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2010 Countdown: #59 Jeremy Gallon

Name: Jeremy Gallon
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 171 lbs.
High school: Apopka High School in Apopka, FL
Position: Slot receiver
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last Year: I ranked Gallon #52 and suggested he’d help out on returns. He redshirted.

Gallon, a high school single-wing quarterback, came to Michigan with a lot of hype but was reportedly out of shape as a freshman. He’s an excellent athlete and a strong, slippery runner. But he’s also somewhat new to the job of running routes and catching the ball, having been almost exclusively a ballcarrier in high school.

Gallon is now a member of perhaps the strongest, deepest position on the team – slot receiver. Starters Martavious Odoms and Roy Roundtree return, and Kelvin Grady contributed 10 receptions; Terrence Robinson will also be vying for playing time after playing sparingly as a redshirt freshman. With all of that depth, one backup is almost indistinguishable from another. While I think Gallon will be a very good player before all is said and done, he doesn’t figure to earn a ton of playing time in 2010. Once again, his best opportunity to see the field will be returning kicks and punts. But it remains to be seen how big of a need that will be, since Darryl Stonum set a record for kick return yardage in 2009. Gallon will likely play some role in returning punts and kickoffs, but that contribution may be minimal.

Prediction for 2010: Part-time returner, spot duty at slot receiver

2011 Offer Board Update

Chicago offensive lineman Chris Bryant

The 2011 Offer Board has been updated:

Ron Tanner (FS) committed to Ohio State.

Added Chris Bryant (OG).

Chevelle Buie (SR) committed to Rutgers.

Nick Vannett (TE) committed to Ohio State.

Ray Hamilton (TE) committed to Iowa.

Kevin Sousa (QB) and Jack Miller (OC) committed to Michigan.

Ja’juan Story (WR) committed to Florida.

Ryan Shazier (LB) committed to Florida.

Andre Yruretagoyena (OT) committed to Oregon.

Brandon Phelps (CB) committed to Virginia.

2010 Countdown: #60 Ricardo Miller

Name: Ricardo Miller
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 212 lbs.
High school: Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, MI
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #82
Prediction for 2010: Minimal offensive reps

Early in the recruiting process, Michigan fans were hyped up about Ricardo Miller. Originally from Orlando, he and his family decided to move to Michigan so he could enroll early at Michigan. So he played ball this past season at Pioneer High School, in the shadow of Michigan Stadium. Not only was Miller seemingly a highly rated wide receiver, but he was clearly 100% committed to the Wolverines and exercised that enthusiasm by pushing hard for other kids to commit.

So as much as I like the kid’s character, it pains me to say this – but I don’t see the vast amount of potential that many other Michigan fans do. Some have already been clamoring for him to be given the #1 jersey, which is reserved only for the most special receivers at U of M. Miller doesn’t seem to have great speed or leaping ability, and he had some problems with dropping passes at Pioneer. In my opinion, the best thing Miller has to offer at this point is his size and blocking ability – at 6’4″ and 212 lbs., he should be able to dominate opposing cornerbacks in the running game. That might be enough to get him on the field in the fall, especially because outside wide receivers are in short supply on this team.

2010 Countdown: #61 Quinton Washington

Name: Quinton Washington
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 307 lbs.
High school: Timberland High School in St. Stephen, SC
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #76
Last year: I ranked him #80 and said he’d redshirt. He redshirted.

Washington is a mammoth offensive guard, weighing more than all but two of his teammates – nose tackle Will Campbell (324 lbs.) and fellow guard Elliott Mealer (310). As evidence that Rich Rodriguez is embracing larger offensive linemen, there are now five 300-pounders; there were only two in 2009. With several guards ahead of him on the depth chart last season, Washington’s services weren’t needed . . .

. . . and they probably won’t be needed again this year. David Moosman was the only guard to graduate in 2009. Steve Schilling returns at left guard, and last year’s part-time starters at right guard (Patrick Omameh and Mark Huyge) also return. Mealer, Ricky Barnum, and part-time 2008 starter John Ferrara also return. There have also been reports from practice that Washington has been developing slowly. That’s not a concern at this point, considering that he’s only one year removed from high school. But Michigan fans shouldn’t be expecting to see Washington on the field much this season. Perhaps he can push for the guard position that Schilling will be vacating after this season.

2010 Countdown: #62 Kelvin Grady

Name: Kelvin Grady
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 167 lbs.
High school: East Grand Rapids High School in Grand Rapids, MI
Position: Slot receiver/running back
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #19
Last year: Not ranked.

The brother of former Michigan running back Kevin Grady, the younger Grady came to Michigan to play basketball. But he didn’t quite fit in Coach Beilein’s system and left the basketball team. Grady then decided to walk on to the football program in 2009 after having been a star high school running back. Grady was impressive enough that he earned starter-level playing time early in the season. He caught 10 passes for 102 yards and 1 touchdown, but was surpassed late in the season by Roy Roundtree; Grady started dropping passes and then didn’t even play in the final three games of the year.

The word from insiders is that Grady will be given a shot to earn playing time at either slot receiver or running back in the fall. Without a returning starter at the running back position – and underwhelming performances during the spring game – Grady might offer some depth. I’m not expecting much from him this fall. He’s too slight to play running back in the Big Ten, and there are better options there; and the combination of Roundtree and Martavious Odoms at slot receiver is potentially deadly, not to mention up-and-comers Terrence Robinson and Jeremy Gallon. It’s a good thing for Michigan that someone with Grady’s talent might be its fifth best player at the position; it’s a bad thing for Grady himself.

Prediction for 2010: Scarce duty as backup slot receiver. He won’t match the stat totals from 2009.