Midnight Maize: 2011 Recruiting

Showing posts with label 2011 Recruiting. Show all posts

Chris Rock is #5

8:34 PM

JC , Posted in 2011 Recruiting , 0 Comments

Yesterday news broke that Columbus (OH) DeSales DE Chris Rock committed to Michigan. Rock is a 6"5, 250 lb strong-side defensive end prospect who has been high on Michigan's recruiting board for some time.

Rock had near-double digit offers from programs including Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Oregon, and West Virginia. At this time Rock is a three-star to Scout, and while he's on the rivals 250 watchlist, most Michigan fans seem to know very little about Rock.

In a normal recruiting cycle Rock probably would have been more heavily recruited by Ohio State, but the Buckeyes took early commitments from Defensive Ends Steve Miller and Kenny Hayes. With that being said, Rock is a very good athlete and a solid pass-rusher. He's not quite as quick off the line of scrimmage as Craig Roh, but has a very good build and could potentially add another 15-20 lbs to his frame.

At times, Rock was a dominant player on a very solid defense. The biggest criticism I've heard of him, especially from Buckeye fans, was his inconsistency. In some games, Rock would be absolutely be dominant, while in others, his name would rarely be called by the announcers.

Notre Dame was heavily recruiting Rock to play as a defensive end in their 3-4 scheme, and with Michigan's move to a 3-3-5 look Rock will be a perfect fit as a larger-sized defensive end, similar to current junior Ryan Van Bergen.

What does this mean for the rest of the class? Michigan will likely pursue another defensive end like Corey Marshall or Deion Barnes. With only 12 or so scholarships to give out right now, look for the coaching staff add at least another linebacker or two (Frost, Jackson), and at least one defensive tackle (Cooper). Michigan is still in the mix for a number of cornerbacks and safeties, and with only 3 offensive linemen taken in the past two classes, that area will obviously continue to be a heavy focus of recruiting.

Monday Morning Intruder Alert with DeAnthony Arnett

7:58 AM

*Programming Note* Im, sorry, this was suppose to be posted last week, but due to technical difficulties involving indoor baseball and a broken internet modem, it had to be postponed until today. I will try to make this a weekly segment with different prospects.

DeAnthony Arnett from Saginaw is a 6'0 170 lbs 2011 Wide Receiver recruit who has been a 4.4 40. He hails from the same high school as former MSU Spartan WR and Detroit Lions 2nd overall draft pick Charles Rogers, whom he models his game after, as evident by this scout($) story. Here are his rivals and scout profiles. DeAnthony is easily ranked the highest WR in the state as of right now, and is going to be recruited by several national powers.

John: As of right now, who have you been offered by?

DeAnthony: "My offers are USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Iowa, Cincy, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin and verbals from like 8 or 9 schools."

John: You have been offered by both Michigan and Michigan State, what does playing for an instate school mean for you?

DeAnthony: "It would be great, but the most important thing is making sure I have the right opportunities on and off the field, even if that's in another country I have to do what's right for me."

John: What did the Michigan offer mean for you?

DeAnthony: "It was good, it was my first offer"

John: Where you able to head to a Michigan game this past fall?

DeAnthony: "I went to the Notre Dame game, it was a great game."

John: Are you planning on heading to Ann Arbor for the spring game?

DeAnthony: "I don't think so, I have so many other things to check out. I need to be sure about everything so I might miss out. I'm not saying I won't come up, but it's going to be hard"

John: Have you had any contact with other 2011 recruits about possibly going to the same school and playing together?

DeAnthony: "I talk to Lawrence Thomas and Justice Hayes, but we never talk about recruiting"

John: Do you have a set date to make your decision?

DeAnthony: Nope

John: If you were a scout watching DeAnthony Arnett play, what would be his strengths? What would he have to work on and get better at in his senior season?

DeAnthony: "His strengths would be able to make plays, catches in traffic, great speed after the catch, catches the ball with his hands. Weaknesses are weight, top end speed, and catching with my hands, you can never be perfect in that area, you always have to work on that."

