The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE tering the 2012 season is sparse. Only six different linemen played regu- larly during the 2011 campaign, and two of them — Rimington Award winning center David Molk and ver- satile guard/tackle Mark Huyge — have graduated. That will result in plenty of playing time for new start- ers. ent on the roster, Kalis has a package of potential and college-ready skills that may be difficult to keep off the field. "As far as freshman contributors, Although there is some young tal- I'd almost say never for offensive linemen," Helmholdt said. "But with Kalis coming into a spot where the needs can be helped and with how far along his is in his development both physically and technically, I think there's a very good chance he could contribute as a freshman." sized that games are won and lost in the trenches, and with three defen- sive line coaches on the staff — in addition to Jerry Montgomery, both defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and head coach Brady Hoke have ex- perience coaching the "big uglies" — landing talented defensive linemen is paramount to winning the battle up front. The Wolverines did just that in Pipkins. The five-star prospect rose in the Michigan's coaches have empha- IMPROVES AS A SENIOR ONDRE PIPKINS rankings throughout the summer of 2011 and during his senior year. By the time National Signing Day 2012 rolled around, he was not only a five-star prospect, but also the No. 14 player and No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation, and the second-best senior in Missouri, according to Ri- vals.com. He started last summer barely in- side the Rivals250 and moved up the charts piece-by-piece to reach his cur- rent standing. "He's one of those guys that every Kansas City, Mo., product Ondre Pipkins' athleticism, size and work ethic catapulted him up to their biggest kid and throw him in the middle of the line, hoping he can slow down the opposing offense. Few of them can put a kid who stands 6-3 and weighs 320 pounds into their lineup. Even more rare is a player that size with the athleticism Pipkins possesses. Prior to his senior year, the scales time you see him, he gets better," Farrell said. "I really couldn't believe how well he moved, being such a big guy. "Having had a decade worth of experience seeing defensive tackles, it was pretty obvious the first cou- ple days I saw him that he's a great player." Many high school coaches take 26 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2012 may have tipped a little too far to- ward the "size" end of the spectrum at the expense of the "athleticism" factor. However, he worked hard in the weight room to get into shape. Thanks to his effort in conditioning, he came back like a new player dur- ing his senior year. "His work ethic increased tremen- No. 14 in Rivals.com's national rankings, and will likely help him contribute as a freshman at U-M. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GENNARIA has a broad base, even when he trims all of his excess body fat. That not only cuts an intimidating figure for the offensive linemen that he faces off against, but it allows him to be very massive without playing with excess body weight. In a world — and at a position — where heavier is better, that's a huge asset to his game. "He's listed at 330 pounds, but he's Thanks to Pipkins' build, he still dously going from his junior to his senior year," Park Hill head football coach Greg Reynolds said. "He got stronger, and he was able to have a better motor because he was only playing on defense and he was in better shape." so wide that it's not like he's an out- of-shape 330 pounds," Helmholdt said. "He's just so thickly built that he doesn't wear bad weight. He's a solid block of a human being, and then he turns that into outstanding forward momentum. He's got a great first step off the snap, and he knows how to use his hands." His size and athleticism have helped him become an elite prospect. He was a first-team all-state selection in Missouri's second-largest division, and his five-star status speaks for it-