2013 Season Countdown: #76 Erik Magnuson

Tag: Erik Magnuson


14Jun 2013
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2013 Season Countdown: #76 Erik Magnuson

Erik Magnuson and Taylor Lewan

Name: Erik Magnuson
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 286 lbs.
High school: Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #78
Last year: I ranked Magnuson #70 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Magnuson came into last year with significant hype, with some even suggesting that he might play as a backup since the depth was so thin. Part of the reason that didn’t happen was that the offensive line stayed pretty healthy, and another – perhaps more significant – part is that he wasn’t very good in practice, according to reports. He was thin and young, and he was not a great run blocker coming out of high school; frustration on his end reportedly was evident.

Now he’s a year older and more mature, and he’s still in the same place on the depth chart. The two incumbent tackles (Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield) return, and there are a couple adequate walk-ons still remaining (Erik Gunderson, Kristian Mateus). Furthermore, it seems a couple other players have surpassed Magnuson on the “Best Overall” chart, so if there are any injuries to tackles, I would expect to see someone like Ben Braden bump out to tackle before seeing Magnuson on the field. I still think he has considerable upside, but it might be another year or two before he really comes on.

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle

3Jul 2012
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An Interview with Erik Magnuson

When I tried contacting freshman offensive lineman Erik Magnuson about doing a second Touch the Banner  interview, it turned out that he was preoccupied with something else at that exact moment:

Erik calls it “the best gift I’ve ever been given.”  And considering Taylor Lewan’s notorious affection for his tandem bike, there is only one logical conclusion: “Left tackles abhor normal bicycles.”

Fun, games, and unicycles aside, Erik continues to work hard toward making an impact on Michigan’s offensive line.  He was recently nice enough to hop off of his unicycle to give us an update on his status and thoughts on Michigan football.

Choosing Michigan:  “Well, it’s pretty simple.  It was coach Hoke.  I wouldn’t have much interest in Michigan if it weren’t for Coach Hoke going there from San Diego State.  So I had a relationship with him and I was pretty close with him.  He started recruiting me early my sophomore year, and I had a good relationship with him all that year, and then he moved, and then I called and said, ‘Get me on board.  I want to play for you.'”

Height, weight, goals:  “I’m 6’6″, 295 lbs.  I want to stay right around the 295/300 pound area, but I want to drop fat.  My body fat could stand to drop a little bit, and I want to get stronger.  So that’s my goal.  I don’t want to gain too much more weight – I just want to make it the right weight.”

Moving to Ann Arbor:  “As far as the football team, I hardly know anybody, and I hardly know the city at all besides the football stadium and the football facilities, so everything will be completely new to me.  It’s going to be an adventure.”

Roommate:  “I’m going to be rooming with Kyle Kalis. . . .a lot of personality in one room.”

Playing as a freshman:  “I want to play.  I’m going to get there and work my butt off.  I’ll be working out, but I’ll also be studying.  I’ll learn from the players, watch as much film as I can, learn as much as I can as fast as I can because I don’t want to sit out.  I want to make an impact right away. . . . Coach has told me I’ll have a chance to do it, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Passion and heart, being well-rounded:  “I think one of the things that gives me an advantage over other people is how much passion and heart I play with.  I take this very seriously because it’s what I love to do.  I think a lot of players don’t have that like I have.  Physically, I think I’m a good pass blocker; I’m a pretty good run blocker – I’m pretty well-rounded.  But hopefully I can get better at keeping low and that type of thing.  In run blocking I need to stay lower, and that type of thing I’m going to work on.”

The next great left tackle:  “Some people have told me that I’m going to play left tackle, but obviously I’m young to play left tackle since Taylor’s there right now.  I’m open to playing anything on the offensive line; I don’t care if I have to play center, right tackle, anything.  Eventually I’ll end up playing left tackle. . . . As far as anything he [Coach Funk] has ever said to me is that I could project to right tackle so I can play early, but eventually he wants me playing left tackle.  That’s what they recruited me as, and that’s what they want me to play.”

NFL, the next goal:  “College is another step in getting to my goal.  When I was in high school my goal was to make varsity, after varsity my goal was to get a division one scholarship, and now that I’ve done that my big goal is to make it to the NFL.  That’s one of the reasons why I picked Michigan – I think they give me a good opportunity to do that.”

Sticking with the unicycle:  “I don’t know about that [riding Lewan’s tandem bike].  I’m more of a unicycle guy. I like my unicycle.”

