Name: Julius Welschof
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 266 lbs.
High school: Miesbach (Germany) FOS Altoetting
Position: Edge
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #96
Last year: I ranked Welschof #35 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 13 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 78
Have you ever seen a 286-pound man sprinting downfield on the kickoff unit? If you watched Michigan in 2021, you did. Welschof may have been the heaviest kickoff squad member in the country last year, and he was getting downfield as quickly as many of his teammates. That has been the tantalizing aspect of Welschof as a player: freak athleticism for a 6'6" non-beanpole.
Now Welschof is a svelte 266 pounds as he has made the transition from defensive tackle to edge. Gone are Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, and in steps . . . well, we're not quite sure yet. Physically, Welschof is almost Hutchinson's doppelganger: Hutchinson was 6'6" and 265 lbs. Technique, effort, instincts . . . well, those tell a different story. Welschof sat out of the spring game, so the public didn't see him in action at his new weight or get a good glimpse at where he falls in the pecking order. I expect him to be in the two-deep, if not earn a starting role, in 2022.
Prediction: Backup edge
Lots of potential ... but that can mean "ain't done sh:t yet"
ReplyDeleteWhen the history is written on Welschof, two things will be the focus:
Delete(1) Did Michigan's need for interior bodies, and Welschof's move to DT to be one of those bodies, sidetrack what might have been a better edge player career? And
(2) Are these kind of "projects" worth it in today's game at the level Michigan aspires to be?
I'm guessing for (1) the move inside wasted his potential. It may have been necessary, but that's more an indictment of recruiting and player development elsewhere. And for (2), I'm going to say "Probably not," unless Michigan is going for the "player experience" model and not necessarily wins and championships model.
Is anchor back? That was my immediate reaction to hearing that Welshof (at nearly 290 pounds) was moving outside. The other part - I guess they feel pretty good about the DTs now.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that Welschof's potential was wasted. If he has an Ojabo-like breakout or even if he plays at a Chris Wormley level, we can suspect - but it's not like we haven't been using edge players as interior rushers for years including guys like Hutchinson, Charlton and Danna. These packages are standard and that role (interior pass rusher) was the main thing Welshof did anyway.
I'd love to see a breakout year and the opportunity is there - but I'm not counting on it. I expect him to be the top backup to Morris and probably continue some pass rush duties from the inside as well.
Should Michigan continue to recruit international project who turn into quality contributors? Absolutely. Doesn't matter what I say though - they're all in on it. Ojabo and Welshof are different degrees but each is a success story and Michigan is smart to search for talent where others cannot or won't.
Welschof is down to 266, which is probably a good thing for his new role. It's probably also closer to his 'natural' weight. It must have taken something to get to 290.
DeleteOjabo was a very nice outcome for an international player. Welschof's contribution, so far, has been far less. If we *know* they're going to be quality contributors, then sure ... recruit them. But if the success rate starts to show that Ojabo was an outlier, then such projects may not be best for Michigan.
I don't see a difference here with American players. You never KNOW. See Gabe Newburg.
DeleteThe difference is that there's 100 programs looking at a kid from Texas and single digits for a kid from Germany or Nigeria. Your chances of finding a hidden gem AND then getting him into the program are higher. (e.g., Mo and Franz Wagner)
I think we also need to acknowledge that Welshof is a good player. He isn't an all-american but he's also very far from a bust. He played in every game last year and made meaningful contributions (including PSU) in a backup/rotational role. More of the same probably this year.
His scholarship was not wasted - the only question is if his ceiling was reached.
I think He was unfortunately a product of the bad d line recruiting. He had to play inside when his more natural position was outside. I think he has been a solid contributor as of today and looking forward to see what he does this year .
ReplyDeleteDo y'all think Welscof might have made a good TE?
ReplyDelete