Tag: Bryan Mone

Spring Practice Bits and Pieces

Drake Harris

In the throes of spring practice, bits and pieces are leaking out. Here are some things to note that you may or may not have heard already.

The quarterbacks are a mixed bag. Various reports have suggested various things. Some people will tell you that Shane Morris looks the best. However, there’s more chatter about Wilton Speight and Alex Malzone. The buzz on Malzone is that he’s picking things up very quickly, which is impressive for a freshman early enrollee.

Jabrill Peppers is good and loud. Peppers is playing safety, and he has been raved about with regard to his athleticism and leadership. There will probably be growing pains, but Michigan hasn’t had a great athlete at safety in a while. Furthermore, senior linebacker Joe Bolden says that Peppers screams the defensive calls louder than necessary. The kid is high-energy and loves the game of football. Michigan has the potential for their best safety combination in a long time with senior Jarrod Wilson and Peppers back there.

Chase Winovich is working at fullback/tight end. The redshirt freshman, who is listed at 6’3″ and 230 lbs., has reportedly been playing some fullback and tight end this spring after being recruited as a linebacker. You may remember that he was a very effective running quarterback in high school, in addition to his defensive exploits. With the Wolverines failing to reel in Chris Clark (UCLA) in the 2015 class, the tight end position is a little thin. And with senior fullback Sione Houma missing spring practice due to injury, the team is limited there, too. Add in the fact that both of Michigan’s experienced fullbacks – Houma and Joe Kerridge – are seniors, and maybe Winovich’s move to offense will become permanent. He has supposedly been wearing #44, which is a change from his defensive number of #58. The catch here is that it thins the linebacking corps, which has four players with senior eligibility in 2015 (Desmond Morgan, James Ross III, Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone) and needs bodies in the coming years. If Winovich sticks on offense, that might take away a key option for the 2016 season.

Brady Pallante is also a fullback. This was addressed last week. He’s a 6’0″, 276 lb. fullback wearing #45.

Everybody is a fullback. Except Terry Richardson.

The guys are bigger. Pretty much across the board, players have added weight. In particular, defensive tackle Willie Henry is up to 311 lbs. and Bryan Mone is up to 325 lbs. Those are not typically the numbers you look for in a penetrating, 3-tech defensive tackle. I would look for those two guys to be playing some nose tackle. Furthermore, there are some other size improvements with offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman up to 309 lbs. and guard Graham Glasgow reaching 303 lbs. Tuley-Tillman was over 330 lbs. in high school, trimmed down to 285 at one point, and is now back up over the 300 lb. threshold. Linebackers Mike McCray II (242 lbs.), Ben Gedeon (241 lbs.), and Royce Jenkins-Stone (240 lbs.) are all larger than the typical Michigan linebacker over the last few years.

Practice tempo has increased. The practice tactic that’s en vogue these days is to maximize reps. Reports have said that Michigan has two lineups going in practice, and a play is being run every 25-35 seconds. Rather than making corrections on the field, corrections are made in film. This has been made easier in recent years with film able to be disseminated over the internet through Hudl and the like. It’s especially big for spread teams who like to run hurry-up, anyway. It’s not surprising that Harbaugh is adopting spread strategies even though he won’t run a typical spread offense; he seems to be the type of coach who is always looking for an edge.

Running back is still a question mark. While I believe the running game will improve this season, a number of factors go into that – coaching, experience on the offensive line, experience at running back, and the addition of Ty Isaac. However, Isaac has reportedly been limited due to a cast on his hand, and none of the running backs are sticking out right now. Of course, early practices are always dominated by the defense, so this doesn’t necessarily mean much. Personally, I believe Isaac will come out on top at some point.

Wide receivers have promise. Most of the buzz has been about redshirt freshman Maurice Ways, Jr., whose body is ready for playing at this level. One question mark about Ways has always been his hands, so that will be something to watch. Regardless, he might have the best combination of receiving qualities at this point – size, leaping ability, speed, etc. As I’ve mentioned before, he has some of those same traits that we saw in some of the greats of yesteryear (Marquis Walker, David Terrell, Braylon Edwards). That’s not to say Ways will add his name to that list, but he at least has a chance, in my opinion. Fellow redshirt freshman Drake Harris has also been impressive at times. Harris has missed most of the past two seasons due to injuries, and he’s listed at just 174 lbs. People express concern about his size, but I am not worried about that facet of his game. If he’s as good as his high school hype when it comes to speed and leaping ability, playing under weight won’t hamper him from having an effect on the team. Wide receiver size is overrated. It might be the one spot on the field where you find successful guys ranging from 5’8″ to 6’5″, and you have skinny guys (Roy Roundtree, Tavon Austin, DeSean Jackson) doing well just like big guys (Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Devin Funchess). If Harris is 6’4″, 174 lbs., and can ball, the most important part of that is the third part.

2014 Season Countdown: #52 Bryan Mone

Bryan Mone (#90) – image MWolverine

Name: Bryan Mone
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 315 lbs.
High school: Salt Lake City (UT) Brighton
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #90
Last year: Mone was a senior in high school. He had 35 tackles and 6 tackles for loss. He was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 defensive tackle, #111 overall, and #2 in Utah.
Final TTB Rating: 79

Mone received Michigan’s first offer of the 2014 class, and he eventually committed to Michigan in February of 2013. As a roughly 260 lb. sophomore and even as a junior, he looked as if he might be able to stick as a strongside end or maybe a 3-tech tackle. As time wore on and the pounds added up (he’s been listed as heavy as 338 lbs.), it became clearer that he would be an interior player. Regardless, he turned that athleticism into being a fringe top 100 player and earned an invite to the Under Armour All-American Bowl.

I was originally very high on Mone, but the added weight has me slightly concerned. I was under no illusion that Mone would remain in the 260 lb. range, but his weight ballooned in a seemingly short period of time, and he has been unable to show the explosiveness that he had early in his recruitment. He looked out of shape as a senior and at the Under Armour all-star game. I have flashbacks of William Campbell’s lack of development, and I cringe at the thought that we might see four years of uninspired play from Mone. On the plus side, Mone has a respectable personal story (he helps take care of his brother, who has serious special needs) and seems like the type of kid who will put in the work to be good. I hope that translates into eating the right things and putting on the right kinds of muscle.

With the season looming, Mone has a very good chance of contributing this season, and I think a redshirt is off the table unless he gets injured. The starting nose tackle is expected to be junior Ondre Pipkins, who is coming off a torn ACL. Redshirt sophomore Willie Henry is capable of playing either defensive tackle position, redshirt sophomore Ryan Glasgow played quite a bit last year, and redshirt freshman Maurice Hurst, Jr. will also get some snaps at nose tackle. But if the coaches need some space-eating snaps in Pipkins’s stead, Mone might be their man. The Utah native is the third-heaviest player on the team behind Juwann Bushell-Beatty (327 lbs.) and Ben Braden (319), and two pounds heavier than Pipkins. The sky is the limit if Mone takes care of his body, but at the very least, he should be a solid, regular contributor for the Wolverines.

Prediction: Backup nose tackle

Final TTB Ratings for 2014

Michael Ferns, Wilton Speight, Jabrill Peppers, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Bryan Mone, and Jared Wangler

Drum roll, please.

It’s that time of year, time for the final TTB Ratings of the 2014 recruiting cycle. Everyone signed his National Letter of Intent back in February, you say? Pshaw. Not Malik McDowell. Nope. McDowell is still holding out and likely to be attending Michigan State in the fall. I was waiting to see if he would compromise with his parents and sign a NLI to Michigan, but that window passed on April 1st.

So here they are. Check out the rating scale (LINK) if you’re unfamiliar or just want a refresher. Keep in mind that these ratings take into account the other players on the roster. So for example, the second-best middle linebacker on the roster might find himself sitting on the bench for several years not because he’s terrible but because the other guy is really good.

The 2015 TTB Ratings will be coming soon, now that the 2014 cycle is finished.

CB Jabrill Peppers – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: 100
I’m keeping Peppers right where I ranked him initially. He still looks like the best player at his position in the class, and his versatility (he could play safety, return punts and kicks, and perhaps play some offense) makes him an even more valuable commodity. (Commitment post.)

WR Drake Harris – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: 93
I have no reason to downgrade Harris from where I ranked him after his junior year, except for the fact that he missed his entire senior season with a hamstring injury. The injury concerns me and is still nagging him this spring, but it’s impossible for me to say whether that will affect him going forward in his career. Considering injuries can derail anyone’s career, I’m going to leave Harris at this rating and hope that he recovers and develops fully. (Commitment post.)

DT Bryan Mone – Salt Lake City (UT) Highland: 79 88
Watching Mone from his junior to his senior year, he looked to have added some weight and lost a step. When he played in the Under Armour All-America Game, I thought he looked slow and a little lethargic, but that was roughly two months after his season ended, so maybe he was just out of shape. Either way, I see a guy on film who can stay low and who uses a violent hand strike to disengage from blockers. While he can probably be whipped into shape a little bit, he’s not a nose tackle who will amaze people with his athleticism, but he should be an active clogger up the middle. (Commitment post.)

OG Mason Cole – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: 87
Another guy who has already received some practice hype as an early enrollee, I like the way Cole bends and I like his lateral quickness. He has been playing some tackle this spring, but I’m not sure if that’s his long-term position because he’s not the longest guy around. Wherever he ends up, I think he’ll be a good player down the road. (Commitment post.)

LB Michael Ferns – St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: 83 85
Ferns can be slightly hesitant to diagnose plays, but otherwise, I think he has almost everything the coaches would want in a linebacker. He could be more physical when shedding blocks, but I think that’s something that can be taught for him. Otherwise, he runs well, does a good job in space, and is a forceful tackler. (Commitment post.)

WR Freddy Canteen – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: N/A 83
Film on Canteen is scarce, and what I saw of him early basically came from his quarterback’s (David Sills’) highlight tape. I can’t say whether spring practice hype has altered my viewpoint on him, but it has been positive. Regardless, I commented on his quickness and route-running ability when he committed, and that seems to be giving Michigan defensive backs problems so far, too. He reminds me of Wes Welker with his quick feet and could be effective in the slot like Roy Roundtree was back in 2010. (Commitment post.)

WR Maurice Ways – Detroit (MI) Country Day: 77 81
I might be a little higher on Ways than the recruiting services, but I really like all three wide receiver recruits in the 2014 class. Ways has reportedly had problems with his hands at certain points, but he didn’t concentrate solely on football until his junior year. His hands improved as a senior, and he reminds me of a Marquise Walker type who has good enough speed and size to threaten deep but won’t be a big-play machine. (Commitment post.)

LB Chase Winovich – Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: 79
The more I’ve seen of Winovich, the more I’ve become convinced that he’ll be a solid player. I really see him as a SAM in an Under defense, so I’m not sure exactly how he fits if Michigan goes to an Over look semi-permanently. He definitely needs to get stronger, because he’s a willing hitter but ball carriers just don’t go down with the ease they should when he hits them. (Commitment post.)

QB Wilton Speight – Richmond (VA) Benedictine: 77
I feel comfortable with this rating. I still don’t see “star” written all over Speight, but he should have a couple years under offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier (who will probably be a head coach somewhere by the time Speight graduates), sit behind Devin Gardner and Shane Morris, and then have a couple years to compete for the starting position. He has good arm strength and has improved his mechanics over the past year, and he has already shown good leadership skills with the way he helped recruit in the 2014 class. (Commitment post.)

TE Ian Bunting – Hinsdale (IL) Central: 78 75
Bunting played more tight end as a senior than he did as a junior, when he was exclusively a wideout. He still has a lot to learn about blocking, so it would probably behoove him to redshirt, add some weight, and learn blocking techniques. He doesn’t have the physical mentality that I saw out of Butt, so I have some questions about whether he can break tackles and block like a Big Ten Y tight end would need to do. He doesn’t have the speed to split out like Devin Funchess has done. (Commitment post.)

DE Lawrence Marshall – Southfield (MI) Southfield: 72 74
Marshall’s highlights are a series of plays on which he is unblocked or has to fend off terrible attempts at chop blocks. He does have good speed and leaping ability, but disengaging from blockers is a question mark. For that reason, he reminds me a bit of Mario Ojemudia coming out of high school. I rated Ojemudia as a 78, and he’s still looking like he’ll be a backup to Frank Clark with two years of eligibility left. I liked Marshall’s senior film better than his junior year, but not by a ton. (Commitment post.)

DT Brady Pallante – Naples (FL) Barron Collier: 70 69
I’ve said before that Pallante reminds me of a slower Mike Martin. He’s got the leverage, the hand violence, and the knack for shedding blocks. He won’t be the biggest guy, and his lack of explosiveness will prevent him from being the TFL machine that was Martin. I don’t see Pallante as a star, but I do see him as a solid rotation player down the road. I’m knocking him down just one peg because I don’t see him having much NFL draft potential with his size. (Commitment post.)

OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: 68
After watching his senior highlights and seeing him in the Under Armour All-America Game, Bushell-Beatty looks like a guy who might be more suited to playing inside at guard. I would have concerns about him being quick enough to play on the edge, and he’s more of a waist bender than a knee bender. With the other talent surrounding him, I think he might get pushed to the back of the pack, although he could be one of those guys who emerges as an upperclassmen to fill a void. (Commitment post.)

LB Noah Furbush – Kenton (OH) Kenton: 64
Furbush reminds me an awful lot of Brennen Beyer, who has played linebacker and defensive end at Michigan. I was fairly high on Beyer coming out of high school, but his play in college has been somewhat forgettable. Furbush was recruited as MIKE, but he looks like a future defensive end or maybe a SAM linebacker if Michigan runs the Under front. (Commitment post.)

LB Jared Wangler – Warren (MI) De La Salle: 59
Wangler, who played defense mostly as a safety in high school, lacks the foot speed to be a safety in college. He will probably bulk up a little bit and play linebacker. Initially, I thought that he played like a SAM linebacker in a WILL’s body, but with Michigan’s supposed move to the Over front, I think Wangler fits well as a SAM, period. I think he is limited athletically and doesn’t have the biggest frame, but he has a chance because he’s a heady, aggressive player. Regardless, the Wolverines have brought in some good talent at linebacker over the past couple years, so it may be tough for Wangler to move past them. (Commitment post.)

S Brandon Watson – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Incomplete
I still have not seen enough of Watson to offer an opinion here. He has been playing safety this spring and reports have been positive, but practice reports are to be taken with a grain of salt. (Commitment post.)

2014 Recruiting Awards

Michigan signee Jabrill Peppers

It’s that time of year again, where I pick out the best and least best of the recruiting class and we can argue about it for the next four or five years. Here’s a look back at my choices over the last five years (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). And on with the show:

Best Overall Recruit: CB Jabrill Peppers
Peppers is the 247 Composite #3 player in the country and for good reason. Michigan’s lone 5-star in the class, he won four state championships in his four years of high school football. He has the ability to play four positions (RB, WR, CB, S) in college, although he was recruited as a corner; Michigan will also probably use him in the return game. Peppers has the size, speed, and competitive attitude to be an All-American and a high draft pick in a few years.

Best Offensive Recruit: WR Drake Harris
I think this wide receiver class is loaded with Harris, Maurice Ways, and Freddy Canteen. In my opinion, these three could turn out to be almost as good as the trio of Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, and Steve Breaston playing together in the mid-2000’s. Harris has the best coordination, speed, and athleticism of the group, so as long as he stays healthy, I think he’ll be the top guy on this side of the ball.

Best Defensive Recruit: CB Jabrill Peppers
See above.

Recruit Most Likely to Make an Early Impact: CB Jabrill Peppers
Peppers will instantly be one of the four best athletes in the secondary, so it’s a question of where and how soon he should play. Whether he plays corner, safety, or slot corner, he should be on the field as soon as he arrives on campus. I do want to pump the breaks on him being an instant starter at corner because technique is so important, but he could play over the slot if the coaches want him there. He might also be able to challenge Dennis Norfleet for kick return duties, and both of Michigan’s punt returners (Drew Dileo, Jeremy Gallon) graduated, so that job will be an open competition, too.

Fastest Recruit: CB Jabrill Peppers
This is like a broken record, so I’ll also mention that Drake Harris can leave some people in the dust if he recovers from his hamstring issues.

Strongest Recruit: DT Brady Pallante
Pallante benches 370 lbs. and squats 580 lbs., but his best quality is probably the leverage he’s able to use on the defensive line. Fellow defensive tackle Bryan Mone is significantly larger, but Pallante plays like a guy who’s 30 lbs. heavier.

Best Under-the-Radar Recruit: WR Maurice Ways
This is a really tough choice between Pallante and Ways, but both are pretty modest 3-stars in the 247 Composite rankings. I’m going with Ways because I think he will be the more acclaimed player of the two. He reminds me of Michigan’s 6’3″, 215 lb. receivers of yesteryear. If Michigan has a good quarterback situation down the road, I think Ways could be a 1,000-yard receiver.

Most Overrated Recruit: DT Bryan Mone
Perhaps more so than in other recent years, I think most of these guys are ranked just about right, with Ways and Pallante being the exceptions. I was extremely high on Mone early in his recruitment, and his junior film was very exciting. However, he gained a lot of weight before his senior year, didn’t put up great stats, and then didn’t stand out at the Under Armour All-American Game. I think Mone is probably ranked fairly accurately by the recruiting sites (#111 in the 247 Composite), but Michigan fans expecting instant domination are probably in for a bit of a disappointment.

Most Likely to Redshirt: OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty
Bushell-Beatty is a developmental prospect, and his performance at the Under Armour All-American Game solidified that position for me. He’s not a great natural athlete, and he was out of shape in early January. He needs to redistribute some weight, get stronger, work on his footwork, etc. Provided that Michigan’s line can stay healthy (an iffy proposition considering redshirt sophomore Erik Magnuson is missing the entire spring), Bushell-Beatty will probably be planted firmly on the sideline this season.

Personal Favorite Recruit: WR Maurice Ways
This is a tough choice, too. There are several guys that I could pick, and the obvious choice for most people is probably Peppers. I also like Mone (his family story is inspiring), WR Freddy Canteen (a somewhat under-the-radar route running specialist), and Pallante (the classic underdog). But I was high on Ways from the first time I saw his film, a lot of people disagreed with me, and he seems to have a good attitude when it comes to improving, blocking, etc.

Final Scout 300 for 2014 released

Grand Rapids (MI) Christian wide receiver Drake Harris moved up two spots in the Scout 300 despite missing his senior season due to injury.

Scout released its final list of top 300 prospects for the class of 2014. Here’s what it looked like through last month. Movement for Michigan commits:

– Jabrill Peppers moved up from #4 to #3
– Drake Harris moved up from #54 to #52
– Bryan Mone moved up from #90 to #88
– Lawrence Marshall moved up one spot from #105 to #104
– Freddy Canteen dropped one spot from #171 to #172
– Michael Ferns dropped one spot from #178 to #179
– Mason Cole dropped from #249 to #253
– Chase Winovich dropped from #281 to #291

Here are the rest of Michigan’s offerees:

5-stars:
1. Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana (LSU)
2. Cameron Robinson – OT – Louisiana (Alabama)
3. Jabrill Peppers – CB – New Jersey (Michigan)
5. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas (Texas A&M)
6. Adoree’ Jackson – CB – California
8. Jamal Adams – S – Texas (LSU)
10. John Smith – S – California
12. Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Virginia (Alabama)
15. Quin Blanding – S – Virginia (Virginia)
17. Andrew Brown – DT – Virginia (Virginia)
18. Joe Mixon – RB – California (Oklahoma)
20. Solomon Thomas – DE – Texas
22. Casey Tucker – OT – Arizona
23. Lorenzo Carter – DE – Georgia
25. Bo Scarbrough – RB – Alabama (Alabama)
26. Braden Smith – OG – Kansas
27. Malachi Dupre – WR – Louisiana
29. Sam Hubbard – OLB – Ohio (Ohio State)
31. K.C. McDermott – OT – Florida (Miami)
34. Nyles Morgan – ILB – Illinois (Notre Dame)
36. Malik McDowell – DE – Michigan

4-stars:
41. Jalen Tabor – CB – Washington, DC (Florida)
42. Damon Webb – CB – Michigan (Ohio State)
43. Erick Smith – S – Ohio (Ohio State)
47. Edward Paris – CB – Texas (LSU)
49. Jalen Brown – WR – Arizona (Oregon)
51. Marshon Lattimore – CB – Ohio (Ohio State)
52. Drake Harris – WR – Michigan (Michigan)
55. Elijah Hood – RB – North Carolina (North Carolina)
59. Damian Prince – OT – Maryland
61. Mark Andrews – WR – Arizona (Oklahoma)
63. Jamarco Jones – OT – Illinois (Ohio State)
66. Josh Malone – WR – Tennessee (Tennessee)
67. Kyle Berger – OLB – Ohio (Ohio State)
69. Saeed Blacknall – WR – New Jersey (Rutgers)
75. Jalen Hurd – RB – Tennessee (Tennessee)
76. Dante Booker – OLB – Ohio (Ohio State)
78. Jeff Jones – RB – Minnesota (Minnesota)
81. Christian McCaffrey – RB – Colorado (Stanford)
83. Khairi Clark – DT – Florida (Florida)
86. Roderick Johnson – OT – Missouri
88. Bryan Mone – DT – Utah (Michigan)
102. Artavis Scott – WR – Florida (Clemson)
103. Parrker Westphal – S – Illinois (Northwestern)
104. Lawrence Marshall – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
107. Demetrius Knox – OG – Texas (Ohio State)
112. Steven Parker – S – Oklahoma
134. Sam Mustipher – OG – Maryland (Notre Dame)
138. Bryson Allen-Williams – OLB – Georgia (South Carolina)
143. Adarius Pickett – CB – California (UCLA)
144. Brandon Simmons – S – Texas (Stanford)
150. Kenny Young – MLB – Louisiana
158. Daniel Helm – TE – Illinois (Tennessee)
159. Bentley Spain – OT – North Carolina (North Carolina)
170. Shai McKenzie – RB – Pennsylvania (Virginia Tech)
172. Freddy Canteen – WR – Maryland (Michigan)
177. Dravon Henry – CB – Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
179. Michael Ferns – MLB – Ohio (Michigan)
180. Otaro Alaka – OLB – Texas (Texas)
187. Demarre Kitt – WR – Georgia (Clemson)
191. Jeb Blazevich – TE – North Carolina (Georgia)
195. Richard Yeargin – OLB – Florida (Notre Dame)
200. Corey Holmes – WR – Florida (Notre Dame)
202. Alex Bars – OT – Tennessee (Notre Dame)
204. Montae Nicholson – S – Pennsylvania (Michigan State)
205. Nick Watkins – CB – Texas (Notre Dame)
206. Jacory Washington – TE – Louisiana (LSU)
209. Wesley Green – CB – Georgia
222. Devon Thomas – RB – Oklahoma (Oklahoma State)
227. D’Andre Payne – CB – Washington, DC (Tennessee)
233. Jay Hayes – DT – New York (Notre Dame)
239. Marcus Allen – S – Maryland (Penn State)
247. Ja’Von Harrison – WR – Florida (Virginia Tech)
253. Mason Cole – OT – Florida (Michigan)
258. Malik Hooker – WR – Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
266. Dexter Wideman – DT – South Carolina (South Carolina)
268. Jackson Barton – OT – Utah (Utah)
272. Kiy Hester – S – New Jersey (Miami)
281. Chase Winovich – OLB – Pennsylvania (Michigan)
283. K.J. Williams – WR – Pennsylvania (Syracuse)
296. Juwann Winfree – WR – New Jersey (Maryland)
298. Conor Sheehy – DE – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)