A.J. Dillon, Ex-Wolverine

A.J. Dillon, Ex-Wolverine


December 17, 2016

Groton (MA) Lawrence Academy running back A.J. Dillon decommitted from Michigan on Thursday and flipped to Boston College. Here’s what I wrote about Dillon back in March when he committed (LINK).

As you can see, I was not in love with Dillon. He’s a back in the mold of De’Veon Smith, in my opinion, and while Smith has done some good things, he’s not a championship- or award-caliber back. Dillon ran a laser-timed 4.64 forty, but that speed didn’t necessarily show up on the field.

I wrote a piece on Michigan’s running back recruiting not long ago (LINK) in which I outlined some possible scenarios for the position leading up to the completion of the 2017 class. Basically, Michigan seems to have a shot with just a couple guys right now to fill out the class and/or replace Dillon. One is national #1 prospect Najee Harris from Antioch (CA) Antioch. The other is Wylie (TX) East back Eno Benjamin, who is currently projected to go to Texas. There are some positive vibes about Harris potentially flipping from Alabama to Michigan, and the Wolverines were recently put in the top six for Benjamin, a former Iowa commit.

The loss of Dillon isn’t particularly damaging from a talent standpoint, but it could signal an underwhelming haul at the running back position if Michigan can’t close with Harris or Benjamin. The Wolverines had three running back commits, but are now down to two. Dillon was the second-best runner, according to the 247 Composite rankings, and the top back, Los Lunas (NM) Los Lunas’s O’Maury Samuels, is trying to shore up his academic resume. If academics causes him to fall by the wayside, then Michigan might be left with their third-best option in Loganville (GA) Grayson’s Kurt Taylor. While Michigan got a solid crew in 2016 with Chris Evans, Kareem Walker, and Kingston Davis, it would be disappointing for Michigan to only be able to bring in the 59th-best running back in the country after a year in which they were in playoff discussion and finished the regular season ranked at #6.

 




6 comments

  1. Comments: 1356
    Joined: 8/13/2015
    Roanman
    Dec 17, 2016 at 10:18 AM

    I always thought that Dillon was going to end up at Will. Evidently he thought so too, as he was looking for assurances that he was coming in as an RB.

    I’m not sure that’s smart, as without having gone looking for any evidence one way or the other, it is my strongly held opinion that Thumpers have longer careers than do the thumped. I know this kid brings it on both sides of the ball, but the running back takes quite a few more unprotected shots than do linebackers.

    Given the choice, I’m gonna want to be an LB.

  2. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Dec 17, 2016 at 5:17 PM

    Unmoved by this, even assuming we don’t get Harris. I just don’t see RB as a big need and getting a 90’s style jumbo-back doesn’t move the needle. I get that Dillon was a good athlete who probably would have done well if moved to FB, LB, or DE in the long run but that’s a good bit of projection going on and a lot of times star backs just don’t want to do it.

    Michigan’s willingness to not tell him what he wanted to hear probably speaks to their optimism with other recruits.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Dec 17, 2016 at 9:48 PM

      I think it’s good to have a jumbo back on the roster, and it’s not clear if there will be one with some talk that Kingston Davis might not stick it out at Michigan. Otherwise, we have Isaac, Johnson, Higdon, Evans, Walker, Samuels, and Taylor. Isaac isn’t a bruiser, and Taylor’s got the attitude but not much size to go with it. That’s the only place I see this hurting. But if we reel in the 6’3″, 226 lb. Harris, then we don’t really need a short yardage back.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Dec 18, 2016 at 2:12 PM

        I want a power back, but prefer 5’11’ 225 power to 6’2 235 power. Harder to stop the stout guy with the lower center of gravity in short yardage.

        The advantage of the tall guys is that they are more likely to offer power AND speed simultaneously. The disadvantage is that they are easier targets to bring down and generally less elusive in tight space.

        In my view the tall jumbo backs are a swing for the fences. Either you get an elite talent (like Adrian Peterson or Leonard Fournette) or the guy doesn’t work out. Obviously we have a counter example of that on the roster right now with jumbo back who is just OK (Ty Isaac) , but I’m speaking generally.

        • Comments: 3844
          Joined: 7/13/2015
          Dec 18, 2016 at 9:19 PM

          Eh, Dillon is listed at 6’1″, which probably means he’s 6’0″. That’s not that tall.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Dec 19, 2016 at 12:24 PM

            Good point. I thought he was taller. I also thought Ty Wheatley was taller until I looked it up.

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