Tulsa (OK) Booker T. Washington safety Daxton Hill committed to Michigan (LINK), flipped to Alabama (LINK), and then re-committed to Michigan on Wednesday.
Of course, you know this already, because you’re a diehard Michigan fan. I’m not breaking any news here.
Hill supposedly flipped to Alabama because of the “news” that Jim Harbaugh was leaving for the NFL’s Browns/Packers and Don Brown was leaving for the Temple head coaching job. Brown did interview for the Temple gig, so that might be a viable concern, but rumors of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL pop up literally every year. Harbaugh will have to deal with that type of negative recruiting for his entire career at Michigan. Once the rumors were dispelled, Hill regretted his decision.
Hill joins a short list of players who have committed to Michigan, de-committed, and then re-committed. A lot of recruits burn bridges or cut off ties to the program to which they originally committed. It has happened a few times in the last several years with the Wolverines, though, in the former of offensive guard David Dawson and defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon. (It may be noteworthy, though, that both Dawson and Solomon transferred before their Michigan careers ended, at least if Solomon follows through with his current intentions.)
RANKINGS
ESPN: 5-star, 90 grade, #1 S, #13 overall
Rivals: 5-star, 6.1 grade, #1 S, #24 overall
247 Sports: 5-star, 98 grade, #1 S, #7 overall
This is just a reminder that I gave Hill my highest possible…
TTB Rating: 100 (ratings explanation)
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I agree, that Dax should be at the top of the ratings with his athletic ability, however, I don’t see how this is much different than the Cornelius Johnson rating on the previous topic. If you believe Cornelius Johnson will never reach a 90 rating on your system due to the offensive scheme built around him, I could argue that Dax will never reach a 100 because of the defensive scheme that’s run at UM. Safeties aren’t asked to blitz much and due to all the M2M coverage the safeties don’t have a lot of responsibilities. In fact, the safety position may be the least important starter on the team (ok, maybe Fullback). Can he be a difference maker, of course. But I also think he may be better as a CB. Some teams thought Jalen Ramsey was a better safety prospect than a CB but it was realized that he was going to make more of a difference at CB than at safety so they shifted him.
Dymonte Thomas had a a decent year and Delano Hill had some moments but it’s difficult to say that he’s going to be a 1st round draft pick and All-American with the lack of responsibility that goes with the position. If he was a pash-rushing DE, LB, CB (that takes away half the field) I could gather a rating. Because of that… he’s a 95!
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Safeties have to cover one-on-one, tackle in space, switch assignments at the drop of a hat and be in the right place every play. I think they have the toughest job on the entire defense. Blitzing is easy.
But you do make a good point about the relative lack of stats. Same issue pops up at anchor. The Brown defense is different.
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You might be right. We’ll find out in 3-5 years.
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Is Solomon practicing for the Peach bowl?
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I do not believe so.
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