2010 Recruiting Grades: Defensive Tackle

Tag: 2010 Recruiting


5Mar 2010
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2010 Recruiting Grades: Defensive Tackle


One of the biggest needs in the class of 2010 was for defensive linemen, especially on the interior. Each of the defensive tackles on the 2009 roster played significant minutes, including true freshman William Campbell. Even Ryan Van Bergen, who was recruited as a strongside defensive end, bulked up and was an effective starter at 3-tech DT.

Michigan’s first defensive tackle commitment came in the form of Terry Talbott, from Huber Heights, OH. (Terry has a cornerback brother named Terrence, who also committed to Michigan.) The Talbotts committed back in mid-August 2009 and Terrence stuck with Michigan through a late push by North Carolina for his services. He’s listed at 6’4″ and 255 lbs., and he’ll likely play 3-tech defensive tackle. I originally thought he would be a strongside defensive end, and some think he’ll be a nose tackle. However, I think his quickness off the ball – and his lack of bulk – make him a better fit at 3-tech, where he can take advantage of one-on-one blocks from slower guards.

The second defensive tackle came from Richard Ash (pictured above), a 6’4″, 263 lb. player from the developing pipeline in Pahokee, FL. Ash is the fourth player in three years from Pahokee (Martavious Odoms in 2008; Brandin Hawthorne and Vincent Smith in 2009). The word on the internet is that Ash has, uh, grown to be about 305 lbs. This is not necessarily ideal, as he seemed to be headed for the 3-tech DT position and doesn’t need to be quite so big. I don’t think he’ll stay at 300+ pounds, but if he stays anywhere close, I’d say he’s more likely to be a 1-tech nose tackle than a 3-tech. Ash’s weight is something to watch for when summertime rolls around.

Predictions: Talbott will earn some playing time as a redshirt freshman in 2011. There’s enough depth at defensive tackle that he can take some time to fill out. He has a very good first step, which bodes well for causing disruption in the offensive backfield. If he can maintain that quickness while adding 30 pounds or so, he could be an All Big Ten-caliber player. I have concerns about Ash, however. I have heard questions about his motor, and I have also heard that he played lethargically when his weight got into the 260s. According to Florida Varsity’s Michael Langston, Ash had better production when he was in the 240s. I always question the upside of a player whose work ethic doesn’t equal or exceed his talent, and that may be the case with Ash. I fear that Ash might not be much of a contributor at Michigan.

Grade: B-. Talbott seems like a good kid and he has plenty of athleticism. I think he’ll be a solid starter in a few years. Ash could fill a need at nose tackle, but I think his ceiling is lower than his 4-star status would indicate.

EDIT: My original post switched Terry and Terrence’s names. This will be an ongoing snafu for Michigan fans, but Terry is the DT and Terrence is the CB. Thanks to the Anonymous commenter below who caught the error.

4Mar 2010
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2010 Recruiting Grades: Tight End

Michigan offered three tight ends in 2010, but didn’t get any.

Predictions: The class of 2010 tight ends will be better than Carson Butler.

Grade: Inc. They didn’t really need a tight end, anyway.

Bonus: Hey, Zach Galifianakis is on SNL this weekend.

3Mar 2010
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2010 Recruiting Grades: Slot Receiver

Two slot receivers joined the class of 2010, both of whom committed early in the process.

New England Patriot receiver Drew Dileo

The first is Drew Dileo, a 5’10”, 175 lb. player from Greenwell Springs, LA. Despite not having overwhelmingly impressive offers, Dileo can fill a role at Michigan – punt returner. Since Steve Breaston left after the 2006 season, Michigan has suffered from poor to mediocre punt returning. The role was assumed by guys like Donovan Warren (who took a lot of chances), Greg Mathews (sure-handed but slow), Martavious Odoms (whose butterfingers only show on punt/kick returns), and Junior Hemingway (again, slow). Dileo can play slot receiver, but his earliest chance to contribute will probably be on special teams.

It’s a good thing this photographer had a high-speed shutter.The second commitment at slot receiver comes from D.J. Williamson, from Warren, OH. Williamson is listed at 6’1″ and 172 lbs., meaning he’s thin and willowy. He has state championship track speed, but unfortunately, that speed hasn’t necessarily shown itself on the football field. Since his commitment, he struggled through a senior season in which he was injured and his quarterback play was subpar. He could play out wide or in the slot, but said on National Signing Day that he’ll start off inside.

