Tag: 2014 season countdown

2014 Season Countdown: #61 Da’Mario Jones

Da’Mario Jones (image via Go Blue Wolverine)

Name: Da’Mario Jones
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 198 lbs.
High school: Westland (MI) John Glenn
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #10
Last year: I ranked Jones #65 and said he would be a backup wide receiver. He played most of the season on special teams.

I thought – and still think – that Jones was the best receiver in Michigan’s 2013 class, and he played more than any of the other receivers (Csont’e York played in one game; Jaron Dukes redshirted). Recently, the freshman wideouts who make it on the field generally have had decent abilities and/or play with some regularity throughout their careers. That gives me some hope for Jones, who played regularly on special teams coverage and mostly did a good job. One of the most frustrating moments last year was when he lost track of a punt by UConn, only to have it bounce off his foot and be recovered by the Huskies. That play aside, he seemed like a capable athlete.

Going into the 2014 season, there will be a lot of jockeying for position as receivers will fight for the scraps left behind by Devin Funchess. Redshirt sophomore Jehu Chesson got a ton of playing experience last year, and classmate Amara Darboh was impressing people before his foot injury last summer. Freshman Freddy Canteen exploded onto the scene this spring, but Jones should be one of those guys who sees some snaps on offense to give a guy a breather or in garbage time. Canteen also said in the spring that Jones is one of the fastest players on the team, so he could surprise some teams with his speed if given a chance.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver; 2 catches, 29 yards

2014 Season Countdown: #62 Csont’e York

Csont’e York, Thomas Rawls, and Frank Clark (left to right) – image via MDN Visuals

Name: Csont’e York
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 194 lbs.
High school: Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #81
Last year: I ranked York #89 and said he would redshirt. He played in one game as a backup receiver.

York came in last year as a somewhat unpolished receiver, and I was not the only one hoping he would redshirt. The coaches threw him in near the end of the blowout of Central Michigan only to put him back on the bench for the rest of the year. There’s almost always at least one player who inexplicably burns his redshirt for a play or three, and York was the 2013 version.

York got a little more run in the spring game, and he looked decent. York isn’t particularly speed, but he has pretty good size and has shown some good body control at various times. The top three receivers are usually the only ones that matter a great deal, and Amara Darboh’s return from injury would make it seem that York will be no higher than fourth or fifth. I think York has higher upside than the likes of Jeremy Jackson, and I believe he can come in and make some chain-moving catches once in a while.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver; 3 catches, 33 yards

2014 Season Countdown: #63 Henry Poggi

Henry Poggi (image via Go Blue Wolverine)

Name: Henry Poggi
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 271 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) Gilman
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #7
Last year: I ranked Poggi #84 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

That most fascinating of defensive line species, the kind with the single-digit number, spent last year on the bench. He came in as a defensive tackle or strongside end, and he was undersized for both in his first year. This spring Poggi was backing up both positions once again, and with a slightly different role on the strong side, a huge weight gain isn’t necessary. Poggi won’t push to start, and he probably won’t be the second guy in, either, but he appears to be the #3 guy at strongside end behind Brennen Beyer and Taco Charlton. Keith Heitzman’s move to offense and Chris Wormley’s growth into a defensive tackle make the path to playing time a little clearer going forward. Once Beyer graduates after the 2014 season, Charlton and Poggi should be the remaining players at the position. Things are a little murkier on the inside, but Michigan has more depth there and can probably make do without Poggi.

Prediction: Backup strongside end

2014 Season Countdown: #64 Mike McCray II

Mike McCray II (image via Go Blue Wolverine)

Name: Mike McCray II
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 242 lbs.
High school: Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #9
Last year: I ranked McCray #58 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer. He redshirted.

I thought McCray could have filled a role as a special teams player last year, but he spent the year on the bench. It was probably a good thing, because Michigan has played a lot of freshman linebackers in recent years; the only player on the linebacker two-deep to redshirt was Jake Ryan back in 2010. Last year Ben Gedeon burned his redshirt for a fairly small amount of playing time late in the season, though he performed well for a freshman once he got on the field.

McCray is ranked lower this year but will probably see some playing time. The Wolverines have considerable depth at middle linebacker, where Jake Ryan will start and probably be backed up by sophomore Gedeon. That leaves McCray to fend off freshmen Michael Ferns III and Noah Furbush for the third MIKE linebacker spot. I would expect to see McCray on the field for stretches of time early in the year and possibly on special teams, but the likelihood is small that he will be a significant contributor just yet.

Prediction: Backup middle linebacker, special teams contributor

2014 Season Countdown: #65 Michael Ferns III

Michael Ferns III

Name: Michael Ferns III
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 233 lbs.
High school: St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #51
Last year: Ferns was a senior in high school. He had 144 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #6 inside linebacker, #158 overall, and #6 in-state.
Final TTB Rating: 83

Ferns committed to the Wolverines in August of 2012 and became the lead recruiter for his class, developing a system where a t-shirt was sent to each new commit of the 2014 class. He kept things going on the football field, too, and was selected to the Under Armour All-America Game, though he couldn’t participate due to injury. He also has a younger brother, Brendan, who is a touted recruit for the 2016 class.

When Ferns was recruited, I thought he was a MIKE/SAM tweener, but Michigan’s move to the 4-3 Over defense suggests that he’s probably a middle linebacker, as long as the base defense remains similar. The starter at MIKE is Jake Ryan, and the primary backup should be sophomore Ben Gedeon. However, the coaching staff will probably go three-deep, especially because Ryan graduates and they will want to groom a backup to Gedeon for 2015. Ferns will probably be battling redshirt freshman Mike McCray II to be the third middle linebacker, and one or both might get some reps at WILL linebacker behind Desmond Morgan and Joe Bolden, a position that’s in the same situation with Morgan graduating after this season. Ferns could also be a special teamer.

Prediction: Backup linebacker