Tag: Kalel Mullings

2022 Season Countdown: #39 Kalel Mullings

Name: Kalel Mullings
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 232 lbs.
High school: West Roxbury (MA) Milton Academy
Position: Running back/Linebacker
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #20
Last year: I ranked Mullings #40 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He made 11 tackles.
TTB Rating: 78

Mullings had a lot of potential coming out of high school as a multi-faceted player who could be a linebacker or running back. He was an All-American Game participant and immediately earned playing time in 2020, getting snaps in four out of six games at linebacker. That seemed promising, but then in 2021, a hand injury seemed to slow down his progression. He seemed to be a possible #3 inside linebacker who could rotate in, but he got passed up by Junior Colson and ended up as the #4 inside linebacker.

With Josh Ross out of the way in 2022, that gives Mullings a chance to move up to the #3 guy again. But he also could potentially be the #3 running back. Mullings pulled double duty in the spring as Michigan’s staff looked for an answer to replace Hassan Haskins as a short yardage/power running back, and he looked decent in that role. Can he handle playing both sides of the ball? And is Tavierre Dunlap going to answer the bell to beat out Mullings for the #3 running back role? It will be interesting to see how much Mullings plays on both sides of the ball, and he could be Michigan’s version of Owen Marecic, the Stanford fullback/linebacker who ran for 5 touchdowns and made 51 tackles with 2 sacks playing for Jim Harbaugh in 2010. Michigan has tried somewhat similar things with Ben Mason and Ben Van Sumeren during the Harbaugh era, but Mullings is the most talented dual-threat player of the three.

Prediction: Special teamer and backup running back/linebacker

2021 Michigan vs. Rutgers Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . A.J. Henning. Henning has been a decent receiver (3 catches, 36 yards) and an outstanding runner (2 rushes, 100 yards, 1 TD) early in the season, but when push came to shove against Rutgers, the coaching staff almost completely ignored him. His only overall touch was on a punt return, and the only attempt to get him the ball on offense was an early fade route on the outside. Michigan needs to make more of a concerted effort to get guys like Henning the ball on the edge.

Hit the jump for more.

2021 Season Countdown: #40 Kalel Mullings

Name: Kalel Mullings
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 233 lbs.
High school: West Roxbury (MA) Milton Academy
Position: Linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #26
Last year: I ranked Mullings #61 and said he would be a backup inside linebacker (LINK). He made 1 tackle and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 78

Mullings was an Army All-American who played both running back and linebacker in high school. A good athlete whose linebacker skills were perhaps a little in question, he was not expected to be an immediate impact player. He played in all six games, mostly on special teams. Michigan did not rotate inside linebacker very much under former defensive coordinator Don Brown, and when Cam McGrone got hurt, it was walk-on Adam Shibley who stepped in to play rather than some of the younger players.

Now Shibley is gone to Notre Dame, and some of the other young players have transferred. The two inside linebacker positions seem to be pretty well solidified with Josh Ross and Michael Barrett, and Mullings is the next most experienced guy. If that were the whole story, I would probably have ranked the #3 inside ‘backer higher in the countdown. But word out of practice makes it sound like classmate Nikhai Hill-Green has been earning more buzz this off-season. Hopefully Ross and Barrett stay healthy, but it will be interesting to see whether it’s Mullings or Hill-Green who steps in as the main backup. Regardless, I think Mullings is a better athlete and can help more on special teams.

Prediction: Backup inside linebacker

2020 Season Countdown: #61 Kalel Mullings

Name: Kalel Mullings
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: West Roxbury (MA) Milton Academy
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Mullings was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran for 371 yards and 22 touchdowns, and he had 289 yards receiving with 4 touchdowns; he also had 2 interceptions and 2 sacks.
TTB Rating: 78

Mullings had what I deem to be a very odd career at Milton Academy. He was a very highly touted recruit before falling back to the pack a little bit; even though he ended up as the #151 overall player and played in the All-American Bowl, it seemed at one point that he would be deemed a guy who would be in the top 75 or so. And maybe his stats are off, but I don’t know how he only ended up with 371 rushing yards and 289 receiving yards.

But I digress.

What’s he going to do at Michigan?

Well, I said in his commitment post that he reminded me of Jordan Anthony, and I’m going to stick with that. Anthony, who spent three years at Michigan before entering the transfer portal, was also a running back/linebacker in high school who looked too stiff to play running back. Anthony always seemed a step slow to read plays on defense, and I see some of that with Mullings, too. I do think Mullings is starting off with a little more aggression and size, and since Anthony – who was in the rotation – left along with Devin Gil (USF), the staff needs a freshman inside linebacker. I think Mullings will be that guy in 2020, even though I just expect him to get his feet wet a little bit without being an immediate standout.

Prediction: Backup inside linebacker

How does the 2020 class match up with Michigan’s all-time recruits?

Michigan wrapped up a decent recruiting class earlier in February. There are no 5-star recruits, but the Wolverines got a fair share of 4-star guys. For a historical perspective on where they match up with recruits from the past, here’s a look at where they slot in all-time, according to the 247 Composite.

A.J. Henning – WR – Frankfort (IL) Lincoln-Way East
2020 ranking: #101
Historical ranking: #80 all-time at Michigan
Flanked by: RB Kareem Walker (#100 in 2016) and DT Will Johnson (#105 in 2004)
Closest positional comparisons: Toney Clemons (#96 in 2007) and Adrian Arrington (#115 in 2004)

Braiden McGregor – DE – Port Huron (MI) Northern
2020 ranking: #122
Historical ranking: #103
Tied with: WR Tarik Black (#122 in 2017)
Closest positional comparisons: Aidan Hutchinson (#112 in 2018) and Chris Wormley (#129 in 2012)

Hit the jump for more.