3Jul 2011
Maize ‘n’ Brew: Recruiting Update for July 2, 2011
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| Miranda Kerr |
The weekly recruiting update is over at Maize ‘n’ Brew with talk about Blake Bars, Jordan Payton, Munchie Legaux, and more.
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| Miranda Kerr |
The weekly recruiting update is over at Maize ‘n’ Brew with talk about Blake Bars, Jordan Payton, Munchie Legaux, and more.
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| California WR Jordan Payton |
The 2012 Offer Board has been updated:
California WR Jordan Payton decommitted from USC.
Texas CB Will Hines committed to Missouri.
Maryland WR Deontay McManus committed to West Virginia.
Tennessee OT Blake Bars committed to Michigan.
Added Louisiana OT Derek Edinburgh.
Added Minnesota OT Nick Davidson.
Ohio FS De’van Bogard committed to Ohio State.
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| Bri’onte Dunn (#25 with ball) |
Assuming Bri’onte Dunn is waiting to see what the sanctions are prior to decommitting from OSU, how lenient will the penalty have to be to keep Dunn in the fold at OSU?
Bri’onte Dunn, the heralded running back from Glenoak High School in Canton, OH, has given every indication that his commitment to Ohio State depends upon how badly the NCAA punishes the Buckeyes for their transgressions. He and his family maintain that he’s committed to the program, but I think that’s generally because he’s leery of seeming wishy-washy, drawing the ire of Ohio State fans, etc. After all, if he commits to another school right now and then the NCAA only gives OSU a slap on the wrist, he’ll not only anger people by decommitting in the first place, but he’ll infuriate another fan base who hope to see him wearing their jersey. For now he’s playing it safe, and I think that’s the smart thing to do.
Dunn’s father has suggested that a multi-year bowl ban will weigh heaviest on the decision. If the Buckeyes are prohibited from participating in the postseason for three years, that could be Dunn’s whole college career. Who wants to go play football where you might not ever play during bowl season? Even though Dunn has the size and talent to make it to the NFL, some guys’ best accomplishments and legacies are built in bowl game performances. When I think of Tai Streets, I think about his 4 receptions, 127 yards, and 2 touchdowns against Washington State in the Rose Bowl. When I think of Adrian Arrington, I think about his 9 receptions, 153 yards, and 2 touchdowns against Florida in the Capital One Bowl. Streets went on to a nondescript NFL career, and Arrington has seven career catches for the New Orleans Saints.
Recent rumors on message boards and from “insiders” have suggested that Dunn’s more and more likely to stick with his Ohio State commitment, but I think that’s partly because the NCAA investigation keeps getting elongated due to the new information popping up here and there. The longer it takes for the NCAA to punish Ohio State, the better chance Dunn has of sticking. And despite some obvious shenanigans regarding Terrelle Pryor’s use of loaner cars, no wrongdoing has been found yet.
Pryor, the other accused players, and the university are still on the hook for the selling of merchandise, the free tattoos, and the alleged selling of autographs; Jim Tressel is still on the hook for lying and playing dumb. There’s a chance that the NCAA will say, “Well, Pryor left the school, and Tressel resigned, so here’s a stern look and wagging of the finger and don’t do it again.”
I think it’s more likely, though, that Ohio State gets a couple years of holidays off and the loss of a few dozen scholarships over the next few years. USC got two years of bowl bans and 30 scholarship losses, but USC’s issues mainly involved one player (Reggie Bush) and an assistant coach. Ohio State’s issues probably involve less money, but they were pervasive and involved the most visible employee of the university. And by “employee” I mean Tressel, but I guess Pryor counts, too.
To answer your question more concisely, I think two years of bowl bans keep Dunn in Columbus. Three years sends him elsewhere. That doesn’t mean Dunn would necessarily come to Michigan, because he’s also been looking at Penn State. But if I had to guess, I would say Michigan is #2 on his list if Ohio State’s program does indeed get blasted by the NCAA.
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| Blake Bars (#67) |
Nashville, TN, offensive lineman Blake Bars committed to Michigan on Sunday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Mississippi State, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Virginia, among others. His other two finalists seemed to be Penn State, where his brother plays linebacker, or the hometown Vanderbilt Commodores.
Bars is a 4-star recruit to Rivals, but only a 3-star to the other three major services. He’s the #34 offensive tackle to Rivals, #38 to Scout, and #56 to ESPN. He stands 6’5″ and 275 lbs., benches 310 lbs., and squats 425.
I would be curious to find out how Bars appeared on Michigan’s radar. There are various ways that coaches find out about players (privately hired scouting services, word of mouth, the internet, high school coaches sending game film, etc.), but Bars has an aunt who lives in Ann Arbor and a grandmother who lives in metro Detroit. It seems like more than a coincidence that Michigan ended up offering a kid from a state that Michigan hasn’t recruited much. Only two other players from Tennessee have Michigan offers: wide receiver Drae Bowles and running back I’Tavius Mathers. The last Michigan players to come from the Volunteer State were the Brackins brothers (Eric and Phillip) and behemoth fullback Sean Sanderson a decade ago.
As for Bars’ future, he stated that the coaches want to start him off at left tackle. And who am I to argue with the coaches?
Well, I’m a blogger, and that’s what bloggers do, dammit. The kid looks like a guard to me. Maybe a right tackle, but not a left tackle. He doesn’t have a great first step or a great initial punch, and those things concern me, period, let alone for a blindside protector. There are times where it looks like he has a little too much weight on his heels coming out of his stance, and he could afford to lengthen his first step a couple of inches. It seems like sometimes he takes a false step by picking his foot up and putting it right back down in almost the same place. When engaged with defenders, he also tends to overextend himself and get himself off balance. Good opponents, especially ends and tackles who practice these things, will toss him to the side if he tries that with them.
Hopping in my DeLorean, though, I have a fledgling theory that left tackle might NOT be a blindside protector by the time Bars sees the field. Since freshman offensive lineman typically redshirt, he’ll be a redshirt frosh in 2013. That’s the same year that highly touted quarterback Shane Morris will hit campus. Highly touted left-handed quarterback Shane Morris. Ah-ha! So it’s quite possible that when Bars is playing left tackle in 2013-16 (or something like that), Bars will be protecting Morris’ front side.*
Frank and Joe Hardy ain’t got nothin’ on me.
I do think Bars is a solid addition, especially if Michigan can pick up one or two more highly touted linemen. He’s not at the head of the class, but he’s a kid who likes to finish blocks, has the frame to play at well over 300 lbs., seems conscientious and well spoken, and has family connections in the area. That ought to keep him around for the duration of a career that could see him develop into a solid starter at the tail end, as a redshirt junior or senior.
*I realize that Devin Gardner will still probably be around in 2013, Russell Bellomy might be the starter, etc. Obviously, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves when projecting the starting QB position three years down the road.
TTB Rating: 71
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| Ohio running back/fullback Alden Hill |
The 2012 Offer Board has been updated:
Colorado OT Paul Thurston committed to Nebraska.
Ohio OG Tyler Orlosky committed to West Virginia.
Massachusetts OT Eric Olson committed to Northwestern.
Ohio DE Greg McMullen committed to Nebraska.
Pennsylvania OT Chris Muller committed to Rutgers.
Texas OG John Michael McGee committed to Oklahoma.
Added Ohio RB/FB Alden Hill.
Ohio OG Kyle Kalis decommitted from Ohio State.
Texas OT Trey Keenan committed to Texas Tech.
Ohio DE Se’von Pittman committed to Michigan State.
Added Georgia WR Jason Croom.