Otis Reese, Wolverine

Leesburg (GA) Lee County linebacker Otis Reese (image via Scout)

Leesburg (GA) Lee County linebacker Otis Reese, a 2018 prospect, committed to Michigan on Saturday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Central Michigan, Louisville, Troy, and UCLA.

Reese is 6’2″, 195 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: Unranked
Scout: 4-star S
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #11 S, #117 overall

Hit the jump for more on Reese’s commitment.

Michigan offered Reese back in April of this year, and then they held a satellite camp at Lee County High School earlier in June, which he attended. Reese had recently named Michigan as his top school, and along with 2017 defensive tackle teammate Aubrey Solomon, he decided to commit when he visited over this past weekend.

Here’s what I said about Reese when he was first offered (LINK):

Reese is listed as a safety, but I would be very surprised if he’s not a linebacker by the time he hits college. Not only does he have the size, but he also lacks the suddenness and agility to be a defensive back. Lee County already plays him as sort of a SAM linebacker, and maybe that’s where he would fit in a scheme like Michigan’s.

Michigan is indeed recruiting him for the SAM linebacker position.

Lee County plays him all over the place as a free safety, blitzing inside linebacker, blitzing outside linebacker, coverage guy in the flat, etc. He’s an aggressive blitzer and tackler who likes to throw his body around, and he’s a fundamental player who does a good job of setting the edge when necessary, covering the flat, etc. He uses his hands well to disengage from blockers, and has the lateral quickness to make tackles in space as well as dodge blockers.

Reese doesn’t have great speed, which I think will preclude him from being a safety at the next level. He does have the frame to add a little bit of weight, which I think will be necessary for him to play SAM at Michigan. He has two years before he gets to college, so there’s time to get bigger and/or faster.

Michigan now has four commitments in the 2018 class, and Reese joins Ohioan Antwuan Johnson at the linebacker position. It’s not apparent at this point how large the 2018 class will be, but Jim Harbaugh seems inclined to maximize class space, so it will probably be fairly large. He’s the second Georgian in 2018 (joining offensive guard Jalil Irvin), following a 2017 class that includes Solomon and running back Kurt Taylor, and a 2016 class that included Elysee Mbem-Bosse. Michigan is not only recruiting the deep south, but they’re capitalizing, too.

TTB Rating: I will not give a TTB Rating until the close of the 2017 class.

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