I know everyone is excited for the upcoming season for Michigan. After ending the season on a moderately high note with both offense & defense clicking in their final two games, expectations are high for this season. Let's find out why (all ratings pre-offseason training).
Quarterback
Led by Junior QB Kevin Jones, the Wolverine offense saw sparks of greatness during the 2014 campaign. Now older and wiser, Jones looks to be a great leader for his team. Expect more responsibility to be on his shoulders to be the catalyst for this offense with even more of the offense going through him. Backing him up will be Redshirt Sophomore Bryce Weaver and Redshirt Freshman Michael Coleman. Weaver might sneak onto the field in some packages but expect very few snaps with the first team offense... this is Jones' team.
Player
Yr OVR THP THA SPD AGI ACC BTK ELU CAR Kevin Jones Jr 85 90 84 89 85 86 77 86 81 Bryce Weaver SoRS 78 87 77 89 78 87 73 44 90 Michael Coleman FrRS 75 79 85 91 80 85 69 70 66
Halfback
Last year's season started slow in the running game while the offense attempted to find it's rhythm, that is until HB Jake Marks burst onto the scene. Marks didn't get his first start until Week 7, but he earned the job by rushing 22 carries for 153 yards in that game. From there out, he retained the leading role rushing for just under 1000 yards for the remainder of the season. Backing him up is a complimentary back in Tom Davis. Davis is oft compared to classic runningbacks like Christian Okoye or Tom Rathman with his bruising running game. Both Davis and Marks will be Redshirt Sophomores this upcoming season so the future looks bright. To round out the mix, Redshirt Senior Thomas Rawls is another bruising back to give Davis a breather and Redshirt Senior Zach Smith is a pure speed back that can find the edge and run. Two players expected to redshirt this upcoming season are Sophomore Andrew Childs and incoming Freshman Reggie Stallings, both will be ready to fill the holes left by Rawls and Smith next season.
Player Yr OVR SPD AGI ACC BTK TRK ELU CAR SPM JKM Jake Marks SoRS 82 92 87 92 80 73 88 69 85 80 Tom Davis SoRS 83 90 84 89 82 88 70 75 89 87 Thomas Rawls SrRS 88 88 82 93 85 89 73 87 84 84 Zach Smith SrRS 78 96 79 88 76 51 79 82 58 75 Andrew Childs So 72 95 87 87 67 55 92 72 78 95 Reggie Stallings Fr 80 90 90 92 77 92 61 76 74 72
Fullback
While Michigan rarely lines up in a tradition I-Form set, the fullback is still a very important role in the Wolverine's offense as a critical blocker. Sophomore Kellen Smith filled that role quite well last year as a lead blocker. His toughness and tenacity helps clear holes for Marks and company to find room to run. Competing with Smith for the starting job will be Redshirt Freshman Andrew Johnson (no relation). Both are quite adept at opening holes in the blocking game, however Johnson adds an ability to catch passes out of the backfield that Smith doesn't quite have. Moving over to the Fullback position will be Sophomore Colby Melton. Melton was determined to be undersized in the passing game and while his blocking abilities don't quite matchup to Smith or Johnson, his running abilities add an extra dimension.
Player Yr OVR SPD STR PBK RBK IBL Kellen Smith So 69 61 84 76 75 71 Andrew Johnson FrRS 70 70 74 75 71 75 Colby Melton So 68 87 72 61 65 55
Wide Receiver
Receiver has been a mixed bag for the Wolverines as far as what they contribute. While mostly they are just simply relief from the running game, later in the season they were found to be catching passes more and more often. The leading returner at WR is Redshirt Senior Jonathan Keizer, a tall lanky possession receiver on the outside. Opposite him will be Redshirt Junior Justin Austin, another possession receiver with the ability to make great catches and break a tackle or two along the way. Rounding out the starters is slot WR Redshirt Senior Justice Hayes, a former HB that has the speed and agility to make him a dangerous threat once he has the ball in his hands. Behind them will be Sophomore Tim Pittman (known for his game winning catch in the Cotton Bowl), and moving from CB will be Redshirt Sophomore Brandon Thompson who like Hayes, adds a compliment of speed and athleticism. A footnote is also required of Redshirt Junior Bo Thomas as his height and speed make him hard to overlook but his catching abilities aren't quite what they should be. If he can learn to catch the ball, he'll find a role on the roster.
