2019 Season Countdown: #14 Khaleke Hudson

Tag: 2019 season countdown


18Aug 2019
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2019 Season Countdown: #14 Khaleke Hudson

Khaleke Hudson

Name: Khaleke Hudson
Height:
6’0″
Weight:
220 lbs.
High school:
McKeesport (PA) McKeesport
Position:
Linebacker
Class:
Senior
Jersey number:
#7
Last year:
I ranked Hudson #2 and said he would be the starting Viper with 75 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 2 interceptions (LINK). He made 44 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 blocked punts.
TTB Rating:
80

I ranked Hudson at #2 overall last year, behind only Shea Patterson. We got a chance to see what the team looked like without Hudson when he was ejected from two games for targeting, a rule that Don Brown said affected his play for the remainder of the year. For better or worse in regard to Hudson, the defense as a whole didn’t miss a beat. The Wolverines plowed ahead with an elite defense until the whole thing went to s*** against Ohio State and then Florida.

The primary replacement at Viper last season was Jordan Glasgow, who still exists this year in the form of Viper/WILL Jordan Glasgow. There are some reports indicating that Glasgow is playing both positions, while others say Glasgow has made the full-time switch to WILL. Maybe the coaching staff is confident in redshirt freshman Michael Barrett to back up Hudson at Viper, or perhaps one of the other options, who are mostly true freshmen.

I expect a bit of a bounce back from Hudson. The Viper position has been much more productive, both in 2016 and 2017, and Hudson shouldn’t have to make any adjustments to his game. Maybe it was a one-year blip. Maybe it was just the fact that the Wolverines didn’t play Minnesota in 2018. Whatever the reason, Hudson should have a solid year in 2019. But if he goes down, the incredibly creative Don Brown could go with Barrett, Glasgow, more of SAM Josh Uche, a veteran safety (J’Marick Woods, Brad Hawkins), or a talented freshman (Daxton Hill, Quinten Johnson, Joey Velazquez). As perhaps the most recognizable position in Michigan’s defense, it will be very interesting to see who gets the snaps in 2019 when Hudson needs a breather.

Prediction: Starting Viper; 60 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 interception

18Aug 2019
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2019 Season Countdown: #15 Michael Onwenu

Michael Onwenu (image via MGoBlue)

Name: Michael Onwenu
Height:
6’3″
Weight:
370 lbs.
High school:
Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position:
Offensive guard
Class:
Senior
Jersey number:
#50
Last year:
I ranked Onwenu #22 and said he would be the starting right guard (LINK). He started all thirteen games.
TTB Rating:
78

Onwenu has had an up-and-down career at Michigan so far. He has struggled with his weight, for one, and the roster refuses to list him at more than 350 lbs. even though coaches acknowledge that he’s about 370 lbs. right now. And if he’s 370 right now, he has probably been 380 or 390 at times in the past. Onwenu has also struggled with the consistency of his play on the field, sometimes looking like a road-grader and other times looking like a statue. On the plus side, he was named a Third Team All-Big Ten player by the coaches and Honorable Mention by the media.

This year we should see more of the same from Onwenu. Seniors don’t generally take huge leaps, so I don’t expect a major one from him this year. There has been some buzz about him in the off-season. He has the right guard spot locked down, and his experience is even more valuable now that Andrew Stueber is injured and a redshirt freshman (Jalen Mayfield) will be starting next to him at right tackle. Backup options include redshirt junior Stephen Spanellis and redshirt sophomore Chuck Filiaga, not to mention redshirt sophomore Joel Honigford, who has at least temporarily bumped out to tackle to help back up Stueber/Mayfield.

Prediction: Starting right guard

17Aug 2019
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2019 Season Countdown: #16 Tru Wilson

Tru Wilson (image via MGoBlue)

Name: Tru Wilson
Height:
5’10”
Weight:
200 lbs.
High school:
Warren (MI) De La Salle
Position:
Running back
Class:
Senior
Jersey number:
#13
Last year:
I ranked Wilson #65 and said he would be a backup running back and special teamer (LINK). He ran 62 times for 364 yards (5.9 yards/carry) and 1 touchdown, along with making 6 catches for 34 yards (5.7 yards/catch).
TTB Rating:
N/A

Wilson came out of nowhere to become a very effective running back for the Wolverines last year. After being a Semper Fi All-American coming out of high school, he came to Michigan as a walk-on and dabbled at both running back and safety. He had 1 carry for 1 yard in 2016, zero carries in 2017, and then 62 carries for 364 yards in 2018. Those 62 carries ranked third among running backs (fourth if you count Shea Patterson), and his 5.87 yards per carry was the best average on the team.

