Michigan Wolverine Recruiting: Nolan Ulizio Commits — Profile

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Michigan Football Recruiting by GBMWolverinePosted at 11:45am — 1/28/2015

Michigan Wolverine Recruiting: Nolan Ulizio Commits — Profile

GBMWolverine Readers: Here is an overview of recent verbal commitment Nolan Ulizio.

Hmmm! What did the Michigan staff see in courting Nolan Ulizio?

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Just when the glory of a four star quarterback commitment was creating excitement, along comes a commitment from a lesser known prospect. Well, truth be told, offensive linemen are different and star gazing is indeed imprecise.

A revered and reviled coach from Ohio State once commented- out of every three taken, one will make it.” That was, of course, when big time programs had far more than 85 scholarships. Nolan Ulizio has size and a solid academic base. If nothing else, Ulizio is a bulldozer type. His high school coach has issued supporting statements, stating essentially that Michigan is getting a player. Below is the overview.

Nolan Ulizio
Height: 6’5
Weight: 293
Number: 70
Current Position: Offensive Tackle
Future Position: Right Tackle or Offensive Guard
City/State: West Chester, Ohio
High School: Lakota West
Head Coach: Larry Cox
Recruiters: Jim Harbaugh (HC), Tim Drevno (OL/OC), and D.J. Durkin (DC/LB).
Official Visit: 1/23/2015
Committed: 1/25/2015
Top 5 other Offers: Cincinnati, UConn, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and Youngstown State.
Visits: UConn (12/12/2014) and Michigan (1/23/2014)
GPA: 3.67
Class: 2015 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Verbal Commit).

Follow Nolan Ulizio: on Twitter

Rankings:
24/7: 2-star.
ESPN: 3-star.
Rivals: 2-star.
Scout: 3-star.

Note: Stars do matter, but are not absolute in predicting success within a football program. So, with that in mind the GBMWolverine Staff has cleverly come up with a new system of ranking. We are using footballs instead of stars, how can one argue against a system that clever? Below are the interpretations of football power predicted way too boldly long before it matters. In other words, we will give informed opinion with the crystal ball and let the players determine what will happen through years of hard work.

Criteria: Raw talent, athleticism, position of need, intangibles.

GBMWolverine Rankings:

10 footballs: Instant impact player.
9 footballs: Three or four-year starter at a high level.
8 footballs: A starter with all league potential.
7 footballs: A meaningful starter at some time during a career.
6 footballs: A spot starter or special teams player.
5 footballs: Not in the two deep after a two years.
4 footballs: Never made it.
1-3 footballs: See the above.

Most cases a 2-star ranking by a recruiting service means they have him in the database, but not much evaluation has been done.

Remember just as we did during the season with grading positions or groups we are very tough graders and expect a lot out of those positions or players so this is no different here.

Overview:

Nolan Ulizio is a big body who played against top competition in Southwest Ohio. He plays both right and left tackle for Lakota. We do not see left tackle as an option in college. Right tackle or either guard position is a much better fit. Nolan is a good student and has a reported 3.67 GPA.

Strengths:

Ulizio has great length and the frame to play offensive line in college. He has just OK feet but runs straight-forward pretty well; he moves well enough to pull and lead at Michigan. Nolan possesses good upper body strength and shows a mentality to maul when necessary. He uses his long arms and length very well.

Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines /

Michigan Wolverines

Concerns/Needs Work:

As with most high school linemen, Nolan will need a couple of solid years in the weight room. His overall foot-work and balance will need to improve and he also needs to use a wider stance to help his balance. His lower body needs a lot of work, including his hips and overall flexibility.

Red-shirt or play his Freshman Year?

GBMWolverine believes he will definitely red-shirt his first year.

Nolan Ulizio reminds the GBMWolverine Staff of — Former Michigan Football Player — Alex Mitchell — who played Offensive Guard.

High School Coach Comments:

Watching him play as a junior you just noticed the little things he needed to do that could elevate his recruiting. If he got just a little bit more of everything he was going to be set. Nolan is a finisher and for a lack of a better term, he’s an old school offensive lineman. He enjoys blocking people and being the protector of the quarterback and opening holes for running backs. He just enjoys the contact of it and I think that is one of his best attributes.

I also think he’s got good football intelligence about him as he can make the adjustments needed. He understands getting to the second level and about picking up guys on stunts in pass protection.

Video Highlights:

National signing day for football is February 4, 2015 and a lot needs to happen for Michigan to land the fifteen to seventeen scholarship prospects in the next 8 days that they have available for this 2015 recruiting class.

Michigan currently has eight recruits at this time with Brian Cole (WR/S), and Alex Malzone (QB) already on campus. Then we have committed recruits Andrew David (K), Tyree Kinnel (DB/S), Grant Newsome (OL), and Jon Runyan Jr. (OL). The new additions to the recruiting class are obviously Nolan Ulizio (OL), Zach Gentry (QB) and the first commit for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan with Reuben Jones (DE).

Final Thoughts:

We welcome Nolan Ulizio to Michigan and hope he has a successful career on and off the football field as a student-athlete at the University of Michigan. Go Blue!

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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