Michigan Football Recruiting: Ian Bunting (TE) — 2014 Wolverine Verbal Commit — Profile
Posted at 7:00am — 4/25/2013
Michigan Football Recruiting: Ian Bunting (TE) — 2014 Wolverine Verbal Commit — Profile
GBMWolverine Readers: Here is an overview of recent verbal commitment Ian Bunting.
After a trip with his family to Ann Arbor to see everything about the Michigan program and campus, Ian Bunting committed to the Wolverines on Tuesday. He is a large 6’6 receiver with a big frame. His projected position in college is hybrid/split tight end, or eventually tight end. As such he already enlists versatility as a strength. He is listed at 210 pounds but looks a little bigger than the announced weight.
Ian had a large offer list, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Ohio State. This is just a partial list.
Ian has several attributes that likely peeked Michigan’s interest. Perhaps foremost is the catching ability of Ian. His hands are huge and he catches the ball the way it should be caught. Ian seems pretty good in traffic. He should be a red-zone weapon. Defenses hate lining up in the red zone with two tight ends that can run good routes and catch. Add in a running back that must be honored and a premiere wideout and the defense has a large task.
Ian has work in several areas, but there is no alarm ringing to get him on the field ASAP. Read on below:
Ian Bunting
Height: 6’7
Weight: 215
Number: 1
Current Position: Wide Receiver
Future Position: Tight End
City/State: Hinsdale, Illinois
High School: Hinsdale Central
Head Coach: Rich Tarka
Recruiter: Coach Dan Ferrigno and Coach Jeff Hecklinski
Committed: 4/23/2013
Top 5 other Offers: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and USC.
Class: 2014 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Verbal Commit).
Follow Ian: on Twitter
Rankings:
24/7: .
ESPN: .
Rivals: .
Scout: .
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 (Very Early / High Up-Side):
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.
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:
Ian is a high school wide receiver/flanker who is destined to play tight end at the next level. He has as excellent length and long arms. Ian does not possess the speed or overall agility to play wide receiver, but has more than enough talent to make an excellent tight end. Ian has the frame to add the weight he needs to compete for playing time.
Ian is a very good athlete for a player his size. He has large, soft hands, and makes all the catches. Ian uses his length and long arms to make catches over shorter defenders. He runs decent routes and beats jams, despite being so long. His long strides allow him to cover lots of ground and makes him look slow, a trait that can work to his advantage.
Needs Work / Concerns:
Ian definitely will need to add plenty of size and muscle. He will also need to learn to get off the line of scrimmage against bigger, stronger defenders. His change of direction and acceleration will also need to improve. He is still growing into his large frame and natural maturity will be a big help.
Red-shirt or play his Freshman Year?
GBMWolverine believes he will definitely red-shirt his first year especially with the talent/depth Michigan has at this time along with him being able to see Coach Wellman for another year will help him grow into a tight end body for college football.
Ian Bunting reminds the GBMWolverine Staff of — Former Michigan Football Player — Tim Massaquoi — Tight End.
Bottom Line:
Another very good player that the recruiting sites have mixed opinions on him, but the college coaches all seem to love especially with his offer list this early going. He is the type of player that this coaching staff seems to favor (tall, can grown into the position, plays several sports in high school, play several positions such as flexing him out at receiver along with tight end) in which a match-up problem for defenses especially in the red-zone and in high school he played wide receiver like other Michigan commits.
Highlight Videos:
Final Thoughts:
We welcome Ian Bunting 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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