In late December, the Michigan Wolverines recruiting class was dismal. They had no head coach at the time and they were losing recruits quickly because of it. They had a solid class prior to the start of the season but their rough year led to the loss of the nations top tight end, Chris Clark. They also lost receiver, George Campbell, running back Damien Harris, and athlete Shaun Crawford, all of whom were Under Armor All-Americans.
To add insult to injury, Michigan lost Mike Weber, the five-star running back from Detroit Cass Tech, to bitter rival Ohio State. Jim Harbaugh, former San Francisco 49ers head coach, was hired and quickly turned a class of just six players, one of the weakest classes in any of the major conferences, to a relatively respectable class good for 40th in the FBS, according to ESPN.
To most Michigan fans, 40th is simply not acceptable though. Someone who might put the worries of fans to rest is Brian Cole out of Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan. Cole, the 11th ranked athlete in the nation, according to the ESPN300, is an explosive talent who is projected to play receiver this season with a possibility of playing cornerback. He played a lot of safety in high school but his ability to cover on the deep ball is something that will bode well for him if and when he lines up against opposing receivers.
Cole is listed at 6’2” 199 pounds which already would make him the biggest corner on the Wolverines roster so his size won’t hinder his playing time, unlike many other freshman. His length gives him great advantage in coverage where he will be able to use his long arms to deflect passes others couldn’t necessarily get to. He proved that during his senior year, racking up five interceptions in just seven games, according to 247Sports. Along with his length, the power he possesses in his 200 pound frame will be vital when he asked to get into a press coverage. He won’t be pushed around by any of the receivers in the Big Ten this year.
Greater than his size and strength, though, is his speed. He has been clocked at a 4.33 40-yard dash which would have tied him for third fastest overall at this year’s NFL combine. His speed will be imperative this season if he moves to corner. Playing mostly safety in high school, Cole isn’t used to getting up in a receivers face before the snap. This inexperience can lead to him getting beat off the line and having to chase receivers where his recovery speed will be crucial.
Also a result of him playing mostly safety in high school, he is able to use his speed coming down hill to make big hits which depending on how you look at it, is somewhat of a blessing and somewhat of a curse. On one hand, this shows that Cole is physical and is willing to throw his body around for the betterment of the team. Contrarily, Cole’s film shows that he might be a little overzealous in run support which is not going to be his job if he moves to cornerback for the Wolverines.
His speed will be his greatest weapon if he plays receiver as well. He shows great burst off the line in his film, However, as an offensive player, he mostly played running back in high school. Simply by nature, Cole’s route running will be subpar relative to the rest of the receivers on the team. As an early enrollee, Cole is rooming with quarterback and fellow freshman Alex Malzone so the connection between the two will surely be strong. Of course, getting on campus early will also help with his ability to grasp the playbook and work on timing with his quarterbacks which gives him a great advantage over the other receivers who will be coming to campus in the fall.
According to Anthony Broome of MaizenBrew.com, Cole is poised to have a breakout season. If his play in spring is any indication, Cole has shown the ability to play both sides of the football effectively and his talents have Michigan football fans buzzing. He will be an integral part of the team in whichever position he is put at because of his versatility and athleticism. Keep an eye on him during the spring game and especially this fall because he will be a explosive playmaker for the Wolverines.
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