Hello: Derrick Green
Rejoice, Michigan fans. Richmond (VA) Hermitage running back Derrick Green—the nation's top-ranked RB on Scout and Rivals—announced his commitment to Michigan this afternoon, choosing the Wolverines over Auburn and Tennessee. Green is Michigan's 27th commit of the 2013 class, joining DeVeon Smith and Wyatt Shallman among running backs.
With Green's commitment, feel free to dance on the grave of the "Brady Hoke can't close on elite skill position prospects" meme. It will not be missed.
GURU RATINGS
Scout | Rivals | ESPN | 24/7 Sports |
5*, #1 RB, #6 Ovr |
5*, #1 RB, #8 Ovr |
4*, 87, #5 RB, #38 Ovr |
4*, 95, #8 RB, #84 Ovr |
According to The Mathlete's composite rankings, Green is the highest-ranked running back to commit to Michigan since 2002—narrowly edging out Kevin Grady—and sixth overall (the top five: Prescott Burgess, Ryan Mallett, LaMarr Woodley, Brandon Graham, Chad Henne). He's the first truly elite running back recruit Michigan has landed since Grady; going by Rivals, the top-ranked Wolverine RB commit since 2005 is Carlos Brown (#35 overall), then there's a significant drop to Justice Hayes (#85).
Both Rivals and Scout consider Green the top running back prospect in the country and a top-eight recruit overall, while ESPN and 247 are less bullish but still have him as one of the better backs in the country. He's listed between 5'11" and 6'0" tall and around 220 pounds, figures that should be accurate considering his multiple combine appearances.
If you're looking for a prospect in the mold of a classic Michigan tailback, Derrick Green is it. Scout lists his strengths as Power, Size, and Tackle-Breaking Ability, with Breakaway Speed, Elusiveness, and Hands as areas for improvement, and offers this scouting report [emphasis mine]:
A powerful running back who can blow through arm tackles and typically takes more than one defender to bring him down, Green has surprisingly quick feet for his size. He can clear traffic between the tackles, not getting tripped up because of his good balance. Not a conventional breakaway threat because of raw speed, but gets his share of long runs after breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage. Needs to catch more consistently - Scott Kennedy
Can you envision the MANBALL yet? Here's ESPN's evaluation:
Green is quick to get downhill and attack the hole and he gains momentum fast. He follows blocks well and cuts tightly off through the hole, but is not a real patient runner and can struggle to get thin through smaller seams. He lacks fluidity through the hips as a lateral runner but shows sharp, subtle cutbacks and deceptive pick-and-slide ability at times. While he can sidestep and avoid tacklers, he is at his best when squared up and given a heavy dose of Iso and Power plays. Even on outside tosses or stretch plays, he is quick to plant and get north finding the vertical crease. Not a lot of wasted cuts with this guy. He flashes the burst to get through tight in-line seams and into the second level quickly. Displays very good power to break tackles. He is an aggressive runner who drags tacklers and finishes runs falling forward.
...
Defenders are not going to tackle him high when he breaks free into open field, but he does have a tendency to get chopped down low and lose balance. We would like to see him run more behind his pads with better lean and knee pump.
ESPN's Dave Hooker profiled Green last May, discussing his transformation from a 268-pound offensive lineman into a 220-pound battering ram and his prowess in the weight room:
Green's dedication to diet and training hasn't just moved the scale. It has moved massive amounts of weight. Green bench presses 330 pounds, squats 600 pounds and dead-lifts 615.
"Everybody says that's not legit, but we have a legit trainer that came from UVa," he said. "He makes sure you get low [on squats] and all that."
Nope, no concerns there.
Mike Farrell handed out awards after this summer's Rivals/VTO Virginia camp, and you'll never guess who won "Physical Specimen" ($):
Derrick Green from Richmond (Va.) Hermitage looks like a man-child. If you put him in a Wisconsin uniform and helmet, you'd think he was a college senior coming off a 2,000-yard season. His legs are beyond strong and thick and he looks like a human bowling ball, ready to knock down pin after pin heading to the end zone.
