Jaron Dukes, Wolverine
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| Columbus (OH) Marion Franklin WR Jaron Dukes committed to Michigan on Wednesday |
Columbus (OH) Marion Franklin wide receiver Jaron Dukes committed to Michigan on Wednesday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Illinois and Toledo.
He’s a 6’5″, 197 lb. wideout who claims a 4.6 forty. As a junior in 2011, he caught 36 passes for 670 yards (18.6 yards per catch) and 7 touchdowns.
Ratings:
ESPN: Unranked WR
Rivals: Unranked WR
Scout: Unranked WR
247 Sports: 3-star WR, 87 grade
Shortly after Dukes was offered, he admitted that Michigan was his prohibitive favorite. He grew up as a Michigan fan despite living in Columbus. Raise your hand if you’re surprised he committed.
Put your hand down, smartass.
Considering Dukes’s highlight film consists of about four clips, there’s not a whole lot to go on. He’s 6’5″, which is tall. The 6’3″ Jehu Chesson recently said the coaches want him playing at 210-215 lbs., so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dukes up around 230 or 235 lbs. eventually. That means Dukes will likely be a jump ball nightmare for opposing teams.
Dukes lists a 4.6 forty, which is probably a fib. He’s not very fast. First of all, you can see it on film. Secondly, if you’re 6’5″, 200 lbs., and actually fast, then your offer list consists of more teams than Illinois and Toledo.
I’ve said before that Dukes reminds me a bit of Ernest Wilford, the former Virginia Tech and Jacksonville Jaguars receiver. He’s not going to outrun anyone unless they try to tackle him and bounce harmlessly to the turf. It’s easy to outrun people when they’re lying on the ground. But hey, those kinds of skills turned into some big-time receptions for Junior Hemingway because Denard Robinson would just chuck the ball downfield and the 6’1″, 225-ish Hemingway would outmuscle smaller and weaker defensive backs. Dukes probably isn’t in danger of becoming the next Calvin Johnson, but if Michigan gets some red zone touchdowns or Hail Mary receptions out of him, it will be worth it.
Michigan is expected to take two or three wide receivers in the 2013 class. This takes care of the jump ball/possession role. Now it would be nice to see Michigan put the full court press on a guy who can stretch the field with his speed and/or catch some underneath passes and run after the catch.
This is Michigan’s first ever recruit out of Marion Franklin High School.