Spring Practice Bits and Pieces

Drake Harris

In the throes of spring practice, bits and pieces are leaking out. Here are some things to note that you may or may not have heard already.

The quarterbacks are a mixed bag. Various reports have suggested various things. Some people will tell you that Shane Morris looks the best. However, there's more chatter about Wilton Speight and Alex Malzone. The buzz on Malzone is that he's picking things up very quickly, which is impressive for a freshman early enrollee.

Jabrill Peppers is good and loud. Peppers is playing safety, and he has been raved about with regard to his athleticism and leadership. There will probably be growing pains, but Michigan hasn't had a great athlete at safety in a while. Furthermore, senior linebacker Joe Bolden says that Peppers screams the defensive calls louder than necessary. The kid is high-energy and loves the game of football. Michigan has the potential for their best safety combination in a long time with senior Jarrod Wilson and Peppers back there.

Chase Winovich is working at fullback/tight end. The redshirt freshman, who is listed at 6'3" and 230 lbs., has reportedly been playing some fullback and tight end this spring after being recruited as a linebacker. You may remember that he was a very effective running quarterback in high school, in addition to his defensive exploits. With the Wolverines failing to reel in Chris Clark (UCLA) in the 2015 class, the tight end position is a little thin. And with senior fullback Sione Houma missing spring practice due to injury, the team is limited there, too. Add in the fact that both of Michigan's experienced fullbacks - Houma and Joe Kerridge - are seniors, and maybe Winovich's move to offense will become permanent. He has supposedly been wearing #44, which is a change from his defensive number of #58. The catch here is that it thins the linebacking corps, which has four players with senior eligibility in 2015 (Desmond Morgan, James Ross III, Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone) and needs bodies in the coming years. If Winovich sticks on offense, that might take away a key option for the 2016 season.

Brady Pallante is also a fullback. This was addressed last week. He's a 6'0", 276 lb. fullback wearing #45.

Everybody is a fullback. Except Terry Richardson.

The guys are bigger. Pretty much across the board, players have added weight. In particular, defensive tackle Willie Henry is up to 311 lbs. and Bryan Mone is up to 325 lbs. Those are not typically the numbers you look for in a penetrating, 3-tech defensive tackle. I would look for those two guys to be playing some nose tackle. Furthermore, there are some other size improvements with offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman up to 309 lbs. and guard Graham Glasgow reaching 303 lbs. Tuley-Tillman was over 330 lbs. in high school, trimmed down to 285 at one point, and is now back up over the 300 lb. threshold. Linebackers Mike McCray II (242 lbs.), Ben Gedeon (241 lbs.), and Royce Jenkins-Stone (240 lbs.) are all larger than the typical Michigan linebacker over the last few years.

Practice tempo has increased. The practice tactic that's en vogue these days is to maximize reps. Reports have said that Michigan has two lineups going in practice, and a play is being run every 25-35 seconds. Rather than making corrections on the field, corrections are made in film. This has been made easier in recent years with film able to be disseminated over the internet through Hudl and the like. It's especially big for spread teams who like to run hurry-up, anyway. It's not surprising that Harbaugh is adopting spread strategies even though he won't run a typical spread offense; he seems to be the type of coach who is always looking for an edge.

Running back is still a question mark. While I believe the running game will improve this season, a number of factors go into that - coaching, experience on the offensive line, experience at running back, and the addition of Ty Isaac. However, Isaac has reportedly been limited due to a cast on his hand, and none of the running backs are sticking out right now. Of course, early practices are always dominated by the defense, so this doesn't necessarily mean much. Personally, I believe Isaac will come out on top at some point.

Wide receivers have promise. Most of the buzz has been about redshirt freshman Maurice Ways, Jr., whose body is ready for playing at this level. One question mark about Ways has always been his hands, so that will be something to watch. Regardless, he might have the best combination of receiving qualities at this point - size, leaping ability, speed, etc. As I've mentioned before, he has some of those same traits that we saw in some of the greats of yesteryear (Marquis Walker, David Terrell, Braylon Edwards). That's not to say Ways will add his name to that list, but he at least has a chance, in my opinion. Fellow redshirt freshman Drake Harris has also been impressive at times. Harris has missed most of the past two seasons due to injuries, and he's listed at just 174 lbs. People express concern about his size, but I am not worried about that facet of his game. If he's as good as his high school hype when it comes to speed and leaping ability, playing under weight won't hamper him from having an effect on the team. Wide receiver size is overrated. It might be the one spot on the field where you find successful guys ranging from 5'8" to 6'5", and you have skinny guys (Roy Roundtree, Tavon Austin, DeSean Jackson) doing well just like big guys (Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Devin Funchess). If Harris is 6'4", 174 lbs., and can ball, the most important part of that is the third part.

Michigan vs. Maryland Awards

Devin Gardner

Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . a healthy Devin Gardner. Gardner had some very nice throws, and he had several that were just a little off target. Most of all, though, he looked healthier, which means that he can be dangerous on the ground. That adds an element to Michigan's attack that has not existed for the last several weeks. A healthy Gardner gives Michigan a chance. He ran for over 80 yards in this game, including a 24-yarder and then a 15-yard touchdown. When Gardner is on, he looks like Colin Kaepernick. Hopefully he can stay healthy and break out a big game like he did last year against Ohio State.

Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . De'Veon Smith. Smith has no speed element to his game, and he doesn't break enough tackles to warrant being the main guy. Michigan gave Smith 10 carries in this one, which earned them 28 yards. Meanwhile, Drake Johnson (14 carries, 94 yards) and Justice Hayes (6 carries, 36 yards) combined for 20 carries and 130 yards. Michigan's offensive line isn't great, but there are some holes occasionally. I am looking forward to next season, when Derrick Green will hopefully be healthy and Ty Isaac will be in the mix. There's also a chance that Green could return for the Ohio State game after missing the last several weeks with a broken collarbone.

Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Willie Henry. I'm assuming Henry has been playing a limited number of snaps because of the hand injury he suffered several weeks ago, so I don't know if anyone deserves blame here. But without Frank Clark on the roster, I think Henry is arguably the best defensive lineman on the roster. He played a little bit against Maryland, but he didn't show up on the stat sheet and we're seeing a lot of Matt Godin. Godin did okay and even notched his first career sack, but he's not Willie Henry.

Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . Matt Godin. I don't know who else to pick, so I'll choose the guy who would be replaced by Henry. You can't argue with that pristine logic.

Play of the game . . . Joe Kerridge's fake punt run. It showed some creativity in play calling that we haven't often seen from this Michigan staff. Granted, it was perhaps the most boring kind of fake punt possible. Baby steps. Kerridge rumbled for 52 yards before being taken down inside the 10 yard line. I'll just throw this out there, but if that were Ben Gedeon, I think Gedeon would have scored. But hey, that will probably go down as Kerridge's biggest play of his career (he had only 1 career carry for 3 yards going into the game, and his longest catch was a 17-yarder against Indiana a few weeks ago), so hopefully he enjoys the memory.

MVP of the game . . . Devin Gardner. There aren't many options here. Nobody really stood out on defense as they gave up two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the offense stalled out regularly, as usual. Gardner looked more like the player from the second half of the 2013 season, someone who was dangerous on foot (14 carries, 82 yards, and 1 touchdown) and potentially through the air (13/24 for 106 yards and 1 interception), though his receivers dropped numerous balls.

Michigan vs. Indiana Awards

Drake Johnson (image via MLive.com)

Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . Drake Johnson. Johnson had 16 carries for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns. His longest run was a 32-yard burst, and he had several runs that gained chunks of yards. A caveat applies due to the weak opponent, but he has more speed than De'Veon Smith, more power than Justice Hayes, and better vision than Smith or the currently injured Derrick Green. This likely will not be a flash-in-the-pan appearance for Johnson. While success will be harder to find, I would not be surprised if he's the starter next week at Northwestern.

Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . De'Veon Smith. Smith has had ample opportunities this season, playing in all nine games, getting the second-most carries on the team (77, compared to Derrick Green's 82), and not doing a great deal with those chances. Sure, he leads the team with 5 touchdowns, but he's a short-yardage and goal-line runner. Perhaps he should be leading the team in touchdowns even if everyone were healthy, because he's able to plow through linebackers and defensive backs for some extra yards. But Smith's vision isn't Mike Hart-like, which many fans said early in the season, and he's not quick enough through the holes that he sees. On a team that lacks big plays, your bell cow at running back shouldn't be a guy so ponderous.

Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Willie Henry. Henry got hurt against Michigan State last week, and I am not sold on his replacement, Chris Wormley. Wormley seems to be good for one or two good plays a game, but he's not consistent enough. Wormley's motor has always been a question mark for me, and I have yet to see him play a full game of good football.

Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . Delano Hill. Hill was in on 3 tackles this past Saturday, but he was again missing tackles and getting out of position at free safety. He did have a nice blitz in the third quarter, but otherwise, I was not impressed. I don't know the answer, but Hill isn't it right now. He has been a liability the past two weeks, although the impact in this game was minimal because of the opponent.

Play of the game . . . Drake Johnson's 16-yard touchdown run to end Michigan's scoring. Johnson burst up the middle, juked a defender to the right, and then high-stepped through a tackle attempt before crossing the goal line. It was a fun ending and a welcome sight for a team that has lacked suddenness at the running back position. Honorable mention for this award goes to Amara Darboh for blowing through a solid tackle attempt on a quick screen. Not a ton of yardage, but fun to watch.

MVP of the game . . . Drake Johnson. He offered Michigan fans some excitement when there was very little else to get the heart pumping. De'Veon Smith wasn't getting the job done, and Justice Hayes is mediocre. Jake Ryan also had a very good game (11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles), but the linebacker position hasn't been as concerning as the running backs.

Michigan vs. Penn State Awards

Devin Gardner (image via CBS Detroit)

Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . Justice Hayes. Hayes adds a speed element that's no longer present in the offense without Derrick Green. Any outside rush attempt by De'Veon Smith is doomed from the beginning, and Hayes has the quickness to hit some of the holes that Smith can't. Michigan doesn't have a complete back on the roster, so Hayes is the relative "home run" threat. That is to say that he can occasionally run for 6 or 7 yards before first contact brings him down.

Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . Russell Bellomy. Bellomy is just as bad as when we saw him throwing 4 interceptions in 2012. His two passing attempts included a near pick six to middle linebacker Mike Hull and nearly a second interception for defensive tackle Anthony Zettel. As a redshirt junior, I hope Michigan thanks Bellomy for his hard work and lets him move on with his life or transfer after this year. His career numbers are like this: 4-for-23, 46 yards, 0 touchdowns, 4 interceptions. I cannot remember a second-string quarterback at Michigan that was so ineffective, and the team can surely trot out a walk-on who can do just as poorly.

Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Willie Henry. Henry obviously hurt his hand while sacking Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova last week, and he was reportedly in uniform but sidelined and wearing a cast against Penn State. The Wolverines struggled on the interior to start the game, and Henry is a difference-maker. Unfortunately, his strength of using his hands will probably be impaired by the injury. Michigan needs him if they want to beat the quality teams on their schedule, beginning with Michigan State in two weeks.

Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody. Michigan's defense was mostly excellent on Saturday night.

Play of the game . . . Devin Funchess's 43-yard touchdown catch. Quarterback Devin Gardner chucked a deep ball that had every intention of getting intercepted by Penn State safety Ryan Keiser. Like a middle schooler with ADHD, Keiser attempted to field the ball like a punt with his hands at waist level. And like a good athlete with a shred of good coaching, Funchess swooped in front of him with his arms extended to snag the ball. He pulled it right out of Keiser's limp hands, bobbled it for a second, and then reeled it in as he crossed the goal line.

MVP of the game . . . Devin Gardner. I really want to give this to Matt Wile for hitting all three field goal attempts (from 45, 42, and 37 yards), including the go-ahead score to make it 16-13. However, we all saw how poorly the offense moved without Gardner on the field, and I'm confident in saying that Michigan would have lost that game if Gardner did not return. Bellomy was extremely close to turning it over on a couple occasions in just two drives. Luckily, cornerback Jourdan Lewis picked off a pass in Penn State territory, close enough for Wile to drive in a field goal despite Bellomy being behind center. Without Gardner, Michigan loses the game. Without Wile, perhaps a backup kicker or some lucky plays by the offense would have earned the Wolverines enough points to prevail.

Michigan vs. Utah Awards

Willie Henry celebrates his touchdown (image via Zimbio)

Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . nobody. I am growing weary of people who think the guy on the bench is better. Shane Morris is not better than Devin Gardner. Justice Hayes is not better than Derrick Green/De'Veon Smith. Michigan needs to keep "pounding the rock" and improvement should come. Michigan has outgained the opponent in every game so far, so there should be a breakthrough at some point.

Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . Shane Morris. I don't know the rationale behind inserting Morris into the game last night. Personally, I thought it seemed like a reaction to public presssure. Gardner was obviously pressing again, but he's still the most experienced, most athletic, and best quarterback on the team. If Gardner was pulled as a punishment for bad decision-making . . . okay. If Gardner was pulled in order to keep him healthy . . . that's lame in a two-score game with about a quarter to go. If Gardner was pulled because the coaches think Morris is his equal . . . that's dumb. I realize that Gardner isn't getting the job done, but sometimes that guy is still the best guy.

Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Jarrod Wilson. Wilson hadn't been a standout this year, but safety was the huge question mark on defense this year because he was the only experienced guy back there. Of course, he got hurt and has missed the last two games. Now Michigan is left with redshirt sophomore Jeremy Clark, who is prone to fundamental breakdowns; sophomore Dymonte Thomas, who is a decent tackler but needs work in coverage; and sophomore Delano Hill, who played exclusively on special teams last year and has missed a large chunk of time with a broken jaw this fall. Michigan needs him back healthy.

Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody. Other than the mish-mash of young safeties mentioned above, the defense is doing a good job. They only allowed one offensive touchdown and five field goal attempts, and the main reason they got that many chances to score was because the offense couldn't drive deep into Utah territory.

Play of the game . . . Willie Henry's interception and touchdown. Near his own goal line, backup quarterback Kendal Thompson - temporarily replacing starter Travis Wilson, who had suffered a worse-than-it-seemed, face-first crash landing on the sideline - dropped back to pass. Smelling blood, Michigan's defensive line tore through Utah's front five, and Jake Ryan wrapped him up. Thompson tried to chuck it short over Henry's head, but Henry got vertical (a little bit), bobbled the ball (a little bit), and then made a visible attempt to truck Thompson on his way into the endzone. Honorable mention in this category goes to Jourdan Lewis, who came all the way across the field to track down Utah running back Bubba Poole on a 67-yard screen catch-and-run.

MVP of the game . . . Jake Ryan. Ryan had 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack in the game. He's coming around as an inside linebacker, and he even played both options on a power read option play, making the tackle on quarterback Travis Wilson for a loss.

Utah 26, Michigan 10

This is a sad sight in so many ways.

Shane Morris is no better than Devin Gardner. There is a large contingent of fans who always think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. They clamored for Shane Morris, and they finally got him in the fourth quarter. What was the result? An interception, a fumble, and a sack. It's the difference between a Ford Explorer and a Mercury Mountaineer. Until Michigan can establish a consistent running game, pressure will be on the quarterbacks. And if the Wolverines can't find another solid receiving target outside of Devin Funchess, things are going to get even worse. When times get tough, the only thing Michigan does is script throws from Devin Gardner to Devin Funchess. Another receiver has to step up, the offensive line has to block better, and/or the running backs need to improve.