Player Yr Ht OVR SPD AGI ACC CTH SPC CIT RTE REL Jonathan Keizer SrRS 6'5 84 87 83 90 83 72 85 89 83 Justin Austin JrRS 6'1 82 84 84 84 79 90 87 89 86 Justice Hayes SrRS 5'10 84 94 92 97 78 73 70 79 79 Tim Pittman So 6'1 79 87 78 88 85 80 83 88 73 Brandon Thompson SoRS 6'0 76 92 92 91 74 77 77 68 64 Tom Simmons JrRS 5'11 78 90 79 91 78 70 70 78 78 Bo Thomas JrRS 6'7 72 95 80 78 65 75 70 79 71
Tight End
The Tight End for the Wolverines offers two distinct roles as the primary TE should be a blocker while the second TE should be a receiver. The Wolverines have had the perfect secondary TE on their roster from the start, Senior Devin Funchess. Funchess has excellent hands and good speed with just the right amount of blocking abilities. Complimenting him at the blocking TE will be Redshirt Sophomore Joe Maxwell who can catch some but is best known for clearing a path. Two incoming Freshman will compete for the third position on the depth chart with the other one redshirting; Eric Capps is more of a blocking TE but has soft hands for a person with his skillset while former ATH Frank Wiggins found his home as a receiving TE. Expect Wiggins to likely redshirt so that he can progress somewhat on his blocking abilities.
Player Yr Ht OVR SPD STR CTH SPC CIT RTE REL PBK RBK IBL Joe Maxwell SoRS 6'5 77 82 71 66 78 73 73 72 75 76 69 Devin Funchess Sr 6'4 80 87 73 87 82 79 86 82 69 67 66 Eric Capps Fr 6'5 74 75 77 70 69 71 72 75 72 74 75 Frank Wiggins Fr 6'5 72 90 70 77 70 67 87 75 60 63 71
Offensive Tackle
The Offensive Line only lost one starter and that was Left Tackle Kristian Mateus. Replacing him is expected to be Redshirt Sophomore Jeff Petty, however look for true Sophomore Jamil Lucas to get a serious look at that position. Returning at Right Tackle will be Redshirt Junior Blake Bars with his excellent pass blocking skills and his ability to muscle his way with defenders. Backing up Bars will be true Freshman Mike James, though he may get a serious look at Left Tackle due to his already developed pass blocking abilities.
Pos Player Yr Ht Wt OVR STR AGI ACC PBK RBK IBL LT Jeff Petty SoRS 6'7 274 79 88 59 89 82 85 88 LT Jamil Lucas So 6'5 311 76 81 63 90 81 80 82 RT Blake Bars JrRS 6'5 289 80 77 69 91 87 81 83 RT Mike James Fr 6'3 273 77 81 60 91 86 81 78
Guard
Michigan is solid with interior blocking and having two returning Senior Guards is a big boost to that. At Left Guard, Redshirt Senior Graham Glasgow is a prototypical road grater, clearing a lane for the Wolverine Runningbacks with great strength and run blocking technique. Opposite him will be fellow Redshirt Senior Chris Bryant whom even surpasses Glasgow's strength and matches his run blocking technique. Both of these two will be a big key to the Wolverine's running game. Providing relief and preparing for the future will be Redshirt Junior Kyle Kalis, Redshirt Freshman John Hunt, and Redshirt Sophomore Antonio Garrison.
Pos Player Yr Ht Wt OVR STR AGI ACC PBK RBK IBL LG Graham Glasgow SrRS 6'6 319 84 89 70 90 81 90 84 LG Kyle Kalis JrRS 6'5 322 80 88 62 89 78 87 78 LG Antonio Garrison SoRS 6'1 294 75 82 73 84 74 86 79 RG Chris Bryant SrRS 6'4 348 85 97 62 88 81 91 85 RG John Hunt FrRS 6'1 291 80 88 64 92 80 86 80
Center
Center also returns a stud blocker in the middle of the line with Junior Cornelius McCarthy starting for his 3rd straight year on the line. McCarthy is a balanced blocker in terms of abilities but is very capable at both pass and run blocking. While his height is quite shorter than most OL around the country, he uses his low center of gravity to his advantage. Providing a backup role will be true Freshman Trey Hall who comes in with very raw abilities and ready to take over for McCarthy after he graduates.
Pos Player Yr Ht Wt OVR STR AGI ACC PBK RBK IBL C Cornelius McCarthy Jr 6'0 301 89 87 69 91 89 88 83 C Trey Hall Fr 6'4 298 78 90 69 89 82 84 75 C Jon Austin Fr 6'0 295 67 78 59 80 75 76 71
Be sure to check mgoblue.com again later this afternoon for the defensive breakdown of the 2015 roster.
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Originally Posted by gschwendt
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