Freddy Canteen, Wolverine

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy
wide receiver Freddy Canteen

Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy wide receiver Freddy Canteen committed to Michigan on Saturday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Rutgers, and Tennessee, among others.

Canteen is 6'1", 175 lbs. with a 4.43 forty time. He had 6 receptions for 114 yards and 1 touchdown as a junior in 2012.

RATINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: 4-star, #43 WR
Scout:  3-star, #80 WR
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #103 WR

Canteen camped at Michigan in mid-June, along with teammate and fellow Michigan commit Brandon Watson. Both players earned offers at the camp, and it took them about a week-and-a-half to commit.

There's not much film on Canteen, just about four plays on his Hudl page. He's earned praise at every stop for his route-running ability, and there are some hints of that on his film. He uses stutter steps, head fakes, good angles, and solid coverage recognition to get open. He also shows some good acceleration and explosiveness to get upfield after the catch. The quarterback for ECA is 2015 prospect David Sills, who has been committed to USC since seventh grade. While Sills might not be the cream of the crop in the class, working with a high-level quarterback has likely helped Canteen develop more than some other prospects.

Canteen has reportedly bulked up some since his junior season, but he appears to be very slight. He will have to get stronger, which is normal for a high schooler. I would also like to see him work on using his hands to catch passes, rather than catching them in his body.

My guess is that Canteen will play slot receiver for Michigan. He has some of the same qualities as Roy Roundtree, although I think Canteen might be a little bit faster. While Roundtree eventually played flanker at Michigan, that was more out of team necessity than his skills actually fitting that position. Canteen should be a quality receiver and could contribute early in his career, but his lack of bulk and strength may limit his yards after the catch and his ability to beat physical man coverage.

Canteen and Watson are the twelfth and thirteenth commitments of the 2014 class, and Canteen is the third wide receiver. Michigan likely wants to take four receivers in the class. Tarpon Springs (VA) East Lake's Artavis Scott and Bethlehem (PA) Liberty's K.J. Williams are both possibilities, but recent information suggests those two will pick Clemson and Syracuse, respectively. Eastern Christian Academy has produced some quality players in recent years, like Khaliel Rodgers (USC), Kenny Bigelow (USC), and several other prospects headed to the likes of UConn, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

TTB Rating: 73 (ratings explanation)

Here are some Hudl highlights of Canteen.