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2019 Season Countdown: #78 Anthony Solomon

Name: Anthony Solomon
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lb.
High school: Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Solomon was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 63 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
TTB Rating: 84

Solomon flirted with the idea of Michigan for a long time. A commitment to Miami happened. Then he flipped to Michigan in mid-December. It was an odd recruitment, but a fruitful one for the Wolverines. Solomon was long considered a high-quality recruit, and the only thing that seemed to keep his ranking from improving was that he stayed the same size for several years.

Will he bulk up in 2019 and beyond? I assume he will, because that’s what a college strength and conditioning program is supposed to do. He’s not the type of player who should be carrying 235 or 240 lbs., but it’s not impossible to imagine him in that 220-225 lb. range. Whether he plays Viper or weakside linebacker might depend on how he maintains his speed, but I think he will be a successful player if he buys into the program. That will probably include waiting a year to see the field while he works on his body.

Prediction: Redshirt

Visitors: June 7-9, 2019

2020

Kedrick Bingley-Jones – DT – Providence (NC) Country Day: Bingley-Jones is a 6’4″, 266-pounder with offers from Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, and South Carolina, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #15 defensive tackle, and #155 overall. His crystal ball picks are split evenly between Florida, UNC, and NC State.

Hit the jump for several more visitors.

2019 Season Countdown: #79 Andrew Vastardis

Name: Andrew Vastardis
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 317 lbs.
High school: Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge
Position: Offensive guard/center
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #68
Last year: I ranked Vastardis #87 and said he would be a backup center (LINK). He played in six games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Vastardis was a well regarded player coming out of high school a few years ago. A three-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball), he spurned some lower level scholarship offers to make a go of it at Michigan. So far it has turned out fairly well for him. He played in six games in 2018 at center and guard, along with special teams.

I still don’t see a big need for Vastardis going into 2019. Cesar Ruiz is entrenched as the team’s starting center, and Stephen Spanellis is Ruiz’s backup. Jess Speight is also a capable walk-on center, so Vastardis’s value is diminished a little bit, and there are a few solid guard options. Vastardis should be a special teams contributor and will see some snaps on offense.

Prediction: Backup center/guard

Nightly Roundup: June 7, 2019

Cody Alexander talks about Michigan’s “City” coverage (LINK).

Hit the jump for more.

2019 Season Countdown: #80 Phillip Paea

Name: Phillip Paea
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 296 lbs.
High school: Berrien Springs (MI) Berrien Springs
Position: Offensive guard/defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #58
Last year: I ranked Paea #70 (LINK). He played in two games.
TTB Rating: 68

Usually as a college football player, I don’t refer to you as a journeyman. Most college players play for one school or a maximum of two over up to five years.

I will make an exception for journeyman Phillip Paea. Not because he has played for multiple schools, but he leads a nomadic existence. One day he’s camping out with the big uglies that make up the offensive line, and the next day, he’s hanging out with the dogs on defense. Michigan’s coaching staff can’t decide where he fits best or what hole he plugs, so he constantly bounces back and forth between offensive guard and defensive tackle.

I am on the record as saying that he has the most potential on the offensive line, but the defensive tackle position lacks experienced bodies. Where he plays this season is anyone’s guess.

Prediction: Backup hog/dog