Name: Michael Jocz
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 231 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Novi
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #95
Last year: I did not rank Jocz. He played in one game but did not record any statistics.
Jocz is my pick for Random Tight End Who Might Play Because That's What Tight Ends Do. He played a bit in the Central Michigan game last season, but that was it. It turns out there aren't a whole lot of opportunities to play your fifth tight end when you're struggling to beat UConn. The Wolverines are even thinner at the position this year after losing Jake Butt to injury (at least for a little while), Jordan Paskorz to early departure, and Devin Funchess to the wide receiver position. Junior A.J. Williams returns and redshirt junior Keith Heitzman came over to the offensive side of the ball, but redshirt freshman Khalid Hill and true freshman Ian Bunting aren't up to the task of blocking FBS players at this point. Jocz may not be, either, but he could give those other guys a run for their money since he's been in the strength program longer.
Prediction: Backup tight end
Here are some high school highlights to give you an idea of his abilities:
Let it not be said that you don't learn from the past. That (not) said - you might be overcompensating here after 3 years of getting Borgesed. Nussmeir probably won't deploy 2-TE sets nearly as often. Even when he does, they'll more likely be H-backs like Hill, Shallman or even Houma. It sounds like Williams and Heitzman are capable of being in-line TEs, so even if Butt is slow to return and another injury hits I doubt we see a walk-on out there.
ReplyDeleteI also think Bunting will play as a Freshman Funchess-style receiver who can't block, but lines up at TE sometimes against unaware defenses.
I like it when the unknown walk-ons make the list though. Here's to Jocz getting a garbage time TD sometime this season.
I don't know how Jocz could be much worse than Hill was in the spring game for in-line blocking. If it's someone other than Beyer lined up across from him on the play below, it's a Clowney-style RB decapitation. He had at least two of those in the spring game from what I remember. I'd take a 231-lb lightweight that can at least slow a guy down somewhat and not make critical errors.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PRKtZmJFHU&feature=youtu.be&t=1h27m27s