Former Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann has committed to Michigan as a transfer. Transfer offers are a little bit iffy to track, but he was offered by Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, and Virginia out of high school.
Hausmann is a 6'2", 220 lb. player who made 54 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack while starting seven games as a true freshman for the Cornhuskers in 2022. Despite being offered by the Wolverines out of school, chose his "home state" team for a year instead; Hausmann was actually born in Uganda but was adopted and moved to be with his adoptive family when he was five years old.
High school rankings from 2022:
ESPN: 3-star, 78 grade, #24 ILB
On3: 4-star, 91 grade, #27 LB, #294 overall
Rivals: 3-star, 5.6 grade, #45 OLB
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #65 LB
Hit the jump for more.
Hausmann is a little bit slow to diagnose plays at this point in his career, which was the case in high school, too. He's not the most instinctive player. He looked like a freshman in 2022 because he was. Going back and looking at a couple games' worth of highlights from the season, he's someone who doesn't fly wildly out of position but is a step slow to react overall. Also, he's a little bit light - especially in the lower body - and needs to get in the weight room, something that Michigan specializes in with S&C coach Ben Herbert.
Overall, this is a good pickup for Michigan. I think Hausmann has potential to be a serviceable player, although he does not appear to be a star in the making. Michigan may be losing Michael Barrett this off-season, leaving Junior Colson, Nikhai Hill-Green (who has been injured for the entirety of 2022), Kalel Mullings, and Jimmy Rolder as the top four inside linebackers returning for next season. Hausmann looks to me like a developmental player who might need until 2024 or 2025 to be fully ready to play on a quality defense. Colson could very well be headed for the NFL after 2023, which puts Hausmann in the mix to start at least by 2024.
Potential inside linebacker depth chart for 2023:
- Junior Colson (Jr.)
- Nikhai Hill-Green (RS Jr.)
- Kalel Mullings (Sr.)
- Jimmy Rolder (So.)
- Ernest Hausmann (So.)
- Joey Velazquez (RS Sr.)
- Jaydon Hood (RS So.)
- Deuce Spurlock (RS Fr.)
- Tyler McLaurin (RS So.)
- Micah Pollard (RS Fr.)
- Semaj Bridgeman (Fr.)
- Breeon Ishmail (Fr.)
Hausmann is the second transfer portal target to pick Michigan in this cycle, joining Arizona State offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson.
Below you will find a video interview with some highlights from his high school career:
I love hiring people who have been trained up by some other company to do the job and are ready to produce. Go Blue!
ReplyDeleteI'd still keep Barret on the "potential depth chart" for now because he has eligibility and hasn't indicated he is leaving (unlike say Ryan Hayes) but this transfer may be writing on the wall to indicate otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI believe McLaurin has moved to EDGE
ReplyDeleteSurprised to see an underclassmen come in, esp without a certainty to start
ReplyDeleteAnyway, welcome & GO BLUE
This guy is ranked as the #1 transfer on 24/7. It's interesting to see that Thunder isn't as high on him. You would think that this person would be a instant starter with such lofty rankings and more importantly, you'd think he'd choose a place where the road to starting had less obstructions.
ReplyDeleteI think he's a decent prospect. I find it odd that he's the #1 overall transfer portal recruit. There are better players in the portal. I think they must be projecting forward and saying he WILL be the best player down the road, because teams are landing quality starting quarterbacks, cornerbacks, etc. Not that I even agree with that, but it would make a little more sense.
DeleteI think Hausmann is about as valuable as a top 50 recruit. I know he's probably not going to be an NFL first rounder, maybe, but he's proven as a capable P5 starter already. He's essentially a sure thing and he has up to 3 years left -- even Devin Bush wasn't a legit starter until sophomore year.
ReplyDeleteAll the fretting about the recruiting class but with the portal class factored in, as a whole, Michigan is going to get more coming into the program than perhaps ever before. i.e., Best Class Ever