Tag: 2011 Season Countdown

2011 Countdown: #54 Will Heininger

Will Heininger (#39) along with teammates Zac Ciullo (#61) and John Ferrara (#74)

Name: Will Heininger
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 267 lbs.
High school: Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, MI
Position: Defensive end/tackle
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #39
Last year: I did not rank Heininger due to the ACL injury he suffered prior to the season.  He recovered from the injury in time for Michigan’s last three games (all losses) and to make 3 tackles.

Heininger developed into a serviceable backup for Brandon Graham by 2009, which is why his ACL tear in the spring of 2010 must have been frustrating.  Heininger had been in line for a fair amount of playing time in 2010, and frankly, he probably would have beaten out Adam Patterson for minutes along the defensive line.  Unfortunately, his injury robbed him of most of his redshirt junior year, and now he’s back for one last hurrah.

Big #39 only has 13 career tackles, but that’s not bad for a former walk-on.  This past spring he played strongside end, but he also saw some time at the 3-tech defensive tackle position.  With the shortage of interior defensive linemen on the roster, there’s a very good chance that Heininger will see some time at the 3-tech during the season.  I don’t expect him to be much of a playmaker, but he does play with good technique and holds his ground pretty well against guys who are bigger than him.  He’s just a rotation player, but you need those guys sometimes.

Prediction: Utility backup defensive lineman

2011 Countdown: #55 Steve Watson

Steve Watson tackles Illinois quarterback Juice Williams

Name: Steve Watson
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 268 lbs.
High school: Mullen High School in Cherry Hills Village, CO
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #81
Last year: I ranked Watson #63 and said he would be a special teamer and see spot duty on defense.  He played special teams and had 3 tackles on defense.

Watson is one of those kids who has bounced back and forth throughout his career.  His first couple seasons were spent at tight end, though he never saw the field on offense.  He switched to outside linebacker in Greg Robinson’s 4-3 scheme for the 2009 season, then became a defensive end/tackle in 2010’s 3-3-5 alignment.  But with the shortage of tight ends on the roster and a coach who wants to use sets with multiple tight ends, Watson flipped back to offense this spring.

He’s clearly behind starter Kevin Koger and even primary backup Brandon Moore, but it’s unclear how far down the depth chart Watson will be.  Converted wide receiver Ricardo Miller might see some time at tight end, but he’s more of an H-back than an on-the-line blocker.  There’s also the issue of incoming freshman Chris Barnett, who has a chance to steal some snaps if he’s recovered from his torn ACL.  Michigan doesn’t need Watson to be much of a pass receiving threat, but it would be great if he could handle being the #3 tight end and give the freshman Barnett a chance to redshirt.

Prediction: Backup tight end and special teams contributor

2011 Countdown: #56 Thomas Rawls

Thomas Rawls

Name: Thomas Rawls
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Northern High School in Flint, MI
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #38
Last year: Rawls was a high school senior (commitment post here)

TTB Rating: 68

I’m probably going to take some flak for putting Rawls down here at #56, but that’s okay.  There are plenty of people who think Rawls could come in and be the starter, and I have few doubts that he will compete for playing time.  For one thing, I think the other running back in the 2011 class, Justice Hayes, is almost a lock to redshirt, and there’s not much chance that two running backs in one class will redshirt at the same time.  Rawls’ body is more developed than Hayes’, and without much talent at the fullback position (let’s face it – John McColgan is just a guy), it’s possible that the coaches might want to have a jumbo backfield with sophomore Stephen Hopkins (227 lbs.) and Rawls for short yardage situations.

I also have difficulty seeing Rawls beat out a few upperclassmen, namely Michael Shaw and Michael Cox.  Shaw gets injured regularly, and there’s obviously that looming possibility, but he has performed pretty well when able.  And my affinity for Cox (pun intended) has been well documented.  Aside from those two, the Wolverines have a third down back in junior Vincent Smith and another big back in Hopkins.  Other than the aforementioned short yardage situations (which Cox could handle just as easily, in my opinion), I just don’t see a need for Rawls to see the field much this year.

Prediction: Backup running back

2011 Countdown: #57 Ken Wilkins

Ken Wilkins

Name: Ken Wilkins
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 262 lbs.
High school: Trinity High School in Washington, PA
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I ranked Wilkins #73 and said he would redshirt.  He redshirted.

I don’t understand the official roster on MGoBlue.com, which calls Wilkins a “DT” when he was clearly playing defensive end all spring.  He’s playing the same 5-tech position as Ryan Van Bergen, who’s listed as a . . . “DE.”  So whatever.  Wilkins came in as a 244-pound defensive end last season, but with his need to bulk up combined with all the upperclassman defensive linemen on the roster, he was able to redshirt and put on some weight.

Now up 18 lbs., Wilkins seems to be in line for some playing time this season.  Defensive linemen rotate often, and he might be the #3 strongside end on the depth chart.  Van Bergen should be the starter, but Jibreel Black can play both SDE and WDE, while walk-on Will Heininger will probably play a little bit at SDE, too.  Wilkins will probably see some minutes in the rotation, but based on what I saw in the spring, he’s not quite ready for the primetime just yet.

Prediction: Backup strongside end

2011 Countdown: #58 Elliott Mealer

Elliott Mealer

Name: Elliott Mealer
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 313 lbs.
High school: Wauseon High School in Wauseon, OH
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #57
Last year: I ranked Mealer #51 and said he’d be a backup left guard and special teamer.  He played all 13 games on special teams.

If you’re a fan of humanity, you can’t help but root for Mealer.  It doesn’t seem that long ago, but now entering his fourth year in the program, Mealer lost his father and girlfriend to a car accident during the holidays in his senior year of high school.  Elliott suffered a shoulder injury and his brother, Brock, was partially paralyzed.  On a brighter note, Brock recovered enough to lead the team onto the field for its opener against Connecticut in September 2010.

Elliott has played sparingly in his first three seasons in the program, seeing action at offensive guard in only four games thus far.  Brady Hoke’s offense might benefit Mealer a little more than Rich Rodriguez’s system, which stressed quickness and blocking at the second level.  Mealer looked fairly quick coming out of high school and as a redshirt freshman in 2009, but he added some weight prior to 2010 and looked a little too slow to be effective.  Now he’s the heaviest he’s ever been (up from 310 to 313), but the power running game ought to suit him a little better.  I don’t expect him to push for a starting position here in 2011, but he could be a key backup if there are any injuries along the offensive line.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard