Tag: scouting report

Scouting Report: Markquese Bell

Bridgeton (NJ) Bridgeton WR Markquese Bell (image via Philly.com)

Name: Markquese Bell
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Bridgeton (NJ) Bridgeton
Position: Safety
Class: 2017

Notes: Holds offers from Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, and Wisconsin . . . As a junior in 2015, caught 52 passes for 792 yards and 12 TDs; 60 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 9 PBUs . . . ESPN has not ranked him yet . . . Rivals 4-star, #19 athlete, #225 overall, #4 in New Jersey . . . Scout 4-star, #26 athlete . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 90 grade, #21 athlete, #261 overall, #7 in New Jersey

Strengths: Good size and frame to play multiple positions in college . . . Decent route runner . . . Strong runner with ball in his hands . . . Good stiff-arm . . . Solid change-of-direction skills . . . Nice leaping ability . . . Tracks the ball well . . . Aggressive when ball is in the air . . . Acrobatic receiver who catches well in traffic . . . Big hitter on defense . . . Takes good angles in run support . . . Aggressive tackler . . . Good speed

Weaknesses: Plays against mediocre competition in high school . . . Needs some work on short and intermediate routes . . . Sometimes fails to wrap up when tackling . . . Lacks elite straight-line speed . . . Carries ball loosely at times

Projection: Safety or wide receiver. I usually develop a good feel for a player’s propensity for playing offense or defense, but I think Bell is equally adept at playing both positions. I would lean toward playing him on defense because he’s a violent hitter who I think would be a very effective player in the box, supporting the run, covering tight ends, etc. But he also has the size, athleticism, and mentality to develop into an alpha receiver. I like the confident way he carries himself on the field. He has a chance to be a very good player on either side of the ball.

Reminds me of: Ahmir Mitchell. I know people have requested in the past that I compare recruits to players whose careers we’ve seen play out, but these two guys are too similar for me to avoid the comparison. Both have college-ready bodies and skills that could lend themselves to playing either side of the ball. They’re not exact replicas, because Bell has better defensive instincts that Mitchell did in high school.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Bell visited Michigan for the spring game last weekend, and the Wolverines were already rumored to be leading before the visit. He now has three predictions in the 247 Sports Crystal Ball, and all three are in favor of Michigan.

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Scouting Report: Drew Singleton – LB – Paramus (NJ) Catholic

Paramus (NJ) Catholic linebacker Drew Singleton (image via Scout)

Name: Drew Singleton
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 204 lbs.
High school: Paramus (NJ) Catholic
Position: Linebacker
Class: 2017

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Clemson, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin . . . ESPN 4-star, 82 grade, #9 OLB, #179 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #3 OLB, #33 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #4 OLB, #79 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 95 grade, #5 OLB, #60 overall . . . Teammate of 2016 DT Rashan Gary (Michigan); 2017 DE Corey Bolds; 2018 QB Allan Walters

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Scouting Report: Khaleke Hudson

Khaleke Hudson

Name: Khaleke Hudson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: McKeesport (PA) McKeesport
Position: Safety
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Akron, Army, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Navy, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Old Dominion, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Toledo, UMass, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Wisconsin . . .  Claims a 4.61 forty . . . ESPN 3-star, 74 grade, #85 safety . . . Rivals 3-star athlete . . . Scout 4-star, #24 athlete, #273 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 90 grade, #13 safety, #311 overall . . . Semper Fidelis All-American

Stats: Senior season stats include 106 carries, 1118 yards, 10.5 yards/carry, 17 TDs; 5 catches, 219 yards, 43.8 yards/catch, 5 TDs; 60 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions for 99 yards (2 TDs), 5 fumble recoveries

Strengths: Solidly built . . . Strong lower body . . . Excellent balance when running the ball . . . Runs behind his pads . . . Good speed . . . Quick feet . . . Good lateral quickness . . . Accelerates quickly out of cuts . . . Willing and capable blocker . . . On defense he shows good fundamentals . . . Disciplined defender, not a freelancer . . . Strong for his size at point of attack . . . Good force player able to keep contain . . . Solid blitzer who can be both physical and elusive to block . . . Aggressive tackler

Weaknesses: Lacks the elite speed to play corner . . . More of a zone defender than a man coverage guy . . . A little undersized to play linebacker . . . Can get overwhelmed by linemen at point of attack if playing inside . . . Would need to improve footwork through the hole as RB on offense . . . Lack of height could be an issue against tight ends and taller receivers

Projection: Strong safety/outside linebacker. Hudson is the definition of an “athlete” when you’re thinking about recruiting. He is a guy who could fill many roles, and so you just want to get him on campus, see how he fits on the field, and maybe plug him in where you have a talent deficiency. For a lot of programs – including Michigan’s – I think he fits in best as a strong safety/outside linebacker hybrid. He was excellent in that role during the Semper Fi All-American Bowl, making tackles all over the field, breaking up passes in the flat, etc. Jabrill Peppers played that role this past season for the Wolverines, and he was excellent at blowing up screens, supporting the run, and defending the flat. Hudson isn’t quite as fast or athletic, but not many people are. I also think Hudson has good enough quickness, balance, and toughness to make an impact at running back.

Reminds me of: Brandon Harrison. Harrison may have disappeared from your memory by this point, but he played at Michigan from 2005-2008 and bridged the coaching transition from Lloyd Carr to Rich Rodriguez. Harrison (5’8″, 193 lbs.) was smaller than Hudson and maybe a smidgen faster, but the former played some box safety for the Wolverines under Rodriguez. In his one year after Carr departed, Harrison made 69 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 3 pass breakups.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Hudson took his official visit to Michigan last weekend, is visiting Penn State this weekend, and will be at Pitt next weekend. He lists Michigan as “Warmer” on his 247 Sports profile, and the 43% of Crystal Ball choices in Michigan’s favor represent a plurality. It would be a minor upset if he chose either of the home-state schools, who look like the only other remaining threats.

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Scouting Report: Chase Allen

Nixa (MO) Nixa tight end Chase Allen (#16)

Name: Chase Allen
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 224 lbs.
High school: Nixa (MO) Nixa
Position: Tight end
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, UCF, UNLV, Western Kentucky . . . Rivals 3-star, #38 TE . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 87 grade, #30 TE, #702 overall . . . Claims 4.7 forty . . . 31″ vertical . . . 230 lb. bench press

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Scouting Report: Ron Johnson, Jr.

Name: Ron Johnson
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Camden (NJ) Camden
Position: Defensive end
Class: 2016

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin . . . ESPN 4-star, #11 defensive end, #73 overall . . . Rivals 4-star, #5 weakside end, #96 overall . . . Scout 3-star, #48 defensive end . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #14 weakside end, #220 overall

Strengths: Good frame to stay at defensive end . . . Plenty of room to add weight . . . Long arms . . . Uses hands well to shed blockers . . . Quick, compact swim move . . . Good awareness and nose for football . . . Enough speed and tenacity to chase down plays from backside . . . Violent hitter . . . Runs feet after contact . . . Plays with chip on his shoulder . . . Takes good angles . . . Good straight-line speed and agility . . . Fast enough to threaten the edge with speed rush

Weaknesses: Can play too high on interior . . . Needs to improve explosiveness of first step . . . Needs to diversify pass rush repertoire . . . Sometimes gets lazy with tackling technique

Projection: Defensive end. Depending on how his body develops, Johnson could play either the weakside end or strongside end position. He does not have the speed and suddenness to be a complete terror as a pass rusher, but he has enough speed to be a consistent threat and enough tenacity to finish plays with hustle. Johnson is a high-floor player who, at the very least, should be able to hold his own against the run and make some Brennen Beyer- or Craig Roh-like plays on the quarterback. There are times in his film where he crushes lead blockers, and he has a violent way about his play that makes me think he likes punishing anyone with an opposing jersey.

Reminds me of: Frank Clark. I mentioned Beyer and Roh up above as kind of Johnson’s floor, but when Clark was clicking, he was very tough to deal with. Johnson is probably a little taller and his game is more developed at this point, but both guys have good frames, a good wingspan, and a nasty attitude.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Johnson recently named a top fifteen that included Michigan, and the Wolverines have even been reported to be in his top two schools (along with South Carolina). Johnson visited Michigan this spring with teammate Brad Hawkins, who also holds a Michigan offer. The Wolverines have as good of a shot as anyone.

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