Phil Steele's 2015 Pre-season All-Big Ten team

Is Joe Bolden really Michigan's best player?

Phil Steele released his pre-season All-Big Ten teams (LINK). Since these are almost all potential opponents this season, instead I'll highlight guys whom Michigan recruited out of high school. Ohio State leads the way with 15 players on the four teams. Michigan State is second with 13. Rather than listing all of the teams ahead of Michigan, I'll just say that Michigan's six players on the list are only ahead of Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue.

FIRST TEAM
Corey Clement - RB - Wisconsin
Leonte Carroo - WR - Rutgers
Taylor Decker - OT - Ohio State
Joey Bosa - DE - Ohio State
Anthony Zettel - DE - Penn State
Adolphus Washington - DT - Ohio State
Vince Biegel - LB - Wisconsin

SECOND TEAM
Nick Vannett - TE - Ohio State
Dan Voltz - C - Wisconsin
Darius Hamilton - DE - Rutgers
Ed Davis - LB - Michigan State
Joe Bolden - LB - Michigan
Mike Caputo - DB - Wisconsin

THIRD TEAM
Robert Kugler - C - Purdue*
Kyle Kalis - OL - Michigan
Chris Muller - OL - Rutgers
Vincent Valentine - DT - Rutgers
Desmond Morgan - LB - Michigan
Eli Apple - DB - Ohio State

FOURTH TEAM
Amara Darboh - WR - Michigan
Billy Price - C - Ohio State
Malik McDowell - DT - Michigan State
Lawrence Thomas - DT - Michigan State
Yannick Ngakoue - DE - Maryland
David Santos - LB - Nebraska
Jabrill Peppers - DB - Michigan
Blake O'Neill - P - Michigan

*Was not recruited by Michigan, but is the brother of Michigan center Patrick Kugler

U.S. Army All-American Bowl Participants: Michigan

2012 U.S. Army Bowl participants: Ondre Pipkins, Royce Jenkins-Stone, James Ross, Kyle Kalis, Erik Magnuson
(left to right; image via TheWolverine.com)

For your viewing pleasure, here's a comprehensive list of Michigan's past commitments who were selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

2016
Michael Onwenu - Detroit, MI

2015
None

2014
Mason Cole, OG - Tarpon Springs, FL

2013
Jake Butt, TE - Pickerington, OH
Chris Fox, OT - Parker, CO#
Derrick Green, RB - Richmond, VA
Jourdan Lewis, CB - Detroit, MI
Dymonte Thomas, S - Alliance, OH

2012
Kyle Kalis, OL - Lakewood, OH
Royce Jenkins-Stone, LB - Detroit, MI
Erik Magnuson, OL - Carlsbad, CA
Ondre Pipkins, DT - Kansas City, MO
James Ross, LB - Orchard Lake, MI

2011
Blake Countess, CB - Olney, MD
Wayne Lyons, CB - Fort Lauderdale, FL*
Matt Wile, K - San Diego, CA

2010
Cullen Christian, CB - Pittsburgh, PA
Will Hagerup, P - Whitefish Bay, WI

2009
William Campbell, DT - Detroit, MI
Jeremy Gallon, WR - Apopka, FL
Brendan Gibbons, K - West Palm Beach, FL
Anthony Lalota, DE - Princeton, NJ
Je'Ron Stokes, WR - Pittsburgh, PA
Justin Turner, CB - Massillon, OH

2008
Boubacar Cissoko, CB - Detroit, MI
Sam McGuffie, RB - Houston, TX
Brandon Smith, S - New Brunswick, NJ

2007
Donovan Warren, CB - Long Beach, CA
Michael Williams, S - St. Bonaventure, CA

2006
Justin Boren, OG - Pickerington, OH
Steve Brown, S - Columbus, IN
Brandon Graham, DE - Detroit, MI
Jonas Mouton, LB - Venice, CA
Steve Schilling, OT - Bellevue, WA

2005
James McKinney, DT - Louisville, KY
Zoltan Mesko, P - Twinsburg, OH
Marques Slocum, DT - Philadelphia, PA

2004
Adrian Arrington, WR - Cedar Rapids, IA
Alan Branch, DT - Albuquerque, NM
Jeremy Ciulla, OG - Kennesaw, GA
Doug Dutch, WR/CB - Washington, DC
Chad Henne, QB - West Lawn, PA
Tim Jamison, DE - Harvey, IL
Max Martin, RB - Madison, AL

2003
Prescott Burgess, LB - Warren, OH
Anton Campbell, S - O'Fallon, MO
Shawn Crable, LB - Massillon, OH
Leon Hall, CB - Vista, CA
Ryan Mundy, S - Pittsburgh, PA
Will Paul, FB - St. Louis, MO
Clayton Richard, QB - Lafayette, IN
Garrett Rivas, K - Tampa, FL

2002
Jason Avant, WR - Chicago, IL
Mike Kolodziej, OT - Joliet, IL

2001
Marlin Jackson, CB - Sharon, PA
Pierre Woods, DE - Cleveland, OH

*Transferred to Michigan
#Will not/did not play due to injury

2014 Season Countdown: #9 Kyle Kalis

Kyle Kalis

Name: Kyle Kalis
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 298 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #67
Last year: I ranked Kalis #29 and said he would start at right guard. He started eight games at right guard.

Kalis disappointed a lot of Michigan fans in 2013 with his unspectacular play. Despite being a redshirt freshman, a lot of the frustration for Michigan's failure to run the ball came down on Kalis. He would probably admit that he had a subpar season, but that could apply to the whole offensive line; it was a systemic failure that started with the offensive coordinator and trickled on down. Not only were the hogs up front not getting any push, but there were communication failures that allowed defenders to slice through the line at will. After the season, Kalis revealed that he had been hampered by an ankle injury and a back injury, which saw him get benched for a short mid-season stretch. He still managed to be named to the ESPN Freshman All-Big Ten team.

