TomVH: QB Austin Appleby May Visit This Weekend

Submitted by TomVH on

Michigan has offered eight quarterbacks so far with two of those prospects already committed to other schools [Brewer - Texas, Kline - Cal]. Evaluations and new offers will definitely be forthcoming, and Ohio quarterback Austin Appleby may be one of those candidates. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound signal caller is trying to plan a trip to Ann Arbor this weekend to find out more about Michigan's interest in him. Here's a look at his film and where he's at in the process. 

TOM: I know you have offers from Toledo, Kent State, and Temple, but where are you at right now? What schools are you starting to hear from?

AUSTIN: Everything is going very well. I visited Pitt and Akron this weekend, and they both pulled me aside from the junior day groups to talk to the head coach. They told me how much they liked me and that I was at the top of their quarterback lists. I'll also be going to Michigan, U Conn, and Florida over the next few weeks, so I'm very busy.

TOM: That is busy. Did you set a date yet for the Michigan visit?

AUSTIN: We're trying to schedule it for this weekend. They invited me out on March 26th, but we are already booked for Florida that day. My dad is trying to confirm a visit to Michigan for the 13th, and then we'll go to U Conn on the 19th.

TOM: If Michigan were to offer where would that put them in your rankings, or where would they stand overall for you?

AUSTIN: I want to keep all my options open right now. I am very interested in the Big Ten and Michigan. Right now we're in the information gathering process. Every team that has offered me is very high on my list, so based on that they would be high on my list.

TOM: Do you know when you want to try to narrow everything down and when you want to make your final decision?

AUSTIN: In a perfect world, by the end of June or early July. I am planning on attending a few camps and I don't know what doors may open. I know it will be by August 1st for sure.

Comments

Bodogblog

March 8th, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^

that first play is exactly what I think Borges wants this offense to look like right now.  By the end of the year he'll have a greater fondness for the designed QB draws later in the vid

Accuracy looks to be Appleby's thing -  very good on that video.  Throws a catchable (if not always perfectly spiraled) ball, and he's got the height you want from a pocket QB.  Looks in command of that O. 

Bodogblog

March 8th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^

Past performance.  I believe he'll adapt to Denard and the Gang, absolutely.  So much so that by the end of the year he'll have changed more than he plans to at the moment. 

It's speculation, i.e., what the internets are for.  A better question is why does everyone get so upset when everyone keeps assuming we know how Borges is going to design the offense?  

mrduckworthb

March 8th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^

You would want a blue chip? Good thing it's recruiting services, not D-1 coaches, handing out these rankings.

If he is good enough to get a UM scholarship offer, then I would say he probably is worthy. I'm sure they are going to go harder after players like Zeke Pike, but it is always good to have a lead on somebody as a backup plan.

Magnus

March 8th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^

a) The coaches probably want to get to a point where they have 4-5 quarterbacks on the roster.

b) You should probably aim to take one quarterback per year.

c) Even if you can't get a "blue chip" recruit (Kiel, Brewer, etc.), Appleby's still a pretty darn good prospect.  Don't let the offers fool you.  I think this kid can play.

Blue in Seattle

March 8th, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^

I haven't tracked college recruiting very long, but tracking what the MGoBlog community has said on the topic of offers, and the results during the year, I relate it to basic "sales prospect analysis".  Basically you rate each prospect as to the percentage chance they will accept the offer, and you put out enough offers to accumulate to 100% (assuming you only want to close on one prospect for the opening, 200% if you want 2, etc.)

Let's say that Zeke Pike commits (you can dream in hypotheticals), then the other "Blue Chip/highly rated" prospects are likely to soften toward Michigan, if not just drop off altogether.

Based on how the coaches are offering, I think they will be satisfied if they grab a good QB, and ecstatic if they get a Blue Chip and Good QB, which I think brings the total up to 5 in this ideal scenario.

Henne playing as a freshman was a result of under-recruiting the QB position.  It was very fortunate he had a pretty senior class of WR around him.  Mallet was the next top prospect, but he was 3 years behind Henne.  I think that's too long even for you expected starter.

And I assume you want some decent QB talent playing against the starting Defense.

 

Fresh Meat

March 8th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^

TomVH,

I understand you may not be at liberty to say, because you build relationships with these kids, but how does this kid compare to the other kids we are after.  I know he has less big time offers, but his film looks good to my untrained eye.  How do you think his skills and traits compare to the other kids we are after?

TomVH

March 8th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^

Zeke Pike's offer list speaks for itself. He has 31 offers already and is going to be one of the top quarterbacks in this class as far as rankings. Gunner Kiel is up there, and then probably Maty Mauk and Bennie Coney.

I think Austin is probably one of the next guys on the list as far as who could be getting an offer from Michigan.  He obviously brings something different to the table than someone like Devin Fuller. Appleby has size, good arm strength, accuracy, and he's a really smart kid. I think they like quarterbacks like him, and I would be happy if Michigan got him. 

 

aaamichfan

March 8th, 2011 at 12:03 PM ^

He kinda reminds me of Ryan Mallett, with a bit less arm strength and a bit more mobility. Still has a cannon, though. Good accuracy on some of those deep balls.

ironman4579

March 8th, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^

The kid has good footwork and good (I wouldn't say great) arm strength.  Accuracy looks to be his game, which is totally fine by me.  He's a shoulder thrower, which is a bit of a concern for me as it can lead to some wobble, and his deep ball seems to come off the side of his hand a bit sometimes (think Bernie Kosar, although nowhere near as severe).  Even with some of the small hitches, he seems like the perfect QB for Borges to work with.  I'd love to get him.

 

Don

March 9th, 2011 at 5:32 AM ^

I didn't watch the whole video, but on most of the throws I watched the ball was fluttering. Not very many tight spirals. That might be normal for HS QBs.

Magnus

March 9th, 2011 at 8:50 AM ^

I think this is partially due to his 3/4 delivery.  Well, maybe it's better than 3/4.  Maybe it's 7/8.  But still, he doesn't put great spin on the ball.  I'm not sure if it can be corrected or not, but Peyton Manning doesn't put a lot of spin on the ball, either, and he seems to do okay.  (Not that Appleby is the next Payton Manning, but just pointing out that it's not a death knell.)

ironman4579

March 9th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^

As I said below, it most likely has to do with the fact he's a bit of a shoulder thrower rather than an arm thrower. 

I'll explain.

At times, you'll see his throwing shoulder come well ahead of his throwing arm and body.  When players do this, they are using the shoulder to create the whip action in the arm.  Some pitchers will do this as well.  This can, at times, leave the ball coming out basically behind the shoulder and body, which can cause a less than tight spiral.

If you watch that first deep ball he throws, you'll see the ahoulder is well ahead of the ball when it's realeased, and his body is already turned as if on the follow through.

It's interesting that you mentioned Peyton Manning Magnus, as he is another guy that has a reputation as a shoulder thrower, and the first guy I thought of when I watched this highlight tape, although Manning's delivery is more over the top.  Clearly, it's not an impediment to being a great QB.

Lancer

March 11th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^

Good at finding open recviever from what i saw, meh footwork, not the tightest of spirals/throws. looks like a player that has lots of upside. zeke should be our priorety at QB tho, needs some depth at that position. Also get BAM BRADELY, idk why no one is talking about this kid!!