[Scheduling note. Hi. My kid was hospitalized last summer before I could get the 2023 recruiting profiles done, so I'm planning to finish the 2023 class before starting on the 2024s. Plan is to wrap up with Cabana and Kendrick Bell, spend a bit more time pouring over potential 2024 starter Jack Tuttle's college career, then do a class wrap that's only somewhat patting myself on the back for Semaj Morgan (who got a 4th star on Rivals so he's not eligible to be class sleeper). Figure you guys wanted this instead of basketball, which just lost Olivier Nkamhoua for the season.]

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Previously: Last year’s profiles, K Adam Samaha, K James Turner (Tr), S Brandyn Hillman, CB DJ Waller, CB Cameron Calhoun, CB Jyaire Hill, HSP/LB Jason Hewlett, LB Hayden Moore, LB Semaj Bridgeman, LB Ernest Hausmann (Tr), OLB Breeon Ishmail, DE Aymeric Koumba, DE Enow Etta, DE Josaiah Stewart (Tr), DT Brooks Bahr, DT Cameron Brandt, DT Trey Pierce, OT Evan Link, OT Myles Hinton (Tr), OT LaDarius Henderson (Tr), OG Nathan Efobi, IOL Amir Herring, OC Drake Nugent (Tr), TE Deakon Tonielli, TE Zack Marshall, TE AJ Barner (Tr), WR Semaj Morgan, WR Fredrick Moore, WR Karmello English, RB Benjamin Hall

Dexter (Dexter), MI – 6'0''/180 200!
		Rankings
		247	4.10* 6'0/180	4*, 90, NR Ovr #21 RB, #3 MI
		On3	4.46* 5'11/175	4*, 93, #154 Ovr #7 RB, #3 MI
		Rivals	4.17* 6'0/180	4*, 5.8, #215 Ovr #5 APB, #2 MI
		ESPN	4.55* 5'11/180	4*, 84, #116 Ovr #6 RB, #2 MI
		Composites
		247	0.9314, #172 Ovr, #10 RB, #2 MI
		On3	92.06, #202 Ovr, #14 RB, #2 MI
		MGo	4.28*, #221/803 Ovr, #20/61 RBs
		YMRMFSPA
		Donovan Edwards
Other Suitors:	MSU, Miami (YTM), WVU, Louisville
Previously on MGoBlog:	Hello by Alex Drain
Notes:	NIL. EE.
Film
Senior Highlights:Hudl. FB Junkies Sr Highlights. Jr Highlights. Rising Stars. Drills. On3 Breakdown.

So hi, welcome back to the 2023 preseason! In Cabana's case not a lot has changed in the intervening six months. After a senior year of 2,434 all-purpose yards (1,518 rushing, 472 receiving, 444 returning) and 36 TDs (27/6/3), a lot of people figured he'd carve out a role immediately. But between the injury, running back depth, and Semaj Morgan's emergence in the return game that didn't happen. He spent spring and most of the season injured, coming away with two carries for six yards against Bowling Green while taking a redshirt. The second carry was blown up so here's Cabana's one relevant run of 2023:

So let's go back to the recruiting profile! Cabana grew up a Spartan, and their top priority as of the 2021 M-MSU game. Mike Hart jumped into the race in late 2021 and had a pledge by February [insert little brother comment]. Cabana's ranking starting to shoot up in April, and by fall he was Michigan's highest-rated recruit. Miami (YTM) offered but Cabana didn't even post it, instead taking it upon himself to recruit others to Michigan.

[After THE JUMP: Donovan Edwards, downshifted.]

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He is fast.

This came out early. While most two-year-olds will tell you (and show you) they can run the fastest, most eventually run into a father or uncle willing to set them straight. In Cabana's case it was dad who got dunked on.

His grandmother could tell he would be fast when he was a toddler. His father, Mike, recalled a time when Cole juked him out so bad as a 4-year-old.

By the time Cabana was 11 those opining on his speed had come to include one Jim Harbaugh.

Congrats to the fastest youngsters at today's clinic. 1. Cole Cabana (Dexter), 2. Addison Coquilard (Slauson) & 3. Connor Easthope (Slauson)

— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) May 21, 2016

Seven years later, Cabana finished his senior track season with a 10.55 100-meter, and a laser-timed 4.34 forty at Detroit's Rising Stars camp, and everybody had the same thought. Harbaugh: that is fast. Al Borges: "legitimately fast." Sam Webb agreed Cabana would be one of the fastest players on the team. Allen Trieu says the "Name of the game with him is speed, and calls him a "track sprinter with good top-end and breakaway ability." Fellow 247 evaluator Chris Singletary says it shows up on film. EJ Holland says it's the first thing that stands out. Touch the Banner called him "one of the fastest players in the recruiting cycle."