Willie Henry was your leading scorer. Michigan scored ten points altogether, with six coming on Henry's awesome interception return for a short touchdown. I like that Michigan is scoring some non-offensive touchdowns (Ben Gedeon returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Appalachian State, remember), but it's sad that the defense scored more points than 4-star recruit Devin Gardner, Biletnikoff Award watch list receiver Devin Funchess, Rivals 5-star running back Derrick Green, and so on.

In some ways, Funchess hurt the team. The most glaring example of this was when Gardner threw a skinny post to Funchess in the second quarter. Perhaps because of a bum ankle or laziness or inexperience at playing the wide receiver position, Funchess threw one paw out to try to catch a slightly overthrown pass. He could have stuck out both hands, and some guys would have dove. Instead, the ball bounced up to safety Brian Blechen, who pulled it in for the interception (and a nice return, which was negated by a questionable block-in-the-back penalty). Less obviously, Gardner seems more democratic with the football when Funchess is not on the field. The favorite target becomes Amara Darboh, but Darboh's not so overwhelmingly athletic that Gardner thinks he can beat triple coverage. With Funchess on the sideline, Gardner has to scan the whole field and will throw to Darboh, Jehu Chesson, Dennis Norfleet, Jake Butt, Khalid Hill, anyone. I'm not suggesting that the 6'5", 230 lb. guy with the #1 jersey should stay off the field altogether, but his presence - especially when he's limping - makes Michigan more of a one-dimensional team than they should be. That's the coaches' job to sort out.

The defense played great overall. Some people might point to the way-too-easy touchdown by Dres Anderson or the 67-yard screen pass to Bubba Poole as reasons that the defense underachieved in this one, but I don't think that was the case at all. Sure, those were flubs, but those happen in every game. Anderson's touchdown was a blown coverage, seemingly at the hands of sophomore safety Dymonte Thomas. The screen pass to Poole was a great call by Utah offensive coordinator Dave Christensen - and a terrible play by redshirt sophomore safety Jeremy Clark. Clark had no idea what to do and got caught up in the wash of a couple offensive linemen releasing downfield, rather than trying to get on top of Poole's route to slow him down. Overall, though, Michigan held Utah to 286 total yards (6 more than they allowed to Notre Dame), one offensive touchdown, and 13 first downs. Utah averaged 2.2 yards/carry as a team, including just 3.7 yards/carry by the running backs. If you told me before the game that Michigan would hold Utah to just one offensive touchdown and four field goals, I would have taken it in a heartbeat.

Are injuries a problem? I feel like injuries are a problem. I know every team goes through injuries, but it seems that Michigan's star player(s) get hurt every year. Devin Funchess got hurt in the second game and was still limping around in this one with an ankle injury that may linger for a while. Starting tight end Jake Butt is playing less than the ideal number of snaps because of his ACL recovery. Jabrill Peppers got hurt in week one, missed the Notre Dame game, and seemed to disappear for a stretch this game. Starting cornerback Raymon Taylor got hurt against the Fighting Irish and has yet to return. Both guys who were presumed to start at safety - Jarrod Wilson and Delano Hill - have missed extended time due to injuries. "Starting" linebacker Desmond Morgan has missed the last couple games, too. I would not say that the Wolverines have been devastated by injuries, but they aren't at full speed, either.

Derrick Green, you are not Darren Sproles. You are a 220 lb. former high school offensive guard. Run like it. I like that you have learned to pick up your feet in traffic, and I like that you are improving your vision. What I do not like is you tiptoeing through a hole on a straight-ahead run, getting planted on your butt by cornerback Tevin Carter, or running out of bounds when you have the choice to truck a defensive back or two. They say discretion is the better part of valor, but they also say "More yards good, less yards bad."

Derrick Green, you might be Darren Sproles. After years of eschewing passes to anyone other than Vincent Smith, the tailbacks finally got a chance to be involved in the passing game. Derrick Green had 2 catches - including a one-hander - for 26 yards, and Justice Hayes had 2 for 25. I don't think Green has the ability to become the next Eric Metcalf or Larry Centers, but Doug Nussmeier showing a willingness to throw to the running backs might set up other plays in the future.

What's Devin Gardner's problem? If I knew how to fix Gardner, I wouldn't be writing this here blog post. But as a blogger, it's my job to pretend I know.

1. Gardner has an inherent - or coached - fixation on whoever his favorite target is from year to year. In 2012 it was Jeremy Gallon. In 2013 it was Jeremy Gallon. This year it's Funchess. Gardner locks onto his favorite receiver too quickly, and he throws to him even when he's well covered. This results in some amazing catches that make us think Gardner, Gallon, and Funchess are awesome. It also leads to lots of interceptions.
2. Gardner has played for two coordinators who don't understand him. Both Nussmeier and Al Borges call too many play action waggles because they like to run the ball with lots of people stacked inside. Meanwhile, Gardner turns his back to the defense without having a good understanding of what's going on behind him, and it cuts the field in half. He generally keeps the ball or dumps it over the head of the unfoolable outside contain man to a fullback or tight end in the flat. Michigan has I-formation or under center tendencies with a quarterback - in my opinion - who should be running a pro-style shotgun/pistol offense the majority of the time.
3. Michigan has yet to develop a solid complementary receiver to Funchess. Darboh is not a great route runner. Jehu Chesson does not have great ball skills. Dennis Norfleet seems comfortable only on bubble screens and swing passes. Jake Butt has been hurt. In yesterday's game, the big-play guy for Utah was Dres Anderson, but quarterback Travis Wilson was just as comfortable going to possession guy Kenneth Scott on any given play.
4. The offensive line and defensive coordinators are in his head. Much like what we expected, the interior offensive line has improved its pass protection and blitz pickups, but the young/inexperienced offensive tackles are barely treading water. If any defensive coordinator fails to run an edge blitz on a critical down, it's probably because he feels sorry for Ben Braden and Mason Cole. Gardner's internal clock is screwed up because of it, so he spooks early.

How about a spread punt? No? Okay. We didn't need to tackle that Kaelin Clay guy, anyway.

To all the people who looked sideways at me in Friday's preview: thppppppppppppppbt. Some of you automatically assumed that Michigan would blow out Utah, and I have no idea why. Yes, their oodles of points in the first two games came against crappy opponents, but Michigan scored 52 and 34 points against crappy opponents. Utah has a solid blitzing defense and a capable, fast-paced offense. I think a lot of fans are falling prey to the whole "This is Michigan" mindset without looking at what's happening between the lines.

Minnesota is a threat. Every team is a threat now. There are no "gimme" games on the schedule. Minnesota, Rutgers, Indiana, Northwestern, Maryland, they're all capable of beating Michigan. If you are not absolutely terrible on defense, Michigan might not be able to get into the red zone. I do think things will improve because I believe in Doug Nussmeier, and Devin Gardner improved throughout the 2013 season as well. Like the Notre Dame game, Michigan outgained the opponent (308 to 286) but couldn't find the consistency to put together a touchdown drive. At some point the plays will come together consistently enough to put offensive touchdowns on the board against decent teams, but if Brady Hoke wants to keep his job, it has to happen soon.

2014 Season Countdown: #15 Willie Henry

Willie Henry

Name: Willie Henry
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 293 lbs.
High school: Cleveland (OH) Glenville
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #69
Last year: I ranked Henry #36 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle. He started six games and made 32 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and half a sack.

Henry was an unknown factor coming into 2013 after redshirting as a freshman. It didn't take him long to establish himself as being ready to play at the Big Ten level. With a quick first step and a low center of gravity, he turned out to be difficult to handle for opposing offensive guards. He had 3 tackles and half a sack against UConn, 3 tackles and 1 TFL against Minnesota, and 5 tackles against both Northwestern and Iowa. On the defensive line, he finished second only to end Frank Clark (43) in tackles. That was the product of an ability to not only disrupt things in the middle, but to chase down plays from behind. At the end of the season, he was named Freshman All-Big Ten by ESPN.

Something odd happened this spring, though. Henry supposedly took his success for granted, and he found himself sent back to third string. With strong competition at defensive tackle, guys like Chris Wormley, Maurice Hurst Jr., and even freshman Bryan Mone seemed to get more reps. My guess is that Henry will work his way back into the good graces of the coaches, although the beginning of the season may not reflect that. Henry might find himself coming off the bench at the beginning of the year, but from what I saw last season, he should be starting at nose tackle at some point this year with a chance of being Michigan's best defensive tackle since Mike Martin.

Prediction: Part-time starting defensive tackle

Video: Willie Henry, Chris Wormley talk spring practice

Hit the jump for Chris Wormley's interview.

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

Michigan at UConn Awards

I like this Willie Henry kid.

Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . Chris Bryant. Michigan needs to figure out what kind of team they are. Are they a zone team or are they a power/iso team? Personally, I believe their personnel is better suited for a power/iso scheme, which means redshirt sophomore center Jack Miller's quickness isn't quite as valuable. If redshirt freshman left guard Graham Glasgow has the ability to snap and make line calls, I would like to see him bump over to center and let redshirt sophomore Bryant step in at left guard. I really believe that power blocks with All-American left tackle Taylor Lewan and Bryant could be deadly, and the poor blocking of the tight ends would be somewhat mitigated by that double-team and the ease of reading the block. Power and iso are very simple blocking schemes.

Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . Devin Funchess as a blocking tight end. I think Funchess can play H-back, in the slot, run routes, etc. But his blocking at the point of attack, especially the zone stretch, hangs running back Fitzgerald Toussaint out to dry too often. Michigan needs to find a second blocking tight end, whether it's redshirt junior Jordan Paskorz, freshman Jake Butt, or a walk-on.

Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Willie Henry. The redshirt freshman defensive tackle has played pretty well the past two games, and I'm hoping he's in the process of locking down the backup 3-tech spot. He was my pick for this "award" last week, and I liked what I saw.

Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody. I thought the defensive rotation was pretty solid. No complaints here.

Play of the game . . . Desmond Morgan's one-handed interception. When Michigan was trying to ignite a comeback win, they needed a big play on defense. UConn quarterback Chandler Whitmer tried to throw the ball on a line to a receiver on a post, but Morgan got to his drop, leaped up, and reeled in the pass with his right hand. He then tucked the ball in, showed some decent open-field running ability, and brought the ball back 29 yards to the Huskies' 12-yard line.

MVP of the game . . . Fitzgerald Toussaint. Toussaint was maligned last week for his game against Akron, but there shouldn't be the same kinds of comments this time. Nobody had a stellar game, but Toussaint had a 35-yard touchdown on an option pitch and a 12-yard zone stretch touchdown. He finished the night with 24 carries for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 1 reception for 7 yards.

Michigan vs. Akron Awards

Jehu Chesson

Let's see more of this guy on offense . . . Chris Bryant. If Michigan wants to run zone stretch, then perhaps Bryant isn't the guy. But I do think he's more powerful than Graham Glasgow, giving the team a bigger advantage on the power runs. And pass protection could afford to be improved at either guard position; both Glasgow and Kyle Kalis get confused too easily.

Let's see less of this guy on offense . . . Jeremy Jackson. In the past two seasons, I have seen a couple interceptions thrown at least partly because Jackson is so slow and defensive backs can bait quarterbacks into thinking he's open. On Saturday, Jackson was crossing toward the right sideline in the endzone, and Gardner tried to hit him on the run; Jackson was easily undercut by an Akron defensive back. I don't mind seeing Jackson on running downs, but Michigan has numerous more athletic players for the passing game. Even if Michigan has to burn the redshirt of someone like Da'Mario Jones, I think Jackson's playing time should diminish.

Let's see more of this guy on defense . . . Willie Henry. Henry played more against Akron than any other team this year, and he acquitted himself pretty well. He's built low to the ground and very stout, and he's capable of creating penetration on running downs that I just don't see from the other 3-tech rotation players. From what I saw on Saturday, I might even suggest Henry as the starter over Jibreel Black. Black is a better pass rusher but often a liability against the run because he's so undersized.

Let's see less of this guy on defense . . . Chris Wormley. Maybe it's the ACL or his age or lack of experience or whatever, but every time I see Wormley on the field, he's just not doing anything productive. He's not powerful enough to bull rush guys, and he's not quick enough to run around them. The 3-tech/5-tech rotation should consist of some combination of Keith Heitzmann, Black, Henry, and Matt Godin, with guys like Wormley and Ryan Glasgow playing only when absolutely necessary.

Play of the game . . . Devin Gardner to Jehu Chesson for a 33-yard touchdown. There weren't many plays that stood out a great deal - no sacks, the interceptions weren't spectacular, Jeremy Gallon didn't make a highlight-reel grab for once, etc. I strongly considered Gardner's 48-yard touchdown pass to Devin Funchess, which was perhaps more impressive but not quite as clutch. Michigan was scuffling throughout the game, and it showed no signs of going away. Chesson grabbed a short pass over the middle, shucked a guy, sprinted toward the sideline, and ran through a [piss poor] tackle attempt by an Akron defensive end before zipping into the endzone. That put Michigan up 21-10 in the third quarter. Obviously, the Wolverines continued to struggle, but the speed of Chesson showed me that he could do some big things before he leaves Ann Arbor.

MVP of the game . . . Fitzgerald Toussaint. Gardner put up 248 passing yards and 103 rushing yards, but he also turned over the ball four times. Toussaint looked like the running back of old on his way to 19 carries for 71 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 1 reception for 27 yards. His numbers would have been better if a couple runs wouldn't have been called back for holding (probably closer to 21 carries for 120 yards). One thing I have also noticed with Toussaint is an improvement in pass protection. He did noticeably whiff on a blitzing linebacker, but he's much more physical than he used to be.

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: #36 Willie Henry

Willie Henry

Name: Willie Henry
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 306 lbs.
High school: Cleveland (OH) Glenville
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #69
Last year: I ranked Henry #85 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Henry was pretty light for a defensive tackle when he committed just before National Signing Day 2012, but he was 300+ pounds by the time fall rolled around. He earned some practice buzz in the spring, and the coaches said he might contribute at any of three positions on the defensive line - strongside end, nose tackle, or 3-tech defensive tackle. They must really like his athleticism if they think he can compete at end.

As my sleeper pick from the 2012 class, I have pretty high hopes for Henry. I thought it might take a couple years for him to bulk up, but apparently, that hasn't been a problem. He probably won't start this year, but he should get some playing time behind nose tackle Quinton Washington and/or 3-tech Jibreel Black, along with Ondre Pipkins. With Washington and Black part of this year's senior class, that gives Henry, Pipkins, and perhaps others one year to apprentice before taking on starting roles. My guess is that the two aforementioned tackles rotate in this season and are your starting duo in 2014.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

Wolverine Nation: Entrance Interview with Willie Henry

Gail Sanez

Michael Rothstein interviews incoming freshman defensive tackle Willie Henry.

2012 Season Countdown: #85 Willie Henry

Willie Henry

Name: Willie Henry
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 270 lbs.
High school: Cleveland (OH) Glenville
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #69
Last year: Henry was in high school.

Final TTB Rating: 76

Henry was a very late addition to the 2012 recruiting class.  Michigan was looking for another interior defensive lineman to pair with nose tackle Ondre Pipkins, they tossed out an offer to Henry, and he was committed within 24 hours.  He was a little bit of a late bloomer because of the other talented guys at Glenville, but the athletic ability is apparent on his highlight film.  It all comes down to how willing he is to accept coaching and how quickly he can add bulk.

