Hello: Stephen Spanellis

Photo via Scout.

Three-star Baltimore (MD) Gilman OT Stephen Spanellis had made a habit of catching people off guard. First, he picked up a Michigan offer, and the news flew so far under the radar that I can't find a story reporting it on any of the four recruiting sites. Then his official visit last weekend went down in similar fashion. Last night, he flipped his commitment from Virginia to Michigan, and as you can tell from the timing of this post, he wasn't expected to announce so soon. For that, we can thank the snowpocalypse:

"I felt like I was leaning towards Michigan," he said.  "I was going to take the official visit [to Virginia] this weekend if it wasn't for the snow, but then I felt like I didn't want to wait until next weekend to take the visit because I was ready to be done with the recruiting process. I was sure that Michigan was the place for me. 

"It's a great academic school and the tradition there speaks for itself," he added. "[Head] Coach [Jim] Harbaugh I would consider him one of the five best football coaches in the world period. Any time you can be part of something that is excellent, it is something you need to think about doing."

Spanellis is the 22nd commit in the 2016 class and the fourth on the offensive line, joining Ben Bredeson, Michael Onwenu, and Gilman teammate Devery Hamilton. 

GURU RATINGS

The recruiting sites are split on whether Spanellis is a guard or a tackle; all have him as various levels of three-star, with Rivals easily the most bullish—in their position rankings he's ten spots away from four-star status, while he's well off that mark everywhere else.

Spanellis has plenty of size. Scout and Rivals both list him at 6'6", 290 pounds; ESPN at 6'5", 313; and 247 at 6'5", 330. He's got the look of a right tackle or guard, depending on his ability to protect the edge.

[Hit THE JUMP for the informative portion.]

SCOUTING

Scout's free evaluation paints the picture of a strong RT/OG type who's got plenty of developing to do from a technical standpoint:

Evaluation

Spanellis' strength shows in his initial punch, which can be jarring and speaks to his balance. He is aggressive and finishes blocks, but he needs to improve his footwork so he can stay on a block better. He comes out of his stance quickly, but he needs to lighten his feet and drive his legs more in run blocking. He uses his strength and initial punch in pass blocking but needs to improve [lateral] quickness. -- Brian Dohn

Strengths

• Aggressiveness
• Power And Strength
• Size
• Tenacity

Areas to Improve

• Explosion
• Feet
• Pass Protection

ESPN sees him as a guard and has similar concerns about his pass protection; here's their take on his run blocking:

Flashes ability to come off with adequate pad level and when he gets hand placement displays lower body strength to generate some push, but pads can quickly rise and can get stalemated. Can use body and size to engulf and wall off defenders at times. Could struggle to adjust to moving targets, but displays good ability to locate and use angles to get a hit on second level targets.

They mention he can get top-heavy; his profile reminds me quite a bit of Ben Braden.

Everything else we have on Spanellis comes from Michigan media in the wake of his commitment. 247's Clint Brewster evaluated his senior film:

Spanellis is a big-bodied offensive lineman that excels in the straight-ahead run game as a mauler type of offensive lineman that Michigan looks for. He's physical upon contact and uses his body to overpower defensive lineman and drive them into the ground. Spanellis has some fluid movements to be able to turn his body on down blocks and cut off defenders. He's got a physical punch and is able to extend his arms to get separation from defenders and move them where he wants in the running game. Spanellis is well coached coming from national power Gilman high school. He understands pad level and leverage. Spanellis looks like a nice fit at Michigan with his physicality and if he continues to improve his body and foot-speed, he could be a really solid player.

The Wolverine's Tim Sullivan also says his primary strength is as a mauling run-blocker:

He's not the most athletic or flexible tackle prospect, and is probably more of a right (or frontside) tackle in the long-term. He has the ability to hold off edge rushers, but elite defensive ends can get around him. Better to have that in the quarterback's line of sight.

What Spanellis is best at is plowing ahead in the run game on the edge, and working to the next level (something Hamilton is exceptional at for a high school player, as well). That should serve him in the Jim Harbaugh offense. 

One of his Gilman coaches told 247's Steve Wiltfong that Spanellis is an ideal fit for a Harbaugh squad:

“He’s a huge kid, 6-5, 330 right now,” Gilman assistant coach Henry Russell said. “He’s in excellent shape for that size and he’s extremely strong. Strongest player on our team. He has an unbelievable work ethic. First one in the weight room, last one to leave. He’s a quiet kid that leads by example.

“I think he’s a perfect fit for Michigan and the type of kids they’re trying to bring in.”

I'm sticking with my Braden comparison. Braden was similarly enormous coming out of high school, started out as a right tackle at Michigan, and slid inside to guard in part because of his difficulty staying with quick edge-rushers and his habit of leaning into blocks. Unlike Braden, Spanellis has the benefit of being coached by Harbaugh and Tim Drevno from the outset, which makes me more optimistic that he'll be able to stick at right tackle, where he's most needed on the roster.

OFFERS

Spanellis holds offers from Arkansas, Charlotte, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Maryland, Miami (YTM), Michigan State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and West Virginia. While that list is missing top-flight programs, it's a very solid sheet for a player with his rankings.

HIGH SCHOOL

You're probably familiar with Baltimore Gilman, a longtime powerhouse that's already given Michigan current H-back Henry Poggi (son of Gilman coach Biff Poggi) and fellow 2016 commit Devery Hamilton.

STATS

Is OL, no stats.

FAKE 40 TIME

ESPN lists a 5.83, which gets zero FAKEs out of five.

VIDEO

Senior highlights:

Junior highlights and single-game reels can be found on his Hudl page.

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

With the entire line save Graham Glasgow returning, plus three higher-ranked linemen in the 2016 class, Spanellis is a dead lock to redshirt during his first year on campus. After that, things get interesting, especially if Mason Cole moves to the interior as we anticipate. Grant Newsome should hold down the left tackle spot in 2017, but the departure of Erik Magnuson will leave an opening at right tackle; Spanellis could compete for that job with Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Nolan Ulizio, Devery Hamilton, and perhaps Ben Bredeson.

Kyle Kalis and Ben Braden also move on after next season, so if Spanellis ends up at guard, he has a chance to see the field relatively early there, too. That will all depend on his development once he gets on campus.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

Michigan should be set on the offensive line barring the unlikely event they get serious interest from EJ Price, who's too good a prospect not to take if he's interested. They will continue to pursue Texas grad transfer Jake Raulerson, who could immediately step in at center for the next two seasons. The rest of the upshot I'll slightly modify from yesterday's Hello post for David Long:

As for the class as a whole, Michigan is up to 22 commits, and we still expect one or two players from the current group not to end up in a class that could reach as many as 30. That leaves anywhere from eight to ten spots to fill before Signing Day. Top remaining targets include DT Rashan Gary, TE/DE Devin Asiasi, DT Boss Tagaloa, WDE Connor Murphy, ATH Khaleke Hudson, WR Eddie McDoom, TE Chase Allen, WR Donald Stewart, WR Pie Young, WDE Joshua Uche, ILB Elysee Mbem-Bosse, and K Quinn Nordin.

Here's the class as it currently stands: