2015 Season Countdown: #68 Blake Bars

Blake Bars

Name: Blake Bars
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 281 lbs.
High school: Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #62
Last year: I ranked Bars #76 and said he would be a third string guard. He did not see game action.

Well, Bars is moving up in the world - he went from #77 in 2013 to #76 in 2014, and now he's all the way up to #68 in the countdown. I said last year that Bars would be a third-stringer, and that held true. He did not play at all despite the early blowout against Appalachian State when it seemed like everyone got in the game.

It's Bars's fourth year on campus, and he's still listed at 281 lbs. That's not a good number for an offensive lineman in the Big Ten. So far he has only played in one game, that coming during the 2013 season. While he has taken snaps in practice at almost every position across the offensive line, including center, there are other backups ahead of him at each position: center (Patrick Kugler), guard (David Dawson), and tackle (Logan Tuley-Tillman). Unless injuries devastate the offensive line, Bars probably won't be anything more than a mop-up guy.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

2014 Season Countdown: #76 Blake Bars

Blake Bars (image via Go Blue Wolverine)

Name: Blake Bars
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 290 lbs.
High school: Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #62
Last year: I raned Bars #77 and said he would be a third-string offensive guard. He played in one game against Central Michigan.

As I mentioned during his first couple years on campus, the competition on the offensive line is tough and Bars is playing a little from behind. He did not play during the 2013 season except for a short stint against CMU in the season-opening blowout of the Chippewas. This spring he was running mostly with the third string and appears to be a backup option once again.

During the last couple years, Bars has shown some positional flexibility, playing some guard and some tackle. He also snapped the ball a little bit behind centers Graham Glasgow and Jack Miller, but Bars is just an emergency option there. He is a little bit heavier than last year (up six pounds on the roster), but 290 is still rather thin for a Big Ten offensive guard, especially one who stands 6'5". Unfortunately for him, he has been passed by guys in his own class (Kyle Kalis, Erik Magnuson, Ben Braden), the class below him (Kyle Bosch, David Dawson), and even a true freshman tackle (Mason Cole), albeit not at Bars's natural guard spot. It's tough to see where Bars breaks through unless injuries or early departures occur, but having a veteran offensive lineman to back up several spots is a bit of a luxury.

Prediction: Third string offensive guard

2013 Season Countdown: #77 Blake Bars

Blake Bars

Name: Blake Bars
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 284 lbs.
High school: Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #62
Last year: I ranked Bars #87 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Bars came in last year as my choice for freshman most likely to redshirt, and he did not disappoint. Of course, all the offensive linemen redshirted, so it was a fairly easy choice. We didn't hear much buzz about Bars coming out of practices, and his play in the spring game was less than stellar. Then again, at 6'5" and in the mid-280's, he's nowhere near the weight he needs to be to compete in the Big Ten.

Bars appears to be a third-stringer at best, behind a couple of his classmates and some walk-ons. Unless there are departures or injuries between now and the season, he might not see any game action once again. Michigan should be able to run out a second line without using him, and he should hopefully be able to at least get into the 290's for the 2014 season.

Prediction: Backup to the backup offensive guards

Wolverine Nation: Entrance Interview with Blake Bars

Kelly Karloff

Tom VanHaaren interviews incoming freshman offensive lineman Blake Bars.

2012 Season Countdown: #87 Blake Bars

Blake Bars (#67)

Name: Blake Bars
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 275 lbs.
High school: Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell
Jersey number: N/A
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Last year: Bars was in high school.

Final TTB Rating: 62

In my opinion, Bars is the most likely freshman to redshirt.  Michigan doesn't have much depth on the offensive line, but there are guys who are more highly touted and physically more ready to play.  There was some chatter at one point that Bars might play center due to a lack of depth at the position, but offensive line coach Darrell Funk stated on national signing day that he didn't think any of the incoming freshman linemen would have the ability to play center.

