Tuesday Recruitin' Has More Diverse Selection Of Large Man Pictures Now
Obligatory Daniel Faalele section, now with content
FL OL Daniel Faalele gets his own SI profile complete with Vulcan Bill Brasky stories:
In one of Faalele's early practices Elder taught him to punch the pass rusher with both hands, then grab his chest. During a one-on-one drill that day, Faalele fired his hands to disrupt the lineman's charge. Then one hand disappeared inside the rusher's shoulder pads and the kid went limp. Sensing something wrong, Faalele let go and backed away. "He had grabbed [the defender's] collarbone," Elder says, shaking his head at the memory. Elder clarified: Seize the chest plate of the shoulder pads. "His hands are steel," Elder says. "If he gets them on you, it's over. Doesn't matter if he has good technique or bad technique, it's over."
Faalele's starting to put some steak behind the sizzle as well, impressing at a UA camp:
The massive Australian import created the most oohs and ahhs in the trenches Sunday with his power. He worked up and down the line but most at left tackle, where anyone trying to make a move on him inside felt his incredible punch and it was usually paired with what looked like a finishing move. Faalele buried more defenders than any other lineman on this day and it wasn't particularly close.
Hopefully Michigan's satellite camp appearance will put them ahead of the curve for a dude who can Vulcan nerve pinch guys accidentally.
No public leader for DTR
Top247 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson with a nice TD throw at Adidas Vegas: https://t.co/0Tj9WbnqtU #Michigan #UCLA pic.twitter.com/7Agvy1sB9i
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) March 5, 2017
Since he was talking up UCLA previously, this is a good sign for Michigan in their pursuit of 4* NV QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson:
Dorian Thompson-Robinson maintains that the schools in his top 12 are all running even, but no doubt he's high on Michigan and UCLA, schools that are scheduled to get a spring visit.
Thompson-Robinson returns to UCLA this coming weekend and Michigan will get him to campus around April 11.
New Michigan offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has made a fast impression and the opportunity to play in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh is advantageous.
Meanwhile UCLA wants to talk to him about being a dentist, because death by electrocution's like life under Jim Mora. The pro-style/dentist statements are not quotes but they do seem like things that DTR told Steve Wiltfong, because ain't nobody else know about dentistry plans.
FWIW, Wiltfong expanded on that short note with a full article. DTR says he's "really built a relationship" with Hamilton in the last couple months; he also repeats the fact that UCLA picking up Jedd Fisch is "huge."
Actual (mostly) scheduled visits
- 4* GA CB Myles Sims has locked in a visit for this weekend. Lorenz previously reported that he was very high on Michigan's board, so this might be a situation to keep an eye on.
- 4* MI OL Ryan Hayes will visit "sometime this month" per Lorenz after being forced to cancel a planned official last weekend. Lorenz implies this is likely to come down to Michigan and Notre Dame, with Greg Frey a major asset since Frey recruited Hayes's older brother at Indiana.
- 4* NJ DT Tyler Friday has set a visit for the 26th, which will be his first trip to AA since a camp appearance last summer.
- 4* NY TE Jeremy Ruckert says he's "going to try" to see Michigan again that same weekend. He's not planning to take his recruitment out much longer than that; with Jay Harbaugh moving away from TE he hasn't met his actual position coach yet. Adam Friedman says OSU is "clearly in the driver's seat," but Adam Friedman.
Obligatory list of new names
- 4* WA ATH Tre'Shaun Harrison grabbed an offer, says he'll visit in the spring or summer, says he's considering academics heavily, and he doesn't care about distance.
- 4* OR ATH Talanoa Hufanga: offer, interest, vague visit plans.
- 3* NC DE/DT Alim McNeill grabbed an offer, says he's focused on a "forty-year decision," and that he has vague plans to visit AA over the summer. He told Rivals that Michigan "will be in it to the end."
- 5* FL CB Patrick Surtain Jr says he wants to visit Michigan, but it sounds like he's got a number of other visits locked in and Michigan is currently up in the air; he does not list Michigan in a group of six leaders.
- 3* NY WR Aron Cruickshank is a slot type who has an offer type substance; trying to set up a visit, Brown reports that he's a "mid-tier target" who interest might ramp up in later.
- 4* FL ATH Amari Burney apparently got an offer back in May; he reports that he doesn't hear from Michigan offer but they are still a "very big player" for him.
