2013 Season Countdown: #67 Erik Gunderson

Tag: Erik Gunderson


23Jun 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #67 Erik Gunderson

Erik Gunderson

Name: Erik Gunderson
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 316 lbs.
High school: Milan (MI) Milan
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #69
Last year: I ranked Gunderson #74 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle. He played in five games as a backup offensive tackle.

Gunderson has always been massive but somewhat slow-footed. With a very thin offensive line last season, he worked his way into some playing time. His skills have not changed much, but he has rebuilt his body over the past few seasons.  At one time he was very overweight, but he trimmed down to 312 last year and is now up to 316 lbs.

Going into the 2013 season, there’s still not much at offensive tackle. The best tackle not named Taylor Lewan or Michael Schofield is probably Ben Braden, but Braden is battling for a starting spot at guard while he bides his time for one of the tackle positions. With redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson struggling and true freshmen elsewhere on the depth chart, Gunderson has a decent chance of being the primary backup offensive tackle. If any long-term injuries occur at the position, I would guess some reshuffling takes place; but in garbage time or short replacement stints, you could see big #69 out there.

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle

17Jun 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #74 Erik Gunderson

Erik Gunderson

Name: Erik Gunderson
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 312 lbs.
High school: Milan (MI) Milan
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #69
Last year: I ranked Gunderson #67 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle.  He played in four games as a backup lineman.

Gunderson came to Michigan as a 6’8″, 338-pounder and slimmed down significantly under Rich Rodriguez, since Rodriguez was into cardio and athleticism for his linemen.  Under Brady Hoke, Gunderson is slowly putting on weight once again and is up over 300 lbs., fourteen pounds heavier than last year.  He played in several games last season, but did not see action in crucial situations.

Offensive tackle is once again a thin position now that Mark Huyge graduated and only freshmen are left outside of starters Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield.  Gunderson could be a key backup if the freshmen struggle to adjust and if there are injuries along the offensive line.  He’s a little slow-footed and would most likely work in at right tackle if needed, but he’s an adequate run blocker.  No offense to Gunderson, but let’s hope that he’s not needed this season.

Prediction: Backup right tackle

25Jun 2011
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2011 Countdown: #67 Erik Gunderson

Erik Gunderson (#69)

Name: Erik Gunderson
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 298 lbs.
High school: Milan High School in Milan, MI
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #69
Last year: I did not rank Gunderson.  He didn’t play in any games.

Gunderson was one of those kids who created a wee bit of buzz when he chose to attend Michigan and become a walk-on.  Those things happen when you come out of high school standing 6’8″ and weighing 338 lbs.  But many assumed that he would be too stiff to play at this level and he would spend a few years standing on the sidelines, blocking the view of fans sitting in the first row.

But Rich Rodriguez was the coach and he criminally under-recruited various positions, including offensive linemen the past couple years.  By default Gunderson might be the #4 offensive tackle for the upcoming season, and he actually acquitted himself well this past spring.  He could be an emergency option in case of injury, and he has an outside chance to push for playing time in the next few years.  However, I have to think that if an injury bug hit the offensive tackles ahead of him for any length of time, somebody like Patrick Omameh would probably slide from guard to tackle to fill the gap.

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle