Dave Nasternak/MGoBlog
Michigan linebacker commit David Reese is the focus of this week's FBO. While his Farmington squad fell short against a talented Southfield team, 45-22, he had a productive game—12 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble he returned for a TD, a blocked extra point, and a rushing touchdown. Reese lined up at middle linebacker, fullback, and H-back; he'll come to Michigan as an inside linebacker but I also pulled some clips of him on offense in case he switches sides of the ball—he looks viable on either side.
David Reese Highlights
Reese is #3 in blue. Thanks to Dave Nasternak for filming this one.
[Hit THE JUMP for a breakdown of Reese.]
Scouting
Reese looks like a future MIKE, though he still needs to refine his game. He's got a stout frame that looks like it could easily carry extra weight without impacting his athleticism too much and he possesses natural strength; on both sides of the ball, he impacted linemen and stopped them dead in their tracks. His athleticism won't wow you but it's adequate for an inside linebacker. Desmond Morgan seems like a decent comparison physically and that might be selling Reese short; at the 0:27 mark he blitzes, is briefly held, and disengages to impressively chase down a runner from behind.
Reese is quick to diagnose and react to plays, which allows him to take on blocks with a head of steam instead of catching them. He's inconsistent when it comes to shedding blockers and getting to the correct hole; sometimes he does this really well—in one case he even dodged a block entirely, Peppers-style, to make a tackle—and on a few occasions he either couldn't use his hands to disengage or took himself out of the play by going to the wrong side. These issues are fixable, especially since it seemed like Reese was trying to do a little too much to make up for the issues Farmington had around him.
I like Reese as a blitzer. He got a sack when he blasted through the A-gap and discarded the running back at the 0:56 mark, got a pressure on another A-gap blitz, and the aformentioned play when he cut short his blitz after he recognized run put his instincts on full display. He also found his way to the ball more often than not and when he got his hands on a ballcarrier he ended the play.
Jim Harbaugh has no higher compliment than saying someone is "just a football player," and you get that feel from Reese. As a fullback he had several punishing blocks, a nice touchdown run, and a smooth-looking catch out of the backfield. He blocked an extra point. He made his team's biggest play of the game by straight up ripping the ball out of the running back's hands and taking it the other way for a touchdown (1:41 mark).
Reese is a football player. With the way Michigan's depth chart projects for the next couple years, he's needed at inside linebacker, and he looks like a quality prospect there, albeit maybe not a guy with huge upside. If he's amenable and the roster allows, he could be a major threat as a fullback in Harbaugh's offense, too. This staff will find a way to make use of Reese's ability.