Tag: Willie Henry

2012 Recruiting Awards

Kyle Kalis is my pick to be the best recruit from the 2012 class

This is a fun yearly exercise for me.  You can take a look back at the 2009, 2010, and 2011 recruiting awards for a historical perspective on my choices.  Overall, I haven’t done a bad job, with some hits and misses over the years.  My best defensive recruit from 2010 was Marvin Robinson, who has yet to make much of an impact.  But I’ve picked a couple good ones as guys who are most underrated – Desmond Morgan and Jake Ryan.  It’s the usual – sometimes you’re right, and sometimes you’re wrong.

Best Overall Recruit: OG/OT Kyle Kalis
This was a pretty tough choice between Kalis and James Ross, but I’m going to go with Kalis, in part because of his NFL potential and his size.  Whereas Ross needs to add a little bit of bulk and even then might not be big enough for many NFL teams, Kalis has the size, technique, athleticism, and pedigree to play at the next level. 


Best Offensive Recruit: OG/OT Kyle Kalis
The 2012 class isn’t deep with offensive stars, so this wasn’t a very difficult choice.  But I think Kyle Kalis is about as college-ready as high school linemen come.  He has excellent technique and very good size (6’5″, 305 lbs.).  He could be on the two-deep this fall, and I’m guessing he’ll be at least a three-year starter for the Wolverines.

Best Defensive Recruit: LB James Ross
The best NFL prospect of the bunch might be defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins, but for their three-to-five years in college, I’ll take Ross as the best defensive player.  He could challenge Desmond Morgan for playing time as a true freshman, and by year two, he might have the starting WILL job locked down.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: DT Ondre Pipkins
I don’t think it’s a good thing when freshmen enter school knowing that the coaches almost have to play them, but that’s the situation Pipkins will find himself in this fall.  With Michigan’s top two defensive tackles having left and only unproven guys remaining, he’s a virtual lock to see significant time this fall.

Fastest Recruit: RB/PR/KR Dennis Norfleet
Running back Drake Johnson and wide receiver Jehu Chesson are high school track stars, but I’m giving Norfleet the nod due to his short-area quickness, too.  It takes Johnson and Chesson a little bit longer to accelerate than it does Norfleet.

Strongest Recruit: DT Ondre Pipkins
Pipkins will have no excuse for failing to be the strongest player on Michigan’s team in a few years.  He’s 6’3″ and 330 lbs. already.

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: DT Willie Henry
The more I think about the defensive line coaches at Michigan getting their hands on Henry, the more excited I get.  Henry is a very athletic kid for his size and should be a penetrating-type defensive tackle for Michigan in the years to come.  Outside of classmate Ondre Pipkins, he might very well be the best DT recruit since Mike Martin in 2008.

Most Overrated Recruit: OT Blake Bars
Bars has the unfortunate luck of coming to Michigan in the midst of two great offensive line recruiting hauls.  He could very well get lost in the shuffle with guys like Kalis, Erik Magnuson, Logan Tuley-Tillman, Kyle Bosch, etc. 

Most Likely to Redshirt: OT Blake Bars
As an offensive lineman, you’re likely to redshirt, anyway.  But Bars has some weight and strength to add before he sees the field, and he’s the least likely to play early, in my opinion.  Kalis already has the size and technique, Ben Braden is reportedly 325 lbs., and I think Erik Magnuson is a little more advanced (although I expect him to redshirt, too).

Personal Favorite Recruit: LB James Ross
For the second year in a row, I’m picking a weakside linebacker.  Last year it was Antonio Poole.  This year it’s Ross.  I love these fast, downhill players who can make plays in the backfield, in pass coverage, and at the line of scrimmage.  Ross is one of the most technically sound football players I’ve seen since I started following recruiting, and that makes him incredibly fun for me to watch.

Recruiting Update: February 3, 2012

Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry (#74) was one of two commitments Michigan received

COMMITMENTS
Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry committed to Michigan.  He received an offer over the weekend on a hastily planned official visit, and things went well enough for him to commit almost immediately. (Find Henry’s commitment post here.)

Detroit (MI) King running back Dennis Norfleet committed to Michigan.  He received an offer on the eve of National Signing Day and committed almost on the spot.  The 5’8″, 175 lb. athlete could play running back, slot receiver, punt returner, and/or kick returner. (Find Norfleet’s commitment post here.)

OFF THE BOARD
Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep wide receiver Nelson Agholor committed to USC.  Agholor was heavily considering Florida and Notre Dame, too, but you can’t really go wrong with USC when they’ve had a steady string of NFL-bound quarterbacks, including returning senior Matt Barkley.

