TomVH: Visitor this Weekend
Chris Pool from ESPN is reporting that 2011 Illinois OL Graham Glasgow (6'7", 295 lbs.) is visiting Michigan this weekend. He's been to Minnesota and Ohio State, and he was also at Michigan for the Iowa game this year.
Here's his film. I'll have more later.
**EDIT: I confirmed with Graham that he will be in Ann Arbor for an unofficial visit this weekend.
February 8th, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
He was blocking with his hands and arms more than his legs, although I suppose that can be a technique thing to be changed in coaching. However, he looks extremely ponderous and slow-footed to me, and I don't know how much quicker coaching can make him.
February 8th, 2011 at 4:00 PM ^
...being very kind. I'm a 66 year-old couch potato, and I'm pretty sure I could beat this kid in a 40 yard dash. Seriously, when I watched the video earlier today, I hadn't paid attention to the kid's jersey number in the intro. After watching the first snap, I actually felt sorry for #75 hobbling along "pursuing" the play. Couldn't believe this is the guy we're considering.
February 9th, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^
as a 1 year player of football, his slow footedness could very well be due to bad technique/footwork due to being so raw. Similar to how some of our faster players got ran around on defense last year by slower players, as they weren't in the right position or taking the right angles. He also might be just a big slow bum, but I hope the coaching staff will be able to figure that out.
February 8th, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^
If we are going pro style, we need linemen who can pass protect. This guy is raw but his frame is perfect. The basketball background also is a good sign re: balance, footwork, agility. He probably just needs 2-3 years of good coaching.
February 8th, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^
If his basketball team's as good as his football team, I'm not sure it matters that he made varsity. He is 6'7", after all.
February 8th, 2011 at 3:47 PM ^
He 6' 7" and has long arms. What's not to love? With some coaching I bet he would evolve into an awesone tackle.
February 8th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^
You are aware that there are more guys who are 6'7" and did not play D1 football than those that did, correct?
February 8th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^
I actually had him more on the stubby side, but we'll see.
February 8th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
There's some precedent here. Jared Veldheer, who starts for the Raiders was a late bloomer out of suburban Grand Rapids and wasn't offered a schollie anywhere. He did have great size and great feet, and eventually blossomed at Hillsdale into a fine player and an eventual NFL starter as a rookie. I'm in no way saying this kid will do the same or even if he's worthy of a scholarship, but O-line is notoriously difficult to prognosticate.
February 8th, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^
I don't think anyone is denying the possibility. It's just that available scholarships are precious, and if it not offering him a scholarship saves one for next year's class, that is probably the better option.
February 8th, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^
I have to agree with LandonC. One cannot conclude much from this film. He was pushing down kids much smaller than him, I didn't see him tangling with guys who were more physically mature. And yes, he's 6-7 and has a great frame, but the world is filled with large men who suck at sports even though everyone sees how big they are and assumes otherwise.
I don't think there's any question we'd love to have him as a preferred walk-on. We get depth that may project and we risk nothing.
But a scholarship at this point? I just don't see it, but I'm not a coach. Maybe they work this kid out and like what they see. I just hope they're not seeing a kid who is a worthwhile project for a lower-tier school, but not for Michigan. He has been invited to visit by 3 Big Ten schools, so they are seeing something. But they'd have to be super impressed with his mental makeup, his agility and his upside to even think along those lines. He looks rawer than raw. And if he's playing at one of those 'academies,' that usually means weak competition, almost every week.
To me, a big decision for Hoke and his staff only needs to be made if the kid has decided he'll only be a preferred walk-on at Ohio State, and it will take a scholarship for Michigan or another school to lure him away. Then it's a big decision.
It may not come to that. Hopefully, we sell him on choosing Michigan as the place to be a preferred walk-on with an opportunity to earn a scholarship. Because it seems a stretch to think this kid, as of today, would beat out any of the potential members of the recruiting class of 2012, which is how he needs to be judged. We're going to want every scholarship we have to put together an outstanding class during a year that is being touted already for being full of great talent across the Midwest.
February 8th, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^
I agree completely, but jeez....
February 9th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
I'm not put off by his lack of stars on Rivals or Scout. Without nameing names we've all seen highly rated players contribute little down the line. I see great potential in Glasgow and think it would be interesting to see what the new staff can do with him. Taking a kid like him who was not even offered a D1 scholaship and turning him into a top tier Big Ten starter in a 2 or 3 years would be a huge statement. Especially if done so right under Tressel's nose.
6" 7" and 295 lbs. The same as recruit Jake Long in 2003.
February 9th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
I say offer him a scholly. We have little to lose IMO. We'll all be pissed if he ends up at OSU as a starting LT or something. If he had played football his junior year, when teams are most looking at your tape, he'd probably be a much higher rated recruit. There is a chance he is jsut never going to develop of course, but that is the chance you take with recruits. He's got the frame and athleticism to be an OT at this level. We're thin with depth and we have a scholarship or 2 left still for this year. Take him, redshirt him and see what you can build him up to. We're going to have 4-6 guys leave between now and next year, we'll have plenty of scholarships left for that class. We need another OL in this class.
February 9th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
So I use to coach Graham in track when he was in middle school. He was big then, didn't have the best work ethics at the time but I am sure that has changed now. He has always been big and strong, he would definitly be a nice addition to our line.
He also has a younger brother I think he may be a soph this year and played up on varsity, he is around 6'3" 240.February 9th, 2011 at 7:28 PM ^
i loved the very first snap, he threw him down and made sure he stayed down.
i hope he's BLUE!