2018 Season Countdown: #113 Jack Dunaway

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4May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #113 Jack Dunaway

Jack Dunaway (left, image via MGoBlog)

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Name: Jack Dunaway
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 222 lbs.
High school: Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #88
Last year: I did not rank Dunaway. He did not see any game action.

Dunaway has dropped down the list over the past couple years. I ranked him #90 in 2016, and I didn’t bother with him last year. Now he’s all the way down at #113. Michigan has done a thorough job of recruiting linebackers over the past few years, and Dunaway was never a guy who was likely to push for playing time, anyway. Position-wise, he has bounced around a little bit, and he should be bigger than 222 lbs. by now if he’s 6’3″ and wants to see the field. The coaching staff might try to find a way for him to see the field since he’s a veteran, but he won’t be much of a factor in any way except on the scout team.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

3May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #114 Conner Edmonds

Conner Edmonds was Offensive Scout Team Co-Player of the Week against Florida last season (via Twitter)

Name: Conner Edmonds
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Richfield (WI) Germantown
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #86
Last year: I ranked Edmonds #86 and said he would be a backup tight end. Edmonds did not see game action.

Edmonds has now been on campus for two seasons without seeing the field. He’s a year older, 1″ taller, and 4 lbs. heavier than Ryan Veingrad (profiled yesterday). That might give Edmonds a leg up on seeing the field, but it’s still an uphill climb to beat out the other tight ends on the roster, including incoming freshmen Mustapha Muhammad and Luke Schoonmaker. I do believe there is a possibility for Edmonds to get on the field in certain situations, but Michigan doesn’t have a cupcake schedule this year. At least one of the freshmen is likely to see the field, which might cost the walk-ons a few opportunities to get some snaps.

Prediction: Backup tight end

2May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #115 Ryan Veingrad

Ryan Veingrad (image via CBS Sports)

Name: Ryan Veingrad
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 248 lbs.
High school: Boca Raton (FL) Spanish River
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #94
Last year: I did not rank Veingrad. He redshirted.

Veingrad happens to be a decent walk-on who perhaps picked a poor destination to come play tight end. Michigan recruits and develops some good tight ends, but he finds himself on a roster with several other good players with better measureables. Veingrad played tight end, offensive tackle, and defensive end in high school. After some time in the weight room, I believe he could be effective at Michigan like several former walk-on tight ends. The question is whether he will ever be able to break through the wall of TEs ahead of him, including Sean McKeon, Zach Gentry, Nick Eubanks, and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr., not to mention some young guys with upside. He will probably find himself limited to scout team duty this season.

In case you don’t remember, Veingrad also beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma (LINK), so there’s an extra reason for him to get on the field in Michigan Stadium.

Prediction: Backup tight end

1May 2018
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2018 Season Countdown: #116 Tyler Plocki

Tyler Plocki (image via Twitter)

Name: Tyler Plocki
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 219 lbs.
High school: Saline (MI) Saline
Position: Fullback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #49
Last year: I did not rank Plocki. He redshirted.

Plocki is a walk-on who did not play last season. Michigan has a void at fullback after the co-starters – Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi – graduated. The likely replacement is sophomore Ben Mason, who hurt his knee during spring ball. Michigan will be trying to find a backup fullback or two, and after incoming freshman Ben VanSumeren, things get murky. Plocki will have a chance to earn a role, though I think it’s unlikely he ends up in the top three at fullback.

Here are Plocki’s high school highlights for a reference point:

30Apr 2018
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Karsen Barnhart, Wolverine

Paw Paw (MI) Paw Paw OL Karsen Barnhart

Paw Paw (MI) Paw Paw offensive guard Karsen Barnhart committed to Michigan on Monday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, and others.

Barnhart is 6’5″, 282 lbs. He claims a 5.25 forty, a 5.08 shuttle, and a 26.5″ vertical.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #36 OT
Rivals: 3-star, #44 OT
247 Sports: 3-star, 89 grade, #41 OT, #379 overall

Hit the jump for more on Barnhart’s commitment.

read more