Oxford (AL) Oxford linebacker Kwon Alexander committed to LSU.  The 6’2″, 212 lb. outside linebacker spurned the in-state schools in favor of the LSU Tigers.  He’s an athletic kid who really looks like he’s going to be a star at the next level.

Lakewood (WA) Lakes offensive tackle Zach Banner committed to USC.  Banner is the son of former Washington Husky, Atlanta Falcon, and Oakland Raider Lincoln Kennedy.  Banner himself is already 6’9″ and 310 lbs.

Oxon Hill (MD) Potomac cornerback Ronald Darby committed to Florida State.  Darby is only 5’11” and 172 lbs., so he lacks some bulk, but he has some of the best speed in the country.  He had previously been committed to Notre Dame, but I can’t blame him for wanting to get away from the Fighting Irish and the ticking time bomb that is Brian Kelly.

Cleveland (OH) Cleveland Heights offensive tackle Kyle Dodson flipped from Wisconsin to Ohio State.  The 6’6″, 315 lb. monster had been committed to Wisconsin for a couple months, but the departure of some of Wisconsin’s offensive staff (coordinator Paul Chryst became the head coach at Pitt) and the arrival of Urban Meyer contributed to the change of heart.

Washington (D.C.) Friendship nose tackle Eddie Goldman committed to Florida State.  The 6’4″, 307 lb. Goldman was offered when Rich Rodriguez was still Michigan’s head coach.  Many expected Goldman to choose Auburn, so he surprised some people.

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s tight end Sam Grant committed to Oklahoma.  He had previously been committed to Boston College, and many Michigan insiders expected Grant to pick Michigan.  The 6’4″, 245 lb. tight end might find himself lingering near the bottom of the depth chart with the Sooners.

Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep defensive end Darius Hamilton committed to Rutgers.  One of the top recruits in the nation, the 6’4″, 245-pounder seemed to be leaning toward Rutgers all along, so this wasn’t a surprise in the slightest.  High school teammate Leonte Carroo is a part of the Scarlet Knights’ class as well.

Euless (TX) Trinity offensive guard Hiva Lutui committed to Utah.  Lutui didn’t receive a lot of attention from Michigan fans, and a while ago, it seemed he would choose UCLA.

Cincinnati (OH) Moeller wide receiver Monty Madaris committed to Michigan State.  His recruitment ended in a bit of a head-scratching way, because he was reportedly concerned about going so far from home.  Michigan is right next to Ohio, of course, but driving from Cincinnati to East Lansing is a significant drive (5 hours and 23 minutes, according to Google Maps).  Madaris held off from signing on Wednesday, which caused his high school coach to say some pretty immature things.  There’s nothing like supporting your 18-year-old student-athlete when he’s troubled with the biggest decision of his life.

Brooklyn (NY) Erasmus Hall cornerback/safety Wayne Morgan committed to Syracuse.  The 5’11”, 188 lb. defensive back suffered a somewhat precipitous drop on some recruiting sites as the recruiting cycle wore on, dropping as far as the #116 safety in the nation, according to Scout.

San Clemente (CA) San Clemente offensive tackle Kyle Murphy committed to Stanford.  The 6’7″, 275 lb. lineman has good feet and will likely remain at left tackle as a collegian.

Lehi (UT) Westlake defensive end/outside linebacker Moana Ofahengaue committed to Utah.  The 6’4″, 205-pounder could play weakside end or outside linebacker in college, and he really stood out in the Semper Fidelis All-American Game.  He was high on Michigan early in the process, but Michigan filled up at defensive end pretty quickly.

Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian wide receiver Jordan Payton flipped from Cal to Washington UCLA.  Throughout his recruitment, he was committed to 33% of the Pac-12’s schools: USC, Cal, Washington, and finally UCLA.  You do not want to stand behind him in line at McDonald’s, because you will be waiting a long time just to order your damn McDouble.  He could stand to listen to the Toadies a little more.

Tempe (AZ) Corona Del Sol offensive tackle Andrus Peat committed to Stanford.  The mammoth 6’7″, 305 lb. Peat has a brother who plays defensive tackle at Nebraska.  Peat visited Michigan last summer, but it was pretty clear early on that he would be staying out west somewhere.  I would envision the above mentioned Murphy at left tackle and Peat on the right side, giving the Cardinal two solid bookends on the offensive line for the next several years.

McKees Rocks (PA) Sto-Rox linebacker Deaysean Rippy committed to Pitt.  The 6’2″, 200-pounder looks like a wideout (and indeed played WR in high school) and is a little thin.  He will probably take a year or two to add some weight, but he’s very fast and could turn into a solid, athletic outside linebacker for the Panthers.

