Caleb Stacey, Wolverine

Caleb Stacey (#71) leads the way for running back Tommy Konkoly

Caleb Stacey, an offensive lineman from Cincinnati, OH, committed to Michigan on Saturday.  He earned an offer a couple weeks ago and visited Ann Arbor.  After visiting West Virginia this weekend, he called Michigan's coaches and informed them that he wanted to be a Wolverine.

Stacey is listed at 6'4", 275 lbs. and has offers from Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Miami-OH, North Carolina State, Ohio, South Florida, Toledo, Wake Forest, and West Virginia.  His other two favorite schools were Illinois and West Virginia, but we all know those schools don't compare. None of the three major scouting services have ranked him yet, but it's still early.  His offer list at this point suggests perhaps a high 3-star or low 4-star ranking.

Though he plays offensive tackle in high school, Michigan is recruiting him as a guard.  Just like Ben Braden, there's not much film out there on Stacey.  Four clips exist from ScoutingOhio, which is embedded below.  As with every high school lineman, he will need to get bigger and stronger.  But he's kind of the opposite of Braden, who plays low and is a good drive blocker.  Stacey plays a little high and needs to work on keeping leverage, especially when he's going to be playing against much bigger guys than himself.  Even in what little film there is below, there are instances where he gets stalemated initially due to his pad level, although his size and strength eventually win the battle.  Regardless, he seems to have good footwork, finishes his blocks, and looks good on the run, which will be important for Michigan's guards under Hoke.

This is Michigan's second commitment of the 2012 recruiting class; both happen to be linemen.  As I wrote in Braden's commitment post, Michigan's coaches have stated that they want to sign six linemen in this class.  Interesting to me is the fact that, in Rich Rodriguez's first year on the job, his first commitments came at almost an identical time.  Braden committed on March 24, then Stacey on March 26.  From the class of 2009, Justin Turner, Teric Jones, and Isaiah Bell committed on March 28, 29, and 31, respectively.  (Note: Will Campbell had committed to Lloyd Carr's staff the summer before that, then decommitted in September, then recommitted in January 2009).

TTB Rating: 77