Name: Brady Prieskorn
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 245 lbs.
High school: Rochester (MI) Adams
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #86
Last year: Prieskorn was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 33 passes for 665 yards and 8 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 87
Prieskorn was one of the prize recruits for Michigan in the class of 2024. An in-state prospect with offers from all over the country, he ended up ranked as the #130 overall prospect, the fourth-highest rated player in the class for the Wolverines. A good blocker and receiver, he lit up opponents through the air for over 20 yards per reception despite playing for a run-oriented team.
Now Prieskorn has a chance to play as a freshman for a team that values tight ends. Colston Loveland is a potential All-American and probably one of the better tight end prospects for the 2025 NFL draft, and there's a lot of buzz about Marlin Klein, who hasn't played much over his first two years on campus. But without any proven receivers like Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson, Michigan has to replace a high number of snaps that were taken up by A.J. Barner (who led the unit with 620), Josh Beetham (61), and Matt Hibner (26), not to mention whatever adjustments the Wolverines make to losing jumbo tight end Trente Jones. The good thing for Prieskorn is that he comes in with good enough size to step on the field immediately; at 6'6" and 245 pounds, he's roughly the same size as Loveland (6'5", 245) and Klein (6'6", 247), who are the two other biggest tight ends on the roster.
Prediction: Backup tight end
TE is the new WR, at least under Harball
ReplyDeleteI think the need for replacement snaps is more related to blocking than catching. Maybe prieskorn will have a freshman year like Erick All (willing to throw his body around) but I'm not counting on it. Expecting a red shirt.
ReplyDeletePrieskorn is taller than the others but still - after Klein and Loveland, he's the next heaviest TE, as a freshman. This doesn't look like a Harbaugh roster at the moment, especially with Casula calling out FB and TE separately.
DeleteLook at the contrast to the TE room 2 years ago:
https://mgoblog.com/content/fall-roster-overanalysis-2022
You had 4 guys weighing between 250 and 260 and now you have none.
And look back even further to 8 years ago:
https://mgoblog.com/content/fall-roster-overanalysis-2016
2 guys weighing between 250 and 260 and 2 weighing over 270
Campbell/Casula/Moore may have to change scheme accordingly given the change in personnel on the roster to lighter more athletic TEs. While more casual fans will focus on the changes at the skill positions, with Jim Harbaugh football it's always been about his passion for using the TE position.
DeleteAll of a sudden looking at weight from previous rosters is a thing ... hmmm ... glad I showed you that during the DL debate. You're welcome Lank!
Wait? You're now acknowledging that weights change in college and from high school? Players aren't stuck at their same weight or position forever. Great to hear! Next step is thinking through what that might mean for DL recruiting. I'm excited to see you figure this out.
DeleteLOL just kidding, how does the sand taste today?
DeleteIt's not only weight Lank ... technique on the interior is much different ... learn the game
This is a valid point. This account appears to have been hacked.
DeleteI made that joke twice now which is too many times. Yes - learning technique is important on DL -- on the interior and on the edge. Guys move frequently from inside and outside and some guys play both. Michigan has used EDGEs to rush the passer from the interior for a long time (like Hutchinson and Charlton as freshman).
DeleteI don't expect Etta will come anywhere close to his ceiling in 2024, the development will take time, but I also don't think it's a PROBLEM that Brandt and Etta are moving around. You EXPECT people to gain weight and change their bodies as they move through college strength program. You EXPECT it.
Technique is also different for In-line TEs and Fullbacks. Michigan under Pep Hamilton got rid of the FB as a distinct position group (practicing with RBs) and just asked the TEs to take on those duties but Casula seems to be differentiating more, perhaps due to some of the changes in personnel. Prieskorn has good weight but he's also 6'6, so probably not any threat to taking snaps from Bredeson or Hoffman.
Pretty good DE too. Can get low and stay low coming out of his stance.
ReplyDelete