Name: A.J Williams
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Position: TE
Ratings: ESPN – NR*, Scout – 3*, 247 Sports - NR*
Recruitment: A.J Williams is a slightly less heralded recruit than fellow TE commit Devin Funchess, but he has a pretty impressive offer list. I think Michigan State might have been the main competition here, although I’m not even sure if he visited them. He took a visit to Michigan last month and really bonded well with Coach Hoke, and that proved to be a key factor in his early commitment.
Offers: Michigan, Michigan State, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Vanderbilt, N.C State, Boston College, Louisville and West Virginia.
Stats: Currently stands at 6’5 and 260lbs, and runs in the 4.9s for the forty yard dash. He plays in a run heavy option offense, so very few pass catching opportunities for him.
ESPN Analysis: None available.
Scout Analysis: None available.
Improvements: Will need to work on consistently catching the football and route running. But his blocking skills will be pretty good entering college.
Film Highlights: Link here. (Short)
Final Thoughts: Williams is a true blocking TE who could well grow into an offensive tackle if he puts on 30lbs. He loves blocking and getting pancakes, but also catching the football, so he wants to stay at TE in college if possible. It’s always nice to have a backup plan though.
In theory Williams could contribute as a freshman, because he already has the size and strength to be used in blocking situations. When he steps on campus in 2012, he’ll more than likely be the biggest TE on the roster, so assuming his blocking technique doesn’t need too much work, he could see some playing time in run heavy formations.
Williams became the 6th commitment in Michigan’s class of 2012, and the 3rd from Ohio. In fact all the prospects committed so far are from either Michigan or Ohio.
if he stays as a TE, will hoke still take Thompson? i'd love to have both thompson and funchess as more of pass catching TE's and a solid blocker like AJ.
ReplyDeleteHey Benji, what are our chances with Brionte Dunn and Ifeadi Odenigbo?
ReplyDeleteAnd how good is Vontrell Williams?
ReplyDeleteVontrell Williams is a good player, but doesn't yet have a Michigan offer. He needs to impress the coaches at camp this summer.
ReplyDeleteOur chances seem pretty good with Dunn considering he's an OSU commit; we are meant to be getting a visit pretty soon.
Ifeadi Odenigbo has a top four that doesn't include UM, so I wouldn't hold my breath for him.
Our power rush just got better. Him and a pulling guard to block and it doesn't matter if the back's undersized. Very pleased.
ReplyDeleteBenjie maybe i'm being unreasonable, but we have 6 commitments already meaning we have 10 spots left. are we being a little to un-selective, I mean maybe that mega top-5 class was unrealistic, but the way things are going how many top150 prospects do you see us having?
ReplyDeleteBenji, Several website say Michigan will end up with Appleby as the QB in this class. I can't fined ahole lot on this kid.First will he get a offer. And just how good is he? Looks like he is a good size kid. Is he a diamond in the rough or do we hope the game does not come down to him. Me I hope he is a diamond.
ReplyDeleteWell with the two players leaving the program this week, we're now up to 18 scholarships, so that's 12 left. I think we could have around 4 or 5 top 150 players. That may not seem like a lot, but I think we'll also get a lot of players just outside that 150 mark; players that will be 4* guys, just not in the 150.
ReplyDeleteWho is the second player leaving and is he any good.
ReplyDeleteDJ Williamson, and not really. He wasn't going to get playing time this fall by the sounds of things.
ReplyDeleteAs for Appleby, he looks alright on film, good size and a fairly strong arm. But he completed less than 50% of his passes last year, so the coaches will be looking to see some accuracy from him when he works out at summer camp. If he impresses there, he'll get an offer.
Who do you think will be the QB commit in this class? You are the man on all the recruiting info.
ReplyDelete4-5 and a bunch of borderline isn't bad. where do you think that would put us nationally. also if kiehl frazier has a great year at auburn do you think zeke pike would be forced to reconsider
ReplyDeleteBenji, do you think you know who the silent commit is? Also, who are the 4 top150 guys you are thinking we may end up with? Also, what is the potential of overloading this class by a couple scholarships as some teams do in football? Do you think AJ will end up a tackle, as well as funchess a potential WR leaving the option for thompson still? Love the updates!
ReplyDeleteJer: The QB in the class will be Appleby or Brian Blackburn, or some guy we haven't even heard of yet. Sort of like Russell Bellomy last year. Comes out of nowhere.
ReplyDeleteJonah: Zeke seemed pretty adamant in interviews that he'd sign with Auburn. Unless the NCAA gives them something close to the death penalty, he'll stick with the Tigers.
Brian: Yes, I know who the silent commit is...
The 4-5 guys: RJS, James Ross, Jordan Diamond, Chris Wormley, and then Sheldon Day. I'm not saying those guys will all sign with Michigan, but its a potential scenario.
