Name: Bobby Kanka
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 299 lbs.
High school: Howell (MI) Howell
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #99
Last year: Kanka was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: 57
Kanka committed to Michigan all the way back on August 1, 2023, so at this point, it has been almost two years since he pledged to the Wolverines. He went through his junior and senior seasons committed to the program, though he did field other interest when there was some uncertainty surrounding Michigan's coaching situation. Overall, he stayed pretty rock solid as a local kid.
Kanka played some tight end on offense, but he was most known for being a defensive lineman. As a senior, he was listed at 6'4", 285 lbs. by Howell and is now listed at 289 pounds on Michigan's roster after enrolling this winter. Viewers of the spring game probably saw Kanka getting pushed around fairly easily a few times. Aside from that, I think Kanka's senior film showed a guy with a slow first step and a penchant for standing up too high at the snap. I think he'll need a lot of work and some reshaping of his body before he gets on the field at Michigan, and in some ways, I think he looks more like an offensive lineman. This is most likely a developmental year for Kanka behind a rather deep group of defensive tackles.
Prediction: Redshirt
Is Kanka the next great freshman surprise? Can he follow in the footsteps of 2024 #110 Hogan Hansen and 2023 #112 DJ Waller or even 2022 #96 Tyler Morris?
ReplyDeletehttps://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2024/05/2024-season-countdown-110-hogan-hansen.html
https://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-season-countdown-112-dj-waller-jr.html
https://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2022/06/2022-season-countdown-93-tyler-morris.html
Probably not!
The common elements of all those situations was:
A) lack of proven depth at the position
B) other freshman assumed to be better ranked way higher
In Kanka's case he fails criteria A. Michigan is loaded with proven contributors at DT so freshman contributions are unlikely.
Hansen played a big role because TE depth was thin and another freshman was ranked 47. Waller was a key backup when CB was a question in 2023 and he outplayed another freshman ranked 55. Morris wasn't a huge contributor TBF, but he ended up playing 8 snaps in the 2022 season playoff game against TCU over another freshman ranked 53.
Conclusion -- freshman can and likely will contribute at positions where depth is dubious...but betting on any specific freshman is dodgy. Can't trust those high school recruiting rankings!
Or Kanka might be like #129 Zach Ludwig, #128 Manuel Beigel, #114 Luke Hamilton, #109 Devon Baxter, #107 Jeremiah Lowe, #105 Ted Hammond, #102 Jake Guarnera, etc. and not be a factor at all as a freshman.
DeleteYep that's far more likely. Guys around ranked around 100 rarely play big roles, freshman or not. The freshman just have more upside potential - and at position that lack proven depth especially.
DeleteMy alma mater ... though a long, long time ago!
ReplyDelete