Unfortunately, the back issue still appears to be lingering. Kalis has missed several practices recently, including last Saturday night's open scrimmage. Head coach Brady Hoke stated strongly to the affirmative that Kalis would be starting if he were healthy. Considering the lineup sent out there on Saturday, my guess is that Graham Glasgow would slide back to center, Jack Miller would return to the bench, and Kalis would enter at right guard. Back injuries are notoriously tricky and can persist for long stretches of time, so it will be interesting to see how long this lasts for Kalis. I was frustrated by the line's play in 2013, but that does not dampen my hopes that Kalis can be a good college player moving forward.

Prediction: Starting right guard when healthy

Video: Braden, Magnuson, Kalis, Miller talk spring ball

Hit the jump for the interviews of Erik Magnuson, Kyle Kalis, and Jack Miller.

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Preview: Offensive Line

Kansas State center B.J. Finney is the Big 12
conference's top player at his position.

MICHIGAN
Starters: Fifth year senior left tackle Taylor Lewan (6'8", 315 lbs.) has been an All-American and First Team All-Big Ten in 2012 and 2013, and he's projected as a first round pick in next year's NFL Draft. Redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson (6'6", 295 lbs.) has played left guard, right guard, and right tackle this year, but none of them particularly well. He has decent feet but struggles at the point of attack. Redshirt sophomore Graham Glasgow (6'6", 303 lbs.) was the starting left guard early in the year, took over the center position against Minnesota, and will likely start his thirteenth game of the season on Saturday night. Glasgow had several bad snaps in his first weeks as the center, but the snapping issues have largely been eliminated in the last couple games. Redshirt freshman Kyle Kalis (6'5", 302 lbs.) lost his job after his early-season performance, but now he's back at right guard. He lacks the foot speed to be effective on zone stretches, and the offense evolved at the end of the year toward more of an inside zone running system to accommodate the likes of Kalis. Fifth year senior right tackle Michael Schofield (6'7", 304 lbs.) is a three-year starter and was named Honorable Mention all-conference this year, and some draft projections have him going as high as in the second round this coming April.
Backups: True freshman Kyle Bosch (6'5", 302 lbs.) started three games late in the year after redshirt junior Joe Burzynski tore his ACL. Bosch showed some promise but looked overwhelmed and eventually gave his job back to Kalis, who had been benched in favor of Magnuson. Redshirt sophomore Jack Miller started the first four games of the season at center and has not been heard from since getting benched for Glasgow. Redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant (6'4", 316 lbs.) made two starts at at left guard before getting benched in the middle of the Penn State game.

KANSAS STATE
Starters: Fifth year senior Cornelius Lucas (6'9", 328 lbs.) was a First Team All-Big 12 selection in 2012, but this year he was just Honorable Mention. Redshirt sophomore Cody Whitehair (6'4", 309 lbs.) was Second Team All-Big 12 this season. Redshirt junior B.J. Finney (6'4", 303 lbs.) was named the best center in the conference. Redshirt sophomore Boston Stiverson (6'4", 312 lbs.) started a couple games as a redshirt freshman and is the team's top backup lineman this year, and he's been filling in for an injured Keenan Taylor at right guard. Senior Tavon Rooks (6'5", 280 lbs.) has been the starting right tackle for the past two seasons, earning Honorable Mention all-conference in both his years on campus.
Key backup: Fifth year senior Keenan Taylor (6'4", 290 lbs.) is questionable for the bowl game due to a knee injury, but he started all 13 games last year at right guard. Stiverson has been starting in his stead for the past few weeks, but Taylor should be in there if healthy.

THE TAKEAWAY
Michigan is tied for 111th in the country with 35 sacks allowed, and they're #101 with 131 yards/game given up on the ground. The paltry 3.25 yards/carry average ranks them 114th. Kansas State is #54 nationally with 180 yards/game on the ground, and they're #51 with 4.53 yards/carry. They've also allowed 24 sacks, which is tied for #62 in the country. So while Kansas State is a wee bit above average, they're still a long ways ahead of Michigan in many ways. The Wildcats also have a few guys with all-conference accolades, while Michigan's Taylor Lewan has been pretty lonely when it comes to postseason accolades.

ADVANTAGE: Kansas State

2013 ESPN.com Big Ten All-Freshman team

Jake Butt

Brian Bennett and Adam Rittenberg put together their Big Ten All-Freshman Team. There are a few notable guys for Michigan fans:

Jake Butt - TE - Michigan*
Dan Voltz - C - Wisconsin*
Kyle Kalis - OG - Michigan*
Joey Bosa - DE - Ohio State*
Willie Henry - DT - Michigan*
Desmond King - CB - Iowa#

*Offered by Michigan
#Attended Detroit (MI) Crockett

2013 CFN All-Freshman Team

The 2013 CFN All-Freshman teams were announced on Wednesday (offense, defense/special teams). There are a few notable players for Michigan fans:

FIRST TEAM
Jack Conklin - OT - Michigan State
Dan Voltz - C - Wisconsin*
Laremy Tunsil - OT - Mississippi*
Joey Bosa - DE - Ohio State*
Eddie Vanderdoes - DE - UCLA*
Jaylon Smith - LB - Notre Dame*
Kendall Fuller - CB - Virginia Tech*
Vernon Hargreaves - CB - Florida*#
Su'a Cravens - S - USC*

SECOND TEAM
Christian Hackenberg - QB - Penn State
Laquon Treadwell - WR - Mississippi*
Maxx Williams - TE - Minnesota
Alex Kozan - OG - Auburn*
Avery Moss - DT - Nebraska
Cameron Johnston - P - Ohio State

HONORABLE MENTION
Maty Mauk - QB - Missouri*
Corey Clement - RB - Wisconsin*
Marquez North - WR - Tennessee*
Jacob Bailey - OL - Indiana
Adam Bisnowaty - OL - Pitt*
Michael Dunn - OL - Maryland
Cameron Hunt - OL - Oregon*
Kyle Kalis - OL - Michigan*
Dan Skipper - OL - Arkansas*
Avery Young - OL - Auburn*
Ralphael Green - DL - Indiana
Ifeadi Odenigbo - DL - Northwestern*
Michael Rose - LB - Nebraska
T.J. Simmons - LB - Indiana
Will Likely - DB - Maryland
Darius Mosely - DB - Illinois
Sojourn Shelton - DB - Wisconsin
Cameron Walker - DB - Cal*
Michael Geiger - K - Michigan State

*Offered by Michigan
#Freshman of the Year

Poll results: Which three linemen should be starting on the interior?

