Tag: 2022 season countdown

12Jun 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #88 Myles Pollard

Name: Myles Pollard
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #24
Last year: Pollard was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 83

Pollard, a former high school teammate of Michigan linebacker Junior Colson, was on the fringe of Michigan’s radar until Steve Clinkscale was hired, swooped in, and convinced the young corner to come to Ann Arbor. It was a big recruiting win for Michigan, since he had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, and numerous others. Pollard ended up as a 3-star, the #54 cornerback, and #602 overall.

It’s hard to reconcile that offer list with the ranking, but Pollard enrolled early in January and participated in Michigan’s spring game. I have to say that he didn’t flash much in the spring game. Not only is he still pretty skinny, but his speed looked just so-so. That being said, his physicality and length are a couple of his strong suits, and those won’t be an advantage in the college game until he has a year or two in the S&C program. So I don’t expect much from Pollard in 2022. He should be firmly entrenched as a backup with a good chance to redshirt.

Prediction: Redshirt

10Jun 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #89 Marlin Klein

Name: Marlin Klein
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Rabun Gap (GA) Nacoochee
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #17
Last year: Klein was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 22 catches for 303 yards and 3 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 81

Klein is an impressive athlete who comes from a little way off the beaten path. A native of Germany, he ended up at a private school on the border of Georgia and North Carolina. The competition isn’t great and Klein didn’t even put up great numbers, but he claims 4.5 speed at 6’6″ and 215+ pounds. He certainly looks the part of a quality tight end, but he will have to adjust to significantly better competition, and he will need to get in the weight room.

Tight end is a difficult position to play as a true freshman, at least with any proficiency. Michigan has recruited more physically advanced tight ends who haven’t seen the field much as true freshmen. On top of several quality tight ends already available (Erick All, Joel Honigford, Luke Schoonmaker), Michigan has a fairly experienced walk-on in Carter Selzer and some inexperienced guys with a year or two in the weight room already. I don’t expect to see Klein on the field in 2022 unless it’s at the end of a blowout victory.

Prediction: Redshirt

5Jun 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #91 Alessandro Lorenzetti

Name: Alessandro Lorenzetti
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 285 lbs.
High school: Windsor (CT) Loomis Chaffee
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Lorenzetti was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 85

Lorenzetti is a native Canadian who transferred to Loomis Chaffee in Connecticut to boost his football and recruiting opportunities. Baylor, Georgia, and Penn State all offered. Michigan State was rumored to be the leader until Michigan stepped in with an offer, and a little publicized visit turned into a commitment. When I turned on his film, I was expecting the Canadian to be a huge project. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find out he has outstanding footwork and finishes his blocks really well.

Like almost every lineman entering college, Lorenzetti needs to continue getting stronger. He’s still pretty light at 285 lbs. His technique is solid, but for size/strength reasons, I think Lorenzetti is practically a shoo-in for a redshirt.

Prediction: Redshirt

4Jun 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #92 Kraig Correll

Name: Kraig Correll
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 311 lbs.
High school: Easton (PA) Blair Academy
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #54
Last year: I ranked Correll #91 and said he would be a backup offensive guard (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

Correll was a fairly highly touted walk-on a few years ago. Now that he’s been on campus for four seasons, that has turned into exactly one game played. The truth is that Michigan’s offensive line (and offensive line recruiting) has been pretty good, so they haven’t needed to reach deep down the depth chart to try to find other contributors.

Correll is unlikely to move up the depth chart too much in 2022. Even with a small offensive line class in 2022, Michigan should have a pretty solid two-deep. But it’s certainly nice to have a stout fifth year senior on the scout team to give decent reps to the guys who are higher on the depth chart.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

4Jun 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #93 Tyler Morris

Name: Tyler Morris
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 175 lbs.
High school: La Grange Park (IL) Nazareth Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #13
Last year: Morris was a senior in high school (LINK). He sat out the season with a torn ACL.
TTB Rating: 83

Morris had a disappointing end to his high school career. Instead of going out with a bang, he went out with what was likely a literal whimper as he tore his ACL in the spring of 2021. Yes, as if the COVID year wasn’t already bad enough, he had to pop his ACL while making an interception and then sit out his entire senior season while recovering. I can’t think of many worse ways to finish up.

On the plus side, Morris ended up transferring to Plainedge (IL) East for his final semester of high school in the fall of 2021, graduate, and then enroll early at Michigan in January 2022. He spent the spring at Michigan wearing a non-contact jersey and just running drills. Now a full year out from suffering the injury, Morris should be well on his way to a full recovery. However, the shortened 2020 (a.k.a. spring 2021) season and then a totally missed fall 2021 season probably leaves him a little bit rusty. I think Morris has high upside as a receiver, but with Michigan’s returning players and a supposed freak in Darrius Clemons as a fellow freshman, I don’t think Morris will be counted on much in 2022.

Prediction: Redshirt