Tag: 2017 season countdown

2017 Season Countdown: #75b Brad Hawkins, Jr.

Brad Hawkins, Jr. (image via Scout)

Note: I did a silly thing and left a guy off the countdown who’s up the list a bit, so I’ll have a 75A and a 75B.

Name: Brad Hawkins, Jr.
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: I ranked Hawkins #83 before we found out he was going to prep school.
TTB Rating: 79

Hawkins originally committed to Michigan in the summer of 2015 as a wide receiver prospect for the class of 2017. He was a teammate of Ron Johnson, Jr. at Camden (NJ) Camden, as well as center Cesar Ruiz before Ruiz transferred to Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy. Hawkins played on both sides of the ball, but I initially liked him more as a receiver. Then we found out that he was headed to prep school for a year, and he played receiver at Suffield Academy.

Ironically, I like him more now as a safety. I think he got a little more explosive since his original commitment, and his size and ball skills may lend themselves to playing the safety position well. Michigan doesn’t have much experience at safety – a true junior and a true sophomore, who have been backups until now, appear to be the starters – but there’s enough talent and depth to get Michigan through a season. I expect Hawkins to redshirt, especially after mainly focusing on wide receiver in 2016, but he has a chance to play a backup role.

Prediction: Redshirt

2017 Season Countdown: #76 Donovan Jeter

Donovan Jeter (image via 247 Sports)

Name: Donovan Jeter
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 260 lbs.
High school: Beaver Falls (PA) Beaver Falls
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #95
Last year: Jeter was a senior in high school. He made 76 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery.
TTB Rating: 78

Jeter enrolled early this past January, and he made a bit of a splash during spring practices. He earned some positive reviews, and he played a good deal in the spring game. Despite my previous assertions that he looked like a future defensive tackle, he played defensive end and looked rather svelte. I suspect that he will continue to bulk up, and I still think there’s a good chance that he will end up as a 3-tech defensive tackle. However, for now he appears to be a depth player on the edge. I don’t think he’s strong enough to hold up at the point of attack, and he doesn’t offer a great pass rush right now. He may play as a developmental guy this season, but I don’t think he will have a great impact on the field.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2017 Season Countdown: #77 Ben Mason

Ben Mason (image via Twitter)

Name: Ben Mason
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 247 lbs.
High school: Newtown (CT) Newtown
Position: Fullback/linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #42
Last year: Mason was a senior in high school. He ran 80 times for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns; caught 15 passes for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns; and made 63 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions (1 for a TD), and 2 forced fumbles.
TTB Rating: 74

Mason is an impressive physical specimen, as evidenced by the fact that he was a relatively unknown prospect when he walked into Schembechler Hall for a recruiting visit . . . and walked out with an offer. He’s been a big deal in his home state for a couple years, but New England isn’t known for pumping out elite football players. But he fits what Jim Harbaugh wants, and that means he’s a versatile, tough football player.

Mason enrolled early in January and took part in spring practices. He spent most of his time as a linebacker, but Harbaugh revealed recently that he will probably be a fullback, which is what many expected when he came out of high school. Harbaugh also said that the running backs were lobbying for Mason to be a fullback, because after seeing him lead block a little bit during the spring, they saw what he could do. At 6’3″ and 247 lbs. with a violent streak, he could be devastating. This year there probably won’t be a ton of room for playing time, since there are two fifth-year seniors at the position (Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi). However, the spot will open up in 2018, and Michigan may want to groom Mason to be the starter.

Prediction: Backup fullback

2017 Season Countdown: #78 Drew Singleton

Drew Singleton (image via Scout)

Name: Drew Singleton
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 213 lbs.
High school: Paramus (NJ) Catholic
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #8
Last year: Singleton was a senior in high school. He made 12 tackles and forced 1 fumble before tearing his ACL.
TTB Rating: 83

Singleton suffered a torn ACL near the beginning of his senior year, wiping out that opportunity to continue to improve – but he did get a chance to play in Michigan Stadium, where his Paladins played their season opener. Despite the health issue, he still earned enough respect to finish the recruiting cycle as the 247 Composite’s #80 overall player and #4 outside linebacker.

Michigan will have two new starters at linebacker now that Jabrill Peppers and Ben Gedeon have graduated, but Singleton probably won’t be needed. Though he’ll be almost a full year removed from his injury, Michigan kept a short bench at linebacker in 2016 and has several other options. There’s no need to push Singleton into playing until he’s 100% healthy, and even then, he might not be up to speed the other guys. I could see him redshirting or playing a backup role, but either way, he probably won’t be a key player for the 2017 defense.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

2017 Season Countdown: #79 Kurt Taylor

Name: Kurt Taylor
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Covington (GA) Newton/Loganville (GA) Grayson
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year:  Taylor was a senior in high school. He ran 191 times for 930 yards and 14 touchdowns, and added 19 catches for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 57

Taylor committed to Michigan back in the old days of December 2015. That was a long time ago. In the meantime, he had a teammate, Jeremiah Holloman, commit to Michigan and then decommit; he transferred schools twice; and the Wolverines played in two bowl games. And yes, I said that he transferred twice. In a seemingly strange situation, the Covington (GA) Newton high schooler spent his senior season at powerhouse Loganville (GA) Grayson and then transferred back to Newton for his final semester. He and Grayson basically rented each other for a season.

Taylor will arrive on campus this summer behind a good-sized group of running backs. Chris Evans, Ty Isaac, Karan Higdon, and Kareem Walker will likely be ahead of him, which won’t leave many snaps for true freshmen like Taylor and O’Maury Samuels. Sure, one or both of those young guys might get snaps, but probably not in critical situations. I imagine Taylor will get some playing time, because he’s in good shape physically and a tough runner.

Prediction: Backup running back; 5 carries, 20 yards