The speed was the first thing mentioned by On3's Gerry Hamilton ("ideal explosion") and Charles Power in their respective reasonings for rising Cabana into their top-150 last fall, and the thing their colleague Tim Verghese wrote about while stumping for it:

Cabana is a speedster and recently recorded 4.34 and 4.35 40-yard dash times at a recent camp. On film, his speed once he hits the open field is outstanding. He’s a smooth runner with a solid physical frame.

It's also the first thing Mullings and Corum said when they started practicing with Cabana in spring, the first Strength listed by Rivals' Lucas Reimink:

Speed even made the top three things Mike Hart had to say:

"He’s got a skill set like Donovan, to be honest with you. He’s really explosive, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he’s fast.

Touch the Banner got to see a lot of Cabana's career up close and suggests those trying to run him down use the Crash Davis Method:

The most obvious strength for Cabana is his speed. He has very good acceleration and top-end speed. The only time anyone really seems to track him down from behind on film is when he’s running through the muck of a rain-soaked and muddy field.

Receiver

After the sentence about Cabana's speed, the reviews invariably move to his receiving ability, which falls between running back ("out of the backfield") and receiver distribution. Let's rate these comments on the RB receiver from 1 (Brandon Minor) to 10 (Christian McCaffery):

• Haubert/ESPN: Can also be a productive receiving target out of the backfield. (5)
• Charles Power/On3: showed off some versatility and pass-catching skills in 7-on-7 settings. (6)
• Tim Verghese/On3: Has solid potential as a weapon in the pass game in addition to his talent as a rusher. … Michigan’s system he projects to be more of a change-of-pace back that could evolve into an every-down back with some development. (6)
• Holland/The Wolverine, first blush: Cabana is also a plus pass catcher out of the backfield and can line up in the slot if needed. (7)
• Mullings/2023 bowl practices:I think with Cole, he’s super fast and can catch the ball great. That will take him very far. (7)
• Corum/ditto: He showed a lot. He showed a lot. He has great receiving hands, great asset out of the backfield. (7)
• Hart/same: He’s got a skill set like Donovan, to be honest with you. He’s really explosive, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he’s fast. (8)
• Trieu/247: Good pass catcher as well who can line up in the slot or catch passes out of the backfield. …. Shows suddenness as a route runner. (8)
• Singletary/247: Very good in the receiving game. Soft hands either catching the ball out of the backfield or lining up in the slot. (8)
• Clayton Safie/The Wolverine: similar to Donovan Edwards in how they’ll use him. I think he’s gonna play in the slot. They’re going to use him there and they’re using him as a running back. Ben Hall is just more of a traditional running back.
• Gerry Hamilton/On3: ... versatility to line up the slot or be a factor out of the backfield with sure hands, and and understanding of how to quickly work vertically after the catch. (8)
• Lucas Reimink/MnBR: In the pass game is where Cabana really stands apart from other RB’s. He is a very good pass-catching RB, who has the skill set to be able to flex into the slot and beat many LB’s in 1 on 1 coverage. He uses solid route running and his good agility to beat LB’s to create separation in space. He has solid hands and solid ball skills as well, and the all-around skill set he shows when catching passes is impressive. (9)
• Dexter's head coach: When Michigan was recruiting Cole, I told them that he's the Christian McCaffrey of high school football," Jacobs said. "He's going to run you over in the hole and will run by you out in the open. He also catches the ball extremely well." (10)
• Al Borges/to Sam: Christian McCaffrey-like. He's very diverse. … He has excellent receiving skills. And when I say that, this is how I know a guy has got excellent receiving skills... and it  fits the Donovan Edwards mold… he can not only catch the ball coming out of the backfield, but he can actually line up at wide receiver and run vertical routes. (10)

EJ got another look when he saw Cabana against Saline, and 10'd out.

Cabana’s longest gain of the night was actually a 30-yard reception late in the game that set-up his eventual game-winning touchdown. Cabana got behind the defense with ease, and it made me wonder why Dexter didn’t send him deep more often. Cabana is a complete mismatch for linebackers and safeties — whether in the slot or out of the backfield. … If it were up to me, I’d give Cabana around 7-10 carries a game and use him as a pass catcher out of the backfield, in the slot and out wide. He’s a plus pass catcher and can stretch the field.

Cabana confirms, obviously, that Michigan was pitching him on an Edwards/Corum division of work:

“Me and Ben are kind of the next little generation of Blake and Dono in how we’re supposed to be used,” Cabana noted. “I’m more like Donovan — catching the ball, quicker. And Ben is just like Blake. He can bang the rock.

