Spring Football Preview: Defensive Tackles and Defensive Ends

Tag: Willie Henry


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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14Jan 2016
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Defensive tackle Willie Henry declares for NFL Draft


Redshirt junior defensive tackle Willie Henry declared for the NFL Draft on Wednesday night. The 6’3″, 311-pounder started 9 games at defensive tackle this past season. He tallied 34 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and 2 pass breakups. He flirted with the idea of leaving after his redshirt sophomore season, but decided to return for another year.

When Henry’s 2012 recruiting class wrapped, I pegged him as the most underrated recruit (LINK). After redshirting as a true freshman, he was a part-time starter for the next three years, totaling 86 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 1 interception (for a 7-yard TD against Utah in 2014), and 2 pass breakups.

Henry joins a long list of Big Ten players entering the draft early (LINK), including six defensive tackles from the conference alone. On the one hand, it seems like a mistake for Henry to leave, because he is not projected as a first- or second-round pick. On the other hand, I don’t know that returning next year would improve his draft stock. He has been inconsistent in his college career, but he has shown what he can do. This year he showed that he can rush the passer. Last year he showed some surprising athleticism with the pick-six. He has blasted offensive guards backward. He has chased running backs to the sideline. Some NFL team will be getting a very athletic 3-tech tackle who can be near dominant when he’s motivated.

As for Michigan, the Wolverines are down to 89 scholarships accounted for in 2016 (LINK). At least four more players must depart from the team or recruiting class to make room for the incoming freshmen. The Wolverines should be fine on the defensive line because of quality depth. Henry would have been a starter again next year, so somebody must step up into his spot. With fifth year senior Ryan Glasgow and redshirt sophomore Bryan Mone both coming back from injury next season, they should be able to hold down the nose tackle spot. That may allow redshirt junior Maurice Hurst, Jr. to slide over from nose tackle to 3-tech, which would probably be more suitable to his 282 lb. frame. Michigan can also use fifth year senior Chris Wormley, fifth year senior Matt Godin (if he returns), or perhaps an incoming freshman to start in Henry’s place.

Henry follows tight end/wide receiver Devin Funchess as an early NFL Draft entrant. Funchess, who left after his junior year, was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 2nd round (#41 overall) of the 2015 Draft. Prior to Funchess, the last player to leave Michigan early for the NFL was cornerback Donovan Warren, who was undrafted in 2010.

17Nov 2015
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Michigan vs. Indiana Awards

Jake Rudock had a record-setting day on Saturday

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Joe Kerridge at H-back. Kerridge, a virtual starter on offense at fullback, has been splitting time with Sione Houma. Kerridge, however, is the superior blocker, and that’s pretty much all H-back Henry Poggi does on offense. With Michigan’s defensive line depth depleted, it might be a good idea to get Kerridge some snaps at H-back and let Poggi concentrate on defense. Meanwhile, Houma can handle the fullback duties.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.

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19Oct 2015
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Michigan vs. Michigan State Awards

Surely, this is targeting.

A fellow coach on my staff has been diagnosed with cancer, and we are raising funds to help him and his family with the costs of surgery and treatments. If you are feeling generous, please use the sidebar Paypal button or this link (LINK) and all proceeds this week will go toward the family’s expenses. Thanks for your generosity!

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Jake Butt. Arguably your best player on offense should not end the game with 1 catch for 4 yards. He did make a “catch” that was ruled a catch by the nearest official, only to be overturned by a more distant official, and the “instant” replay came back without indisputable evidence enough to distinctly rule it a catch. But even then, Butt would have had just two catches. Michigan and Jake Rudock need to find more ways to get him the ball.

Hit the jump for more awards from Saturday’s game.

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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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