Class of 2027 four-star offensive lineman Jakari Lipsey committed to Michigan a couple weeks ago, and what a get he is for head coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive line coach Jim Harding.
Lipsey is a 6-foot-5, 290-pounder (though he looks closer to 300) out of Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is nearly a Top 100 overall talent — he’s No. 104 overall — and is No. 9 at the offensive tackle position in the class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
He is a solid building block
for the offensive line and could be a future star in Ann Arbor. Let’s get into the film and explain why that is the case.
Pros
The first thing that stands out is Lipsey’s violence. That is the type of adjective every football coach values, but particularly someone like Whittingham. Lipsey does not merely block his defender, but he latches on to them with his powerful hands. He uses his athleticism to drive them to the second and sometimes third level, and he consistently plays through the whistle. That attitude will quickly resonate with the staff and fans who appreciate that effort and energy.
Sure, it is easier to look like a man among boys in western Michigan. However, Lipsey’s nature is not one you see in every lineman and one that will certainly translate to the Big Ten.
Lipsey never looks content unless he embarrasses his opponent. He will ride them into the boundary, finish them into the ground and acts more like a shipping company than a football player with how far his man travels.
Even when the ball carrier is 30 yards away, he does not stop engaging with his defender. He is a valued, point-of-attack run defender, combining that athleticism with solid vision to displace defensive linemen and reach linebackers. Meanwhile, in pass protection, Lipsey squares up nicely and moves surprisingly well for such a big guy. He is a left tackle now, but he could flip to the right side or even move inside if needed at Michigan.
According to Rivals’ Allen Trieu, Lipsey also excels as a thrower in track and field and is a “good” high school basketball player, noting his ability to dunk.
Cons
Lipsey’s biggest flaw is his technique. He tends to play higher than he needs to, and while he can get away with that in high school, he will need a lower center of gravity in college to combat edge rushers.
His lower base should benefit his kick step in pass protection, too. His get-off is not slow, and he is decisive, but a longer, wider left leg (or right, if he moves to the other side for the Wolverines) will help combat speedier edges.
The coaching staff is there to help with the lack of refinement, and Lipsey’s athleticism should make him a fun, versatile project at Michigan. Don’t be surprised to see him on the field soon after a redshirt year in Ann Arbor.