Just saying,

Can he Corum though?

The takes start to diverge when it gets into Cabana's running style, and whether he's big enough to take a pounding. Borges was one of several who called Cabana "more of a slashing runner than a stop and go." ESPN's Haubert also used "slashing."

When they say "slasher" they usually mean how Donovan Edwards picks a lane and goes, versus, say, how Mullings waits for the defense to commit or how Corum mastered getting defenders to go the wrong way. This isn't how everyone sees it. Singletary:

Displays very good vision that allows sudden shallow and jump cuts to get into creases and past defenders. Constantly shows burst and acceleration where he splits defenses for chunk plays and big gainers. Willing to run behind his pads and run between the tackles. Doesn’t just try and use his speed and attack the edge. Plays with good agility to make you miss with solid elusiveness.

…though that's also kind of a slasher. Trieu credits Cabana with…

some twitch and good change of direction but is more of a player who will outrun defenders more than shake them in a phone booth.

And Verghese deployed a "need to see more of his lateral quickness and agility." Reimink leaned hard into the archetype of a speedback.

Cole runs with solid effort but chooses to avoid contact when possible. He knows he’s faster than the vast majority of athletes he competes against and will thus bounce a lot of his runs, even when he doesn’t have to. He would much rather try and run around a defender as opposed to running through a defender, but he does have the skillset to be able to do it effectively.

Cole is very good in the outside zone run schemes, where he can use his vision to find those outside holes and his speed and agility to explode through them for big gains. He is marginal in his ability to run inside zone because he lacks the necessary build and physical strength to be able to maintain a physical running style for a full game. Similarly, in any gap or power schemes, he can explode through a hole when it is there, but if he has to make one of his own, he lacks the power to do so. He does have solid ball security, as he will protect the ball when bracing for contact with a defender. He also has marginal contact balance, because his slight build and slender frame don’t lend itself to staying on his feet when he gets hit hard.

Notice that Holland set his over/under on 10 carries. That is few, and one of many concerns voiced that Cabana doesn't have the bulk to be an every-down back. Touch the Banner:

Cabana does not play with much power and does not drive his feet after contact. Especially if he gets his shoulder turned, he struggles to break tackles, and he does not necessarily have great cutting ability. Sometimes when he gets running toward the sideline, he struggles to plant his foot and find a crease upfield. I also do not see a great willingness to step up and help out in pass protection.

Overall, I think Cabana is a pretty classic case of a finesse type of running back, a guy who can run real fast but will struggle with the physical aspects of the game.

He then brings up Drake Johnson. Even those framing it positively will admit Cabana is "willing" to run into contact, without necessarily agreeing he should. Holland:

Yes. he had a few explosive 10-plus-yard gains, but it was positive to see him run with some power. Cabana invited contact and played with low pad level. He was much more physical than I thought he was going to be. I still have some concerns about him as a between the tackles runner in the Big Ten, but, at the very least, he runs hard. He pounded the defense and wore them down throughout the game. With that said, Cabana wasn’t at his best in short-yardage situations, failing to convert on a couple of 3rd-and-2’s and 4th-and-1’s.

Chris Singletary:

Checks in at 5-11, 175 with a lean muscular frame that can add another 10 to 15 pounds and still maximize athleticism. … Willing to run behind his pads and run between the tackles.

Trieu also cautions not to question Cabana's toughness.

Began his career looking more like a scatback, but has grown more into his frame and can be a true college tailback. Showed that as a senior by running in between the tackles, some of that coming during playoff games in inclement weather.

I think this is what Anthony Broome meant in making a distinction between Edwards and Chris Evans.

He is probably closer to Edwards in terms of how he could be used compared to Corum, but a better comparison might be former U-M back Chris Evans.

But TTB's opinion here is Cabana probably won't ever be a lead back like Dono.

If it were up to me, I would try to use Cabana much like Michigan used Donovan Edwards in 2021: mostly as a change-of-pace type guy who can go in motion, get the ball in space, and maybe line up out wide. While I think Edwards will advance beyond that into more of an all-around back, I’m not sure that Cabana will. I would also get Cabana out into a pass pattern rather than trying to use him as a protector.

For what it's worth, Michigan listed Cabana at 198 on last fall's roster, to which Cabana subtweeted "200." Also Verghese mentioned a "solid physical frame"—so if we're talking slightness it's the Carlos Brown kind, not like Teric Jones. Jacobs had "he's going to run you over in the hole" in his McCaffery comparison, but head coaches will say anything.

Pass Protection?

