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| One big question for 2015 is whether tight end Devin Funchess will return for his senior year. |
QUARTERBACK
2015 Depth Chart: Russell Bellomy (RS Sr.), Shane Morris (Jr.), Wilton Speight (So.)
Need: 1
Offers: Blake Barnett, Josh Rosen, David Sills, Jarrett Stidham
Scoop: Michigan needs to get back in the habit of taking a quarterback in every class after the curious choice in 2012 to skip a cycle, which left the Wolverines with Devin Gardner, a freshman Shane Morris, and walk-ons as options in 2013. So far the Wolverines are choosing to go after elite guys, two of whom are committed elsewhere (Barnett to Notre Dame, Sills to USC). That leaves Rosen, who is likely to stay in California, and Stidham, who is likely to stay in Texas. Michigan is likely going to have to send out more offers in order to get their team leader. I did a scouting report on a number of targets recently, and there are more to come soon with the hiring of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. None of the three current roster players are proven, although Morris looked pretty solid against Kansas State. Speight is a bit of an underwhelming recruit, so you probably want to assure yourself of landing a stud in 2015.
RUNNING BACK
2015 Depth Chart: Justice Hayes (RS Sr.), Drake Johnson (RS Jr.), Derrick Green (Jr.), DeVeon Smith (Jr.), Ross Douglas (RS So.)
Need: 1
Offers: Johnny Frasier, Damien Harris, Ronald Jones II, Soso Jamabo, Jacques Patrick, Michael Weber
Scoop: Michigan failed to nab a running back in 2014, although they are helping out the stable by moving cornerback Douglas to the offensive backfield. The two oldest guys are unlikely to be starters, in my opinion, which likely leaves the winner of the Green-Smith battle as Michigan's featured runner in 2015; if a junior running back has a good season, there's a strong possibility that he would be departing early for the NFL. Any class of 2015 running back might be looking at the starter's job by his sophomore year. Michigan will take at least one back here, and a second is a strong possibility, especially if Douglas doesn't pan out at his new position.
FULLBACK/H-BACK
2015 Depth Chart: Joe Kerridge (RS Sr.), Sione Houma (Sr.), Wyatt Shallman (RS So.)
Need: 0
Offers: None
Scoop: Nussmeier has used a lot of spread looks and a lot of H-backs instead of fullbacks. The "fullback" position may be addressed in the Tight End section. Remember that Nussmeier and Alabama were recruiting Michigan defensive tackle Henry Poggi as an H-back in the 2013 recruiting cycle, so he's probably not looking for nifty runners, but more for guys who can catch passes in the flat and block.
WIDE RECEIVER
2015 Depth Chart: Devin Funchess (Sr.), Dennis Norfleet (Sr.), Jehu Chesson (RS Jr.), Amara Darboh (RS Jr.), Da'Mario Jones (Jr.), Jaron Dukes (RS So.), Csont'e York (RS So.), Freddy Canteen (So.), Drake Harris (So.), Maurice Ways (So.)
Need: 1-2
Offers: George Campbell, Brian Cole, Juwan Johnson, Tyron Johnson, Christian Kirk, Jaason Lewis (UCLA), DaMarkus Lodge, Juval Mollette, Devante Peete
Scoop: Michigan will have lost no seniors after the 2014 season, although Funchess may be a candidate to depart early for the NFL. Nussmeier will likely run more four-wide sets than former offensive coordinator Al Borges, but ten to eleven receivers should be plenty. The Wolverines only truly need one receiver, but an early departure from Funchess might change that number; and receivers are a notoriously fickle bunch (Je'Ron Stokes, Jerald Robinson), so another departure might not be surprising.
TIGHT END
2015 Depth Chart: Keith Heitzman (RS Sr.), A.J. Williams (Sr.), Jake Butt (Jr.), Khalid Hill (RS So.), Ian Bunting (So.)
Need: 2
Offers: Devonaire Clarington, Chris Clark, Hale Hentges, Tyrone Wheatley, Jalen Wilkerson
Scoop: Michigan has opened up the floodgates on tight end offers in recent weeks, and with Wheatley considered a lean toward the Wolverines, that suggests they want more than one. However, I don't see a strong need to take two if the coaches have to reach. It will be important, however, to get a Y-receiver (a bigger tight end who can play tight to the line) since Heitzman, Williams, and Butt will all be upperclassmen.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
2015 Depth Chart: Erik Magnuson (RS Jr.), Ben Braden (RS Jr.), Chris Fox (RS So.), Logan Tuley-Tillman (RS So.), Juwann Bushell-Beatty (So.)
Need: 1
Offers: Ryan Bates (Penn State), Jake Fruhmorgen, Mitch Hyatt (Clemson), Sterling Jenkins, Grant Newsome, Christian Pellage, Garrett Thomas, Keenan Walker
Scoop: Zero of the tackles will be seniors in 2015, but classmates Magnuson and Braden will be redshirt juniors. Fox has been playing guard a little bit this spring, and while he could play right tackle, perhaps his ACL injury has stolen some of his lateral mobility. Tuley-Tillman appears to be a tackle all the way, and Bushell-Beatty could also play guard.
OFFENSIVE GUARD
2015 Depth Chart: Blake Bars (RS Jr.), Kyle Kalis (RS Jr.), Kyle Bosch (Jr.), David Dawson (RS So.), Dan Samuelson (RS Jr.), Mason Cole (So.), Jon Runyan (Fr.)
Need: 0
Offers: Aaron Garza (Texas), Jon Runyan (Michigan)
Scoop: Michigan looks pretty set at guard for the near future. No guards will graduate after the 2014 season except walk-on Joe Burzynski, and the oldest two players at the position in 2015 will be juniors. Runyan appears to be a guard prospect due to his height, but if he hits a growth spurt between now and college, he could become a tackle prospect.
CENTER
2015 Depth Chart: Graham Glasgow (RS Sr.), Jack Miller (RS Sr.), Patrick Kugler (RS So.)
Need: 1
Offers: None
Scoop: The depth in 2015 will be sufficient, but once Glasgow and Miller graduate, Kugler being the only true center on the roster might be a little questionable. In my opinion, the staff should recruit an heir apparent for the center position unless one of the guards is in line to back up Kugler in 2016.
I believe Rosen has set an announcement date and is widely thought to be a lock for UCLA. I'm thinking it's gonna be Malzone who I consider to be a nice pickup. If not Malzone, the best guys left mostly reside on the Dual Threat list which would be fine by me. I'm not so sure that's fine by Hoke/Nussmeier.
ReplyDeleteIs Wheatley a TE or a DE?
I think Rosen is announcing on March 20th, and yes, it is widely assumed to be for UCLA.
DeleteWheatley is being recruited by Michigan as a tight end, but he could play either spot.
Hope we get Wheatley and he plays TE. I see him being a good one... chip off the old block like Dad.
DeleteThunder, how about a quick prediction on who you think Michigan will get for each spot available on offense.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think Michigan is going to have to send out a lot more offers to get the guys who will end up being a part of the class. There are a few listed who I think will choose Michigan, but not enough to fill up the class. That will be a post for later in the week (or perhaps next week).
DeleteBars will be a RSJr Guard
ReplyDeleteFunchess is gone, hate to say it. We've been recruiting the WR and TE positions pretty well so maybe not so much damage?!?!
ReplyDeleteI do think he'll likely be gone after 2014, as long as he stays healthy. I think the WR group is pretty good, and as long as Butt returns to form, we should be pretty solid. He and Bunting (once the latter adds weight) should be a formidable duo going forward.
DeleteSo just 2 offensive linemen? After what happened in 2012-13, I feel like we can use another scholarship--if one opens up--for another OL.
ReplyDeleteI agree that more could be used, but when you're only filling 13 scholarships and just 1 of those is replacing a departed lineman (Chris Bryant in this case), then there's not really a "need" to take many.
DeleteIs Bryant gone (i.e., "medical") forever at this point? I haven't kept up with that.
DeleteYup. Braynt's playing career is done. Had a lot of potential, but a number of injuries continued.
DeleteGreat stuff as always. I think your point on recruiting a center makes much sense. Do you see any suggestion from the offers that the coaches agree?
ReplyDeleteWell, most college centers aren't centers in high school, because high school coaches don't put their best linemen at center. That being said, the majority of offers in the 2015 class have gone to tackles who are unlikely to play center. Runyan is an interior guy who could play guard or center, but as far as I know, the coaches have not been recruiting him for center - they're looking at him as a guard or perhaps a tackle if he grows a little bit.
DeleteAny indication from offers that the coaches are pursuing any center targets?
ReplyDeleteOne name I want to keep an eye on for QB is Brady White. His latest highlight tape looks pretty good, except for his arm strength and release. His release is a little strange at times, but he's getting it done. His lack of arm strength is concerning, but in his tape I saw a few 50 yard throws.
ReplyDelete10 receivers is more than enough. I've was preaching for a while that we needed more receivers, but not totally because of roster numbers, more because of lack of talent. I feel we have good numbers and good talent now. Barring any attrition, I would like this staff to be taking 2 receivers every class. This class it would be so insane if we could grab Cole and Campbell.
I have a hard time seeing Funchess leave after this upcoming season. He has good hands, good size, but right now he doesn't have the speed to be a game changer at receiver at the next level. Even if he develops blocking skills and becomes a viable option at TE this offseason, I don't see him leaving early.