21Jun 2012
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2012 Season Countdown: #70 Erik Magnuson

Erik Magnuson

Name: Erik Magnuson
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 275 lbs.
High school: Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #78
Last year: Magnuson was in high school.  He played well enough to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Final TTB Rating: 87

Magnuson is a highly touted offensive tackle out of California, and some people even made a comparison to Jake Long.  Maybe it’s the fact that Magnuson wore #77, but regardless, he is a much hyped recruit.  At the beginning of January, he played left guard in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and while he wasn’t as stellar as classmate Kyle Kalis, he did look adequate with the change of position.

Coming into college, Magnuson needs a fair amount of polish and he needs to get stronger.  In a regular year, he would probably be a lock to redshirt.  However, needs on the offensive line might mandate some playing time.  He looks like a future left tackle, although that’s a position with a lot of responsibility for a freshman.  We might see him at right tackle or guard if the situation arises, but hopefully he can spend a year refining technique and adding mass.

Prediction: Redshirt if possible

17Jan 2012
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Final Rivals 100 for 2012

Kansas City (MO) Park Hill DT Ondre Pipkins is now
Michigan’s top-rated recruited to Rivals at #14 overall

Rivals released its final Rivals 100 for the 2012 recruiting cycle, and Michigan is pretty well represented.

– Missouri DT Ondre Pipkins moved from #59 all the way up to #14
– Ohio OG Kyle Kalis moved from #21 to #22
– California OT Erik Magnuson dropped from #49 all the way to #78

Here’s what the Rivals 100 looked like back in November, then before that in August, and all the way back to May 2011.

5-stars:

1. Dorial Green-Beckham – WR – Missouri
2. D.J. Humphries – OT – North Carolina (Florida)
3. Mario Edwards – DE – Texas (Florida State)
4. Shaq Thompson – S – California (Cal)
7. Eddie Goldman – DT – Washington, D.C.
8. Stefon Diggs – WR – Maryland
9. Noah Spence – DE – Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
11. Darius Hamilton – DE – New Jersey
14. Ondre Pipkins – DT – Missouri (Michigan)
16. Zach Banner – OT – Washington
18. Nelson Agholor – WR – Florida
19. Kyle Murphy – OT – California
20. Gunner Kiel – QB – Indiana (Notre Dame)
21. Ellis McCarthy – DT – California (UCLA)
22. Kyle Kalis – OG – Ohio (Michigan)
23. John Theus – OT – Florida (Georgia)
25. Adolphus Washington – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
27. Aziz Shittu – DT – California
29. Jordan Simmons – OG – California (USC)
32. Andrus Peat – OT – Arizona

4-stars:
33. Joshua Garnett – OT – Washington
37. Devin Fuller – ATH – New Jersey
39. Kendall Sanders – ATH – Texas (Texas)
40. Jabari Ruffin – LB – California (USC)
44. Zach Kline – QB – California (Cal)
46. Max Tuerk – OT – California (USC)
48. Keith Marshall – RB – North Carolina (Georgia)
50. Eli Harold – DE – Virginia (Virginia)
54. Kent Taylor – TE – Florida (Florida)
56. Jordan Jenkins – DE – Georgia (Georgia)
61. Arik Armstead – DT – California
62. Durron Neal – WR – Missouri (Oklahoma)
64. Tommy Schutt – DT – Illinois (Ohio State)
65. Javonte Magee – DE – Texas (Baylor)
68. Ronald Darby – CB – Maryland
70. Marcus Maye – S – Florida (Florida)
71. D.J. Foster – ATH – Arizona
72. Jonathan Taylor – DT – Georgia (Georgia)
73. Vince Biegel – LB – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
74. Avery Young – OT – Florida
76. Tee Shepard – CB – California (Notre Dame)
78. Erik Magnuson – OT – California (Michigan)
79. Cyrus Jones – ATH – Maryland (Alabama)
80. Brian Poole – CB – Florida (Florida)
81. Bryce Treggs – WR – California (Cal)
83. Deon Bush – S – Florida (Miami)
85. Yuri Wright – CB – New Jersey
86. LaDarrell McNeil – S – Texas (Tennessee)
88. Geno Smith – CB – Georgia (Alabama)
90. JaQuay Williams – WR – Georgia (Auburn)
92. Tyriq McCord – DE – Florida (Miami)
93. Jordan Payton – WR – California (Cal)
94. Raphael Kirby – LB – Georgia (Miami)
95. Se’von Pittman – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
99. Ifeadi Odenigbo – DE – Ohio (Northwestern)
100. Chris Muller – OT – Pennsylvania (Rutgers)

11Jan 2012
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Final Scout 300 Released for 2012

Lakewood (OH) St. Edward’s Kyle Kalis is Michigan’s top-rated player to Scout

The Scout 300 was released on Wednesday.  For a refresher on where kids used to be ranked, check out this post from April.

