs that occupy 3-4 OL in tandem so that our DEs can cause havoc on 1-on-1s.
August 17th, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^
Hurst was a pretty special DT. They won’t all be him, but you can still have a pretty good defense with effective pluggers at DT, especially in college.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
I was hoping that Ondre Pipkens would be the impenetrable, dominating colossus in the middle, but it never happened. Same with Bryan Mone. Maybe Thomas can be that planetary object.
August 17th, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
Whatever injury happened to Bryan Mone in 2015 fall camp screwed him.
Harbaugh saying Mone was a top 3 player in the 2015 fall camp gave me so much hope for him.
2015 and 2016 Michigan DLs were probably the best DLs we've ever had. And for Mone to be the best player on that DL in fall camp means he was either playing out of his mind (a hot streak) or Mone was an ascending player that was going to dominate. We never got to see that domination and I'm sad about that.
Mone's injury actually came back to haunt us to end the regular season. DT Glasgow getting injured late in the season screwed us for Ohio State.
DT is generally a thankless job unless you have a Hall of Fame freak of nature like Aaron Donald. You notice DTs only when they're not there and the rest of the DL suffers...as we did to end the 2015 regular season.
August 17th, 2021 at 1:57 PM ^
Dafuq?
August 17th, 2021 at 6:41 PM ^
Dawfiq?
August 17th, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
Which schools do we have to beat for his services?
August 17th, 2021 at 10:38 PM ^
Kansas, Arkansas, and South Florida.
We’re a 3-4 school now, you don’t need a 5 star nose tackle in a 3-4, just get a huge body who can eat up blocks. Works great for Wisconsin and they never get anything more than a 3 star NT.
August 18th, 2021 at 8:46 AM ^
Assuming you can teach him to play with the proper leverage and technique.
Otherwise, he's really not that big when you consider he'd be going up against guys 15-20 pounds lighter. That's not insurmountable.
But yes, you don't need a 5-star to be huge, play with leverage and technique and have the prerequisite strength to hold up.
What you do need is more than one of these guys because they're not playing every down. And you better go get some 5-star DEs and ILBs to control the edge and for the LBs, be good enough to blitz and use the behemoths in front of them...but also drop into coverage and cover like a safety.
August 18th, 2021 at 10:52 AM ^
Elite Edge rushers are the most important thing. The 3-4 is actually more like a 5-2 in a lot of sets. You've got 3 down linemen eating blocks and 2 OLB getting 1 on 1 and rushing the passer. Alabama runs a 3-3-5 right now, so they want the extra DB on the field most of the time.
Now I the Eugenia really fits the mold for an edge rusher. The roster now though lacks those guys. Love Hutchinson, but do not think he's going to thrive as an edge rusher. Get a couple of those freaks at the edge and our 3-4 will really start to produce. ILBs will need to adjust oo, but I think that transition is easier.
August 17th, 2021 at 3:03 PM ^
I think he's really going to enjoy Mr Spot's.
August 17th, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^
Im just happy to be included in the decision
August 17th, 2021 at 9:19 PM ^
Blue ballz?
August 18th, 2021 at 5:29 PM ^
None yet, would not be surprised to see some on Friday from Sam. Competition is USF, Arkansas and Kansas. Seems like if he thinks he can play, he will Go Blue