Lawndale (CA) Leuzinger outside linebacker/defensive end Kevonte Henry committed to Oklahoma on National Signing Day after having been committed to Michigan. Henry committed to Michigan back in June 2021, but the departure of recruiting coordinator Courtney Morgan was a big development. After Morgan left to lead Washington's recruiting department, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Henry would not be in the class, and Michigan did not pursue him very much over the past month or two.
I gave Henry a TTB Rating of 82 when he committed (LINK). He ended up ranked as a 3-star, the #33 edge player, and #396 overall. I think Henry has a chance to be a pretty good player, but recruiting kids from California is tough because a lot of them get homesick. If Morgan wasn't going to be a part of Michigan's program to give him an anchor, then even if Henry had stuck with Michigan initially, he very easily could have ended up in the transfer portal and closer to home in a year or two, anyway.
Michigan signed a total of 22 players in the class, including a couple defensive end/outside linebacker types in 4-star Derrick Moore and 3-star Micah Pollard.
I don't know if he should have got an 82. His first step is a pause. There is zero explosiveness in his first step. He even steps back a bit with his rear foot at the snap on some plays.
ReplyDeleteI can understand how Michigan cooled on him. Way back when Michigan was after him I didn't see why. He looked like a "project" that might never pan out. Just to slow at the snap.
Michigan will do better than him. I literally am relieved he is not with Michigan. The scholarship is needed for higher impact players.
Henry was #709 overall when he committed and moved up 313 spots to #396 overall, so I feel comfortable in my evaluation of him.
DeleteYou have more experience. So you could be right. It's just I see him not explode, ever, on the snap. He's just flat footed, and that rear foot steps back on some snaps. EDGEs just can never do that. Shaun Nua was his recruiter. Like you point out, Michigan cooled on the recruitment. I don't think Mike Macdonald wanted him. They will get more explosive players.
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