Farrell also raved about Green's frame when Rivals bumped him up to five stars, also noting that he's a more well-rounded back than previously thought:
"Green looks physically like a college junior," Farrell said. "If you put him in any college uniform right now and told someone who had never seen him that he was a 1,500-yard rusher, they wouldn't blink an eye. Plus he's shown the ability to block and catch passes now, so he's gone from a two-down back to an every-down guy. He's the most physically impressive running back we've seen in awhile."
Green went to the Army All-American Game looking to prove he was the nation's best back. In the eyes of Rivals and Scout, he did just that, earning the East's #1 performer of the week honors from the former ($)...
Coming to San Antonio with a target on his back didn't seem to bother Green. The running backs on the East and West team tried to dethrone the nation's No. 1 back but were unsuccessful. In practices and in the game, Green ran with toughness and speed, cut very well and showed he has the vision to make an early impact at the next level. His signature moment was a 23-yard run in the game during which he broke at least two tackles.
...and top ten East in-game performer status from the latter:
Green finished the game with 49 yards on eight carries. A bowling ball style back with low center of gravity, he showed his burst and explosiveness at times today. He's not just a power guy. We didn't see the receiving skills he showed during the week in the game, but we know he can do it and that combination of skills has him as the nation's second ranked running back.
You get the gist: Derrick Green is a tank/bowling ball/Mack truck/beast/freight train/specimen/man-child who will run POWER, take it north-south, and attempt to imprint the nearest defender's ribs with the wings on his helmet. He's also got a little wiggle for a guy his size, decent speed, and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, but first and foremost this is a guy you hand the ball off to out of the I-form until the defense cries uncle.
OFFERS
Green chose Michigan over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami (YTM), Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina, Tennessee, USC, Virginia Tech, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and several others.
STATS
Per his 247 profile, Green rushed for 1,285 yards and 20 touchdowns on 185 carries in his senior season. He tallied 1,493 yards and 20 TDs as a junior and 800 yards and ten TDs in his sophomore year.
FAKE 40 TIME
There was a rumored 4.31 40 time floating around at some point, which gets ALL OF THE FAKES. 247 lists a far more reasonable 4.58, which is the number I'd put the most stock in, while Rivals goes with a 4.4. Green shows off good but not elite speed on film, and a 4.58 electronic time would fall in that range.
VIDEO
Senior highlights:
Clips from the Army All-American Bowl:
Junior highlights:
Scouts aren't kidding when they say Green runs north-south; he's heading upfield as soon as he gets a crease. He displays solid quickness and subtle-but-effective cuts, though there aren't as many long runs or brutal truckings of tiny high school safeties as one might hope.
While Green shows great burst through the line and decisiveness in his cuts, there's a clear need for improvement when he breaks into the open field. As ESPN noted in his scouting report, Green gets chopped down at the legs too easily, a product of running too upright and not getting his knees high when running through contact. If Green can improve in that area, he goes from a power back that consistently picks up chunks of yardage to more of a home-run threat. Overall, however, he's still quite impressive on film.
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
If Green lives up to the reports of solid pass-catching and blocking, he's the type of back that eliminates any need for a rotation; just trot him out there and hand him the rock 20-25 times a game. After Fitz Toussaint, who will be a senior when Green is a freshman—assuming he's recovered from a brutal leg injury—it's uncertain if there's another back on the roster you could say that about.
After an ugly 2012 for Michigan backs, Green should compete right away for a starting job, and he could be the odds-on favorite if Toussaint can't find his 2011 form (a difficult task given his injury). Al Borges has a stated preference for using a feature back over a committee approach, and Green could be that guy. Even if he doesn't land the starting job, it's hard to see him not being part of a rotation, and a redshirt seems out of the question.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS
Now that Green's recruitment is over, Michigan awaits the decision of TX TE Durham Smythe (currently planning to make his choice on signing day), and otherwise it appears they've wrapped up the 2013 class barring any late offers.
The real upshot, of course, is that Michigan now has the #1 running back recruit in the class, which is cause for celebratory dancing:
January 26th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^
Don't forget that Bump wore the M ballcap before Bo did.
Which brings me to my point. Derrick Green; "You May Remember Me From Such Players As"
Derrick Green - YMRMFSPA: Ron Johnson. All-American.
January 26th, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^
A lot.
