Given the hair, it's not shocking to learn Paea is Brian Mone's cousin. [Isaiah Hole/247]
Three-star Berrien Springs (MI) DT/OG Phil Paea was the second of Michigan's three weekend commitments. A cousin of Bryan Mone, Paea holds an impressive offer sheet that includes the likes of Notre Dame, Oregon, and USC; it can be expected he'll move up from his current standing at the composite #13 player in Michigan.
Paea built an excellent rapport with Greg Mattison and director of player personnel Tony Tuioti. His comfort with the players and staff led to his commitment:
“Definitely it was the relationships around (Michigan),” Paea explained.” “It really means a lot. That was a big part of recruiting for me… the relationships with the coaches and players. The coaches, man… they’re great people. I would love to play for Greg Mattison. That’s what I want to do. Every time see him up here, every time I left… I just couldn’t pass it up again.”
Michigan State, Notre Dame—located a half hour away from Berrien Springs—and Oregon all stood out at various points in Paea's recruitment. Michigan overcame that with a couple of visits in quick succession. Before his commitment he had an unofficial visit scheduled to Oregon in a couple weeks; he told 247's Steve Wiltfong he's shutting down his recruitment and won't be visiting other schools.
“Now I can focus on school,” he said. “Get ready to play ball senior year and make sure it’s the best year I ever had and then get ready to be a Wolverine. I’m thinking about doing early enrollment to get to know the playbook and get settled in.”
Paea was the tenth commit in the 2017 class—four-star RB O'Maury Samuels since became the 11th—and he's the first defensive lineman.
GURU RATINGS
| Scout | Rivals | ESPN | 247 | 247 Comp |
| 3*, #26 DT | 3*, #13 OG | NR DT |
3*, 89, #25 DT, #333 Ovr |
3*, #32 DT, #479 Ovr |
Paea is ranked as a three-star to every site that's scouted him and he's close to four-star status—Rivals and Scout each have him one position rank away; 247 has him within four. Given his offers and his junior tape, he's a good bet to move up.
Paea has great size. He's listed at 6'4" (6'3" on Rivals) and 270-285 pounds. While Michigan is primarily looking at him as a defensive tackle, he could easily end up on the offensive line at guard or center:
“They’re looking at me on both sides of the ball, but I’m probably going to end up playing defensive tackle over there,” he said. “I’m a motor guy. Definitely I’m not going to take off any plays. I challenge myself and my opponents on every down.”
About that OL possibility: a current ACC head coach told Wiltfong he thinks Paea is a future NFL center.
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SCOUTING
Paea has been something of a positional nomad in high school, but he's found a home as a lineman on both sides of the ball. His coach:
“It’s been a little bit of a ride for him because of the position change and getting comfortable,” Scaccia said. “Going from being an inside linebacker then moving to the defensive line. He was a fullback then moved to guard. We had Nick Padla and he was the guy ahead of Phillip at guard. Phillip would rotate in and learn from Nick. Just for him to be comfortable, his natural place is with his hand in the dirt. I think he kinda found a home when we moved him down and got him dirty. He’s excelled. It’s been fun.”
Padla was a 2014 three-star who signed with Michigan State. After becoming a full-time lineman, Paea started reeling in big-time offers.
Scout's Allen Trieu ranks Paea as the second-best defensive tackle in the Midwest:
Rising quickly in terms of offers. Good athlete who has played all over the field. Still need to see him against top competition this offseason, but like his motor and athleticism.
Trieu added a more detailed scouting report after Paea's commitment:
Technique: Used in a variety of roles. Has played standing up and on the edge. Still learning technically on the defensive line as he's only played one season there. Can play a little high on times. Does a solid job with his hands though. Very physical kid which is evident on his offensive tape.
Intangibles: Tough, hard-working kid. High school coaches say he's a great teammate and coachable player. All character elements check out.
Stands out: Motor, physicality, size, athleticism
To improve: Technique
247's Clint Brewster could see Paea winding up on either side of the ball:
Paea’s ability to get out of his stance and fire off the ball make him a dominant athlete in the trenches. He’s got the knee-bend and fluid movements you like to see from big lineman. He generates good power from his legs and hips. Pea's got good experience playing several positions on the offensive and defensive line at the high school level.
Paea’s hand punch is really explosive and stands out on film. Once he gets downhill momentum on an opponent, he wins. Paea comes out of his stance with good bend, pad level, and explosion into his opponent. He’s got heavy hands and can really move people. The power in his upper body and ability to strike people once he gets going on the move is impressive. Paea does a nice job blocking when he’s downfield or out pulling. He’s got the nastiness you like to see in the trenches and can really finish tackles and close on ball-carriers. His versatility to play multiple positions make him really attractive to coaches at the next level.
Magnus posted at TTB that he believes Paea is a better offensive prospect:
I like Paea first and foremost as an offensive guard, but it sounds like Michigan wants him as a defensive tackle. On the offensive side of the ball, he does a good job of squaring up defenders, driving his feet through contact, and finishing blocks. He has good foot and moves well, and I think he would look pretty good pulling and leading up through the hole on power plays.
Defensively, he has good physical tools but is more of a project. He needs to work on his stance and be more consistent with his get-off. He also tends to sit back on his heels a bit, rather than playing downhill from his spot as a part-time defensive tackle, part-time defensive end. He just seems to be more aggressive on offense than defense in some ways.
At the moment, I also like Paea more as a guard, but I can see that opinion changing if the proverbial light goes on for him on the defensive line. For now he looks more comfortable on offense, but coaching can change that. Either way, he's got quite a bit of potential.
OFFERS
Paea holds offers from Arizona, BYU, Central Michigan, Miami (YTM), Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, Utah, Washington State, and Western Michigan.
HIGH SCHOOL
Berrien Springs plays in the MHSAA DIvision 5, one of the state's smaller classifications. The program has produced four Division I recruits since 2002, according to the Rivals database, none ranked higher than three stars. 2014 DE Jhonny Williams was a one-time Michigan target who signed at Notre Dame; he's since transferred to Toledo.
STATS
None available that I could find.
FAKE 40 TIME
Scout's commitment capsule provided some zero-FAKE physical intangibles:
Great size and frame at 6-4, 270. Measured 6-3.5 at a NIKE last summer. 5.25 forty, 4.87 shuttle, 31.1 vertical jump. Good athlete.
He moves well for a lineman, as is apparent on his...
VIDEO
Junior highlights:
Sophomore highlights and single-game reels can be found on his Hudl page.
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
Paea could be a strongside end or a three-tech in Don Brown's defense. He should rotate in behind Rashan Gary and Shelton Johnson (and, if he plays DT as a true freshman, Maurice Hurst) before competing for a starting job. If he ends up on the offensive line, he'd likely redshirt to get an extra year of separation from Michael Onwenu, Ben Bredeson, and Stephen Spanellis. Given his upside at guard, he could be a mid-career position switch even if he's performing well on the defensive line; it may depend on how the class fills in around him.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS
Michigan is up to 11 commits in a class that should reach the mid-20s. As noted, Paea could fill a need on either line. M is in pretty good shape with a number of interior linemen on both sides of the ball. Positions of need remaining in the class include outside receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, outside linebacker, and safety.
Here's the class as it currently stands:
O'Maury Samuels' commitment post will be updated in full tomorrow.