Unfortunately for Bars, he arrives at Michigan with some highly touted guys competing at his position, and the class of 2013 also looks to be pretty solid on the offensive line.  Competition is going to be stiff, and I'm not sure Bars will be able to get or stay ahead of the other guys.  Regardless, when you've got a 4-star recruit with no serious and apparent shortcomings, that bodes well for your team's performance.

Prediction: Redshirt

2012 Recruiting Awards

Kyle Kalis is my pick to be the best recruit from the 2012 class

This is a fun yearly exercise for me.  You can take a look back at the 2009, 2010, and 2011 recruiting awards for a historical perspective on my choices.  Overall, I haven't done a bad job, with some hits and misses over the years.  My best defensive recruit from 2010 was Marvin Robinson, who has yet to make much of an impact.  But I've picked a couple good ones as guys who are most underrated - Desmond Morgan and Jake Ryan.  It's the usual - sometimes you're right, and sometimes you're wrong.

Best Overall Recruit: OG/OT Kyle Kalis
This was a pretty tough choice between Kalis and James Ross, but I'm going to go with Kalis, in part because of his NFL potential and his size.  Whereas Ross needs to add a little bit of bulk and even then might not be big enough for many NFL teams, Kalis has the size, technique, athleticism, and pedigree to play at the next level. 


Best Offensive Recruit: OG/OT Kyle Kalis
The 2012 class isn't deep with offensive stars, so this wasn't a very difficult choice.  But I think Kyle Kalis is about as college-ready as high school linemen come.  He has excellent technique and very good size (6'5", 305 lbs.).  He could be on the two-deep this fall, and I'm guessing he'll be at least a three-year starter for the Wolverines.

Best Defensive Recruit: LB James Ross
The best NFL prospect of the bunch might be defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins, but for their three-to-five years in college, I'll take Ross as the best defensive player.  He could challenge Desmond Morgan for playing time as a true freshman, and by year two, he might have the starting WILL job locked down.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: DT Ondre Pipkins
I don't think it's a good thing when freshmen enter school knowing that the coaches almost have to play them, but that's the situation Pipkins will find himself in this fall.  With Michigan's top two defensive tackles having left and only unproven guys remaining, he's a virtual lock to see significant time this fall.

Fastest Recruit: RB/PR/KR Dennis Norfleet
Running back Drake Johnson and wide receiver Jehu Chesson are high school track stars, but I'm giving Norfleet the nod due to his short-area quickness, too.  It takes Johnson and Chesson a little bit longer to accelerate than it does Norfleet.

Strongest Recruit: DT Ondre Pipkins
Pipkins will have no excuse for failing to be the strongest player on Michigan's team in a few years.  He's 6'3" and 330 lbs. already.

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: DT Willie Henry
The more I think about the defensive line coaches at Michigan getting their hands on Henry, the more excited I get.  Henry is a very athletic kid for his size and should be a penetrating-type defensive tackle for Michigan in the years to come.  Outside of classmate Ondre Pipkins, he might very well be the best DT recruit since Mike Martin in 2008.

Most Overrated Recruit: OT Blake Bars
Bars has the unfortunate luck of coming to Michigan in the midst of two great offensive line recruiting hauls.  He could very well get lost in the shuffle with guys like Kalis, Erik Magnuson, Logan Tuley-Tillman, Kyle Bosch, etc. 

Most Likely to Redshirt: OT Blake Bars
As an offensive lineman, you're likely to redshirt, anyway.  But Bars has some weight and strength to add before he sees the field, and he's the least likely to play early, in my opinion.  Kalis already has the size and technique, Ben Braden is reportedly 325 lbs., and I think Erik Magnuson is a little more advanced (although I expect him to redshirt, too).

Personal Favorite Recruit: LB James Ross
For the second year in a row, I'm picking a weakside linebacker.  Last year it was Antonio Poole.  This year it's Ross.  I love these fast, downhill players who can make plays in the backfield, in pass coverage, and at the line of scrimmage.  Ross is one of the most technically sound football players I've seen since I started following recruiting, and that makes him incredibly fun for me to watch.

