October 6th, 2021 at 7:28 AM ^
Do any of those offensive lines know how to block?
October 6th, 2021 at 7:52 AM ^
Even the largest of them (HS OL) likely weigh 100 pounds less than him.
Otherwise, the difference between this tape and last season is quite remarkable. 6'5" 350 pounds taking up two interior OLs and stone-walling the middle is surely a very good thing-for us that is. And he, developmentally, is still a baby.
October 6th, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
He reminds me of this dude from the movie Wildcats!
October 6th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
Superb Finch reference!
October 6th, 2021 at 3:48 PM ^
I am an extra in this movie. They needed people in the stands at Lane Tech Stadium dressed for a fall game when it was 80 degrees out. Goldie Hawn smiled at me Woody Harrelson glared at me. Gordon Tech High School is no more but this is a memory.
October 6th, 2021 at 4:18 PM ^
If I remember correctly (a rarity), the large young man in the picture is Tab Thacker. He wasn’t just big, he was an All American wrestler. If I remember correctly again (more rare still), in the NCAA finals, he got waxed by a guy a hundred pounds lighter than him from Iowa or Iowa State, who was nimbler and just an outstanding wrestler. Not to take away anything from Tab, who was awesome. You should probably ignore all of the above, as it is likely that I’m just remembering wrong. This was a loooong time ago.
October 6th, 2021 at 7:55 AM ^
I am surprised these OL actually showed up. LOL. They are getting buried even when they block him as a committee.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
I feel for the OL at least trying to slow him down.
I, a former QB turned WR/TE at 190lbs, had to block Don Treadwell's son in high school. He was a top 400 recruit, 280lbs, and played DE. My high school's head coach and OC were idiots and thought I could block him some without constant help from our OTs. The best I could do was slow him down 1/2 a second (as a speedbump) heads up or chip him from his blind side to redirect him a foot.
2nd half we started running away from him so I could go get a LB at the 2nd level instead of getting caved in by him.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:37 AM ^
Username checks out. Just kidding. Thank you for sharing. I feel for you and you are here after being a speed bump. I would have cowered in fear.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:43 AM ^
Definitely closed my eyes on impact a few times. Broke 2 bones playing high school football, but neither happened while he was running me over surprisingly.
I only flinch occasionally when a large shadow crosses my path.
October 6th, 2021 at 10:01 AM ^
I was in school when coach Rod issued a call for tryouts. I briefly considered it, just to say I did, but I took a bus that one of our offensive lineman took, I forget who he is, but I do remember he was huge. I made a business decision and shelved the idea.
October 6th, 2021 at 11:34 AM ^
Good friend and former coworker had to block M's very own Rob Renes in HS. He would always laugh and recall the first play when Robbie pick him up and used him like a blocking pad to drive him into the HB during the exchange, which resulted in a fumbled exchange. Recovered by, you guessed it. Mr. Renes. This dude was a good sized kid, 6-2, 220lbs and had been a pretty decent OG in general but in is words. That game was like a drawn out murder with various combinations of double teams getting just thrown around by Mr. Renes.
October 6th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
And Renes probably only weighed 270 back then, albeit a state champ wrestler.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
I was having a good laugh while watching the video. I wouldn't want to try and block him. I value my life.
October 6th, 2021 at 11:09 AM ^
While that is an issue it still looks like he is quick through the line and is able to track down ball carriers, that is NOT something most other kids who simply outweigh the other teams offensive line are able to do.
I don't know how much this tells us about his ability to beat blocks against good competition, but it sure as heck looks like something's there.
October 6th, 2021 at 3:54 PM ^
I'm with you - but he did show off a good swim move a handful of times as well as a spin move. Those won't be as easy at the college level but he has some pass rush moves to start with and he can definitely move for a guy that big. Very excite!
October 6th, 2021 at 4:55 PM ^
This whole tape was hilarious. My favorite part was the slow motion spin move. Was certainly not expecting to see him block a ton of fgs and punts.
October 6th, 2021 at 7:31 AM ^
Kid looks like a mountain! Not sure what those guys are suppose to do with that. That being said nice to see some legit size on the interior being a priority again.
October 6th, 2021 at 10:39 AM ^
I know the kid is huge so I expected to only see bull rush after bull rush burying OLs in the backfield but I was wrong. He shows several swim moves & a spin move or two and damn that is some burst off the line for that size!
