Tag: 2016 season countdown

2016 Season Countdown: #79 Alex Malzone

Alex Malzone (#12)

Name: Alex Malzone
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 222 lbs.
High school: Bloomfield Hills (MI) Brother Rice
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #12
Last year: I ranked Malzone #75 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.

Malzone enrolled in January of 2015 and earned a start for one team in last year’s spring game. That was the pinnacle of his very short career. By the fall he had dropped down the depth chart, at least to #4 behind Jake Rudock, Wilton Speight, and Shane Morris. This spring he was behind Speight, Morris, transfer John O’Korn, and even true freshman early enrollee Brandon Peters. And after a few snaps in the spring game, he was escorted off the field by a trainer after injuring his throwing hand. Then he had a minor run-in with the law. So the last twelve months or so have not gone smoothly for him in the football department.

It’s a new season in 2016, but not much will change. He should still be behind the aforementioned players, making him maybe fifth on the depth chart. Some mop-up duty isn’t out of the question, since Peters will probably redshirt. However, if something drastic were to happen, I think Peters would draw into the lineup before Malzone. Peters is just a superior athlete. Malzone will probably spend all or the vast majority of the season watching from the sideline.

Prediction: Fifth string quarterback

2016 Season Countdown: #80 Josh Metellus

Josh Metellus (image via Scout)

Name: Josh Metellus
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Metellus was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 50 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Final TTB Rating: 71

Metellus was at one time a Georgia Southern commit who earned a Michigan offer at a satellite camp during the summer of 2015. Along with teammate Devin Gil – who was committed to Miami – he decommitted from his former team in favor of the Wolverines. Some believed that Michigan recruited Metellus and Gil in part to lure teammate and prized recruit Devin Bush, Jr., and I think there may be at least some truth to that. However, Metellus has some decent skills as a strong safety and isn’t without value.

I don’t think Metellus has a great chance to contribute this season. Michigan’s two starting safeties will be Delano Hill and Dymonte Thomas. Options behind them include sophomore Tyree Kinnel, freshman Khaleke Hudson, and potentially Jabrill Peppers or Jeremy Clark if an injury forced a position switch. Michigan might play Metellus in garbage time or on special teams just to gain him some experience for when Hill and Thomas graduate, but he shouldn’t be a major factor this season.

Prediction: Redshirt

2016 Season Countdown: #81 Garrett Moores

Perhaps the highlight of Garrett Moores’s career will be meeting Derek Jeter (image via MLive)

Name: Garrett Moores
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 214 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #15
Last year: I didn’t rank Moores. He did not see game action.

During the spring practice session at Ford Field, Moores was working almost exclusively as the holder for extra points and field goals. He has yet to see the field as a backup quarterback, and Michigan has a fair amount of depth at that position. What they don’t have is an experienced holder. It may be that Moores was holding because the other quarterbacks were busy doing, you know, quarterback stuff, but I’ll put Moores here, anyway. Truthfully, it might not be a bad idea to have a dedicated holder who just becomes an expert at that one task, although it wouldn’t necessarily be the most exciting job.

Prediction: Starting holder

BONUS:

You can also apparently buy a Garrett Moores t-shirt, because why not? Actually, I’m guessing this stems from his solid high school career at Novi (MI) Catholic Central, but still. Anyway, you can purchase it here (LINK).

2016 Season Countdown: #82 Nick Eubanks

Nick Eubanks (image via Scout)

Name: Nick Eubanks
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Plantation (FL) American Heritage
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Eubanks was a senior in high school (LINK). He had 23 catches for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Eubanks was considered very likely to stay in SEC country for most of his recruitment, but things seemed to pick up between him and Michigan after the Wolverines missed out on a couple other tight ends. He visited in January 2015 and then committed late in the month. At one point I ranked him #5 out of the 5 tight ends Michigan was recruiting (LINK). Eubanks is a good athlete, but he didn’t show a great deal of focus and discipline.

Going into the 2016 season, Michigan shouldn’t need him to contribute. Starter Jake Butt returns, and Ian Bunting has a fair amount of talent and experience. Redshirt freshman Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. showed some solid skills in the spring, not to mention fifth-year walk-on Michael Jocz and early enrollee Sean McKeon. On top of all those guys, incoming freshman Devin Asiasi will be the highest ranked recruit at the position. Eubanks is pretty skinny and raw, so I believe he will redshirt this season.

Prediction: Redshirt

2016 Season Countdown: #83 Brad Hawkins, Jr.

Brad Hawkins, Jr. (right) with Ron Johnson, Jr. (image via Scout)

Name: Brad Hawkins, Jr.
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 202 lbs.
High school: Camden (NJ) Camden
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hawkins was a senior in high school (LINK).
Final TTB Rating: 65

Hawkins, a teammate of fellow Michigan signee Ron Johnson, Jr., committed to Michigan in July 2015, choosing the Wolverines over the likes of Auburn, Florida, and Ohio State, among others. It was a very solid offer list for a guy who doesn’t show elite athleticism. Hawkins played some running back, wide receiver, and safety in high school, and he enters college with a chance to play wideout or in the secondary. Michigan is lacking depth at the safety position, but the plan is to start out on offense.

There were rumors floating around that Hawkins might have trouble qualifying to get into Michigan for the fall, so that may be something to watch. If everything works out, though, he will have a tough time working his way up the depth chart this season with everyone returning, including some pretty good starters. There are also four other potential receivers in the freshman class, including early enrollee Ahmir Mitchell. As perhaps the least athletic of the bunch, Hawkins looks to more of a guy who will take a year to redshirt so he can work on all the little things to either become a possession receiver or switch to defense.

Prediction: Redshirt