Better Know a Buckeye: Mike Weber

The 21st installment of this year's Better Know a Buckeye series profiles Mike Weber, a running back prospect from the Cass Technical program in Detroit. Weber is one of three Technicians in the past two years to matriculate south from what is otherwise known as a pipeline for Michigan football.

Mike Weber's path to Ohio State was not as simple as the one taken by Damon Webb in last year's class or even Josh Alabi this year. Weber was a one-time Michigan verbal commitment who re-opened his recruitment via Twitter announcement in the fourth of quarter of Michigan's loss to Maryland last year. He selected Ohio State on December 10th, but he was a threat to flip to Michigan again when Jim Harbaugh became Michigan's coach. There was an additional issue after signing day when Stan Drayton, his would-be position coach, departed for the Chicago Bears shortly after signing day.

I retell Weber's recruitment below. Afterward, I provide a scouting report for a running back prospect that is more power and sharp cuts between the tackles than a back who can make guys miss in space. I next provide a projection of a possible redshirt in 2015 before closing with highlight film for the reader to watch.

HIS RECRUITMENT

Ohio State's recruitment of Mike Weber started in earnest around January 2013. Urban Meyer visited his high school the day after Damon Webb committed to Ohio State. The visit made a good impression on Weber, who said Ohio State was near the top of his new list of favorite programs.

A scholarship offer arrived at the beginning of April. By that time, Michigan and Michigan State's respective scholarship offers had been on the table for almost three months. Weber was intrigued by Ohio State's scholarship offer and enjoyed the unofficial visit during which he received the offer. However, the odds seemed long that Weber would be a Buckeye with teammate Damon Webb.

For one, Weber seemed more interested in staying in Michigan than leaving for Ohio. Weber did take an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the weekend of the Wisconsin game in 2013. Various coaches—including Urban Meyer—made a couple visits through December and January of the following year. However, Michigan and Michigan State received much more attention. From January 2013 to January 2014, Michigan and Michigan State received a combined 15 unofficial visits. Coaches for both programs were in constant contact as well.

Further, Weber was following the recruitments of other prospects for whom Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State were all competing. On July 10, 2014, L.J. Scott selected Michigan State over Ohio State. Damien Harris, once a Michigan commit, was thought to be a strong Ohio State lean through the summer of 2014. Under these conditions, Michigan made the most sense for Weber. He committed to the Wolverines on August 6, 2014.

Ohio State fans remember well that an otherwise promising 2015 Michigan recruiting class imploded through the course of the 2014 season. Through October, Weber became a candidate to bolt. Speculation followed that he would. On November 22, Mike Weber added his name to the list of decommits from that class when he announced on Twitter he would look elsewhere for college football. He announced his decision during Maryland's fourth-quarter rally over Michigan on Michigan's senior day. 

I'm decommiting from the university of Michigan thank you Michigan for the love and support I'll remake my decision at the army bowl

— Mike Weber (@mikeweber25) November 22, 2014

Alabama, Georgia, and Notre Dame all extended scholarship offers after Weber's decommitment, though Ohio State became the team to beat. Importantly, Damien Harris' recruitment swung toward Alabama in the fall. Originally thought a safe pick to Ohio State, Harris was much more likely to sign with the Crimson Tide in February. Weber liked Ohio State and the Buckeyes were looking for a running back in this class. Weber did not even need an official visit to make up his mind.

HIS COMMITMENT

On December 10th, 2014, Mike Weber committed to Ohio State as the 22nd commitment in the Buckeyes' recruiting class. The decision came two days after Urban Meyer, Kerry Coombs, and Stan Drayton visited him and his parents in Detroit. Weber took his official visit two days later.

The story did not end there. Michigan dismissed Brady Hoke on December 2nd and replaced him with Jim Harbaugh on December 29th. Michigan made a splash hire from the ranks of the NFL who had to work furiously to repair Michigan's 2015 recruiting class. 

Weber became a high-priority target for Harbaugh's eleventh-hour recruiting efforts. Renewed excitement among Michigan fans and media outlets also tried to sway Weber back to Ann Arbor in the weeks before signing day. This resulted in an impromptu meeting between Weber and Harbaugh at a diner in Detroit, recorded by Sam Webb, and a secret official visit to Michigan at the end of January. 

Fans of both programs were uncertain about what Weber would do on signing day. The relief Ohio State fans felt when they learned Weber would stick to his Ohio State pledge was ephemeral. The announcement the next day that Stan Drayton was leaving for the Chicago Bears brought forward a new wave of agony about Weber's college plans. It took a few days, but Weber came to terms with the missed opportunity of not having Stan Drayton as his position coach. Weber is now enrolled at Ohio State.

WHERE HE EXCELS

Ohio State fans who watch Mike Weber's senior-year highlight film should like what they see. Weber is a strong north-south runner in a spread offense, used similar to Ezekiel Elliott.

To a man, every recruiting analyst who has observed Mike Weber praises his burst. Weber is not the fastest tailback in the country, but his first couple steps are elite. He gets from zero to top speed immediately. He would thrive the most in an offense that would allow him to see the hole and hit it quickly. Put another way, Ohio State's offense is designed to maximize Weber's strengths as a tailback.

Intuitively, Weber is not an Ohio State-caliber back without the type of field vision he possesses. Weber is patient in the backfield, which is a virtue for the position that the casual fan may take for granted.

Finally, Weber's size and frame makes him a kind of "fire hydrant" running back that can shake tackles with his shoulder. Weber will not necessarily run through defenders or over them at the line of scrimmage. However, given Ohio State's offense, he can make the first guy miss.

MUST WORK ON

Weber has an average top-end speed for his position. Importantly, he gets there quickly. His acceleration is elite. However, speedier defensive backs should be able to run him down from behind.

Weber's senior-year highlight film is replete with "home run" touchdown plays of 40 yards or more. Watching these carefully, I wonder if Weber has a firm idea of what to do in the open field. It is more than saying Weber has only average top-end speed. My curiosity concerns how imaginative he is in the open field. He seems more comfortable and even patient before the play develops. In the open field, Weber sometimes struggles to keep his feet underneath him if he has just a safety to beat.

Finally, I do not know how well Weber factors into the passing game on swings and screens. Contrast this with Ezekiel Elliott, for whom his hands as a receiver was an obvious superlative.

REDSHIRT?

Ohio State does not lack running backs in 2015. Ezekiel Elliott is a sure starter. Curtis Samuel looks to build on a promising freshman year. Warren Ball has eligibility to burn and Bri'onte Dunn may finally have a breakout year. Right now, Weber looks like a sure redshirt because of Ohio State's options. 

However, Weber is good enough to play as a true freshman. In a typical "Power Five conference" program, Weber is the kind of prospect that is a starter as a sophomore. Watch fall camp carefully. If Weber impresses as a true freshman, as he is capable of doing, he will find the field in 2015 regardless of Ohio State's talent glut ahead of him on the depth chart.

HIGHLIGHTS