daxton hill

Hello, fan of an NFL team. MGoBlog excruciatingly scouts every Michigan play, and scores them to inform our coverage. Since mi atleta es su atleta now, here we share what we're sharing.

Quickly: Cornerbackish safety or safetyish cornerback who excelled at nickel. Strength to take on tight ends but not a hard-hitter.

Draft Projection: Early to mid 1st round. He's a highly valued type of player who can fill a role in most secondaries, and once you get to the middle of the 1st round the guys who can truly change the course of your franchise are off the board and it's time to fill needs. Shouldn't fall out of the 1st round barring something weird.

NFL Comp: Marlon Humphrey. A safety-sized cornerback who plays a lot of nickel that you can't shake.

What's his story? The 5-star little brother of Ravens RB Justice Hill, basketball player, highest SPARQ rating of his class, Michigan had to fend off a late run by Alabama to keep one of their most desired recruits in program history. Emerged as starting nickel in 2019 and was an explosive presence off the edge while solving longstanding program issues with drag routes and slot fades. Development was slow as Michigan changed defenses and had an absentee safeties coach in 2020, prompting the most negative (of the coaches) film study I've ever posted. All issues went away in 2021 as Hill locked down the Nickel/SS job and prompted a running "They tried to edge Dax Hill, how did it work out for them?" gag as each week a different opponent tried to punish Michigan for playing Hill in too much horizontal space, and Hill proved it wasn't too much after all.

Positives: Elite speed, acceleration, and agility make him an ideal coverage corner. Shuts down fades, versatility to move around the secondary. Football IQ went from being a weakness to a major strength in the last year. Readily takes on blocks his size and length suggest he shouldn't win as much as he does. Versatility to take on any role from OLB to FCB on any given play. Can get up.

Negatives: Hill came a VERY long way in 2021—hat tip to Ronald Bellamy there—but is still pretty raw at times. Was a culprit in Michigan's early season screen issues, and occasionally got in trouble trying to make a play instead of end one. Better at producing tackles for others than making them himself in space. Can get to the QB on blitzes but tends to go for knockdowns; sack production is low for how often he gets in the backfield. Still a kid on the field and for real—Hill just turned 21—so projection required.

There was only some drama because he waited so long, but Dax is off to the NFL.

Per his Instagram, Dax Hill is declaring for the NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/DGdYhcPN0N

— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) January 6, 2022

We’ve got one more UFR to see if trying to edge Dax Hill worked out for anybody. It usually did not, and probably won’t in the NFL either. But I think we all agree the five-star worked out pretty well for Michigan. Good luck in the pros Dax. Michigan has a few more decisions to sweat out, including the head coach’s.

Shameless shirt plug: This is for sale in our store.

In case you’re sick of hearing about hate lately.

Formation Notes: Michigan too had a version of their Nickel Over with a 4i-tech (Hutchinson), which I called Nickel Over 4i.

Michigan had a 404 Tite front with their Nickel personnel at times, and also went to a 46 Bear.

Also I added a new offensive play to our list called “TaTa Time,” which is when Taulia Tagovailoa starts running around with no plan whatsoever. Once again, if you ever find yourself recruiting against Maryland, I highly recommend sending the kid’s coach a copy of this game.

Substitution Notes: Snap counts! There were 68 plays before the backups went in though. Hutchinson and Ojabo had most of them, Jeter had as many snaps as Hinton. Ross was pulled at times for Colson/Barrett or NHG/Barrett. Starting corners/Dax went all the way to garbage time. At safety Moore got the start again, and Hawkins left after five snaps, replaced by Moten.

On with the show!

[After THE JUMP: Can they do enough to look like they could beat Ohio State without actually showing anything they’re going to use against Ohio State?]