Tag: scouting report

Scouting Report: Kalen Ballage

Peyton (CO) Falcon athlete Kalen Ballage

Name: Kalen Ballage
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Peyton (CO) Falcon
Position: Running back, wide receiver, linebacker
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado, Colorado State, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Tulsa, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington State, and Wyoming . . . Claims a 4.37 forty . . . Benches 370 lbs. . . . Squats 485 lbs. . . . Scored 21 offensive touchdowns and made 45 tackles as a junior in 2012 . . . Unranked on ESPN . . . Rivals 4-star, #6 ATH, #136 overall . . . Scout 3-star, #32 RB . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 90 grade, #30 ATH

Strengths: Very good speed . . . Excellent running form in open field . . . Opponents will have difficulty chasing him down from behind . . . Nice change of direction skills . . . Can swivel hips with ball in hand to get skinny and break tackles while keeping shoulders square . . . Catches ball with hands away from his body . . . Shows very good recovery speed on defense to chase plays from behind

Weaknesses: Mediocre vision . . . Occasionally misses cutback lanes . . . Carries the ball loosely away from body . . . Could have turnover issues in traffic . . . Not the smoothest pass catcher and does not snatch ball out of the air . . . Does not show great defensive instincts . . . Waits for ball carriers to come to him instead of attacking . . . Not an aggressive tackler . . . Prefers to drag down or gator roll players to ground rather than driving through ball carriers

Projection: Running back.  Ballage is ranked as an athlete, and some people have suggested that he could play outside linebacker in college.  However, I think he lacks the instincts and physicality to play linebacker at the next level.  He looks like an offensive player, most likely a running back, but perhaps a wideout if he works a little more on his catching skills.  He does not seem to be a particularly physical runner, but he’s big and strong enough to break arm tackles; if he gets into the open field, he could be very dangerous.

Reminds me of: Carlos Brown

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Ballage has expressed fairly strong interest in Michigan, but he seems to be pretty wide open right now. The in-state schools don’t seem to be much of a threat, but he’s high on schools like Arizona State, Nebraska, and Oregon, the last of which has not offered yet.  It looks to be a long road between now and a commitment.

Highlights are available on Hudl.

Scouting Report: Jabrill Peppers

Paramus (NJ) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers (image via iSportsWeb)

Name: Jabrill Peppers
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: Paramus (NJ) Catholic
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, UCLA, USC, Virginia, and West Virginia . . . Transferred from Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep prior to junior season . . . Teammate of 2014 Michigan offensive tackle commit Juwann Bushell-Beatty . . . ESPN 5-star, 95 grade, #1 CB, #2 overall . . . Rivals 5-star, #1 CB, #2 overall . . . Scout 5-star, #4 CB . . . 247 Sports 5-star, 99 grade, #1 ATH, #8 overall

Strengths: Blazing speed . . . Excellent change of direction . . . Aggressive hitter . . . Difficult to block due to quickness, strength, and good leverage . . . Good height and length . . . Solidly built without much bulking up needed . . . Great timing on going up for passes . . . Superb leaping ability . . . Shows strength and coordination to make catches in traffic . . . Tough runner who stays low in and out of cuts

Weaknesses: Does not play cornerback in high school, so technique may need to be learned . . . Showboats a little too much for my tastes (poses for the crowd, jogs into endzone, etc.)

Projection: Cornerback.  Peppers has the speed and change of direction skills to play cornerback at the next level, but if a team needs a safety, running back, wide receiver, or returner, he could do all of those things.  I think he is the best cornerback prospect in the 2014 class.  With some refinement possibly needed in coverage technique, he may struggle a little bit initially; but his kind of coordination and reported dedication to training should correct that quickly.  He could be an All-American by his sophomore year.

Reminds me of: Reggie Bush. I know this is an odd choice because Bush was/is a running back, but Peppers has the same kind of dynamic ability to change direction, outrun people, return kicks/punts, etc. There aren’t many cornerbacks who play with the same kind of physicality that Peppers has, so finding a comparison is difficult.  If you make me choose a cornerback, I’ll go a little ways back and say Aeneas Williams, the borderline Hall of Famer from the Arizona Cardinals.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: The popular belief is that Peppers, who has scheduled an announcement for this coming Sunday, will commit to Michigan. Others in the running have been Penn State and Stanford, but the Wolverines appear to be the front-runners.

