Tag: 2012 season countdown

2012 Season Countdown: #55 Amara Darboh

Amara Darboh

Name: Amara Darboh
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: West Des Moines (IA) Dowling Catholic
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #82
Last year: Darboh was in high school.  He had 48 receptions for 765 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Final TTB Rating: 77

Darboh achieved the above statistics in just six games due to a shoulder injury, which required offseason surgery.  Despite the injury, he maintained a place in the various recruiting sites’ top X lists.  He committed to Michigan in December over a pretty impressive list of offers that included Florida, Iowa, and Notre Dame.

Darboh has recently stated that he’s 6’3″ and around 210 lbs., which is very well developed for a freshman receiver.  People who have seen him this offseason say he looks like an outside linebacker rather than a wideout, which should bode well for his chances at earning playing time this fall.  In fact, that physical development is reminiscent of the now graduated Junior Hemingway (who was 6’1″, 202 lbs. as a true freshman).  Hemingway played as a true freshman, though he made a minimal impact that season.  I expect a similar experience for Darboh as a freshman.  Numbers at the wide receiver position suggest that he, Jehu Chesson, or both will see the field this season in some capacity.  He probably won’t touch the ball much, but he might catch one or two passes to get his feet wet.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

2012 Season Countdown: #56 Jarrod Wilson

Jarrod Wilson

Name: Jarrod Wilson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Akron (OH) Buchtel
Position: Free safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #22
Last year: Wilson was in high school.  He made 71 tackles, 3 interceptions (1 for a touchdown), and 1 blocked punt.

Final TTB Rating: 88

Wilson was a highly touted high school player coached by former Michigan running back Ricky Powers.  He had a great junior season (10 interceptions) before teams started avoiding him as a senior.  In recent years, Michigan’s safeties seem to be low rated (Ray Vinopal, Thomas Gordon) or position changers (Steve Brown, Cam Gordon), so it will be interesting to see how a true free safety pans out.  Wilson enrolled at Michigan in January and played a good deal with the second unit during spring ball.

Heading into the 2012 season, Wilson has a very good chance to play a backup role behind incumbent starter Thomas Gordon.  However, he will also be competing with redshirt sophomore Josh Furman and redshirt freshman Tamani Carter, both of whom missed all or part of the spring due to some legal issues.  The coaches like Wilson’s ball skills, but tackling is a bit of an issue at this point.  I mentioned in Wilson’s recruiting post that he wasn’t the best tackler, and there was more evidence when Thomas Rawls ran through Wilson for a score in the spring game.  He’s a work in progress at free safety, and there have also been hints that Michigan will give him a shot at cornerback.  Ultimately, I think he will continue his career at the safety position.

Prediction: Backup free safety

2012 Season Countdown: #57 Dennis Norfleet

Dennis Norfleet

Name: Dennis Norfleet
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 175 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) King
Position: Running back, returner
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #26
Last year: Norfleet was in high school.  He rushed for 2,033 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Final TTB Rating: 76

Norfleet was a late but welcome addition to the class of 2012.  Hailing from an hour down the road from Ann Arbor, he had no offer from the Wolverines (and ignored one from Michigan State) and was committed to Cincinnati.  But having missed out on some high profile targets prior to National Signing Day, the coaching staff tossed out an offer to Norfleet, who until then hadn’t heard much from the coaches.  He committed immediately.  He was a somewhat high profile player with a 4-star ranking to everyone except ESPN, but his size seemed to deter programs who typically look for bigger running backs.

The lack of size shouldn’t hurt Norfleet at Michigan, though.  It was made rather clear when he was offered that the coaching staff wanted him to return punts and kickoffs, and maybe not do much else.  Size matters very little when it comes to returners.  Without an established kickoff returner coming back in 2012, Norfleet has a good chance of starting there.  As far as punt returns go, Jeremy Gallon is the incumbent, but he’s also projected to start at split end.  If the coaches don’t want to tire out Gallon or risk getting him injured, Norfleet could start there, too.

Prediction: Starting kickoff and punt returner by the end of the season; 23.0 yards per kick return, 10.0 yards per punt return

2012 Season Countdown: #58 A.J. Williams

A.J. Williams

Name: A.J. Williams
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 265 lbs.
High school: Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #84
Last year: Williams was in high school. No stats are available.

Final TTB Rating: 69

Even though Michigan brought in two tight ends in the class of 2012, the coaches were looking for three.  Williams was an in-line blocker and used as an H-back for his Sycamore team, but it was a team that rarely passed, especially to the tight end.  So Brady Hoke also went after a more prototypical pass-catching tight end in the form of Devin Funchess.  As far as I know, Williams never touched the ball.  But he did have a ton of opportunities to refine his blocking skills for the run game, which should serve the 265-pounder well.

The graduation of starter Kevin Koger and key backup Steve Watson leaves a gaping hole at tight end, and it’s unclear whether fifth year senior Brandon Moore will be up to the task of filling it.  Al Borges likes to use multiple tight ends, although his willingness to run more of a spread offense for Denard Robinson means that the need at tight end might be alleviated a little bit this year.  Williams is likely to play a fair amount because of his size, but a walk-on like Mike Kwiatkowski might be just as efficient.

Prediction: Backup tight end

2012 Season Countdown: #59 Justice Hayes

Justice Hayes takes a handoff from Jack Kennedy in the 2012 spring game

Name: Justice Hayes
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 176 lbs.
High school: Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #5
Last year: I ranked Hayes #86 and said he would redshirt.  He redshirted.

At only 176 lbs. last season and with several experienced backs on the roster, Hayes was a virtual lock to redshirt.  He earned some praise in the off-season and the spring for his ability to run outside the tackles, but so far, his ability to run inside has not developed.

Rumors and speculation have popped up that Hayes will battle with sophomore Thomas Rawls to be Fitzgerald Toussaint’s primary backup, but I don’t see Hayes as an every-down back.  He will likely be heavier this year, but not physical enough.  Instead, I expect Hayes to be groomed as Vincent Smith’s heir to the third down back role.  Hayes can be effective on draws, counters, screens, and dump-offs, plays that can get him in open space and use his shiftiness.  He could also be useful on kickoff returns.

Prediction: Backup running back; occasional kick returner