At only 270-ish pounds, it's unlikely that Henry will get a chance to play this season.  The Michigan coaching staff wants their defensive ends to be 270 lbs., and Henry is a tackle.  He will likely take at least a year to add the necessary strength and bulk, and then he will likely still be behind Jibreel Black at the 3-tech defensive tackle position, perhaps getting some time in the rotation.  By his redshirt sophomore year in 2014, he should be in pretty good shape to compete for a starting position.

Prediction: Redshirt

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.

Recruiting Update: February 3, 2012

Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry (#74) was one of two commitments Michigan received

COMMITMENTS
Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry committed to Michigan.  He received an offer over the weekend on a hastily planned official visit, and things went well enough for him to commit almost immediately. (Find Henry's commitment post here.)

Detroit (MI) King running back Dennis Norfleet committed to Michigan.  He received an offer on the eve of National Signing Day and committed almost on the spot.  The 5'8", 175 lb. athlete could play running back, slot receiver, punt returner, and/or kick returner. (Find Norfleet's commitment post here.)

OFF THE BOARD
Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep wide receiver Nelson Agholor committed to USC.  Agholor was heavily considering Florida and Notre Dame, too, but you can't really go wrong with USC when they've had a steady string of NFL-bound quarterbacks, including returning senior Matt Barkley.

Oxford (AL) Oxford linebacker Kwon Alexander committed to LSU.  The 6'2", 212 lb. outside linebacker spurned the in-state schools in favor of the LSU Tigers.  He's an athletic kid who really looks like he's going to be a star at the next level.

Lakewood (WA) Lakes offensive tackle Zach Banner committed to USC.  Banner is the son of former Washington Husky, Atlanta Falcon, and Oakland Raider Lincoln Kennedy.  Banner himself is already 6'9" and 310 lbs.

Oxon Hill (MD) Potomac cornerback Ronald Darby committed to Florida State.  Darby is only 5'11" and 172 lbs., so he lacks some bulk, but he has some of the best speed in the country.  He had previously been committed to Notre Dame, but I can't blame him for wanting to get away from the Fighting Irish and the ticking time bomb that is Brian Kelly.

Cleveland (OH) Cleveland Heights offensive tackle Kyle Dodson flipped from Wisconsin to Ohio State.  The 6'6", 315 lb. monster had been committed to Wisconsin for a couple months, but the departure of some of Wisconsin's offensive staff (coordinator Paul Chryst became the head coach at Pitt) and the arrival of Urban Meyer contributed to the change of heart.

Washington (D.C.) Friendship nose tackle Eddie Goldman committed to Florida State.  The 6'4", 307 lb. Goldman was offered when Rich Rodriguez was still Michigan's head coach.  Many expected Goldman to choose Auburn, so he surprised some people.

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward's tight end Sam Grant committed to Oklahoma.  He had previously been committed to Boston College, and many Michigan insiders expected Grant to pick Michigan.  The 6'4", 245 lb. tight end might find himself lingering near the bottom of the depth chart with the Sooners.

Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep defensive end Darius Hamilton committed to Rutgers.  One of the top recruits in the nation, the 6'4", 245-pounder seemed to be leaning toward Rutgers all along, so this wasn't a surprise in the slightest.  High school teammate Leonte Carroo is a part of the Scarlet Knights' class as well.

Euless (TX) Trinity offensive guard Hiva Lutui committed to Utah.  Lutui didn't receive a lot of attention from Michigan fans, and a while ago, it seemed he would choose UCLA.

Cincinnati (OH) Moeller wide receiver Monty Madaris committed to Michigan State.  His recruitment ended in a bit of a head-scratching way, because he was reportedly concerned about going so far from home.  Michigan is right next to Ohio, of course, but driving from Cincinnati to East Lansing is a significant drive (5 hours and 23 minutes, according to Google Maps).  Madaris held off from signing on Wednesday, which caused his high school coach to say some pretty immature things.  There's nothing like supporting your 18-year-old student-athlete when he's troubled with the biggest decision of his life.

Brooklyn (NY) Erasmus Hall cornerback/safety Wayne Morgan committed to Syracuse.  The 5'11", 188 lb. defensive back suffered a somewhat precipitous drop on some recruiting sites as the recruiting cycle wore on, dropping as far as the #116 safety in the nation, according to Scout.

San Clemente (CA) San Clemente offensive tackle Kyle Murphy committed to Stanford.  The 6'7", 275 lb. lineman has good feet and will likely remain at left tackle as a collegian.

Lehi (UT) Westlake defensive end/outside linebacker Moana Ofahengaue committed to Utah.  The 6'4", 205-pounder could play weakside end or outside linebacker in college, and he really stood out in the Semper Fidelis All-American Game.  He was high on Michigan early in the process, but Michigan filled up at defensive end pretty quickly.

Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian wide receiver Jordan Payton flipped from Cal to Washington UCLA.  Throughout his recruitment, he was committed to 33% of the Pac-12's schools: USC, Cal, Washington, and finally UCLA.  You do not want to stand behind him in line at McDonald's, because you will be waiting a long time just to order your damn McDouble.  He could stand to listen to the Toadies a little more.

Tempe (AZ) Corona Del Sol offensive tackle Andrus Peat committed to Stanford.  The mammoth 6'7", 305 lb. Peat has a brother who plays defensive tackle at Nebraska.  Peat visited Michigan last summer, but it was pretty clear early on that he would be staying out west somewhere.  I would envision the above mentioned Murphy at left tackle and Peat on the right side, giving the Cardinal two solid bookends on the offensive line for the next several years.

