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| Kenny Allen |
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Fenton (MI) Fenton
Position: Punter
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #91
Last year: I ranked Allen #79 and said he would be the backup punter. He punted 1 times for 51 yards.
Michigan has been in somewhat of an odd position for the past few years with three scholarship kickers on the roster, although it has paid off at times since at least two of them are knuckleheads. Punter Will Hagerup got himself suspended for the entire 2013 season and parts of every other year during his college career. Placekicker Brendan Gibbons got himself booted out of school for an alleged rape. The only one to keep his nose clean has been the backup to both positions, Matt Wile, who is reportedly a very good kid. Allen has been waiting in the wings for a position (and a scholarship), and his lone appearance in 2013 suggests he'll be ready whenever the opportunity arises - he had a 51-yard punt against Central Michigan in the opener.
Now that Gibbons is off the roster, Wile will be the full-time placekicker, so that leaves the punting position to Hagerup, a former All-Big Ten punter. With Hagerup's history of stupidity and suspension, there's a good chance that Allen will be needed at some point - or at all points - to be Michigan's punter. Whenever Hagerup finds himself moving on to the next stage of his life, Allen appears poised to become the next starter at the position.
Prediction: Backup punter until Hagerup does another stupid thing
Let's hope not. :)
ReplyDeleteI know there is some legitimacy to the phrase "past is prologue" but in Will's case I think we should all pull for him. He is a great kid who has been a bit knucklehead as you say but word is that he gets it and knows this is his last opportunity. Also, while Allen is a good sound punter, Hagerup is at a different level altogether.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily believe that Hagerup is at a different level. Scholarships for specialists are difficult to come by because there are limited jobs and very few injuries, so there are a lot of deserving walk-ons out there just waiting for their chance to start and be on scholarship. It's not a rare occurrence to see a walk-on kicker turn into an all-conference player or otherwise achieve success on the football field. I can only speak from what I've read about Allen, but I think there's at least a decent chance that he can kick the ball as far and as accurately as Hagerup.
DeleteI certainly root for Hagerup to have success and mature. I don't wish for anyone to be a moron, a troublemaker, a criminal, a failure, etc. But we've had four years of immaturity out of him, so expecting anything more at this point would be either silly or overly optimistic.
Hagerup has a different stroke than Allen. You can really hear it and see it in warm-ups. Just agreeing with previous anonymous. You can see it and hear it side by side.
DeleteThunder - this is anon #1.... the difference here is my opinion of both Hagerup and Allen is based on actually watching them at length in practices and games.
DeleteI agree with Anonymous #2. :) I'm pretty close to the Hagerup situation (close friend of a coach), and he had a lot of growing up to do, which he would admit. Everyone close to him, including position and strength coaches, Coach Hoke, Dave Brandon, Greg Harden, teammates, agree that Will has grown up -- a lot-- in the last couple years. He did a few things that all college kids do (except not in from of thousands of people), got caught, and moved on and up. Have you ever talked to the young man? I have, on several occasions, at length. If you had, you wouldn't use the terms you've used to desribe him. He's a smart, funny, good looking guy, thoughtful, with loads of charisma, and he loves Michigan. He's reportedly one of the toughfest weight room guys we have, and often puts position players to shame in running drills and in the weight room. He also has a ton of talent as a punter. Watch all the punters warm up before a game. It's a different ball flight entirely. I know that Will is disappointed in the mistakes he's made, but I don't think it's fair to use the terms you use. I hope he has a great year as he finishes up his career as a Michigan Man.
ReplyDeleteNone of your statements contradict anything I said in the post. He has a history of stupid behavior and getting suspended for it. We just went through a situation with Taylor Lewan, who never got suspended or had any legal trouble until after the OSU game in 2013; now he's a villain. Now we have a kid who has been in trouble constantly, and I'm supposed to believe he's turned his life around completely? I'll believe it when I see it.
DeleteDollar says you're a prohibitionist. To characterize what Hagerup did as if it compares to a rape or assault. What you've said about Hagerup says more about you than him Thunder.
DeleteAnd when did I say that what Hagerup did is equal to rape or assault?
DeleteYou didn't, but it could be misconstrued when lumping them both into the same category as "knuckleheads". Plus you were more negative about Hagerup - understandable since he's still on the team, but you can see why someone might get the wrong idea.
DeleteI hope Hagerup never strikes another punt in a Michigan uniform, while Matt Wile is busy setting NCAA records for extra points made and attempted.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so :)
Delete1. I tend to side with the Anon here that gives Hagerup the benefit of the doubt. As far as I know, his problems never harmed other people. That said, he did show immaturity, so the term "knucklehead" isn't unfair. Assuming he'll do something stupid again probably is. We've seen a lot of kids turn it around in college and the fact that Hagerup stuck around through that suspension says something to me. I expect him to have a great season and relegate Allen to a backup role until next year.
ReplyDelete2. I think calling Gibbons a "knucklehead" is being kind. To me that word sounds pretty innocuous as far as insults go. It took Gibbons a few years to get his on-field act together too, but what he "allegedly" did was so far beyond what we've heard about Hagerup that these guys shouldn't be in the same conversation really, in terms of their 'sins'.
3. Hagerup is a talent. #1 recruit in the country from what I recall and he showed the potential to really boom kicks. Allen sounds pretty good too, but there's a difference between being a walk-on and a #1 national prospect, even for kickers. I bet he ends up cashing some NFL checks.
4. Back to just football now -- having a quality walk-on like Allen waiting in the wings is the perfect situation for the program. I'd like us to be offering scholarships to a dual-threat kicker every 2 or 3 years. Perhaps they specializes in one or the other but can do both in a pinch. Then supplement with preferred walk-ons like McGrath and Allen who can compete for a spot as well.