When are we gonna make Drake an offer?
I know I posted about him before the high school season started, and then toward the end of the season .... but when are we going to make an offer to the kid right across the street ... Drake Johnson? I love Fitz Toussaint, but he has an injury history, and outside of him, we have no real proven depth after this season. Now, I know Brionte Dunn is a possibility ... who knows how likely at this point .. but a possibilty. Outside of that I am not hearing a lot out of the RB position in terms of recruiting.
Drake Johnson has good size .. 6'1 205, good speed ... listed at 4.4 probably more around 4.5 to 4.6, and is one of the best hurdlers in the nation. On the season he has nearly 3,000 yards (counting the 2 playoff games) and 40 touchdowns. Yes, that's correct, in 11 games he has nearly 3,000 yards and 40 Touchdowns. He has been a machine during the playoffs ... first round against Monroe he had 230 yards and 4 touchdowns, and then in the second round against Bedford he finished with 350 yards and 4 touchdowns. This kid carries his team squarely on his shoulders. Regardless of the opponent, Johnson amasses most of his teams offensive output. Warren De La Salle has a legitimate shot at a state championship this year, and he went for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns against them. Against the Brother Rice team that just eliminated Farmington Hills Harrison, Drake Johnson went for 125 yards and a TD. Last year against a Cass Tech Team that featured Delonte Hollowell, Terry Richardson and Royce Jenkins Stone ..... Drake Johnson went for 276 yards and 6 touchdowns .. as a junior.
I mean .. I am not in any way a recruiter, but this kids numbers are phenomenal. I don't know Brionte's numbers from this year, but he is listed on Scout as finishing last season with 2,020 yards and 22 TD's .. Johnson has 3,000 yards and 40 TD's. What a combination those 2 kids would make .. Brionte has the power and Drake has the speed and jumping ability. What baffles me even more is we showed interest in Juwan Lewis from Muskegon. I have watched both Drake and Juwan play, and from what I saw ... Drake is on a whole different level.
I'm gonna start a sign Drake Johnson rally .... hopefully one of the coaches will read this, and take a much harder look at the kid. I would hate to see him slip away ... Anyone who has watched him person this year ... back me up on this kid!!
November 6th, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^
The Drake? I love The Drake!
November 6th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
Gotta love the Drake!
November 7th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
I threw up on the floor of our room at the Drake. Great night.
That said, I like Juwan Lewis better. He's as fast, but bigger. He fits what we're looking for better, and I think he can be a seriously good back. He doesn't have Fitz type moves, but either does Marcus Coker.
Considering we took 2 backs last year and we have other top talent we're after, I think it's elite RB or none in this class, ruling out both of these guys. I'd be thrilled with a preferred walk-on for either of them though. If for some reason it's close to singing day and we have a spot open and guys like Wright, Banner, etc are committed elsewhere, I'd be just fine with a Juwan Lewis offer going out.
November 7th, 2011 at 5:55 AM ^
Love the Sein!
November 6th, 2011 at 11:30 PM ^
Tim Tebow was an amazing college QB but most likely won't make it as an NFL QB. Obviously, there is a reason he doesn't have an offer.
November 6th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
But how good of a High School QB was Tebow? Maybe there's a pattern, suck Great suck. So maybe this kid will be Great Suck Great
November 6th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
Tim Tebow most certainly did not suck as a high school QB. He holds (or held) numerous Florida state passing records.
November 7th, 2011 at 12:51 AM ^
Correct, he was Mr. Football in Florida his senior year. Most of his records, I believe, were broken a couple years later by none other than Johnny Interception-seed, Jacory Harris.
November 7th, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^
On a slightly related note to that, the team from the MTV series "Two a Days" played Tebow's high school team while he was there. I don't have a point here, I just thought it was neat.
November 6th, 2011 at 11:32 PM ^
rivals reports an eastern offer for him, so he's been noticed
November 7th, 2011 at 7:27 AM ^
If he goes to eastern and gets coached up by Mike Hart... I don't know if I would want to play him.
November 7th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
mike is coaching scout team defense at the moment.
November 6th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
When the Angels win the pennant.
November 6th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^
Lewis looks better.
November 7th, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
The coaches will never see this post. I'm sure they are aware of him as well.
November 7th, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
Drake would make a sick halftime show. Much better than Nickelback.
