Richmond (VA) Benedictine defensive tackle Joel Starlings, a class of 2023 prospect, committed to Michigan on Sunday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida State, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, and Texas A&M, among others.
Starlings is listed at 6'5" and 310 lbs. He supposedly runs a 4.83 forty, benches 325 lbs., and squats 475 lbs.
RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #13 DT, #181 overall
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #25 DL, #230 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #7 DT, #188 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #32 DL, #224 overall
Hit the jump for more.
Michigan offered Starlings back in August 2021. He visited for the game against Ohio State, which was - in my opinion - the best and coolest game in the history of college football. A couple days later, he was ready to commit.
Starlings is a large, strong guy who moves pretty fast when he wants to go. I like how he moves on the hoof. Once he figures out where a play is going or a quarterback gets out of the pocket, he can move like very few other 310-pounders can.
Technique wise, however, Starlings is still very raw. He actually has a decent stance, but he's slow to get off the ball and does not use his hands to strike blockers. I would say he doesn't use them consistently, but . . . he doesn't really use them at all. He frequently just throws a shoulder into blockers after standing up a split second after the snap. I would also like to see him improve in his willingness to finish tackles.
With that review, I'm sure you can guess that I'm not sold on Starlings. He has a lot of potential because of his athletic profile, but if he were to go up against a college line right now, he would get donkeyed 15 yards down the field and planted on his back. Whether he becomes a good player or not seems entirely dependent on how much he buys into coaching, and it would be nice if he starts that buy-in during his senior year in 2022.
Michigan now has two 2023 commits in the class, where Starlings joins kicker Adam Samaha. Starlings would be the first player to sign with Michigan out of Benedictine, which plays in the same league as former quarterback Wilton Speight (and his brother, current defensive tackle Jess Speight).
TTB Rating: I am not giving TTB Ratings for 2023 at this time.
We're bringing in big bodies. They all look like they will need some coaching up, which means waiting & hoping
ReplyDeleteDid you ever do a profile on Kenneth Grant? Been looking and don't ever remember seeing one.
ReplyDeleteI did not. That's one I need to catch up on, along with Mason Graham. They happened to commit at times when I was super busy, so now I'm catching up on some things with football season having finished.
DeleteCool, interested to see your take on both. Hope you enjoy the highlight of Grant blocking that DB into orbit as much as I did.
DeleteBig. Long way to signing day. Love the other offers.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like with some of the big bodies especially the offer list well outpaces the stars. I think it's a systematic thing in the rating system. The recruiting guys are mostly focused on what we fans are - who has the ball.
The true cliche is games are won in the trenches.
I had no problem with how Don Brown recruited, to his system. Still, I am encouraged to see us getting big guys as well. Beating southern powers for a national caliber recruit is good news.