Friday, March 31, 2023

Jadyn Davis, Wolverine

 

Jadyn Davis (image via Instagram)

Charlotte (NC) Providence Day quarterback Jadyn Davis committed to Michigan on Friday afternoon on SportsCenter. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, and many more.

I did a full scouting report on him a few weeks ago (LINK).

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 86 grade, #3 dual-threat QB, #35 overall
On3: 4-star, 92 grade, #8 QB, #105 overall
Rivals: 5-star, 6.1 grade, #3 pro-style QB, #10 overall
247 Sports: 5-star, 98 grade, #2 QB, #28 overall

Hit the jump for more.


Davis has long been linked to Michigan. He and his family know J.J. McCarthy and his family. One of his receivers at Providence Day, Channing Goodwin, is the son of former Michigan and NFL offensive lineman Jonathan Goodwin, and the elder Goodwin has been an assistant coach at Providence Day. While Davis has explored the likes of Clemson, Ohio State, and Tennessee, it just seemed like Michigan was in the driver's seat for months. However, quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss did not do a great job of recruiting Davis - or selling his family on that coach-player relationship - and Jim Harbaugh's dalliance with the NFL gave them pause. A recent visit to Ann Arbor to meet new quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell quelled the concerns; Davis immediately put out a top five and then set a commitment date.

My opinion on Davis is shared in the scouting report above, so I won't go into depth again on what type of talent he is. He is a very accurate quarterback with a good arm; but his size and athleticism are limited. If you still had any faith in ESPN's rankings, you should probably just pull the plug, considering Davis is nowhere near a dual-threat guy.

As for where he fits into Michigan's plans, I think Davis is probably a year two guy. As a class of 2024 prospect, he will arrive in two seasons. I expect McCarthy to leave for the NFL after 2023, so the starting job is up in the air, whether it's current backup Davis Warren, Davis as a freshman, or someone else. He will need to add bulk, and most quarterbacks need a year to develop their reads and mechanics, as well as just adjust to the speed of the college game.

I think accuracy translates to the college game, and Davis completed 72.5% of his passes as a junior in 2022. He won't factor into the run game like J.J. McCarthy does, but we've seen Cade McNamara have success in a run-heavy offense. I think Davis's accuracy is just as good, he has a stronger arm, and he's a little more mobile.

As of right now, the potential depth chart in 2024 looks like this:

  1. J.J. McCarthy (Sr.)
  2. Davis Warren (RS Jr.)
  3. Jadyn Davis (Fr.)
  4. Alex Orji (RS So.)
  5. Jayden Denegal (RS So.)

Michigan is also recruiting several of Davis's teammates, including Goodwin, WR Jordan Shipp, and 2025 OT David Sanders.

TTB Rating: 87

29 comments:

  1. Welcome young man!

    I too see JD as a year2 prospect. My hope is that between Harbaugh's run heavy offense and a QB-loaded 2024 draft, JJ returns. This allows JD the opportunity to learn under a 4yr guy, who has won conference championships & been in the playoff ... other than that, we'll need the Portal, because I don't have any confidence in the other three guys on the depth chart

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The run heavy offense probably isn't a big attraction to keep JJ around for year 4. I would think it would be more likely to put him into a Year 4 transfer situation like Hunter Dickinson. That is if the NFL isn't super interested.

      If JJ comes back for Year 4 I think it would be similar to Corum -- draft stock, NIL, and enjoyment of college. But 2 of those 3 are probably better at a place like Oklahoma or OSU than returning for year 4 of more of the same.

      This is all to say I don't expect JJ back for year 4. Acknowledged that I said that about Corum, Zinter, etc.

      Delete
    2. The other guys on the QB depth chart -- perceptions of them may change a lot in the next year. Just like your perception of Edwards changed a lot since September.

      Delete
    3. @Lank 2:03PM, you may be right here ... you've come a long way from arguing against discussions involving the likelihood of QBs transferring

      @Lank 2:04PM, my perception of Edwards has evolved along with his development. My son & I recently watched the 2021 & 2022 seasons, and observations for his FR were about the same as I said during his FR year: needs time in the gym. Strength, footwork, balance. I'm sure end of year evaluations were close to that. I also thought I'm glad Urban Meyer didn't get him, because he'd haunt our dreams with that kind of versatility. "Trips over grass" is coachspeak, and could be used for Hibner & Hall during the spring game. It's not meant to trigger emotions. Anyway, Edwards spoke last off-season of his time in the gym, and he did much better between the Tackles. Still not Corum, but who is? Edwards has elite breakaway speed, which adds him to the list of RBs who matter

      Delete
    4. I was not speculating on JJ's transfer and I don't think that is likely. I think he'll spend 2024 in the NFL.