Scouting Report: Chase Winovich

Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson linebacker Chase Winovich (image via Detroit News)

Name: Chase Winovich
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 215 lbs.
Position: Linebacker
High school: Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Akron, Arizona, Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Toledo, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia . . . As a junior in 2012, had 77 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries . . . Claims a 4.65 forty . . . ESPN 3-star, 73 grade, #30 OLB . . . Rivals 3-star, #30 OLB . . . Scout 3-star, #28 OLB . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 87 grade, #49 OLB

Strengths: Good speed for an outside linebacker . . . Shows good discipline and fundamentals on stance and pre-snap positioning . . . Quick feet . . . Able to side-step blockers to make plays in backfield . . . High-effort player capable of tracking plays downfield and sideline to sideline . . . Willing to be physical . . . Does well at avoiding trash in traffic

Weaknesses: Very slight . . . Lacks some functional strength . . . Struggles to take ball carriers down initially . . . Does not use hands well to shed blockers . . . Could stay lower and drive his feet through contact . . . Sometimes just latches on and goes for a ride

Projection: Outside linebacker.  Winovich clearly needs to add bulk to his frame, since he is reed thin and has the lower body of a safety.  Although pass coverage is not highlighted in his film, his length and change-of-direction skills should make him at least decent in that area.  He has a good nose for the ball and should be plus pass rusher if he can work on using his hands and, of course, add strength and mass to his frame.  There is also a slight concern about how much weight he will be able to add without losing his best qualities, which are his quickness and speed.  At his height he should end up around 240-250 lbs. by the time he’s a college upperclassman.  Since there’s so much physical development in the works, it’s hard to project what kind of athlete he might be; however, I think he could be a BCS all-conference type of player if he can maintain his athleticism.

Reminds me of: Shawn Crable. Crable had chicken legs but good length and a very developed upper body; he also had good speed and a knack for getting skinny to avoid blockers and shoot gaps.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Ohio State and Michigan appear to be the front runners, with Pitt running third. Winovich visited Michigan last weekend and left with positive vibes, but he grew up as a Buckeye fan.  A friendship with committed linebacker Michael Ferns III may prove to be beneficial for the Wolverines’ chances.

You can view Winovich’s highlights here.

Scouting Report: Lawrence Marshall

Southfield (MI) Southfield defensive end Lawrence Marshall

Name: Lawrence Marshall
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Southfield (MI) Southfield
Position: Defensive end
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Bowling Green, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Toledo . . . ESPN 4-star, 83 grade, #12 DE, #107 overall . . . Rivals 3-star, #19 WDE . . . Scout 4-star, #12 DE . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 91 grade, #12 WDE, #207 overall

Strengths: Shows a good first step, both forward and also laterally on slants . . . Does a good job of making plays in the trash . . . Can reach out and slow down or tackle runners while being blocked . . . Good straight line speed . . . Long wingspan . . . Decent frame to add weight . . . Violent hitter

Weaknesses: Often stands up too high off the snap . . . Does not show ability to use hands to shed blockers . . . Very rudimentary pass rusher . . . Shows virtually no versatility in pass rush moves . . . Mediocre change of direction . . . Sometimes appears not to be hustling when chasing plays from behind

Projection: Strongside end. Marshall is a good athlete, but he’s not outstanding in any facet of the game.  He gets off the ball and shows good straight line speed, but he lacks some refinement, and he’s not helped by the quality of his opponents.  He does make some plays against a quality-coached opponent in Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison, but even in that game, he was unblocked on too many plays; other teams just don’t pay any attention to him and allow him to slice in for uncontested sacks, tackles for loss, etc.  Rather than being Lawrence Marshall highlights, these seem like Southfield opponents’ lowlights.  Technique can be improved, but I think a lack of explosiveness and change-of-direction skills might be an issue as a weakside defensive end.  Marshall seems like a decent FBS player, but not a future superstar.

Reminds me of: Craig Roh. Roh was a good high school athlete who was able to blow past high school offensive tackles at times, but he also struggled to rush the passer because of an inability to change direction well. Roh used his hands better as a prep, and he was eventually a very technical player with limited athletic ability.

Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Marshall was committed to Ohio State at one time, but they have since been eliminated from contention.  Several insiders think that Michigan State is the leader for his services, but Michigan seems to be right behind; if things fall through with the Spartans, the Wolverines might be next in line to contend for his commitment.

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.