2011 WR Shawn Conway is Michigan commitment #3

5:54 PM

John S. , Posted in 2011 Recruiting , AJ Jordan , Commitment , DaVaris Daniels , DeAnthony Arnett , Delonte Hollowell , Greg Brown , Jim Stefani , John S , Kid Cudi , Shawn Conway , Twitter , Wide Receiver , 1 Comment

Shawn Conway from Birmingham Seaholm highschool is a 6'4 185 WR with 4.5 speed and has committed to play his collegiate football at Michigan while attending Michigans Junior Day. Jim Stefani first broke the story on his twitter account, it has since been confirmed by scout($) and rivals($). Stefani also has a nice write up about Conway here.

As his measurable suggest, he is a position receiver who favors jump balls and using his size and length to out muscle DBs away from passes. He has tremendous hands, anything he can get 1 finger on, he catches. He has below average speed and may have trouble separating from corners at the next level, because of this some have speculated that he will be coming in as a tight end. I however believe he can be a slpit end, as long as he develops into a better route runner, which he just average at.

Here's some rap music

Shawn Conway is on a pusuit of happiness

How does this affect the rest of the class?

Michigan is going to have a small class this year with around 15-17 signees, and Conway is #3 along with 2 DBs in Greg Brown and Delonte Hollowell. Michigan will probably take only 2 more WRs in the class at most, and they may both be rated higher. AJ Jordon from Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison highschool, DeAnthony Arnett from Saginaw (MI), and DaVaris Daniels from Vernon Hills (IL) are all highly rated and Michigan is involved heavily with everyone of them. This commitment doesn't change anything with them and they want to come, there will be a spot for them. Since Conway is not highly rated, or even rated at all, the other prospects will not be scared off.

Interview with 2011 Chaparral OL/DL Andre Yruretagoyena

9:03 AM

John S. , Posted in 2011 Recruiting , Andre Yruretagoyena , Death Roh , Defense , Defensive Line , Facebook Stalking , Interview , John S , Michigan Football , Offense , Offensive Line , Pipeline , Taylor Lewan , 4 Comments

Andre Yruretagoyena is an OL/DL 2011 prospect from Chaparral highschool in Scottsdale Arizona who has recently recieved a Michigan offer. Michigan fans should recall that highschool as producing 2 highly touted freshman from this past season in Craig Roh and Taylor Lewan. I caught up with him recently and this is what he had to say:

John: I Know that you go to the same high school as Craig Roh and Taylor Lewan, have you talked to them at all about going through the recruiting process?

Andre Yruretagoyena: "I haven't talked to Craig since the summer, but Taylor and I have become good friends. I'm planning on taking a visit to Michigan ASAP and Taylor said he'd be my host or whatever. I'm really looking forward to it because Michigan is my favorite school with Oregon. But other then that we've just been talking about football and how I played throughout the season"

John: Since Michigan is one of your top schools, are you planning a unofficial visit for the spring game on April 17th as of yet?

Andre Yruretagoyena: "I haven't really thought about it. I got to talk to my parents and my coach about what I should do with visits. But if I can go, I definitely would love to be able to see what being in the Big House is like for my very first time."

John: You recently got an offer from Michigan, what did that mean for you?

Andre Yruretagoyena: "I was amazed that I got offered. Ask Taylor how I used to be, in a year I changed into a completely different player and getting an offer from a program that is respected nationwide and has as much history as it does, it's an amazing feeling, I still don't know how to describe how good it feels. Plus, if I meet all the NCAA requirements to acquire the scholarship, college is paid for and that's all my parents have ever wanted because I'd be getting in a lot of debt if I wasn't playing ball somewhere."

John: Even thought it is only February and very early in the process, what other offers do you have besides Michigan?

Andre Yruretagoyena: "Arizona, Arizona State, and South Dakota State."

John: Have the coaches told you what position they are recruiting you for?

Andre Yruretagoyena: "Nope, anything on both sides of the ball works for me though"

John: Do you have a set date for you to make a decision?

Andre Yruretagoyena: "Nope, just sometime after the season is over. I have a group of teammates who haven't gotten the exposure they deserve yet, and they all work just as hard as I do and deserve to play at the next level just as much as I do."

John: If you were a scout watching Andre Yruretagoyena play, what would you say are his strengths as a player and what would he have to improve upon in his senior year?

Andre Yruretagoyena: "Nastyness, finishes blocks, fast, technically sound, good pass blocking, strong punch, wide base. Everyone can always improve but I'd like to get a lot stronger, and faster. I didn't let up a sack this season but I'd still like to get better at pass blocking, and keeping a wider base when I run block."