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Friday, January 22, 2010

Delonte Hollowell, Wolverine

Munchkinland High School cornerback Delonte Hollowell

Cornerback Delonte Hollowell, a Class of 2011 recruit from Cass Tech High School in Detroit, MI, committed to the University of Michigan two weekends ago. He had been hinting at an impending commitment to Michigan for a few weeks, and he actually committed silently to the coaches a week before it became public.

Hollowell is listed at 5'8" and 163 lbs., so he follows in the line of midget cornerbacks that Michigan has recruited out of Cass Tech. Class of 2008 cornerback Boubacar Cissoko, class of 2009 slot receiver/cornerback/slot receiver Teric Jones (who's moving back to offense for the spring), and class of 2010 cornerback Dior Mathis (committed to Oregon) were all listed in that 5'8" range. Their one Big Ten-worthy defensive back who hasn't been offered by Michigan is Daniel Easterly, who's 6'4" and headed to Missouri this year.

Hollowell is Michigan's second commit overall - and second cornerback commit - of the 2011 class. Greg Brown, from Fremont, OH, committed back in September. With at least three cornerbacks in the 2010 class and anywhere from 3-5 safeties, don't expect Michigan to pursue many more defensive backs in 2011. They'll probably go hard after safety Ron Tanner, from Columbus, and that might be it.

As with most short cornerbacks, I'm not a big fan of the Hollowell commitment. Short cornerbacks automatically have issues with bigger receivers, and Michigan seems to be recruiting a lot of them recently. I wasn't enamored with either Cissoko or Mathis when they were coming out of high school (Teric Jones only played offense), but I'd take both of them over Hollowell. He lacks the elite athleticism and speed that the other two seemed to have. Hollowell does have excellent hands and adjusts well to the ball when it's in the air. But I'm afraid that bigger and/or faster wide receivers will give him trouble at the next level.

TTB Rating: 58

17 comments:

  1. I guess everyone has the right to their on ideas, but I think this Hollowell kid is going to prove you wrong. Plus, whatever happended to giving young people incouragement!! He's what 16 and i'm sure your an adult so give the kid a chance and if he not what U of M thinks he's going to be (which I believe he is) then write something that would help the kid and not hurt him. As adults we can say and post what we want, but a 16 year old is exactly that 16 years old, and I see you don't know the determination and drive that this young fellow has, but I do!!!Just a thought...

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  2. I hope he does prove me wrong. As a Michigan fan, I hope he's the next Charles Woodson.

    However, I'm not hurting him by writing this. If his feelings or confidence are hurt by a random guy posting on the internet, then he's got bigger problems to worry about.

    I write this blog to a) keep my thoughts on Michigan football in one place and b) to offer an honest opinion of Michigan football. I'm not going to write a glowing scouting report of kids that I don't think will be extremely successful. I'm not a journalist, but I think evaluating Michigan commits from purely a Michigan fan's viewpoint would be dishonest.

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  3. i think michigan will still go after top top safety types like hasean clinton-dix and wayne lyons but i agree that it won't be anything like this year's secondary class

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  4. Delonte is a Technician....enough said! Cass Tech tried and proven beyond that know one knows how a recruit will pan out. I am glad that you're not in a position to evaluate recruits. Obviously, you can't see what hundreds of analyst and coaches have seen in this kids pontential to move to the next level. Good Luck Delonte and represent Wilcher's boys at U of M. Next, time just say thank you when we send you a gifted and talented athlete. With that kind of appreciation the next All Americans coming out of Cass might decide Ohio! Mr. ZEE

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  5. @ Anonymous 10:21 a.m.

    Like I said, these are my opinions, and I'm not going to blow smoke up a kid's (or a fan base's ass) by saying that every Michigan recruit is going to be successful. How could you put stock in anyone's word who thinks every recruit is going to be great?

    Anyway, I hope Delonte proves me wrong. As a Michigan fan, I hope that every single one of these kids becomes an All-American and gets to the NFL. But I know that's not realistic.

    And as for your opinion that you're glad I'm "not in a position to evaluate recruits," that's your opinion and I'm fine with it. But despite everyone's glowing reviews of Boubacar Cissoko, I was not a fan of his when he came out of high school. He didn't do anything spectacular in his two years at Michigan and then he got booted off the team, so I might not be as clueless as you think.

