2013 Season Countdown: #55 Justice Hayes

Tag: 2013 season countdown

5Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #55 Justice Hayes

Justice Hayes

Name: Justice Hayes
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Grand Blanc (MI) Grand Blanc
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #5
Last year: I ranked Hayes #59 and said he would be a backup running back. He had 18 carries for 83 yards and 1 touchdown.

Hayes, a scatback type, was stuck behind Vincent Smith for that role last year. There was never a strong need to use Hayes, since Smith stayed healthy. Hayes ended up having decent games against overmatched Massachusetts and Illinois teams, totaling 13 carries for 85 yards and 1 touchdown in those games. Unfortunately, his other five carries – against Iowa, Northwestern, and South Carolina – netted him -2 yards. He had yet another chance to impress in the spring game, but he was ineffectual.

The depth chart hasn’t cleared up much for Hayes this year. With Smith gone the screens and draws might go to sophomore Dennis Norfleet instead. Hayes clearly seems to be behind Thomas Rawls in the coaches’ eyes, and the top two tailbacks could very well be fifth year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint and freshman Derrick Green. I don’t think Hayes has a shot at cracking the top two, so he will probably be used scarcely once again in 2013 unless there are injuries. There will be some carries in garbage time, and the coaches may trust him to block more than Norfleet, but there’s considerable depth at the running back position this year.

Prediction: Backup running back; 15 carries for 60 yards

4Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #56 Chris Bryant

Chris Bryant (image via AnnArbor.com)

Name: Chris Bryant
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 325 lbs.
High school: Chicago (IL) Simeon
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #58
Last year: I ranked Bryant #44 and said he would be the backup right guard. He broke his leg and did not play at all.

I’ve been high on Bryant for a few years, so last year was disappointing – more for him than me, I’m sure. Bryant broke his leg just before the season started and missed the entire year. He didn’t have much of a chance to beat out the three fifth year seniors who manned the interior positions last year, anyway, and luckily they all stayed healthy. But that also meant Bryant missed out on some valuable practice time, and when the spring game arrived, he appeared to be running with the third team.

If the spring game depth chart is to be believed, Bryant isn’t a front-runner for one of the vacated guard positions. A couple walk-ons and a couple redshirt freshmen seem to have slid in front of Bryant, although there’s a chance that Bryant could make a push as his body recovers. Some players have talked about him being the most powerful offensive lineman on the team, but word is that he struggles with pass blocking. This year may not be his year to step up, but there may be another opportunity in 2014; after Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield graduate, there will likely be some reshuffling of positions.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

3Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #57 Brian Cleary

Brian Cleary

Name: Brian Cleary
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 199 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Jesuit
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #6
Last year: I didn’t rank Cleary. He did not see game action.

Cleary was a total afterthought for everyone . . . until backup quarterback Russell Bellomy tore his ACL in the spring. With class of 2013 quarterback Shane Morris not arriving until June, Cleary was immediately thrust into the #2 quarterback role for the spring game. He performed adequately, but most observers are probably rightfully a little bit concerned that Cleary might have to take the reins at some point.

The battle between Morris and Cleary to back up Devin Gardner might be an interesting one. Cleary has an edge in experience, especially because Morris missed a good chunk of time due to mononucleosis his senior year. Cleary knows the playbook better and has practiced against Michigan’s defense. That might not be enough to hold off Morris, who has a cannon for an arm and some pretty good athleticism. In all likelihood, Michigan is probably going to be in very bad shape if Gardner goes down for any significant length of time.

Prediction: #3 quarterback, at least by the end of the season

2Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #58 Mike McCray II

Mike McCray II

Name: Mike McCray II
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #9
Last year: McCray was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 74.

McCray committed to Michigan in March 2012 and stuck by the Wolverines even when Ohio State eventually came calling with an offer. He was invited to The Opening last summer and also selected to the Under Armour All-America Game, but he didn’t particularly stand out at either event. In between the two, he had a solid but unspectacular season that pretty much confirmed what the prognosticators had seen earlier.

One large determining factor for McCray’s future might be his height. At the Rivals 5-star Challenge last summer, he measured in at 6’1″ despite being listed in other places at 6’4″. My 6’2″ up there is just a guesstimate, as he’s likely somewhere in between. If he’s taller than that, he might fit best at SAM linebacker. If he’s 6’2″ or shorter, he will probably end up at MIKE in the long-term. After starter Jake Ryan’s ACL injury in the spring, McCray was mentioned as a possible backup, along with Cam Gordon and Mark Lawson; however, it was shortly revealed that Brennen Beyer was moving from weakside end to SAM to shore up the position, so that potentially shoves McCray farther down the depth chart. I would like to see McCray redshirt, but for some reason, I think the coaches are going to burn it to prepare him for the stretch run or for next year.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker, special teams coverage

1Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #59 Dylan Esterline

Dylan Esterline (image via MGoBlog)

Name: Dylan Esterline
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Blissfield (MI) Blissfield
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #42
Last year: I didn’t rank Esterline. He had 1 catch for 7 yards against Illinois.

Esterline was one of those anonymous walk-on players last year who developed into a viable backup player. In Michigan’s blowout of the Fighting Illini, he grabbed one pass only to be tackled immediately. Most walk-ons dreams for just one opportunity like that.

Esterline might have a chance to add to that production, though. Michigan is a little short on bona fide tight end prospects with sophomore A.J. Williams assured a spot as a blocker and everything up in the air after that. Sophomore Devin Funchess is more of a flex tight end, and freshmen Jake Butt and Khalid Hill are somewhat undersized for in-line blocking at this point, too. Al Borges likes to use multiple tight ends, and Esterline could be the #2 guy at the Y position. He probably won’t be much of a receiving threat, but I do think he’ll get some playing time over a guy like redshirt junior Jordan Paskorz, who has not impressed me physically.

Prediction: Backup tight end