Tag: Alex Bars

Scouting Report: Alex Bars

Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell offensive tackle Alex Bars (image via 247 Sports)

Name: Alex Bars
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 290 lbs.
High school: Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Arkansas, California, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Mississippi, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Virginia . . . ESPN 4-star, 83 grade, #7 OT, #55 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #6 OT, #55 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #24 OT . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 91 grade, #14 OT, #183 overall . . . Father Joe played linebacker at Notre Dame . . . Brother Brad plays defensive end for Penn State . . . Brother Blake plays offensive guard for Michigan

Strengths: Very good height and length . . . Shows excellent pad level when run blocking . . . Comes off ball low and hard . . . Fast enough and agile enough to latch onto second-level players . . . Maintains wide base at second level . . . Rolls hips well through blocks . . . Does a good job with hand placement to get under defender’s pads . . . Shows active feet in pass blocking . . . Plays to the whistle . . . Shows a willingness to help out teammates and make second effort blocks to keep quarterback clean

Weaknesses: Needs to work on pass blocking . . . Kick set is virtually non-existent, partly because of the offense Montgomery Bell runs . . . Speed rushers can give him trouble because he can’t get out of his stance fast enough . . . Sometimes forced to cross over feet to catch up to outside rush . . . Lacks a little bit of nastiness

Projection: Left tackle.  Bars has the feet to play left tackle, but he could play either guard or tackle position.  He already has good size, so that aspect shouldn’t be a problem.  The technique of pass protection is going to be the biggest issue for him, in my opinion.  His athleticism will help him pick that up, so it all depends on how quickly he can make the mental adjustments and get the reps to be a quality pass blocker.  If that gets sorted out, he could be a BCS all-conference type of player.

Reminds me of: Ben Braden

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: With family history at Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State, there are a lot of connections.  The latest talk has it as a neck-and-neck race between the Wolverines and Fighting Irish, with Penn State and Tennessee lagging a little behind.

Highlights on Hudl.

Visitors: Last week of March 2013

Huber Heights (OH) Wayne safety Tyree Kinnel

Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6’4″, 245 lb. defensive tackle prospect from the class of 2015.  He has offers from Michigan and Michigan State and has visited Michigan numerous times.

Alex Bars – OT – Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell: Bars is a 6’6″, 287 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and Stanford, among others.  He has an older brother at Penn State and an older brother at Michigan (offensive guard Blake).  The younger Bars is a 4-star prospect to ESPN, Rivals, and Scout.

Jayru Campbell – QB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Campbell is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Alabama and Notre Dame, among others.  He has led Cass Tech to state championships during both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Orlando Carter – OT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Carter is yet another Cass Tech product, in this case a 2015 lineman who’s already near 300 lbs.

Jalen Embry – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Embry is a 5’11”, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He’s a 3-star and the #64 cornerback to 247 Sports.

Carl Fuller – LB – Detroit (MI) King: Fuller is a 6’3″, 195 lb. linebacker with offers from Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He’s a 3-star and the #28 inside linebacker to 247 Sports.  As a junior in 2012, he had 83 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.

Keith Jones – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Jones is a 6’1″, 235 lb. prospect from the 2015 class.  He has no offers at this time.  He’s classmates with Joshua Alabi and Michael Weber, both of whom have Michigan offers.

John Kelly – CB – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Kelly is a 5’10”, 170 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this time.

Tyree Kinnel – S – Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Kinnel is a 6’1″, 190 lb. safety with no offers at this time.  He’s a 2015 prospect who has visited Michigan multiple times, including last fall and earlier this month.  He once again visited campus on Tuesday, and he seems to be expecting an offer sooner or later.  Kinnel claims a 4.5 forty time.

Avonte Maddox – CB – Detroit (MI) King: Maddox is a 5’9″, 160 lb. corner with offers from Ball State, Eastern Michigan, and Toledo.  He’s a 3-star and the #72 athlete to 247 Sports.

Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall is a 6’3″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among others.  He was recently rated the #12 weakside end and the #206 overall prospect by 247 Sports, although Rivals initially ranks him as a 3-star. UPDATE: Marshall was unable to make it to campus.

Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC, among others.  He’s the #2 strongside end and the #30 overall player to 247 Sports.

