TomVH: LB Jeremiah Tshimanga Update

Submitted by TomVH on

Michigan recently extended an offer to Texas LB Jeremiah Tshimanga (6'3", 226 lbs), and there's already some movement from Jeremiah towards Michigan.

I was offered last Saturday I think. I've been mainly talking to the head coach and the offensive line coach about everything. I actually might be going up there this Saturday, we're just trying to work the details out see if we can get a flight. 

Taking a visit from Texas on their dime is a good indicator that Jeremiah has definite interest in the Wolverines. He also has a friend in his ear trying to convince him to come to Ann Arbor as well.

I played against and with Chris Barnett [2011 Michigan signee]. I've known him since my sophomore year, so that's cool that someone's up there that I know. He thinks I should go up there, but we haven't really talked to much. 

Tshimanga plans on graduating early, so he'll have to make a decision relatively soon. He says he doesn't have a timeline and will just wait for the comfortable feeling. If he makes the trip up this weekend it could help Michigan to get an early track on his recruitment.

MH20

March 1st, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^

If you tell me this kid's middle name is Biakabutuka, I will shit my pants, and for the first time in the history of pants-shitting, be pleasantly happy about it.

wlubd

March 1st, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^

For the ranking obsessed out there, Tshimanga is currently the 22nd ranked prospect in Texas by Orangebloods (Texas Rivals' Site). That would have been good for a low 4-star last year.

ken725

March 1st, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^

Does Tech and A&M figure into his recruitment?

Edit:  I just check the rivals site for texas A&M and they already have 15 recruits.  I guess they are really pressuring kids to commit early.

burntorange wi…

March 3rd, 2011 at 1:52 AM ^

not only do they have 15 recruits already, they took back their offer to LB peter jinkens(one of the reasons why he committed to texas so early) and jinkens was probably higher up on their board. unless texas pulls off a miracld and drags tim cole away from atm, i imagine their recruiting at the LB position is done. 

Maize and Blue…

March 1st, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^

Michigan HS football isn't very good.  The year McGuffie came out the Houston area had 150 D1 players alone.  The state of Michigan is lucky to get 40 in a very good year.  This is why all the worry about recruiting the state makes me laugh.  I know it's important to lock up the top guys, but you're not going to win many Big Ten titles yet alone NCs relying on the state of Michigan for your football talent.

AnthonyThomas

March 1st, 2011 at 9:36 PM ^

Michigan's still better than a lot of states, though. Compared to the states that surround it, Ohio is the only one that contains more talent on a regular basis (Illinois and Michigan are about even). That being said, recruiting nationally is more important.

Eye of the Tiger

March 2nd, 2011 at 2:09 AM ^

At least, not in the modern era.  So I don't think anyone is saying "gee, as long as we get Cass Tech locked down we'll be back in the hunt!"

The concern is that by not recruiting well enough in-state, we cede key players and schools to in-conference rivals, like Little Brother.  Part of consistently competing for Big 10 titles is protecting our turf.  The other part is successful recruiting in recruiting goldmines, like Texas, Florida, Southern California and--most of all--Ohio.  

The last couple years with Lloyd, and the 3 with Rich, were at best uneven in terms of recruiting.  Some superstars, sure, but we didn't just reload the way we did under Bo, Mo or for 10 or so of Lloyd's years.  I think this past recruiting class was a good example of necessary triage, but the end result was another uneven year.  We got some good players, and a lot of bodies on defense, but we didn't get a ton of top-flight talent.  Hopefully I'm wrong about that. 

What I did like, though, was that it felt like the coaching staff were setting themselves up well for 2012.  Aggressively recruiting both in and out of state for top talent, I'm enthusiastic about where we're headed, and think we'll have one of the best classes in terms of talent that we've put together for years, even if it's on the small side.  

Obviously still remains to be seen whether this is the case, and even if it is, whether Hoke's staff can sustain it over time.  

 

WolvinLA2

March 1st, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^

If he's 226 in that film he's very quick for his size.  I was very surprised at how quick his first few steps are for a guy that size.  And at 6'3" he could probably keep his athleticism at 240 or 245. 

WestSider

March 2nd, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^

however...I saw a kid unblocked on many plays. It would be nice to see how he does fighting through more offensive linemen, backs, TE's, etc. On many of those plays he had more that a few steps with no offensive personnel in his face. Definitely a guy who needs work, but a nice looking prospect.

mmiicchhiiggaann

March 1st, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^

Barnett has definitly been a great recruiter so far, in Zeke Pikes ear and now Tshimanga. It will be very interesting to see how Justice Hayes and him recruit when on campus. Also, for the future it excites me that Frank Clark has the goal of bringing more Glenville kids to mich.

aaamichfan

March 1st, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^

"Tshimanga plans on graduating early, so he'll have to make a decision relatively soon."

