Michigan Wolverine Recruiting: Mike Weber — 2015 Commit — Profile
Posted at 8:30am — 8/24/2014
Michigan Wolverine Recruiting: Mike Weber — 2015 Commit — Profile
GBMWolverine Readers: Here is an overview of recent verbal commitment Mike Weber.
The old adage, one of many such adages, is that things come in threes. Some common names of the three phenomena include trifecta, trinity, triangle, and triad. Three months ago, an oddsmaker maybe would have given Michigan a one in ten chance of gaining commitments from Michigan’s consensus top three prospects: Alex Malzone, Brian Cole, and Mike Weber. It is still months away from signing day, but conditions at this time seem very positive.
The Michigan staff has done a wonderful job of “regrouping” and securing the home front, albeit some complained about Alex Malzone being offered over other highly ranked candidates. The more Malzone shows up at events, the more people become further impressed. He also possesses those intangibles that coaches like at the quarterback position. Brian Cole is versatile, big, and very talented: he adds plenty at the receiver position. Then there is Mike Weber, considered forgotten in the Michigan world by the “pundits” after the Harris Michigan commitment and even after his decommitment.
Mike Weber is not a five-star running back like Harris, but few teams would not offer him a scholarship if he were to call a coach and offer a commitment to a university on the spot. Weber reminds CoachBT of Chris Perry. Perry was taller, but the weight will end up about the same. Perry ran hard, Mike Weber runs hard. Doc4Blu sees a little Mike Hart attitude coming on board with Weber. Many people have mentioned in the media that he runs hard, he runs downhill, he may even run angry. Indeed he does.
Weber also runs the inside zone schemes well, and that appears to match what Michigan will run in the future. He does run out of the shotgun, something Michigan certainly will not do nearly as much as Cass Tech.
Michigan has filled the skilled positions with athletic talent much better the last two years. Weber, Drake Harris, Ty Issac, Wilton Speight (and Malzone), and Freddy Canteen can all have excellent careers. There are others who may break through, like Mo Ways and Ian Bunting. The point is that Michigan filled the lines with talented commitments in a much better fashion in year one and two of Hoke.
The complaints were leveled at not getting skilled players that could be difference makers. No one has cracked through yet, but the law of averages, it could be argued, will have some of the above players crack through to become difference maker status. Now this rosy scenario does not even include the potential on both sides of the ball of one Jabrill Peppers. If the offensive line gets it going, there is now plenty of skill to take advantage.
Mike Weber’s commitment gives Michigan a very nice stable of running backs for at least the next three years, barring those nasty unforeseens that can pop up. Most major level teams wish to have one highly ranked running back and quarterback in each class. This number can expand, due to circumstances, but it is detrimental to a team if a hole exists in the yearly scheme. It is disastrous if the streak reaches two consecutive years.
The commitment of Mike Weber means many things to Michigan. Perhaps the most important point to consider is based on the above thought: that Michigan now has a stable of high quality running backs in the team cupboard. For the last few years, a southerly rival of Michigan had at least three or four running backs better than Michigan’s number one. With Green, Smith, Issac, Weber, and Johnson, that scenario has evaporated
There is plenty of Weber film on the web and it is impressive. Read below the particulars.
Mike Weber
Height: 5’10
Weight: 205
Number: 25
Current Position: Running Back
Future Position: Running Back
City/State: Detroit, Michigan
High School: Cass Tech
Head Coach: Thomas Wilcher
Recruiter: Coach Doug Nussmeier and Fred Jackson
Committed: 8/6/2014
Top 5 other Offers: Miami (FL), Michigan State, Ohio State, USC, and Wisconsin.
40-Time: 4.47
Bench Max: 305
All Star Game: U.S. Army Game and also invited to The Opening.
Class: 2015 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Verbal Commit).
Follow Mike: on Twitter
Rankings:
24/7: 4-star.
ESPN: 4-star.
Rivals: 4-star.
Scout: 4-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.
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.
The staff couldn’t decide between 7 1/2 to 8 footballs.
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:
Mike Weber plays running back for one the top high school programs in Michigan, the vaunted Cass Tech program from the Detroit area. He rushed for 2100 yards and 25 touchdowns in helping Cass Tech win a state title. Weber runs sprints for the Tech track team.
Mike Weber is a well built running back who does a great job between the tackles. He at times mimics a bowling ball with his shoulder-square, downhill attitude. Mike fits the Michigan running game philosophy very well in that he runs north and south with authority and has skills to cut, block, and get to the hole. Weber moves his feet well and also has the ability to plant and cut, although his cutting does not appear to be flashy, just effective. Weber’s film also indicates that he has good vision and has the burst and explosion to hit the cutback. Weber is also a competent receiver and willing blocker. His hands can best be described as above average for a running back recruit.
Mike will need to learn some of the finer points of playing 6 1/2 yards deep. As mentioned, he now is 100% in the shotgun formation at Cass Tech. Again, and importantly, Weber runs hard, but still he is not overly physical at breaking tackles. As do many running backs of his build, Mike Weber has a history of hamstring injuries.
Still, after reading the above section, followers of Michigan football should be elated to hear of the commitment of Mike Weber. He is a consensus middle of the road four-star. Mike appears receptive to hard work. He will compete, and now any running back at Michigan must compete, the competition will be high.
Red-shirt or play his Freshman Year?
GBMWolverine believes he will likely play his first year. With Michigan’s depth at running back, he could red-shirt and let some of his competition get closer to graduation. But we think he gets reps as a true freshman.
Mike Weber reminds the GBMWolverine Staff of — Former Michigan Football Player — Chris Perry — who played Running Back.
Video Highlights:
We are on record that former Michigan commitment Harris indeed has more overall skills and athletic measureables, but that Weber fits Michigan’s new inside zone schemes better.
We welcome Mike Weber 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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