Hello: Drake Johnson
Committed. Reported by Sam Webb, and on Scout.
http://michigan.scout.com/2/1126145.html
Pay article.
Guess that answers the "why not Drake Johnson" thread....
November 8th, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
November 8th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^
Deal?!
November 8th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
My frustration is with the timing. We could have offered this kid after the Army and UA games and he still would have come (his best offer is Army). Why not figure out exactly where we stand before offering? It makes no sense. The kid is fine, but the timing is thoughtless.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
"Why not figure out exactly where we stand before offering?
Wait, Hoke needs to figure it out before offering, or His Dudeness needs to figure it out before offering? Should Hoke call you to get your stance on our current offerees, or should he just go on his knowledge of the situation? We should probably get him your number.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:02 AM ^
November 8th, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
Since Dunn said he is soft to OSU maybe we should have waited until after the AA bowl where all the kids like to commit. Also, Keith Marshall has interest in us and is still open. Just think we should have waited until after the Commit Bowls. It makes sense.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^
And, as per usual, he was negged for it lol.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
Apparently the coaches thought the Drake fish was worth frying.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^
I dunno, man, I mean he looks like a good high school running back. But I said it before, he doesn't have good hips. He doesn't cut well. He appears to have good speed, but you got to be able to do more at the college level. In my mind his ceiling is Fitz, which isn't terrible, but that's his ceiling IMO. Good straight line speed may make it so he can transfer to WR or be a kick returner, but I don't see him making an impact on defense, where you need to have good hips to turn and run with people. I still see someone who could be a good MAC back.
I probably wouldn't mind if this was what it came down to closer to signing day. I guess my point is I just don't like it at this point in the recruiting calender with so few spots left. I hope I'm wrong and he's a great back for Michigan. I've been wrong before. Prove me wrong Johnson.
Go Blue!
November 8th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
Agreed. He looks like a good high school runner...and that's about it. Hopefully he proves us both wrong.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
Stiff hips are no big deal, get the kid to take some salsa dancing lessons and he'll be fine.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
Yea, I just watched his film and he doesn't seem to have the best vision either. He wasn't breaking tackles like I was expecting him to. If they are looking for a guy that can gun it through a hole and consistently get 2 yards after contact, I could see him doing that, but I don't really see him being a homerun threat. I would think that they would have made him a preferred walk-on or maybe a grey shirt. I'm kind of surprised that they offered him.
November 8th, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
He runs like a young Terrell Davis. If he had more "stars" then people would have a different opinion of him...that is a fact. Give him a chance.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
wresler 120 deserves an apology from a lot of people. He was right and we were all giving him hell.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^
Maybe credit, but not an apology. Not to sound like an asshole (which means I probably am sounding like an asshole), but he started about 3 threads talking about how the Michigan staff had to offer him. Just because they did offer him eventually doesn't mean it wasn't ridiculous that he kept starting threads about it, sounding like his mom or dad telling everyone how good their child is. If it would have been a single post that said: "hey, I go to this guys school and this is what he's done. I think he's good enough to deserve a scolly from Michigan, what do you guys think?" instead of pleading that the coaches read his threads and offer him, it would have been fine. But it was a bit too much.
And by the way, I wasn't one of those to chastise him earlier, I just don't think we needed all the threads. I have my feelings about Drake Johnson (above), but if the coaches like him enough to offer than I hope Johnson and the coaching staff prove me wrong.
Still, welcome aboard Drake
November 8th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
I think he should start an "I was right" diary to make sure we all know.
<br>/s
November 8th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
he has good size and speed. may be a bit of a reach, but there are sleeper 2 stand and 3 star kids every year. could move to WR pretty easily if he has hands and doesn't pan out at RB
November 8th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^
2-star-under-recruited-goldmine-recruits-that -one-big school-them-a-chance chart.
Welcome Drake, we are pullin for you!
November 8th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
Congrats to Drake! I have been wondering for awhile when we were going to offer this kid. He deserves it. Rankings do not mean everything or always tell the whole story. My younger sister and younger brother grew up with this kid (and I was a senior on the Pioneer football team when he was a freshman), so I know a bit about the situation. I know that he has not been to many camps (as stated above) and has focused heavily on track as well as football. Had he been camping regularly I have no doubt this kid would be a solid 4* recruit. He has also played OLB and DB for Pioneer. The physical tools are all there, now he just needs to put the work in.
It should be noted as well, that Drake has done what he has this year with teams knowing that he is literally 100% of Pioneer's offense. Pioneer throws the ball 3-4 times a game max, Drake does the rest. For a kid to line up, with the opposing team game planning against him all week, and completely keying on him alone, and do what he has done is really freaking impressive. Congrats Drake!
November 8th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
MSU is missing out on all these solid instate recruits with their national recruiting approach.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
Looks like Eastern Michigan is the only one that lost out here.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:24 AM ^
The rumors are true! Coach Hoke DOES read the MGoBoard!
