2016 Season Countdown: #17 Erik Magnuson

2016 Season Countdown: #17 Erik Magnuson


August 24, 2016
Erik Magnsuon 306x

Erik Magnuson (image via Michigan Daily)

Name: Erik Magnuson
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #78
Last year: I ranked Magnuson #11 and said he would be the starting right tackle (LINK). He started twelve games at right tackle and was named Third Team All-Big Ten.

Magnuson had a hard time locking down a job in 2013 and 2014, as he bounced between tackle and guard, mostly sticking at the latter. Going into last season, he seemed to have become entrenched at right tackle, and that’s what played out during the year. He was the full-time starter on the right side, and for the most part, he held his own. He struggled against the truly elite edge players, and even this spring, he had a tendency to cross his feet against speed rushers and get off balance. His body hasn’t developed quite the way I expected, and he’s become a little rounder and less like a slab of muscle than I expected.

That last bit doesn’t matter so much at this point, because he is who he is. He’s a solid right tackle who earned All-Big Ten votes by both the coaches and media. I dropped him from #11 to #17 this year, not because I’m less confident in his abilities, but because there are other positions that are more critical and redshirt freshman Nolan Ulizio looked solid in the spring. There’s also the possibility that Ben Bredeson or Grant Newsome could back him up at right tackle, depending on which of those guys wins the left tackle gig. Much like my take on Kyle Kalis yesterday, I think there’s a good chance for Magnuson to once again be All-Big Ten based on his experience and participation on what should be a pretty good team this fall.

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





One comment

  1. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Aug 24, 2016 at 10:13 PM

    I think a (potential) all-conference honor from Magnuson could be deserved with reasonable development as a run-blocker. Hasn’t lived up to the recruiting profile (which was a quick-footed prototypical LT once he added weight) but was pretty successful in pass protection. He’s still a good versatile player and I suspect the NFL will have interest after the season.

    I had him higher (#10) because a) tackle is generally more important than guard b) tackle depth is lacking and c) if (by some good fortune) a couple better tackles did step forward, I think Magnuson would flip to G and Kalis would go to the bench. I wouldn’t be shocked if Kalis or Newsome were displaced but I would be Magnuson was sitting down.

    I suspect the spring stuff is getting a little too much attention. Drevno hasn’t said much about Runyan and Ulazio, it seems, got immediately passed by Bredenson and Onewenu.

    For all the worry about the 2017 OL, if Newsome, Bredeson and Onwenu are the real deal they might actually be a better OL than the 2016 unit.

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