 |
| Jehu Chesson |
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: St. Louis (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Chesson was in high school. He had 53 catches for 757 yards (14.6 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns.
Final TTB Rating: 87
Chesson followed up a good senior football season with an excellent spring running track, where he won a Missouri state championship in the hurdles. He has good speed and good size, although he may be a little slight for the receiver position at this point. A spring of running track kept his weight down, while future roommate Amara Darboh was able to bulk up to 205-210 lbs. or so.
There will be opportunities for freshman receivers to play this season. Michigan doesn't have any truly dynamic players at the receiver positions, instead having a stable full of complementary wideouts. Chesson is taller than all but Jeremy Jackson, faster than most, and considering his track background, probably as capable as anyone of getting jump balls. He might get bodied out of the way and he might need to work on shoring up his route running, but somebody needs to provide the team with a deep threat to stretch the field. Chesson may not be the most mentally ready, but you can see the physical talent. It just depends on how quickly he progresses.
Prediction: Backup wide receiver
Darboh must be a popular guy. RJS is also rooming with him according to your interview from a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteDarboh said in February, "I think I'll be rooming - at least during the summer - with Jehu Chesson." But then more recently, RJS said he was rooming with Darboh. I'm inclined to go by the most recent information, but then again, the coaches seem to like to pair up players of the same position. . .
DeleteWow, an 87 from you. I'd forgotton how bullish you were on him. He wasnt super highly rated by the espnrivalsscout247 crowd.
ReplyDeleteYeah...I'm going out on a bit of a limb with him. It might take a few years, but I think he'll be pretty good in the long run.
DeleteKeep in mind that he should have Shane Morris throwing to him in a few years, so that should help.
DeleteYou really think Chesson will be more of a player on this year's team compared to Darboh? Seems to me like Darboh is the more polished and college ready of the two freshman. Is it simply because Chesson offers more of the vertical threat that the team is currently lacking?
ReplyDeleteI think this team needs a deep threat, and I think Chesson is more prepared to help Michigan deep than Darboh. Darboh looks like more of a possession guy and he's thicker, so he can probably go over the middle and block. But with Chesson at 6'3" with ups, maybe he can pull down a few of Denard Robinson's patented prayers.
DeleteI'm one of Jehu's former high school football coaches and he also won the 100 meter dash this year at the State Championships. He will be ready to play when camp starts, trust me on that. He is a very smart kid in the classroom as well as on the gridiron. He has a very high football IQ and I believe that once he learns and understands the playbook, he will make plays for Big Blue for years to come. Very elated to see where he started as a skinny little freshman, to where he is now. Not just saying this because he's one of our former student-athletes, but Michigan is getting a really good young man both from an academic AND athletic standpoint.
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear. Thanks for the input, Coach.
DeleteHe's going to be playing for Kentucky??
DeleteI remember when the situation was chesson or madaris and everyone on mgoblog wanted madaris, because he was more highly rated. I'm glad I'm not the only on who thinks chesson is gonna be really good.
ReplyDeleteMadaris's NSD antics make me question his mental makeup.
DeleteI like this WR haul. Hoke brought in a couple WR's with high ceilings when there were not a lot of prospects to choose from. Glad to hear Chesson is such a good track athlete.
DeleteI definitely was not in that Madaris group. Madaris looked to me like a potential #3 possession receiver on a good team (based on his HS film). Chesson and Darboh are taller and faster in my estimation. Madaris may turn out to be good, but I can see why the coaches prioritized whom they did.
Great to read Coach Webb's comments. Hopes are high.
ReplyDeleteWhile being tall and a good athlete obviously helps a good bit, winning jump balls is a lot like rebounding in basketball. It's about anticipation and positioning, instincts and focus, desire...all the rest of that stuff. The greatest rebounder in history was shorter than the average forward, let alone centers.
I do agree that Chesson's speed/size help him emerge as an outside deep threat. Looking forward to hearing reports of how him and Darboh do in the early practices.