QB recruit Nate Johnson is Fast! 10.49 hundred today
Per his HS coach Nate has run 10.49 at a meet today.
He is our number one QB prospect and has a UM crystal ball from Sam Webb.
He is a dynamic runner and his passing game improved a lot this year.
I bet I could outrun him...in my dreams.
Hope he commits to the good guys
You and me both Mick - I watched Carl Lewis run as a kid, and it looked pretty easy
I can sing almost as good as Carl Lewis.
Even in my dreams I would pull a hamstring and he would win before helping me to the hospital.
I ran consistently in the 10.4 - 10.5 range in high school.
Oh, wait! I'm old. We measured things in yards back then.
Current Michigan State Meet record in the 100 meters is 10.4. Ty Wheatley ran a 10.8. So if this result for Nate Johnson isn't too wind-aided, that is indeed fast.
I think 10.49 would be a good time for me now in the 60 meters. Or maybe 40 yards. And maybe there should be paramedics standing by just in case.
I could ride a bike and keep up with him, maybe. Hoping for the best with this kid.
Always room for fast guys. See you soon, Nathaniel.
A fast, dual threat QB with decent size that's ranked near the 1000s? That's bizarre. How's his arm?
Check out the spring highlights in the OP
Can't really glean much from a highlight reel. If this guy's Milton-esque inaccurate then his highlights won't show that.
As I understand it, he was injured for most of last season, and the season itself was cut short by Covid-related concerns. He didn't miss many games, but he was clearly limited. His current ranking is mostly based on the promise he showed during his freshman season.
His arm isn’t great. I’m no expert but looks like it’s mostly a strength issue. His highlights often show him as accurate but balls longer than 20/25 yards aren’t exactly lasers. Could be mechanics too if he’s new to playing qb? He’s got good straight line speed. Can’t tell how shifty he is in tight spaces.
Denard was rated as a 4* as an Athlete on 247. IIRC only Michigan and Kansas offered him to be a QB, worked out pretty well.
A kid that is that fast and can punt....I would t mind seeing a couple fakes! Also I would love to see him do what tater tot did on fourth down and drop back ( they have to keep the defense out) then you punt it.
Just found this recent local TV feature on Johnson. Apparently this spring is his first time starting at QB - played mostly WR last year and gained over 1,000 yards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AM8CzysjCM&ab_channel=CBS47KSEE24
Not sure what the wind situation was in that race but everyone ran basically .25 seconds faster than they every had before. Johnson previous personal best was 10.8 on April 23rd and the meet before he ran 11.03. Last year his personal best was 10.9 so he is improving his speed but I don't think he has true 10.5 Denard Robinson type speed.
0.25s slower than Denard still makes him top 5 UM football player ever.
Except he's not a UM football player, just yet.
He is probably pretty fast - guessing not top 5 all time.
Butch Woolfolk fastest hs times in 100 and 200 in 1978. Still holds the Michigan record for the outdoor 200 meter dash. He also has the 4th best outdoor 100 meter time at 10.36.
Tyrone Wheatley broke 10.6 in HS and was also a tremendous hurdler. He has the 6th best Michigan outdoor 100 meter at 10.41
Morgan Trent also broke 10.6 in HS He has the 8th fastest Michigan indoor 200 at 21.67
Felmam Malveaux has the 8th fastest Michigan outdoor 100 meter at 10.5.
Other accomplished Michigan football sprinters include: Desmond Howard, Denard Robinson, Braylon Edwards and Troy Woolfolk. I am sure that more research would uncover more.
Mike Shaw was a 10.39 100m in high school
Ahhhh.....Morgan Tent. Anytime I think about him, my mind immediately goes to that Bowl game vs Florida. Listening to all the pundits talk about the Florida speed, and Michigan being slow. Saying that they had nobody who could match the Florida receiver speed. Then....watching Trent start 20-30 yards back, but still chase down the Florida receiver, from behind. A thing of beauty!
Some people here have suggested that taking a few "athletes" every cycle and figuring out the specifics (position) later is a good idea. (I'm in agreement.) Johnson seems like a good example.
It seems like every year certain schools (I'm thinking of TCU at the moment) have guys drafted that played something other than their HS position. Lots of converted offensive skill players ...
UM has done that (Haskins/Barrett/Many of the "Vipers"), and then JH gets slammed for grabbing guys without a position
I seriously doubt JH worries about getting slammed on a chat board.
Jim Harbaugh get's slammed for a lot of things. I've honestly never see him get criticized specifically for recruiting guys that don't have a clear position as a prospect.
I think in the end he will change positions, unless he passes McCarthy.
Oh, the chance to enjoy Denard 2.0?
Ok. Woowhoo.
But can he see the whole field?
Does he have his feet in the right place when he throws?
Is he accurate?
Does he have touch?
Does he inspire the offense to play better?
Can he read pass coverages?
I have that under 'can he see the whole field'. I should have specified with a couple more points. Like, can he get a preliminary read on what the defense is doing as he walks to the line, then call audible adjustments if needed? Then at the snap, as he is dropping back, can he read what the defense is doing, then know quickly where to throw?
I've been watching videos of two of the QBs drafted, Trey Lance and Mac Jones. Jones is the fastest of all QBs this year at reading defenses and making the quick decision. Quicker than even Trevor Lawernce. But he doesnt have the arm strength to throw on the run like Lawrence. That is the one big knock on him. And it's why he was rated 3rd, or 4th, or 5th, depending on who you asked. Trey Lance, on the other hand, needs work at reading defenses, making quick decisions, and throwing accurately. Sometimes he stands still when he could have made a quick throw. Which leads some to say he doesn't see the whole field yet, i.e., where that open receiver is.
All fair prerequisites for the level of quarterback you would expect to start at Michigan. There's still a lot of things you can do with a guy that can run a 10.5 100 meter.
I'd let the guy give quarterback a shot his redshirt year and see if he could become a Lamar Jackson type. If that's not in the cards, move him into a skill position and see what you have in year three.
It would be nice to have QBs that can hit the ground running as a QB and not be a work in progress, or a feel him out to see what he can do player.
Though Brandon Peters, Dylan McCaffrey, Cade McNamara, and JJ McCarthy could/can read the field. Brandon Petets has been pretty good at Illinois.
Denard clocked a 10.44 in high school for comparison....
Never knew that, WOW! So Nate could be the next version of Denard. I could really like that.
The good news is that when he comes Harbaugh will QB whisper him into becoming a great passer ... or ... something like that
Feels good to know the fastest recruits can barely run twice as fast me -- great get go blue
If he commits to Michigan, I wonder if he'll be a two sport athlete. He could run track for the outdoor season, after spring ball finishes up. He'd get in late Apr, all of May and what's left of the NCAA's if he were to qualify in track so it could work.
After watching his highlights, it looks like he's going to be a slot.