| Westland (MI) John Glenn wide receiver Da'Mario Jones (image via Detroit News) |
Jones is listed at 6'2", 185 lbs., claims a 4.4 forty, and runs a 10.8 in the 100 meters.
Ratings:
ESPN: 3-star WR, 78, #77 WR
Rivals: Unranked
Scout: 3-star WR, #77 WR
247: 3-star WR, #152 WR
Jones committed to Central Michigan back in July, but he continued to visit Michigan - for the BBQ at the Big House and for several games this season. It seemed he was angling for a Michigan offer, and that offer came when it appeared that Massillon (OH) Washington cornerback Gareon Conley would decommit from Michigan in order to take visits to Ohio State and Oregon. Jones jumped on the offer almost as soon as it arrived.
Jones has good size and leaping ability, so he could be an asset in the red zone, on jump balls, or on back shoulder throws. He's capable of getting separation from defensive backs, shows good footwork and route running, and has enough suddenness to set up double moves. He's not a shake-and-bake type, but he does show a knack for making a cut upfield after running laterally. Crossing routes should be an asset where he can catch the ball over the middle, look for a seam, and then gain extra yards. He also doesn't shy away from contact, so he should turn into a plus blocker and gain yards that some receivers won't.
Notice that I said he "could be" an asset in the red zone - Jones isn't the most natural pass catcher, and he needs to work on snatching the ball out of the air. You can see in his film that when the ball is above his shoulders, he struggles to catch the ball cleanly. This could be an issue with better and bigger defensive backs, who might swipe at the ball and turn those into incompletions. Jones also shows good speed, but he won't blow the lid off a defense.
Jones seems to be a quality addition to the team, and while he doesn't look like a superstar, he looks like a very adequate addition to the receiver class. He has more big-play ability than the other two receivers currently committed, Jaron Dukes and Csont'e York. He reminds me a bit of Darryl Stonum, although lacking the same top-end speed.
This gives Michigan 23 commits for 2013, but that number will likely drop to 22 soon, once Gareon Conley exits from the class as expected. Jones is the third receiver in the class, and he should be the first player from John Glenn since running back Tony Boles, who played for Michigan from 1986-1989 (394 carries, 2247 yards, 18 touchdowns).
TTB Rating: 79 (ratings explanation)
The best highlight film is on Hudl, but here are his Youtube highlights:
Jones committed to Central Michigan back in July, but he continued to visit Michigan - for the BBQ at the Big House and for several games this season."
ReplyDeleteThe method in Hoke's madness revealed.
He's identified as a Wide Receiver/Athlete at the beginning of the film and on the one defensive snap in this video it looks like he might like to hit.
ReplyDeleteCould this kid be the realbig boundary corner they seem to be shopping for?
He doesn't look like a legitimate corner to me. He's physical enough, but I don't think he has the greatest hips. He looks like a WR playing CB.
DeleteSpeaking of guys liking to hit, Big Ten Network showed a preview last night of a piece they're doing this weekend about Daydrion Taylor's hit on Bob? Stephenson. Neither guy ever played another down of football.
DeleteSpeaking of recruiting, one of the You Tube posts of this hit lists 11 or 12 guys on the field for this play who spent time in the NFL.
There might be another 8-10 on the field that day when we take possession of the football.
There's nothing like having a dozen or so future NFL guys, one of whom is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame starting for you if you're after one of those crystal footballs.
When your best prior offer is Central Michigan, there is usually a reason for it. WRs are pretty widely scouted; there aren't a lot of sleepers out there. Is this just another Jeremy Jackson or Terrence Robinson type?
ReplyDeleteHe switched schools, and John Glenn doesn't throw the ball a ton. I think he might have just been lost in the shuffle a little bit. He's better than Jeremy Jackson or Terrence Robinson.
DeleteI don't know anything about Jones, but I would argue there are relatively plenty of WR sleepers out there. The reason is that WR productivity in high school is heavily dependent upon the offensive style and the quality of the QB. I am more comfortable with a WR sleeper than a QB or RB, who get to show their stuff (independently) on a lot more snaps than an individual WR.
