Name: Tristan Bounds
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 311 lbs.
High school: Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #72
Last year: I ranked Bounds #75 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He played in three games.
TTB Rating: 82
Bounds came to college in 2021 with a lot of developmental work to be done, not only on his technique but on his body. An extremely tall lineman, he was athletic but relatively thin for his position. Last season Michigan had three starting-caliber players at the tackle positions (Ryan Hayes, Karsen Barnhart, Trente Jones), so he wasn't going to be needed, anyway, but he was listed at 282 pounds, which was still way too light to play.
This year Bounds is up to 311, which is almost 30 pounds of additional weight. The crazy thing is that when it came to the spring game, he still looked very thin. If he was 311 in the spring, he probably needs to be 325 before he looks the part. On top of that, Michigan once again has at least three starting-caliber tackles: even with the loss of Hayes to the NFL, there's now Barnhart, Jones, and Arizona State transfer La'Darius Henderson. Add in Jeffrey Persi and Andrew Gentry (who could also play guard) and there are at least six guys with great potential, though they're not all ready to play. Bounds still has a lot of technical work to be done and needs consistency, so he's a deep backup who might be able to work onto the field goal/extra point protection unit, but that's about it except for blowouts.
Prediction: Backup offensive tackle
a 6'8, 300lb Tackle at third string, and he's on year3 ... my how things have changed in Ann Arbor!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! I was thinking about that when I was writing this. Several years ago, he would have been a second-stringer with a good chance of playing if there was an injury or two.
Deletecurious to see if they can maintain this depth over time...truly a tall task.
Deletetheyve had a nice run of recruiting the right guys with great mindsets who are willing to work - and theyve retained 2nd/3rd/4th year guys whove yet to lock down long term positions which is difficult in the modern transfer era.
maybe they slip a bit in terms of portal losses but should still remain steady overall. they seem to understand the athletic & personality profiles they want to recruit and have established a healthy culture in that room. not to mention what appears to be an excellent OL coach in waiting in newsome to keep that room humming after moore.
harbaugh turned around the entire program post hoke though the biggest and most welcome change must be consistent, competent OL. great to see
A massive improvement. Hail harbaugh!
DeleteIt won't be easy to maintain but success has momentum.