Taylor Lewan and Kyle Kalis

I posted a poll asking Michigan fans which three linemen should be starting on the interior of the offensive line, and it looks like fans want a change. Voters could pick multiple answers, and here are the responses.

STARTERS
OG Kyle Kalis: 95%
OG Chris Bryant: 82%
OG/C Graham Glasgow: 59%

BACKUPS
OG/OT Ben Braden: 22%
C Jack Miller: 17%
OG/C Joey Burzynski: 9%
Other: 4%

At this point, I would be in support of center Jack Miller being sent to the sideline if Graham Glasgow can handle snapping duties. I think sometimes people underestimate the importance of getting good snaps, so that's a big "if." But Miller struggles with stout nose tackles, and he just flat-out misses some obvious blocks at times.

If redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant is healthy after suffering various leg injuries over the past couple seasons, I think he should get a shot. However, Michigan has to realize the strengths of each of these players. My guess is that Bryant excels at blocking plays like power and iso, but he probably struggles with zone blocking, which requires more agility and lateral movement. If Michigan wants to continue running zone stretches to the left behind Taylor Lewan, then perhaps Kyle Kalis should flip to left guard to make that play more viable. Then the Wolverines could run outside zone, iso, and power to the left, while running power and iso to the right.

Michigan 28, Akron 24

Devin Gardner

A win is a win. A hundred years from now, nobody will remember this day. So there's that. Otherwise, this was ugly. Good teams struggle sometimes. Is Michigan a good team? I think they're pretty good. There's still hope that this season will end magically, but let's be honest - with a questionable interior line and wide receivers, an injury to the best defensive player, and no real stars on defense, perhaps Michigan fans should re-calibrate. That's not say that things like this are okay, but poop happens.

The list of people who need to step up is long. I feel like this post could turn into a long list of complaining, but I'm going to try to make it brief:

• Devin Gardner. Gardner (16/30, 248 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble lost; 10 carries, 103 yards, 1 touchdown) was forcing throws all day long. Even some of his early completions were hotly contested. He ran the ball well, but he seems overconfident in the abilities of himself and his receivers, as if every one of his throws should be completed just because their helmets have wings.
• Graham Glasgow, Jack Miller, Kyle Kalis, and Michael Schofield. Glasgow and Miller are getting physically overpowered by guys who aren't 5-star Notre Dame recruits, and Glasgow is making some poor blocking reads in the run game. Glasgow and Kalis look lost out there against twist stunts, and even the redshirt senior Schofield had some whiffs.
• Joe Bolden. I used to be on the Joe Bolden bandwagon by suggesting he's a starter-quality inside linebacker, but I'm not sure if that's true. I don't think it's an indictment of his entire career, because it's still early in his true sophomore year. However, I think it's clear that James Ross III and Desmond Morgan are significantly ahead of Bolden, who struggles in pass coverage and is inconsistent stopping the run.
• Raymon Taylor. Taylor gets picked on quite a bit, and I don't see him responding in terms of his coverage. He's a feisty player and a decent tackler, but teams throw on him short and deep.
• Matt Wile. The punter should be Will Hagerup, of course, but Hagerup likes to get himself suspended. Instead, Wile is out there, and he's been inconsistent. Yesterday included 21- and 22-yard shanks. On four punts, he averaged just 33 yards/attempt.
• Dennis Norfleet. Norfleet still overestimates his strength. Sometimes he cuts upfield into traffic when he could run laterally for another step or two and outrun the defender. Normally, I wouldn't promote running laterally. However, Norfleet is a space player, and he's put in space on special teams and by Al Borges's play calls; he has room to run, but he thinks he's still in high school where he could run through some tackles. Plus Norfleet still takes too many chances on punt returns.

Good for Akron. Amidst all this, I feel like I've neglected to mention Akron's hard play and their game plan. If I'm a MAC opponent, I'm going to beat pressure and the soft defense by throwing quick slants, hitches, etc. and hope I can keep the chains moving. They also capitalized on some deep throws, which you have to take once in a while. Defensively, I thought Akron did a good job of causing trouble for Michigan's interior line with stunts and disguising some coverages.

By the way, Akron maybe should have won. Thomas Gordon was beaten on the final play of the game. Akron receiver Zach D'Orazio tried to pull a version of the Drew Dileo touchdown against Notre Dame. Fortunately, Michigan put pressure on quarterback Kyle Pohl, who overthrew the ball by a foot or two. D'Orazio was begging for pass interference, but that seemed desperate. Hell, Gordon probably should  have grabbed D'Orazio to potentially save the game, but there was barely any contact. If Pohl had a fraction of a second longer to wait, we all would have been very sad.

On the plus side. I like that Al Borges and Devin Gardner decided to involve Jehu Chesson, who looks like he might have game-changing speed at some point. In the open field, that kid is going to be tough to catch. He burned some people on punt coverage, caught 1 pass and broke some tackles for a 33-yard touchdown, had an end-around for 2 yards, and returned 1 kickoff for 19 yards and showed a nice burst. I also liked what I saw from defensive tackle Willie Henry, who got some penetration and Jarrod Wilson, who seems to be moving in the right direction toward being a solid safety. Those are some up-and-comers. Fitzgerald Toussaint had 19 carries for 71 yards and 1 touchdown, but a couple nice runs were called back for holding; he also has improved his pass protection.

