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2016 Season Countdown: #7 Chris Wormley

Chris Wormley (image via Michigan Daily)

Name: Chris Wormley
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 302 lbs.
High school: Toledo (OH) Whitmer
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #43
Last year: I ranked Wormley #16 and said he would be the starting strongside end with 40 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks (LINK). He made ten starts either end or tackle, making 43 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass breakup.

Wormley was a part-time starter in 2014, and we knew he would play a lot in 2015. It wasn’t clear how big of a step he would take, and the depth chart was murky with a wide array of talent. He broke out immediately in the Utah game with 5 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. From that point forward, he established himself as a player who could be dominant at times. Against Oregon State the next week, he had 6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Of course, his pace of being headed for 36 tackles for loss couldn’t last, and it slowed down to where he just had 14.5 by the end of the year (8th in the Big Ten), along with 6.5 sacks (10th).

Going into the 2016 season, he’s an established player that opponents have to account for regularly. He can play strongside end or defensive tackle, and in fact, he has reportedly played every spot on the defensive line so Don Brown can employ him in many different ways in blitz packages. Despite being 300 lbs., he also regularly wins sprints for his position group. He’s an all-around terror. Scout’s Sam Webb said over the summer that Michigan’s staff planned to start Wormley at defensive tackle and Rashan Gary at strongside end, but I have heard other rumblings recently that perhaps Gary isn’t quite ready to start. Depending on Gary’s readiness, Wormley will either start at end or tackle, with Matt Godin and Maurice Hurst, Jr. being the other options at 3-tech. I don’t expect a huge leap for Wormley this year in terms of production, but the recently elected defensive captain should have another very solid year for the Wolverines.

Prediction: Starting defensive tackle; 50 tackles, 7 sacks

Pro Athletes and Their Spawn: 2016 Edition

Mike Alstott (image via Purdujax.org)

I have always been infatuated with pro athletes and their kids’ athletic careers. Maybe it started when I watched Ken Griffey, Jr. play baseball with his dad, but it amazes me sometimes when people who are some of the best athletes in the country – or even the world – have kids who grow up to follow in their footsteps. So for the last several years, I have compiled lists of players who have accomplished athletes as fathers. I’m sure there are others out there that I have not come across, but below is a list of thirteen prospects for the class of 2016 who had standout athletes for dads. You can see past versions by clicking on the year (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)

Griffin Alstott – QB – St. Petersburg (FL) Northside Christian: Alstott is a 6’2″, 200 lb. quarterback with a lone offer from Appalachian State. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star, the #18 dual-threat QB, and #580 overall. He is the son of former Purdue and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back/fullback Mike Alstott, who was Purdue’s career touchdown leader after he finished his college career in 1995 and averaged 5.6 yards/carry as a 6’1″, 240 lb. bruiser. He became a 2nd round pick of the Buccaneers, playing his whole career there from 1996-2006. He had over 5,000 yards rushing, over 2,000 yards receiving, and a total of 71 touchdowns while winning a Super Bowl and going to six Pro Bowls.

Hit the jump for more.

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Visitors: Michigan vs. BYU

Paramus (NJ) Catholic defensive tackle Rashan Gary

2016
Christian Boyd – DT – Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Boyd is a 6’2″, 280 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He also visited Michigan last weekend for the UNLV game. He is a teammate of 2016 wide receiver Hunter Broersma (Western Michigan), cornerback Darece Roberson (Western Michigan), and wide receiver Kobe Burse (Miami-OH).

Kingston Davis – RB – Prattville (AL) Prattville: Davis committed to Michigan in April (LINK). So far as a senior, he has 598 yards and 7 rushing touchdowns through four games (LINK).

Chris Evans – RB – Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis: Evans committed to Michigan in June. You can see how his senior season is going here (LINK).

Rashan Gary – DT – Paramus (NJ) Catholic: Gary is a 6’4″, 287 lb. prospect with offers from almost everywhere. He’s a 247 Composite 5-star, the #1 defensive tackle, and #1 overall. The plurality of his Crystal Ball picks are for Michigan (47%), but Auburn and Georgia are also strong contenders. He is teammates with 2016 wide receiver Donald Stewart; 2017 defensive end Corey Bolds and linebacker Drew Singleton; and 2018 quarterback Allan Walters. There are a lot of connections to Michigan, since redshirt freshman safety Jabrill Peppers and offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty are both from his high school, along with recruiting coordinator Chris Partridge, who coached the Paladins last year. This is Gary’s official visit.

Hit the jump for several more 2016, 2017, and 2018 visitors.

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Visitors: Michigan vs. UNLV

Fresno (CA) Clovis West linebacker Caleb Kelly

2016
Christian Boyd – DT – Muskegon (MI) Mona Shores: Boyd is a 6’2″, 260 lb. prospect with no offers at this time. He is teammates with a pretty nice crew of 2016 athletes in wide receiver Kobe Burse (Miami-OH), cornerback Darece Roberson (Western Michigan), and wide receiver Hunter Broersma (Western Michigan).

Keyshon Camp – DT – Lakeland (FL) Lake Gibson: Camp is a 6’3″, 269 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, and UCLA, among others; he committed to USC in June. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #20 defensive tackle, and #174 overall. A former teammate of Michigan freshman Reuben Jones, he is also coached by former Michigan offensive lineman Ricky Barnum. This is his official visit.

Donnie Corley – WR – Detroit (MI) King:

Caleb Kelly – LB – Fresno (CA) Clovis West: Kelly is a 247 Composite 5-star, the #2 outside linebacker, and #16 overall. He has offers from Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA, and USC, among others. He visited Michigan this spring and the coaching staff has been after him hard, but his leader is thought to be Oklahoma. He is committed to the 2016 U.S. All-American Bowl. This is his official visit.

Hit the jump for a number of other visitors.
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Video: Denard Robinson, Devin Gardner at Aerial Assault camp