The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PREP PROFILES ing need to fill in the 2013 recruiting class: defensive line. They've offered prospects from coast to coast, and one talented player from California is plan- ning to make a trip to Michigan. Placer High School is home to Eddie Vander- does, and the 6-4, 288-pounder has earned accolades as the No. 21 overall prospect nationally. Although Rivals. com ranks Vanderdoes as a defensive end, Michigan would prefer him to play inside. "They want me to play the three-tech- nique defensive tackle," Vanderdoes said. Michigan's coaching staff has one glar- "They really liked my pass rush, they loved my ability to get into the backfield, they loved my versatility, and they loved my power and strength, my separation, and they loved my motor and technique. Vanerdoes "They want me to play the three-technique defensive tackle. They really liked my pass rush, they loved my ability to get into the backfield, they loved my versatility, and they loved my power and strength, my separation, and they loved my motor and technique." (N.J.) Immaculata defensive end Tashawn Bower to make a college commitment, he'll have no shortage of options. Florida State, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech are just a few of the 30-plus schools that have al- ready offered him. Coaches from those programs have taken note of his 6-5, 230-pound frame and an explosive burst that allowed him to rack up 75 tackles — nine for loss — as a junior on a 9-2 squad. When it comes time for Somerville Bower "I'm looking forward to just seeing the school and getting to meet all the coaches up there, and meeting the other recruits too." and being able to play the defensive end position, and even play some at the outside linebacker position, "I think they like my speed off the ball explained. "I think my quickness is what they really like. " Bower Those abilities have earned Bower a ranking as the No. 250 player in the coun- " 60 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2012 West Coast Defensive Lineman Plans A Michigan Visit Eddie Vanderdoes ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Placer High School Placer, Calif. Position: Defensive Lineman Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 288 Ranking: Rivals.com's No. 3 strongside defensive end and No. 21 overall player nationally " across the country, most of Vanderdoes' visits thus far have been to West Coast schools. He's just a short car ride from Cal, and he's also seen Oregon, USC and UCLA in person, among others. However, the interest from Michigan has him look- ing toward the middle of the country for a set of visits. Though he has offers from programs "I'm definitely going to make it out to the Midwest," he said. "That's one of my mining when he can work in that trip. He's in the midst of his high school base- ball season — where he's a slugging des- ignated hitter — and will have to wait for that to end before he can find time for an extensive Midwest trip. It's on the gridiron, however, that he's more likely to make his name in college. Although he didn't put up big numbers as a junior — playing nose guard in a 3-4 system — Vanderdoes has many schools trying to convince him to join their programs. "It all starts with the campus and the area," he explained. "Where am I going The next step for Vanderdoes is deter- " goals to make it out there. I'm going to make as many visits as I can. to be living for four years? The weather and stuff like that. Then the coaches, what coach am I going to be bonding with for the next four years? Will I be able to have a good relationship with him? Am I going to have a family feeling with the team? And then how are they going to support me and take care of me academically?" — Tim Sullivan New Jersey Pass Rusher Will Barbecue At The Big House Tashawn Bower ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Immaculata High School Somerville, N.J. Position: Defensive End Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 230 Ranking: Rivals.com's No. 9 weakside defensive end and No. 250 overall player nationally try from Rivals.com. In an effort to con- tinue narrowing his list — Michigan is currently among the 10 schools still re- maining — he plans to take an unofficial visit to U-M the final weekend in June for Michigan's annual barbecue recruiting event. "It looks like me and my father will probably be going to the barbecue they're having in July, Arbor will be a good chance for Bower to evaluate whether he could see himself spending four years as a member of the Wolverines. Michigan defensive backs Experiencing the atmosphere in Ann " "I'm looking forward to just seeing the school and getting to meet all the coaches up there, and meeting the other recruits too. " Bower explained. coach Curt Mallory, his area recruiter, has let Bower know that he'll like what he sees. "He's telling me how it's a great cam- pus with academics and athletics," Bower said. "They really want to sell the aca- demics, and I'm used to that being first. That's the main thing. They really just want to get me down there to show me that the place is awesome, and that I'll love it. something that should give Brady Hoke and his coaching staff a big boost in their efforts to land Bower. "I'm definitely looking for somewhere The academic aspect of Michigan is " ways ask about is academics and what their APR is. that I feel comfortable. I want to see how comfortable I am when I get there and if I like the area, and like the coaches and players, Ohio State, South Carolina, Connecticut, Florida, Florida State, Miami and Rutgers. If Michigan's coaches can impress more than those schools, they'll have a great chance at landing the exceptional talent. — Tim Sullivan He's already taken in the atmosphere at " he said. "Then something I al- "