What it means for UConn. The Huskies are 0-2 after losing 33-18 to Towson and then 32-21 to Maryland. Despite the record, Michigan should have learned from the Akron game that they can't take anyone lightly. The game will be at 8:00 p.m. next Saturday. If Michigan comes out with another lackluster performance, then I'll be greatly concerned. If the Wolverines win by 25 points, then maybe this was just a blip on the radar.

2013 Season Countdown: #29 Kyle Kalis

Kyle Kalis (image via MGoBlog)

Name: Kyle Kalis
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 297 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #67
Last year: I ranked Kalis #45 and said he would be a backup offensive lineman. He redshirted.

I misfired on Kalis last season, but that was perhaps a good thing for the team. I thought Kalis was the most college ready of the linemen in the class of 2012, and with very little depth on the offensive line, I thought he would be needed at some point. Amazingly, Ricky Barnum and the other hogs up front stayed injury-free, so Kalis got to ride out the season on the bench, presumably learning technique and the playbook. He earned some practice buzz and the coaches have praised his physical transformation since last year. Despite being a mauler already, he had some puffiness that seems to have disappeared if you've seen any recent photographs of him. In the spring he was in the thick of playing time for the three interior positions that need to be filled now that Barnum, Elliott Mealer, and Patrick Omameh have graduated.

Head coach Brady Hoke said recently that if the season were to start today, Kalis would be the starting right guard. His main competition appears to be redshirt junior Joey Burzynski, an undersized veteran who has seen some time as a backup over the past couple seasons. While I really like Kalis's long-term potential, I think he's the least valuable of the crew simply because he's young and there's some decent competition for the position. Aside from Burzynski, there's redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant, walk-on Graham Glasgow (who's also fighting for the center spot), redshirt freshman Blake Bars, and true freshman Kyle Bosch. I still have hopes for Bryant after he recovers from a broken leg, and I think Bosch will be a star someday, too. Kalis will surely struggle at times, but if he can adjust to the college game quickly, he could be very good very soon.

Prediction: Starting right guard

Spring Practice Preview: Offense

It's time to see what the Inkster product can do leading Michigan's football team.

QUARTERBACK
Redshirt junior Devin Gardner is the clear front-runner for the quarterback job.  After Denard Robinson got hurt against Nebraska, Gardner started the next five games, going 75/126 for 1,219 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.  Michigan appears to have a "franchise" type quarterback, but what will Michigan's offense look like with him fully entrenched at the position?  Gardner is better from under center than Robinson ever was, so the I-formation stuff should be more prevalent.  He can still run the shotgun passing stuff, but he's not a downhill runner in the same way that allowed Robinson to run for 1,000+ yards the past few seasons.
Others to watch: The only other scholarship quarterback on the roster for the spring is redshirt sophomore Russell Bellomy.

RUNNING BACK
With Fitzgerald Toussaint injured, Vincent Smith off to his post-college career, and Derrick Green not arriving until summer, the pickings will be slim this spring.  This should be Michigan fans' first chance to see redshirt freshman Drake Johnson, who earned some praise from Brady Hoke around bowl time.  He has good size and speed, but that doesn't always translate to success.  Junior Thomas Rawls (57 carries, 242 yards, 4 touchdowns) and redshirt sophomore Justice Hayes (18 carries, 83 yards, 1 touchdown) earned some carries, but neither one did much with his opportunities.
Others to watch: Sophomore Dennis Norfleet has moved back to running back after a short stint at corner for the Outback Bowl.  Sophomore Sione Houma and redshirt sophomore Joey Kerridge will fight for the fullback spot.

WIDE RECEIVER
In the five games that Gardner started at quarterback, fifth year senior Jeremy Gallon had 31 receptions for 511 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He looks to be the top receiver in 2013, but there's plenty of room for others to emerge.  Two other seniors return in Drew Dileo (22 catches, 331 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Jeremy Jackson (4 catches, 31 yards), the former of which is a jack-of-all-trades, the latter a lumbering possession receiver.  Then there's sophomore Amara Darboh, who played but was never targeted, and redshirt freshman Jehu Chesson.  Since Dileo appears to be nothing more than a complementary receiver, it would be good for Gardner and the Michigan offense to find another reliable target between Darboh and Chesson.
Others to watch: Fifth year senior walk-on Joe Reynolds (3 catches, 22 yards) worked his way into the rotation last season and has decent quickness.

TIGHT END
Sophomore Devin Funchess (15 catches, 234 yards, 5 touchdowns) should have playing time locked up at the U-back position.  Fellow sophomore A.J. Williams is a mammoth tight end who's more of a blocker.  The wild card in the mix is freshman Jake Butt, who enrolled early and is physically developed enough to play as a freshman.  Williams isn't much of a target downfield, so if Gardner can work out some chemistry with Butt in the spring (and summer), Michigan should have a nice 1-2 punch of receiving tight ends between Funchess and Butt.
Others to watch: Redshirt junior Jordan Paskorz has played in just one game (on special teams against UMass) during his three seasons, and the rest of the guys on the roster are young-ish walk-ons with little experience; the best of those is redshirt junior Dylan Esterline.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The two sure starters are the bookend, fifth-year senior tackles Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield.  Between those two will be any combination of about a dozen other players, because the three interior starters graduated.  Redshirt freshman all-everything guard Kyle Kalis will probably step in at one guard spot.  That leaves the other two spots up for grabs between redshirt sophomore Jack Miller, redshirt junior walk-on Joey Burzynski, redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant, and redshirt freshman Ben Braden; the former two will probably vie for the center spot, while the latter two will fight for the right guard position.  None of them have played extensively, and if either Bryant or Braden starts the season, it will be his first ever game experience.  In the long term, Braden will probably end up at right tackle, so you could see Schofield and Braden flip if the coaches aren't confident in Braden's ability to pull.
Others to watch: Redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson will have every chance to succeed Lewan at left tackle, and classmate Blake Bars has practiced at both center and guard.  Both appear to be at least a year away from playing significant time.  True freshman Kyle Bosch has apparently impressed people with his size and work in the weight room as an early enrollee, but he's very young; if the coaches wouldn't play Kalis as a freshman, they probably won't play Bosch, either, unless injuries occur.  But it will still be interesting to see how Bosch fares in the glorified practice.

