Commitment Profile: Ondre Pipkins

Name: Ondre Pipkins

Location: Kansas City, MO

Position: DT

Ratings: ESPN – 3* (78), Scout – 4*, 247 Sports - 4*

Recruitment: Pipkins actually grew up in Michigan, and his Dad still coaches football here, so he has plenty of connections to the state and the state's premier football program! Michigan has really always lead for Pipkins since they offered, but there was fairly strong competition from the SEC schools, particularly Tennessee and Alabama. Michigan State will try to claim they were in the race, but to be honest, they weren't. Pipkins visited Michigan for the first time at the BHBBQ and claimed it to be his best visit, but he still insisted that he would take officials. A few days later he committed, funny how things work.

Offers: Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan State, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and many more.

Stats: Currently stands at 6’3 and around 320lbs, with a 40 yard dash time of 5.15 seconds. The best stats I could find on his junior year were 50 tackles and 3 sacks.

ESPN Analysis: Pipkins is a big boy and he shows flashes of being a real handful at the nose. He has good overall size, but may need to spend some time in a college weight program not only improving strength but reworking his build some to allow his size to better work for him. He can show flashes of very good first-step quickness which can grab your attention.

Has the ability to knock blockers back, but could use his hands better as well as improving his upper body strength. Has good burst off the snap of the ball and can collapse the pocket, but needs to show this more consistently.

It's a harsh evaluation compared to others!

Improvements: Needs to work on his consistency and footwork when driving through blockers. Also needs to work on his pad level and use of hands.

Film Highlights: Link here. There is actually no highlight film of him available on the likes of youtube etc, so there's a video of him just after he blew up the nike camp.

Final Thoughts: I like ESPN's evaluations, they are by far the most thorough and generally quite accurate when we look back at past players. However, I've got to be skeptical about this evaluation. Pipkins is one of the top players in the country this year based on his combine performances, and his offer list is much better than a three star rating.

As a freshman with great size, he'll definitely have a chance to compete for a rotation spot, and by his second year he could well be starting if UM is still in a 4-3. In other words, a redshirt is unlikely, unless his technique really needs as much work as ESPN says it does.

There are only four spots left in this class, and I don't think any will be going to another DT, unless his name is Aziz Shittu. The remaining spots should go to a WR, RB, CB and and OL. However you could definitely see UM missing out on that RB...

DT was a big need coming into this class and Michigan has finally filled it, to the relief of many fans I think!

Pipkins to UM

You crafty fox Mr Pipkins...next time a kid says he really wants to take official visits, I'm just going to ignore him!

Three Star (should be four star) DT Ondre Pipkins has committed to Michigan today, all but ending DT recruiting for this class; which might be bad news for Dan O'Brien.

Pipkins has had a great spring and summer at camps etc, and has earned some really impressive offers, so this is a great pickup. Anyway, more of this talk in the commitment profile later!

Sheldon Day to ND

Four star DT Sheldon Day has committed to Notre Dame, ergh.

It's always bad to see a top player commit elsewhere, but it feels even worse when you know you're going to see him each year on the opposite sideline.

Day was once considered to be a big Michigan lean back in the spring, when a quick succession of visits had the Wolverines as clear favorites. But things cooled down dramatically over the summer as Michigan gained in stature with the likes of Ondre Pipkins and Dan O'Brien. He was scheduled to visit for the BBQ last weekend, but didn't make the trip in the end, and I guess that sealed things for Notre Dame.

Who's left? (Defense)

Following up from Wednesday's offense based post, here's a look at who the Wolverines are realistically targeting on the defensive side of the ball, and see when a decision might come:

- DT Ondre Pipkins: I'd say he's still the front runner for the presumed one DT spot left in this class, although Dan O'Brien is a very close second (see below). He visited for the first time for the BHBQQ and loved it, but it wasn't enough for him to commit early. His top group includes Michigan, Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee with UM as the favorites. All four will get an official visit, so a decision will probably come late in the season.

- DT Dan O'Brien: He's seen Michigan, he's seen the SEC schools. I'm not really sure why he's delaying his decision so much when there's only 1 spot left at Michigan. He's probably going to take his officials this fall to the likes of Tennessee, Florida and Alabama, maybe MSU and UM too. If I were to guess how it all unfolds, I'd say Pipkins to UM and O'Brien to Tennessee? Just a guess.

- DE Adolphus Washington: It's still hard to project Washington into this class when he hasn't even visited, but I still think he's pretty high on Michigan. They are bound to get an official visit, and are sure to be in his final group come January when he announces at the Under Armor AA game.

- CB Armani Reeves!: Surprised? I sure am. But multiple sources are saying that Michigan is recruiting Reeves again. With four DBs committed, I'm skeptical about why they want another CB when spaces in the class are low. Maybe Hoke isn't happy about what's already on campus! Whatever the reason, Michigan is back in the hunt, although they more than likely trail Notre Dame and Penn State at this stage.

Who left? (Offense)

After Wormley's commitment this weekend, there are only 5 projected spaces left in this year's class; and the season hasn't even started yet! Crazy. Anyway, let's take a look at the realistic targets left on UM's board, and see when they might be thinking of making a decision.

