Hello 3.5* DL Roderick Pierce '23

Submitted by BlueCE on December 14th, 2022 at 8:08 PM

Michigan just received a commitment from Roderick Pierce, 3.5* DL from IL previously committed to Wisconsin

247 link

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BlueInGreenville

December 14th, 2022 at 8:13 PM ^

Quote from his coach on 247:

"He's really grown as a player. Last year, he started coming on towards the end of the year on film from the Marist game to the beginning of the playoffs, then he really wreaked havoc this year. He came in and changed everything. Culturally, he was ‘how do I watch film properly?’ He concentrated on technique and run fits. He would always go to camps and learn pass rush stuff, so he had done a lot of that but as far as being a run defender, he was absolutely amazing. He single handedly changed our defense for the better and kept us in games we wouldn’t have been in without him. He altered games. Against Joliet Catholic, he was not only great in that game against a four-star Northwestern commit on the offensive line but he also blocked a field goal to get us into overtime and eventually win that game. He’s a good kid from a great family – his younger brother is an absolute stud for us also – and he’s just been awesome. Our strength coach, who is a former D1 guy, talked to me preseason about this 2023 class and this was the first time they had a full off-season in the weight room because of Covid restrictions. That obviously helps. He gained weight, got up to 293 pounds and doesn’t look like it whatsoever. With his physical growth as well as his mental maturation of leadership too, he’s still not even close to his potential. I’ve been fortunate to coach in Texas and out in Southern California and this guy has no idea what his potential is. He has no clue." - Casey Quedenfeld, Chicago Brother Rice head coach

 

Joined: 10/22/2017

MGoPoints: 6329

Indonacious

December 14th, 2022 at 8:19 PM ^

Wisconsin DTs have been legit. He also was offered by Illinois staff prior to their prior to their DC departure in addition to by Texas. He rose a lot of in the rankings during his senior year now to about ~50th DL in nation and 47th on 247 is a 4* for example. 

Joined: 01/03/2012

MGoPoints: 16597

PopeLando

December 14th, 2022 at 9:07 PM ^

Remember that game where it got so bad we had to try Ben Mason as a DT?

I really REALLY would like to be able to have an honest conversation with someone on the coaching staff to find out what went wrong there.

It's a pipe dream, just like finding out the real story about what happened with the McCaffrey/Milton situation...but you can't convince me that heretofore-great coaches suddenly forgot how to manage a roster. Something went sideways. 

Joined: 08/01/2015

MGoPoints: 68405

blueheron

December 15th, 2022 at 7:17 AM ^

What went wrong? It's easy. Look at the recruiting classes prior to that year (2019):

2015 (5th-years): small class, no DTs

2016 (4th-years): Gary (took off early), Dwumfour (OK player)

2017 (3rd-years): Brace yourself. Solomon (flaked a little bit, transferred), Hudson (moved to O-line), Irving-Bey (flunked out), Jeter (slow to develop), Paea (never developed)

2018 (2nd-years, so early even under optimistic scenarios): Upshaw (still only a swing player), Welschof (same)

2019 (1st-years, so only an elite player would get on field): Hinton (OK), Mazi (very good, but early in 2019)

See? It was a combination of a small transition class at the start, arguably bad strategy in 2016, possibly bad luck in 2017, and a somewhat dim atmosphere in 2018.

Joined: 03/26/2009

MGoPoints: 31005

Jordan2323

December 14th, 2022 at 9:30 PM ^

Said this is the hello post above:

I know a lot of people aren’t happy with the 2023 class but when I scan through it, it has the exact type of players that Harbaugh wants to win with. He wants to win in the trenches. The only thing we need to shore up is cornerback and it would have been nice to land a 2023 quarterback. As long as JJ stays his senior year, and Jadyn comes, we are going to be fine at quarterback. I like all of the other pieces to this class so far though. Be nice to land Jyaire Hill for sure though.

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48921

Blue Middle

December 15th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^

We are D-Line U.  Sure, other schools might produce more top round picks (because they recruit more blue chip prospects), but Michigan is developing players along the DL better than anyone else right now and they're moving on to the NFL.  Three out of four starters from this year's line will be drafted, and at least a few more are trending towards being early picks.

Joined: 01/07/2019

MGoPoints: 5242