Senior Highlights: Blake Bars

TTB Ratings: Reason Behind the Ratings

Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison DE Mario Ojemudia made a significant
jump in the new TTB ratings

Yesterday I posted the new TTB Ratings for Michigan's class of 2012 (which I reserve the right to change until after Michigan's recruiting class is completed), and obviously, there were some significant changes for a few players.  A couple kids have moved up or down a few points, but today I'll try to explain the reasons behind the biggest movers.

Ondre Pipkins - NT - Kansas City (MO) Park Hill
Pipkins moved up from an 82 to a 90.  I was impressed with Pipkins' performance in the Army All-American Bowl.  He looked to me to be a little bit out of shape, but I guess 330-pound defensive tackles rarely look like they're in shape.  However, when he had the gas to go 100%, he was a terror.  He also showed good athleticism in chasing down quarterback Chad Voytik and wide receiver Stefon Diggs, causing a fumble against the latter.  Pipkins dominated the high school competition in Kansas City, but doing it against elite competition suggests that he'll be able to have success in the Big Ten, too.

Joe Bolden - MIKE - Cincinnati (OH) Colerain
Bolden moved up from a 77 to an 88.  I was slightly disappointed that Bolden couldn't bring down a few more ballcarriers in the Under Armour All-American Game, but he was the week's best tackler in practice and he was very good at diagnosing plays.  I've always liked his decisiveness and intelligence, but he showed throughout the season and the all-star game that he has the speed and athleticism to be a very good Big Ten linebacker.  He needs to add weight and he would benefit from a redshirt year so he can improve his upper body strength.

Jehu Chesson - WR - St. Louis (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins
Chesson moved up from a 77 to an 87.  As I consider the future of Michigan's offense under Brady Hoke and Al Borges, I realize the value of a jump-ball guy like Chesson.  He's excellent at high-pointing the ball and catching it with his hands, and that bodes well for his future for Michigan.  He looks like an Adrian Arrington clone, and without another downfield threat on the squad, he could be that guy who can stretch the field as soon as next season.

Mario Ojemudia - WDE - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
Ojemudia moved up from a 67 to a 78.  Ojemudia played defensive end/outside linebacker in the Marine game, and his performance wasn't very impressive . . . but since he mostly played defensive tackle in high school, I'm going to give him a little bit of a pass.  One of his strengths is getting off the ball quickly, and without the ball right under his nose, his reaction time was affected negatively.  However, his senior highlight film shows a guy who can use his hands to get off blocks, and he reminds me of the freshman version of Frank Clark.  Those two are very similar players, and Ojemudia looks like he'll be able to fill that weakside end position nicely.

Blake Bars - C - Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell
Bars dropped from a 71 to a 62.  I wasn't extremely high on Bars to begin with, because he seems a little slow-footed and doesn't seem like a great athlete.  He looks like more of a backup and maybe a late-career starter as a tackle, but now that Caleb Stacey has decommitted in favor of Cincinnati, that might require the 6'5" Bars to play center.  Since he lacks experience at the position and because of his lack of quickness, I think he might struggle inside.

Jeremy Clark - FS - Madisonville (KY) North Hopkins
Clark moved up from a 49 to a 59.  When I first heard about Clark and saw film on him, I thought he might be a big fish in a small pond.  But the more film I saw of him, the more I think he can make an impact at the next level.  He's a lanky kid who gets by on athleticism, so I think college is going to be a bit of a wake-up call for him.  He probably won't be the type who comes in and lights the world on fire.  He'll have to improve his pursuit angles and he'll have to become a more fundamental tackler, but his height (6'4") and flat-out speed should provide a nice athlete on the back end to work with for four or five years down the road.

