Jared Wangler (white jersey, image via MLive)
Name: Jared Wangler
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 231 lbs.
High school: Warren (MI) De La Salle
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Wangler #72 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He did not play.
Wangler was a mid-level, 3-star recruit coming out of high school and a Michigan legacy. He had offers from LSU, Michigan State, and Penn State, among others, but he has yet to step on the field in two seasons at Michigan. As a redshirt freshman in 2015, the Wolverines had a lot of experienced linebackers. That won’t be the case so much this season.
Going into his third year, Wangler has yet to create any buzz on the practice field. It’s rare that players come out of nowhere after two or three years to be heavy contributors, so this will be a key year for him. True freshman early enrollee Devin Bush, Jr. worked his way up to second string in the spring, and there are rumblings that Michigan is looking to get Elysee Mbem-Bosse some time this fall to get him marinating for 2017. With Mike McCray II, Ben Gedeon, Jabrill Peppers, and Noah Furbush seeming pretty solidly entrenched as starters or part-time starters at linebacker, Wangler might be fighting for scraps of playing time.
Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer
You need to login in order to vote
Unfortunately this is about where he actually ranks in importance, even though it’s way below where he ‘should’ rank given the depth chart.
I’ve been skeptical of Wagner since he was a recruit, but as a scholarship LB entering his 3rd year, he SHOULD be at least in the mix for a backup role. With a relatively unproven group of LBs (besides Gedeon and Peppers), there’s an opportunity, but it seems like a few freshman may be leap-frogging him in importance.
I think it’s telling that Michigan was trying out a handful of DEs (e.g., Kemp, Johnson) at LB.
LOL at 6’2. Must have had a big growth spurt since HS.
You need to login in order to vote
I don’t think he’s 6’2″, either, but that’s what he’s listed at on the roster.
You need to login in order to vote
Right. I know these things get exaggerated all the time, but I’d be surprised if Wangler is even 6′ with his spikes off.
You need to login in order to vote