Grudging 2019 section
FL RB Cesare Mellusi fields an offer, speaks highly of Michigan. This section exists mostly because of his name.
GA ATH Javonni Cunningham gets an offer; it's his second and Howard is the other so naturally he declared Michigan his leader. Vague visit plans. 2019 CA RB Charles Mincy Jr says Michigan leads amongst his four offers. One of the others is Oregon, so that's not bad.
MI CB Marvin Grant, who's at King, was offered by Iowa. He told Allen Trieu he will be visiting Michigan today. Big Ten offer this early for Grant probably means he'll join the Belleville kids amongst the most sought-after players in the 2019 class.
Etc.
FL QB Joe Milton, who's the entirety of the Michigan QB board other than DTR at this moment, also impressed at that UA camp:
From drills to one-on-ones even through seven-on-seven work, Milton was the creme of the Orlando crop on Sunday. He is physically impressive on the hoof, tall and well put-together, but his arm was fluid with a quick release through the afternoon.
Scout lists him at 6'4.5", so he's definitely a pocket guy.
MO CB Mario Goodrich reiterates a tentative lead for Michigan early in the process, saying they're "probably at the very top right now." Vague visit plans.
CA CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart says Michigan is a possibility for an official, but doesn't really mention any unofficials and says he might commit in late summer if he's ready.
Former commit and OH LB Antwuan Johnson lists Michigan amongst a number of schools he'll be visiting over the summer. Looks like a team tour kind of thing since there are a wide range of schools on the list, ranging from Georgia and Michigan at the top end down to Toledo and Purdue on the bottom.
CA OL Tommy Brown says he's trying to get money together for an unoffical to Michigan, possibly at their Big Man camp.
Michigan begins to fade for FL DE Nik Bonitto.
2018 recruiting interest for me consists of:
1: Daniel Faalele
2: That's it
Personally, I'm hoping for Faalele.
"He had grabbed [the defender's] collarbone."
I was sure this line was going to read: "He had pulled out [the defender's] lungs."
This is where I'd make a reference to Sub-Zero's finishing move*, if it might not be seen as insensitive to the poor kid who lined up against Faalele.
* (It's from an old video game, kids -- it's the one your grandparents wouldn't buy for your parents because it was too graphic. Get off my lawn!)
That is a ridiculously bad field that DT-R is practicing on. I know it's in the desert, but still...
Because Gorman's facilities are as good as most G5 teams.
That being said, living here in Vegas and covering football in the fall, there are a ton of really bad fields (basically any field that's grass is bad) especially early in the season, and especially at the older public school programs. The newer schools built during the boom usually have field turf.
that's an impressive ass weight room.
actually walked into worse facilities when he took the UNLV job. The Ferittas recently pledged $10 million for facility upgrades there, but I'd imagine they weren't great.
That's just the type of grass that makes it look worse. Some of it is dormant, overseeded with different grass that comes in earlier.
Tommy Brown has to try to get money together to visit a prospective college is ridiculous. I don't care if he was trying to scrape together money to visit Ohio State, these dudes should be able to take officials earlier. It's bullshit
"We second that motion, and it hereby passes."
-Everyone with a soul
He can take official visits in September, October, November, December, and January, and that's just before the signing period begins. There's a five-month window of opportunity for him to take all-expenses-paid (almost) trips all over the country. Why isn't this acceptable?
Well it's not a crazy idea to think that kids would want to take trips in the summer either. What isn't that acceptable also?
Well it's not a crazy idea to think that kids would want to take trips during their junior year either. Why isn't that acceptable also?
It should be.
Well it's not a crazy idea to think that kids would want to take trips during their sophomore year either. Why isn't that acceptable also?
that a college would be willing to pay for an official visit in the prospects sophomore year in high school, why not let them? Personally, I would love a prospect to be able to receive one official visit per year/school. If the school wants to shell out cash, why not let them?
Who's to say he's going to be eligible for college? Who's to say he's still going to play football? Who's to say that a 6'3" offensive lineman who looks like a beast in 8th grade isn't going to stop growing and stall at 6'3" and 240 lbs.?
Schools don't want to be hosting 9th graders or 10th graders. They will do it if it's legal and it gives them an advantage, but all it does is elongate the recruiting process.
Dude, you're already a sophomore and haven't taken an official visit? You must suck.
Coach, I'm 15 years old and you haven't given me an official visit yet? You need to show me the love.
