Michigan expressing interest in a new 4* RB

Submitted by Genzilla on

Allen Trieu @TrieuA

#Michigan has resumed interest in South Bend Washington's David Perkins, but it's not at the position you may think...recruiting.scout.com/2/1138726.html

 

Scout: http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4978259

Rivals: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-David-Perkins-116914

ESPN: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/114178/david-perkins

4* on each site, listed as a OLB/DE by scout and as an athlete by ESPN and Rivals.  He spent his first two years in high school at Kalamazoo Central before moving to South Bend.  One time ND commit.  Not positive that he's being recruited as an RB, but based on Trieu's tweet, Michigan's need, and Dunn's reaffirmation, this is the most logical position at which he would be recruited. (EDIT: "wlubd" confirms that he's being looked at as an RB)

Considered to be a power back with good feet (as you may have guessed from the OLB/DE projection) he would be a similar style back to Dunn with very good and consistent ratings.

Resumed interest doesn't mean he's been offered or that he's a realistic possibility.  It doesn't seem likely that he would end up in the class at this point, but as the coaches are expressing interest it's important to know who he is.

Chris Balas from The Wolverine confirms in a tweet that he heard from Perkins and that Perkins is considering taking a visit to UM.

Now time for a giants quote from Scout: "David Perkins is a transfer from Kalamazoo Central who boasts a 36.5 vertical jump. 10.1 broad, 16 reps of 185-lbs on the bench and a 4.15 shuttle.  He finished his junior season with 783 yards on 85 carries, ten receptions for 180 yards (six total TDs) and 63 tackles, 13 sacks and 21 tackles for loss. Perkins says he can bench 325-pounds, squat 450 and claims a 39-inch vertical jump."

EDIT: "wlubd" also shared stats from this year: rushed for 1300+ yds and 20 td's this season.

wlubd

December 13th, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^

He is being looked at as a RB.

He rushed for 1300+ yds and 20 TD's this season.

Perkins was on the radar way early in the cycle but never got an M offer. There's speculation as to why, the same speculation that arose when he decommitted from ND (academics). But this staff has shown that they aren't going to even pursue a kid they don't think can get to (and stay in) school so wouldn't worry about that right now.

Important to note that he doesn't have an offer and Michigan hasn't really been recruiting him hard if at all so we'll have to wait and see if anything develops.

WolverineinSB

December 13th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^

I have seen him play and watched tape on him a little. He's a great athlete who could play a few very different positions and he does for his team. He's a true athlete recruit. He may be worth the risk

FreddieMercuryHayes

December 13th, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^

The coaching staff is really likeing these kids that are projected to play LB or DE and keeping them at RB.  At the risk of complimenting sparty, Bell has looked pretty good his career so far and was in the same boat.

JT4104

December 13th, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^

With the visit in to Isaac tonight and the new found interest in Perkins...I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Dunn news was more than expected to this coaching staff.

Either way lets go ahead and end this class on a high note and come roaring into next season.

BlueVball8

December 13th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^

He doesn't look like he has great speed, but he just blows over people.  Granted all of the people around him looked like they were a lot smaller than him.  He seems to be a guy that could be a H-Back type that could be used all over the field.  But you guys should go watch him, he kind of looks like Brandon Minor running.

Mr. Yost

December 13th, 2011 at 11:08 PM ^

With Diggs and Dunn out, I'd imagine we're going to hear a few more names in the next week that we haven't heard before.

Right now I feel confident with:

24: Jehu Chesson - WR

25: Sam Grant - TE

26: Yuri Wright or Armani Reeves - CB

27: Jordan Diamond, Zach Banner, Josh Garnett or Alex Kozan - OL

28: ????? (Perkins?) (Maybe go after someone like Shittu again?) (Maybe J.P. Holtz as an H-Back?) (Wishful thinking would have us offer Norfleet as an ATH)

 

michgoblue

December 14th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^

To me, this guy is the prototypical "project" at running back, and I say that in a positive way.

Clearly, he is a beast of an athlete.  If he learns the position, his combo of size / speed could make him scary effective in our future offense.

But, he will need a good amount of coaching at the RB position before he will be ready for prime time.  Fortunately, he have a solid (dare I say stud?) RB in Fitz, and some good young guys behind him in Rawls and Hayes.  Hayes, in particular, had some huge recruiting hype, and Rawls has that "big back" build.

So, if Perkins really wants to be a RB, he can come in, redshirt in 2012, spend 2013 getting worked into the line-up in back-up and clean-up duty, and likely compete for serious reps in 2014, 2015 and 2016.  (Note:  Hopefully, he will be competing with Ty Isaacs).

 

ChiCityWolverine

December 13th, 2011 at 11:14 PM ^

Nice to see we have a backup plan after losing out on Dunn. I haven't watched his tape yet, but from what I've read he seems like he would be a big get. Getting him when he has LSU and Ohio offers would make it even sweeter. If getting a shot at RB is a real selling point with him, we should be in his final group if we can get him on campus.

STW P. Brabbs

December 14th, 2011 at 7:28 AM ^

I'm officially on the Perkins bandwagon.  Not only is he apparently his team's punter,  he also pulls the Lavar Arrington* in that highlight video (1:23) - gets a punt blocked, picks it up, and runs it in for a touchdown from his own goalline.  Sign him up.

Seriously, he looks like he has some good balance in addition to his great size/speed ratio, even though he might be pretty raw.  Also some real explosion on the defensive side of the ball (in addition to some questionable tackling - but hey, that's why we hired some good position coaches.)  I'd love to see him sign for UM.  Might be one of my favorite recruits if he does. 

*In high school

Vader

December 13th, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^

From what I saw on the recruiting websites, it looks like he's scheduled all 5 of his officials. Hopefully he cancels on one (OSU) so that he can use it here because officials are always better than an unofficial. 

gajensen

December 13th, 2011 at 11:30 PM ^

I'm surprised we want a third back in the class after Houma and Johnson, period. I figured a spot was being held open for Dunn simply because he was a can't-miss prospect and that otherwise the backfield was full.

gajensen

December 14th, 2011 at 8:55 AM ^

I never said he wasn't recruited as a FB.  I specifically used "back" and "backfield" so as to not get called on this.

However, since you did anyway, I would most certainly give carries to a kid who (according to rivals) put up 1,211 and 9TDs this season and runs a 4.53.  It's counterintuitive for an offensive focal point to shift to lead blocker.