Michigan expressing interest in a new 4* RB
#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.
December 13th, 2011 at 11:38 PM ^
December 13th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
Maybe. But a kid as fast as he is, as big as he is, tough enough to carry the ball as many times as he does has a lot of raw tools going for him. i think special teams is the floor, but its possible they're hoping to make more of him.
December 13th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
I think this means the coaches are set on taking a 3rd running back in this class. Glad to see they've turned the page so quickly on Dunn. The fact Perkins is being recruited as a RB is already an advantage over the other schools. If it doesn't work out there, he can always switch positions. This guy will fit nicely in the Big Ten.
December 14th, 2011 at 8:15 AM ^
Who are the other 2?
December 14th, 2011 at 8:28 AM ^
Drake Johnson and Sione Houma, even though Houma is technically a fullback.
December 13th, 2011 at 11:54 PM ^
We've had RB heartbreak
First Dee Hart. Now Brion'te Dunn.
December 14th, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
But we learned the True Love we were looking for...was there there all along. (Insert picture of Fitz here).
December 14th, 2011 at 12:08 AM ^
True Love lasts for 4 years only and not a lifetime.
December 14th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
Dee Hart is different. He was actually committed to us, and was a casualty of the coaching change. Dunn is just like any other prospect we tried to flip, and didn't.
December 14th, 2011 at 12:08 AM ^
dude is a physical specimen
December 14th, 2011 at 12:09 AM ^
in South Bend and have seen him play. Most of the competition he saw was pretty weak. He does have excelent size and speed. He was on ESPN when they had the SPARQ competition. He was right up there with all the top names in the country in all the events. He did everything for his team. He was the running back, punt returner, kick returner and played defense. Has some natural abilities. I believe he would be a good pick-up.
December 14th, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
I wouldn't have any problem with using the last scholly on a guy that it sounds and looks like you could plug in at a few different posistions based off of your needs.
December 14th, 2011 at 12:33 AM ^
Who needs Dunn when you can have Barry Sanders!!!
December 14th, 2011 at 2:35 AM ^
raw but we have two promising RBs Rawl and Hayes ahead of him, can afford to red-shirt him. And if it does not pan out, he can always switch back to defense.
December 14th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
December 14th, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^
If I recall, Hayes was a 4* with some pretty good hype. He took a redshirt because he needs to put on some muscle so as not to be obliterated in B10 play. Rawls was a 3* type, but many believe that this was because of his grade issues, and that without such issues he could have been a 4*.
While I actually share some of your concerns re: thjis position, I think that is way too early to say that we don't have a real back-up for Fitz in 2012. Sadly, I agree with your take on Smith, by the way. I really like the guy, and I do think that he is a very solid 3rd down back, but he is not going to be an every down back. With Shaw graduating and Cox unlikely to get a 5th year, our only RBs on the roster behind Fitz are Smith, Hopkins, Hayes and Rawls. Hopkins is a FB (and actually a pretty good one), so scrath him. We agree on Smith. So, our only viable back-ups will be Rawls and Hayes. That said, I am ok with this, since I would bet that one emerges and gets some reps behind Fitz.
December 14th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
You're implying that Rawl's would have been a 4* if he would have had higher grades? I wasn't aware that they take grades into consideration when rating a prep-player...?
December 14th, 2011 at 9:19 AM ^
I'm not a huge fan of Perkins as a running back. He's very unrefined and runs a bit wildly, with swinging arms and sloppy cuts. He's a very good athlete (fast, strong, etc.), but I don't really see him developing into a pure runner. I see him more as a SAM linebacker. He reminds me a little bit of Josh Furman - great athlete but without a real position.
December 14th, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^
We usually hear a lot about how coaches can improve the technique of linemen, quarterbacks, DBs, etc. - but not much with regard to running backs. I'm used to think of tailback as one of the most 'instinctive' positions - guys either have good vision and the knack to break tackles and make guys miss, or they don't - but I've never heard much about tailback technique.
So my question is: is it possible to coach a more efficient running style and better balance in cuts, or is this something that kids either have or don't by the time they leave high school?
December 14th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
I could be wrong, but I don't know of a lot of "project" type running backs who go on to monumental success in college or the NFL. There are some guys who are considered undersized, too slow, etc. that are ranked lower due to those faults who can go on to success. But if a guy isn't a natural runner in some way, then usually he seems to fade into the background or he changes positions.
There are drills to develop cutting ability and refine the position, but I don't think you can make wholesale changes to a kid's running style very often. He's either going to be more athletic than opponents or run over them...or he isn't.
I haven't seen all the film on Perkins, but my initial impression was that he would be better suited for D.
December 14th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
I think you are generally correct, but keep in mind we are transitioning to an offensive system that de-emphasizes the importance of vision and natural running skills. In a zone scheme, having the vision and feet to make the correct cuts is probably more important than overwhelming physical tools (obvious example is Hart). But in the power man-blocking scheme we appear to be recruiting for down the road, it's basically just one cut and hit the pre-assigned hole. While being a natural runner is obviously never a bad thing, I think it is easier to get away with being more of a size/speed athlete in such a scheme. Much easier to coach "Kalis is pulling to the left, run behind him" than "you will have 3 different options, read the linebackers and make the correct decision."
December 14th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
According to Scout.com he does have an offer http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4978259
December 14th, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
Judging from some of their recruiting decisions, this coaching staff must have looked at last years film and been extremely disappointed that James Rogers didn't have any eligibility left.
Seriously though, this kid would be the third scholarship RB taken on this year that doesn't seem to project into a starting back. I'm thinking that Rodriguez's recruiting for a spread option offense and a 3-3-5 defense didn't leave this team somewhat devoid of the sort of players Hoke would like to see catching special teams reps.
With 28 open scholarships and pretty much all roster shortcomings already filled up, that seems like a reasonable strategy.
With that said, this seems like a pretty big longshot.
December 14th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
... One of the top backs in the nation Russell Shell just lost his head coach.... He's a big tough kid... Even ranked higher than Dunn... Pitt has no coach... Penn State is a mess... Ohio has Dunn and Ball... Ummmm Michigan should go after him... IMO
Plud Perkins looks stiff for the position I'd hate to have another Cam Gordon situation... Where we lose Depth at a position because we brought in a kid who couldn't play it
December 14th, 2011 at 4:37 PM ^
Good idea. Maybe they could flip him with his HC leaving. This kid is hands down better than Dunn.
December 14th, 2011 at 4:57 PM ^
It doesn't sound like Shell is going to decommit from Pitt:
Which is...I mean good for him. I don't think it would hurt to try and get him to visit, but he seems to love Pitt?