2012 Season Countdown: #45 Kyle Kalis

Kyle Kalis

Name: Kyle Kalis
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 304 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward's
Position: Offensive tackle/guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #67
Last year: Kalis was in high school. No stats are available.

Final TTB Rating: 95

Kalis was one of the more intriguing prospects in the whole class of 2012.  He originally committed to childhood favorite Ohio State in September of 2010 during the fall of his junior year.  But in July of 2011, he had grown disgruntled with the direction of OSU's program and committed to the Buckeyes' arch rival.  He was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he played offensive guard instead of his normal tackle position.

Most observers (including me) believe Kalis is the most college ready of the four freshman offensive linemen.  He already has the size of a college lineman, and his play suggests that he's pretty close in the strength department, too.  As the son of a former NFL offensive lineman (Todd Kalis) and a disciple of LeCharles Bentley, he has pretty good technique, too.  The starting left guard position is unresolved with fifth year senior Elliott Mealer and redshirt sophomore walk-on Joey Burzynski battling it out, but there's also an opportunity for a freshman like Kalis to work his way into the lineup.  The coaches stated that Kalis would begin working at right tackle, but Michael Schofield played tackle, too, and he started most of the season at left guard.  Regardless of who wins the starting position at the beginning of the season, it's a near certainty that one or more freshmen will see the field this fall.  And as we learned from the Desmond Morgan situation last season, the coaches won't hesitate to toss in a true freshman if they feel he's the best guy.

Prediction: Backup offensive lineman

Video: LeCharles Bentley working with Kyle Kalis

Ask a Question: Kyle Kalis

Kyle Kalis is a five-star offensive lineman who can claim offers from Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, LSU, and Notre Dame.  Most likely NFL bound, Kyle "just wants to tear your head off," according to Michigan offensive line coach Darrell Funk, while he expects "blood on the field" when playing against Ohio State.

And as you can see, he also has excellent taste in men's ties.

If you have a question for Kyle, leave it in the comments section, and I'll bring it up when I interview him.

A Note on TTB Ratings

Kyle Kalis is my top-rated recruited from 2012, but not every recruit receives
such high praise.

Recently I have taken a lot of flak for the TTB Ratings (and player reviews) I've been giving.  I'm a big boy and can handle the criticism; I expected criticism when I created the ratings.  However, I have to admit that some of the comments are unfounded and unrealistic.  Many of the complaints have centered around the fact that the coaches like the kids, so why can't I just shut up and enjoy the ride?  Well . . . because coaches are wrong.  And yes, that means I can be wrong, too.  But these are my opinions, not anyone else's.  And if my predictions are wrong, you can always point to a commitment post or a TTB Rating and say "Told ya so!"

Looking from a historical perspective, though, I think some people need to realize that a large number of these kids are bound to fail at football.  It's just the nature of the business.  Some high-profile recruits bomb.  Some low-profile recruits turn into stars.  And vice versa.

Looking at the bottom rung of my TTB Ratings, it says "0-39: Below average backup or special teams contributor."  Keep in mind that the TTB Ratings are trying to predict success at Michigan, not necessarily overall talent.  For example, a guy who I predict might get buried on the bench at Michigan could go to Kent State and play very well.  From 2002-2008, here's a list of all or most of the players who would fit that 0-39 category (essentially, these are complete non-contributors for various reasons): Tom Berishaj, Mike Kolodziej, Quinton McCoy, Kevin Murphy, Will Paul, Jim Presley, Clayton Richard, Pat Sharrow, Jeff Zuttah, Roger Allison, Keston Cheathem, Jeremy Ciulla, Grant DeBenedictis, Brett Gallimore, Marques Walton, Jason Forcier, Brandon Logan, Chris McLaurin, Chris Richards, Justin Schifano, Cory Zirbel, David Cone, Jason Kates, Cobrani Mixon, Quintin Patilla, Quintin Woods, Zion Babb, Artis Chambers, Vince Helmuth, Isaiah Bell, Taylor Hill, Dann O'Neill, Kurt Wermers, and Marcus Witherspoon. 

In a span of seven years, that's 34 guys who were complete busts . . . an average of 4.9 per recruiting cycle.  I realize some of those guys' careers ended early due to injury (Kolodziej, Sharrow, etc.), some transferred, and some got in trouble with the law . . . but some of them just couldn't cut it.  Jason Forcier was buried on the bench here and got buried at Stanford.  Brandon Logan could never see the field despite playing on a depleted football team.  Cone was behind younger players and walk-ons for his entire career.  No matter how you slice it, there are bound to be flops.

Am I a soothsayer?  No.  I can't predict the future.  All I can do is offer an educated opinion based on depth charts and what I see on film.  But I am 99% certain that some of these 4-stars will play like 5-stars, some 5-stars will play like 3-stars, and some 3-stars will become studs.  Nobody knows for sure which players they will be, but we're all bound to be wrong sometimes, and we're all bound to be right sometimes.