DeleteJeremy Jackson got offers from Florida, Nebraska, Iowa, etc. This kid isn't in the same class.
DeleteI'm with you Marc - 'sleepers' don't exist at skill positions in populated areas. NFL coaches aren't focused on college production and college coaches aren't focused on high school production. The coaches look at potential at the next level, physical characteristics, etc.
Wasn't Terrance Robinson one of the top rated players in that UM class?
ReplyDeleteHe was pretty highly rated...but I was never a huge fan. He had a very limited set of skills.
DeleteGood to have another playmaker -WR, RB, DB, KR - and his interview responses are very mature & articulate.
ReplyDeleteI see Marc's point, but I'm not sure about "Is this just another Jeremy Jackson or Terrence Robinson type?"
ReplyDeleteApples and oranges, no? Jackson was a "lumbering" 3-star and a local kid, Robinson was a 4-star (late climb, admittedly) waterbug. Aside from the sleeper part, I don't see how Jones closely resembles either one.
79, eh? Not bad ...
Really concerned that this staff can't pull a top tier WR. Darboh and Chesson appear to be talented but if they were that good, one of them would have seen the field by now. Can't believe the staff burned Darboh's redshirt on special teams. Jones seems to be another Drake Johnson. Just don't see the talent. This class needs Treadwell.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness to the staff - why would they? Michigan hasn't produced an NFL-caliber receiver since these recruits were 8 or 9 years old. It takes a huge leap of faith for an elite WR to choose Michigan. And don't talk to me about Shane Morris and opportunity. These coaches are very conservative, want to run throwback power football and chew up clock. They're going to use 2-TE sets, FBs, H-backs, etc. The opportunities are going to be limited for a WR at Michigan.
DeleteIf that's your system, you need to sell NFL-prep, but that's increasingly soft ground as the NFL continues to evolve towards more and more spread formations and passing.
Besides, if pro-style is your thing, a recruit can go to USC or LSU or heck - Iowa has a WR coach that seems to put 3-star WRs into the NFL on the regular. Those are pretty proven programs. Michigan isn't.
I agree with you @anon, the Treadwell recruitment is BIG for Michigan.
He is listed on Scout. He's a 3*, number 77 WR.
ReplyDeleteWe have way too many average receivers. I think the only reason the staff might have done this is to lift a fire under the butts of the better prospects we're looking at by saying hey, we're ready to start bringing in unranked recruits.
ReplyDeleteI have the same concern/desire to see top notch receivers come to the program as everyone else. But don't you all think that until we show that we have a QB that can actually get the ball to these receivers with consistency that we are fighting an uphill battle with some of these recruits?
ReplyDeleteHaving a history of being able to put a receiver into the NFL and doing it now or in the near future are two different things to these kids. I think until DG or Shane actually start lighting up the passing yards we are going to be in trouble drawing these kids in... unless it's someone that actually ran the 7's circuit with Shane; like Treadwell and just likes him I just don't think we are the elite draw that we all want to perceive ourselves as being. What do you guys think?
I absolutely agree with your hypothesis. Right now, UM is basically asking any WR to take a leap of faith that the staff intends to run a more dynamic passing offense but all the recruit can see is the crapfest currently on display. This is the biggest reason why UM has fallen out of favor with Treadwell IMO and why I am almost certain he will not end up at UM. Why take a chance on UM when their are plenty of teams who have good/great passing offenses (e.g. Oklahoma/Okie State) right now?
DeleteAnonymousNovember 1, 2012 11:13 AM: If that's true (which I highly doubt), UMich is *really* screwed.
ReplyDeleteDa'Mario had been on their radar for a long time, and he's just getting an offer now? Magnus' ttb ranking of 79 is, I feel, a bit generous. If they really wanted him they would have offered a while ago. La'quan, Green, and McQuay are the best talent left on the board.
DeleteThey didn't have room for him for a long time.
