Scouting Report: Da'Shawn Hand

Submitted by Magnus on

As I go through the positions for scouting reports each week, I reached defensive end . . . and I figured I would start off the DE position with everyone's favorite recruit, Da'Shawn Hand.  Since Michigan is in his top five, he's a legitimate player for Michigan fans to follow.  It's hard to imagine anyone beating him out for the #1 spot in 2014.  The kid is a beast, and he supposedly spent quite a bit of time playing nose guard because that's where his team needed him, so he's versatile and a team-first guy.

http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2013/02/scouting-report-dashawn-hand…

Magnus

February 16th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^

If the only "elite" teams you're talking about are Alabama and, um, Alabama, then sure.  There are other elite programs around the country, like Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, etc. who don't recruit 35 guys per class.

Magnus

February 16th, 2013 at 3:44 PM ^

"If the only "elite" teams you're talking about are Alabama and, um, Alabama, then sure.  There are other elite programs around the country, like Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, etc. who don't recruit 35 guys per class."

Point out the word "Michigan" for me please...

Magnus

February 16th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

If you don't want Hand to drag down our defensive line, then who is better in the 2014 class?  Michigan's defensive line recruiting in the past five years includes Frank Clark, Ondre Pipkins, and several guys who have yet to see the field (Strobel, Wormley, Henry, etc.).  I think it's too early to judge them.  If you're talking about the defensive line recruiting of the Rodriguez years, that's one thing...but that has very little to do with what's going on with current Michigan recruiting.

Magnus

February 16th, 2013 at 2:04 PM ^

The point went completely over your head.

The point is those guys were small coming out of high school.  They're not now.

Damontre Moore was 227 lbs. coming out of high school.  Dion Jordan was 215 lbs.  Both are now projected to be first round picks at defensive end.  They have added 23 and 28 pounds, respectively.  If you add that much weight to Hand, you've got about a 270 lb. defensive end.  Where's the problem?

TheDirtyD

February 16th, 2013 at 2:52 PM ^

No it didn't Roh got slow and awful. Lewan is a tackle and doesn't need the same elite quickness not to mention has a larger frame to distribute weight.
Michigans D-like recruiting has been guys who won't be elite pass rushers. Clark might be able to round out to an average big ten DE. Mario might be able to if he can add weight but that's it. No one else on that roster is gonna be able to put pressure from the edge and command a double team. A great pass rusher can totally alter a teams game plan. Everything would become more effective. If you say hand is elite and will be that guy I trust you. I didn't know that most of the top DE's now were his size in high school. This is more of me frustrated with not getting someone who's a great pass rusher/ an athletic DE. Teams set the edge on us so easily it's pathetic.

TheDirtyD

February 16th, 2013 at 8:34 PM ^

They at least command a back to chip or a TE but he's not just an after thought like oh here's a warm body on the DLine. Yeah I know it's tough to dbl team guys like that but a guy who alters game plans is better than just a warm body attempting to push people around.

BigBlue02

February 16th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^

Except your opinion is not a good one. At all. You are basically telling us that everyone in America is wrong and you are correct. All of those colleges that offered are wrong because they are taking a flier on the best player in high school and you are right because you evaluate high school football regularly?

TheDirtyD

February 16th, 2013 at 9:19 PM ^

  • No I never said he wasnt good I said I hope he can add weight. That was all. My opinion is fine. He is fine right now in high school but undersized if he were in college. Thats my opinion. I knew a ton of kids who couldnt add weight playing hockey and never could go very far because they were too small. It happens a lot. 
  • Me getting Mangus all angry is another thing thats just fun to me

jethro34

February 16th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^

Either you forgot to add /s or you haven't done your homework.

Looking at some of the top DE's coming out of high school the past 5 years:

2009 - Okafor - reported by scout as 6'5", 229, 4.67 40

2010 - Powell - reported by rivals as 6'4", 230, 4.53 40

2011 - Clowney - reported by scout as 6'6", 235, 4.6 40

2012 - Spence - reported by scout as 6'3", 240

Nkemdiche is the biggest of the bunch at reportedly 6'5", 260, 4.7 40

So if all we're talking about is measuables, Hand is right in line with top DE's across the board - and the guys on the list here have done just fine so far.

Okafor isn't the highest rated DE in the draft but could sneak into the 1st round.  Powell tore his ACL in the spring, otherwise might be in the draft. Clowney is being talked about as someone who should declare for the draft. Spence got some PT as a true freshman at the worst school ever. Nkemdiche probably got some money, not included in a Twitter pic.

mGrowOld

February 16th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^

Hey Magnus....

Don't think it needs its own post but wanted to give you a heads up if you hadn't heard that Gedeon hurt his shoulder in the 1/27 Hudson basketball game against Youngstown and has been out since.  No official word here locally on the severity of the injury but the bball coach said he hopes to have Ben back for the playoffs.

Given that Gedeon was far and away the best basketball player on the team and Hudson is currently ranked highly they definitely want him back.  I've asked locally if he's sitting out just to play it safe for football next year or is he really hurt and everybody's tight-lipped.

http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/sports/2013/01/27/hudson-boys-basketball-…

Didn't know if you knew this or not.

jasonmkeith

February 16th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^

As much as I'd love to see this beautiful beast in Maize and Blue, I won't let myself get excited knowing the probable heartbreak when he takes the SEC payout.  Ole Mi$$  probably has this kid on speed dial by now...

Jaded.

Danwillhor

February 16th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^

Same. No matter how much I hear about "character" and "team first" and such the fact is he will likely be the next universal #1 overall player/DL that plays in a state not named Michigan. Great to be top 5 but we're in almost everyones top 5 and I'm jaded and recruiting experienced enough to know these kids always end up in the South or USC (lol). The only alternative is he goes to VT, IMO. I essentially don't even see him as a real option so hopes aren't even awake let alone "up". That said, landing him would cement my current belief that we're a few years out of truly contending for NCs again (I don't underestimate the lack of talent, depth and experience this staff inherited due to late Carr & RR).

Blue boy johnson

February 16th, 2013 at 12:26 PM ^

Here is Video where Hand says Bud Foster is his favorite coach and Michigan is his favorite coaching staff.

Gotta say, Hand looks bookish in this video, would never look at him and say, "oh yeah, he looks like the top football player in the country".

 

DGDestroys

February 16th, 2013 at 1:01 PM ^

My son knows one of Hand's best friends (who played football with him). I can tell you Hand is nothing like the stereotypical jock you probably have in mind.

One of the best anecdotes I can share with you is Hand's excitement over every offer he gets. My son's friend said he remembers one day where he got offered by Frostburg State (a small school in Maryland) and he was genuinely excited. Mind you, by this point he already had Bama/VT offers. 

As for the whole bookish thing, I believe he's taking like 4 months off of his recruitment right now to focus on school. Which should give you an idea..