Photo Credit: PouringPurple.com

New Michigan Man: VLB Joey Velazquez Commits to Michigan

Posted onAuthorGarrett Fishaw

This might be a first. Michigan and Ohio State have flipped each other’s recruits/players several times in the past. But that’s on the football field. This is a little different as 2019 St. Frances De Sales (OH) VLB Joey Velazquez has flipped his commitment on Friday from Ohio State’s baseball team to the Michigan football and baseball teams.

Commitment

Scouting Report

Velazquez is the perfect fit for Don Brown’s defense. He’s a strong, physical, athletic hybrid player that has the size of a safety but the physicality of a linebacker, which is pretty much the exact breakdown of Khaleke Hudson. He has a nose for the ball and can read offenses well from the safety position.

With Hudson expected to leave for the NFL after 2018 or 2019, Velazquez won’t have a ton of competition to see the field at viper with not a ton of options on the depth chart. He has the size to play but will have to adjust to the college game quickly to win the starting position.

Oh, and he’s also a legit outfielder prospect.

Recruitment

This was a pretty quick recruitment for Velazquez. His name popped up on the Michigan recruiting trail early in the spring as a potential fit at Viper for Don Brown’s defense. But he was an Ohio State baseball commit that didn’t hold many football offers. That was until he made his first visit to Ann Arbor and Michigan offered him to play both football and baseball for the Wolverines.

With the offer in hand, Michigan became the heavy favorite with several Crystal Balls coming in for the maize and blue. He waited to make a decision as he camped at both Michigan and Ohio State. But nothing changed following those visits so the dual-sport star didn’t wait much longer before officially committing to That Team Up North.

  • Height: 6’0”
  • Weight: 205lbs
  • Hometown (School): Columbus, OH (St. Frances De Sales)
  • Notable Offers: Indiana, Cincinnati, Kent State
  • Rankings: Rivals (3*)- 247Sports (3*, #52 S) – ESPN (NR)
  • Composite Ranking: Three-star, #968 Overall, #79 S, #43 in Ohio

Highlights

As for the Rest of the Class

Velazquez is the 11th overall commitment, the first viper linebacker commitment and the fourth commitment out of Ohio. But he may not even be the last viper commitment of the weekend as the staff is in great shape with S/VLB Quinton Johnson and S Daxton Hill. The other top target at the position is in-state VLB Lance Dixon, whom the staff has plenty of ground to make up with. S Lewis Cine is another top target that Michigan is in good shape with could potentially play the position as well.

Photo Credit: PouringPurple.com

Garrett Fishaw
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