Michigan Football Recruiting: Freddy Canteen (WR) — 2014 Wolverine Verbal Commit — Profile
Posted at 8:30am — 7/4/2013
Michigan Football Recruiting: Freddy Canteen (WR) — 2014 Wolverine Verbal Commit — Profile
GBMWolverine Readers: Here is an overview of recent verbal commitment Freddy Canteen.
Opening Statement:
Two Tri-State Christian Academy athletes, Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson, visited Michigan’s summer football camp and impressed the coaching staff enough to earn offers. It did not take long for both players to offer a commitment to Michigan.
Much has been made about the nature of Tri-State Christian Academy regarding origin, purpose, and football eligibility as determined by the Maryland High School Commission.
Michigan recruited Artavius Scott very hard, but wisely never closed recruiting at the wide receiver position. Several others were offered. The late entry was Freddy Canteen. In adherence to Michigan’s first come, first serve (but not locked in stone) “policy,” Freddy jumped on the offer and took a spot. This leaves the option of another wide receiver in this class on the slim side, although Lattimore out of Glenville in Ohio is a good enough athlete he could play about any position not on the line or quarterback.
Freddy Canteen was at a disadvantage regarding rankings. His team only played a few games (stated as three) and a few so-called scrimmages last year. His high school coach has been involved with the Division One recruiting process and knows how to pick up the phone or respond to schools with interest in his athletes. Supposedly, the schedule this year is set with many national powers and accreditation roadblocks are in the past.
Stuck in the middle of this situation were Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson. There became fewer opportunities for accurate “scouting ratings” than the typical highly skilled athlete around the nation.
There are many ways to evaluate athletes for important scholarship decisions. To the author, direct eye contact remains the best method. So, at camp both Canteen and Watson impressed the coaches observing, apparently to the degree all parties were satisfied that if offers were extended, commitments could quickly occur.
Freddy Canteen
Height: 6’1
Weight: 170
Number: 19
Current Position: Wide Receiver
Future Position: Wide Receiver
City/State: Elkton, Maryland
High School: Eastern Christian Academy
Head Coach: Dwayne Thomas
Committed: 6/29/2013
Top 5 other Offers: Hawaii, Maryland, Rutgers, Temple, and Tennessee.
40-Time: 4.43
GPA: 3.9
Class: 2014 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Verbal Commit).
Rankings:
24/7: .
ESPN: Not Ranked.
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.
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:
Freddy is a perfect example of how camp performance can be important and become the primary factor in receiving a Division One offer. Offers do not happen this way for most athletes, but this does happen. Because of Maryland politics, Canteen’s high school played in only 3 games in 2012. His true talent level clearly showed in all of his recent camp appearances. Still, Freddy caught six passes for 114 yards in the three games. Freddy is a good student with a 3.9 GPA.
Freddy is silky smooth with little wasted movement. He is a strong route runner. One could say he is a bigger, more talented Roundtree slot guy. Freddy is super quick off the ball and accelerates out of his cuts very well. He catches the ball with his hands and displays outstanding body control. He is more than adequate in the open field.
Needs Work / Concerns:
Freddy will definitely need to add some weight and strength. But he has the frame to do so. Also, Freddy needs to learn to beat jams and reroute attempts, but added strength should be helpful. His blocking will also need to improve.
Red-shirt or play his Freshman Year?
GBMWolverine believes he will definitely play his first year, but will most likely depend on the players ahead of him as well because you have to remember that the 2013 recruiting class hasn’t even suited up for fall practice yet so hard to predict this far in advance for some recruits especially not knowing or seeing recruits in a winged helmet yet a year ahead of Freddy. This may be a tougher call than some may believe, Freddy does need to add some strength, but the rest of his game is in place for quick contribution.
Freddy Canteen reminds the GBMWolverine Staff of — Former Michigan Football Player — Steve Breaston — (WR).
Bottom Line:
Freddy has the potential to be a vertical threat that can stretch the field. While he may not have the open field skills of Scott, Canteen is a very solid receiver.
Highlight Videos:
Final Thoughts:
We welcome Freddy Canteen 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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