Michigan commits are in the following slots:

  • 35. Kyle Kalis
  • 65. Ondre Pipkins
  • 69. Joe Bolden
  • 82. Erik Magnuson
  • 83. James Ross
  • 93. Tom Strobel
  • 111. Royce Jenkins-Stone
  • 162. Mario Ojemudia
  • 164. Chris Wormley
  • 183. Terry Richardson
  • 205. Amara Darboh
  • 221. Devin Funchess
  • 225. A.J. Williams
  • 249. Jarrod Wilson

Michigan has offered 133 of these 300 players (44.3%).  As is the custom ’round these parts, here’s a look at Michigan offerees in Scout’s final 300:

5-stars:
1. Dorial Green-Beckham – WR – Missouri
2. Arik Armstead – OT – California
3. Shaq Thompson – S – California (Cal)
4. Mario Edwards – DE – Texas (Florida State)
5. Noah Spence – DE – Pennsylvania (Ohio State)
6. Stefon Diggs – WR – Maryland
7. John Theus – OT – Florida (Georgia)
9. Ronald Darby – CB – Maryland
10. Adolphus Washington – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
11. D.J. Humphries – OT – Florida (Florida)
12. Keith Marshall – RB – North Carolina (Georgia)
14. Kyle Murphy – OT – California
19. Jordan Jenkins – DE – Georgia (Georgia)
20. Darius Hamilton – DE – New Jersey
23. Ellis McCarthy – DT – California (Cal)
25. Brian Poole – CB – Florida (Florida)
26. Eli Harold – DE – Virginia (Virginia)
27. Avery Young – OT – Florida
31. Eddie Goldman – DT – Washington, D.C.
32. Bri’onte Dunn – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
35. Kyle Kalis – OT – Ohio (Michigan)
38. Gunner Kiel – QB – Indiana (LSU)
39. Tee Shepard – CB – California (Notre Dame)
42. Joshua Garnett – OG – Washington
43. Bryce Treggs – WR – California (Cal)
45. Cyrus Jones – WR – Maryland (Alabama)
47. Jordan Diamond – OT – Illinois
48. Tommy Schutt – DT – Illinois
50. Sheldon Day – DT – Indiana (Notre Dame)

