SI All-American Candidate Raheem Anderson Shows Unwavering Work Ethic In Offseason
On Monday, numerous Michigan commits and targets were named to the freshly released SI All-American Watch List, and no grouping of the nation's top prospects would be complete without Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech center Raheem Anderson II.
Standing at 6-3 and tipping the scales at 305 pounds, Anderson is one of the most complete centers in the entire 2021 class. On film, Anderson keeps a low center of gravity, chooses the right timing to administer strong punches with his hands and has sound footwork when framing running lanes.
Those qualities helped the instant-impact center land offers from schools like Georgia and LSU, but the in-state recruit had visited Ann Arbor on numerous occasions, and he built a strong bond with U-M offensive line coach Ed Warinner. These factors, including the proximity to home, all helped Anderson choose the Wolverines on April 12.
“I talk to Coach Warinner every other day,” Anderson told Wolverine Digest. “Our relationship is great. And I'm really building a bond with the other commits. I talk to 'em everyday. They're family.”
This offseason, Anderson has been hard at work despite trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly focusing on improving his flexibility and working on his lower body. Anderson says that he has been able to adapt to the social distancing rules well, and that he's stayed busy both in the weight room and on the field this summer.
For the time being, Anderson is one of only three U-M commits in the 2021 class from the state of Michigan, joining Sterling Heights (Mich.) Adlai-Stevenson offensive tackle Giovanni El-Hadi and kicker / punter Tommy Doman Jr., but that does not exactly communicate how the Wolverines have done recruiting the state. Michigan's top two targets left-- running back Donovan Edwards and offensive guard Rocco Spindler-- are both considered Michigan leans, so ending the class with five very talented prospects would be a quality in-state haul for the Wolverines.
Here is a look at how the SI All-American team graded Anderson:
Frame: Thick from his shoulders to his toes. 300 pounds evenly dispersed throughout his frame.
Athleticism: He’s got good side to side mobility, at least enough to win on the next level against shade techniques. He’s the prototypical inside zone center, made to go vertically and on angles. Also plays with a great motor.
Instincts: Natural leverage with a feeling for the center position, effortlessly uprooting defensive tackles in the phone booth. He picks up blitzers quickly and keeps his head up at all times, staying on alert for defenders firing in his gap.
Polish: He plays in a heavy run game system, but nothing athletically shows he won’t be able to pass set and do show effectively on the next level with improved technique. The few pass rep snaps on tape show he has a great anchor and uses the snatch down technique to perfection.
Bottom Line: Anderson is a violent inside zone blocker that will handle the transition to the Big 10 seamlessly. He’s physically capable of holding up against collegiate defensive tackles as a senior in high school with the raw tools to become a strong pass protector down the line.
Often times, Anderson draws comparisons to Cesar Ruiz due to his frame and how technically refined Ruiz was coming out of high school, and it would not be a surprise to see Anderson have a similar early-career impact in Ann Arbor.
What are your expectations for Raheem Anderson once he makes his way to college? Do you see him having a similar career path as Ruiz? Let us know!
