2013 Season Countdown: #35 Jehu Chesson

Tag: 2013 season countdown

25Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #35 Jehu Chesson

Jehu Chesson

Name: Jehu Chesson
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 193 lbs.
High school: St. Louis (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #86
Last year: I ranked Chesson #47 and said he would be a backup wide receiver. He redshirted.

Chesson came to Michigan last year as a very skinny and speedy character, and Michigan has been lacking some speed at receiver for the past few years. I thought that would get him on the field at least a little bit, but classmate Amara Darboh earned those snaps while Chesson stood on the sideline. This spring he showed up on some of those spring highlight videos making diving catches and beating the defense deep, which was somewhat promising for him.

This year he’s a little bit bigger, and Roy Roundtree’s graduation means someone else has to step up. Based on Darboh’s experience, that might be the guy. But I think Chesson’s physical talents are a little more tantalizing, since he’s perhaps the fastest of the entire unit. Jeremy Gallon will be the primary deep threat, but Chesson could take on some of those deep routes and open up some things underneath for Gallon, who’s excellent after the catch. With Devin Gardner taking on the quarterback job this year, I expect that to open up the passing game a little bit and create more opportunities for someone like Chesson.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver; 12 catches, 150 yards, 1 touchdown

24Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #36 Willie Henry

Willie Henry

Name: Willie Henry
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 306 lbs.
High school: Cleveland (OH) Glenville
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #69
Last year: I ranked Henry #85 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Henry was pretty light for a defensive tackle when he committed just before National Signing Day 2012, but he was 300+ pounds by the time fall rolled around. He earned some practice buzz in the spring, and the coaches said he might contribute at any of three positions on the defensive line – strongside end, nose tackle, or 3-tech defensive tackle. They must really like his athleticism if they think he can compete at end.

As my sleeper pick from the 2012 class, I have pretty high hopes for Henry. I thought it might take a couple years for him to bulk up, but apparently, that hasn’t been a problem. He probably won’t start this year, but he should get some playing time behind nose tackle Quinton Washington and/or 3-tech Jibreel Black, along with Ondre Pipkins. With Washington and Black part of this year’s senior class, that gives Henry, Pipkins, and perhaps others one year to apprentice before taking on starting roles. My guess is that the two aforementioned tackles rotate in this season and are your starting duo in 2014.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

23Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #37 Matt Godin

Matt Godin (left)

Name: Matt Godin
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 277 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Godin #72 and said he would be a backup defensive end. He redshirted.

Godin put on a few pounds since last year, when he was a long kid who needed to remold his body a little bit. He redshirted during the year and entered the spring competing for the strongside defensive end position, which has been vacated by Craig Roh. The primary backup there last year was Keith Heitzman, who started in the spring game, but Godin got plenty of time.

Michigan needs someone to step up at the vacated position, and Godin looked pretty decent in the spring. He’s a strongside end/defensive tackle tweener, so he’s not an explosive edge rusher. But if Michigan wants him to hold the point of attack while the weakside end and SAM linebacker come off the edge, then I think Godin can hold his ground. He’ll be competing with the likes of redshirt sophomore Heitzman and redshirt freshman Chris Wormley, so there’s not a whole lot of experience in the running. I think the edge goes to Heitzman, who has game experience and a good motor, but Michigan should be able to rotate a couple guys without losing much from first to second string.

Prediction: Backup strongside end

22Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #38 Brennen Beyer

Brennen Beyer (#97)

Name: Brennen Beyer
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 254 lbs.
High school: Plymouth (MI) Plymouth
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #97
Last year: I ranked Beyer #24 and said he would be the starting weakside end. He started eight games and had 19 tackles, .5 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble.

Beyer moved from SAM linebacker in 2011 to weakside end in 2012, where he started the majority of the season after Frank Clark checked into the doghouse. After a freshman season that saw him make 11 tackles, Beyer upped that production to 19 tackles in 2012. Unfortunately, very few of those plays happened in the backfield and he was not much of a threat to rush the passer. In essence, he was a very mediocre player at a position that should  produce some big plays. Clark and then freshman Mario Ojemudia were the ones who made those big plays, though. After starting SAM Jake Ryan tore his ACL this spring, Beyer was moved back to SAM and appears entrenched there until Ryan returns (projected to be in October). Beyer showed little in the spring game.

My opinion of Beyer’s skills has been sullied over the past couple seasons. I expected him to be a little more athletic than he has shown, but even in his lighter days, he hasn’t shown the ability to be explosive. He has added almost 30 pounds since he arrived, and that probably doesn’t bode well for his athleticism. Meanwhile, he has moved back to linebacker, where such stiffness is an even bigger detriment. All evidence to this point suggests that Beyer will begin the year as the starting SAM: he played there as a freshman over then redshirt junior Cam Gordon, he started over Clark, and he started at outside linebacker in the spring game over Gordon once again. For whatever reason, the coaches want him on the field. However, this is my blog where I sometimes disagree with the coaches, and this would be one of those instances. While Beyer might hold up a tiny bit better against the run, the more athletic Gordon would be a better choice to start at SAM. The coaches might make situational substitutions until Ryan can return, at which point Beyer might find himself bumped back over to weakside end. In this one man’s opinion, Beyer should be no higher than #2 at either spot. I don’t think this team can afford to have an edge player starting who can only muster half a tackle for loss in two seasons.

Prediction: Part-time starting SAM

21Jul 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #39 Delonte Hollowell

Delonte Hollowell

Name: Delonte Hollowell
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 175 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Cornerback
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #24
Last year: I ranked Hollowell #54 and said he would be a backup cornerback and special teamer. He made 4 tackles and 1 fumble recovery on special teams.

Hollowell spent the last two seasons on coverage units, and he has been fairly productive there. He has 10 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries on punt coverage, which is pretty solid. He hasn’t earned much time on defense, and it might be tough sledding again this year. In the spring he played quite a bit with the first unit, as the injured Blake Countess was still out with an ACL tear. He had some decent but unspectacular moments in the spring game.

As we enter the season, Hollowell will likely be behind returning starters Countess and junior Raymon Taylor. There’s also the curious issue of Courtney Avery, who seems to have been displaced by freshman Dymonte Thomas for the nickel corner position. Avery did not take any reps at nickel in the spring, and he was the backup field corner last season – although he struggled mightily at times. If the coaching staff is in the process of getting Avery comfortable at one of the outside spots, then that might push Hollowell back to third on the depth chart. I think Hollowell will continue to be a solid special teamer and has some value as a backup corner.

Prediction: Backup cornerback, special teamer