Breaking: Michigan Lands ELITE Top 100 OT Jakari Lipsey

Video Notes: Breaking - Michigan Lands Elite Top 100 OT Jakari Lipsey Show: MichiganVOCFB Hosts: TJ Ronin (host) + Juju (guest) Date: May 2, 2026 Length: ~33 minutes Tone: High-energy, excited, film-heavy breakdown with recruiting context. 1. Commitment Overview (0:00–1:23) Jakari Lipsey (also spelled Lisby/Lipy in discussion) — 4-star OT, Top 100 talent. Size: 6'5, ~290–300 lbs (touching 300 now), from Kalamazoo, MI. Committed to Michigan over UCLA, LSU, Tennessee. Hosts call it a huge get for the state and program. Jim Hardy’s O-line recruiting reputation is highlighted as a major draw. Juju saw him in person: “A man amongst boys.” 2. Player Profile & Athleticism (1:23–2:31) Current rankings: Outside composite Top 100 but #66 on 247. Described as an athletic freak for his size — explosive, powerful, not normal movement for 300 lbs. Fits Michigan’s desired profile under Hardy/Whittingham: Athletic, powerful trench players who dominate physically. 3. Huddle Tape Breakdown (2:31–11:00+) Key observations from live tape reaction: Dominance: Rag-dolls opponents, drives kids 8–15+ yards, plays through the whistle, freight train mentality. Power & Violence: Heavy hands, slaps, pro-style moves, throws kids to the ground. Looks like a defensive lineman in pass rush clips. Athleticism: Sudden first step, clean footwork, light on feet, good lateral movement. Flips/wrestles opponents. Technique Notes: Plays high at times — needs better pad level. Good hand placement (not holding). Strong anchor and drive blocking. Versatility: Projects as Right Tackle but has guard potential due to athleticism and power. Could swing inside in certain packages. Playing Weight: Looks closer to 320+ on film; room to add muscle and drop body fat. Competition level: Not elite (west side of Michigan, smaller school), but talent and movement transcend it. Hosts emphasize: This is exactly the type of athlete Michigan’s new staff wants in the trenches. 4. Recruiting Class Context (12:00–32:00) Early May concerns from fans: Michigan behind teams like UCLA, USC, Oregon, etc. in class rankings. Hosts’ response: Not worried. It’s early (official visits haven’t started). UCLA is spending aggressively and has many commits already (class nearly ¾ done, lower average rating). Michigan is building from scratch after staff change; relationships take time. Focus on tape over rankings and long-term development under Hardy. Current class highlights: Strong foundation with Lipsey + others (Camden Leati, etc.). Lost Darnell Madison; Sydney Rolu seen as developmental. Targets discussed: Dakota Garant, Joshua Dobson (positive visit), David Funu/Ferunu, Boat Sparrow (must-land), Quinton Burrell, Demani Warren, Tyson Robinson (likely commit May 16), Miles Smith (must-get), Colt Lumpress, Anthony Cartright, etc. Diamonds in the rough: Ethan Hower, Charles Woodson Jr., Chase Taylor (early call by TJ). 5. Final Thoughts & Big Picture A+ job by staff (Ron Bellamy, Jim Hardy, etc.) landing their top guy. Michigan’s approach: Patient relationship-building, evaluating their own board, leveraging NIL/resources now available post-Utah. Timeline: Momentum expected with official visits (June+); flip season in fall. Message to fans: Take a deep breath. Early rankings don’t matter. Watch how the staff operates over the full cycle. Michigan has the resources and experience (Dave Poliquin/GM) to finish strong. Overall Vibe: Very positive on Lipsey as a program-changing type of O-line addition. Emphasis on patience with the new staff while trusting the process in the trenches. Long, conversational episode with good film talk and class strategy discussion. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.