Michigan Football Recruiting: Drake Harris — 2014 Time Capsule
Posted at 4:00pm — 2/10/2014
Michigan Football Recruiting: Drake Harris — 2014 Time Capsule
Drake Harris is already on campus getting ready for spring practice to start February 25th. While enrolled early not only gets him prepared for spring football, but also getting acclimated in a few classes as well and being a student-athlete at the college level eight months ahead of the normal student at the University of Michigan. We will see how much he participates in spring ball and see if he is completely healthy from his hamstring injury last year.
GBMWolverine Readers: Here is a overview of University of Michigan 2014 Signed Commit Drake Harris.
Height: 6’4
Weight: 180
Birthday: March 23, 1995
Number: 1
Current Position: Wide Receiver
Future Position: Wide Receiver
City/State: Grand Rapids, Michigan
High School: Grand Rapids Christian
Head Coach: Don Fellows
Recruiter: Coach Dan Ferrigno and Coach Jeff Hecklinski
Official Visit: 12/13/2013
Committed: 4/14/2013
Top Offers: Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oregon.
40-Time: 4.4
20-yard shuttle: 4.35
Vertical: 39″
All-Star Game: 2014 Under Armour All-America Game
Class: 2014 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed).
Follow Drake: on Twitter
Coach Hoke on Harris:
“Drake unfortunately didn’t get to play as much this year because of a hamstring injury, but a guy who’s 6-4, big receiver who can get down the field, very good hands. I really like how he plays.”
Key Stats:
Caught 136 passes for 2,966 yards and 33 touchdowns during career. Hauled in 91 passes for 2,016 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior. Posted 45 receptions for 950 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Honors:
Helped lead his team to the Michigan Division III state title as a junior. Selected to the Detroit News Blue Chip List as a senior. Attended but did not participate due to injury in the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game. Named to the USA TODAY Sports preseason high school All-America team prior to senior. Named to the 2013 Preseason All-USA High School Team prior to senior season.
Other Sports:
Earned all-state honors in basketball as a sophomore. Averaged 19 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
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.
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.
His Recruiting Story:
Harris committed to Michigan State because he could play basketball there as well and admitted that if he was going to play basketball it would have been for Michigan State, but his desire to only play football lead him to Michigan. “We went through basically everything at Michigan. The coaches took my mother on a tour of the campus. She was really impressed with the academic part that they had to offer. Just all the coaches and I think one of the biggest parts is they’re a family down there. Just coach (Jeff) Hecklinski, coach (Dan) Ferrigno, they were all just great to us. They’re cool and easy to talk to and down to earth people, and that’s really attractive when you are looking at a school.”
“When I go down there, I just feel comfortable and just being around everyone—they just really show a lot of love and support,” Harris said. “It’s really not that hard to interact with all of them. A lot of the players are just like me and have the same personalities and stuff. It’s really east to talk to them. Like I said, just down to earth people.”
His Commitment Comments:
“It just felt right,” said Harris of his Michigan commitment. “I was up here like four times this past spring. It really was coming down to Ohio State and here. Ohio State… I liked it a lot and it was cool, but I just got the feeling that (Michigan) is the right place for me. So I just went ahead and committed.”
“They’re just real people (at Michigan). Coach Hoke, Coach Heck, Coach Ferrigno, Coach Singletary… the whole coaching staff here, they’re all great people. They talked about the #1 jersey (and) they said I would have to earn it. They said that I’m the only recruit that they’ve talked about the #1 with. I was happy when I heard about that. But they said I would have to work to get it.”
“I just trust them. I want to put my talent in their hands because I know they can do great things with me and I know they’re going to do great things at this university with the football program.”
GBMWolverine Commentary:
Getting healthy is job #1. He has shown throughout high school that he can be a great athlete no matter if it is in football or basketball.
Overview:
The interest from Michigan then escalated like a July day in the Mohave Desert. Apparently the interest from young Mr. Harris increased as well.
Drake Harris has a near forty inch vertical jump, runs a near 4.4 forty, and possesses ball skills that at the very least are above average. Collectively, the physical traits are strong predictors of a very successful career at wide receiver.
If you were designing the ideal wide receiver to fit Michigan schemes he would look near identical to Drake Harris. Has all the attributes Michigan is looking for in a wide receiver prospect. And once again, a familiar theme occurs: a very good student from a strong academic school declaring his intent for Michigan.
Strengths:
Drake has great length and arm span. As mentioned he is a very high level athlete, superior is not a stretch. His basketball skills lend to overall good movement skills. Drake is silky smooth with very good body control. He uses his length and jumping skills to be a good vertical threat. Drake runs good routes and is a willing blocker. So, Michigan is getting a vertical threat in all regards.
Drake definitely needs time with Coach Wellman to add size and strength. He will also need to be a bit more explosive in and out of his breaks.
Red-shirt or play his Freshman Year?
GBMWolverine believes he will definitely play his first year as long as he is healthy. He had that bad hamstring injury that kept him out almost his entire senior year of high school football.
Drake Harris reminds the GBMWolverine Staff of — Former Michigan Football Player — David Terrell — who played Wide Receiver.
Video Highlights:
Final Thoughts:
By recruiting standings Drake Harris is the best wide receiver prospect Michigan has landed in a very long time which dates back to the Coach Carr era where they was getting elite level talent receivers on a yearly basis.
We welcome Drake Harris 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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