2017 Season Countdown: #71 Ron Johnson, Jr.

Tag: 2017 season countdown

16Jun 2017
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2017 Season Countdown: #71 Ron Johnson, Jr.

Ron Johnson, Jr. (image via MWolverine)

Name: Ron Johnson, Jr.
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 245 lbs.
High school: Camden (NJ) Camden
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #17
Last year: I ranked Johnson #73 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 83

Johnson came into last season as a relatively unpolished player with some decent upside, and with Michigan’s depth on the defensive line, the chances of him playing were slim. Michigan got a ton of production from the guys who did play, and Johnson wasn’t ready, anyway.

This spring Johnson was playing some defensive tackle, and it was hard to figure out the reason. He didn’t appear to be significantly bigger. The most likely reason is that Michigan didn’t have a ton of options at defensive tackle, combined with Johnson perhaps still not being a decent option for playing time on the outside. If the staff were counting on him to contribute heavily this fall, they would probably be giving him reps at the position he’s likely to play. I think Johnson is at least a year away from playing significant minutes, and we’ll see whether they continue to bulk him up for an interior position.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

15Jun 2017
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2017 Season Countdown: #72 O’Maury Samuels

(image via MGoBlog)

Name: O’Maury Samuels
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 192 lbs.
High school: Los LUnas (NM) Los Lunas
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Samuels was a senior in high school. He ran 160 times for 1,376 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 7 catches for 46 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 kickoff return touchdown.
TTB Rating: 82

Samuels committed in April of 2016, but Michigan had to continue recruiting him to keep him in the fold. Part of the issue seemed to be a test score, and another part of the issue seemed to be Michigan’s pursuit of Najee Harris. He was a bit under the radar, but at one point he held the lead in national SPARQ score and earned an invitation to The Opening. He claims that he can run a 4.3, but officially he ran a 4.58, had a 44.5″ vertical, and had a 4.14 shuttle. He won a state championship in the 100 meters with a time of 11.22 and finished third in the 200 meters with a time of 22.79.

Michigan has lacked a big-play starting running back for a while, although maybe that guy is already in Ann Arbor in the form of Chris Evans. Either way, Samuels has the potential to be a big-play guy in college. His level of competition in New Mexico was not stellar, so there’s a lot of projection going on, but there’s no denying the athleticism. He will almost certainly start off behind Evans, but after that, you never know. Running back is a position where guys can contribute early. I think he’ll start off behind Evans, Karan Higdon, and Ty Isaac, at least, but Michigan rotates running backs and there might be room for some carries for Samuels to see what he can do.

Prediction: Backup running back

14Jun 2017
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2017 Season Countdown: #73 Devin Gil

L to R: Josh Metellus, Devin Gil, Dredrick Snelson, Devin Bush, Nick Eubanks (image via Twitter)

Name: Devin Gil
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan
Position: Linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #36
Last year: I ranked Gil #87 and said he would redshirt. He made 6 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.
TTB Rating: 63

I thought Gil, who played a lot of safety in high school, would take a year to redshirt and learn a new position. But Jim Harbaugh and his staff don’t waste any time getting guys on the field. According to MGoBlue, Gil was Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week three times throughout the season, and 4 of his 6 tackles came on specials.

This spring Gli was behind the starting crew, at least, and rumors coming out of Schembechler Hall suggest that the coaching staff is looking to have a couple freshmen play some snaps at linebacker. I think Gil will continue to be a special teams player and get limited snaps at linebacker.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer

11Jun 2017
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2017 Season Countdown: #74 Ryan Tice

Ryan Tice (#41, image via MLive)

Name: Ryan Tice
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 170 lbs.
High school: Saline (MI) Saline
Position: Kicker/punter
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I ranked Tice #88 and said he would be a backup punter. He was 0/1 on field goals and 7/7 on extra points.

Tice entered last year with a shot to a full-time something-or-other, but he didn’t earn any of the gigs. Kenny Allen pulled triple duty as the punter, placekicker, and kickoff specialist, but Michigan tried to save his energy by occasionally calling on other guys to do some duty. Tice drew in as a backup placekicker. He mostly played in blowouts, but he also missed a 40-yarder against Wisconsin.

Tice will probably continue to be a backup this season behind kicker Quinn Nordin and punter Brad Robbins. If either one struggles or gets hurt, Tice could outplay this ranking, but you never know with kickers. Tice is probably reliable as a backup, but he’s been inconsistent in practice.

Prediction: Backup placekicker

10Jun 2017
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2017 Season Countdown: #75A Jared Wangler

Jared Wangler (image via MLive)

Name: Jared Wangler
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 229 lbs.
High school: Warren (MI) De La Salle
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #38
Last year: I ranked Wangler #77 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer. He played in five games and made 3 tackles.
TTB Rating: 59

Wangler did not make much of an impact last season, but he did make three tackles against Rutgers in Michigan’s 78-0 win. That was a game where Michigan just threw everybody on the field at random positions like a pee-wee game. Michael Onwenu took some Wildcat quarterback snaps, and Jon Falk caught a screen pass for a TD from James Earl Jones.

So Wangler’s moving up in the world a little bit, but will it translate to serious playing time? That’s doubtful. He was playing weakside linebacker in the spring game, and the leader of the pack there is fifth-year senior Mike McCray II. Younger guys have and probably will continue to pass up Wangler, including an incoming freshman or two. The 2017 season may be his swan song at Michigan, since it looks like a fifth year is unlikely. Still, Wangler is a guy who can help out here or there on special teams or playing some late-game snaps.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer