The Wolverines have been rather deep at the linebacker positions for the past couple years, which can perhaps explain why it has been difficult for Gant to see the field much. Last season he was behind a couple other players at SAM linebacker, and when Michigan used its nickel package - which happened quite a bit - the SAM linebacker was taken off the field altogether. So for a second year in a row, Gant was essentially limited to special teams, where he made 5 tackles.
Nothing much should change in 2015. Michigan lost middle linebacker Jake Ryan to graduation and the NFL, but everyone else returns at the position group, except Michael Ferns (who transferred after his freshman year) and Chase Winovich (who transitioned to offense). Those two freshmen were behind Gant, anyway, so the struggle for playing time remains. On the plus side for Gant, four senior linebackers will graduate after the upcoming season and he looks to have put on some of the weight he has been lacking the last few years. On the negative side, the coaching staff is recruiting a ton of linebackers in the 2016 class, and if they don't think he can be a major contributor next season, this could be his final campaign in the Maize and Blue.
Gant entered the 2013 season as a distant backup at the SAM linebacker position, and he remained there. He started his career as a strong safety and was only a little over 200 lbs. during his redshirt freshman year, so it was understandable that he would not be ready. Besides his physical limitations, he was behind several upperclassmen. He played a bit on special teams but did not make much of an impact.
It looks to be more of the same for Gant in 2014. Despite the switch to the 4-3 Over defense, he remains at SAM linebacker but should be behind juniors James Ross III and Royce Jenkins-Stone. He will also have to fend off freshman Jared Wangler, who is roughly the same size despite being two years younger, and perhaps others as the coaches shuffle a glut of linebackers. Gant's best chance to get on the field once again will be on special teams, where he can use his safety/linebacker speed and decent size with some effectiveness.
Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker, special teams contributor
Name: Allen Gant Height: 6'2" Weight: 203 lbs. High school: Sylvania (OH) Southview Position: Linebacker Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #12 Last year:I ranked Gant #81 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.
Gant came into school as a large strong safety, and as I mentioned during his recruitment, he was somewhat lacking in foot speed for a safety. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has mentioned that he wants his safeties to be interchangeable, and Gant was probably a little on the slow side to be trusted in deep coverage. He didn't garner a ton of practice buzz, and he didn't play much in the spring game, partially due to a nagging injury; he did, however, show a little of what he could do when he came up for support in the run game during the spring. That tackling ability - and the lack of foot speed - precipitated a move to SAM linebacker for the fall.
With junior Brennen Beyer and fifth year senior Cam Gordon locked into a battle for the starting SAM spot this fall while redshirt junior Jake Ryan recovers from a torn ACL, Gant probably won't be counted on much this year. He will also be competing with walk-on redshirt freshman Mark Lawson and true freshman Mike McCray II, but Gant looks to be third until Ryan returns. Hopefully Michigan won't need him much on defense this year, but Gant is the type of big safety/linebacker who could be very useful on special teams.
Allen Gant looked a bit like a linebacker in high school
As you may have heard by now, redshirt freshman strong safety Allen Gant is moving to SAM linebacker. Gant was still playing safety in the spring game, so this is obviously a recent change.
Starter Jake Ryan was lost for at least half the season with an ACL injury he suffered in the spring. Michigan has already moved junior defensive end Brennen Beyer, who played SAM as a freshman in 2011, back to the position. Beyer started at the "new" position in the spring game over fifth year senior Cam Gordon. The only freshman slated to possibly play the SAM position is Mike McCray II, who may be a little small, too.
I have always thought Gant was a little too stiff to be a long-term answer at safety, so the move to linebacker makes a little bit of sense. However, he's currently listed at 6'2" and 203 lbs., so even if he adds 5-10 lbs. this summer, he'll still be too light to be a viable option to replace Ryan anytime this year. Steve Brown held down a SAM-like position in 2009 at about 208 lbs., but Brown was a better athlete and playing in a different scheme.
For reasons unbeknownst to me, Beyer looks like the interim starter with Gordon a close second. Here's how things appear to shape up until Jake Ryan returns:
SAM: Brennen Beyer (Jr.), Cameron Gordon (5th), Allen Gant (RS Fr.), Mike McCray II (Fr.), Mark Lawson (RS Fr.)
As for what this move does to the safety position, I don't think it changes much. Fifth year senior Thomas Gordon is the likely starter at strong safety this year, and the heir apparent at the position is freshman Dymonte Thomas, who will quite possibly start at slot corner this fall. I also thought that Gant's classmate Jeremy Clark looked like a better safety option, so Clark may be the next man in at SS this fall. Redshirt junior Josh Furman also may be a backup option there, and incoming freshman Delano Hill will likely end up as a safety before all is said and done (Hill was told he would get a shot to play corner first). Here's what the strong safety position looks like, more or less:
SS: Thomas Gordon (5th), Jeremy Clark (RS Fr.), Josh Furman (RS Jr.), Delano Hill (Fr.)
Name: Allen Gant Height: 6'2" Weight: 210 lbs. High school: Sylvania (OH) Southview Position: Strong safety Class: Freshman Jersey number: #12 Last year:Gant was in high school. He had 66 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 1 interception.
Allen Gant is a big, strapping safety who - if the above measurements are accurate - already has the size to play in college. He's the son of a former Michigan defensive back, which probably bodes well for his attitude and dedication. However, Gant seems to be a little short on speed and doesn't appear to be a great "athlete." Of course, Michigan's current starting strong safety, Jordan Kovacs, has done well despite being somewhat limited athletically, so maybe the current coaching staff can use Gant appropriately, too.
Kovacs is entrenched as the starter at SS, and his backup is likely junior Marvin Robinson, who has the physical skills to be good but needs to keep his head on straight. Michigan doesn't necessarily need a third strong safety to be ready, but Gant and redshirt sophomore Josh Furman might compete for playing time if necessary. Gant also has a chance to see time on coverage teams. If there are no injuries or departures at the safety spots, Gant should be able to redshirt and then be a backup to Robinson in 2013.
Lemont (IL) Lemont OT Ethan Pocic (#77) would be a welcome replacement on the offensive line
if he plays like Michigan's other Lemont alumnus
ADDED TO THE BOARD
Lemont (IL) Lemont OT Ethan Pocic, a 2013 prospect, was offered by Michigan. Pocic is 6'7", 285 lbs. and has offers from Nebraska, Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. Lemont is the same high school that David Molk attended, and much like Molk, Pocic doesn't seem to like opposing defensive linemen or reporters. His film shows him destroying various high schoolers, and he's not very open about the recruiting process. He's not a bad athlete, but he's a little less athletic than some of the other offensive tackle prospects Michigan has recruited recently. I would slot Pocic in as a right tackle prospect.
Austintown (OH) Fitch OL/DL Billy Price, a class of 2013 player, received an offer from Michigan this past week. Price is a 6'4", 280 lb. strongside end prospect with offers from Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He looks like an absolute physical specimen with good musculature and very little bad body weight. While some of the recruiting sites list him as a defensive end, most schools are recruiting him to play offensive line. Fitch attends the same high school as 2012 Notre Dame commit Will Mahone, a running back that was on Michigan's radar but whom Michigan never offered.
PURDUE VISITORS
Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison TE Devin Funchess (2012). Committed to Michigan. Funchess has 18 receptions for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns this season.
Sylvania (OH) Southview SS Allen Gant (2012). Committed to Michigan. He has 67 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles.
Birmingham (MI) Seaholm OT Dan Gibbs (2012). Gibbs is a 6'7", 320 lb. mammoth with offers from Ball State and Eastern Michigan. He's not athletic enough to be a contender for a scholarship offer from the Wolverines, but he could be a preferred walk-on type if he chooses. I don't imagine he'll choose to pay for school instead of taking a scholarship, and he doesn't look like someone who would be in danger of cracking the lineup at any point, anyway. Gibbs is too stiff to be a high-level prospect.
Joliet (IL) Catholic RB Ty Isaac (2013). Isaac already holds an offer from Michigan, in addition to Illinois, Iowa, Notre Dame, and several other schools. Through six games this season, Isaac had 92 carries for 983 yards (10.7 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns. Current rumblings suggest that Michigan and Notre Dame are his two early leaders, and he has made unofficial visits to both schools already.
Muskegon (MI) Muskegon RB Juwan Lewis (2012). Nothing much has changed with Lewis, a 5'11", 208 lb. runner with offers from Buffalo, Toledo, and Western Michigan. He keeps hoping that Canton (OH) Glenoak RB Bri'onte Dunn sticks with his Buckeye commitment, because Lewis might be in line for an offer if the Wolverines can't reel in another running back.
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech LB Royce Jenkins-Stone (2012). Committed to Michigan.
Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc DE Luke MacLean (2013). MacLean hasn't been offered by anyone other than Buffalo, but more offers are surely on the way. I'm not sure that Michigan will go after him, but he has visited Michigan a couple times and also been to East Lansing.
Baltimore (MD) Gilman DT Henry Poggi (2013). Every team up and down the east coast has offered Poggi already, in addition to Michigan. He's the son of Gilman's head coach and already has two brothers playing FBS football, one at Duke and one at Iowa. The 6'3", 250 lb. Henry has been offered to play several positions, including tight end and defensive tackle. Michigan is recruiting him as a defensive tackle.
Toledo (OH) Central Catholic FS Jayme Thompson (2013). Thompson is a 6'2", 182 lb. free safety prospect with a single offer, that from Bowling Green. While the offers haven't started flowing yet, they undoubtedly will for a kid his size and with his speed. I would not be surprised to see Thompson earn a Michigan offer at some point, although the current roster might preclude very many offers to safeties for the 2013 class.
Springboro (OH) Springboro OG Sean Welsh (2013). Welsh is 6'3", 275 lbs. and has offers from Bowling Green, Ohio, and Toledo. From the looks of his film, I think offers from Big Ten schools are bound to be coming soon. He moves very well for a guy his size and looks like he already has pretty good strength for such a young player.
Jeremy Clark (#2) and North Hopkins lost a close game to Loan Oak.
OL Blake Bars and Montgomery Bell Academy (4-5) won a conference game against the McCallie Tornados by a score of 24-21.
LB Joe Bolden and Colerain (8-1) went on the road to play Hamilton and won the game in a 28-0 shutout. Hamilton completed two passes in the game, both of which were caught by Colerain defenders.
OL Ben Braden and histeam the Rockford Rams (8-1) defeated the Jenison Wildecats by a score of 35-0.
DE Pharaoh Brown and the Brush Arcs (3-5) hosted Parma and came away with a comfortable 49-0 victory. Brown, who projects to the defensive end position at the next level, continued his production at wide receiver on Friday, catching 3 passes for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns.
S Jeremy Clark of North Hopkins (7-2) registered only the second loss of the season on Friday, losing to Lone Oak by a score of 13-10.
S Allen Gant and the Southview Cougars (8-1) won a 50-29 contest against Springfield. Gant had a 23-yard touchdown reception in the game.
DL Matt Godin and Detroit Catholic Central took on James Ross' Orchard Lakes St. Mary's at Ford Field on Saturday in the Catholic League Championship Game. Godin and his defense stifled the OLSM offense, which helped them to a 21-7 victory. Matt continued his very productive season with 10 tackles and 3 quarterback hurries on the night.
FB Sione Houma's Highland Rams (6-3) had a bye this week. Next week, they play Maple Mountain.
LB Royce Jenkins-Stone and Detroit Cass Tech (6-3) defeated Detroit Renaissance by a score of 6-0. I'm all for great defense, but that sounds like a boring game.
OL Kyle Kalis and the Lakewood-St. Edwards Eagles (7-2) ended their 2 game skid by defeating Archbishop Moeller in a 42-27 win.
OL Erik Magnuson and his team the La Costa Canyon Mavericks (5-2) went "to the air" to beat Rancho Buena Vista, 45 - 8.
2013 QB Shane Morris and Warren De La Salle (7-2) defeated Plymouth by a score of 28-25, handing Plymouth their first loss of the season. Morris went 28-for-47 for 364 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 17 yard touchdown throw with only 17 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Further, Morris continued to show that he can run a bit as he gained 50 rushing yards on 10 attempts, doing so at "critical times."
DL Mario Ojemudia and Farmington Hills Harrison (9-0) defeated Farmington, 56-13.
DT Ondre Pipkins and his Park Hill Trojans (5-4) won a 48-20 contest over Oak Park.
CB Terry Richardson and Detroit Cass Tech (6-3) only put 6 points on the scoreboard, but that ended up being 6 points more than Detroit Renaissance was able to muster. So if you'd like me to spell it out, Cass Tech won by a score of 6-0.
LB Kaleb Ringer and his Northmont High School squad (3-6) traveled to Huber Heights, OH, to play Wayne and were defeated by a score of 51-30. Ringer did not see the field due to injury.
LB James Ross and Orchard Lake St. Mary's were defeated by Matt Godin and Detroit Catholic Central in the Catholic Championship Game at Ford Field by a score of 21-7. Despite the loss, Ross and his crew can take consolation in their Catholic Divison title, which they earned just last week by defeating Godin and his team at DCC by a score of 14-13.
