Tag: Jack Miller

Poll Results: Who will be Michigan’s starting center in 2012?

Rocko Khoury (#63) has a chance to win the starting center job in his final season

Last week I posed the question, “Who will be Michigan’s starting center against Alabama?”  Here are the results of the poll:

Rocko Khoury: 44%
Fifth year senior Khoury has played sparingly in his four years on campus.  He has, however, made two prominent forays into the lineup.  He subbed in for David Molk against Iowa in 2010, when Molk suffered an injury on the first offensive snap of the game; then Khoury filled in for one series in the 2012 Sugar Bowl before the again-injured Molk returned in hobbled form.  Khoury played admirably in the first and questionably in the second.  Khoury has been second on the center depth chart for the last couple seasons, so it makes sense that he would be the heir apparent to Rimgton Award winner Molk.

Ricky Barnum: 28%
Also a fifth year senior, Barnum started a few games at left guard in 2011.  Unfortunately, Barnum has suffered numerous injuries throughout his career.  Whether in spring practice or the regular season, he’s suffered a significant injury ever since he was a redshirt freshman.  Barnum played some center in high school and has taken snaps throughout his college career, although he has yet to snap the ball in a regular season college game.  Early reports are that Barnum will get the first shot to win the starting center job this spring, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much.  Michael Schofield, Barnum’s replacement at guard last season, played well and could slide in as the starter at left guard (or right tackle) if Barnum wins the starting snapper’s job.

Jack Miller: 26%
Miller will be a redshirt freshman in 2012.  Reports from practice have been positive, but the general consensus is that he needs to add weight and strength before playing.  Beating out a couple older and bigger players seems like an insurmountable task to me . . . unless an injury occurs.  And with Barnum ahead of Miller on the depth chart, that seems like a strong possibility.

Other: 0% (1 vote)
I would be interested to know whom this voter had in mind.  No other current player has snapped the ball in a game (in fact, Khoury is the only player with that distinction), and the only other current roster options seem to be redshirt freshman guard Chris Bryant and fifth year senior tackle/guard Elliott Mealer, who has also snapped the ball a bit in practice.  Anyone else would be a true freshman.

Getting to Know — Jack Miller

2011 Countdown: #89 Jack Miller

With the hairstyles of many of his future teammates, this picture is more fitting than any actual pictures of Jack Miller.

This is the first post of the 2011 Season Countdown (the 2010 version can be found here).  In order from least to most, this countdown will outline the importance of the significant contributors on Michigan’s football team to the 2011 season.  This is NOT a list of players ranked from worst to best.  Rather, it’s a ranking of who is the most valuable to the team right now.  For example, last year’s #2 Troy Woolfolk might be less important this season now that Courtney Avery and J.T. Floyd have starting experience and there will be an influx of talented freshman cornerbacks; furthermore, Michigan has experienced options (Jordan Kovacs, Carvin Johnson, Marvin Robinson) at safety, another position at which Woolfolk could contribute.

On with the show . . .

Name: Jack Miller
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 270 lbs.
High school: St. John’s High School in Toledo, OH
Position: Center
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Miller was a high school senior.

TTB Rating: 69

At #89 on the list, Miller looks like the most likely freshman to redshirt.  Linemen almost always take their first year off.  And that’s especially true when there are at least five guys already on the roster who are capable of snapping the ball (David Molk, Rocko Khoury, Ricky Barnum, Elliott Mealer, Christian Pace).  If Miller needs to play in 2011, that means bad, bad, bad things have occurred.

Check out his commitment post from last June for highlights and analysis of his game.

Projection: Redshirt

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2011 Offer Board Update

Chicago offensive lineman Chris Bryant

The 2011 Offer Board has been updated:

Ron Tanner (FS) committed to Ohio State.

Added Chris Bryant (OG).

Chevelle Buie (SR) committed to Rutgers.

Nick Vannett (TE) committed to Ohio State.

Ray Hamilton (TE) committed to Iowa.

Kevin Sousa (QB) and Jack Miller (OC) committed to Michigan.

Ja’juan Story (WR) committed to Florida.

Ryan Shazier (LB) committed to Florida.

Andre Yruretagoyena (OT) committed to Oregon.

Brandon Phelps (CB) committed to Virginia.

Jack Miller, Wolverine

Jack Miller should fit in well on this team.

St. John’s (Toledo, OH) offensive lineman Jack Miller committed to Michigan on Tuesday. He picked up a Michigan offer a couple weeks ago and hinted that his decision would come soon. Michigan was considered the heavy favorite, but it took Miller a little longer to announce his decision than he hinted at originally. Either way, he’s a Wolverine now.

Miller has been ranked by the recruiting services as a defensive lineman, so his 3-star status and position rankings are somewhat irrelevant. Although he could play defense if a position switch is deemed necessary at some point, Miller was recruited to play offense and had lengthy discussions with offensive line coach Greg Frey regarding how he fits. Listed at 6’4″, 270 lbs. he’s likely an interior line prospect. Although he doesn’t play center as a high schooler, he could be in line to snap the ball. After finishing a likely redshirt year, David Molk would be gone, Rocko Khoury would be a fifth year senior, and Christian Pace would be a redshirt sophomore.

First, a news clip:

Now, highlights from Scouting Ohio:

He’s clearly an aggressive player, both on offense and defense. He likes to hit people hard. And when he does, he doesn’t celebrate. To me, that means he’s used to it. It’s not an exciting novelty for him to punish somebody. It’s just his job.

However, one criticism that I have of Miller is that he plays high. This is a problem both on offense and defense, and that concerns me, especially as an interior lineman prospect. Especially if he’s going to play center, leverage is of utmost importance. And in my opinion, playing low is something that’s very difficult to change. It’s something that comes naturally or it doesn’t. That’s the difference between elite players and so-so players.

I like Miller’s aggression, but I’m concerned about his technique. To be honest, I’m up in the air with this commitment. I don’t really foresee him becoming a stud lineman at any point, but he could be a decent starter later in his career, a la David Moosman*.

*Please note that Guard David Moosman was significantly better than Center David Moosman.