McKees Rocks (PA) Sto-Rox linebacker Deaysean Rippy committed to Pitt.  The 6'2", 200-pounder looks like a wideout (and indeed played WR in high school) and is a little thin.  He will probably take a year or two to add some weight, but he's very fast and could turn into a solid, athletic outside linebacker for the Panthers.

Atwater (CA) Buhach defensive tackle Aziz Shittu committed to Stanford for the second time.  The 6'3", 275-pounder originally committed to the Cardinal early last year, but he re-opened his recruitment in June.  He was always thought to be staying on the west coast; it just wasn't clear which California school he would attend.  Along with Murphy, Peat, linebacker Noor Davis, and running back Barry Sanders, Stanford pulled in a hell of a recruiting class, perhaps their best ever.

Sacramento (CA) Grant safety Shaq Thompson flipped from Cal to Washington.  Thompson had just committed to Cal a few weeks ago, but when lead recruiter Tosh Lupoi left the Golden Bears for the Huskies, Thompson followed quite promptly.  This will make it extremely disappointing for Thompson once Lupoi takes a job elsewhere in about two years, which seems likely in the coaching world.

McDonough (GA) Henry County defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson committed to Alabama.  The 6'2", 270 lb. Tomlinson will probably play defensive end in the Crimson Tide's 3-4 scheme, although he could easily be a defensive tackle in a four-man front.

Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville defensive tackle Vincent Valentine committed to Nebraska.  He's a 6'3", 300 lb. nose tackle type.

Palm Beach Gardens (FL) Palm Beach Gardens offensive tackle Avery Young committed to Auburn.  Young is a 6'6", 273 lb. lineman whose brother Willie currently plays for the Detroit Lions.

PENDING ANNOUNCEMENTS
There are a few prospects on the 2012 Offer Board who have yet to announce their college destinations:

Chicago (IL) Simeon offensive lineman Jordan Diamond will announce tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST.  Michigan insiders are not particularly optimistic that things will fall their way, with the recent vibe leaning toward Arkansas.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel athlete Stefon Diggs will announce next Friday, February 10th.  Michigan appears to be out of the running for Diggs.

Klein (TX) Oak fullback E.J. Fatu has run into some personal/family issues, transferred schools, and his recruitment is a bit up in the air right now.

Wimberley (TX) Wimberley fullback Dennis Smith has allegedly run into some legal trouble, and he might be one of those kids who ends up at a JUCO.

Bamberg (SC) Erhardt athlete Demetrius Williams has fallen off the radar.  He was recruited by Rich Rodriguez, so he probably didn't have a committable offer from Brady Hoke and Co.  However, I have been unable to find any new info on Williams for the last several months.

Willie Henry, Wolverine

Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry
(image via 247 Sports)

Cleveland (OH) Glenville defensive tackle Willie Henry has given his verbal commitment to the Michigan Wolverines.  The 6'2", 270-pounder picked Michigan over Hawaii, Illinois, Louisville, Marshall, Pitt, Syracuse, and others.

Recruiting rankings:
ESPN: 3-star, #97 DT
Rivals: 3-star
Scout: 3-star, #38 DT
247 Sports: 3-star, #75 DT

Henry earned an offer this past weekend when he took an official visit to Ann Arbor.  He had previously visited Eastern Michigan, Hawaii, and Pittsburgh, and the pick was probably going to be Pitt until Michigan jumped into the fray.  When Michigan came forward with an offer after it became clear that at least a few of their high-profile targets would choose other schools, Henry didn't take long to decide.

The quick defensive tackle boasts a 4.78 forty yard dash, and that is indeed his biggest strength - speed.  I'm particularly impressed with how quickly Henry gets off the ball and penetrates into the backfield.  There are multiple highlights where he sprints downfield when blocking.  Not only does that show his speed, but it also shows effort.  You can't teach speed, and when you combine that with desire, it's hard to stop.  I like how hard he works and the way he celebrates after making good plays.  It's pure excitement, but not the "look at me" variety.

Henry does not come without flaws, however.  He's a very raw prospect when it comes to technique.  He doesn't use his hands well consistently, and too often he allows offensive linemen to get into his body.  As a small-ish defensive linemen, he can't afford to lose that technical advantage.  He also tends to play a little high at times, which will get him blasted out of position against bigger, more powerful offensive lines.  I would also like to see Henry show a little better play recognition.

Overall, I love the offer to and commitment from Henry.  He's exactly the type of prospect that is ripe for the picking at this time of year - an athletic project who, if he pans out, has a chance to be a real difference maker at the next level.  He needs to add weight and will likely redshirt, but his ability to get off the ball and chase from behind makes him a potential TFL machine.  While he reminds me of a slightly larger Terry Talbott (a 2010 commit who never played a down for Michigan), I think Henry has a higher ceiling.  He's likely headed for the 3-tech position that Will Heininger occupied this past season.  I think he even has the ability to play the 5-tech defensive end position, but Michigan should have that position well covered with the other recruits in the class.

Henry is the 24th commitment of Michigan's class.  Glenville is the alma mater of Michigan defensive end Frank Clark, and also the home of fellow 2012 Michigan target De'van Bogard, who is headed to Ohio State.

TTB Rating: 76