OL Caleb Stacey and Oak Hills (4-5) won a 16-14 contest over Fairfield.
CB Anthony Standifer and hisCrete-Monee (9-0) team continued their perfect season with a 20-13 victory over Rich East.
DE Tom Strobel and his Mentor team (8-0) routed Strongsville, winning by a score of 38-7.
2013 S Dymonte Thomas and Marlington (6-2) defeated the West Branch Warriors by a single point, winning by a score of 29-28. Thomas gained 187 rushing yards on only 18 attempts.
TE AJ Williams and Sycamore (8-1) won a 30-0 contest over Lakota West.
S Jarrod Wilson and his Akron squad Buchtel (5-4) were defeated by St Vincent-St. Mary, 17-14. Wilson had at least 4 tackles in the contest.
DL Christopher Wormley and the Toledo Whitmer Panthers (8-0) defeated Lima Senior by a score of 69-14.
*Hopefully of note, WR recruit Jordan Payton made an impact from the safety position on Friday to help his team Oaks Christian (5-2) defeat Thousand Oaks, 24-17. Payton spent most of his time on the sidelines due to a sprained ankle, but he reentered the game in the fourth quarter and broke up the final two passes of Thousand Oaks' comeback drive. Payton is scheduled to declare his school of choice on Tuesday.
Stats will be updated as they're found. Please let us know if you have any additional information for the compilation. Thanks!
Allen Gant, a safety from Southview High School in Sylvania, OH, committed to Michigan publicly on Tuesday morning. He committed to Michigan's coaches last Wednesday. Gant selected Michigan over offers from Ball State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kentucky, Stanford, Toledo, and West Virginia.
Recent measurements supposedly size Gant at 6'2", 210 lbs. and running in the 4.6-second range. He's listed as a 3-star safety to Scout, but Rivals and ESPN each list him as a wide receiver. 247 Sports lists him as an "athlete" which isn't helpful at all.
Gant's father is former Michigan safety Tony Gant, who played in Ann Arbor from 1982-86, making 150 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and 3 interceptions for Bo Schembechler. The elder Gant was 6'2" and 180 lbs. until his senior year, when he shrunk by two inches.
A few months ago, I was asked whether I thought Gant would get an offer from Michigan, and I said I thought he would be a guy the Wolverines might offer late in the process. And although the class seems to filling up quickly - thus bringing the coaches closer to being "late in the process" than anytime in recent memory - I was still surprised when Michigan's offer came through in mid-May.
Gant isn't an elite athlete. His biggest assets seem to be his size and strength, which is fine except Michigan seems to be rife with guys who have the size to play outside linebacker, but the speed to play . . . outside linebacker. Each of Michigan's safeties has toyed with playing linebacker, and here's another one. When you watch the film below, highlight #1 shows a kid who gets off the line like he's running in quicksand. By the end of the play, he has failed to outrun a nondescript, short, white kid. Play #2 is on the highlight film because Gant makes the interception, but that backpedal isn't smooth and he gets the pick because the ball is underthrown. The bottom line for his high school team is that he made the play, which is kind of the point of playing football. But when the receivers are faster and the quarterbacks are better, Gant won't be able to get away with plays like that.
As I said above, his size and strength are the aspects of his game that have garnered rave reviews. He seems to have thickened up since his junior season ended, and one message board poster who claims to have intimate knowledge of Gant's training regimen relates news of 10-15 lbs. of added muscle this off-season and a 36" vertical jump. Those numbers are all well and good, but it causes me a little bit of concern when it seems that Michigan's current safeties are lacking somewhat in speed, ball skills, etc. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison insists that his safeties must be able to play both safety positions, but I can't imagine Gant trying to cover the middle of the field without putting the defense in jeopardy.
The coaching staff has done an excellent job in recruiting so far in the 2012 cycle, but I can't help being a little wary of the pursuit of Gant. Perhaps the fact that his father was a Wolverine played a part in his recruitment. To put it another way, I don't see another safety on the offer board who's quite as limited athletically as Gant seems to be. But perhaps it's just a coincidence that the least athletic safety on the board happens to be the son of a former Wolverine.
Gant is the 13th public commitment for Michigan in the class of 2012. The Wolverines should have at least five remaining spots to fill before February, but that number is bound to swell like always.