Michael Ruf – DE – Darlington (WI) Darlington: Ruf is a 6’4″, 240 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Chance Sorrell – TE – Middletown (OH) Middletown: Sorrell is a 6’6″, 250-pounder with offers from Bowling Green, Indiana, Kent State, and Ohio.  He has visited Michigan several times, but he’s more of a blocking TE prospect and may be a ways down the pecking order for a Michigan offer.

Tyriq Thompson – S – Detroit (MI) King: Thompson is a 6’1″, 220 lb. prospect who’s a part of the 2015 class.  As a sophomore that size, he will likely grow into a linebacker before all is said and done.  He’s also the son of former Michigan defensive back Clarence Thompson, who was All-Big Ten in 1995.  The younger Thompson transferred from Missouri after his sophomore season.

Maurice Ways – WR – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways is a 6’3″, 193 lb. wideout with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Iowa, and Toledo.  As a junior in 2012, he had 51 receptions for 952 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Michael Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber is a 5’10”, 195 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Michigan and Michigan State.  As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns.  He has visited Michigan numerous times.

I will be adding to this list if any players trickle in throughout the week.  Some high schoolers are on their spring break, so they can make midweek visits before Easter.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Air Force

LaQuon Treadwell

Visitors

• Detroit (MI) Cass Tech defensive end Joshua Alabi.  Alabi is a 6’4″, 245 lb. defensive end from the class of 2015.
• Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell offensive tackle Alex Bars.  Bars is a 6’6″, 255 lb. kid who doubles as a defensive end, but Michigan has offered the 2014 prospect as an offensive tackle.  His brother is Michigan true freshman Blake Bars, but he also has a brother at Penn State.
• Pickerington (OH) North tight end Jake Butt.  Butt is already committed to Michigan.
• Detroit (MI) Cass Tech quarterback Jayru Campbell.  The 6’3″, 175 lb. Campbell led Cass Tech to a state championship last year despite being just a freshman.  He has offers from Alabama and Notre Dame already. (Highlights.)
• Detroit (MI) Cass Tech offensive tackle/guard David Dawson.  Dawson is already committed to Michigan.
• Grand Rapids (MI) Christian offensive tackle Tommy Doles.  Doles is a class of 2014 kid who has visited Michigan multiple times and lists them among his leaders.  Iowa State is the only other team to offer so far.
• Detroit (MI) Cass Tech running back/linebacker Deon Drake.  Drake is a 6’1″, 215-pounder with offers from Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Notre Dame, among others. (Highlights.)
• Muskergon (MI) Muskegon offensive guard Kenny Finley.  Finley is a 6’4″, 270 lb. guard from the 2014 class with zero offers.  Muskegon is typically a good program, but no Wolverine has come out of there since Terrance Taylor.
• Detroit (MI) East English Village tight end Khalid Hill.  Hill committed to Michigan back in February.
• Detroit (MI) Cass Tech running back/linebacker Gary Hosey.  Hosey is a 6’0″, 230 lb. back from the class of 2014.  He has zero offers at this point, but Michigan has discussed recruiting him at running back; I don’t think he has the speed to be an elite prospect. (Highlights.)
• Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison linebacker Mike McCray II.  McCray is already committed to Michigan.
• Macomb (MI) Lutheran North kicker J.J. McGrath.  McGrath has zero offers at this point, but offers usually come later for kickers than other positions.
• Warren (OH) Howland running back DeVeon Smith.  Smith is already committed to Michigan.
• Middletown (OH) Middletown tight end Chance Sorrell.  Sorrell is a 6’6″, 225-pounder from the class of 2014 without any offers so far.  Michigan has offered three other tight ends in the class, but Nic Weisher seems to be the only viable option of those three.
• Crete (IL) Crete-Monee wide receiver LaQuon Treadwell.  Treadwell is Michigan’s top target at wide receiver for the class of 2013; likewise, Michigan has reportedly been at the top of his list for most or all of his recruitment.  He has visited Ann Arbor several times before, but he also has serious interest in other schools, including pass-happy Oklahoma State. EDIT: Treadwell is no longer visiting Michigan this weekend.  (Highlights.)
• Detroit (MI) Cass Tech wide receiver/cornerback Damon Webb, a 2014 prospect, will be visiting.  Webb has been offered by Michigan and his leaders are the Wolverines, LSU, Michigan State, and Ohio State.  Webb transferred to Cass Tech prior to this season, so his bond with other Michigan-bound players from that school (David Dawson, Jourdan Lewis, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Terry Richardson, etc.) may not be as strong. (Highlights.)
• Detroit (MI) Cass Tech linebacker William White.  White is a 6’1″, 220 lb. linebacker from the class of 2014.  He has zero offers at this point, but some will likely be coming down the road. (Highlights.)
• Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park wide receiver Csont’e York.  York is already committed to Michigan.