DeleteLaQuon Treadwell is clearly more talented...but he's not a definite option. He has lots of other suitors, and almost all of them pass the ball better than Michigan does.
I am not thrilled with the WR prospects are bringing in, but at least these three, along with the two last year, all bring something to the table. Hoke is focusing on more flexible WR-prototypes rather than hyper-specialized, slot-only types. And I would say that each of them has a legit chance to be a significant contributor. After watching film on Miller, Jackson, and Williamson a couple years ago, I did not have the same feeling about either of those two.
ReplyDeleteAt the very least, Hoke is bringing in numbers of viable prospects to address the need at WR. Worse would be completely whiffing on position groups of need, which happened regularly under the previous two staffs. There have been years in the past where the team desperately needed OL, DL, LB's, or DB depth and basically came up empty-handed on signing day.
If Hoke was so good at WR recruiting, you'd think one of his recruits would be helping this team.
DeleteI don't have the same blind faith you have. They're going after big guys instead of little guys. That doesn't mean the kids can play.
Darboh is helping the team...on special teams coverage. But seriously, those guys haven't really had a chance to contribute yet. I'm not sold on Hoke being a great WR recruiter, either, but he's got to have a chance to develop a guy or two.
DeleteI still wish he would have gone after Devin Lucien...
Please note that I say this rarely, and with all due to respect to the coaching staff -- but this is a bad decision.
ReplyDeleteI understand the need to get WR, but they've been turning away elite OL, elite LB, and not pursuing a lot of other positions and then a spot opens up and they steal away a 3-star from CMU. He sounds like a good kid who really wants to be at Michigan and I'm sure he's adequate as a prospect, but taking a guy like this, with the options that are still available, is not good. The staff should at least see how things play out in the next few months.
Glad you like him though Thunder, that's a little bit encouraging, but I just don't see the appeal here. It's never all about ratings, and in some cases there can be "sleepers" out there, who don't have impressive offers but are still worth getting. This doesn't seem the case with Jones. I'd prefer they took Braylon's little bro.
This seems like yet another WR that is taller and slower than your typical Michigan-caliber WR recruit.
I know some of these guys may move around between WR and DB and I know that a guy like Dukes may end up at TE, but I think Michigan could have done better if they cast their net a little wider.
Dukes and York aren't particularly fast, but Jones is faster. I don't remember if you made the same sort of complaint about the first two receivers to commit for this class, but this seems like an odd guy to complain about, since he appears to be the fastest of the buch.
DeleteTaking Braylon's little brother over Jones would be silly. We don't need more running backs, we need BETTER running backs. Edwards doesn't offer anything that we can't get from Hayes or Norfleet, and neither of those guys looks like a future feature back. The wide receiver group needs a major upgrade, and it needs numbers; the running back group needs an upgrade in talent (which Edwards doesn't really offer), but not so much in numbers.
I'm starting to really understand and come around to this staff's recruiting style, especially on offense. First, I always have the great analysis on the value of a 5-star done by the Mathlete over at MGoBlog in mind since reading it. It's very Billy Bean and Moneyball. Forget the home run hitter, it's about runs and defense. Same seems to be true of Football. Defense and QB are the positions that matter, the other offensive positions are not very correlated with ranking.
ReplyDeleteSecond, Borges seems to be a guy who keeps a defense guessing by running a lot of plays out of the same package. This explains a lot why all our RB and FB are nearly clones, why our WR and TEs are so similar. There are no personell keys. No offense to Treadwell, but I think we're going to be successful with or without his level of talent.
Don't under appreciate Jones this Kid as a Freshman Dominated in NJ ... Ave 10 Receptions a game and was on the team that Beat Riidick team before he went to ND... I saw that game and Jones had 4 TD... I believe Michigan looked at a lot of NJ film on this kid Jones where he Played in a Passing Offense before transferring to Westland according to his former team mate JT
ReplyDeleteJones former teammate is JT tartocofft ... A WR with Rutgers who is killing up the BiG East .. Look at Jones Freshman and Sophmore film he Alsome in the spread...
ReplyDelete