November 8th, 2011 at 10:26 AM ^
he's good enough for me.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
Track man with decent size almost sounds like a Ty Wheatley-type, but I've never seen Johnson play.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
but when I read about his speed at that size, I thought when college puts on a couple of pounds they'd have a very similar frame. College-wise. Not NFL where the Giants made him become a "big back" and took away his speed by beefing him up.
And I was just thinking yesterday about the guys who used to post a lot on the site and not as much anymore (after the game review thread) and thought of you.... lol
November 8th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
...so I have more time to post during the summer months. Still read the board religiously though.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:47 PM ^
I was thinking about MGoShoe the other day. That dude used to post all the time but I can't recall seeing anything from him in a while. Has he been posting and I just missed it?
November 8th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
Local kid who accepted the offer right away is a great story. Welcome aboard Drake.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
The kid has some speed.
http://michigan.scout.com/a.z?s=162&p=8&c=1&nid=5161853
- 55m hurdles - 7.76, set AAU Indoor National Record.
- 60m hurdles - 8.09, ranked in top ten in the country, indoor 2010
- 110m hurdles - 14.16, fastest freshman time run in the country.
- Placed 3rd at MHSAA Outdoor State Championships. Highest place for freshman hurdler in Michigan ever.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
I would love to see what he could put down in just the straight up 55, 100, and 200. Even 400 hurdles, do they run that in Michigan or is it 300?
November 8th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
November 8th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
Thats how they make money, so no.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
November 8th, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
Great name, great speed, good size, local kid that the entire staff must have scouted fairly well. Can they teach him to wiggle a bit?
Go Blue!
November 8th, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
he looks like a tough work horse back. that can take a pounding. he'll add about 20-30lbs and hopefully be that big back Hoke and Borges is looking for.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^
Now that I've thought about it, does track speed plus 6'1" plus not the best between the tackles equal wideout?
That's sort of what I'm feeling...nothing more than that...
November 8th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
he seems like a kickoff return guy and maybe a WR. Ace's review does not inspire confidence. Timing does seem strange, maybe they no we're done with Dunn and other RB targets. Hopefully Drake will surprise.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^
According to Ace's write-up on him he may not be an RB in college, but the coaching staff will find a way to utilize his speed. I can't even imagine how good this kid feels right now, happy for him.
Also, all these points are valid regarding Williams being the 6th OL, johnson taking the DB spot, but anyone think the staff only wants one WR?
November 8th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Maybe this young man ends up at receiver. By all accounts, he has been very impressive as a wideout in 7-on-7s and throughout his senior season.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
in my opinion, this kid looks better than dunn, maybe its the competition.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^
not very impressed to be honest.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
Given Michigan's late offer, Johnson's recruiting site rankings, and the small number of other (quality) schools interested, I would be surprised if he had any entitlement issues or diva tendencies.
Let the kid redshirt and take the year to determine if he's an RB, WR, slot, return man, gunner, or even a defensive player at the college level. He very well may end up just being a glue guy utility player, and I expect that he'd be fine with that for five years.
Glad we got him.
November 8th, 2011 at 2:07 PM ^
In a little late, but......
Commence everyone going all:
"Who is this guy!?"
"We better not have offered him a scholarship!"
"What a waste of a scholarship!"
"Why did we offer him when there are so many other big names out on the board!"
"We'd better not miss out on player X because we wasted a scholarship on this guy!"
Followed by some douchebag reporter asking the kid a question about star rankings/what does he think about X things said on Michigan MBs about him, and the recruit saying something along the lines of, "I'm going to just have to prove them wrong/I just hope they like me and don't think they wasted scholarship on me *sad panda face*.
Also, we aren't getting Brionte Dunn. Get over it.
November 8th, 2011 at 2:58 PM ^
I dont know why everyone is so down on this kid, according to Fred Jackson he has the speed and vision of Barry Sanders combined with the size and strength of Jerome Bettis.
November 8th, 2011 at 6:22 PM ^
and the one cut and go ness of Terrell Davis
November 8th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
This is very interesting. I literally emailed a friend and that coaches at Pioneer about Johnson yesterday. I asked him what the deal was with his recruitment and he told me that EMU was his only offer but that he was hoping something would change soon. He had nothing but good things to say about the young man. If they can get him on a pretty good weight program I think he could be a contributor to the program.
November 8th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
Me being a Pioneer Alum, I'm happy but The Drake will be moved to WR and return kicks/punts, he's got good straight line speed. The film didn't impress me much compared to Dunn who's running over people and getting alot of yards after contact. I try not to get too hyped up on HS stats because there's a millions of HS legends. Go Pioneers!!!
November 9th, 2011 at 3:03 AM ^
Welcome Drake! And Go Blue!