Atwater (CA) Buhach defensive tackle Aziz Shittu committed to Stanford for the second time.  The 6’3″, 275-pounder originally committed to the Cardinal early last year, but he re-opened his recruitment in June.  He was always thought to be staying on the west coast; it just wasn’t clear which California school he would attend.  Along with Murphy, Peat, linebacker Noor Davis, and running back Barry Sanders, Stanford pulled in a hell of a recruiting class, perhaps their best ever.

Sacramento (CA) Grant safety Shaq Thompson flipped from Cal to Washington.  Thompson had just committed to Cal a few weeks ago, but when lead recruiter Tosh Lupoi left the Golden Bears for the Huskies, Thompson followed quite promptly.  This will make it extremely disappointing for Thompson once Lupoi takes a job elsewhere in about two years, which seems likely in the coaching world.

McDonough (GA) Henry County defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson committed to Alabama.  The 6’2″, 270 lb. Tomlinson will probably play defensive end in the Crimson Tide’s 3-4 scheme, although he could easily be a defensive tackle in a four-man front.

Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville defensive tackle Vincent Valentine committed to Nebraska.  He’s a 6’3″, 300 lb. nose tackle type.

Palm Beach Gardens (FL) Palm Beach Gardens offensive tackle Avery Young committed to Auburn.  Young is a 6’6″, 273 lb. lineman whose brother Willie currently plays for the Detroit Lions.

PENDING ANNOUNCEMENTS
There are a few prospects on the 2012 Offer Board who have yet to announce their college destinations:

Chicago (IL) Simeon offensive lineman Jordan Diamond will announce tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST.  Michigan insiders are not particularly optimistic that things will fall their way, with the recent vibe leaning toward Arkansas.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel athlete Stefon Diggs will announce next Friday, February 10th.  Michigan appears to be out of the running for Diggs.

Klein (TX) Oak fullback E.J. Fatu has run into some personal/family issues, transferred schools, and his recruitment is a bit up in the air right now.

Wimberley (TX) Wimberley fullback Dennis Smith has allegedly run into some legal trouble, and he might be one of those kids who ends up at a JUCO.

Bamberg (SC) Erhardt athlete Demetrius Williams has fallen off the radar.  He was recruited by Rich Rodriguez, so he probably didn’t have a committable offer from Brady Hoke and Co.  However, I have been unable to find any new info on Williams for the last several months.

Willie Henry, Wolverine

Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry (image via 247 Sports)

Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry has given his verbal commitment to the Michigan Wolverines.  The 6’2″, 270-pounder picked Michigan over Hawaii, Illinois, Louisville, Marshall, Pitt, Syracuse, and others.

Recruiting rankings:
ESPN: 3-star, #97 DT
Rivals: 3-star
Scout: 3-star, #38 DT
247 Sports: 3-star, #75 DT

Henry earned an offer this past weekend when he took an official visit to Ann Arbor.  He had previously visited Eastern Michigan, Hawaii, and Pittsburgh, and the pick was probably going to be Pitt until Michigan jumped into the fray.  When Michigan came forward with an offer after it became clear that at least a few of their high-profile targets would choose other schools, Henry didn’t take long to decide.

The quick defensive tackle boasts a 4.78 forty yard dash, and that is indeed his biggest strength – speed.  I’m particularly impressed with how quickly Henry gets off the ball and penetrates into the backfield.  There are multiple highlights where he sprints downfield when blocking.  Not only does that show his speed, but it also shows effort.  You can’t teach speed, and when you combine that with desire, it’s hard to stop.  I like how hard he works and the way he celebrates after making good plays.  It’s pure excitement, but not the “look at me” variety.

Henry does not come without flaws, however.  He’s a very raw prospect when it comes to technique.  He doesn’t use his hands well consistently, and too often he allows offensive linemen to get into his body.  As a small-ish defensive linemen, he can’t afford to lose that technical advantage.  He also tends to play a little high at times, which will get him blasted out of position against bigger, more powerful offensive lines.  I would also like to see Henry show a little better play recognition.

Overall, I love the offer to and commitment from Henry.  He’s exactly the type of prospect that is ripe for the picking at this time of year – an athletic project who, if he pans out, has a chance to be a real difference maker at the next level.  He needs to add weight and will likely redshirt, but his ability to get off the ball and chase from behind makes him a potential TFL machine.  While he reminds me of a slightly larger Terry Talbott (a 2010 commit who never played a down for Michigan), I think Henry has a higher ceiling.  He’s likely headed for the 3-tech position that Will Heininger occupied this past season.  I think he even has the ability to play the 5-tech defensive end position, but Michigan should have that position well covered with the other recruits in the class.

Henry is the 24th commitment of Michigan’s class.  Glenville is the alma mater of Michigan defensive end Frank Clark, and also the home of fellow 2012 Michigan target De’van Bogard, who is headed to Ohio State.

TTB Rating: 76