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  6. YEA MY LIL COUSIN GONNA PROVE EVERYBODY WRONG. HE HAS A VERY GOOD WORK ETHIC, AND HE PLAYS HARD. HE WILL BE THE NEXT CHARLES WOODSON

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  7. Delonte is the real deal and college Coaches love him he has the grades, skills, and the work ethic. Delonte just use ass holes like this as motivation. All he is, is a fan of Michigan who wish he had the talent you have so pay him no mind good luck Delonte GO BLUE and congrats on the ALL-American cant wait to see you play in the army all american game

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  8. @ Anonymous 3:41 p.m.

    I'm sorry you think I'm an "ass hole" just because you disagree with my opinion. You sound very educated, though, so whatever you say goes.

    Also, just so you know, Delonte was NOMINATED for the Army All American game. That does not mean he will play in the game. Hopefully he plays well enough to earn a selection, but let's not jump the gun.

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  9. If you know so much about football, why don't you stop creating blog sites and become a NFL coach.. But I guess some people do and all others just talk stuff..Better yet let's see you get out there with the "KIDS" or better "Young Man" that you love to put down and see how long you last on the field with them!! I guess your right he's only been nominated for the Army All American game, but have you ever been nominated for anything related to football? Probably not!! Let's let the people who are paid to make the decisions in football, who are millionars, judge new recruits and not someone who hides behind a page on the internet. A real Man could reveal himself...So put your identity where your writtings are, so your friends and family can see what a little person you are to ridicule and be so judgemental of are future leaders.. Go Delonte, make me proud and represent that blue and gold, so all Michigan fans can see what you are about. For those that don't care for you or like you because Michigan has shown an interest in you don't give them a second thought!!! All great man have to face negative people and that will help you to build character and develope you into the man you will become.. CH

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  10. @ Anonymous 9:03 a.m.

    When did I claim to be a genius about football?

    But you're right. Since I couldn't keep up with a junior in high school, I must not know what I'm talking about. Hey, I bet Coach Wilcher at Cass Tech can't keep up with Kishon anymore. He should probably stop coaching, right?

    Anyway, you're entitled to your opinion. If it takes criticism like "he's short" and "he lacks elite speed" to really get you and him revved up, then so be it. Some of you are acting as if I called him ugly and questioned whether he should have ever been born.

    As I've said above, I hope he proves me wrong. In the meantime, I stand by my assessment.

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  11. The difference is that Coach Wilcher played U of M football and has track and field records that he still holds. That gives him credibility!!! It's not about out performing the youths of today as we get older, but, gaining their respect and trust. This is done by being credible and known, and living your "Life Sentence"(what people say about you and the life you live) that speaks volumes about how you have lived your life. I'm not revved up, and as to the young male I guess you will have to ask him how he feels!! I'm just expressing my opinion.

    Also, I believe you are a U of M fan so we are both on the same team! Good luck to you and hopefully one day we can find out who you are so we can celebrate the blue and gold wins together. Good luck with your blog and GO BLUE!!

    CH

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  12. @ Anonymous 11:22 a.m.

    I have no doubt that Coach Wilcher has credibility. I know he was a good athlete and he has affected a lot of lives as a football coach. That being said, you have no idea what I do in my everyday life. I'm not going to tell you my life story, and I have my reasons for posting anonymously. You'll notice that my blog doesn't try to spread rumors or stir up controversy. I talk about football, and that's about it. My assessment of Delonte is purely based on what I've seen and read about his football skills, not an indictment of his morals or character.

    I am a U of M fan, which is why I said that I hope Delonte proves me wrong. I'm hoping he's the next Charles Woodson and wins the Thorpe Award as a Wolverine.

    Thanks for the well wishes. Go Blue.

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  13. One of the best statements you made was when you thought Michigan missed out on an excellent recruite in Daniel Easterly..... Wish we could have kept him in Michigan...... Dior and Easterly decided that the world was alot bigger the Michigan.... and with the situation as it is....I think that they both made very good decisions.... Rich Rod is on his last leg.... call it good-night. That Gardner kid is the future.....Tate might not see the crack of day after Gardner learns the offense,

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  14. @ Anonymous 8:19 p.m.

    Thanks for the compliment, but a few things:

    a) From what I understand, Dior Mathis didn't "decide that the world was a lot bigger than Michigan." Michigan stopped recruiting him in part because of his lack of size.

    b) Easterly didn't have the option of going to Michigan. The Wolverines never offered.

    c) We'll see about Rodriguez. I think he's still got some life.

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  15. Let the truth be told....Michigan made a verbal offer to Easterly and was to deliver a written one on his visit at one of their camps. Daniel decided not to go and made an eary commitment to another school. He did not give Michigan a chance to offer him... You snooze you lose...

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  17. Hahaha, now I want to make a donation!

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