2016 Season Countdown: #10 Ryan Glasgow

2016 Season Countdown: #10 Ryan Glasgow


August 28, 2016
Saturday, November 22, 2014: Michigan defensive lineman Ryan Glasgow in action during UM's 23-16 loss to Maryland, Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

Ryan Glasgow (image via Today’s U)

Name: Ryan Glasgow
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 299 lbs.
High school: Aurora (IL) Marmion Academy
Position: Nose tackle
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #96
Last year: I ranked Glasgow #25 and said he would be the starting nose tackle with 25 tackles (LINK). He started nine games and made 25 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.

Did you notice that I predicted Glasgow to make 25 tackles last year, and he made exactly 25 tackles? An old phrase comes to mind: Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Anyway, Glasgow was indeed the starting nose tackle last season, but I underestimated him. He took a big step from 2014, in my opinion, and got more explosive off the football. Not only was he stalemating double teams, but he was splitting them and wreaking havoc in the backfield, forcing running backs to cut back and helping Michigan’s other high-quality defensive linemen and mediocre linebackers to make plays. Glasgow looked like a bona fide NFL draft pick. I probably would have ranked him higher than #25, of course, if I had known that backup Bryan Mone would break his leg in August practices. When Mone went down, that left 282 lb. Maurice Hurst, Jr. as the primary backup at nose tackle. That probably would have been okay until Glasgow tore his pectoral muscle in game nine, forcing Hurst into a starter’s role. Hurst had a breakout year, but he also struggled against teams that could handle his quickness. Meanwhile, an elite run-stopping defense absent its top two nose tackles was suddenly exposed against Indiana and Ohio State, getting gashed by running backs Jordan Howard and Ezekiel Elliott, respectively. Michigan eked out a win against the Hoosiers but got stomped by the Buckeyes as they wore down in the second half.

I almost wanted to put Glasgow in the top five this year because of what happened when Michigan lost him last year, but I keep having to remind myself that Mone is back and healthy. We haven’t seen what Mone has to offer, because the last time we saw him play was as a true freshman backup. Now the plan is to rotate Glasgow and Mone, while Hurst will be playing more 3-tech. I would expect Glasgow to be back to his old ways of tearing through centers and guards, though the pec injury concerns me. Will he have quite the same strength, or will he aggravate the injury? It’s impossible for us to say right now. If he can play like he did last year for a full season, I think he will earn some all-conference accolades.

Prediction: Starting nose tackle; Second Team All-Big Ten





5 comments

  1. Comments: 262
    Joined: 8/12/2015
    Painter Smurf
    Aug 28, 2016 at 6:01 PM

    UM’s defense is a lot more fun to watch when they have good nose play, and Glasgow went from good in ’14 to all conference caliber in ’15 in my opinion. Have to believe he is fully healed after 10 months. Hope he has a healthy year. Kid has quickness, power, motor, and stamina. Only lacking elite size, but that is no problem at the college level.

  2. Comments: 48
    Joined: 1/2/2016
    peterfumo
    Aug 29, 2016 at 4:41 AM

    Shouldn’t someone this good do better than second team All Big Ten?

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Aug 29, 2016 at 11:58 AM

      Maybe he should. I mean, he’s good enough to be First Team, IMO. I just don’t necessarily think he’ll be given that honor.

      • Comments: 48
        Joined: 1/2/2016
        peterfumo
        Aug 29, 2016 at 6:56 PM

        Thanks for clarifying, Thunder. I thought Second Team All BiG Ten was your personal opinion as opposed to where you think others will place him.

        • Comments: 3844
          Joined: 7/13/2015
          Aug 30, 2016 at 6:12 AM

          Sure. Going back to the Kyle Kalis post, for example, I don’t think he’s worthy of being Second Team All-Big Ten, but I definitely think there’s a good chance he’ll earn those accolades simply because of the way voting goes.

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