Nick Eubanks (image via Scout)
Name: Nick Eubanks
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Plantation (FL) American Heritage
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Eubanks was a senior in high school (LINK). He had 23 catches for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Eubanks was considered very likely to stay in SEC country for most of his recruitment, but things seemed to pick up between him and Michigan after the Wolverines missed out on a couple other tight ends. He visited in January 2015 and then committed late in the month. At one point I ranked him #5 out of the 5 tight ends Michigan was recruiting (LINK). Eubanks is a good athlete, but he didn’t show a great deal of focus and discipline.
Going into the 2016 season, Michigan shouldn’t need him to contribute. Starter Jake Butt returns, and Ian Bunting has a fair amount of talent and experience. Redshirt freshman Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. showed some solid skills in the spring, not to mention fifth-year walk-on Michael Jocz and early enrollee Sean McKeon. On top of all those guys, incoming freshman Devin Asiasi will be the highest ranked recruit at the position. Eubanks is pretty skinny and raw, so I believe he will redshirt this season.
Prediction: Redshirt
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this dude will be so interesting to watch. he has the size, athleticism and talent to be a mismatch at TE but as you mentioned, his tape shows real lack of focus and discipline at times and he obviously needs a ton of technique work so its a tough call.
its all about whether this kid buys in, trusts the coaching staff as well as his own potential and decides to truly work to become his best self. if he does, hes a steal and has a chance to earn a living playing football. if not, he sort of justifies the low ranking you assigned and the hesitation shown by some. good example of a boom or bust prospect (and the type prospect all programs must roll the dice on every now and then).
its not ideal when selfish plays and personal fouls make it onto college recruitment hightlight tapes – but its also a 16-17 year old on that tape so im willing to write off some of it and give him the benefit of the doubt (which most everyone deserves). hopefully eubanks bonds with teammates, takes to coaching and rises to the challenges thrown in front of him bc hes got ability and could be a real player.
given his size / athleticism combo, the dude could even be a decent pass rusher at DE with several years of legit work, though its obviously much less likely than TE or WR and he may not even have the mentality for it (just pointing out bc theres only so many 6’6″ cats with giant wingspans and his athletic ability – most cant walk and chew gum).
im guessing eubanks redshirts, as he likely should – unless he shows enough that the coaches just cant keep him off the field and must find a role for him as a receiving mismatch in certain packages (sort of like funchess as a frosh, though theyre different prospects and totally different situations given hokes need for big target vs harbaughs army of options at 6’3″ or taller).
if asiasi remains healthy and learns the O at decent pace hell be tough to keep off the field (similar to how wheatley wouldve been tough to keep off the field as another giant frosh if he stayed healthy) and mckeon is a decent prospect with a big headstart so eubanks definitely has an uphill battle this fall.
the above is the long way of saying eubanks is a raw, undersized frosh TE with intriguing athleticism and measurables yet plenty to learn and a long way to go. he should redshirt, as you predict.
however given harbaughs fondness for TEs and eubanks potential, he might be the recruit in this class im most interested in watching as he matures (hopefully) and moves through the program. hopefully theyre relying on him in 2-3 years as a star rather than buried on the depth chart or transferring
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And then there’s Zach Gentry to consider.
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