Erik Swenson (image via 247 Sports)
EDIT: Bumped from yesterday since this has been made a big deal. Also, I wrote three posts yesterday and didn’t have time to write one for today. Also also, Kiante Enis has also decommitted but it will be a bit before I can get that post up.
Downers Grove (IL) South offensive tackle Erik Swenson decommitted from Michigan on Wednesday. He had previously been committed to Michigan since late November of 2013, which was at the end of his sophomore season and during Brady Hoke’s second-to-last year. So . . . that was a long time, and in fact, he was the longest-tenured Michigan commit. (Believe it or not, the new holder of that crown is QB Brandon Peters, who committed just before the spring game last year.)
Swenson is a 6’7″, 305 lb. prospect who’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #31 offensive tackle, and #322 overall. He was recently named an All-American by Tom Lemming. He also has offers from Illinois and Northwestern, and a couple Crystal Ball picks have come in recently for Northwestern. That is not a bad backup plan.
However, rumors have been swirling for a little while that Michigan was not in love with his development up through his senior year. I can confirm this sentiment based on looking at his senior film. He seems to be a kid who peaked early when he reached 6’7″ and about 285 lbs. as a sophomore, but his athleticism has not continued to develop. If you look at the highlights below, he is slow off the ball. He does not bend well. Against mediocre competition, someone his size with that recruiting profile should be burying guys into the ground. Sure, there are a few kids who end up on the ground, but not because he finishes them – it’s mostly because they’re outweighed by 100 lbs. Take a look for yourself:
Based on those highlights, I think his commitment to Michigan may have been artificially propping up his recruiting rankings. That’s not the #322 recruit in the country.
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