 
Does he plan on graduating a year early or something?!?

5280rad

March 2nd, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^

I wondered the same thing when I read that.  I'd be shocked if he graduated this June. I'm sure it's the usual one semester early.  Is there maybe a university deadline for accepting an offer to matriculate in Jan vs. Sep? 

burntorangeblue

March 2nd, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^

UT has a couple other prospects ahead of this kid on their board--in fact, I'm not sure he's on their board to be honest.  Couple that with the fact that he didn't get an invite to either junior day, and I would say the writing is on the wall regarding a Texas offer.  As for aTm or some of the other Texas schools, I haven't heard much.

Magnus

March 2nd, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^

He's listed as an outside linebacker, but he looks more like an inside 'backer to me.  I've also read that some people think he could grow into a defensive end, and that wouldn't surprise me much, either.  He's a built dude.

Magnus

March 2nd, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^

I think 245 is probably too heavy for most WILL linebackers.  I think we're going to see smaller, quicker types there, such as Antonio Poole.  I'm guessing they'll probably be 225 to somewhere in the 230's, but 245 sounds more like a MIKE in this defense.

WolvinLA2

March 2nd, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^

You probably know more about this than I do, but in Brian's main page breakdown of the linebackers, he made it sound like the WILL would be a bigger LB, like a JB Fitzgerald, and the SAM would be more along the lines of what Poole would play, and what Cam Gordon would play this fall, since he'd have to cover a TE.  Mouton played the WILL at 240, and he was an inch shorter than Tshimanga. 

I agree that a 245 pounder sounds like a MIKE, but if he's 245 and can still run well, I think he can still play an OLB spot. 

Magnus

March 2nd, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^

Yeah, that's what Brian said...  I don't know if I agree, though.  Size doesn't have much to do with covering a tight end, though.  I mean, a guy who's 6'3", 235 is going to be just as good - if not better - in coverage than a guy who's 6'3", 245.

If you look back at the Michigan of old, weakside linebackers were often smaller.  Additionally, linebacker recruits have stated that they've been told by Mattison that the MIKE will typically be a bigger guy, and the WILL will typically be a little smaller.  Since I can't imagine that many middle linebackers will get above 245-250 (like Demens is right now), then my assumption is that the WILL would likely be smaller than 245.

WolvinLA2

March 2nd, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^

No - I agree that you don't want a guy at 245 covering a TE - that's why the SAM will be the smaller guy, like Antonio Poole.  Since the WILL won't be on the TE side, he can be a bigger guy. 

And I also agree that the MIKE will be bigger than the WILL, but maybe not by much.  And it wouldn't be that crazy to have your MIKE and WILL weigh about the same, especially if you WILL is 6'3" and you MIKE is 6'1", for example.  This past fall, Mouton was 240 and Demens was 245.

If you don't have a big guy to play MIKE, then I wouldn't put a 245 pounder at WILL, but if you have another LB that size to play in the middle, then I don't think being 245 precludes you from playing the WILL, since his style of play is more of an outside backer than a middle backer.

Magnus

March 2nd, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^

Well, I think Mouton 2010 is different than WILL 2011 (whoever it is).  Mouton's job in 2011 was a) stop the run b) cover the hook/curl zone.  He didn't have much man coverage on backs, slot receivers, etc.. and he rarely had to cover the flat.  He also occasionally put his hand down and rushed the passer.

Meanwhile, the 2011 version of the WILL will probably have to pick up backs out of the backfield, cover the flat, stop the run, and blitz fairly frequently.

Also, keep in mind that Mouton put on some weight in the last year or so.  If I remember correctly, he was about 228 lbs. when we were running a 4-3 and he was the WILL.  But he got thicker when we moved to the 3-3-5.

Also, Poole specifically said that Mattison recruited him to play WILL.  So the SAM might be a guy  *like* Poole (more likely it will be Cam Gordon or Josh Furman), but Poole's going to be a weakside linebacker.

WolvinLA2

March 2nd, 2011 at 4:58 PM ^

Antonio Poole is also my favorite recruit, and not because Magnus thinks so (but having him agree makes me feel better about my prediction).  I'm not saying thing because he's going to be a big time early contributor since we have guys like Mike Jones and Cam Gordon ahead of him at his spot, but more because I think he'll be the guy from this class who made the biggest impact once they're all gone. 

Guys like Barnett or Countess or (obviously) Wile will probably have an impact earlier than Poole, but I think by the time Poole is an upperclassman he'll be the best of the bunch.

Magnus

March 2nd, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^

I don't really see him playing much this year, except *maybe* on special teams.  I think he's got a bit of weight to add, and he obviously won't enroll until summer time.  Plus there's a fair number of older guys who can play linebacker, although many of them are only one or two years older (Jones, Hawthorne, etc.).  I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting in 2012 or 2013, though.