Kaleb Ringer - WILL - Clayton (OH) Northmont
Ringer dropped from a 64 to a 39.  As you might be able to tell from his original rating of 64, I wasn't too high on Ringer from the start.  However, the more that I have seen and heard of Ringer, the more I'm concerned about him remaining with the program.  I do think he has the physical talent to be a backup, but let's face it - guys from every recruiting class get lost in the shuffle, become career backups, transfer, etc.  My gut feeling on Ringer is that he'll be one of those guys, especially with all the other talent at linebacker in the 2012 class.

Additional Visitors for Ohio State Game

DeVeon Smith

Last week I posted the expected visitors for the Ohio State game.  In addition, the following recruits showed up in Ann Arbor on Saturday:

Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell Academy OL Blake Bars: Bars will sign with Michigan in February.

Southfield (MI) Southfield WR Brandon Bean: Bean is a 6'2", 200 lb. prospect for 2013.  He attends the same high school as class of 2012 tight end Ron Thompson, whom Michigan offered early in the recruiting cycle.

Owensboro (KY) Apollo OT Hunter Bivin: Bivin is a 6'7", 288 lb. prospect for 2013.  Apollo is a rival of Madisonville (KY) North Hopkins, where 2012 commit Jeremy Clark played.  Bivin's only current offer is from Kentucky.

Mason (MI) Mason FB/LB Blake Cook: Cook is a 6'3", 226 lb. prospect for 2012.  He currently has zero FBS offers and could be a walk-on prospect for Michigan.

Warren (OH) Howland ATH Brendan Cope: Cope is a 6'4", 185 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers, but with that size and a reported 4.45 time in the 40, that will likely change soon.

Lansing (MI) Eastern OL Josh Crim: Crim is a 6'6", 270 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers.

Cincinnati (OH) Wyoming DT Terry Davis: Davis is a 6'4", 270 lb. prospect who's currently committed to North Carolina State.  He attends the alma mater of Michigan defensive end Jibreel Black.  Davis also has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, and South Florida, among others.

Lake Forest (IL) Lake Forest WR Bo Dever: Dever is a 6'2", 195 lb. prospect who has already committed to walk on at Michigan in 2012.

Cincinnati (OH) Moeller OG Alex Gall: Gall is a 6'5", 295 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers.

Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary WR Jordan Hargrove: Hargrove is a 5'11", 170 lb. prospect for 2013.

Traverse City (MI) West OG Connor Hayes: Hayes is a 6'3", 260 lb. prospect for 2014.

Muskegon (MI) Muskegon RB Juwan Lewis: Lewis is a 5'11", 200 lb. prospect with offers from Buffalo, Toledo, and Western Michigan.  He was hoping for a Michigan offer, but the commitment from Drake Johnson and the potential for Bri'onte Dunn to commit have presumably squashed most of that hope.

Canton (OH) Glenoak OG Steve Mathie: Mathie is a 6'5", 270 lb. prospect for 2013.  He already holds an offer from UCLA.

Youngstown (OH) Cardinal Mooney SS Marcus McWilson: McWilson is a 6'0", 195 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers, but that will likely change in the coming months.  He attends the alma mater of former Michigan safety Ray Vinopal.

Saline (MI) Saline LS Taybor Pepper: Pepper is a 6'5", 180 lb. prospect who one "expert" considers to be the #6 high school long snapper in the country.  Michigan's starting long snapper is Tom Pomarico, who graduates after this season.  Pepper may walk on in Ann Arbor and battle with starting short snapper Jareth Glanda for snapping duties.

Kansas City (MO) Park Hill DT Ondre Pipkins: Pipkins will sign with Michigan in February.

Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice LB Jon Reschke: Reschke is a 6'2", 210 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently holds offers from Michigan State and Toledo; the Spartans are considered to be the leader, with Notre Dame somewhere close to the front, too.

Holland (MI) Holland LB Nathan Ricketts: Ricketts is a 6'3", 215 lb. prospect with offers from Central Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan.