I think the official visit window could be expanded, but at some point, it becomes ridiculous. As I said above, you can fly anywhere in the country for free for 5 months of your life. I don't think anyone is being egregiously wronged if things don't change.
While he's trying to get his financing in place, his spot in the class could be taken by someone with the means to get in the door earlier. Making a big first impression is key, and this young man doesn't have that opportunity because of arbitrary NCAA regulations.
What if he'd like to take his visit during a school holiday / teacher-in-service day / etc. in the winter, as opposed to having to miss class? (Straw-man argument alert. :-)
In general, I'm against all NCAA regulations, because the vast majority of them serve to shift power from students to athletic departments, and then from the more prosperous athletic departments to the less prosperous ones. Why shouldn't colleges be allowed to offer prospective students a paid tour at a mutually agreeable time? Why should there be a limit on the number of such offers a candidate can accept? The only reasons I can think of are "it's bad for San Jose State because it's expensive." I'm not moved.
Michigan has tons of built-in advantages; that's life. Let the Boise States of the world compete on a level playing field, not one that's tilted in their direction in the name of 'competitive balance.'
ScottyP's trying to figure out which one is acceptable, know wha im sayin?
NO RAGERTS, Man, we know wut ur sayin...
He can take 5 official visits. Maybe he wants to see M before deciding where and when he will use his officials.
I like Dobby a bit more, because he'll run through a brick wall for you. But give him even a nice pair of Jordan socks, and it's like he doesn't give a shit about loyalty anymore.
Oh no. Did I get herpes again?
that SI story mentions his teammate, 6' 8" 372-pound member of the class of 2019, Evan Neal. He might be a good backup plan in case we don't sign Faalele. Heck, let's just sign them both and start 800 pounds of offensive tackle.
Don't forget to add Michael Onwenu, 365lb OG. And new Center Ruiz, 335. Just add another OG and that's a lot of beef..
DAMN.
I remember when Skrepenak topped out over 300 lbs. and that was a big damn deal.
Now we're starting to hit 400.
I wonder if Harbaugh going after DTR is indicative of whether or not he wants to adapt his offenses to have more spread tendencies going forward. Obviously he will always recruit guys who throw first and run later. But DTR is a true dual-threat, whereas Peters and McCaffery are guys who can use their legs to extend the play, maybe scramble a bit if the pocket breaks down, but they're not going to be contant threats to tuck the ball and run.
Maybe Harbaugh just wants to go after whoever he deems to be the best guys every year, regardless of style of play. But I wonder how tough that would be to potentially have to change your offenses every few years.
If you recall, it was Harbaugh who was the coach when Kaepernick was successfully leading the 49ers offense.
I understand your concerns but based on what we have seen over the 1st 2 years and his track record at Stanford and SF it doesn't appear to be much of a problem.
Harbaugh seems expertly skilled at tailoring his offense to the skill set he has available:
Andrew Luck ran for a ton of yards at Stanford.
Last year it was smoke screens and FB traps
This year it was jet sweeps toss sweeps.
Kaepernick ran option out of the Pistol in the NFL.
This guy is pretty much willing to pull out whatever works so I wouldn't worry about it. It goes contrary to a lot of old football rules, but it seems similar to what Bellichick does in the pros so it's not crazy.
The genius of these guys is the ability to introduce an insane amount of volume into their playbook but still get the execution. Usually execution suffers as you expand.
"I wonder if Harbaugh going after DTR is indicative of whether or not he wants to adapt his offenses to have more spread tendencies going forward."
Probalby not.
I'm sure Harbaugh is recruiting a DT QB to just stand in the pocket, but you never know.
Look at Clemson, FSU, Auburn, and Texas over the last 10 years or so.
None of them even sniff the National Championship game without Watson, Winston, Newton, and Young.
A dynamic running QB who can still make the throws is the difference maker.
Oh and as an aside, I'm filing a malpractice suit on behalf of Devin Gardner.
Faalele grabbing mine or anyone's collar bone makes me cringe. Thank goodness he realized something was not right! I really hope we can land him.
How did Faalele's ranking drop on 247? His current ranking is insane anyway. Not sure what the hold up is on shooting him up the rankings but listing him as a 3 star is ridiculous even if his sample size is microscopic. Every single school in the country would accept his commitment right now. That's not a 3 star.
Newbie here, but I believe that it's because he's never taken an offical snap of American Football.
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