Grant Perry (image via Deadspin)
Name: Grant Perry
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 196 lbs.
High school: Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #9
Last year: I ranked Perry #32 and said he would be the starting slot receiver with 20 catches for 190 yards and 2 TDs. He made 13 catches for 183 yards and 1 TD.
TTB Rating: 71
Perry took a tiny step forward as a sophomore in 2016. A fairly reliable slot option and a decent blocker, he made 13 catches (down from 14 in 2015) but raised his total yards from 128 to 183 and his yards per catch from 9.1 to 14.1. He had a 54-yard catch-and-run against Colorado, and 49 yards with a career-high 4 catches against Ohio State. That’s not a great year, but it’s solid for a slot guy who plays on a team with a bunch of tight end options.
But Perry didn’t make headlines for his receiving abilities. No, his headlines were earned in East Lansing, where he allegedly tried to cut in line, got in a scuffle, and tried to run from the police. An officer was injured, and felony charges were filed. Altogether, it wasn’t an extremely harmful incident – except to Perry’s reputation.
It was unclear this off-season whether Perry would even be on the team in the fall. He reached a plea deal and avoided a permanent felony conviction, so he is now expected to return. But in the meantime, Donovan Peoples-Jones took a shot at snaring Perry’s #9 jersey and a couple other players tried to stake their claim for the slot receiver job. Perry, Eddie McDoom, Nate Johnson, Oliver Martin, and others will try to play in the slot, but Perry is the most proven receiver. He will probably face some sort of suspension for a week or two before hitting the field, but beyond that, he could be Michigan’s #2 receiver. The Wolverines are relying on freshmen and other unproven guys, and he might end up being Wilton Speight’s most trusted target.
Prediction: Starting slot receiver after suspension; 20 catches, 225 yards, 2 TDs
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Couldn’t Perry also be Michigan’s #1 WR? Crawford seems to be ahead of him and the talented freshman will push, but Perry looks like a pretty reliable target for a QB who seems to appreciate them. Especially with Butt gone – sure hands will be important.
While we do have great depth at WR, the depth is almost entirely unproven. Perry is the lone exception for that and is (by far) the most proven receiver on the roster. He’s played a key role on the team since the first game of his freshman year. He was ahead of Crawford and McDoom last year and Ways and Harris the year before that.
I think Perry should be considered one of the top 2 or 3 receivers on the team (depending on your optimism re: McDoom or DPJ). This year, I don’t think that gets you in the top 20 or even 30. But one spot ahead of Nate Johnson?
I see some potential parallels here to the way that Jeremy Gallon was underrated because of his categorization as a “slot”. Perry isn’t Gallon IMO but I think he might be getting underrated for some of the same reasons. It wouldn’t be a shock at all if Perry had a prominent role in 2-WR sets…and maybe even some 1-WR sets.
Also – is Perry not in the mix to return punts? Sure hands and composure seem to be the most significant skills.
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My receiver rankings at this moment FWIW
1. Crawford – potential breakout star and rumored as the #1 in spring
2. McDoom – maybe a higher ceiling than Crawford but comes with more questions.
3. Perry – only proven option as a reliable target.
4. DPJ – despite popular sentiment, freshman can be huge contributors…but Michigan has a lot of them.
5. Black – purely based on spring hype, so probably overrating him.
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I think Perry is a solid blocker, particularly as a sophomore. I would notice him going downfield with a lot of intent. I think we will miss that feature if he doesn’t make this season.
Like everyone else, I love McDoom and am looking forward to seeing him getting out into the pattern, but I think he has a way to go to be the all around kind of player that Perry has showed himself to be.
I also think that no Perry will mean a bunch more TE snaps, unless Oliver Martin really is the second coming of Julian Edelman.
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Am I the only fan who believes Perry should–and will–redshirt?
Going to follow up on Lanknows’ ranking:
1) Crawford
2) Black
3) DPJ (at Slot?)
4-6) all the others, clustered
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JE are you saying redshirt as a result of inactivity or time with the team? Or are you saying time to sit and prove he is willing to clean up his act?
Basically, I think if there were any hesitation on JH’s mind to accept him back he wouldn’t be back. As Thunder mentioned he may get a pro forma suspension. Even if he sits early I think his experience will get him on the field against the B1G big boys.
As far as ranking receivers, too early for me. Besides, I want to see if the receiver hierarchy is dictated somewhat by the offense Pep will try to install or if the available skill sets, route running, and QB confidence in them rule. I suspect the latter.
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I just don’t think as much of Perry as others do, and think we have more than enough to replace what he brings. If JH can prove a point on acceptable conduct at the same time, a tie-breaker (or close call) would go to DPJ/McDoom, or even Johnson/Martin. At least in my world!
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Why would you redshirt a player you don’t think much of? That’s just lighting scholarships on fire.
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Lighting who’s scholarship? DPJ? No chance without injury. Martin? Perhaps, but under Harbaugh he’s almost certain to play
For Perry, I already expressed that I (just me) don’t think much of him. I (me) would sit him because I don’t think I’d need him with what’s available. I’d play him if others aren’t working, if an injury bug hits, or this whole legal matter is over AND he’s noticibaly better than other options
Again, just me
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My question is why you would redshirt somebody in their junior year if they aren’t good enough to play.
