Posted at 6:00am -- 6/28/2011 GBMWolverine: Michigan Football Recruiting --..."/> Posted at 6:00am -- 6/28/2011 GBMWolverine: Michigan Football Recruiting --..."/>

GBMWolverine: Michigan Football Recruiting — Blake Bars (OL) — 2012 Verbal Commit — Profile

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Posted at 6:00am — 6/28/2011

GBMWolverine: Michigan Football Recruiting — Blake Bars (OL) — 2012 Verbal Commit — Profile

GBMWolverine readers: Here is a brief overview of recent verbal commitment Blake Bars from Montgomery Bell Academy High School — Nashville, Tennessee.

Height: 6’5
Weight: 275
Number: 67
Current Position: Offensive Tackle
Future Position: Offensive Tackle/Offensive Guard
City/State: Nashville, Tennessee
High School: Montgomery Bell Academy
Head Coach: Marty Euverard
Recruiter: Coach Darrell Funk
Committed: 6/26/2011
Top 5 other Offers: Clemson, Florida, LSU, Penn State, and South Carolina.
Rankings: 24/7: 3-star … ESPN: 3-star … Rivals: 4-star … Scout: 3-star.
Bench Max: 310
Squat Max: 425
GPA: 3.3
Class: 2012 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Verbal Commit).

Overview:

Blake is a high school offensive tackle with all the skills and size to play the same position at Michigan.

Or, he may shift inward to offensive guard providing Michigan with another very large interior lineman.

Blake has a huge frame with plenty of room to grow.

The coaches will like that Blake has very good bloodlines, his Dad and Uncle played at Notre Dame and his Grandfather played at Michigan State.

Blake is a solid student with 3.3 GPA at a challenging academic school.

His 3-star rating, by most recruiting sources, is more in the high three star range, being just “below” some four star tackles in numerical rankings. A high 3-star is probably an accurate assessment at this time.

GBMWolverine would not be surprised if Blake will weigh over 285 pounds by the time he is on campus.

Strengths:

Blake is another offensive line prospect who plays with a mean, nasty streak: anyone notice a pattern here?

He is an outstanding run blocker, one who can physically dominate his opponent.

He shows the quick feet and flexibility to be solid in pass protection.

Notice on the film his short, choppy, but controlled steps that sometimes (sometimes not) have a low base and good balance.

Blake has a very high energy level, and again like the other line recruits he plays from whistle-to-whistle finishing blocks.

Film also shows competence in both gap and drive blocking.

Needs work:

Blake, like most, definitely needs to add weight and get stronger to play on a Big Ten line.

He plays high at times and this trait leads to the typical correction that Blake must learn to secure and maintain proper pad level and leverage.

Blake’s footwork in pass protection is not as impressive and fundamentally sound as his run blocking, therefore, this is an area he must improve on and he will need to learn to use his long arms to successfully lock out defenders.

Final Thoughts:

We welcome Blake Bars 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!

Red-shirt or play his Freshman Year?

GBMWolverine believes he will likely red-shirt his first year like most offensive linemen.

Blake Bars reminds the GBMWolverine Staff of — Former Michigan Football Player — Rob Doherty — who played on the Offensive Line.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!