November 7th, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
We need to pick this game apart play by play for every missed call, bad spot, and all the crap in this game. Then start a petition, get enough signatures and send it to ESPN, the NCAA, and the B10....
I want an explanation for this, these people are paid way too much money for this crap.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:38 AM ^
The coaches have bigger fish to fry than Drake Johnson.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:35 AM ^
pesco vegetarians?
Or maybe they are poor fishermen?
November 7th, 2011 at 3:05 AM ^
why not... RBs are always a crap shoot coming out of HS....you never know how it will translate to college.... but this kid has the size and speed and stats to back it up...vs good competition as well (at least metro Det. good).
Couldnt hurt to offer...we need another RB or two in the class, obviously... the cupboard is pretty bare for us at RB (by traditional Michigan standards)
November 7th, 2011 at 7:56 AM ^
I think it is more accurate to say that recruiting is a matter of percentages, and certain players present better odds of panning-out than others do. UM has a legitimate shot at signing a number of 4- and 5-star prospects (i.e., players with good odds of becoming good college contributors) to finish out this class--including at positions of need such as WR and RB. If we give a scholarship to Drake, a low-percentage risk, then it means there is one less available for a high-percentage player like Dunn.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:16 AM ^
I heard he makes a mean coffee cake
November 7th, 2011 at 6:14 AM ^
This is reminiscent of the fascination people had with another local product (Nick Hill, who had higher ratings and better offers). I don't get it.
November 7th, 2011 at 9:19 AM ^
Shoot, Iowa State is the more obvious out of that state. Oh wait, what?
November 7th, 2011 at 9:26 AM ^
I dated a girl that grew up in Wisconsin. She got waitlisted at Michigan, but didn't even apply to another Big Ten school, opting to attend Drake. I'll never understand what she had against Madison's campus or why she was willing to move to Iowa without going to the University of.
=your post was funny yet saddened me.
November 7th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
1. Juwan Lewis (Muskegon) was on the radar because of his performance while camping at Michigan the past two years. He was MVP for his position at both camps. Regardless, he doesn't have an offer either.
2. BBR did beat FHH. However, FHH played all game without their starting QB who was injured the previous week and the first half without Mario Ojemudia, who was forced to sit after someone ratted him out for participating in a summer camp where pads were worn, which is (ridiculously) an MHSAA violation. In high school, you rarely overcome losses like that, especially in the playoffs.
These truths certainly wouldn't have dissuaded your rant, but I think that they are worth pointing out.
November 7th, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^
If he really is one of the best hurdlers in the nation at 18 isnt it conceivable that he could be more focused on say the olympics in 2016?
Lets say that growing up a local kid it has been his dream to play for Michigan but then as he matures through high school and sees the kind of interest he's getting/not getting track and field looks better and better. While I'm sure UM track and field would love to have him and he could walk onto the footbal team from there would he want to? I mean unless you are positive you are going to be a star in football why risk the potential of being an olympian by getting hurt in practice as the 3rd string walk on?
As always with recruiting topics here this is all hypothetical prognostication from someone with no personal insight into the situation. Jut my thought process when i read that line from the OP.
November 7th, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
if he has a track scholarship and plays football his scholarship would then count against our numbers. however this would be a clever way around grey shirting.
November 7th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^
probably at the last second to fill out the class if needed. They likely know that he will commit immediately.
November 7th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
Drake would bring some versatility: instead have having a primary back and then bringing in Akon to sing the hook on third down, Drake would be able to handle both roles. Still, I think he's probably too emo for the Big Ten.
November 7th, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
I have watched Johnson the last 3 years. For the most part he seems unstoppable. He has good speed and power and is hard to tackle. I guess he is a tailback but he seems to get most of his yardage when he lines up in the shotgun and takes direct snaps. Not sure why there isn't more interest in him.
November 7th, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
Based just on the name. Drake Johnson? That works for me.
Those numbers seem reasonably impressive. Has he been up for any visits?
Go Blue!
November 7th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
A kid usually needs two things to get into college. Athletic skill and grades. I don't know anything about his grades but he has shown outstanding athlectic prowess the last 3 years. I find it strange that at least Cinn, or MAC schools have shown no interest.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^
I feel as if everyone that negged this post should be obligated to change their vote.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:24 AM ^
I didn't neg, but I'm definitely up-voting.
Imaginary beer on me, wresler120.