Hello: Kwity Paye

[Photo: 247Sports]

Three-star Warwick (RI) Bishop Hendricken DE Kwity Paye committed to Michigan this morning. Paye had been committed to Boston College, where he was originally offered and recruited by current Michigan DC Don Brown, but the Wolverines moved to the forefront of Paye's recruitment when he took an official visit for the Wisconsin game. After going to BC last weekend to make sure of his decision, Paye made it official.

"When I went to take my official visit there, it felt like a huge family," Paye said. "The coaches there aren't really focused on winning. They are more focused on the players, and making sure the players are succeeding and they are making sure they are preparing them for after football, and not just a football career.

"Obviously, they you to be great as football players, but after football, and they stress that a lot."

Before ever suiting up in the Maize and Blue, Paye has already taken a remarkable journey. Like current Wolverines Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson, Paye and his family had to flee civil war before settling in the United States:

Paye was a mere six months old when his mother, Agnes, took Kwity and his older brother, Komotay Kossia, and immigrated to Guinea from Liberia -- to escape the atrocities of a civil war -- where they settled in a refugee camp.

Eventually, Agnes Paye immigrated to the United States and took up residence in South Providence. ...

“My mother told me we were in a refugee camp and we moved around a lot,” said Paye. “There wasn’t a place for us to stay so we moved to Guinea where I was born.

“I believe she would have still tried to come to American as the (civil) war was going on. I don’t think they would have let us stay in Liberia. I don’t think we would be alive.”

Paye started out as a track athlete when he arrived in America—his mother was a runner—before discovering football at the early age of seven.

Paye is the 18th commit in the class. While he's listed as a weakside end, where Michigan already has two four-star commits in Corey Malone-Hatcher and Luiji Vilain, he could very well wind up as a strongside linebacker in Brown's defense—Michigan doesn't have a commit yet in the class who's an obvious fit for that position.

GURU RATINGS

Every site save ESPN has Paye rated as a low-end three-star, and it's worth noting ESPN—which gives him a four-star rating—appears to be the only site that has done in-depth scouting on him. It wouldn't be surprising if Paye moves up in the composite once the other sites take a second look; BC commits from Rhode Island don't tend to garner much attention.

As mentioned above, Paye fits the mold of a pass-rushing strongside linebacker in Brown's defense. He's listed at either 6'3" or 6'4" and right around 225 pounds by all four sites.

[Hit THE JUMP for scouting, video, and more.]

SCOUTING

As you'd expect, scouting reports are limited for a Rhode Island prospect. Rivals's Boston College outlet compared him to current BC DE Harold Landry, a Don Brown recruit who Steve Lorenz points out had the same rating on 247 as Paye.

Paye is built in a way that's reminiscent of Landry, at least when compared to Landry at a similar point in his development and playing history. Paye is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound defensive end/outside linebacker/tight end, and there would surely be more schools on his offer list if he had two extra inches to his height. ...

Regardless of the level of competition he faces in Rhode Island, the film doesn't lie. Paye has outstanding closing speed chasing down quarterbacks from their blind side. He's a tenacious pass rusher who only needs a slight misstep from an offensive tackle to create a negative yardage play or an errant throw. Pass rushing is his specialty and he's got an impressive 'next gear' once he's got an unobstructed path to the quarterback. Purely in terms of his pass rushing abilities, Paye is one of BC's more impressive defensive commitments in recent memory.

Landry is in the midst of a breakout junior year with eight sacks (T-3rd nationally) among his ten TFLs in seven games.

ESPNBoston did an in-person evaluation that's light on technical details but has an interesting note about Paye's track and field exploits translating to the football field:

One bit of evidence that underscores his arm and hand strength is that he’s one of the better shot putters in the state during the outdoor track and field season. That, and the fact he puts in countless hours in the weight room, indicates he should become even stronger once he gets to college.

Paye finished third in the Rhode Island state championships this spring with a career-long shot put throw of 48'8.25". He also recorded an 11.0 100-meter dash and a 21'5" long jump as a junior. The ESPN scout also praised Paye's sideline-to-sideline play against the run, speed off the edge as a pass-rusher, tackling form/ability, and football IQ.

