Kyle Kalis (#67) with Willie Henry (image via MLive)
Name: Kyle Kalis
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #67
Last year: I ranked Kalis #9 and said he would be the starting right guard and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (LINK). He started all thirteen games.
Kalis was largely unchallenged for the right guard job going into 2015. I thought offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Tim Drevno would make a positive impact on him and the rest of the line, and that was true. It still wasn’t quite as big of a step forward as I had hoped. Kalis missed blocks at times, and I thought he was the weakest member of the starting unit. It’s more mental than physical with him, because he has the bulk, strength, and athleticism to get the job done. He just doesn’t seem to process the blocking schemes and defenses as well as I would expect for the son of an NFL lineman and a veteran player.
Now it’s year five for the touted recruit that was once committed to Ohio State. It seems like a long time ago that he was receiving hate mail from Buckeye fans for flipping to the Wolverines, and now we’re on the precipice of his final year at Michigan. He’s a multi-year starter and the most experienced player on the line with 29 career starts, but so far he hasn’t performed like the 5-star player he was coming out of Ohio. After some strange rumors from Rivals this off-season saying the coaches were looking to push Kalis out the door, he’s back to reprise his role as the starting right guard. Redshirt junior David Dawson has stepped in to play some right guard in August, and rumors have gone around that Kalis is dealing with back issues (which also hampered him early in his college career). They shouldn’t hold him out long-term, but that will be something to watch. Dawson has a fair amount of experience for a backup, and redshirt freshman Jon Runyan, Jr. looked pretty decent this spring. There are options if Kalis has to miss a chunk of time, but it would be a step backward for an offensive line that isn’t expected to be stellar in the first place.
Prediction: Starting right guard; Second Team All-Big Ten
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I would credit Darrel Funk with Kalis’ development more than anyone else. Credit might not be the right word.
His career is another example where recruiting rankings and pundits who purport to have insider knowledge need to be taken with a grain of salt. Kalis was a ready-to-play coaches son coming out of high school, then Brian Cook was arguing he was ready-to-play as a freshman (even though he red-shirted on a bad OL) coming into his red-shirt freshman year. 4 years later Rivals made up some craziness about him being pushed off his team. Maybe if Raulerson had come over that would have made sense, but probably not.
Kalis may come with warts but there are reasons he’s been starting for 3 years too. He’s a capable dude and I think he deserves some slack for having been coached by 3 different OCs.
I expect a redemptive senior year. It should help to have guys like Dawson, Runyan, and Onwenu to push him a little bit, but I wouldn’t consider them legitimate threats to start. I put Kalis a few spots lower in my rankings because he’s the most expendable veteran OLmen, but I can’t really argue with this rank. A lot rides on how this OL improves and Kalis is a big part of that. He’s key to keeping the continuity that this OL should be building upon.
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2nd team All B1G feels optimistic to me. Is this prediction based on a hope for significantly improved play, being rewarded for being a multi-year starter in his 5th year, or something else?
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I feel like upperclassmen are often rewarded, kind of like Lifetime Achievement Awards. I do think Kalis will be better, but when all else fails, they give fifth year seniors those awards.
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yes, 2nd team is too optimistic. going into the season one would think feeney and price likely finish on 1st team – theyre both good players, legit pro prospects and both received plenty of hype as well as prior all league accolades. is kalis the 3rd or 4th best OG in the conference?
maybe the media will select him 2nd team or something, who knows. theres not a wealth of experience or elite OL talent in the conference this year so hes got a chance but i think his teammate braden has proven hes a better player and should be again this year so thats another guy hed have to beat out for recognition.
but thats why they play the games. he could improve and have a solid senior year, one deserving of all league mention which also intrigues scouts – i sure hope so. id love to see kalis 100% locked in and really balling this year – im just skeptical bc he not only hasnt consistently done it (over a large sample size) but hes got a few areas where he still needs major improvement.
as thunder mentioned, one weakness is his mental capacity and overall feel for the game, ability to identify calls and target proper opponents (especially those on the move) and his lack of ability to adjust on the fly. he just looks lost at times. another issue is he tends to revert to poor technique (even after a series or 2 of solid play), getting caught flat footed, reaching, dipping his head, etc – and it doesnt take much talent to blow by that type blocking. he does have the size, strength and attitude of a mauler though and he seems like a nice dude who tries hard so hopefully he finally puts it together this year. id love to see him earn recognition.
they do tend to give the benefit of doubt to seniors and guys with longevity when naming all league (in absence of obvious choices) and since theres only a couple sure fire senior OG draft picks, he might earn some honors instead of younger players or those just breaking into the lineup this fall. i could see honorable mention but i have a hard time seeing even the media naming kalis 2nd team (1 of conferences top 4 OG) let alone the coaches. but as i said, thats why they play the games and hopefully im wrong – itd be great to see
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