The difference between this site and others - whether you like it or not - is that I will share who I think those booms and busts will be.  There are numerous recruiting sites out there that essentially say "I love this kid and think he will be great!" . . . and they say that about every recruit.  That's fine if they want to do that, but I'm not going to put stock in the opinion of any "evaluator" who thinks 99% of these kids are going to be studs.  Imagine if you went to a doctor for your back pain and he said, "Surgery is great, acupuncture is great, chiropractors are great, exercise is great, and meditation is great!  They're all great!"  Or imagine if you went to a financial analyst who wanted you to put your money into every stock out there.  Well, surgery might mess up your back for life, and putting all your money into Groupon might sink your life savings.  Just like you would want a doctor or financial planner to steer you in the right direction, I hope I can steer Michigan fans in the right direction.

I will never root for a Michigan player to fail.  These kids play for Michigan, my alma mater.  I would love for every kid who walks onto the field to be an All-American and get drafted in the first round.  But that's not a realistic expectation, and realistic fans ought to be able to see that.  If my approach to recruiting upsets you, I encourage you to read another website.  That's not because I don't want traffic or that I don't value others' opinions.  I simply think you'll be happier elsewhere . . . and I know I'm unlikely to change.  I welcome other fans' opinions, but getting angry about my ratings is a waste of everyone's time.

Poll Results: Who will be Michigan's starting left guard?

Fifth year senior offensive lineman Elliott Mealer

This comes on the heels of Rocko Khoury's departure, who was presumed to be in the running to play center.  Now that it seems Ricky Barnum is destined to be the starting center this fall, that leaves an opening at left guard.  So I posed the question (for a second time): Who will be Michigan's starting left guard against Alabama?

Chris Bryant: 58%
Bryant is only a redshirt freshman but has earned praise from coaches and practice observers alike.  So far in spring practices, it has been reported that Bryant is playing behind Patrick Omameh at right guard.  This could be to give Omameh some competition, but Bryant has always seemed like more of a strongside guard to me.  When a kid is 6'4", 341 lbs., the coaches probably want him to do more bulldozing and less pulling.

Kyle Kalis: 16%
I still have doubts that a true freshman will start the first game of the season.  Kalis is good, but he won't get to campus until June.

Patrick Omameh: 12%
Omameh has been the starting right guard for parts or all of the last three seasons.  I'm not sure why he would flip to the left side at this point, although I wouldn't say it's impossible.  If the other guard isn't adept at pulling, Omameh (who isn't great at pulling, either) might be an upgrade in that department.

Elliott Mealer: 11%
At least in the early going of spring, Mealer seems to be the frontrunner for the left guard position.  The fifth year senior has been running with the first team, and his only serious competition would seem to be Bryant. 

Other: 1%
It was recently reported that redshirt freshman walk-on Graham Glasgow has been the #2 left guard in spring ball, but keep in mind that a couple walk-ons are bound to be on the second team due to a lack of depth.  Without Khoury, David Molk, and Mark Huyge (all of them graduated) and without the four freshman linemen on campus, numbers dictate walk-ons will get a chance to see some time.  The only "backup" scholarship players available are Bryant and redshirt freshman center Jack Miller.

Poll Results: Who will be Michigan's starting left guard?

Redshirt freshman Chris Bryant might
be the front-runner for the LG job

Last week I asked the question, "Who will be Michigan's starting left guard against Alabama?"

This poll is a little obsolete now that it has been announced Rocko Khoury will not return.  Barnum, the leading vote receiver in this poll, is now the front-runner for the center position.  So guess what?  There's a new poll about the position on the left sidebar.  But here's how much things can change with the loss of one player:

Ricky Barnum: 29%
The fifth year senior is a 6'3", 292 lb. guard/center has been about as injury prone as a football player can be throughout his career.  He has appeared in only nine career games and started three (at left guard) in 2011.  The coaches have praised his ability to get out and run, which seems to indicate that he should stay at guard, since centers don't run very much.  However, insider indications suggest that the coaches want him to win the starting job at center and will give him the first shot to do so. [EDIT: The previous sentence is clearly obsolete now.]

Chris Bryant: 18% (tie)
Bryant is just a redshirt freshman going into 2012, but coaches are reportedly enamored with his abilities, especially as a run blocker.  He appears to be the reason the coaches want Barnum to win the center job, so they can plug Bryant in at left guard.  He was listed at 6'4" and 341 lbs. as a true freshman, but I would expect him to be a little lighter entering the upcoming season.

Kyle Kalis: 18% (tie)
Going even younger, Kalis is an incoming freshman.  He stands 6'5" and 305 lbs., which gives him adequate size (Barnum and right guard Patrick Omameh were both less than 300 lbs.).  Kalis is the highest rated offensive line recruit in the freshman class and the odds-on favorite as the most likely of the freshmen to play in the upcoming season.  Due to a lack of linemen in recent classes, at least one true freshman is almost guaranteed to be on the two-deep, unless a walk-on emerges.

Patrick Omameh: 18% (1 fewer vote than the two above players)
Omameh, a redshirt senior, has started for all or parts of the last three seasons at right guard.  It strikes me as surprising that people think he will move to the left guard position, but I guess anything is possible.  Omameh is a 6'4", 299-pounder who struggled early last season, but seemed to improve late.

Michael Schofield: 13%
Schofield is listed as an offensive tackle, but he started nine games in 2011 as a replacement for the injured Barnum.  With few true threats to replace the departed Mark Huyge at right tackle, it seems unlikely that Schofield will stick at left guard unless there's a major rejiggering along the offensive line like, say, Omameh to right tackle.  While Kalis and incoming freshman Ben Braden are both expected to begin their careers at right tackle, they seem like long shots to start from Day 1.  At 6'7" and a listed 299 lbs. (although I have heard Schofield is a bit heavier now), he seems a little tall to remain at guard.

Other: 0% (2 votes)
I would be interested to know which player(s) were being considered with these two votes.

