Carlo Kemp (image via MGoBlog)
Name: Carlo Kemp
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 250 lbs.
High school: Boulder (CO) Fairview
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #2
Last year: Kemp was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 81 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks.
Final TTB Rating: 84
Kemp committed to Michigan in November and then enrolled early in January. During spring practice he was bouncing around between SAM linebacker, MIKE linebacker, and defensive end. It’s not clear whether Michigan was just working on different personnel packages or if they were legitimately trying him at several different spots, but by the end of spring, he seemed to have settled down at defensive end. Kemp may grow into a strongside end at some point, but with limited size as an underclassman, he should be on the weak side. Taco Charlton is presumed to be the starter there, and Chase Winovich looks to have worked his way to #2 on the depth chart. I expect Kemp to get some time this season to be groomed for a more prominent role in 2017, when Charlton and Chris Wormley will have graduated. There’s a chance that Rashan Gary will slide in to defensive tackle at that point, and at least one defensive end position will be up for grabs next season.
Prediction: Backup weakside end
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I have some irrational optimism on Kemp. I’m only 80% convinced that Charlton is a legit WDE and it seems like Kemp may have more upside than Winovich.
I agree with the projection (3rd WDE) but I think if Charlton or Winovich miss any time Kemp could see meaningful snaps. The only thing stopping me from arguing that he should be higher ranked is that a bunch of other young players are lurking around the position (e.g., Marshall, Johnson). I like Kemp the best from the group though due to his combination of good size and family background.
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I don’t think it really matters whether Charlton is a legit WDE or not. He’s one of the best four or six guys on the DL, and he’s most suited for WDE out of the top group (Glasgow, Mone, Hurst, Wormley, Gary, Charlton in no order). You have to get your best guys out there, whether they’re prototypes or not.
I like Kemp. I just don’t think he’s the type of guy who will be a big-timer in his first season.
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If our best 4 DLmen were all nose tackles – would you feel good about putting Mone or Glasgow at WDE?
I mostly agree with you but don’t buy the argument that position is irrelevant. The ability to speed rush from the edge is critical to the position – especially in Brown’s defense. Most (all) of the other WDEs are lighter by 30-40 pounds. Uche might end up here and he’s 80 pounds lighter at the moment.
Now, I think Charlton COULD be athletic fast enough to be highly effective in this role. But he’s not going to play every down and Michigan will need a plan for what happens if he is hurt. I think SOMEBODY is going to have to be a speed edge rusher on passing downs. I think SOMEBODY is going to have to be developed to be his backup (beyond Winovich).
Kemp seems like a good bet given his recruiting profile, IMO. But I admit that’s very much speculative and optimistic. Picking any guy from the group of projected backups is.
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If your four best defensive linemen were nose tackles, then you would probably try to get them on the field in some way, shape, or form. You could realistically play Glasgow at NT, Mone at 3-tech, and Hurst at SDE. You would have to train them that way, get them reps, maybe reshape their bodies, but it would be a possibility. As things stand we don’t need to do that, because we have other talented players and defensive linemen rotate quite a bit.
I like speed rushers and I’ve been longing for fast weakside ends for a long time. However, there’s more than one way to get to the QB. Charlton isn’t exactly a speed rusher, but he had 5.5 sacks in a little over 200 snaps last season (IIRC). If he doubles those snaps, along with his sack numbers, then does it matter whether Charlton speed rushes or bull rushes his way to 11 sacks? Obviously, the answer is “no.”
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Is Hurst a viable option at WDE?
Mattison and Durkin played 3 true DLmen and used a smaller edge guy. Mattison did change his D scheme so that he could start both Clark and Beyer but some of that was possible because Clark had bulked up so much.
Charlton played mostly SDE and was good at rushing the passer from there, but I still have doubts about his abilities from the weakside. Those doubts are dwindling with time – and the fact that Rashan Gary has speed like most WDEs makes me feel OK about whatever happens on the DL. I just want to see it on the field before I stop wondering about a 285 pound WDE.
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No, I don’t think Hurst is a viable option at WDE.
Rushing the passer from SDE isn’t that different from rushing as a WDE. In fact, it puts you in more one-on-one situations away from the TE, though you might have a back chipping on you. If you can get to the QB from SDE, you can probably do it from WDE, too.
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Point taken about reshaping bodies though. If Charlton is closer to 270, I’ll be encouraged.
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This is a guy we definitely need to have develop quickly. If we’re going to start competing with MSU and OSU, not to mention on a national level, we can’t wait four years for guys like this to hit their “upside”. Not when Brutus and Sparty are getting it done in two.
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I don’t know if I would place that high of a premium on getting him to develop. Michigan does have other options, like Reuben Jones, Shelton Johnson, Ron Johnson, Josh Uche, etc. It would be great if at least one or two of those guys developed into an elite edge rusher, whether it’s Kemp or not.
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Those other guys are all undersized projects who will likely take 3-4 years before they can contribute significantly, if then. Kemp has the size and athleticism, and he enrolled early. He’s the kind of guy we can’t afford to keep whiffing on if we’re going to compete at a championship level.
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Totally hear what you’re saying. That was the previous staff’s problem, though.
It will be very interesting to see which underclassmen push through this season. Last year was light on that front, but with the size and quality of this year’s class, we’re bound to see some contributors. Probably more likely at LB, TE and WR, though, and on kick returns. I wouldn’t hold it against Kemp or the staff if he doesn’t make an early impact; the DL is just really deep.
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Frank Clark, Beyer, Roh – undersized WDEs have contributed as freshman in the past. I think it depends on the role for the position in the scheme, but on passing downs you can have unrefined speed rushers in there (in any system).
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Thought Kemp looked pretty comfy/natural in the scrimmage at DE, considering he practiced a lot at LB early. Looks pretty powerfully built. Think he pushes Winovich some.
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