Tag: 2019 season countdown

12Jun 2019

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2019 Season Countdown: #75 Peter Bush

Name: Peter Bush
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 232 lbs.
High school: Newport Beach (CA) Corona Del Mar
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #45
Last year: I ranked Bush #107 and said he would be a backup fullback (LINK).
TTB Rating: N/A

Bush, who made the switch from fullback to tight end mid-season, played in eight games on special teams and two games on offense last year. Most prominently, he played on the kickoff return unit as an upback.

This year Bush moves a little closer to playing time with the graduation of Jared Wangler and Zach Gentry. While the Wolverines are removing the fullback more and more from the equation, Bush is a good athlete who was a high school quarterback and outside linebacker. There are a lot of question marks about how fullback types will be used this season, but Bush should be in the mix behind Ben Mason and Ben Van Sumeren, with the former’s involvement on the defensive a potential wild card.

Prediction: Backup tight end

11Jun 2019

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2019 Season Countdown: #76 Luke Schoonmaker

Name: Luke Schoonmaker
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 231 lbs.
High school: Hamden (CT) Hall
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #86
Last year: I ranked Schoonmaker # (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 81

When Schoonmaker came to Michigan in 2018, it was obvious he was destined for a redshirt unless something weird happened. He was a part-time quarterback in high school, played at a school without great competition, and on top of that, he was skinny. And aside from him, the Wolverines had Zach Gentry, who was good enough to leave early and get drafted, and Sean McKeon.

McKeon enters this season as the presumed starter at tight end, and Nick Eubanks has been making a name for himself with his athleticism. Schoonmaker was still skinny in the spring, and he was behind the rest of the tight ends on the depth chart, including early enrollee freshman Erick All. Schoonmaker is still a long way away from significant playing time.

Prediction: Backup tight end

10Jun 2019

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2019 Season Countdown: #77 Ryan Hayes

Name: Ryan Hayes
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 271 lbs.
High school: Traverse City (MI) West
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #76
Last year: I ranked Hayes #81 and said he would be a backup tight end (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 84

When Hayes moved to campus last year, it was clear that the process for him would take some time. He was listed at 262 lbs. last season, which was naturally going to prevent him from playing offensive line. He spent some time at tight end, as promised, but that didn’t get him on the field.

Now Hayes is listed as an offensive lineman at 271 lbs. While I have heard he is a bit heavier than that, his lack of size and strength is still going to be an obstacle. Michigan has at least three tackles ahead of him (Jon Runyan, Andrew Stueber, and Jalen Mayfield), along with some incoming freshman who are already bigger. Size isn’t always the deciding factor, but you generally have to meet a certain threshold to have a chance. Hayes will likely start to see some playing time in blowouts this season.

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle

9Jun 2019

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2019 Season Countdown: #78 Anthony Solomon

Name: Anthony Solomon
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lb.
High school: Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Solomon was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 63 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
TTB Rating: 84

Solomon flirted with the idea of Michigan for a long time. A commitment to Miami happened. Then he flipped to Michigan in mid-December. It was an odd recruitment, but a fruitful one for the Wolverines. Solomon was long considered a high-quality recruit, and the only thing that seemed to keep his ranking from improving was that he stayed the same size for several years.

Will he bulk up in 2019 and beyond? I assume he will, because that’s what a college strength and conditioning program is supposed to do. He’s not the type of player who should be carrying 235 or 240 lbs., but it’s not impossible to imagine him in that 220-225 lb. range. Whether he plays Viper or weakside linebacker might depend on how he maintains his speed, but I think he will be a successful player if he buys into the program. That will probably include waiting a year to see the field while he works on his body.

Prediction: Redshirt

8Jun 2019

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2019 Season Countdown: #79 Andrew Vastardis

Name: Andrew Vastardis
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 317 lbs.
High school: Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge
Position: Offensive guard/center
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #68
Last year: I ranked Vastardis #87 and said he would be a backup center (LINK). He played in six games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Vastardis was a well regarded player coming out of high school a few years ago. A three-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball), he spurned some lower level scholarship offers to make a go of it at Michigan. So far it has turned out fairly well for him. He played in six games in 2018 at center and guard, along with special teams.

I still don’t see a big need for Vastardis going into 2019. Cesar Ruiz is entrenched as the team’s starting center, and Stephen Spanellis is Ruiz’s backup. Jess Speight is also a capable walk-on center, so Vastardis’s value is diminished a little bit, and there are a few solid guard options. Vastardis should be a special teams contributor and will see some snaps on offense.

Prediction: Backup center/guard