2012 Recruiting Awards

Kyle Kalis is my pick to be the best recruit from the 2012 class

This is a fun yearly exercise for me.  You can take a look back at the 2009, 2010, and 2011 recruiting awards for a historical perspective on my choices.  Overall, I haven't done a bad job, with some hits and misses over the years.  My best defensive recruit from 2010 was Marvin Robinson, who has yet to make much of an impact.  But I've picked a couple good ones as guys who are most underrated - Desmond Morgan and Jake Ryan.  It's the usual - sometimes you're right, and sometimes you're wrong.

Best Overall Recruit: OG/OT Kyle Kalis
This was a pretty tough choice between Kalis and James Ross, but I'm going to go with Kalis, in part because of his NFL potential and his size.  Whereas Ross needs to add a little bit of bulk and even then might not be big enough for many NFL teams, Kalis has the size, technique, athleticism, and pedigree to play at the next level. 


Best Offensive Recruit: OG/OT Kyle Kalis
The 2012 class isn't deep with offensive stars, so this wasn't a very difficult choice.  But I think Kyle Kalis is about as college-ready as high school linemen come.  He has excellent technique and very good size (6'5", 305 lbs.).  He could be on the two-deep this fall, and I'm guessing he'll be at least a three-year starter for the Wolverines.

Best Defensive Recruit: LB James Ross
The best NFL prospect of the bunch might be defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins, but for their three-to-five years in college, I'll take Ross as the best defensive player.  He could challenge Desmond Morgan for playing time as a true freshman, and by year two, he might have the starting WILL job locked down.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: DT Ondre Pipkins
I don't think it's a good thing when freshmen enter school knowing that the coaches almost have to play them, but that's the situation Pipkins will find himself in this fall.  With Michigan's top two defensive tackles having left and only unproven guys remaining, he's a virtual lock to see significant time this fall.

Fastest Recruit: RB/PR/KR Dennis Norfleet
Running back Drake Johnson and wide receiver Jehu Chesson are high school track stars, but I'm giving Norfleet the nod due to his short-area quickness, too.  It takes Johnson and Chesson a little bit longer to accelerate than it does Norfleet.

Strongest Recruit: DT Ondre Pipkins
Pipkins will have no excuse for failing to be the strongest player on Michigan's team in a few years.  He's 6'3" and 330 lbs. already.

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: DT Willie Henry
The more I think about the defensive line coaches at Michigan getting their hands on Henry, the more excited I get.  Henry is a very athletic kid for his size and should be a penetrating-type defensive tackle for Michigan in the years to come.  Outside of classmate Ondre Pipkins, he might very well be the best DT recruit since Mike Martin in 2008.

Most Overrated Recruit: OT Blake Bars
Bars has the unfortunate luck of coming to Michigan in the midst of two great offensive line recruiting hauls.  He could very well get lost in the shuffle with guys like Kalis, Erik Magnuson, Logan Tuley-Tillman, Kyle Bosch, etc. 

Most Likely to Redshirt: OT Blake Bars
As an offensive lineman, you're likely to redshirt, anyway.  But Bars has some weight and strength to add before he sees the field, and he's the least likely to play early, in my opinion.  Kalis already has the size and technique, Ben Braden is reportedly 325 lbs., and I think Erik Magnuson is a little more advanced (although I expect him to redshirt, too).

Personal Favorite Recruit: LB James Ross
For the second year in a row, I'm picking a weakside linebacker.  Last year it was Antonio Poole.  This year it's Ross.  I love these fast, downhill players who can make plays in the backfield, in pass coverage, and at the line of scrimmage.  Ross is one of the most technically sound football players I've seen since I started following recruiting, and that makes him incredibly fun for me to watch.

Senior Highlights: Kyle Kalis

Pro Athletes and Their Spawn: 2012 Edition

Perhaps the greatest running back of all time,
Barry Sanders' son follows in his dad's footsteps

One of the things I always find fascinating is the offspring of former pro athletes.  Growing up as the son of an NFL or NBA player must be a completely different lifestyle than I was accustomed to as a kid.  And there must be a ton of pressure on these kids, too, to follow in their footsteps or be a laughingstock.  I mean, there are certainly kids out there whose fathers were great football players but the kids can barely sniff the field.  I can only imagine what parents and players say to or about those kids.

But for lots of kids, the genes they're blessed with and the things they learn from their dads add up to some pretty good talent, too.  Here's an incomplete list of the 2012 recruits whose fathers made it big.  Feel free to add the names of any others, because I certainly don't know of them all.

Torey Agee (son of Tommie Agee)
Torey is a 6'3", 246 lb. defensive end who is headed to Vanderbilt.  He had 32 tackles and 4 sacks for Opelika (AL) Opelika as a senior.  Tommie - the football player, not the baseball player - was a fullback for the Seahawks, Chiefs, and most notably the Dallas Cowboys during their dynasty in the early 1990s.  Agee only had 675 total yards and 2 touchdowns in his seven-year NFL career, but when you lead block for Emmitt Smith, lots of people see your name.

Zach Banner (son of Lincoln Kennedy)
Lakewood (WA) Lakes offensive tackle Zach Banner is a 6'9", 310 lb. kid who spurned virtually every school in the country to attend USC.  His father, Lincoln Kennedy, was the Atlanta Falcons' first round draft pick out of Washington in the 1993 NFL Draft.  He spent eleven seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and Raiders and was named to the Pro Bowl three times.

Ray Buchanan, Jr. (son of Ray Buchanan)
Hailing from Suwanee (GA) Peachtree Ridge, the younger Buchanan is a 5'11", 178 lb. cornerback with 4.47 speed.  He grabbed offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Purdue, but ultimately chose the Arkansas Razorbacks.  Ray Sr. played for the Colts, Falcons, and Raiders, amassing 871 tackles and 47 career interceptions.  He retired after the 2004 season having one Pro Bowl under his belt.

