Name: Chuck Filiaga
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 340 lbs.
High school: Aledo (TX) Aledo
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Filiaga was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: 86
Filiaga was the prize of Michigan’s offensive line recruiting class in 2017. The U.S. Army All-American was the #14 offensive tackle and #113 overall. Michigan won out against stiff competition for his commitment, and he joins a team that needs contributions on the offensive line. After losing three fifth-year senior starters, as well as starting left tackle Grant Newsome to injury, there’s a fair amount of uncertainty.
Coming out of the spring, the projected starter at right tackle is redshirt sophomore Jon Runyan, Jr., who was expected to be a center or guard when he was a college prospect. Filiaga will have a chance to unseat Runyan and/or others on the offensive line, but according to some reports, he was the least prepared offensive lineman on the U.S. Army Bowl roster, and that’s not surprising. He’s too heavy at 6’6″ and 340 lbs., and his weight is not distributed well, since he’s somewhat top-heavy. He needs to reconfigure his body somewhat, and he also has some technique issues to fix. He might play this season out of necessity, but anyone expecting early solid play from him is likely to be disappointed.
Prediction: Backup offensive tackle
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“but according to some reports, he was the least prepared offensive lineman on the U.S. Army Bowl roster… ”
I thought he looked bad in both games, specifically in passpro
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I agree that he looked bad, but I don’t put too much stock in those games, particularly when it comes to the OL. Guys get out of shape, stop working on technique, don’t understand the protections/defenses, etc.
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I think Fillga is a guard, probably somewhere around 310-315 … maybe 320 if he can’t get to the 315. I also think that the plan is for Onwenu, Ruiz, Filliaga and then Ekiyor to bury your big middle guard and three tech, while the guys with the skinny legs that Thunder likes so much ride your defensive ends out of the play.
It is not my intention to be insulting here. Every time I look at this kid, i think to myself that his head alone has to go 65. This is a massive person.
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If he played guard, I wouldn’t be surprised. You’re right that he’s a huge human being. You can just look at his mom in that above picture and see where he gets his genes.
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I tend to agree. I’m always a little nervous about OL who come in and have to drop weight and improve agility as freshmen.
UM appears to be seeking a third OT prospect in ’18 pretty vigorously, which makes me wonder if they see Filliaga as a risk to move inside.
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I watched O’Neal again last night. I’m really hoping we get that kid. And then send him over to the D.
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I won’t argue with pessimistic view on his contributions in 2017. But if he can somehow break the mold and contribute a la Bredeson last year, it would be huge.
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