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| Massillon (OH) Washington's Gareon Conley is Michigan's newest commit |
Conley is 6'2" and 165 lbs. As a junior in 2011, he made 26 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 4 interceptions. He also had 3 receptions for 10 yards, 3 punt returns for 39 yards, and 4 kickoff returns for 142 yards.
Ratings:
ESPN: Unranked CB
Rivals: Unranked ATH
Scout: 4-star CB, #20 CB, #227 overall
247 Sports: 3-star CB, 88 grade
Conley was offered by Michigan in mid-February and the word out of Massillon was that he would be a Wolverine - it was just a matter of when. Even though the Wolverines have zero other commitments at the boundary corner position, it's quite possible that Conley saw all the other commitments going down and wanted to hop on the train before it got full. The coaches likely want to take two or three total corners in this class.
Conley is listed as being 6'1" or 6'2" on all the recruiting sites, and he's a long, lanky kid. He has good speed but he's not lightning fast. He does accelerate pretty well for a kid with such long legs, and it's going to be hard to beat him over the top because of his speed and length. His wingspan will allow him to jam receivers at the line and reach around receivers to tip away passes without having to interfere with the offensive player.
My concerns with Conley are twofold. First of all, how quickly will he be able to add weight? He's very thin at his height and only 165 lbs. Michigan is lacking in big corners, so much so that incoming freshman Jarrod Wilson might get a shot to play cornerback instead of free safety. J.T. Floyd will have graduated by the time Conley arrives, so that will leave Raymon Taylor as the only sizable cornerback; Blake Countess, Delonte Hollowell, and Terry Richardson are all small-ish field corner types, although Countess could probably play the boundary if necessary. This goes hand-in-hand with Conley's size questions, but will he become more aggressive with added size? There are times in his highlights where he seems afraid of contact. He's tentative when tackling, tries to drag guys to the ground, and shies away from contact when running the ball.
Overall, Conley is a very good athlete whose mentality and aggression need to catch up to the rest of what he has to offer. Once he adds the necessary weight and strength, he should improve as a tackler and run supporter. I have never seen a kid come to Michigan and fail to add weight; it's just a matter of how quickly that can happen for him. But if he doesn't become a more physical player, he will have a hard time seeing the field.
Massillon Washington is the alma mater of former Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable and former Michigan cornerback (late of Scottsdale Community College) Justin Turner.
TTB Rating: 75 (rating system)
"Even though the Wolverines have zero other commitments at the cornerback position, it's quite possible that Conley saw all the other commitments going down and wanted to hop on the train before it got full. The coaches likely want to take two or three total corners in this class."
ReplyDeleteWhat about Jourdan Lewis? With those two on board, aren't we done recruiting CBs now (keeping a spot for someone like Cravens)?
I fixed it above. I meant to say "boundary corner." Lewis is more of a field corner.
DeleteI think Michigan would still want another boundary corner.
DeleteI see. Would it be possible for the coaches to take another boundary corner and have a spot open for Cravens or Fuller?
DeleteI doubt the coaches would take a fourth cornerback, but I don't think another corner would prevent Michigan from taking Cravens, who's in no danger of playing corner. It's probably a moot point in regard to Fuller, because most people (including me) think he's Virginia Tech-bound.
DeleteAlso, what are some of the differences between a boundary corner and a safety? I was good friends with Tommy Zbikowski in high school and coaches told him he had the size to play as a big corner, but not the hips. Is that really the only difference?
DeleteThat's a big part of the difference. Safeties can get away with being a little slower overall, too. I also tend to think that a free safety should be a better tackler than either of your corners, too.
DeleteYeah, Zib was a ridiculous athlete who ran a 4.6 and could tackle anything. Based on your description, it sounds like free safety was the right spot for him.
DeleteThanks again for all your insight. I really am learning a lot from you, and I appreciate that.
Yeah, I couldn't really see him as a cornerback. I did like him as a player, though, despite the fact that he played for Notre Dame.
DeleteYou're welcome. I'm glad to be able to help.
I know this is OT for this thread...but with the coaches saying that they are full at lb one would assume that Gedeon is a silent commit...just curious, but who do u prefer between Gedeon and Dorian O'Daniel?
ReplyDeleteI prefer Gedeon as a linebacker. O'Daniel is a better athlete, but I think he's a bit of a project.
DeleteI think it is a mistake to relegate Jourdan Lewis to field corner because of his supposed lack of size. In person reports have him at or near 5'11" already which means he could very well be 6 feet or better by the time he hits campus which is ideal size for a corner. That taken with his undeniable athleticism and the expected gain in weight/strength will make him a formidable corner at either end of the field. I don't see the need for another in this class with so many young ones coming up.
ReplyDeleteps - great tid bit about Wilson having a shot a corner - I don't believe it for a second but always interesting to hear some behind the scenes gossip.
Probably best to have Wilson training to be a back up corner in case of injury since he will need time anyway. I love has ballhawking from safety but he's too raw to play there yet. Get him ready if needed somewhere else. This staff makes all the right moves.
ReplyDeleteIs there more video of this kid? I only saw one play where he is in run support. Totally agree about the need to bulk up, but I don't see a significant deficiency in his tackling ability or aggressiveness. The recruiting sites even seem to praise him for his "willingness to come up and hit in run support" and that "he's a solid tackler as well."
ReplyDeleteHere's a longer highlight video, but you might have to have a Hudl account to view it:
Deletehttp://www.hudl.com/athlete/566086/gareon-conley
Safe to say you think very highly of the secondary class we've got here. If Cravens or another top corner were added would you favor the secondary group over the 2013 oline class?
ReplyDeleteClearly he needs to add bulk but he is also at least 18 months away from playing at Michigan. With Michigan getting commits earlier now then in the past these players are bound to be a bit lighter than we typically see recruits. I'd think he shouldn't have trouble adding 10-15 pounds over the next year and a half. Hopefully he has at least 2.5 years before he sees significant playing time at Michigan and can get up to 190 which would still be kind of skinny at 6'2".
ReplyDelete