18Mar 2019
2019 Spring Practice Roundup
You can follow TTB on Twitter here (LINK).
Jim Harbaugh met with the media Monday, after Michigan’s first spring practice.
Here are a few updates on players and positions:
read more
You can follow TTB on Twitter here (LINK).
Jim Harbaugh met with the media Monday, after Michigan’s first spring practice.
Here are a few updates on players and positions:
read more
Andrew Stueber (far left, image via USA Today)
Name: Andrew Stueber
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 314 lbs.
High school: Darien (CT) Darien
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #71
Last year: I ranked Stueber #67 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 82
Stueber entered last season as a physically ready offensive lineman. He didn’t need to grow or add any weight, and he might be the most impressive physical specimen Michigan has recruited since Ben Braden. He didn’t play great high school competition in Connecticut, and maybe that giant leap to the college level prevented him from helping. Michigan also stayed fairly healthy on the offensive line last season, at least until everything went down the drain in the bowl game.
This year Michigan has a hole at left tackle (Mason Cole) graduated and a question mark at right tackle. Fans say Stueber is in the running, but insider talk has him a couple spots back. Usually there’s an injury or two throughout a season, and somebody often underperforms. That puts Stueber within striking distance of seeing some times this season. I don’t think he’ll be a starter unless a few bad things happen, but he should start to see some playing time this season.
Prediction: Backup offensive tackle
Grant Newsome (image via Detroit News)
Hi Thunder,
Could you address the offensive line situation and how likely you think it is to take a step forward next year? I find it hard to be confident unless one of the redshirts turns out to be a special player or Grant Newsome comes back 100%.
Thanks to Julian for the mailbag question.
My response is after the jump.
Andrew Stueber (image via GameTimeCT)
Name: Andrew Stueber
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 290 lbs.
High school: Darien (CT) Darien
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Stueber was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: 82
Stueber committed to Michigan almost exactly a year ago, and there were the customary complaints about, “Why are we taking a 3-star? And one from Connecticut?” And while Stueber was indeed a 3-star, and from Connecticut, I’m not too concerned. He’s a big body, he moves well, he bends pretty well, and he’s willing to block downfield. With offensive line recruiting often being a crapshoot, that’s about all you can ask for from a guy.
As for this season, I think Stueber might end up playing, although I don’t think he’ll be an impact guy. Jim Harbaugh isn’t afraid of playing freshmen, and the Wolverines have a need on the offensive line this year. The right tackle position is unsettled, and while Jon Runyan, Jr. might have the inside track right now, he’s not a perfect fit. Other options include freshman Chuck Filiaga and redshirt junior Juwann Bushell-Beatty, both of whom have concerns about whether they’re physically in shape. I’m guessing Stueber won’t ever be a guy who gets sloppy with his body makeup, so if he’s been hitting the weight room in the off-season, he could be one of the top seven or eight guys when September rolls around.
Prediction: Backup offensive tackle
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| Donovan Peoples-Jones (image via Rivals) |
QUARTERBACK: A-
Commits (1): Dylan McCaffrey
Decommits (0): N/A
Why? McCaffrey was a U.S. Army All-American and there have been whispers that Jim Harbaugh believes McCaffrey is the best high school quarterback prospect he’s seen in a long time, maybe going back to Andrew Luck. So there’s that. McCaffrey has the height, the bloodline, and the athleticism to be a very good quarterback. However, there are questions about his arm strength and mechanics. So while Harbaugh really likes him, I would have preferred someone like Davis Mills, who chose Stanford instead.
Hit the jump for the rest of the offensive grades.
