 |
| Mark Lawson makes a tackle as a high schooler (image via AnnArbor.com) |
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Ada (MI) Forest Hills Eastern
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #59
Last year: I did not rank Lawson. He did not play in 2012.
After Jake Ryan tore his ACL in the spring, Lawson was mentioned as a backup at SAM linebacker, along with Cameron Gordon. Brennen Beyer has moved from the weakside end position, the staff has moved Allen Gant from safety, and incoming freshman Mike McCray II is slated to play SAM. I do not expect Lawson to factor into the rotation much at linebacker, but he could be used on special teams. And if it comes down to burning McCray's redshirt in garbage time or plugging in a walk-on, it would make sense to plug in Lawson.
Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer
I didn't know this guy existed until now.
ReplyDeleteI'd be comfortable betting that this is the highest-ever preseason TTB ranking for a walk-on redshirt freshman. Kovacs' POSTseason ranking back in '09 must have been pretty high.
DeleteDid he have any D1 offers out of high school?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Rivals, no ... no offers at all as a matter of fact. He was a two-star with the school list showing U-M, MSU, and Northwestern out of the B1G, and Harvard, Penn, Stanford and Yale as the others. Rivals said, "three-year letterman in football ... earned all-state and all-conference accolades as a senior (2011)"
DeleteI question this guy contributing more on special teams than true frosh expected to burn their redshirts (Hill), but if he can make a positive contribution as a walk-on redshirt freshman, that's great.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I picked 12 walk-ons you would have in your rankings (under the Chris Fox countdown post) and you've now included two that were not on my list - Lawson and Mateus. I took a wild stab at my last guy, that running back from the spring game, but you already said no true freshman walk-ons are on the list, so he's off. My other guys were Glanda, 2xGlasgow, Burzynski, Reynolds, Kerridge, Cleary, Swieca (#81), Allen (#79), Gunderson and Capatina. One of these guys is out, and I'm curious who (not asking, I'll find out during the countdown, obv).
My guess is it's one of these three guys:
Capatina - junior WR, unlikely to get offensive snaps, but backup DBs, WRs and LBs tend to make it onto kickoff teams or punt teams if they can hit. If you're still on the team as a junior, it probably means you're willing to work and have some talent, so I thought he might see a few snaps.
Gunderson - senior OT, not a deep position and a senior, but maybe behind Mateus (jr) on the depth chart and hence behind him in the countdown?
Ryan Glasgow - redshirt freshman defensive lineman, there's been some buzz, but maybe needs to add weight and has too many scholarship players ahead of him to make an impact? Also, not that many obvious roles for D-linemen on special teams, where mobility in space is more valuable than mass.
I'll go with Glasgow as the guy who is left out. Any other readers care to guess?
Boy, if this guy has a chance to make a bigger impact this year than highly rated recruits like Hurst, Hill and Lewis, I'll be surprised and very disappointed. Like others here, I had no idea he even existed.
ReplyDeleteWhen do the noticeable players start coming on the board?
ReplyDeleteDepends how you define noticeable. If you include long snappers, kickers and punters, Lawson makes the 3 deep on defense at 69.
DeleteAre you under the impression that Michigan has 70 All-Americans on the roster?
DeleteI thought this guy was playing MIKE?
ReplyDeleteHe's playing SAM.
DeletePlayed with Mark in high school, would not be worried to see him on the field whatsoever, he's one heck of a player
ReplyDeleteNo - I don't buy it at all. There are other LBs that can play and if they need McCray to play special teams they'll probably do that.
ReplyDelete