Tag: Deuce Spurlock

Ex-Wolverine Updates: Post-season 2023

FORMER PLAYERS

TE Erick All (Iowa): All tore his ACL this past season but finished as Iowa’s leading receiver, catching 21 passes for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns. Despite having another year of eligibility if he wanted it, he declared for the NFL Draft.

WR Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma): Anthony caught 27 passes for 429 yards and 1 touchdown before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

QB Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State): Bowman led Oklahoma State to a 10-4 record this season. Things started off a little rocky, but he ultimately locked down the starting job and went 304/501 (60.7%) for 3,460 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He also ran 26 times for 24 yards and 2 touchdowns. He will return to the Cowboys in 2024 for a seventh season of eligibility.

Hit the jump for more.

Ex-Wolverine Player Updates: Pre-season 2023

FORMER PLAYERS

TE Erick All (Iowa): All is now a Hawkeye and might play second fiddle at tight end to Luke Lachey, but Iowa uses multiple tight ends on a regular basis, so he should get plenty of playing time. Last year’s second tight end was Lachey, who had 28 catches for 398 yards and 4 touchdowns behind Sam LaPorta, who is now with the Detroit Lions.

WR Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma): Anthony is slotted in as a starting receiver for the Sooners this fall. He’s listed as a 6’1″, 192 lb. junior.

QB Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State): Bowman is in a battle for the starting quarterback job at one of the “other” OSU schools.

OG Zach Carpenter (Indiana): Carpenter is a redshirt senior who is expected to start at center for the Hoosiers.

S Damani Dent (Charlotte): Dent is a 5’11”, 196 lb. redshirt freshman at Charlotte.

CB Darion Green-Warren (Nevada): Green-Warren is a redshirt sophomore who is expected to be a backup for the Wolfpack in 2023.

TE Louis Hansen (UConn): Hansen is expected to start for the Huskies at tight end this fall. He’s listed at 6’4″ and 238 pounds.

Hit the jump for more.

Deuce Spurlock, Ex-Wolverine

Freshman linebacker Deuce Spurlock has decided to enter the transfer portal. Spurlock played in two games this season and made 3 tackles against Hawaii.

Spurlock came to Michigan from Madison (AL) Madison Academy and was a standout receiver and linebacker in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 78 (LINK) and ranked him #82 in the season countdown (LINK).

The writing appeared to be on the wall for some of these backup linebackers once Michigan played freshman Jimmy Rolder over some other young guys and then recruited Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann out of the transfer portal. With Junior Colson returning next year and possibly Michael Barrett, along with Rolder, there just isn’t going to be much room for playing time in 2023. The Wolverines have so many roster spots devoted to linebackers that it’s just not really tenable to keep all of them around.

Here’s a look at a possible depth chart for next season, which does not include Barrett, who could return for a sixth year:

MIKE: Nikhai Hill-Green (RS Jr.), Jimmy Rolder (So.), Ernest Hausmann (So.), Joey Velazquez (RS Sr.), Micah Pollard (RS Fr.), Jason Hewlett (Fr.)
WILL: Junior Colson (Jr.), Kalel Mullings (Sr.), Jaydon Hood (RS So.), Semaj Bridgeman (Fr.), Breeon Ishmail (Fr.)

Spurlock is the first signee from the 2022 class to hit the portal.

2022 Season Countdown: #82 Deuce Spurlock

Name: Deuce Spurlock
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Madison (AL) Madison Academy
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Spurlock was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 186 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 78

Spurlock is a good sized linebacker prospect who can run and somehow ended up ranked as the #994 overall prospect in the class and the #91 linebacker. I can’t claim to have watched every linebacker ranked ahead of him, but I find it hard to believe that there are 90 linebackers in the country who are better. Then again, Auburn and South Carolina were Spurlock’s two other best offers, so maybe I’m wrong.

Despite my evaluation that he’s a pretty solid player, I rarely like placing freshman linebackers very high in the countdown. Linebacker is a difficult position to play from a mental standpoint, and naturally, making the transition from high school to college is a big task. However, the need at the position is pretty strong considering the lack of depth and experience. Nikhai Hill-Green and Junior Colson are pretty entrenched as two of the top three guys – with perhaps some Mike Barrett mixed in there – but after that, it’s a roll of the dice to figure out which guy’s next. I could see Spurlock redshirting, and I could also see him being a guy who runs downfield on kickoff and punt coverage in every single game.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

Class of 2022 Senior Highlights: LB Deuce Spurlock