Predictions: Dileo reminds me of New England Patriots receiver . . . Troy Brown. He’ll probably redshirt in 2010, as guys like Odoms and Jeremy Gallon could handle the punt returning duties. But at some point in his career, we’ll likely see Dileo deployed as a sure-handed, occasionally exciting returner. Williamson as a slot receiver intrigues me. When he appeared to be an outside receiver in the making, I thought he would get outmuscled and I’m not impressed with his route running. He has reportedly suffered from the dropsies at times, but if he can get that problem worked out, Williamson could be a speedy Roy Roundtree in the slot working against slower linebackers and safeties. As it is, I don’t see him contributing for a couple years.

Grade: B. Neither player is an immediate-impact sort, but they don’t need to be with guys like Martavious Odoms, Jeremy Gallon, Terrence Robinson, and Roy Roundtree ahead of them (in addition to Teric Jones and Kelvin Grady, who could play slot). Dileo fills a hole, and Williamson has the speed to make a few big plays before all is said and done. Ultimately, this is a position/class where Rodriguez could afford to “miss” with a player or two and not suffer greatly in the future.

26Feb 2010
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2010 Recruiting Grades: Running Backs

Brooklyn Decker

Okay, so I realize the above photo isn’t Stephen Hopkins or Austin White. However, Hopkins’ high school uniforms looked like Ohio State’s, and White’s high school mascot was the Spartans. So I’m not putting pictures of them up here.

Hopkins is a 6′, 235 lb. running back from Flower Mound, Texas. With both Brandon Minor and Kevin Grady graduating after this past season, Michigan was in need of another big back. According to Fred Jackson, Hopkins can play both fullback and superback. As an early enrollee, he might work himself into good enough shape to contribute as a freshman. But his ceiling seems to be somewhat limited due to his lack of speed. He may not be a “fullback” in the truest sense of the word, but I don’t think he’s headed for feature back territory.

White, on the other hand, is a 6′, 186 lb. running back from Sterling Heights, MI. He’s probably not the type of running back who will earn Heisman hype like Noel Devine and Steve Slaton did at West Virginia, but he has solid skills. His best asset might be his ability to catch the ball, but Michigan doesn’t use its running backs as pass receivers very much. White might be the first running back under Rodriguez to consistently earn playing time both at running back and slot receiver, flip-flopping back and forth between plays. While his skills won’t wow anybody, he could be a solid option in a variety of ways.

Predictions: Hopkins will not start, but will earn playing time as a short yardage back or a fullback in the fall. If Vincent Smith can return to decent playing form in 2010 after tearing his ACL against Ohio State, I expect Austin White to redshirt. Hopkins plays a position where there is more immediate need, whereas White would presumably be behind Michael Shaw, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Michael Cox, and potentially Vincent Smith. Teric Jones and Kelvin Grady could also figure into the mix at running back, so there’s no need to play both freshmen in 2010.

Grade: B. I’m not extremely impressed with either running back, and I don’t think either one has all-conference potential. This is somewhat disappointing, because none of the backs on the current roster have established themselves as big-time players, either. But I think both will be serviceable as spot starters or as role players throughout their careers.

26Feb 2010
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2010 Recruiting Grades: Quarterbacks

Devin Gardner

Michigan picked up two commitments from quarterbacks in the class of 2010. The most highly touted of the two is Devin Gardner, generally viewed to be the jewel of the class. While he’s rough around the edges as a passer, Gardner has the speed, size, arm strength, and athleticism to be an absolute game changer.

The second quarterback in the class is Conelius Jones, another athletic player from Spartanburg, South Carolina. While he was recruited as a passer, there have been conflicting reports about his college position; various newspapers and recruiting sites have identified him as a wide receiver or a defensive back. He’s said that he wants a chance to compete at quarterback, but he’ll play wherever the coaches want him.

Prediction: Gardner will earn and/or be forced into playing time in 2010. Ideally, he’d redshirt, but Tate Forcier appears to be somewhat physically fragile, and Rich Rodriguez can’t toy with giving important snaps to Denard Robinson this year. Jones will almost surely redshirt. And while some people have quickly passed him off as a future wide receiver, he could be the quarterback in 2014. If Gardner plays as a freshman and Jones doesn’t, Gardner will run out of eligibility in 2013. Jones could be Michigan’s version of Jarrett Boyd at WVU, a solid player who played well when he finally earned the starting job as a fifth year senior.

Grade: A. In a year after pulling in two quarterbacks, Michigan got another two quarterbacks. One has star potential, and the other is a developmental prospect who has the athleticism to contribute elsewhere if needed.

Image via journalgroup.com