decommits
kai-leon herbert

Exit: Kai-Leon Herbert Comment Count

Ace


Herbert's commitment video lives on, at least.

Scout's Corey Bender reports that four-star FL OT Kai-Leon Herbert has decommitted from Michigan:

Since committing to Michigan in July, Herbert has taken multiple visits to both Miami (YTM) and Florida; he took an official to Miami this weekend and will OV to Florida next weekend. His recruitment should come down to one of those two in-state schools. Herbert's departure probably ends any (very outside) chance M had with teammate and four-star OG TJ Slaton.

Herbert's decommitment leaves Michigan with 26 commits in the 2017 class and five on the offensive line. Four of those linemen—Chuck Filiaga, JaRaymond Hall, Joel Honigford, and Andrew Stueber—could potentially play tackle, and M may need one of them to step into the lineup as soon as this upcoming season. Michigan continues to pursue three-star VA OT Mekhi Becton, whose Crystal Ball is trending in the direction of Virginia Tech. The rest of the linemen on the board are long-shots at best, so if the coaches aren't content with five OL in the class, some new names could emerge.

Comments

MadMatt

January 23rd, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^

Suppose we move Cole to Guard?  Stick with me.  Right now Cole is questionable as an NFL prospect.  He was promising, but not a world-beater as a freshmen at LT.  There are questions if he has the right size for an NFL OT.  He was servicable and a steady veteran presence as a C, but had problems with larger NT of the kind he is likely to see regularly in the NFL.  He is very nimble.  Sounds like an OG to me at the next level.  It would do him a favor, AND he would be right next to Ruiz at C, where he can help Ruiz call out the protection scheme.  Anyone notice the Steeler offense where the guard stands up to help with the snap count, and gets into his stance at the last second?

We could use Filiaga at RT, an easier place to be a freshman than LT, and then have to find only one experienced OL to handle LT.  I'm telling you, this might work.  The Auburn team that went to the NC game had a lot of underclassmen, including at least one freshman, on its O-line.  (A fact that caused me to grind my teeth to no end as we kept hearing about how many years it would take to recover from the one OL recruiting class of RichRod.)

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Bill22

January 23rd, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^

I think that's spot on. Harbaugh isn't planning to start any retreads next year. My guess is he would rather let Ruiz and Filiaga learn on the job, than sit a year. Big Mike and Cole should be good to go at the two Guard spots and Ben Bredesen should take over the LT, as he was competing for that spot with Newsome this past season. If they stay healthy I like a noticeable improvement in the run game especially.



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schreibee

January 23rd, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^

Unless that's actually the name of his HS teams, then not cool

EDIT:

MODS, when you excise offensive comments but leave the replies, we look like idiots replying to imaginary voices. I don't need any help looking like an idiot!

Joined: 11/02/2009

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schreibee

January 22nd, 2017 at 6:53 PM ^

It's Crootin, you major bunghole!!!!!

Last year a much higher ranked kid actually dropped the figurative bombshell when he surprisingly decommitted late late in the cycle, later than this. And I still wouldn't call him a dirtbag.

It's only the rest of their lives they're deciding on here! And everyone who follows this even a little knew this kid was waivering... 

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Go Blue in NC

January 22nd, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^

That's the way it goes with cruitin. I imagine he'll fade off into the ether and we probably won't hear much from him, either good or bad, going forward. It'll be interesting to see if Slaton ends up qualifying and if they end up committing together.

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Bill22

January 22nd, 2017 at 7:16 PM ^

I said it in another thread, but I saw Herbert outside Schembechler during his OV in Oct. Very chubby upper body and thin legs. Didn't look like a stud OL IMO. Pretty sure I could've got past him with an outside swat & swim move. Not loosing any sleep over this decommitment.



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FGB

January 22nd, 2017 at 10:12 PM ^

"Exit" seems really inaccurate for someone who never entered. And contributes to a mistaken idea for any verbal commit that they ever have any connection with MICH worth any substance until they matriculate.

It's like saying we "lost" Najee Harris, or Wilson, which is a really backward way of viewing all this stuff.

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Quailman

January 22nd, 2017 at 10:20 PM ^

He is "exiting" the class. He is no longer a part of it.

It wouldnt be like saying UM "lost" Wilsn or Harris, because neither of them committed and were saying (and making a video!) he was going to UM. 

Either way, semantics man. Its a lot easier and saves headline room than saying "Player who is not officially at UM but says he will be isnt actually going to UM, so goodbye Kai-Leon Herbert"

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Alumnus93

January 23rd, 2017 at 12:04 AM ^

Harbaugh sees the OL depth problem too, so I'd bank on him getting a late flip, like he did with Eubanks...guys out of nowhere and late.....  maybe that T  Austin Jackson I think his name is from Arizona....a wild guess but point being is, another one is surely coming....

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Bertello NC

January 23rd, 2017 at 12:29 AM ^

I feel if we land Becton it will even itself out. I mean either or, both were going to be redshirted anyway. I'd rather work with a ball of clay that was 6'7" 340 than 6'5" 280. KLH is rated 90, Mekhi is 88. I know he projected to be a G anyway but imo we have plenty G type guys already enrolled and committed. We need tackles. Oh well, shit happens and you move forward.



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