2012 Season Countdown: #45 Kyle Kalis

Tag: 2012 season countdown


16Jul 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #45 Kyle Kalis

Kyle Kalis

Name: Kyle Kalis
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 304 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s
Position: Offensive tackle/guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #67
Last year: Kalis was in high school. No stats are available.

Final TTB Rating: 95

Kalis was one of the more intriguing prospects in the whole class of 2012.  He originally committed to childhood favorite Ohio State in September of 2010 during the fall of his junior year.  But in July of 2011, he had grown disgruntled with the direction of OSU’s program and committed to the Buckeyes’ arch rival.  He was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he played offensive guard instead of his normal tackle position.

Most observers (including me) believe Kalis is the most college ready of the four freshman offensive linemen.  He already has the size of a college lineman, and his play suggests that he’s pretty close in the strength department, too.  As the son of a former NFL offensive lineman (Todd Kalis) and a disciple of LeCharles Bentley, he has pretty good technique, too.  The starting left guard position is unresolved with fifth year senior Elliott Mealer and redshirt sophomore walk-on Joey Burzynski battling it out, but there’s also an opportunity for a freshman like Kalis to work his way into the lineup.  The coaches stated that Kalis would begin working at right tackle, but Michael Schofield played tackle, too, and he started most of the season at left guard.  Regardless of who wins the starting position at the beginning of the season, it’s a near certainty that one or more freshmen will see the field this fall.  And as we learned from the Desmond Morgan situation last season, the coaches won’t hesitate to toss in a true freshman if they feel he’s the best guy.

Prediction: Backup offensive lineman

15Jul 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #46 Joe Bolden

Joe Bolden (#35) chases Devin Gardner in the spring game

Name: Joe Bolden
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Cincinnati (OH) Colerain
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #35
Last year: Bolden was in high school. He had 86 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception returned for a touchdown.

Final TTB Rating: 88

Bolden played in the Under Armour All-American Game in early January, and he earned rave reviews for his tackling and diagnosing abilities, as well as his leadership.  He played fairly well in the game itself, but wasn’t a star.  Bolden enrolled at Michigan in January and participated in spring practices, so he already has a leg up on the rest of the 2012 linebackers.

Aside from Kenny Demens, Michigan has no true middle linebacker waiting in the wings as a backup or injury replacement.  Mike Jones hasn’t played much and isn’t a good fit at MIKE.  Other options include the undersized Antonio Poole (likely out for the year with an injury); the undersized Brandin Hawthorne (who lost his starting WILL job to a freshman last year); or incoming freshman Royce Jenkins-Stone (undersized and inexperienced).  That leaves Bolden as Demens’s potential primary backup.  However, Demens was very durable last season and often played the whole game.  If he goes down for any length of time, it’s also quite possible that WILL linebacker Desmond Morgan slides over to MIKE.  Bolden is low on the list for being a potential second-stringer, but that’s mainly because there are lots of permutations we could see at linebacker.  I expect Bolden to see the field some, but Bolden looked a step slow in the Under Armour game and in the spring.  It will likely be best for the team if he’s not counted on heavily during the season.

Prediction: Backup middle linebacker

14Jul 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #47 Jehu Chesson

Jehu Chesson

Name: Jehu Chesson
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: St. Louis (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Chesson was in high school.  He had 53 catches for 757 yards (14.6 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns.

Final TTB Rating:
87

Chesson followed up a good senior football season with an excellent spring running track, where he won a Missouri state championship in the hurdles.  He has good speed and good size, although he may be a little slight for the receiver position at this point.  A spring of running track kept his weight down, while future roommate Amara Darboh was able to bulk up to 205-210 lbs. or so.

There will be opportunities for freshman receivers to play this season.  Michigan doesn’t have any truly dynamic players at the receiver positions, instead having a stable full of complementary wideouts.  Chesson is taller than all but Jeremy Jackson, faster than most, and considering his track background, probably as capable as anyone of getting jump balls.  He might get bodied out of the way and he might need to work on shoring up his route running, but somebody needs to provide the team with a deep threat to stretch the field.  Chesson may not be the most mentally ready, but you can see the physical talent.  It just depends on how quickly he progresses.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

13Jul 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #48 Raymon Taylor

Raymon Taylor

Name: Raymon Taylor
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 169 lbs.
High school: Highland Park (MI) Highland Park
Position: Cornerback
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #6
Last year: I ranked Taylor #66 and said he would be a backup defensive back and a special teamer.  He was both, making 2 total tackles.

Taylor made a few more waves in 2011 than most expected, stepping in for oft-injured cornerback Troy Woolfolk early in the season.  Taylor’s playing time decreased as the season went along, but that’s not bad for a freshman hovering below 170 lbs.  He has good speed and decent ball skills, but he’s a kid who probably could have used a redshirt if Michigan had a little more depth behind the starters.

Taylor will once again be fighting for scraps in 2012.  Both starters at cornerback return, along with slot corner Courtney Avery and spring upstart Terrence Talbott.  Taylor will probably see the field as a backup in certain situations, but hopefully the starters remain healthy the entire season.  He’s more likely to play field corner, but that position is held by incumbent Blake Countess, who happens to be Taylor’s classmate.  And while the boundary corner will be vacated after J.T. Floyd’s graduation, the coaches seem to be hoping for a bigger, more physical guy to come in and take Floyd’s spot.

Prediction: Backup cornerback and special teams contributor

12Jul 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #49 Russell Bellomy

Russell Bellomy

Name: Russell Bellomy
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 189 lbs.
High school: Arlington (TX) Martin
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #8
Last year: I ranked Bellomy #84 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

As a true freshman entering a program with two highly touted quarterbacks older than you, chances are you’re not going to play.  So Bellomy sat and learned.  It seemed to pay off pretty well in the spring, when Bellomy looked solid running the team.  He lacks the arm strength and confidence to push the ball down the field, but he’s accurate and understands what the defense is trying to do.

It still might be difficult to get playing time in 2012.  Denard Robinson will hold onto the starting job, and Devin Gardner appears to be the #2 quarterback.  Gardner’s poor decision making can’t continue, though, or else he might see himself drop behind Bellomy.  Meanwhile, Gardner will probably see some time at wide receiver this fall, and if he excels playing wideout, Bellomy might get even more of a shot to take the reins as the primary backup.  Bellomy will probably only see the field in mop-up duty this fall, but he’s a pretty good quarterback for being #3 on the depth chart.

Prediction: Backup quarterback