2009 Countdown: #44 Patrick Omameh

Tag: 2009 Season Countdown


16Aug 2009
Uncategorized no comments

2009 Countdown: #44 Patrick Omameh

Name: Patrick Omameh
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 276 lbs.
High School: St. Francis Desales High School in Columbus, OH
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: RS freshman
Jersey Number: #65
Prediction for 2009: Backup offensive tackle

Omameh (pronounced oh-MAH-mee) has been the surprise of the 2008 recruiting class. Lightly regarded (and light, period) coming out of high school, Omameh was ranked as a defensive end prospect and garnered a late offer from Rich Rodriguez and his staff. Omameh was impressive right off the bat during summer workouts and traveled to away games last season; although he didn’t play a down in 2008 and therefore preserved his redshirt, he’s battling Mark Huyge for the starting right tackle position.

If Huyge falters this season or if there’s an injury at one of the tackle positions, Omameh will quite possibly be the replacement you see on the field. He remains a little light, but he has good agility and a long frame. He may not factor into the 2009 season very significantly, but with Mark Ortmann graduating this year, look for Omameh to take over the left tackle job in 2010.

12Aug 2009
Uncategorized 4 comments

2009 Countdown: #45 Je’Ron Stokes

Name: Je’Ron Stokes
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 181 lbs.
High School: Northeast High School in Philadelphia, PA
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey Number: #6
Prediction for 2009: Limited playing time at wide receiver

Stokes was a deadline commitment to Michigan and one of the Wolverines’ top few recruits. He’s behind several upperclassmen at the start of fall camp, but with Greg Mathews and Laterryal Savoy graduating after this year, Stokes should get some reps, if only to prepare him for a larger role in 2010. He has garnered some comparisons to Mario Manningham, which would obviously be a big plus; he’s different than any other receiver we have on the roster in that he has the speed and cutting ability to run those deep ins and make something happen. But it remains to be seen whether that will be a part of Rodriguez’s game planning with such young quarterbacks throwing the ball.

Picture via TheWolverine.com

10Aug 2009
Uncategorized no comments

2009 Countdown: #46 Roy Roundtree

Name: Roy Roundtree
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 170 lbs.
High School: Trotwood-Madison High School in Trotwood, OH
Position: Slot receiver
Class: RS freshman
Jersey Number: #12
Prediction for 2009: Backup slot receiver

Roundtree showed in the spring game that he can be a dangerous receiver (2 TDs); however, both those scores came against second- and third-string defenders. It’s practically assured that Roundtree will be behind incumbent starter Martavious Odoms; the bigger question is whether he’ll be second, third, or lower on the depth chart. I think he’ll get the second-most reps at slot receiver, but he’s probably not going to run the same kind of routes as someone like Odoms because Roundtree isn’t as elusive. Roundtree is more of an outside wide receiver who’s playing in the slot, and he’ll give Rodriguez and Co. some different options if he comes into the game.

10Aug 2009
Uncategorized no comments

2009 Countdown: #47 Kenny Demens

Name: Kenny Demens
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 236 lbs.
High School: Detroit Country Day School
Position: MIKE linebacker
Class: RS freshman
Jersey Number: #25
Prediction for 2009: Backup MIKE

Demens looks to be the top backup for the middle linebacker position. He initially used up his eligibility last year but was awarded a redshirt after injuring his shoulder and not playing after the Miami game. With recruiting looking the way it does now, Demens might be the very early frontrunner for the 2011 middle linebacker job.

Fun fact: I watched my alma mater get destroyed by Detroit Country Day when Demens was a sophomore. Not knowing who he and Jonas Gray were at the time, I said to a friend, “Whoever those two kids are, they’re going to be playing Division I next year.” Little did I know that, as good as they were, they both still had two years of high school left.

10Aug 2009
Uncategorized no comments

2009 Countdown: #48 Craig Roh

Name: Craig Roh
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 238 lbs.
High School: Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, AZ
Position: Quick
Class: Freshman
Jersey Number: #88
Prediction for 2009: Backup DE/OLB hybrid (“Quick”)

Of the 2009 recruits, Roh is best suited for the Quick position. He’s an excellent pass rusher, but he also has the athleticism to play in open space in case he has to cover the flat or an occasional running back out of the backfield. As fall camp begins tomorrow, Roh is probably behind a couple guys (Brandon Herron, perhaps Marell Evans) for playing time, but by the end of the season, I think Roh might earn the starting job.