| Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson linebacker Chase Winovich (image via Detroit News) |
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Position: Linebacker
High school: Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson
Class: 2014
Notes: Holds offers from Akron, Arizona, Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pitt, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Toledo, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia . . . As a junior in 2012, had 77 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries . . . Claims a 4.65 forty . . . ESPN 3-star, 73 grade, #30 OLB . . . Rivals 3-star, #30 OLB . . . Scout 3-star, #28 OLB . . . 247 Sports 3-star, 87 grade, #49 OLB
Strengths: Good speed for an outside linebacker . . . Shows good discipline and fundamentals on stance and pre-snap positioning . . . Quick feet . . . Able to side-step blockers to make plays in backfield . . . High-effort player capable of tracking plays downfield and sideline to sideline . . . Willing to be physical . . . Does well at avoiding trash in traffic
Weaknesses: Very slight . . . Lacks some functional strength . . . Struggles to take ball carriers down initially . . . Does not use hands well to shed blockers . . . Could stay lower and drive his feet through contact . . . Sometimes just latches on and goes for a ride
Projection: Outside linebacker. Winovich clearly needs to add bulk to his frame, since he is reed thin and has the lower body of a safety. Although pass coverage is not highlighted in his film, his length and change-of-direction skills should make him at least decent in that area. He has a good nose for the ball and should be plus pass rusher if he can work on using his hands and, of course, add strength and mass to his frame. There is also a slight concern about how much weight he will be able to add without losing his best qualities, which are his quickness and speed. At his height he should end up around 240-250 lbs. by the time he's a college upperclassman. Since there's so much physical development in the works, it's hard to project what kind of athlete he might be; however, I think he could be a BCS all-conference type of player if he can maintain his athleticism.
Reminds me of: Shawn Crable. Crable had chicken legs but good length and a very developed upper body; he also had good speed and a knack for getting skinny to avoid blockers and shoot gaps.
Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Ohio State and Michigan appear to be the front runners, with Pitt running third. Winovich visited Michigan last weekend and left with positive vibes, but he grew up as a Buckeye fan. A friendship with committed linebacker Michael Ferns III may prove to be beneficial for the Wolverines' chances.
You can view Winovich's highlights here.
Could you add a TTB Grade to each of the kids you Scout? Might help give us a better idea as to how you see them projecting. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as always.
He has stated that he only rates kids who are committed to UM.
DeleteWhat about a star rating of how much you would like them to commit to the class?
DeleteNo offense, but I write several paragraphs about the guy's strengths and weaknesses, then a projection for his future and a comparison to another player (usually from Michigan). I don't think adding a star rating is really necessary or informative.
DeleteSpeaking of Crable, I was thinking recently about the prospects of moving Jeremy Clark down to the SAM position. I know he is pretty tall for a safety but that height would be beneficial at the SAM. If he can put on the needed 25-30 pounds would he have a good shot at succeeding at SAM?
ReplyDeleteClark's like 200 pounds. At his height, he'll probably need to gain at least 40 pounds to maintain leverage, and I'm not sure if he has the frame to hang on that kind of weight. If he proves me wrong, fine, but it's somewhat rare for his body type.
DeleteThought he was a bit bigger already considering he came in at 200 pounds, but the depth chart shows he only put on about 5 pounds. Michigan has had success in the past moving large safeties like Burgess down to LB, so I thought it might be a possibility, especially with only having Ryan and McCray on the depth chart after this season with a potential 3rd option being a 210 lb freshman.
DeleteBurgess played WILL, anyway. He was never an edge rusher like Jake Ryan, Shawn Crable, etc. If Clark hits some kind of huge growth spurt or starts bulking up, I'm not putting it out of the question. But I don't think it will happen.
DeleteAlso, wasn't Crable a wrestler? That really helps a defensive player.
ReplyDeletePRL
THunder, who do you like more winovich, hubbard, swain, or noah f? if you could rank them i would appreciate it. thanks!
DeleteI think Winovich is the best of that group for the SAM position. Furbush looks like a future weakside end, Swain looks like an ILB, and Hubbard is good but not fantastic.
DeleteI think it would be HILARIOUS if tOSU got 3 kids who play the same position taking up their limited scholarships. Of course, the only one to suffer would be Michigan... oh yea and the kids who spend their career on the bench because Urb decided to play hardball and keep recruiting kids he knows will never see the field just so M can't have them. Because Urb cares about the kids...
ReplyDeleteHubbard is supposedly headed there to play WDE.
DeleteI really like this kid a lot and continue to think I'd take him over Berger given the choice, but I don't believe for a second that he weighs 215 in his Junior film. I'm not calling anyone a liar here, but just looking at his hips and forearms in the photo above, I'm thinking 200 ..... maybe ..... with 215 the goal for his Senior season.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a kid who is gonna be a very fine coverage linebacker and a dangerous edge rushing blitz linebacker and because it's Mattson, you're always gonna be wondering which is it on this next play, but I think he is going to top out around 230 maybe, hopefully 235 and need to be protected some at the point of attack.
All of which is OK by me.