Tag: 2019 season countdown

2019 Season Countdown: #101 Dane Drobocky

Name: Dane Drobocky
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Bowling Green (KY) Bowling Green
Position: Defensive end
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #37
Last year: I ranked Drobocky #101 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He played in two games and made 2 tackles.
TTB Rating: N/A

When Drobocky came into Michigan as a walk-on tight end, I thought he had some potential to contribute down the road. I expected that contribution to come on offense, but he switched to defense and has made a little bit of an impact, at least. In the blowout win against Rutgers last season, he came in late and made a couple of tackles.

Even though Michigan lost a couple defensive ends, I don’t think there will be much more opportunity for Drobocky to play this year. He’s a guy who can come in and get some garbage time snaps, but probably not someone who should be in the rotation. Michigan also brought in a large defensive line class, and with the relatively new four-game redshirt rule, some of those guys can get snaps and still preserve that potential fifth year down the road.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2019 Season Countdown: #102 Max Wittwer

Name: Max Wittwer
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Utica (CA) Eisenhower
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #16
Last year: I did not rank Wittwer. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Wittwer was headed to Air Force to play quarterback before a preferred walk-on opportunity convinced him to become a Wolverine. He was a 2-star prospect, which isn’t bad for a walk-on quarterback. Unfortunately for him, the Wolverines have a pretty full depth chart at the quarterback position, even with the departure of Brandon Peters. Wittwer is unlikely to play at all this season, but he should be a solid scout team option at times.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

2019 Season Countdown: #103 Jameson Offerdahl

Name: Jameson Offerdahl
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Fort Lauderdale (FL) Cardinal Gibbons
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #56
Last year: I ranked Offerdahl #100 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He did not see game action.
TTB Rating: N/A

Offerdahl has a few Scout Team Player of the Week awards under his belt over his first four years in Ann Arbor, but none of them came last year. I heard he was dealing with an injury in 2018, which may have been the reason for his lack of awards and playing time, but either way, he likely won’t be a big contributor this season. This is around the time that many walk-ons end up on scholarship when they’re in their fifth year, but Michigan has several walk-on contributors who might scoop up a scholarship first (Jordan Glasgow, Will Hart, Nate Schoenle, Jake McCurry, etc.). Offerdahl has played in just one game during his career, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say he’ll double that number this year.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer

2019 Season Countdown: #104 Jack Stewart

Name: Jack Stewart
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: New Canaan (CT) New Canaan
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Stewart was a senior in high school. He made 31 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery on defense.
TTB Rating: 69

Stewart was a standout for New Canaan over the past couple seasons but arrives at Michigan with very little fanfare, as playing in Connecticut is not often considered noteworthy. He did, however, finish the cycle as a respectably rated 3-star, the #43 offensive tackle, and #574 overall.

Stewart signed in December but won’t arrive on campus until this summer, and he has some qualities to work on in the meantime. He needs to reshape his body a little bit, and he will also need to work on his technique – all standard fare for most incoming freshmen. Stewart seems to me to be the most likely incoming freshman to redshirt.

Prediction: Redshirt

2019 Season Countdown: #105 Kraig Correll

I apologize for not posting more recently. With some personal stuff going on, there just hasn’t been enough time to get everything done, so writing went on the back burner a little bit. I know we don’t all know each other, but any positive vibes you can send in the direction of my family and me would be appreciated.

Name: Kraig Correll
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 288 lbs.
High school: Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy
Position: Center
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #54
Last year: I did not rank Correll. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

It’s tough for walk-on linemen to see the field at a school like Michigan unless your last name is Glasgow, so Correll is likely bound for the bottom depths of the chart. However, he has good size for a lineman and I liked his film coming out of high school, at least to the extent of being a potential option with some development down the road. There was no buzz about Correll this off-season – while a couple other walk-ons did get some attention – but it’s still just going into his redshirt freshman season. He should make a solid practice player at a position (center) where smarts and toughness sometimes trump size and athleticism.

Prediction: Backup center