This isn't something most of the analysts bothered to look at. You saw TTB's comment above. Verghese used "wants to see more" again, and Reimink went so far as to list it as a weakness because how could he be?

The one aspect of the passing game where Cabana is only marginal at, is in pass protection. Mostly due to his build, he will not project to be a good pass protector at the next level. There’s no real evidence that he is unwilling to stay in and protect the passer, but even if you assume he is willing to do so, he is simply marginal at physical strength and will thus have a hard time protecting the passer at a major D1 institution.

…which, fair enough. The most outstanding pass protectors at Michigan have either been huge (A-Train, Askew, Charbonnet) or Sainristilian-brained dudes built so low they can remove a blitzing linebacker's knees (Hart/Corum/Vincent Smith).

Class leader

Depending on the service, he finished 2nd (ESPN/Rivals), 4th (On3) or 6th (247) among the 2024 Michigan freshmen, but in a class that didn't have a natural J.J. McCarthy/Will Johnson capitano, Cabana and Semaj Morgan seemed to be splitting duties. So says Zach Libby:

Cabana played a pivotal role in bringing all of the signees together over text and social media, even helping plan out certain dates in which a good number of them could be on campus visiting together.

and Harbaugh:

He’s one of our earliest commits in the class. Been a great guy to help us recruit the class, because your players are some of your best recruiters.

Etc. Michigan high school player of the year. Track (might also run for UM). Father is *NOT* Colt Cabana (née Scott Colton), which is a shame because that would be cool. Brother is 2-star 2024 basketball prospect Joey Cabana. BFF with fellow 2023 Michigan commit (and Huron kicker) Adam Samaha. Also competes in track and field for Dexter. Harbaugh:

Family of athletes. Sister played soccer, both parents played sports. And he’s one of those guys that loves to hunt. They’ve got some of the deer antlers in the house— 10-points, OK, counting them up and stuff.

Why Donovan Edwards? Duh. I mean,

and

and you know,

plus

not to mention,

and we haven't even gotten to the last time anyone tried to put a linebacker on him in coverage.

For names other than Donovan Edwards, ESPN's Tom Luginbill thought Cabana reminded him of Clemson's Will Shipley.

I think he’s been under-evaluated, maybe under-recruited a little bit.

Shipley (draft profile) is a skinny, white, elite accelerator who can play some true receiver. The knocks on him are his speed is more 4.5 than 4.3, and he's too small to take a pounding.

Allen Trieu went with James Cook, Dalvin's younger brother. James was a 2nd rounder out of Georgia who ran a blazing 4.42 at the combine at 5'11"/199, but was knocked for being too small to break tackles or pound for extra yardage. I don't know if he meant this as part of it, but according to PFF Cook is the second-worst pass blocker among starting RBs in the League, after Alvin Kamara.

Guru Reliability: High-minus. Lots of camps, strong consensus on his marketable skills, with the primary disagreement being how much those skills are valued. Minus because (no offense locals) Ann Arbor area schools aren't the toughest competition.

Variance: Medium. Speed puts a high floor on a guy, and it's not like that's all he does. At worst he's an option at returner and an AJ Henning-like receiver. Questions are about durability, and where you set the line between gaining weight and diminishing the speed.

Ceiling: Very high. Donovan Edwards.

Flight Risk Level: Low-ish. There are a lot of RBs on the roster but fewer with his skillset, with Edwards bound for the league after this year and a clear path to that role. Other paths to the field on special teams and even a conversion to defensive back or receiver are open. He's also a local who seems to have the MSU out of his system, helped put his class together, and didn't bother to respond to Miami-Yes, NIL is literally the only reason you'd consider us, which suggests where Cabana's priorities lie.

General Excitement Level: High. Baseline 5. +1 for SPEEEED. +1 for RECEEEEEEIIIVING. +1 for GRIT. +1 for 4-star Donovan Edwards. -1 for Edwards was a five-star because he was also kinda thicc. +1 for Cabana already 200 LFG. -1 for I'll believe Sherrone Moore is committed to developing a modern-NFL running back passing game when I see him try.

Projection: Well he already redshirted, but I think we'll start to see Cabana worked into the rotation this year as they try to save some mileage on Edwards while running an offense that's been geared to Edwards's (versus Corum's) strengths. Starting in 2025 we should see Cabana taking on the Edwards role opposite Mullings/Hall/Marshall. How much of a role that is depends on what they come up with this offseason for Edwards, and how much of it they want to keep beyond that. I'd like to say it's lots but not as much as we're all hoping, and that Cabana will keep the role and efficiency while getting a downgrade in usage, as Deep Future Michigan leans more on its power running game.