Stephen Spanellis (image via Twitter)
Name: Stephen Spanellis
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 335 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) Gilman
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #72
Last year: I ranked Spanellis #95 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 63
Spanellis played both offensive guard and tackle last year and in the spring. He had and has some reshaping of his body to do, and it’s unclear how quickly that change will take place. Michigan is a little bit thin on experienced offensive linemen, and with three seniors having graduated after the 2016 season, opportunities have arisen. Spanellis isn’t in the conversation to start, and he probably won’t be Michigan’s sixth or seven lineman, either. That would be quite a leap from where he was in the spring, which was still on the two-deep but not pushing for a huge role. I think Spanellis will play this year when it gets to garbage time, but he’s probably a year or two away from being serviceable.
Prediction: Backup offensive guard
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That’s a lot of size and potential! Are his feet good enough for Tackle?
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I think his feet are okay enough for right tackle in a pinch, but not the left side.
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Nice one! I agree with the assessment (not likely to contribute) and the high rank notwithstanding. We all know OL Is a big issue and if any of the unexpected depth guys pops it would mean so so much for this team.
I do think the people arguing OL will be better because Braden/Magnuson/Kalis weren’t that good anyway are fooling themselves. We see this logic applied to relatively disappointing seniors all the time. Sometimes it works out (we didn’t miss Bolden/Morgan/Ross much at all) but most of the time young inexperienced players (even talented ones) can’t fully replace competent veterans.
I’m not above this logic myself (I think WR could be better this year because of the sheer quantity of talent) but OL didn’t have people the coaching staff was making a concerted effort to put on the field (Newsome excepted, perhaps) or competent veterans like Harris and Ways being marginalized.
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I just watched Spanellis’s tape again. Most of his highlights were run blocking.
I saw a huge bodied kid who moves pretty well for his size, but strength appears to be lacking, and hands are not good. He doesn’t seem to engage or disengage particularly well. I trust Frey and Drevno, I’m excited to see what they can do with him.
For this particular year I feel this may be a bit high, but I’m higher on 3 freshmen than I am Spanellis.
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Agree Spanellis did not look great, but he looked like he is coming along. I like him more than guys like JBB and Dawson at the same stage. Definitely a potential contributor at some point.
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