Name: Tyler McLaurin
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Position: Edge
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #27
Last year: I ranked McLaurin #78 and said he would be a backup outside linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: 75
I'll be the first one to admit that as a fan, we have no idea what's happening behind closed doors or in players' personal lives. I'm sure players have medical issues all the time (illnesses, syndromes, allergies, etc.) that prevent them from training or eating the way we expect them to. They have deaths in the family and girl problems and monetary issues we don't know about. Sometimes their genes or metabolisms are limiting factors.
But I was thoroughly confused last year when Michigan moved Tyler McLaurin to the "edge" position and listed him at 6'3", 231 pounds. No Big Ten player is going to set an edge at that size. If Michigan faces a military program with a 230 pound outside linebacker - or 240 or 250 or maybe even 260 - they Wolverines are champing at the bit to roll over that dude with a 310 pound offensive tackle or an extra "tight end" or a kickout block from a 250 pound H-back.
I said I didn't think McLaurin would play much defense (he didn't play any) but that he might play some special teams (he didn't play any). Maybe he didn't know the playbook. Maybe he didn't try hard in practice. Maybe he wasn't doing well in school. Maybe he's great in all those areas but just wasn't good enough to get on the field.
But 231 isn't going to cut it in the Big Ten.
But you know what? Tyler McLaurin is listed at 252 pounds now. And that is a playable weight. Jaylen Harrell was 246 pounds. Josaiah Stewart is 245. Michigan can work with 252.
Outside linebacker is a spot that needs some help after Harrell left. While Stewart is stepping in as the starter, there's no clear answer about who will be the primary rotation guys at edge outside of Derrick Moore and T.J. Guy. I'll once again say that I don't expect McLaurin to play much defense, but I can see a scenario where the fourth-year player gets a few mop-up or injury-related snaps. Michigan has lots of inexperienced options (Lugard Edokpayi, Devon Baxter, Aymeric Koumba, etc.), and maybe McLaurin's time in the program will set him apart. He was named Scout Team Player of the Week four times last year (three times for special teams, one time for defense), so perhaps that will translate into some playing time this season.
Prediction: Backup outside linebacker, special teamer
McLaurin is a guy I wouldn't know exists if not for the annual Countdown
ReplyDeleteThat's why I get paid the big bucks, for keeping the public informed!
DeleteYeah I mean anyone below 240 is probably not going to see a ton of snaps but FWIW Uche played a lot in the 230s and even maybe in 2020s. Of course he was an exceptional edge rushing talent and was used situationally throughout his career.
ReplyDeleteIn context of McLaurin, if he had that sort of talent we probably would have heard about it by now, if not seen him getting snaps in low levarage situations. But it's been crickets.
Similar to Dunlap, you can make a case that he'll get snaps as a veteran depth option, but it seems like a lock that younger players will pass him over if anyone is needed to take snaps in meaningful downs.
220s, not 2020s. typo
DeleteFWIW, during Uche's senior year - his best year - he was listed at 6'2", 250 pounds. And he did not start a single game in his entire career until he was a 250 lb. senior.
DeleteI know we're talking about playing time (not starts), but that's an indication. He was listed at 238 the previous year and was really only used in pass rush situations.
And Harrell started for multiple seasons at 242.
DeleteIf we can find a guy who makes an impact as a pass rusher, he'll probably have a role in the edge rotation given the (seeming) lack of depth there. I don't really care if that guy weighs more or less than 250 or 240 if he can get after the QB.