BBrown: 2015 QB Kyle Kearns Could Be Offered Soon
I talked with 2015 QB Kyle Kearns tonight and he may be on deck for an offer soon.
The rules are weird right now about what coaches can and can't do, but Kearns let me know that Coach Nuss was at his school and watched him throw and recorded the throwing session. Coach Nuss plans to take the film, watch and evaluate Kearns, and assess whether he is worthy of an offer.
The two didn't speak today per NCAA rules but Kyle plans to call Coach Nuss next week to talk in depth about his potential to receive an offer. Kyle told me that he threw the ball very well today and feels confident about what Coach Nuss saw and will see on film.
Kyle was also very informed about the current quarterback offer situation at Michigan. He is well aware that David Sills, Blake Barnett, Jarrett Stidham, and Josh Rosen all hold offers. He said from what he knows, every QB that holds a Michigan offer right now has little to no interest in committing to Michigan, which I agree with. Kearns also thinks that recent Alabama-to-USC-flip Ricky Town may be offered (some think he already holds a Michigan offer) because of his Bama/Nussmeier ties, but doesn't think he is very interested in the Wolverines either, with which I also concur.
All that being said I firmly believe that if Kearns is offered he becomes a Michigan lean. I got the sense that he was very interested in becoming a Wolverine based on how he talked about the other offers and just his overall knowledge of the situation. He seemed overly excited to start communicating regularly with Coach Nuss as well. As soon as we finished speaking I chose Michigan for my Crystal Ball prediction at 247, but it all depends on whether he gets that offer after he's been fully evaluated by the coaching staff.
January 29th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
We've done quite well ever since I've followed Michigan landing Henne, Mallett, Tate, DG, Denard, Shane, and Speight (with Shane and Speight being our clear #1 choice for those classes). Usually we don't get so much disinterest from top QBs
January 29th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
Not many schools wanted Denard as a QB, Forcier was the #5 dual-threat QB to Rivals, and Speight was the #22 pro-style QB in the 247 Composite. So it's been kind of a mixed bag.
Also, Michigan didn't even offer a 2014 QB until National Signing Day 2013, so I think it's overstatement to say that we're struggling. We've offered guys who have been committed for 4 years (Sills) or who have clear regional preferences/leanings (guys from Texas or California who are likely to stay in those places).
January 29th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
Granted I watched about 5 minutes of each's(?) highlight tape but I didn't noticed a real difference between Malzone and Kearns. Kearns looked like he had a hitch in his throwing motion. They both look about the same size and both seem decently mobile. Would be happy offering either but again, didn't notice a real difference.
January 29th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
I'm very glad that he seems to have a lot of interest in Michigan. But, I'll feel a lot better when we have a 2015 QB commitment. It seems like QB recruiting has become a bit of musical chairs with a relatively limited group of top prospects all being courted by the major programs. And they tend to commit earlier than other positions. So, the key is to get a good player before the music stops and not be left empty-handed.
January 29th, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^
January 29th, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^
I'm far from a QB guru or a coach...
But when I look at his highlights, he reminds me of AJ McCarron from the waist up and Jay Cutler from the waist down.
He has some plays where his footwork looks really good. Then other plays where it's almost so deliberate that it doesn't look as "natural" for him. He doesn't have the Cutler arm (who does) to make up for it, but he does a great job of throwing guys open. Kirk Cousins comes to mind, although I he looks quicker than Cousins.
It's highlights, but he seems to get the ball where he wants it even if he has to throw early or late. It's not always the prettiest, but it gets there. He's very good at throwing away from coverage and allowing the WR to make a play. Even if the ball hangs in the air for too long.
He's mobile enough and has a feel for the pocket at a young age which is good. I'd like to see a full games worth of snaps.
IMO, he's good at the things he should be good at. With natural growth, he'll get bigger and stronger...and he needs to. I think he's a guy that could come in, redshirt, go through a year of weight training, backup his RS Freshman year and take a year to really master the offense and be a great QB his RS Sophomore year.
I could see 3 very good years with Kearns at the helm. Not sure if he's an early entry type vs. the McCarron/Cousins/Murray type. But I'd take any of those 3 on their best day as the QB for Michigan for 3 years.
January 29th, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^
I have to say, I've been very impressed with your take and your research on these recruiting matters. And you're right, i think when a recruit fails to respond to your texts (or those of any other recruiting reporter), that's usually a pretty good indication that he won't be donning a maize & blue winged helmet in the fall. Call it the body language of modern day high tech communications, if you will.
GO BLUE!