Name: Je'Ron Stokes
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 187 lbs.
High school: Northeast High School in Philadelphia, PA
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #6
Last year: I ranked Stokes #45 and said he'd see limited playing time. He played in 6 games, catching 2 passes for 16 yards against Delaware State.
Stokes was a highly rated recruit coming out of Philadelphia in 2009, going on a somewhat meandering journey before signing with the Wolverines in February. He made two catches as a freshman and spent the last five weeks on the sideline due to injury. While wasting a redshirt year to make two catches might seem like a shame, it's important to keep in mind that Michigan lost a couple seniors after the 2009 season (Greg Mathews, LaTerryal Savoy) and Stokes will be forced to play in 2010.
It was important for Stokes to get some reps against college-level competition in game situations, because other than presumed starters Darryl Stonum and Junior Hemingway on the outside, Stokes is all that stands between trotting out a freshman or three. Slot receivers Roy Roundtree and Martavious Odoms will also probably see time on the outside, but Stokes will need to spell some of the more experienced receivers. He has been compared to Mario Manningham as a receiver, and while Stokes hasn't shown the knack for catching the deep ball that Manningham had, Stokes has shown the ability to work his way open and find windows when the quarterback scrambles. That's a helpful trait, since Michigan's quarterback's are both about six feet tall and run frequently.
Prediction for 2010: Backup wide receiver; 12 catches, 160 yards, 1 TD
Nice writeup, Magnus. I personally believe Stokes is a player who will all of a sudden have a breakout game this year, and think his numbers will be closer to 350 yds with 5 TD's.
ReplyDeleteThat's only going to happen if Stonum or Hemingway get injured, which I really hope doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteStokes is just one of a large number of guys in the 09 recruiting class who came in with lots of hype, at least from UM fans. Some were redshirted, some played sparingly, but this season they're really going to have to step up if/when they have the opportunity. It'll be interesting to see what develops. I took a look at the roster this morning, and there really doesn't seem to be a huge amount of talent amongst the junior and senior class. Maybe I'm just downgrading them because the last two seasons have been so miserable, but few of the upperclassmen really stand out to me as true difference-makers.
ReplyDeleteDon
Magnus/Thunder:
ReplyDeleteI'm a regular over at MGoBlog, and I've mentioned a couple of times my lack of success at posting comments here. I'm normally a Firefox user, but on a whim I logged onto TTB using Safari, and presto I was able to post a comment just now. Must be something about FF that prevents me from posting. I also have trouble posting comments over at MaizeNBrew, and maybe it's a FF bug as well there.
Don
@ Anonymous 8:33 a.m.
ReplyDeleteIf Stonum faces any kind of suspension for his 3 days in jail recent, then perhaps Stokes will step up and get that much playing time. But 5 TDs is a big stretch, IMO - last year's leader in TD receptions was Roundtree with 3.
@ Don
ReplyDeleteI agree that there's a lack of talent in the junior and senior classes. Much of that "talent" has transferred (Boren, Mallett, even McGuffie would be a junior this year). Hopefully Rodriguez is given enough time to see what he can do with a few talented upperclassmen.
@ Don
ReplyDeleteI've tried to figure out what's going on with your comments in the past, but I haven't been able to fix it. I remember your comments from previous times. Unfortunately, I'm no tech whiz and haven't been able to put my finger on the problem yet.
Based on Stonum's disappointing career as a receiver so far, I am expecting more out of Stokes this year. He was a big signing day coup if I remember right and one of the few good outside receiver prospects that we have.
ReplyDeleteI'm far from knowledgeable about all that tech stuff myself, but since Safari works I consider the problem "solved" since I can post stuff (lucky you). I just wish I'd thought of using Safari months ago. I wonder if there are other FF-using readers of TTB who've encountered similar problems. Maybe it's just my system.
ReplyDelete2010 is really a year for Odoms, Koger, and Shaw to step up. They've had their own good moments in the last season or two, but nothing on a consistent basis.