Posts by: Thunder

2019 Season Countdown: #62 Erick All

Name: Erick All
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 216 lbs.
High school: Fairfield (OH) Fairfield
Position: Tight end/wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #83
Last year: All was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 30 passes for 465 yards and 4 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 75

All has had a very interesting trajectory so far during his short Michigan career. When he first committed, I assumed – along with others – that he would be a redshirt lock as a true freshman due to his size (216 lbs. as of this spring). Then when the spring rolled around, he was the most hyped early enrollee outside of Mike Sainristil.

Word coming out of Ann Arbor is that the coaches love All for his attitude and work ethic, and I can’t help thinking of Sean McKeon when I hear stuff like that. McKeon played in four games as a true freshman (2 catches for 10 yards), even though he was the #5 tight end in receptions (six tight ends caught passes but walk-on Michael Jocz only caught one). I don’t see All as being a size or speed mismatch, but the reward for being someone the coaches like could be some playing time in certain situations. I don’t see him being a standout at any point, but sometimes consistency is key.

Prediction: Backup tight end

Morning Roundup: June 30, 2019

Tom Brady reminded Max Kellermann of his arm strength (LINK).

The rule about sports academy athletes being able to pursue athletic careers has changed (LINK).

This video is from last August, but I hadn’t seen it until this morning:

2019 Season Countdown: #63 Jake McCurry

Name: Jake McCurry
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Solon (OH) Solon
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #43
Last year: I ranked McCurry #97 and said he would be a backup wide receiver and special teamer (LINK). He caught 2 passes for 33 yards and 1 touchdown, along with making 10 tackles.
TTB Rating: N/A

On September 25, 2010, Michigan fullback John McColgan caught a pass from quarterback Tate Forcier that put the Wolverines up 36-14 over Bowling Green State University.

And until September 8, 2018, against Western Michigan University, no other Michigan walk-on caught a touchdown pass until Jake McCurry did when he scurried into the endzone from 18 yards away.

McCurry didn’t exactly burst onto the scene in 2018, but he did come out of nowhere. A nondescript preferred walk-on in 2017, he won the Scout Team Player of the Year as a true freshman and found his way onto the field in some key moments in 2018. Not just for the touchdown against the Broncos, but for a much maligned slot fade target against Ohio State. While that slot fade target did not work out well (it fell incomplete but should have been flagged for defensive pass interference), it did indicate how much confidence the coaching staff was placing in McCurry.

This season McCurry is not going to be a target hog, but he has shown that he can contribute effectively on special teams. And on certain occasions, Shea Patterson (or others) will probably try to get him the ball through the air. McCurry is someone who can fill in the cracks and do some dirty work on special teams, and those guys are valuable.

And maybe there won’t be another eight-year window between walk-on touchdown receptions.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver, special teamer

Nightly Roundup: June 28, 2019

Tom Brady is the best – in more ways than one. And that includes jersey, video game, and trading card sales (LINK).

UConn is back in the Big East, but Nicole Auerbach ponders the future of its football program (LINK).

"Who's your favorite Joker? Mine's Heath Ledger."

Me: https://t.co/rs0WqP6Xeg

— Patrick Barron (@BlueBarronPhoto) June 26, 2019

Earlyyyy 2020 Safety Rankings

Grant Delpit – LSU
Isaiah Simmons – Clemson
Khaleke Hudson – Michigan
Xavier McKinney – Alabama
Myles Dorn – UNC
Brandon Jones – Texas
Jalen Thompson – Wash St
Jordan Fuller – Ohio St
Reggie Floyd – VT
Antoine Brooks Jr – Maryland#2020NFLDraft

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) June 28, 2019

Hit the jump for more.

Kalel Mullings, Wolverine

Milton (MA) Milton Academy linebacker Kalel Mullings publicly committed to Michigan on Thursday evening. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Stanford, among others.

Mullings is listed at 6’1″ and 227 lbs. He has already been selected for the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #14 OLB, #202 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #11 OLB, #103 overall
247 Sports 4-star, 91 grade, #15 OLB, #186 overall

Hit the jump for more.