OL - I don't want us to get into a habit of taking 4 and 6 OL in back to back classes. After taking only 2 in 2014, I think we need to get back to signing 3 barring any attrition. This year I think a tackle, center, and a guard/center tweener would be great. I really want the roster to have the numbers to be starting 5 RS Seniors or Juniors every year. If a RS sophomore or freshman is talented enough to displace an upperclassman, great! I don't want them being thrown into the lineup because of necessity, because we have seen what kind of results that produces.
TE - 2 this year is definitely necessary. After that I would be happy with taking 1 every year, possibly a very talented 2nd. For this upcoming season, we've seen good things from Jake Butt. After that it's a mystery. I really enjoyed Khalid Hill's tape coming out of high school. Smooth route runner with great hands. Not the best size, not the best speed, but he could have a role. I think a year in a college strength and conditioning program could do wonders for a prospect like Hill. I'm hoping he surprises a few people.
RB - I want Harris.
re: Funchess
DeleteSpeed is not something that is going to change significantly between 2014 and 2015. He's either fast enough or he's not. Personally, I don't think he's fast enough to be a pure wideout in the NFL, but I do think he could easily be a hybrid TE/WR in the NFL like an Aaron Hernandez (minus the violence).
If he's committing to being WR and giving up on the TE/WR hybrid role, I think he'll probably drop another 5 or 10 lbs before September and we could see some changes in his speed.
DeleteHernandez: 6' 1" | 264 lbs | 4.64 40
Funchess 6' 4.5" | 230 lbs | unknown 40
He definitely has the size to be a game changer as a TE/WR hybrid, but again he needs to get that blocking down otherwise he'll just be a slow WR lined up next to a tackle.
Comments:
DeleteYes, we definitely need to be taking a QB and at least one RB in every class, no questions asked.
We need three Olinemen in this class, even if it's small. We should have taken three last year, but we were short, and spent one scholie on a stretch at LB. Taking only two Olinemen in two consecutive years under RR is what helped put us in the hole we've been digging out of ever since.
On the other hand, taking two TEs in a small class is crazy. Taking one a year is fine, but there's no need to take two unless it's a big class, and maybe not even then. You really only need 3 good pass catchers at TE at the most. Wasting scholarships on more doesn't make sense. The rest of them are never going to be more than extra blockers, and you can convert other guys to that, just like we did with Paskorz and quite a few others.
Not at all sure why people think Funchess is a candidate to go early. The same stuff was circulating about Gardner last year, and Funchess is less of a candidate for early departure. He was productive for us last year, but that's at least partly because we had no one relaible other than Gallon to throw to. He will not be the matchup problem in the NFL that he is in college, with faster LBs and bigger, more athletic safeties. Certainly no one is going to draft him as their #1 or even #2 receiver, so I can't see any reason for him to go early. That's not to say he can't eventually be a good NFL player, but as far as playing Sunday, he's still a tweener. Not physical enough as a blocker at TE, and not fast enough as a WR to go high in the draft. In the right offensive scheme as a hybrid type, he could certainly do well, but he is not star caliber, at least not now.
re: Funchess
DeleteI don't think Funchess is less of a candidate than Gardner to leave early. Funchess has essentially been a starter for two years and will be starting for a third year in 2014. He also does not play a position that requires a lot of refinement. Good athletes (Jimmy Graham, for example) can play the position without a ton of experience. Gardner, on the other hand, plays a position where refinement is pretty much required, and he had only started for half a season going into 2013.
Funchess could go into the draft after this year, but I'd say an extra year would help out in carving out his niche. I agree that TE is an easier position to play given the athleticism, but Funchess is far from a polished prospect in terms of his speed/strength. I hope he invests an extra year for a higher draft pick and Michigan degree. I hope he's smart.
DeleteBut really, just being a quality third year starter doesn't mean he's NFL ready. Look at the players from Michigan who HAVE left early for the NFL (or the ones from other teams who are doing so now). Funchess is a good player, but is he really in that class? As I said, I think he's got a decent chance to eventually be a contributor in the NFL, but he's not a top-notch, leave-early kind of talent.
DeleteI agree with your first sentence, but I'm also not insisting that he's a top-notch player. You said it yourself (if you're the same Anonymous as above) - he's a CANDIDATE to leave early. Worse or similar players have left early (Orr, Shazor, Warren, etc.).
DeleteAgree with the other commentators. Need to take 3 OL, and coaches seem to think the same with how many offers they are throwing out.
ReplyDeleteIf Funchess is a TE, he'll need to show he can block. That's a big step for him to get to the NFL. Even if he's a receiving-type TE, he's so far from blocking NFL players it's ridiculous. If he's a WR - there's less refining to do, but I'm not sure his NFL future is there. Maybe he's a Marques Colston type of guy though...