Hit the jump for more.

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16Aug 2019
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2019 Season Countdown: #17 Kwity Paye

Kwity Paye (image via Wolverines Wire)

Name: Kwity Paye
Height:
6’4″
Weight:
277 lbs.
High school:
Providence (RI) Bishop Hendricken
Position:
Defensive end
Class:
Junior
Jersey number:
#19
Last year:
I ranked Paye #33 and said he would be a backup weakside end (LINK). He started four games and made 29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating:
81

Paye was an under-the-radar recruit in 2017 who ended up as an Under Armour All-American. Last year he started to pay off on that promise. He was slated to be a backup until Rashan Gary hurt his shoulder, when Paye stepped in to become a four-game starter. He also proved himself as perhaps Michigan’s most versatile defensive lineman, a guy who could play anywhere on the line – inside, outside, weakside, strongside – and at least get a pass rush.

I could make an argument to rank Paye much higher on this list, but this is the lowest I can go. Paye has great versatility, but Michigan also has a fair amount of depth, especially at his primary position, defensive end. While I expect Paye to be the starting weakside end, Michigan is also getting a Pro Football Focus All-American in Mike Danna (transfer from CMU) and a top-100 player in Luiji Vilain (back from injury). I like Paye and think he can be an exciting cog in Michigan’s defense.

Prediction: Starting weakside end; 45 tackles, 5 sacks

14Aug 2019
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2019 Season Countdown: #18 Sean McKeon

Sean McKeon (image via MLive)

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Name: Sean McKeon
Height:
6’5″
Weight:
246 lbs.
High school:
Dudley (MA) Shepherd Hill
Position:
Tight end
Class:
Senior
Jersey number:
#84
Last year:
I ranked McKeon #20 and said he would have 25 catches for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns (LINK). He made 14 catches for 122 yards and 1 touchdown.
TTB Rating:
77

After leading the team in receptions in 2017 – during an abysmal passing year – McKeon took a step back in 2018, catching fewer than half as many passes (31 to 14) and going from an unimpressive 9.7 yards per catch to an even less impressive 8.7. One factor in those unimpressive numbers stems from the fact that Michigan had a 6’8″ future 5th round pick in Zach Gentry. Gentry was the downfield threat (16.1 yards/catch in 2018), while McKeon was the underneath guy.

The buzz on McKeon has been positive. He reportedly dropped weight this off-season to improve his speed, and he has turned into a leader. I expect improvement from year one to year two or even year two to year three, but by the time you’re a third-year guy going into your fourth year, I have a hard time buying marked improvement. On top of the mediocre athleticism McKeon has shown, he also has some big gaffes (Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina) and bad drops. While the Outback Bowl thing wasn’t his fault, sometimes McKeon just looks like a deer in headlights whenever he’s out of his comfort zone.

Can he flip the mental switch from part-time player to big-time dude? I think my comments above probably indicate which direction I’m leaning, but the possibility exists. McKeon is a solid blocker but I have yet to see evidence that he can do much more than that. We might see a similar role for him in 2019 while the more athletically gifted Nick Eubanks takes on the Zach Gentry role of downfield threat from the tight end position.

I posted this tweet a few days ago:

Jim Harbaugh knows how to find good tight ends. Gentry, Bunting, and Butt are all in the NFL; Asiasi and McKeon are regarded as a couple of the top tight ends in the nation; and Eubanks could very well be on that Mackey Award watch list going into 2020. McKeon does not appear to be on the path to getting drafted like Butt and Gentry; he’s a good guy to have on the roster but not someone other teams have to gameplan around.

Prediction: Starting tight end; 30 catches for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns