Ford Field Open Practice: Defense, Special Teams

Tag: Maurice Hurst Jr.


28Mar 2016
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Ford Field Open Practice: Defense, Special Teams

Noah Furbush 793x

Noah Furbush

Yesterday, I posted my thoughts on Saturday’s practice regarding injuries, offense, and a few walk-ons to watch (LINK). Today I’ll address what I saw from the defense.

DEFENSIVE END
Depth: Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton, Chase Winovich, Lawrence Marshall, Reuben Jones, Carlo Kemp
Scoop: Wormley spent some time both outside and inside, and we already know what to expect from him. In fact, a lot of the starters seemed to be going about 90%, because going 100% would just be unfair. The defensive line was handling the offensive front pretty well. Charlton is a physical freak, and it looked like he spent some time at both Anchor (strongside end) and weakside end. Winovich was my surprise of the day, because he definitely looked like he belonged on the field. In fact, he was working so hard coming off the edge that a bit of a brawl started when Kyle Kalis chucked him to the ground after a play. Winovich uses good leverage and can bend well, and I think he’s going to see some time. Marshall didn’t do anything special, and I think he needs to add weight and become a strongside end; he just doesn’t have the quickness or instincts to be an edge rusher, in my opinion. Jones looked decent and competitive, but I think he’s probably another year or two away. Kemp has moved from linebacker – where he was a poor fit, in my opinion – to defensive end. In fact, both Jones and Kemp were working at linebacker in Florida, but neither one worked with the linebackers on Saturday. Shelton Johnson is nursing an injury and did not practice. Maurice Hurst, Jr. had an ankle injury that was making him gimpy, and he was playing some Anchor at times but was ineffective (more due to injury than a lack of ability).

Hit the jump for the rest of the defense.

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29Feb 2016
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Spring Football Preview: Defensive Tackles and Defensive Ends

Bryan Mone 735x

Bryan Mone (#90)

Projected DT starters: Fifth-year senior Ryan Glasgow was one of Michigan’s best starting defenders last season, and you could tell how much the defense missed him when he missed the end of the season with a pectoral injury. He finished the season with 25 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 1 sack in nine games at the nose tackle position. He is very strong, fairly quick off the ball, and uses excellent technique. Last year’s backup nose tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr. was pressed into a lot of playing time at the nose because of injuries, but his size makes him more of a 3-technique in an ideal world. Assuming Glasgow and Bryan Mone return healthy at NT, redshirt junior Hurst (35 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3 sacks) should slide over to 3-tech and use his quickness there.

Hit the jump for the rest of the defensive line preview.

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12Feb 2016
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Semper Fidelis All American Bowl Participants: Michigan

Mario Ojemudia

The Semper Fidelis All American Bowl was played in January. It was just the fifth year of the game, but here’s the very short list of Michigan commits who have participated in the tradition:

2016
Brad Hawkins, Jr. – WR – Camden, NJ
Khaleke Hudson – S – McKeesport, PA
Ron Johnson, Jr. – DE – Camden, NJ
Tru Wilson – S – Warren, MI

2015
Grant Newsome – OT – Lawrenceville (NJ) School

2014
None

2013
Ross Douglas – CB – Avon (OH) Avon
Maurice Hurst, Jr. – DT – Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers

2012
Mario Ojemudia – DE – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison

*Will participate in the upcoming contest

28Sep 2015
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Michigan vs. BYU Awards

Jake Rudock

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Ty Isaac. Starter De’Veon Smith had a very good game (16 carries, 125 yards, 1 touchdown) on Saturday, but then he went down with a right foot injury. The nature of the injury is unknown at this point, but he came back to the sideline in a walking boot for the end of the game. If he does have a boo-boo that will keep him out for next week’s game against Maryland or more, Isaac needs more carries. After an 8-carry, 114-yard game against UNLV, he got just 2 carries for 9 yards against BYU. Even after Smith was injured, Derrick Green (10 carries, 28 yards) got the bulk of the touches.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.
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15Jul 2014
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2014 Season Countdown: #41 Maurice Hurst, Jr.

Maurice Hurst, Jr.

Name: Maurice Hurst, Jr.
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 277 lbs.
High school: Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #73
Last year: I ranked Hurst #82 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Putting Hurst at #41 is perhaps the gutsiest ranking of the whole countdown, since he’s jumping up 41 spots from last year and has yet to play a down of college football. I often choose not to believe the practice hype, but Hurst has been earning some buzz since last season when coaches and players were talking about his quickness off the ball. He also played some running back in high school, and I think his burst offers something that other nose tackles (Ondre Pipkins, Bryan Mone, Ryan Glasgow, Brady Pallante) lack, perhaps with the exception of Willie Henry. I bumped Hurst up the list a little bit because of the uncertainty surrounding Pipkins, who is recovering from a torn ACL. Regardless, I like a nose tackle who can penetrate and cause some havoc, and I also think Hurst could play some 3-tech tackle. His listed weight (277 lbs.) might be a drawback if accurate, but he looked bigger than that in the spring. I look for Hurst to start to make a name for himself and perhaps work his way into the lineup on passing downs, where his lack of bulk won’t be as much of a hindrance and his quickness can force quarterbacks out of their comfort zone.

Prediction: Backup nose tackle