ESPN's paywalled evaluation on Paye's profile provides more detail:

Very good height with good bulk on a lean, wiry built frame. Needs to continue to work to pack on some more good mass, but should be able to add size as he continues to fill out. Displays good playing strength which should continue to improve as he gets into a college weight program and adds more size. Inconsistent, but displays above average first-step.

Demonstrates ability to take on blockers with pad level and when maintains good 'football position' can hold ground one-on-one, especially against current competition. Can bring hands and has enough strength to control and shed blockers in time to play the ball, but needs to do better job of pressing blockers and creating separation. Good play speed and range to be factor in pursuit with effort.

Flashes ability to come off and transfer speed-to-power, but aspect of arsenal he needs to further develop. Can look to lean on raw tools and needs to further develop use of his weapons and be sure to have a plan.

Physical player that displays good effort in his play. Contributes in all three-phases. Can sharpen pursuit angles, but good range and can be physical as a tackler.

They conclude that while Paye is "a bit raw," he can grow into a disruptive player, and they suggest his best fit is as an OLB/DE hybrid—which is likely how he'll be utilized at Michigan.

Scout isn't as bullish on Paye's athleticism in an otherwise positive evaluation:

Evaluation

Paye has good closing speed and he plays with high energy. He works through double teams and will chase a play down the field. He needs to improve his explosiveness at the snap of the ball to put more pressure on the offensive tackle so he can use speed around the edge to go with his power and inside moves. His hands are active and he has good strength. He disengages with force but he needs to add strength in the upper body. -- Brian Dohn

Strengths

• Backside Pursuit
• Body Control and Balance
• Closing Speed
• Hand Quickness
• Intensity/Effort

Areas to Improve

• Athleticism
• Explosion
• Pass Rushing Skills
• Quickness off Ball

Paye's first step looks like an area in need of improvement; to me, it looks like he has the raw physical ability to do so, and I'm surprised Dohn doesn't like his overall athleticism. He's tough to evaluate because of his competition, but it's not too difficult to see what Don Brown likes about him—he's got a size/athleticism package that could make him a great fit for that SLB spot.

OFFERS

Paye's other offers are from Boston College, Navy, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Toledo.

HIGH SCHOOL

Is in Rhode Island, and therefore not of general interest for recruiting purposes.

STATS

According to ESPN, Paye had 68 tackles and 5.5 sacks in ten games as a junior, and he also rushed for 214 yards and eight TDs on only 19 carries as a running back.

FAKE 40 TIME

Paye's Hudl page lists a SPARQ-verified 40 time of 4.75 seconds, which gets zero FAKEs out of five.

VIDEO

Junior highlights:

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

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

With Malone-Hatcher and Vilain already in the class at weakside defensive end, the guess here is Paye at least initially lines up at strongside linebacker. It's unclear how that position will look post-Peppers, but Brown has been stocking the roster with both safety and edge-rusher types. When Paye gets to campus, he'll compete with Noah Furbush and Josh Uche to get the edge-rusher snaps at that spot. Given the huge jump in competition, he's a potential redshirt despite Jim Harbaugh's redshirt-averse ways; regardless, he'll probably need a couple years of seasoning before he finds his way onto the two-deep.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

Michigan now has 18 commits in a class that should reach 30 or so. They look to be done with edge-rushers, but Sam Webb posted after Paye's commitment that they're far from finished with the defensive line as a whole, even accounting for DT Donovan Jeter's commitment yesterday. Four-star UT DT Jay Tufele is a top priority, and Michigan will still push for another tackle as well—in-state four-star Deron Irving-Bey and three-star Oregon commit Rutger Reitmaier are the best bets to fill that spot. Sam also reports that, at least for now, an official visit from Aubrey Solomon is back to being a distinct possibility, though it's hard to expect much will come of that recruitment.

Other position groups with spots to fill include wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, outside linebacker, cornerback, and safety.