January 26th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
whoops. double post
January 26th, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^
#27 is a unique number. I don't think we've had too many standout backs with that one.
Make it yours, Derrick.
January 26th, 2013 at 9:24 PM ^
This is the view of Green that Ohio State will be seeing a lot of.
January 26th, 2013 at 4:30 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^
I choose to ignore what is probably sarcasm on your wife's part and lol at her belief that we got three guys named Derek Green at the same time.
Also, could you imagine three of him in the backfield? MGo Cloning - get to work!
January 26th, 2013 at 5:31 PM ^
She was totally trolling me. She is a Wisconsin fan so she gets how important a running back like this is.
January 26th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
im hoping for 20-25 carries for Back A, with 15 carries for Back B
January 26th, 2013 at 4:54 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 7:22 PM ^
Just look at Montee Ball with John Clay and then James White. Or TJ Yeldon and Eddie Lacy this year.
January 26th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^
Nice work Ace looks like you had this post already teed up!!
January 26th, 2013 at 4:35 PM ^
Derrick choosing another school and Ace having to trash this post. One tear running down his cheek as he presses the delete key.
THANK GOD THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN NUMBER 1 RB I AM VERY EXCITE EWIUVCPOICWEUHWUHCWJLHCUEHC
January 26th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^
I love how the Derrick Green narrative went from Ohio lock to Michigan commit. Buckeyes will point out that they "stopped recruiting him" but it won't matter when he puts up a performance on them worthy of recalling Tim Biakabutuka.
Also, in my own little world, running back recruiting in the state of VA couldn't possibly have gone any better.
January 26th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 4:37 PM ^
Kate Upton, anyone?
January 26th, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^
According to Scout's rankings, this is the first time a 5-star RB from the south has committed to a northern school since at least 2002, and the first #1 RB overall who's from the south to come north in that time span.
If Green displays the same discipline and work ethic at Michigan that he's exhibited in high school, he's going to be fun to watch in a winged helmet.
January 26th, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^
Which side did Virginia fight for in the Civil War?
(Buzz Killington time: I will hold off on celebrating until I see what Derrick Green can do at the college level. Ace's very own post shows that the last two "elite" RB's that UM has gotten commits from -- Grady and C. Brown -- were huge busts.)
January 26th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^
If Shaka Smith and VCU were that famous anywhere you'd probably know that his name is Shaka Smart.
January 27th, 2013 at 2:59 AM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
Maize + Blue = Green!
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.
January 26th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 4:58 PM ^
Can the season start tomorrow?
Welcome to the family, Derrick.
Thanks to Taylor Lewan again. I've got to think him sticking around next year was a factor.
I also think Derrick must have a special relationship with his o linemen since he used to be one of them.
Great news today.
January 26th, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
When he first picked up and dropped the M hat I thought there was no way he was coming back to us. Then the projector went up, and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Can't wait to find that clip on youtube and watch it over and over.
January 26th, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
I missed the live stream. Does anyone have a link to the video of Green's press conference?
January 26th, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
This thread has some incrible gifs. (Of course, it needs some Kate Upton. I assume that will be fixed very soon.)
Welcome to the fold Mr. Green. We are all looking forward to seeng you this fall.
January 26th, 2013 at 5:22 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
Yes, but what does this have to do with Poggi visiting 'Bama??
/s
January 26th, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 8:42 PM ^
ah what the hell i'll upvote this.
January 26th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^
I feel really good about this young man! Welcome!
January 26th, 2013 at 5:56 PM ^
Love that we landed Green. Cringe that Kevin Grady was so highly rated....
January 26th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^
You are such a buzzkill. I hate you.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:26 PM ^
January 26th, 2013 at 6:30 PM ^
Like he could be a bruiser. Might call him tank, might call him BFB, Big effin Bruiser, but by Gawd, don't call him late for the Rose Bowl Dinner.
January 26th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^
1.) He won't concede a starting RB position at Michigan.
2.) He has 2 yrs. in the Hoke system.
3.) He can tutor Smith and Green on play/playbook responsibilities and assignments.
This one is tongue-in-cheek:
4.) He should be able to provide invaluable A^ insiderinfo:
...where to eat, where the best parties are, who makes the best LIIT, what cab co. to call, etc.
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