Michigan won't oversign. THIS IS MICHIGAN!! We've got honor, unlike the SEC.
AJ Williams could end up at OT, in fact theres a good chance he will, just depends on how much he grows.
Funchess will probably be a TE.
Did you not include Terry Richardson because you believe he is going out of state? or is he not a top150? I thought he was a potential 5 star. Also, what is probability of losing more guys before the fall to end up with 20 or so scholarships? Do you know when the silent commit should be going public?
ReplyDeleteTR definitely won't be a 5 Star, and he's less likely than the others to end up at Michigan. Although he'll be feeling the pressure to stay in state with RJS.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if a couple more guys decided to leave.
The silent commit will go public before the end of May.
are we in the running for any top half 150 prospects, it seems like all the guys you mentioned are in the 75-150 range. also i know its incredibly early, but if shane morris develops as expected do you think he could be a top 5 qb.
ReplyDeleteI have done a ton of research on the silent commit and I strongly believe it is Matt Godin. He should help with Danny O' Brien, correct? If we could land O'Brien and Richardson/Ross we would have a ridiculous in state class. How many scholarships do you see going to RB/WR if any?
ReplyDeleteBenji, any thoughts on the coaches stealing a soft commit like Jarron Jones or Brionte Dunn? Plus who do you think the real WR targets are? Dorial Green-Beckham by far has the coolest name of all the recruits as opposed to an Aziz Shittu or Deaysean Rippy, but Royce Jenkins-Stone is still right up there if we don't land DGB.
ReplyDeleteDidnt ray vinopal leavin open up a spot too? That would mean Cullen, dj and ray all left their scholarships and now have places for more kids in this class
ReplyDeleteI also saw Funchess is a 150 on ESPN.
ReplyDeleteEric: Funchess is only an ESPN150 Watch list prospect, which means he just has a chance of making their top 150 when the rankings are released. Personally I don't think he'll make the 150.
ReplyDeleteMichael: UM has a legitimate shot with Brionte Dunn because he wants to visit. If OSU gets hit hard by the NCAA and Michigan has a good season (8-9 wins), they might just be able to steal him.
Brian: Dan O'Brien really seems to like Tennessee right now. Before I always said that he'd end up at Michigan, but now I'm not so sure. Have to wait and see how things develop over the next couple of months.
Michigan should take at least 1 running back and probably 1 WR too. Although its hard to say which guys they will get at this point.
Jonah: I tend to follow ESPN's rankings once they come out, they provide solid evaluations and are usually quite accurate. I think Chris Wormley is massively underrated on scout.com, as he was recently named the top player in the state of Ohio by Bucknuts.com, so expect him to be in the top75 there.
Shane Morris probably will be a top 5 QB nationally if he continues to develop the way he has. I know some people here already like him more than Zeke Pike.
What happened to some california prospects that hoke should have the "in" with from coaching down there? Do we have any california kids who may very well end up in blue?
ReplyDeleteThe first one that springs to mind is Jordan Simmons, a 5* offensive guard. He's got a 'mentor' that used to play for Michigan and he's been in contact with Hoke and Co. Hopefully he'll visit this summer/fall.
ReplyDeleteBenji, i know this is off subject but what do you think will happen to that Ohio school regaurding tresselgate.Do you think lose of scholarship and or Tressel being fired. I kind of want Tressel to stay I am looking forward when Michigan returns the loses and the beat downs.
ReplyDeleteHe probably should have been fired already, but OSU loves winning, so they'll weather the storm and keep him around. I think there should be losses of scholarships, and vacated wins from the 2010 season. But that's just a guess.
ReplyDeletewill they NCAA take away OSU's 2010 big ten championship?
ReplyDeleteYeah I think so, they played five players who they knew were ineligible. And they were some pretty important players too! No way would OSU have won the B10 if those guys weren't playing.
ReplyDeleteIf they have to vacate wins that means Michigan had a better record. YAAAAAAAA. It's the little things sometimes that can make a differnce. Benji any commits coming in the near future?
ReplyDeleteTechnically, RR would have only gone 0-2 vs OSU!!! woo!
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a commit coming in 3-4 weeks. The legendary silent commit.
No other announcements have been planned for the near future, so if a guy does commit, it'll be a surprise.
by the impression i'm perceiving from ur new post, the silent commit is from DE rit? can i add ur msn?
ReplyDeleteCan't really say, you'll find out for sure in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteI don't really use MSN, but my email is mgorecruit@live.co.uk
Or you can contact me through Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/MGoRecruit
I have heard a lot of good things of Aj Williams, especially on this sport web site, Hostpph.com, and here it is not the exception either
ReplyDelete