Me likey
October 6th, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^
We are going to need a bigger boat
October 6th, 2021 at 12:01 PM ^
Bigger training table ...
October 6th, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
And a bigger submarine.
October 6th, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
Double post!
October 6th, 2021 at 7:40 AM ^
Couple years in a college weight room and this guy is going to be an absolute monster on the line.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:15 AM ^
I was gonna post the same thing. The projectability is off the charts but no way he sees immediate playing time unless he adds a few steps and drops a few lbs. No offense to the kid is it what it is. Dominating as the largest guy on the field being blocked by a kid who doesn’t wanna be there, is way different than bull rushing a D1 upper class men in the big. Super excited none the less to prioritize a mountain of a man on the D line. I’d take a whole class full of this build.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:40 AM ^
Even for that size, the kid has some nifty moves such as the spin. His path seems shorter. May be wishful thinking but super excited about this prospect.
October 6th, 2021 at 9:22 AM ^
He has pretty good feet for a guy that size and he throws in a swim move and a spin move!
I’m sure the coaches are looking forward to working with him.
LBs will enjoy playing behind him.
Great OP btw!
October 6th, 2021 at 7:43 AM ^
That is the biggest person to ever block a punt.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:02 AM ^
To add insult to injury the punter then got rolled up on. Ouch!
October 6th, 2021 at 7:53 AM ^
Can't stop laughing at some of the tackles where he takes out the QB, running back, and one of the OL goes flying backwards after he drives through them too... ALL AT THE SAME TIME!
October 6th, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^
This video reminds me of Kramer doing karate with pre-teens...
October 7th, 2021 at 7:53 AM ^
Well executed and absolutely true.
October 6th, 2021 at 7:53 AM ^
When he fills in at center and calls out blocking assignments, he just calls out "ME"...for everybody...just like Michael Barrett.
During his visit I heard that he bowls overhand with so much spin that his ball hooks IN THE AIR...just like Michael Barrett.
Trust the tape... we're entering the promised land, Fred Jackson as my witness.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:19 AM ^
I heard he was being coached by Michael Barret in a summer league, and that's why he's blowing up this Fall...
October 6th, 2021 at 10:04 AM ^
I heard the same thing. Also heard that he blocked off some time after practice to show him some of the nuances of fullback!
October 6th, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^
Holy shit, he IS Michael Barrett!! That's where MB's been, hulking up to play DT!
October 6th, 2021 at 7:55 AM ^
He's got 3 solid moves, which is impressive enough for a high schooler, but that swim is NASTY. Dude's gonna draw a lot of holding calls.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:22 AM ^
"Dude's gonna draw a lot of holding calls."
Settle down, he'll be on a Michigan DL. It is a B1G rule that Michigan DL's don't get held unless its egregious - like the one Aidan drew against UW, where two (2) (TWO) OL literally tried to tackle him in the open field.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:37 AM ^
They can't call holding every play otherwise Fox would never be able to take all their media timeouts.
October 6th, 2021 at 9:50 AM ^
Well yeah, John O'Neill was in his usual form on Saturday. Can't expect him to get calls right.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:40 AM ^
I saw his swim move and his spin. Neither was the most smooth moves ever, but effective. Looks like he already knows size isn't going to get it done forever and is trying to improve. He's impressive.
October 6th, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
Yeah, I noticed those two as well as him slapping the tackle's hands away (not sure of the football term for it) coming around on an edge rush. Kid looks like "a football player."
October 6th, 2021 at 7:59 AM ^
Has blocked 24 kicks and 19 punts in 7 games
October 6th, 2021 at 9:24 AM ^
Shit those sound like Michael Barrett stats.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:10 AM ^
No caveat needed I grew up in that area and the level of competition is not good. But there are a few players each year that come out of The Region.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:11 AM ^
Reminds me of this guy Jefferson at Ridgemont High a few years ago.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:12 AM ^
The highlight where he goes out on a block and launches a CB into orbit is just... *chef's kiss*.
Edit: 2:20 in case anyone wants to witness the beauty for themselves.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:15 AM ^
This is one of the funniest reels I've ever seen. The O lines look like they are afraid to even try to block him, so he just marauds amongst the even smaller kids in the backfield.
October 6th, 2021 at 9:16 AM ^
The field goal blocks are especially funny. High school kickers, sure, but he just raises one hand and is like "nope."
October 6th, 2021 at 5:06 PM ^
I've never seen so many blocked kicks on a recruit's tape.