Reuben Jones (#4, image via Today’s U)
Name: Reuben Jones
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 222 lbs.
High school: Lakeland (FL) Lake Gibson
Position: Defensive end/linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #4
Last year: I ranked Jones #78 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
Jones came in last season as an undersized defensive end without amazing quickness, so he was all but guaranteed to redshirt. And he did. This spring Michigan tried him at linebacker, which may be a trend under Don Brown. Several defensive end-type players have been given a shot at either MIKE or SAM linebacker, including Jones and Carlo Kemp, respectively. I don’t see Jones as a linebacker in the long-term, but anything can happen. Michigan is thin at MIKE if they want to keep him there behind Ben Gedeon, because walk-on Michael Wroblewski played a lot in the spring game (and doesn’t seem like a legitimate option). Michigan is deep on the defensive line, but weakside end is the thinnest spot. There is a path to playing time at either position, but it’s questionable whether Jones is ready to take that next step yet.
Prediction: Backup defensive end/linebacker
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The measurements for height and weight listed on the roster page are taken when?
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Those heights and weights were taken at the beginning of spring, IIRC. So he could have added a chunk of weight since then.
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I keep thinking a WDE will contribute as a freshman edge rusher and it keeps not happening.
My hopes for Jones went down a lot over the last year. Marshall seemed to be ahead of him, they moved LBs to the position rather than play Jones, and then they recruited a bunch more for ’16. Obviously you never rule out a RS freshman rounding into form, but the signs aren’t real positive and I don’t think Jones will contribute despite the need for at least one true edge rusher to emerge.
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Jones needs to make a move this year because there is a lot of DE talent coming in behind him. No way he is 6’4″. Looks closer to 6’2″. He was pretty active in the spring scrimmage… had no trouble beating Newsome around the edge. Looks like a potentially good special teamer.
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I also doubt the 6’4″ thing, but I just go by what the roster says…
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