- OT Jordan Diamond: As you read this I think Jordan is currently on campus at Ole Miss, having visited Arkansas yesterday. He's liking what he sees and will more than likely revisit some SEC schools on official visits. So it looks like his commitment might take a while to come, but in the end I think Michigan will hold off the challengers.

- WR Dwayne Stanford: I've recently seen two 'top five' lists for Dwayne, one included Michigan, the other did not. I suspect Michigan is still in with a chance here, given that he grew up liking UM and that he hasn't even visited yet. He'll be taking all his officials, and one should be to UM before deciding around October-November.

- WR Jehu Chesson: He visited for the BBQ with his family and they all seemed to have a great time. He's another guy that will want to take his visits, but Michigan should have a good chance here. Missouri will also be right in there at the death, as might Indiana; who he recently visited.

- WR Amara Darboh: Another recent visitor to Ann Arbor, Darboh came away very impressed and I think Michigan is definitely in his top group, if not the outright leader. He'll take some visits, but could still be a mid-season decision. Note that if one of the three receivers mentioned were to randomly commit early, then the other two might be rushed into a decision of their own.

- TE Ron Thompson: Michigan is still under consideration for Thompson along with Syracuse and Maryland. He wants to play for Michigan, but something is holding him back; maybe UM only wants 2 TE's, or maybe there is something else.

Edit: how could I have forgot him?!!!

- RB Brionte Dunn: He visited for the BBQ and liked what he saw. The OSU sanctions will be announced at tge start of the season if I remember correctly; shortly before Dunn is set to take an official to UM for the ND game. So those first couple weeks in September should decide his recruitment!

BBQ Quick Notes

So we know what Chris Wormley thought about the Big House BBQ, but what about some of the other high profile prospects there?

- There was no commitment from Ondre Pipkins, and it looks like there probably won't be one for a while. It seems like he wants to take at least 3-4 officials before making his decision. Dan O'Brien will probably do the same, which is good for Ondre because it gives him more time.

- Brionte Dunn had another good visit, and it was no doubt helped by having good friend Kyle Kalis and cousin (and UM lean) Dymonte Thomas there. In my opinion it will still come down to those OSU sanctions, but as of right now Michigan still has a very good chance.

- Jehu Chesson is one of the top WR's left on Michigan's board, and he caught up with MGoBlog's TomVH to discuss his visit.

Commitment Profile: Chris Wormley

Name: Chris Wormley

Location: Toledo, OH

Position: DE

Ratings: ESPN – 4* (80), Scout – 4*, 247 Sports - 4*

Recruitment: Chris Wormley grew up as a big Michigan fan, but throughout his sophomore and junior years at high school he insisted that both Michigan and Ohio State were his co-leaders. In fact, no other schools even came close to consideration. I think Wormley would have chosen Michigan in the end no matter what, but the trouble at OSU undoubtedly made his decision much easier. He committed to Michigan during the Big House BBQ at the end of July.

Offers: Michigan, Ohio State, Florida (not 100% sure), MSU, Illinois, Cincinnati.

Stats: Currently stands at 6’5 and 250lbs, with no reported 40 yard dash time. As a sophomore he made 59 tackles and 12 sacks.

ESPN Analysis: Wormley is a good looking defensive end prospect and displays the tools to be a tough defender against the run and pass. He is a kid with good size for a high school prospect with nice height and bulk. His current size may suggest he could out grow the end position and it is possible, but we feel he has the tools to stay at end for the long haul.

Very good in run defense, using good burst and pad level to maintain his ground and then shed through his block once he locates the ball carrier. Also has a wide range of pash rushing moves which along with his quickness of the ball make him very tough to block; he capitalizes well on any mistake an opponent makes against him.

Overall is a very solid DE prospect with the skills and size to contribute early in his college career.

Scout Analysis: Tremendous size and ability. Likely a strongside end, but could also play inside. Ideal five-tech. Turned it up another notch in terms of motor and consistent effort as a junior. When we saw him as a sophomore, he just overpowered his opposition. Last year, because I think he saw a few top prospects and, he started to turn up the intensity. He's a naturally massive kid and moves well for that size.

Improvements: His lack of intensity has been an issue brought up by a few analysts, but I wouldn't worry too much about that with Hoke, Mattison and Montgomery watching over him. 'Lateral Range' is also listed on scout as a weakness.

Film Highlights: Link here. (sophomore film)

Final Thoughts: Wormley has been one of Michigan's top targets for a long time now, dating back to the RR era, so it feels great to finally have him committed. He's received some criticism this off season, but I fully expect him to answer those critics with an outstanding senior year.

Wormley will more than likely play strongside DE, a position that will be up for grabs in 2012 after Ryan Van Bergen graduates. With his good size and skill set, Wormley will be competing for the starting role straight away.

As for the rest of the class, this commitment doesn't have too much of an effect on the projected class because it was so highly expected. Will they take another DE? Probably not, unless it's Washington.