The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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COMMITMENT PROFILE gler from North Allegheny High in Wex- ford, Pa., planned a trip to Ann Arbor for Feb. 24, it looked like merely a mat- ter of convenience. After all Kugler, the nation's No. 54 prospect according to Rivals.com, had shown only mild inter- est in the Wolverines to that point, and he was scheduled to be in East Lansing for Michigan State's junior day the fol- lowing afternoon. However, by the time Kugler left Ann Pennsylvania OL Patrick Kugler Surprises With U-M Commitment When offensive lineman Patrick Ku- Arbor, he knew that he couldn't picture himself playing for anyone else, and he pulled the trigger, committing to Michigan. "Coach [Darrell] Funk and Coach [Al] Borges were definitely pumped," Kugler said of Michigan's offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. "They were telling me that they know I made the best choice, and that this is the best fit for me. I didn't get to talk to Coach [Brady] Hoke because he's out of town. I have to call him and let him know the good news. face with Hoke to know that Ann Arbor is where he wants to spend his college days. In fact, the program sold itself. "We went up into the Big House, and that's what really sold me," Kugler said. Kugler didn't need to speak face-to- " Kugler, an offensive lineman from Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny High, is rated the nation's No. 54 prospect by Rivals.com. for competition, and the opportunity presented by Michigan's coaching staff to play for titles was attractive to Kugler. Even more impressive was the oppor- tunity to do so while still achieving at a high level in the classroom. "They were saying 'It's Michigan,' and "Just seeing how big it is and thinking about what it will be like to play in front of 108,000 or 110,000 fans, that sold me on Michigan." Any player who puts in the work to become a Division I prospect has a taste that we hold ourselves to a higher stan- dard both on and off the field, "We'll perform in both of those places. We'll contend for championships and also have success in the classroom. I want to compete, and that's a big part of why I chose Michigan. After I gradu- ate, I want to have the education that " he said. Strengths: Patrick Kugler shows great hand placement and punch when he engages his opponent. He comes off the ball strong with good blocking angles and shows no hesitation before impacting the defender. He displays really good ability to keep his shoulders square upfield instead of turning and losing the proper angle of attack when pulling. His footwork is good, and he is not caught off balance when defenders try to throw him off of blocks. Most importantly, Kugler shows that he likes to put defenders into the turf with violence. Areas of Improvement: Kugler is best and most impressive blocking defensive FILM EVALUATION linemen. His second-level approach is good, but he will need to continue to improve to block Big Ten linebackers. He has good footwork, but his foot speed must improve in order to be a top-flight Michigan lineman. Because he is so big and strong, he can play a bit high and still impose his will PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM will allow me to be successful in life. I can get all of that at Michigan." While Kugler's looking to get plenty out of his experience at Michigan, the Wolverines will be able to get some- thing in return, as well. At 6-5, 280 pounds, he's bound to play guard or center at the college level. That fills a need for Michigan, and Kugler's play- ing style is a perfect match for what the Wolverines want out of their offensive linemen. "If I could describe it, I would say I'm very mean," he said with a laugh. "I'm not going to let anyone get to me, and I don't want anybody to beat me. I want to knock the guy down on every play, whether it's a run or a pass. I'm defi- nitely more of a run blocker right now, so I need to improve my pass block- ing. I also would say I need to get more patient. That's something that people don't realize is an important part of be- ing an offensive lineman." Kugler might have a better under- on the defender. Like all the young Michigan lineman commits, he will need to continue to polish his technique in preparation for the challenges of the college game. Michigan Player Comparison: Steve Everitt was a tackle in high school but made a smooth transition to center and became one of the best to ever play the position at Michigan. Kugler shows the same signs of athleticism as Everitt, as well as the same level of nastiness. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com 68 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2012 standing than most high schoolers of the nuances in offensive line play. His father, Sean, coaches the position for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although he's never been pushy, he's more than will- ing to give his son pointers on playing the game. "Definitely my dad helps me out, Kugler. "He never force-taught me, but whenever I'm looking to improve, I can ask for help, and he'll give words of ad- vice. " said " — Tim Sullivan