2016 Season Countdown: #44 Kekoa Crawford

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29Jul 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #44 Kekoa Crawford

Dylan Crawford with a very excited mother

Name: Kekoa Crawford
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 183 lbs.
High school: Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #1
Last year: Crawford was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 51 catches for 822 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Final TTB Rating: 81

Crawford, who has also gone by the name Dylan, was a steal for the Wolverines. He was high on Michigan all along, but he was higher on Oregon. The Ducks didn’t offer for the majority of the process, and by the time he reached the point of wanting to decide, the Ducks had filled up at wide receiver with Eddie McDoom. Of course, Michigan ended up with both players – McDoom, an Under Armour All-American, and Crawford, a U.S. Army All-American. Crawford caught his passes from K.J. Costello (Stanford) last year and was actually the #2 receiver on his team behind 2017 Oklahoma commit Grant Calcaterra.

I was encouraged by Crawford’s performance in the U.S. Army Bowl. He didn’t light the world on fire, but he showed that he has the size, strength, and running ability to compete against other elite players, many of whom are college-ready. He’s also a tenacious blocker. For those reasons I think he’s the most likely freshman receiver to make an impact this year. The Wolverines were pretty thin at wide receiver last year, especially in the slot. Grant Perry was the only guy who got serious run at slot receiver, and that may have been somewhat limiting to the offense, forcing them to spend a little more time with multiple tight ends than perhaps they wanted. Of course, Jim Harbaugh will always use a lot of tight ends, but there’s room for another slot to make an impact on third downs or competing with Perry for snaps.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

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28Jul 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #45 David Dawson

David Dawson (image via Scout)

Name: David Dawson
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 316 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #55
Last year: I ranked Dawson #56 and said he would be a backup offensive guard (LINK). He played in six games as a backup left guard.

Dawson had opportunities to break into the lineup over the past couple seasons, including when Kyle Kalis struggled in 2015. The coaching staffs have decided to stick with their guys, so the 2015 versions of Kalis and Ben Braden went start-to-finish as the right and left guards, respectively. Meanwhile, Dawson played occasionally as a backup guard when minor injuries occurred, or late in blowout games. He struggled in last year’s spring game, and he struggled during the 2015 season. He just wasn’t there yet.

This spring Dawson was in a shoulder sling during the Ford Field open practice. He missed a chunk of time, and while he’s supposed to be healthy for the fall, that doesn’t bode well for his development. The two starters are likely to again be Braden and Kalis, but they both graduate after this season. Fellow backup lineman Blake Bars isn’t returning for a fifth season, backup interior lineman Patrick Kugler has had his own struggles, and Logan Tuley-Tillman was booted off the team last year for legal troubles. That leaves the Wolverines pretty thin at the three interior positions, with just Dawson, Kugler, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, and varying forms of freshmen vying for time. I’m not 100% sure that Dawson should be ahead of redshirt freshman Jon Runyan, Jr., but considering that Dawson has two seasons of being the primary backup guard, I think he will maintain that spot. With both guard spots opening up in 2017, it will be interesting to see the dogfight that ensues between Dawson and the aforementioned players.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

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27Jul 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #46 Khaleke Hudson

Khaleke Hudson 587x

Khaleke Hudson




Name: Khaleke Hudson
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: McKeesport (PA) McKeesport
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #7
Last year: Hudson was a senior in high school (LINK). He rushed 106 times for 1,118 yards and 17 touchdowns; he also made 60 tackles and 3 interceptions (2 for touchdowns).
Final TTB Rating: 80

Hudson wasn’t on the Michigan recruiting radar for a long while during the 2016 recruiting cycle. He earned an offer in late fall and took an official visit to Ann Arbor in January. After that he was all Wolverine. And after having ample time to see what he brings to the table, Michigan fans were pretty excited. He was a stat machine in high school, averaging over 10 yards/carry. He has a long, ridiculous highlight reel. And against other elite high schoolers in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, he was all over the field and one of the primary standouts in the game.

I pegged Hudson as a nickel corner coming out of high school, much like what Jabrill Peppers played last season. Word came out this summer that he will start his career at safety. Whether that’s a long-term thing or just an indication of how thin Michigan is at the safety position, we’ll just have to see. It would not be surprising at all to see him move down to the SAM linebacker spot to replace Peppers someday, but that would depend on Michigan becoming flush at safety, which is questionable since another two seniors will graduate after this season. For this season I expect him to back up Delano Hill at strong safety, and I also think he has the abilities to help out on special teams. Physically, I think he’s ready for the college game, but safety can be a tough position to play from a mental standpoint, so hopefully he’s up to the task.

Prediction: Backup strong safety

26Jul 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #47 Nolan Ulizio

Nolan Ulizio (image via Journal-News)

Name: Nolan Ulizio
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 291 lbs.
High school: West Chester (OH) Lakota West
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #70
Last year: I ranked Ulizio #88 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.

Ulizio was a late addition to the class of 2015 when Michigan stole him away from UConn. He was bound to redshirt with so many experienced players ahead of him, so it was no surprise that he spent his first year watching from the sideline. But this spring he gave a decent showing in practice and in the spring game, acquitting himself fairly well against some good defensive linemen. As a right tackle, he could sub in this year and be fine during mop-up time. The starter is Erik Magnuson, who could himself move to left tackle or offensive guard if injuries occur. If the Wolverines decide to use a sixth offensive lineman at times, like they have in the past, it’s usually an offensive tackle. So even if Patrick Kugler backs up at center and David Dawson fills in occasionally at guard, Ulizio might carve out a unique role on his own. And with few offensive tackles in the pipeline, he has a chance to establish himself for a potential starting role in 2017.

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle

25Jul 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #48 Lawrence Marshall

Lawrence Marshall 175x

Lawrence Marshall (image via Maize and Blue News)

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Name: Lawrence Marshall
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 250 lbs.
High school: Southfield (MI) Southfield
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #93
Last year: I ranked Marshall #43 and said he would be a backup Buck linebacker (LINK). He played in three games and made 1 tackle.

Marshall reportedly spent much of his 2015 season in the doghouse, so he did not get a lot of opportunities to play. Michigan needed pass rushers, especially after Mario Ojemudia’s Achilles gave out, but still Marshall didn’t get much run. He finally saw some playing time again in the bowl game blowout of Florida, but it was not a productive year. Michigan rotated a lot of defensive linemen, went through a few Buck linebackers, and still Marshall didn’t see the field much.

This year Michigan only lost one true defensive lineman (Willie Henry), but the Buck linebacker spot will turn into more of a traditional weakside end position. There is an opening there with Ojemudia, Royce Jenkins-Stone, and James Ross III all vying for NFL roster spots, but Taco Charlton is headed for weakside end. Meanwhile, Marshall reported in the spring that he has become a full-time strongside end (or “Anchor”) and there’s talk that he’s up to around 270 lbs. With freshman Rashan Gary a strong possibility to start there, Marshall will be fighting for his shot in an attempt to keep someone like Chris Wormley at 3-tech. Michigan has a lot of depth on the defensive line, but if Marshall can keep his nose clean, he may be able to stake his claim for playing time in 2017 after Wormley, Charlton, and others filter out of the program.

Prediction: Backup Anchor

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