Keith Byars II (son of Keith Byars)
Boca Raton (FL) Boca Raton's younger Keith Byars is a 5'10", 195 lb. running back who fielded offers from the likes of Illinois, Iowa, and Rutgers, but has yet to choose a school.  His father was a running back for Ohio State and remains #2 on their career touchdown list with 50.  After college he was the #10 pick overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, which launched a career spent mostly as a fullback/H-back for the Eagles, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets.  He finished his career with one Pro Bowl selection for his 3,109 yards rushing, 5,661 yards receiving, and 54 total career touchdowns.

Alex Carter (son of Tom Carter)
Ashburn (VA) Briar Woods safety Alex Carter is the son of Tom Carter, who was a 1st rounder out of Notre Dame chosen by the Redskins in 1993.  Tom played for the Redskins, Bears, and Bengals before retiring with 27 career interceptions.  The 6'0", 193 lb. Alex had an offer from his dad's alma mater but chose Stanford instead.

Nick Davidson (son of Jeff Davidson)
Eden Prairie (MN) Eden Prairie offensive tackle Nick Davidson is a 6'6", 275 lb. offensive tackle who committed to Stanford over offers from Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, South Carolina, and others.  His dad Jeff was an Ohio State offensive tackle and was a 5th round draft pick in 1990.  He played four seasons with the Broncos before retiring, and is now the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings.

Mario Edwards (son of Mario Edwards)
Denton (TX) Ryan defensive end Mario Edwards is following in his father's footsteps by choosing Florida State, but the 6'4", 275 lb. (or bigger) defensive end/tackle is significantly bigger than his dad, who was an NFL cornerback.  The elder Edwards played for Florida State and the Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Dolphins before retiring with 180 tackles and 4 interceptions.

Hardy Nickerson, Jr. (son of Hardy Nickerson)
The younger Nickerson, from Oakland (CA) Bishop O'Dowd, is an inside linebacker just like his father.  He stands 6'0", 218 lbs., has a 3.7 GPA, and claims a 1560 on his SAT.  He committed to Cal last summer, but he also was offered by Colorado and Nebraska, among others.  The elder Nickerson was a 5-time Pro Bowler with 1,586 career tackles for the Steelers, Buccaneers, Jaguars, and Packers, but he really made his name as the MIKE linebacker for the Buccaneers during their defensive heyday in the 1990s.  He is now the head football coach at Bishop O'Dowd.

Trey Griffey (son of Ken Griffey, Jr.)
Griffey is a 6'2", 190 lb. wide receiver who committed to Arizona.  He also held offers from Michigan State, Washington State, and a bunch of smaller programs.  At last check he had 61 receptions for 839 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, and he earned praise during the Under Armour All-American Game and practices for his route running and hands.  Griffey attend Orland (FL) Dr. Phillips, the former home of Michigan tight end Ricardo Miller and former Michigan commit Demetrius Hart, now at Alabama.  It seems unlikely that Griffey will be a college football star, but he could be a very steady possession receiver for the Wildcats.  It's strange to think of him as a collegiate athlete, because I remember seeing his father holding him when Trey was just a toddler.  I feel old.  Ken Griffey, Jr. has loads of accolades as a professional baseball player, including 13 all-star selections, 10 Gold Gloves, 630 home runs, and an American League MVP Award, most of which came with the Seattle Mariners (although he later played for the Reds and the White Sox).  Of course, Grandpa Griffey (Ken Sr.) also played in the Major Leagues, whacking 152 homers and appearing in three all-star games.

Barry Sanders, Jr. (son of Barry Sanders)
Sanders, Jr., who had 1,343 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior, is the son of the greatest running back of all time.  He committed to Stanford during the Army All-American Bowl last month, but he had an offer from virtually every noteworthy school in the country (although Michigan was conspicuously absent from the reported list).  Barry Sr. is arguably the greatest running back of all time.  In a professional career spent entirely with the Detroit Lions, he rushed for 15,269 yards and 109 touchdowns while annually gaining 1,000 yards and getting nominated for the Pro Bowl.  He is now in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Deion Sanders, Jr. (son of Deion Sanders)
The younger Deion Sanders holds an offer from Houston, although he has yet to commit to a school.  He's a 5'7", 170 lb. athlete, and that size might be a concern for a lot of schools.  "Neon Deion" played in the NFL for the Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins, and Ravens and excelled as a cover man and returner.  He picked off 53 passes and had 22 total touchdowns on interceptions and special teams returns.  Sanders, Sr. also played for the Yankees, Braves, Reds, and San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball, where he was a light-hitting but speedy outfielder.  He finished his professional baseball career with 39 homeruns, a .263 batting average, and 186 stolen bases.

Alston Smith (son of Bruce Smith)
Alston is a 6'3", 272 lb. defensive tackle headed to his father's alma mater, Virginia Tech.  Hailing from Virginia Beach (VA) Cox, he garnered limited FBS offers, but the only one that mattered was from the Hokies.  Bruce, of course, is the Hall of Fame defensive end who was the #1 overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in 1985.  He played for the Bills and Redskins, racking up 200 quarterback sacks and 11 Pro Bowls in 19 seasons.

Kodi Whitfield (son of Bob Whitfield)
Kodi, from Los Angeles (CA) Loyola, is a 6'2", 197 lb. wide receiver who is headed to Stanford.  His dad Bob Whitfield was a 6'5", 318 lb. offensive tackle who was picked #8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 1992, also out of Stanford.  Bob played for the Falcons, Jaguars, and Giants before retiring after the 2006 season.  He made one Pro Bowl with the Falcons during his career.

Other children of notable athletes:
Michigan offensive lineman signee Kyle Kalis (son of Todd Kalis)
Stanford offensive tackle signee Andrus Peat (son of Todd Peat)
Auburn quarterback signee Zeke Pike (son of Mark Pike)