Posts by: Thunder

2019 Season Countdown: #26 Dylan McCaffrey

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Name: Dylan McCaffrey
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Castle Rock (CO) Valor Christian
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #10
Last year: I ranked McCaffrey #61 and said he would be a backup quarterback (LINK). He was 8/15 for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with running 10 times for 99 yards and 1 touchdown.
TTB Rating: 91

McCaffrey had a bit of a battle on his hands going into the 2018 season, with an older Brandon Peters and a decent freshman in Joe Milton trying to grab the #2 quarterback spot. Only a select few know exactly how close that battle was, but McCaffrey came out the victor and forced Peters to transfer to Illinois this off-season. Michigan fans didn’t have to wait long for the redshirt freshman to debut; he made 6 pass attempts and 3 rush attempts in the season opener against Notre Dame. McCaffrey showed flashes of good play, none more scintillating than a late 44-yard touchdown run against Wisconsin.

That’s a 6’5″, 220 lb. quarterback outrunning a 6’0″, 190 lb. safety and linebacker T.J. Edwards for a long touchdown.

Hit the jump for more.

Nightly Roundup: August 5, 2019

Michigan freshman wide receiver Quintel Kent is sitting out this season due to some undisclosed medical issues. He was a 3-star, the #116 wide receiver, and #958 overall. I had him at #65 in the countdown (LINK). All of that, of course, is less important than his health.

pic.twitter.com/z7UNiZBMcc

— Q? (@Quintelkent1) August 5, 2019

The Detroit News profiles former Michigan wide receiver Ron Bellamy, who is now the head coach at West Bloomfield (LINK).

2019 Freshman Jersey Numbers

QB Cade McNamara: #12
RB Jordan Castleberry: #23
RB Zach Charbonnet: #24
WR Giles Jackson: #15
WR Cornelius Johnson: #6
WR George Johnson III: #22
WR Quintel Kent:
WR Mike Sainristil: #19
TE Erick All: #83
OL Karsen Barnhart: #52
OL Zach Carpenter: #58
OL Trente Jones: #53
OL Trevor Keegan: #77
OL Nolan Rumler: #55
OL Jack Stewart: #70
DL Mike Danna (transfer): #4
DL Chris Hinton, Jr.: #15
DL Michael Morris: #80
DL Gabe Newburg: #99
DL David Ojabo: #71
DL Mazi Smith: #58
LB Anthony Solomon: #10
LB Charles Thomas: #13
LB Joey Velazquez: #9
CB Jalen Perry: #3
CB D.J. Turner II: #5
S Daxton Hill: #30
S Quinten Johnson: #23

2019 Season Countdown: #27 Ronnie Bell

Thanks to Clay and Stephan for the generous Paypal donations over the weekend!

Name: Ronnie Bell
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 184 lbs.
High school: Kansas City (MO) Park Hill
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #8
Last year: I ranked Bell #95 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He had 8 catches for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 71

For those of you longing for the return of Steve Breaston, I think you may have found a reasonable facsimile in Ronnie Bell. Bell is a slightly built, slippery slot receiver who has the ability to break away without ever really looking like a blazing runner. Bell played early and often as a true freshman, and he figured into the team’s plans in many ways. He caught the ball (8 catches for 145 yards and 2 TD), ran the ball (5 carries for -2 yards), returned punts (2 returns for 7 yards), and returned kickoffs (2 returns for 53 yards). Not bad for a wide receiver who was a recruiting afterthought.

But not great, either. Bell got some jet sweeps despite not having great speed to really threaten the defense to the edge, and I think Michigan’s staff just wasn’t sure how to use him. They wanted some Eddie McDoom or Jehu Chesson jet sweep magic, but Bell just doesn’t quite have that explosion. I think Josh Gattis will have a better idea of how to use Bell, and it also helps that Bell will have spent another year in the weight program. With a guy like him who has a natural ability and willingness to shake off tacklers, a little bit of extra strength should benefit him.

It’s a mighty large jump to go from #95 to #27 in one year. Part of that is because of the promise Bell showed, but it also represents Michigan’s slightly shaky wide receiver situation. I had Bell ranked here even before Oliver Martin’s transfer, and a big reason is that Tarik Black just hasn’t shown that he can stay healthy. Even with the arrival of Mike Sainristil and other touted freshman receivers, having a guy who spent the spring in the system (unlike Cornelius Johnson, George Johnson III, and Giles Jackson) should help him plug in various places if necessary. For now I expect Bell to be a backup in the slot, but he can help in so many ways that a top-30 ranking seems right.

Prediction: Backup slot receiver/punt returner/kickoff returner

Nightly Roundup: August 4, 2019

How is Washington so loud when the PAC-12 doesn’t care about football?

Loudest erupted stadiums: By Decibel

1. Washington- 133.6
2. Clemson- 132.8
3. LSU- 130
4. Oregon- 127
5. Virginia Tech- 126.2
6. Penn State- 122
7. Texas A&M- 117
8. Florida- 115.5
9. Tennessee- 114
10. Michigan- 110

— CFB Hype (@CFB_Hype) August 3, 2019

Frank Clark (@TheRealFrankC_) gives up 50 lbs to Bulaga & still walks him back for the sack using the hesi/bull with a long arm finish! #PassRush pic.twitter.com/dmk9cn00lg

— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) August 4, 2019

Hit the jump for more.