Recruiting Update: July 2, 2012

Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna defensive tackle Khairi Clark (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2013
Long Beach (CA) cornerback John Ross was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 5’9″, 165 lb. corner with offers from Cal, Purdue, UCLA, Washington, and several others.  He was supposedly offered before Channing Stribling, so Michigan may not be actively recruiting him anymore.

Euless (TX) Trinity defensive end Gaius Vaenuku has a Michigan offer.  It’s unclear when he received the offer because Michigan does not appear to be recruiting more players at his position, so perhaps this is an old offer that was just reported.  Regardless, Vaenuku is a 6’6″, 260 lb. kid who could play either defensive end or offensive tackle at the next level.  He has offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, TCU, and UCLA, among others.  Trinity is the alma mater of offensive guard Hiva Lutui (Utah), whom Michigan offered for the 2012 class. (Highlights.)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell Academy offensive tackle Alex Bars was offered by Michigan.  In case you haven’t figured it out, his older brother is incoming freshman Blake Bars, also an offensive tackle.  Alex is a 6’6″, 260 lb. athlete who could also play strongside end at the next level, but Michigan wants him as an OT.  He has also been offered by Kentucky and Tennessee.

Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna defensive tackle Khairi Clark was offered by Michigan.  Clark is a 6’3″, 311 lb. tackle with offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, among others.  As a junior in 2011, he had 60 tackles and 8 sacks.  If you remember when Rich Rodriguez was going all Ponce de Leon on Florida, he went after Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Curt Evans (Boston College) and quarterback Jerrard Randall (LSU) in the 2011 class.

La Mirada (CA) La Mirada tight end Tyler Luatua was offered by Michigan.  He’s a 6’4″, 230-pounder who could play either tight end or defensive end at the next level.  He has offers from Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC, among others.  His older brother Isaac plays offensive guard for Alabama, but Tyler indicated that he wants to stay closer to home.  Either way, he seems unlikely at this point to give Michigan heavy consideration. (Highlights.)

OFF THE BOARD
Damascus (MD) Damascus wide receiver Zach Bradshaw committed to Penn State.  He visited Michigan and Michigan State and was high on MSU to start, so this is a win if you’re rooting against the Spartans.  Penn State hasn’t done much in the way of developing wide receivers since, oh, Joe Jurevicius, so I won’t be concerned until the Nittany Lions prove me wrong.

Charlotte (NC) Vance linebacker Larenz Bryant committed to South Carolina.  Bryant never showed much interest in Michigan when they offered, and the linebacker position was filled shortly thereafter, anyway.  The Gamecocks also received a commitment from fellow linebacker target Matt Rolin a couple weeks ago.

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris committed to Michigan State.  Harris will probably be the first- or second-highest rated player in the state for 2014.  The 6’4″, 180-pounder hopes to play wide receiver while also playing shooting guard for the Spartans’ basketball team.

Pendleton (SC) Pendleton defensive tackle Michael Hill committed to Ohio State.  The 6’3″, 315 lb. defensive tackle was being recruited for the nose tackle position by Michigan, but never really voiced interest in playing for the Wolverines.

Concord (CA) De La Salle linebacker Michael Hutchings committed to USC.  This came as a surprise to exactly no one.

Petaluma (CA) Casa Grande defensive tackle Elijah Qualls committed to Washington.  Qualls could play several positions in college – running back, defensive end, or defensive tackle – but Michigan was recruiting him for the defensive tackle position.  The commitments of Henry Poggi and Maurice Hurst, Jr. soften the blow considerably.

Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde wide receiver Demorea Stringfellow committed to Washington.  He was slightly interested in Michigan and could have been the playmaking receiver that the coaches hope to get out of LaQuon Treadwell, so the window continues to narrow on guys who can make things happen after the catch.