Recruiting: Speed
I've been watching a lot of highlight tape lately because of the recent roll of commitments, and crystal balls that have been put in for our targets. And in reading and doing some digging, and watching the film of them all, I've come to the conclusion that harbaugh's recruiting speed heavily. I think that this is something other teams in the past have been lacking, but wow, all the kids recently being recruited are for the most part sub-4.8 including Ojabo, who in my opinion is a freak athlete and a monster in the making. But nonetheless, with the recent commitments of Seldon and Branham who are both sub-4.5, Seldon being a 4.4 guy, the future is going to be filled with team speed.
For starters, St.Johns safety Quinten Johnson who has been balled to us, on tape looks like another one of those sub-4.5 guys and btw looks to be getting a nice little rankings boost for the 3-star haters in the audience. He also started on both sides of the ball, and for his school that impressive.
DeSales Safety Joey Velazquez, another underrated guy, for obvious reasons though (Baseball), looks to be a perfect fit at Viper and on tape looks like he could be a nightmare off the edge. I'm not sure how fast his 40 time is, but he looks just as fast if not faster than Lance Dixon, whom we are also recruiting.
Blair Academy DE David Ojabo, after his FIRST year of football, looks to be that freakish 6'6 250lb guy with skill position speed that we have kind of been funneling into the program recently with the likes of Gary, Vilain, and Paye. Ojabo is also a track runner who put up a ridiculous time of 10.93 in the 100m, so in a timed 40 that is sub-4.6.
Another guy I'd like to add quickly to this is Western hills highschool APB Wandale Robinson, he might be one of the most explosive players I have ever seen and like the others a 4.4 guy. Robinson might not have received a ball for us, but is taking an offcial visit this weekend, and has expressed his interests today in playing with Seldon. If I was michigan I would lay out the red carpet to get this guy after most likely missing on kyren williams, who I think isn't as good as robinson.
I am also holding out a small ounce of hope we sneak in and get Zach Harrison who like Ojabo is a freakish athlete, and does so on the track as well.
Also note that the guys mentioned (other than Harrison) are not 4-star rated players, their talent and film speaks a ton of volume!
Below I have put the Links to their Hudl and 247 page
Velazquez: https://247sports.com/Player/Joey-Velazquez-46054977/
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7250245/5ab85ef5d45e5b0db41e5875
Ojabo: https://247sports.com/Player/David-Ojabo-46047510/
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8378734/5a0a5d225eec6d0e84a413b1
Johnson: https://247sports.com/Player/Quinten-Johnson-46043180/
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7921138/5a17ad698cd3fb02cc24b7bd
Robinson: https://247sports.com/Player/Wandale-Robinson-46039351
http://www.hudl.com/video/3/5633673/59b4721cd224e2085475eb51
Speed kills.
Speed is extremely necessary, obviously on offense, but also especially with Don Brown's blitz heavy defense. It will also help us deal with most spread offenses. As long as we don't sacrifice size for speed (ala Rich Rod years) our defense should continue to be a nightmare for opposing teams.
I've noticed that Michigan is recruiting a lot of smaller backs that are rated as all purpose backs. These include higher rated - Isaiah Spiller and Eric Gray, but also much lower rated Wandale Robinson and recently offered Giles Jackson and Jordan Houston. I wonder if this is part of an overarching philosophy to get different backs on the team or just random coincidence.
My guess would be they are looking for someone to take over the Chris Evans role 2020 and beyond. There isn’t an obvious candidate on the current roster.
Evans doesn't seem to have a specialized role. He gets lots of carries same as Higdon. The only specialized RB role in this offense seems to be the FB on short yardage.
That Robinson film is pretty incredible. Kid moves like a Ferrari. Hope they put on the big sell this weekend.
There is no such thing as "random coincidence".
Great post. I have been the biggest proponent of Joey Valezquez in the fan base. I have gone through his single game reels for the last 2 years and the kid is absolutely tailor made to play Viper for Don Brown. He is a Khaleke Hudson replica on both sides of the ball.
Bill Greene (247 Ohio analyst) was on Sam Webb’s show this morning and said the exact same thing.
The only problem with his recruitment is that he is likely going to be a top 3 round MLB draft pick in 2019 and will have to turn down a 7 figure contract to play football. You have to make sure he is 100% committed to playing football before you allocate time and spot in the class to him.
I heard the Greene segment and thought it was informative. He seems to think Warriner can get things turned around on the O line. He was blunt and called UM's o line soft and not aggressive over the past couple of seasons. He didnt think Drevno was a fit and Warriner and Harbaugh should make a good pair.
From his lips to our OLines ears...
I don't know where/how he came up with his Drevno thoughts, but I'll be damned if it doesn't make perfect sense given everything we've learned since he left. It's kind of surprising that he wouldn't fit, seeing how he's been attached to Harbaugh's hip for more than a decade. But boy, oh boy, does it make sense...
I guess we'll find out at some point this season, right? If UM has indeed had a terrible stretch of missing on O line recruits and mediocre coaching or if it's just a place where 5*'s and coaches go to die.
We need speed at QB most until the Offenive line can regularly block people.
Zach Harrison is not going to be for UM. He was never a serious option and this "I hope we can sneak him in" sh*t is only setting yourself up for more heartache when he signs to play for Larry Johnson and Urban Meyer. They're are plenty of other good players out there to get your hopes up for.
I don’t disagree that he probably goes to OSU but not sure why you are saying that he isn’t a serious option.
The kid is taking giving up his time to take a second visit to campus (a kid who HATES the recruiting process btw) so he is giving UM a chance - Harbaugh and Brown to take their best swing and see what happens. All you can ask for.
I dont think we have a realistic shot at Harrison either, but I'm not a recruiting guru. Feel like he is Najee Harrising us.
I think Najee was dead serious about coming to UM. Unfortunately, Saban got the last word with him. Sometimes the coin just flips the other way.
I'm okay with that. We had a legit shot at Najee Harris. Some chance is better than none.
We have a chance with Zach Harrison. The odds aren't in Michigan's favor, but there's a shot.
Honestly, it could be worse. Id rather miss out on guys like Najee than never have them consider us at all. Even though a lot of the naysayers would say its a failure on Coach's part not being able to land guys like him, I think its more a testament to his recruiting ability to have that caliber of player consider us...especially after seasons like last.
You got to get speed, demon speed. Speed’s what we need; we need greasy, fast speed.
Great analysis OP. If we are really focusing on speed as you point out, that's going to be a scary combination with our new strength and conditioning program. I think its a long shot to sneak in and get Harrison away from OSU though....maybe if we lay a beat down in the 'shoe this November we might get a look.