Whose scholarship goes away? A recruit’s 2 years from now who Perry’s 5th year takes away. Or you lose the potential 5th year of somebody like Collins or Martin who is replacing Perry’s snaps.
I don’t agree with the assumption that Perry isn’t good enough to play, but even if it’s true, a red-shirt doesn’t make much sense.
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Aside from this discussion specific to Perry, “That’s just lighting scholarships on fire.” is close to Harbaugh’s way of moving athletes through the system.
As he has stated before with the exception of redshirts for QB and OL, the time to compete and produce is now. He will give each player 4 years to get their degree and contribute to the team. There may be extenuating circumstances obviously.
I’m not so sure Perry gets more than four years.
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You red-shirt somebody to get the 5th year. I’m saying a guy who can’t play his junior year isn’t worth red-shirting.
Harbaugh’s preferred approach (4 years and out) is optimal scholarship allocation — it’s the opposite of lighting them on fire.
Nobody WANTS to waste scholarship on non-contributors. You do it because you have to, because development takes time.
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There are at least two obvious reasons to redshirt a player. First is that the team retains the option of bringing a guy back for a fifth year if he develops. Second is that the player retains the ability to spend four years at the school, get a degree, and then use a grad transfer.
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I guess it could be a favor to Perry to open up the option of a grad transfer (a la Morris).
My assumption is that when JE is talking about this it is from the perspective of what “should” be done for the football program.
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Yes sir, you said it far better than I did!
And yeah, always program first. I am SPECULATING that this year (unlike 2015/16) we have guys that can do as much or more than Perry. The idealist in me would then make an example out of his conduct, and I wouldn’t play him (the redshirt wouldn’t guarantee a 5th year, ala Morris)
The decision to keep him on the team would be an insurance policy: my idealistic/stubborn ways would come second to the needs of the team. If injury required it, or Perry was clearly better than every other option, he’d play
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hope to god its the latter…the available skill sets and the confidence in the production of on hand personnel should dictate how the team operates, always.
the staff knows what theyre doing and while they may try certain things, when it comes down to it and its winning time, theyll roll with what they know and who they trust most (both scheme & personnel).
not saying you said different (bc you didnt), just stressing that id certainly hope its the latter as successful programs / staffs (like um) make sure personnel fits and executes their scheme rather than crowbarring it the other way…play and coach to your teams / players strengths be the mantra
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Perry should not redshirt. He is more valuable to the team this year than he will be in the future. He is the most skilled, versatile WR they have in 2017. If he is back on the team, he should play. There is no way that his infractions warrant some year-long exile, if that is what you are implying.
Agree that Black and Kekoa are the two top outside guys. DPJ will play a lot as well. He is not as refined as the other two, but the coaches will want to expedite his development as much as possible due to his profile and raw talent.
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I don’t really get the “if he’s back” qualifiers floating around here. It seems like a formality to me. Maybe there will be some suspension for an early season game or 2, but clearly he will be back unless there is more trouble to come.
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Slotting Black and DPJ over Perry seems highly speculative to me. It reads too much into the spring (when Perry was suspended).
I think people are forgetting that Perry has been ‘starting’ from his first game at Michigan and has gone essentially unchallenged despite a lot of talent on the roster. Perry isn’t going to be a star, but not everybody gets to be a star. You need some role players, veterans you can count on. Perry seems like a good bet to be that guy in the WR corps.
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It’s all speculation – it’s a pre-season countdown.
Regardless, there’s a lot of competition in the slot, such as Martin, Johnson, Schoenle, McDoom, etc. Not so much on the outside, where the only guy in his 3rd year or beyond is Mo Ways, Jr. It’s also easier to develop a slot receiver than an outside guy, and they’re not on the field as much.
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I guess I can say “dubious speculation” instead of “highly speculative”.
Perry played ahead of most of those guys last year – I’m surprised there’s so much confidence that won’t be the case this year.
Anyway, Perry should also be considered one of the leading contenders to get snaps at outside WR (a la Gallon.) The best WR will play.
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He may play ahead of some of those guys, but there’s a lot of competition. Regardless, again, we have to speculate right now. I’m assuming he’s going to miss at least one game, if not more, due to his extracurricular activities in East Lansing. That makes him less important to me for this countdown, because I assume he’s already a shoo-in to miss one of our more important games of the year.
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With Darboh, Chesson, Butt, and Asiasi all gone — there’s a lot less competition than last year for snaps/touches/etc.
The conversation around Perry seems to be more or less the same same as last year – Maybe freshman will pass him. Last year, they really didn’t.
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Drevno:
You lost some seniors outside and at tight end. Can you talk about some of the players that are taking advantage of some of the opportunities that they’re getting in camp?
“Yeah. In the five wide receivers that we signed, we’re really explosive outside with great speed with Kekoa Crawford, DPJ, Grant Perry. It’s just a really good corps of guys.
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