Name: Phillip Paea
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Berrien Springs (MI) Berrien Springs
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Paea was a senior in high school. He made 53 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 pass breakups.
Final TTB Rating: 68
When Paea committed to Michigan, I assumed he would be an offensive guard. He had some solid technique and aggression as a blocker, and I thought things would go well. Instead, Michigan recruited him as a defensive tackle, where he really lacks technique. Ideally, I think he would redshirt at 3-tech defensive tackle (or, well, at offensive guard) and we could see what happens in 2018. Michigan has enough guards for this season, and while they’re thin at defensive tackle, there should be enough bodies for them to preserve Paea’s eligibility.
Prediction: Redshirt
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Interesting that from what I have read Paea’s high school coach said his best position is as a OG. Paea wants to play defense because he enjoys DT more and wants to learn under Coach Mattison. Under these circumstances especially a redshirt makes sense if possible.
Next year we could have him, Solomon, Dwumfour, and a couple of others at DL. Hopefully that represents some quality depth. I am looking forward to your ranking of the DL after a year of college S&C and being coached up.
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Interesting how he drops his butt and drives through people when he blocks but then has to stand up and look around when he is playing defense. I think it’s the difference between knowing where he’s going and reading.
The kid can really move his feet though, regardless of where he lines up.
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We need an interior DL and Paea may not be the kind of guy that needs a red-shirt. I was hoping he’d be an EE.
It’ll be interesting to see if there are legs to this theory that he’s a better OL than DL. I would not be shocked if was a backup DT/NT in 2017 if Mattison gets him up to speed quickly. Nor would I be shocked if he red-shirted and moved to offense.
I’d rate him higher than this simply due to need on the interior DL.
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Agree with Thunder. Near lock to redshirt. Big hitter, but has a ways to go before seeing the field at DT.
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