2016 Recruiting: Ben Bredeson

Previously: Last year's profiles. S Josh Metellus, S Khaleke Hudson, CB David Long, CB Lavert Hill, LB Elysee Mbem-Bosse, LB Devin Bush Jr., LB Devin Gil, LB Josh Uche, DE Ron Johnson, DT Michael Dwumfour, DT Rashan Gary, DE Carlo Kemp.

I didn't copy and paste Mason Cole's recruiting profile for this post, but I may as well have: Bredeson is a powerful and agile offensive lineman who could hypothetically play any of the five spots, but fits best as an interior lineman because he lacks the pass-rush-engulfing height and arms that top flight left tackles generally have. But don't take my word for it. Scout:

"…has shown he can play some tackle too but we still see him as a big time inside guy in Ann Arbor."

Tim Sullivan, Rivals:

Bredeson is likely bound for the interior of the offensive line in college, but looked better as a tackle than expected. He does have the thick build of a guard, but primarily in the lower body. Long arms and an upper body that can still use additional strength give him the look of a tackle.

Son of A Coach:

I think Bredeson is good enough to play offensive tackle, but I think he could develop into an All-American level guard at the next level.

Touch The Banner:

Bredeson has good but not great size for the offensive tackle position, and his body may be a better fit for offensive guard. … could slide in at all five positions. He can stay low enough to maintain leverage at the interior positions, and he has the foot quickness to block guys on the edge. I do not see him being an elite left tackle prospect like, say, Taylor Lewan because Bredeson just lacks the length and athleticism that Lewan had.

You get the idea. Michigan agrees with the above assessments: As of December Bredeson was scheduled to start out at left guard. Tim Drevno's evaluation on his MGoBlue bio mentions that he is a "guy who can hold point especially on a three technique," again implying that Michigan sees him as an interior lineman.  Lorenz also reported that he was working on his snapping in case Michigan wanted to try him out at center. Bredeson has the athletic ability to play tackle but is a guard in an ideal world.

Michigan may not be able to provide him that ideal world. Contenders for the open slot at RT next year are… uh… I mean… yeah. Juwann Bushell-Beatty has been playing a lot of guard despite being the most tackle-shaped guy available, which is a situation with Ben Braden echoes. There was rumble that Nolan Ulizio was looking pretty good, and could be a tackle. Mason Cole could flip back out if absolutely necessary. That concludes likely contenders. Michigan does not have great options in 2017.

Bredeson might be a good option even at that early stage. I know we're pretty skeptical of "he's so college-ready" reports after Kyle Kalis, but, I mean, a lot of people think Bredeson is an advanced technician. Son of a Coach:

He’s very technically sound at this point in his development as a run blocker. He plays with good pad level and drives his feet on contact. His hand placement is good the majority of the time and he works to finish. … effort to sustain blocks is something that really stands out about his game.  … violent pop at the point of attack. … He moves well to get to the second level. Really does a great job engaging and driving linebackers.

Clint Brewster named him the "most polished" kid in the class:

…has the footwork and hand technique of a college level offensive lineman. He keeps his hips down and his elbows inside to create power behind his hand-punch and really strikes people. He does a great job with leverage and using his body strength to overpower people.

There is also a slightly overheated report from Scout's Notre Dame site goes with "not a whole lot to critique" in its "room for improvement" section. While that's nice the report also ends with an assertion that going up against Bredeson is "like wrestling a bear" and that he "uses his hands like anvils." This is credibility-sapping, especially if you're a bear. Or an anvil, I guess.

On the other hand ESPN's evaluation is almost completely derailed by qualifiers about how he "flashes" things and "can" execute:

Prospect with very good height and bulk at this stage … displays very good playing strength. … Doesn't display a powerful punch and needs to continue to refine placement, but can do a nice job of with his hands of striking up and latching on and locking out on first contact. Can maintain a good base with ability to stay in front of rushers once locked on. … can be a strong multi-year starter for a Power-5 O-Line.

Until that last line there's not much to suggest they like him much at all since the entire evaluation is spackled with qualifiers about how he's not an NFL OL yet. It is what it is.