Warren (OH) Howland RB DeVeon Smith: Smith is a 5'11", 215 lb. prospect for 2013.  He currently has zero FBS offers, but he's the younger brother of former Wisconsin running back Lance Smith (who was booted from the Badgers a few seasons ago because of a domestic violence charge).

Holland (MI) Holland ATH Corey Willis: Willis is a 5'10", 170 lb. prospect for 2013.  He could play wide receiver or cornerback in college, but he currently has zero FBS offers.

Maize 'n' Brew: Recruiting Update for July 2, 2011

Miranda Kerr

The weekly recruiting update is over at Maize 'n' Brew with talk about Blake Bars, Jordan Payton, Munchie Legaux, and more.

Blake Bars, Wolverine

Blake Bars (#67)

Nashville, TN, offensive lineman Blake Bars committed to Michigan on Sunday.  He picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Mississippi State, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Virginia, among others.  His other two finalists seemed to be Penn State, where his brother plays linebacker, or the hometown Vanderbilt Commodores.

Bars is a 4-star recruit to Rivals, but only a 3-star to the other three major services.  He's the #34 offensive tackle to Rivals, #38 to Scout, and #56 to ESPN.  He stands 6'5" and 275 lbs., benches 310 lbs., and squats 425.

I would be curious to find out how Bars appeared on Michigan's radar.  There are various ways that coaches find out about players (privately hired scouting services, word of mouth, the internet, high school coaches sending game film, etc.), but Bars has an aunt who lives in Ann Arbor and a grandmother who lives in metro Detroit.  It seems like more than a coincidence that Michigan ended up offering a kid from a state that Michigan hasn't recruited much.  Only two other players from Tennessee have Michigan offers: wide receiver Drae Bowles and running back I'Tavius Mathers.  The last Michigan players to come from the Volunteer State were the Brackins brothers (Eric and Phillip) and behemoth fullback Sean Sanderson a decade ago.

As for Bars' future, he stated that the coaches want to start him off at left tackle.  And who am I to argue with the coaches?

Well, I'm a blogger, and that's what bloggers do, dammit.  The kid looks like a guard to me.  Maybe a right tackle, but not a left tackle.  He doesn't have a great first step or a great initial punch, and those things concern me, period, let alone for a blindside protector.  There are times where it looks like he has a little too much weight on his heels coming out of his stance, and he could afford to lengthen his first step a couple of inches.  It seems like sometimes he takes a false step by picking his foot up and putting it right back down in almost the same place.  When engaged with defenders, he also tends to overextend himself and get himself off balance.  Good opponents, especially ends and tackles who practice these things, will toss him to the side if he tries that with them.

Hopping in my DeLorean, though, I have a fledgling theory that left tackle might NOT be a blindside protector by the time Bars sees the field.  Since freshman offensive lineman typically redshirt, he'll be a redshirt frosh in 2013.  That's the same year that highly touted quarterback Shane Morris will hit campus.  Highly touted left-handed quarterback Shane Morris.  Ah-ha!  So it's quite possible that when Bars is playing left tackle in 2013-16 (or something like that), Bars will be protecting Morris' front side.*

Frank and Joe Hardy ain't got nothin' on me.

I do think Bars is a solid addition, especially if Michigan can pick up one or two more highly touted linemen.  He's not at the head of the class, but he's a kid who likes to finish blocks, has the frame to play at well over 300 lbs., seems conscientious and well spoken, and has family connections in the area.  That ought to keep him around for the duration of a career that could see him develop into a solid starter at the tail end, as a redshirt junior or senior.

*I realize that Devin Gardner will still probably be around in 2013, Russell Bellomy might be the starter, etc.  Obviously, we're getting way ahead of ourselves when projecting the starting QB position three years down the road.

TTB Rating: 71

Maize 'n' Brew: June 18 Recruiting Update

I put up the weekly recruiting update over at Maize 'n' Brew.

Enjoy!