4-stars:
51. Andrus Peat – OT – Arizona
52. Kwon Alexander – LB – Alabama
55. Elijah Shumate – LB – New Jersey (Notre Dame)
58. Se’von Pittman – DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
61. Nelson Agholor – S – Florida
62. Jordan Simmons – OG – California (USC)
63. Aaron Burbridge – WR – Michigan (Michigan State)
65. Ondre Pipkins – DT – Missouri (Michigan)
68. Michael Starts – OG – Texas (Texas Tech)
69. Joe Bolden – LB – Ohio (Michigan)
72. Zach Banner – OT – Washington
73. Kent Taylor – TE – Florida (Florida)
75. Ifeadi Odenigbo – DE – Ohio (Northwestern)
76. Jonathan Taylor – DT – Georgia (Georgia)
77. Taylor Decker – OT – Ohio (Notre Dame)
78. Javonte Magee – DE – Texas
79. Armani Reeves – CB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
82. Erik Magnuson – OT – California (Michigan)
83. James Ross – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
84. Leonte Carroo – WR – New Jersey (Rutgers)
85. LaDarrell McNeil – S – Texas (Tennessee)
88. Devin Fuller – QB – New Jersey
91. Wes Brown – RB – Maryland (Maryland)
92. Marcus Maye – S – Florida (Florida)
93. Tom Strobel – DE – Ohio (Michigan)
95. Jordan Payton – WR – California (Cal)
96. Max Tuerk – OG – California (USC)
99. Dan Voltz – OG – Illinois (Wisconsin)
100. Jaquay Williams – WR – Georgia (Auburn)
104. D.J. Foster – RB – Arizona
105. Durron Neal – WR – Missouri (Oklahoma)
111. Royce Jenkins-Stone – LB – Michigan (Michigan)
116. Evan Boehm – C – Missouri (Missouri)
119. Devonte Fields – DE – Texas (TCU)
122. Geno Smith – CB – Georgia (Alabama)
123. Zach Kline – QB – California (Cal)
124. Greg Garmon – RB – Pennsylvania (Iowa)
127. J.J. Denman – OT – Pennsylvania (Wisconsin)
128. Ryan Watson – OG – Maryland (Virginia)
129. Brock Stadnik – OT – North Carolina (South Carolina)
130. Paul Thurston – OT – Colorado (Nebraska)
135. Peter Jinkens – LB – Texas (Texas)
137. Matt Jones – RB – Florida (Florida)
139. Jabari Ruffin – LB – California (USC)
145. Scott Starr – LB – California (USC)
146. Yuri Wright – CB – New Jersey
153. Reginald Davis – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
159. Monty Madaris – WR – Ohio
162. Mario Ojemudia – DE – Michigan (Michigan)
164. Chris Wormley – DE – Ohio (Michigan)
167. John Michael McGee – OG – Texas (Oklahoma)
170. Dillon Lee – LB – Georgia (Alabama)
172. Camren Williams – LB – Massachusetts (Penn State)
173. Jonathan Williams – RB – Texas (Arkansas)
175. Sean Price – TE – Florida
176. Raphael Kirby – LB – Georgia (Miami)
178. Faith Ekakitie – DT – Illinois (Iowa)
181. Kyle Dodson – OT – Ohio (Wisconsin)
182. Dalton Santos – LB – Texas (Tennessee)
183. Terry Richardson – CB – Michigan (Michigan)
185. D.J. Singleton – S – New Jersey (Wisconsin)
188. Troy Hinds – DE – Utah (BYU)
191. Aziz Shittu – DT – California
192. Nick Davidson – OT – Minnesota (Stanford)
193. Deaysean Rippy – LB – Pennsylvania
196. Warren Ball – RB – Ohio (Ohio State)
198. Derrick Woods – S – California (Oklahoma)
199. Martin Aiken – DE – South Carolina (Clemson)
200. Connor Brewer – QB – Arizona (Texas)
202. Ken Ekanem – DE – Virginia
205. Amara Darboh – WR – Iowa (Michigan)
209. Keith Brown – LB – Miami (Louisville)
212. David Perkins – LB – Indiana
214. Jalen Overstreet – S – Texas (Texas)
217. Deontay McManus – WR – Maryland (West Virginia)
219. Kendall Sanders – CB – Texas (Texas)
221. Devin Funchess – TE – Michigan (Michigan)
222. Dominique Wheeler – WR – Texas (Texas Tech)
223. Vince Biegel – LB – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
225. A.J. Williams – OT – Ohio (Michigan)
229. Jarron Jones – OT – New York (Notre Dame)
231. Deon Bush – S – Florida (Miami)
232. Derek Edinburgh – OT – Louisiana (LSU)
236. Evan Baylis – TE – Colorado (Oregon)
240. Maty Mauk – QB – Ohio (Missouri)
242. Tyler Orlosky – OG – Ohio (West Virginia)
243. J.P. Holtz – TE – Pennsylvania
244. Tyriq McCord – DE – Florida (Miami)
245. Jarrod Wilson – S – Ohio (Michigan)
247. Drew Harris – RB – Pennsylvania
250. Dalvin Tomlinson – DT – Georgia
251. Michael Moore – DE – Maryland (Penn State)
255. Danny O’Brien – DT – Michigan (Tennessee)
264. Ty Darlington – C – Florida (Oklahoma)
270. Avery Johnson – WR – Florida (LSU)
277. Kenny Lawler – CB – Washington, D.C.
278. Jaleel Johnson – DT – Illinois (Iowa)
280. Jason Croom – WR – Georgia (Tennessee)
282. Zeke Pike – QB – Kentucky (Auburn)
285. Jake Rodrigues – QB – California (Oregon)
286. Pharaoh Brown – TE – Ohio (Oregon)
287. Hiva Lutui – C – California
292. Devan Bogard – S – Ohio (Ohio State)
297. Vonte Jackson – RB – Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
298. Ron Thompson – TE – Michigan (Syracuse)
299. Shane Callahan – OT – Colorado (Auburn)