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Quarterback Messiah deWeaver
From
Huber Heights, Ohio (Wayne, same as Travis Trice!)
Height/Weight
6'3-6'4, 200-210 pounds
Ratings
Three-star by 24/7 composite. Four-star by Rivals & 24/7, three-star by ESPN & Scout
Notable Offers
Arkansas, Cincinnati, Louisville, Michigan, Mississippi State, Penn State, Pitt
Thoughts on Offer List
So there was all of the fun that went along with deWeaver being a one-time Michigan commit. If deWeaver ever starts a Paul Bunyan Trophy game, that'll be discussed into the ground. Let's wait until then to discuss this any more.
That's a very solid offer list, and corresponds with deWeaver's star ranking. You have to like that there were two legit SEC offers on the list, as well as the more regional teams. Thinking about the coaches making those offers (Bret Bielema, Jim Harbaugh, Dan Mullen, James Franklin, and Pat Narduzzi) is kind of funny, as well.
Thoughts on Film
I realize this is a highlight reel, but the film is impressive. deWeaver shows the ability to drop the ball into many different tight windows, and his footwork didn't appear to break down while he was under pressure (I'm guessing this is not always the case). He is tough, as evidenced by his trucking of a defender on the goal line.
At risk of sounding over the top, deWeaver is Connor Cook-ish to me. He's not a true dual-threat guy, but he can absolutely pick up yards when it makes sense to do so, although there were a few times in this video where I thought he pulled the ball down too quickly. deWeaver also isn't afraid to take shots downfield, another Cookian quality. While it doesn't appear that deWeaver has Cook's arm strength yet at this stage, that's something Ken Mannie can work on once Messiah is on campus.
Outlook for the Rest of the Class
deWeaver was the first of five (!) weekend commits for Michigan State and likely the only quarterback for the class, given the presence of Brian Lewerke in the 2015.
Over the next week, I'll talk about the class a little more, but it's shaping up quite nicely. Even before the flurry on Saturday, it prompted this from Tom Van Haaren:
I think this class is going to be Mark Dantonio's best at MSU in terms of rankings and grades. It'll be interesting to see how they develop
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) April 25, 2015
The continued success and stability of the program has had a huge recruiting effect. Per 24/7 composite, the 2016 class is third in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State and Penn State.
Congrats Messiah, and welcome to the Green and White!