Name: Gemon Green
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 174 lbs.
High school: DeSoto (TX) DeSoto
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #9
Last year: I ranked Green #84 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 82
Green was selected for the International Bowl coming out of high school, and both ESPN and Rivals ranked him as a 4-star prospect (he was a 3-star to 247). He gets forgotten a little bit by some Michigan fans, but his recruiting profile was pretty solid. The likes of Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin offered him, so he wasn’t a reach, but he also was buried on the depth chart in 2018.
But David Long left for the NFL, and Brandon Watson graduated…and this list was made before it came out that Ambry Thomas might miss camp and potentially a chunk of the season due to health issues. With the transfer of Benjamin St-Juste to Minnesota, Green is suddenly thrust into the #3 cornerback role going into August camp when he was probably #7 last year. Green might be baptized quickly with a heavy role unless the Wolverines mitigate the need at cornerback by moving a safety over, such as Jaylen Kelly-Powell. Regardless, it looks like Lavert Hill, Vincent Gray, and then Green are the top three corners going into 2019.
Prediction: Backup cornerback
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Any good buzz coming on Green? I hope so.
Green is probably overlooked. I like this ranking though I come to it with a different outlook (i.e., I don’t think Green is #3 even while Thomas is out but I do think a potential 4th CB belongs in the top 50).
I have not heard any whiff of good buzz on Green but he is just entering year 2. The departures of St.Juste and Sims could be circumstantial evidence that he’s on the right track. Against this is that classmate Gray has drawn plenty of mention and JKP is still discussed as a CB option as well. Then you have 2 freshman coming in as wildcards at a position where freshman can play.
I get the sense things are wide open below Gray (#3 CB), with rumors of position-changes feeding in. If Thomas does miss time, all the uncertain depth pops up in importance and CBs across the board get bumped up the rank list.
Unless…
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Here is some rumor-driven speculation:
The Thomas situation coming out now is rumored to be an ongoing issue stretching back through the spring. Harbaugh on Daxton Hill in the spring: “it’s sinking in that he’s going to be playing very early in his career here at the University of Michigan”. Related? Perhaps not, but now there are summer rumors of Hill coming in and beginning his career at CB. Hmmm
The above information adds up IMO. I would not be surprised to see Michigan come out with Hill & Hill starting the season at CB with Gray and JKP rotating in behind. Freshman can contribute at CB and Daxton Hill is supposed to have elite speed. Why not?
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Harbaugh also just recently said that he wants to see Hill play safety at Michigan.
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Yes true. I’d like to see it too, I just wonder if CB will be a more glaring need with Metellus Woods Hawkins Glasgow all available at safety and not really a fit for CB. Also a more likely place for a freshman to contribute immediately.
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FWIW, Green was the first name mentioned by Harbaugh when discussing other options behind Ambry Thomas.
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Sound pretty open to me:
“Vince Gray has really been doing a good job,” Harbaugh said. “And then from there, there’s Gemon Green — he’s going to get an opportunity. D.J. Turner, a young guy there, will get an opportunity. We’ll see what we have when we get to training camp.”
No mention of Perry. Green in the the same “opportunity” bucket as Turner. The “we’ll see” stands out…
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