      Edwards development seemed to coincide with his role which changed when injury struck. He had the same breakaway speed in 2021 so he probably mattered then too, though you said he didn't. All RBs are good.

      Your references to triggering emotions and coach-speak are noted.

      Delete
    5. It especially correlates to his time on campus, in a CFB program, which includes weight training, coaching and familiarity with the offense & its blocking schemes

      As a TrFR, that elite speed was on display against OOC cupcakes & as a receiver against unsuspecting Terps

      Delete
    6. Edwards weighed 202 as a freshman and 204 as a sophomore. He was generally considered to be physically ready out of a high and expected to be an instant contributor by most.

      He was -- He was an effective RB as a freshman, albeit in a limited role as the 3rd back. He was effective as a receiver, as a runner outside, and as a runner inside. Even if you didn't see it, others did. I'll send you links if you like. More importantly, the Michigan football coaches - paid professionals - saw him in high school, in the preseason before his freshman year, and at practice. They tell a very different story than you, and always have. Practice is coachspeak for what players do all week long before games.

      Edwards was ready to step in, when needed, in 2021. Even more so in 2022. Nobody is arguing that Edwards didn't get better, nearly everyone does and that's probably explanation enough why Haskins (a senior) was ahead of Edwards (a freshman) on the depth chart despite being a lesser talent. Regardless, when you said Edwards wasn't a good RB yet, lacked balance (apparently you missed seeing him in HS and on most of his touches in 2021), and wasn't capable of a big role in 2021 - you were proven wrong.

      The place where I'll agree with you most is that familiarity with the offense and blocking schemes (trust in knowing your OL will make the blocks they're supposed to and holes you can't see will be there) is valuable. Again, acknowledging that Edwards will improve with time doesn't sufficiently address the fact that you underestimated his abilities as a freshman and continue to raise doubts about multiple backup RBs that are proven immediately wrong when they are elevated (by injury to others) into bigger roles. This happened before Maryland, before OSU, before Georgia in 2021 and before 2022 too.

      Delete
    7. Here's you and Thunder expressing your pessimism before OSU 2022 and focusing on the RB situation.

      http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2022/11/preview-michigan-offense-vs-ohio-state.html

      je93November 25, 2022 at 6:55 PM
      I (like many others) hoped & prayed for rain & win. Now I think our best chance is a healthy Corum, Edwards w/o a cast, and the skill guys executing ... that's a tall order

      ThunderNovember 25, 2022 at 7:52 PM
      If Corum isn't close to being healthy, Michigan will not win this game. He's the focal point of the offense, and nobody else has really even shown flashes of being able to be The Man when crunch time comes.

      Then in the TCU preview it was a big surprise:

      "Somewhat amazingly, the running game really hasn't fallen off in the last two games, even though starting running back Blake Corum has missed the vast majority of that time. Backup Donovan Edwards has 47 carries for 401 yards and 3 touchdowns in those two contests against Ohio State and Purdue. "

      So close yet so far...

      Delete
    8. @ Lank 3:28 p.m.

      There's a lot of talk here about Edwards replacing Corum in 2022. Yes, at the end of his sophomore year, he was better than he was as a freshman. You say he improved as most players do, and we said in 2021 that he needed to improve. This doesn't need to be an argument. We're basically saying the same thing when it comes to Edwards.

      Regardless, when Michigan's #3 running back needed to step up - against Illinois and TCU - it didn't happen. Corum and Edwards are both good backs, and unfortunately, Michigan did not have a good #3 back - Stokes couldn't hack it as a freshman (which isn't anything to be ashamed about), Mullings was up and down (nice pass against OSU, bad fumble against TCU, etc.), and Gash struggled except when he made that nice 4th down catch against Illinois.

      Delete
    9. We're saying the same thing that he improved, yes. We are definitely NOT saying the same thing that he NEEDED to improve to be effective -- not in 2021, and not in 2022.

      You said Edwards was not a good back in 2021 and I adamantly disagree and the choices the coaches made back me up. You said Edwards was not good enough to step into Corum's shoes in 2022 and the results say otherwise.

      While I agree that Michigan did not have a good #3 back last year the results don't indicate that it mattered.

      Michigan's offense scored 45 points against TCU, rushing for over 180 yards and 3 TDs at 4.7 ypc.

      Michigan's offense scored more points in the second half against Illinois (without either Corum or Edwards) than they did in the 1st half with Corum.

      The results seem to indicate that it doesn't matter even in the instances when you insist it does. And, again, this is with biggest possible swing between an elite Heisman contending back who I think is the best of my lifetime at Michigan and replacement level guys (walk-on, freshman, position-change). Even in the most favorable conditions to support your case, even in the most pivotal spots (playoff, elite defense) it's STILL hard to demonstrate that RB mattered.

