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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

2012 Season Countdown: #71 Kenny Wilkins

Kenny Wilkins (image via UMGoBlog)
Name: Kenny Wilkins
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Washington (PA) Trinity
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I ranked Wilkins #57 and said he would be the third string SDE.  He did not see game action.

Wilkins has had an interesting journey at Michigan so far, and he's only a redshirt sophomore.  He was recruited as a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid, arrived on campus planning to play defensive end, and has now grown into a 280-plus pound defensive tackle.  Rumors from practices suggested that Wilkins just didn't show the aggressiveness and work ethic to earn playing time, but putting on 30-40 lbs. in a year or two can do that to a guy sometimes.

This spring the talk was a little more positive, as the light was rumored to have flipped on for Wilkins a little bit.  I won't buy it until I see it, but there's an obvious need on the interior of the defensive line for someone to step up.  Perhaps Wilkins sees the opportunity for playing time and has decided to make a run at a starting job.  Wilkins played both nose tackle and defensive tackle in the spring.  I think he's too short on technique and size to play the nose once the season rolls around, but he could be in the mix as a 3-tech.  He's probably not in any danger of starting, though.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

6 comments:

  1. If you could turn back the clock to 2010 and give this guy a TTB rating based on his HS body of work, what do you suppose it would have been?

    Also, in an ideal world where his attitude and habits are top notch, what do you think his UM ceiling would be?

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    1. I probably would have put him in the 60s. He was recruited to play "deathbacker" and I always thought he was too stiff to play that role.

      His ceiling (max) might have been a Rondell Biggs-like career.

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  2. Hey Thunder just wanted to thank you for the player profiles! Sweet to look at the team player by player! Do you think you could do a article on Michigan's end of the year rankings in offense and defense (specially scoring!!! not f@c&ing yds/game!!!!) Sorry that total defense going by yds instead of pts drives me insane. Also take a look at who is coming back, not just the starters either. I would even take a look at players who didn't start but still had production like a starter.

    Once you do that please compare it to Bama....... I know they reload..... blahblahblah but those kids were recruited based on raw talent, how much experience do they have? Next question is..... Have those inexperienced kids seen a talent such as Shoelace or Fitz?! I think not.

    I'm sure it is going to be a tough game to win, but I'm sick of nobody given UM a shot! Also if you have any connections to get a message to David Pollack...... Please tell him I said "F*CK YOU"! He picked against us every game last year and never gave UM an ounce of credit.

    Beat Bama 9.1.12!
    GO BLUE

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    Replies
    1. You probably think that the W/L record of a pitcher in baseball is really important, don't you?

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    2. BUT WINS ARE THE POINT OF THE GAME NOT SILLY STATISTICS LIKE WHIP AND ERA YOU NEEEERRRRRDDDDD.

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    3. I might be able to work up something on that topic but give me a little bit. I hadn't been planning to do much Alabama-related stuff until August.

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