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| Jeremy Gallon |
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 187 lbs.
High school: Apopka (FL) Apopka
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #10
Last year: I ranked Gallon #51 and said he would be a backup receiver and backup returner. He started 1 game at receiver and started at returner, catching 31 passes for 453 yards (14.6 yards per catch) and 3 touchdowns; rushed 3 times for 26 yards; returned 3 kickoffs for 46 yards; and returned 19 punts for 192 yards.
I underestimated Gallon's impact in 2011, partly because Al Borges ran more spread sets than I expected and got Gallon the ball on a lot of short throws (as well as a few long ones). Despite being just 5'8", he turned into Michigan's second-most productive receiver and even snagged the occasional jump ball. He also improved his decision making on punt returns, allowing him to average a solid 10.1 yards per return. Gallon isn't the fastest guy around, but he's solidly built and extremely shifty. If defenders are one-on-one with him in open space, they might as well just fall to the ground and get it over with.
Gallon will likely be expected to start in 2012 at the split end position now that former split end Roy Roundtree has moved to flanker. While his size might still limit his ability to make plays downfield, Gallon should be able to get open underneath, from the slot, and on some more screen passes. Michigan lost a large chunk of production from the 2011 receiving corps to graduation (Junior Hemingway, Martavious Odoms, Kelvin Grady), so someone has to step up. I expect to see a small bump in production this season, but Gallon is more of a complementary receiver than a future star, so his ceiling as a receiver isn't a great deal higher than what we saw last season. It will also be interesting to see whether the coaches use Gallon as a full-time returner now that his role on offense will increase. My guess is that he will continue as the punt returner but drop out of the race to return kickoffs.
Prediction: Starting wide receiver and punt returner; 40 receptions, 540 yards, 5 touchdowns; 1 punt return touchdown
Gallon has been a surprise, he has far exceeded my expectations of him. Do you think he will be back again next year?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do.
DeleteHopefully he still has the cloaking device he used against Notre Dame.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was something....under the radar, just an amazing play!
DeleteI think you're underestimated his star potential badly. Gallon emerged as a breakout player last year and should get a lot more opportunities this year. I expect him to be the most productive receiver in what could be a great offense. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see him end up on the all-conference team.
ReplyDeleteThe coaching staff went out of their way to get him the ball - in an offense with Denard Robinson, Fitz Toussaint, and Junior Hemingway. He made big plays in big situations. Gallon's going to be a great player for Michigan over the next two years.
ReplyDelete