      With Edwards, without him, with Corum, without him, the offensive results did not seem to be affected. You find this amazing but I do not.

      Delete
    10. @Lank 4:30PM, I see you have much, Much, MUCH more to say, but in the spirit of sound online etiquette, I'll concede, satisfied with "We're saying the same thing that he improved, yes."

      GO BLUE

      Delete
    11. Not reading past the first line is not a surprise but totally fine online as you say.

      Delete
  2. I might be in the minority but I like David Warren

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the majority of the fan base agrees with you

      Delete
    2. The backup QB is usually very popular.

      Delete
  3. Davis Warren. Damn autocorrect

    ReplyDelete
  4. no Spring Game thread, but I'm looking at Tuttle as our #2 ... experience, leadership and not a terrible QB

    ReplyDelete
  5. JJ playing behind a shakey OL, throwing to WRs who won't see meaningful snaps, still throwing absolute dimes out there. Amarion Walker getting picked on a bit

    Blue team has a lot of guys to be excited about


    Still curious about our 3d RB, and 2d Corner


    Cole Cabana needs some time in the weight room. Tried to put his shoulder down against Hauserman, and bounced off like a child. Tried to step in for a block, and got plowed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm more concerned about the 3rd CB than the 3rd RB. Last year Green/Johnson played a whole lot more meaningful snaps than Mullings/Stokes

      Delete
    2. ...and yet the 3rd running back (Mullings) had an embarrassing fumble on the goal line in a one-score loss.

      Delete
    3. Yeah and he scored a TD later in the same one-score loss, and backup DBs had embarrassing blown coverages in that same one score loss, the QB had multiple TOs also in the one score loss, and the defense gave up 5 TDs in the one score loss.

      Stuff happen - the 1st string RB fumbled in a one score win earlier in the year.

      Against TCU Johnson played 51 snaps and Green played 48. Turner played all 66 defensive snaps. How many did Mullings get?

      Delete
    4. This is a self-defeating argument.

      Green played 48 snaps if he's the #3 CB you're talking about. I don't know how many mistakes he made.

      I don't know how many snaps Mullings had, but he had 5 carries, and 1 of those was a really, really, really bad play. Let's just say he had 5 run plays and 5 pass plays (assuming a 50/50 balance), that's a 10% critical error rate.

      Green would need about 5 really terrible plays to match that rate of ineffectiveness. I don't know if he reached that threshold.

      Of course, this gets to the fundamental issue of our debate. I think running backs are important, because a bad one - who fumbles the ball or misses wide open holes - can single-handedly destroy a play or a drive or maybe a game.

      If a bad cornerback is in the game, the opponent still needs to identify him, the QB needs to throw an accurate ball, and the receiver needs to catch that ball before something really bad happens.

      Delete
    5. What I think you're missing is that fumbles are both rare and random. You're assuming the lesser player is more likely to fumble (because, he did, in fact, fumble, in this game) but we don't know that. Starters and experienced backups fumble too. Edwards fumbled against PSU. Corum fumbled against Illinois. Mullings fumbled not because he's a 3rd string player but because RBs sometimes fumble. It was costly because of where it happened, when it happened, and because Michigan didn't recover it, but it could just as easily have been Edwards, Corum, or Stokes. It's not because Mullings is a bad RB.

      Any player can singlehandedly blow up a play or a drive or maybe a game. It's not remotely unique to RBs.

      Delete
    6. The argument you're making is exactly why RBs and stats like YPC are overrated. It takes everyone on the team to make a successful run play. The QB has to hand it off properly, every block has to be executed (or distracting action mimicked) or there's a free hitter who will tackle the RB, and of course the RB has to run and not drop the ball (which is what every person qualified enough to be a RB at Michigan usually does).

      Delete
    7. Yes...and Mullings' fumble was the equivalent of a cornerback falling down at the snap.

      Delete
    8. Agreed. Great analogy. Something that could happen to anyone anytime but rarely does.

      Delete
  6. It was 4Q against backups, but Hall broke tackles and showed some pull away speed. That's more than we've seen from Mullings or Dunlap; no CJ Stokes today

    our WR turned CB that has all the hype, Amarion Walker? Got abused. How can someone with elite shuttle time and experience as a WR have no clue how to keep up with walkon Oleary ... like, OMG, go back to offense 😭

    No Jayden Denegal. Orji never looks past his first option, and will never survive a full game trying to run over defenders

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't see any pull away speed from Hall. I think he showed some decent acceleration. His top-end speed is pretty slow.

      Delete
    2. Not elite speed, or even great speed. But he's not Mullings or Dunlap, who - even if they get past the DL, are subject to Secondary or even LBs catching & stopping them

      Delete