Taco Charlton (image via MGoBlog)
Name: Taco Charlton
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 272 lbs.
High school: Pickerington (OH) Central
Position: Defensive end
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #33
Last year: I ranked Charlton #31 and said he would be the backup strongside end (LINK). He started three games, making 30 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.
Some might say that Charlton had a breakout season in 2015, but it was a pretty quiet breakout. When he was talking about the change from D.J. Durkin to Don Brown at defensive coordinator, he lamented the fact that he spent 2015 as a 285 lb. “tackle” in a 3-4. While I didn’t deem him a tackle, I did think it was odd that Michigan took a long, lanky guy whose raw athleticism was his biggest asset, and then added bulk to make him a more stationary player. Charlton has never been known as the most technically sound player, so making him deal with double-teams instead of trying to tear off the edge seemed like a mild mistake. However, it’s hard to argue with the production too much, since he was third on the team in sacks while mostly being a backup. His best game came against Penn State when he made 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
Now Charlton has lost 10+ pounds and moved to weakside end in Don Brown’s four-man front. He claims to be quicker and faster, and those skills will be needed on a team that has sorely lacked a quality speed rusher. Not only are those skills highly desirable, but few others on the roster offer potential as edge rushers. Backup end Shelton Johnson is in the doghouse and could miss the entire season, and the primary backup at weakside end is redshirt sophomore Chase Winovich, who impressed some people in the spring but spent the last two seasons playing linebacker and tight end/H-back. If the Wolverines are forced into playing the 6’3″, 245 lb. Winovich full-time at end, they’re going to be hurting. I think Winovich is a capable backup, but he’s not going to scare too many left tackles. Meanwhile, Charlton’s size and speed combination could strike some fear in offensive tackles and quarterbacks, and his measurables/production have some NFL scouts thinking he could be a high-round draft pick. He has been steadily improving over the past few years, and I think a lot of people will notice his play this year, as Brown will find ways to free him up coming off the edge.
Prediction: Starting weakside end; 45 tackles, 9 sacks
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