In addition to his relatively advanced technique, Bredeson brings an impressive physical package:

• Scout summary:  "Outstanding overall prospect with good technique and ability to bend. Has good flexibility in his lower body and has no issue winning leverage battles even against shorter defensive linemen. Plays with a mean streak and finishes his blocks strong. Can still polish up his pass pro … but has all the tools and the intangibles to develop into a top flight college lineman."
• Blast-from-the-past Tom Lemming: "this guy is a brute … an exceptionally aggressive, athletic big guy. I know the Wisconsin staff thinks he might be the best offensive lineman to come out of that state since Josh Oglesby [the No. 10 player nationally in 2007] and Joe Thomas [a four-star in the Class of 2003]. Everyone thinks he has NFL future written all over him."
• Steve Wiltfong, 247: "…can absolutely bend, an agile lineman who is technically sound. Good agility and balance." Also: "top-of-the-board interior guy that has quick feet and frame that will add a ton of power as he continues to develop. Bredeson plays hungry on every snap, not one lazy play on film. He’s a technically sound player with long arms and a plus athleticism in the trenches."
• Anon Scout person, at UA: "…has drawn rave reviews and has been one of the few to test and stop Rashan Gary."
• Evan Sharpley, 247: "…showcases tremendous technique highlighted by the exceptional use of his hands. Defenders have a difficult time with him because he is able to create space with his lengthy frame. Ample athleticism to move around the line."
• Tim Sullivan, Rivals: "outstanding quick first step off the ball … very tough finisher, burying the defensive lineman on almost every rep that he has the opportunity. … against truly talented edge rushers, he may not have the overall agility to fend off a speed move or its counters. … has the speed to get downfield, but sometimes finds himself in space hesitating instead of making a second-level block."

I should clarify that those reports about Bredeson stopping Gary were impressive because he could do it at all. His wins there were intermittent, not consistent.

The encouraging thing in there are many assertions that Bredeson can "bend" and has plus agility. Those physical attributes, especially the hard-to-teach and impossible-for-some ability to drive off the ball low, are rare. Many high school OL are big guys who can't get under their opposition and end up dumped in the backfield on the regular. Bredeson does not appear to have that problem.

The only remaining question marks are the problems that have bedeviled Kalis thus far in his career: can he be consistent mentally? How many errors does he make attempting to execute a rather complicated offense? If the answer is "a lot" then he'll end up a disappointing starter but a starter nontheless. If the answer is "very few" dude will be righteous.

Etc.: Wisconsin fans were pretty pretty mad that one guy managed to escape their clutches.

Why Mason Cole? Explained in the post. Bredeson is higher-ranked—Cole was just outside the top 100 most places—but Cole's well on his way to outperforming his ranking, in part because he must be in the 90th+ percentile mentally. Very few OL can slide into a starting lineup as a true freshman and not have that be a disaster. Thankfully, Bredeson does not have to do that.

If Bredeson does hit the All-American ceiling many project he will have he could end up playing a lot like Steve Hutchinson. Those are big expectations, but Hutchinson was also 6'5" and got up to around 313. He was the last truly great Michigan guard. Bredeson appears to have all the necessary material to hit the same level.

Guru Reliability: Exacting. UA game appearance, healthy, more or less total agreement in both scouting reports and rankings.

Variance: Low. I almost never issue a "low" for OL since even super-sure things like Patrick Kugler get buried on the regular, but Bredeson seems like an exception. Size, bend, and technique are all repeatedly praised. Versatility means he's not going to get stuck behind guys like Kugler has.

Ceiling: High. Could easily end up one of the top guards whenever he's NFL-draft eligible.

General Excitement Level: High. Big-time get for Drevno; Bredeson will probably be the first Harbaugh-era lineman to remind you of his work with the Cardinal.

Projection: Bredeson is one of the rare OL you could justify not redshirting since he's almost certainly headed for a starting job in 2017. Harbaugh took a redshirt off Grant Newsome last year when it became clear that he was a heavy favorite to start as a true sophomore, so there's precedent for such a move. You know me—I'd prefer a redshirt unless a kid is going to significantly contribute, especially at OL—but I won't complain too much if Bredeson is the sixth OL on goal line packages and the like.

It would be a major upset if Bredeson did not lock down a starting job in year two and leave Michigan a three or four year starter. His competitors in 2017 will be his classmates, who he's ahead of, and whoever of Dawson/Runyan/Kugler/Ulizio ends up panning out. (For purposes of this conversation I'm assuming a center who's amongst the best five OL kicks Cole to a guard spot or RT.) It's unlikely that three of those guys are better than him.