2017 Season Countdown: #3A Maurice Hurst, Jr.

Tag: Maurice Hurst Jr.


30Aug 2017
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2017 Season Countdown: #3A Maurice Hurst, Jr.

Name: Maurice Hurst, Jr.
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 282 lbs.
High school: Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #73
Last year: I ranked Hurst #24 and said he would be a part-time starting defensive tackle. He made 34 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 78

Hurst was considered by some to be a top-30 national player going into 2016, but I had him ranked #24 on the team. He didn’t start a game, and he still put up some outstanding numbers for a nose tackle. Most offensive linemen can’t handle his combination of quickness and power by themselves, and they can’t always get help. Hurst was 10th on the team in tackles, 5th in tackles for loss, and 4th in sacks – not bad for a backup.

It was a little strange that a potential first round pick in Hurst was behind Matt Godin last season, but it kept intact a solid second unit that never gave offenses a rest. Michigan still has a good group of defensive linemen, but they’re younger and thinner, and Hurst’s playmaking is needed more. The Wolverines don’t have the same room for injury this season, and Hurst is a guy who can play virtually any position on the defensive line. This should be a big year for Hurst, and he fits well into a defense that likes to slant and blitz. He’s a potential All-American if he produces in a starting role, and he should also be a first team all-conference selection.

Prediction: Starting defensive tackle

1May 2017
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Michigan’s Top Six 2018 NFL Draft Prospects

Maurice Hurst, Jr. (image via MLive)

Michigan set a school record for the number of players chosen in the 2017 NFL Draft, and it’s almost impossible to replicate talent production like that in consecutive years. So the Wolverines are bound to have a less exciting draft weekend in 2018, but the cupboard isn’t totally bare.

Here’s a look at Michigan’s top NFL prospects for the 2018 class:

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30Dec 2016
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Orange Bowl Preview: Michigan Defensive Line vs. Florida State Offensive Line

Roderick Johnson (image via 247 Sports)

MICHIGAN

Starters:

  • SDE: Fifth year senior Chris Wormley (6’6″, 302 lbs.)
  • DT: Fifth year senior Matt Godin (6’6″, 294 lbs.)
  • NT: Fifth year senior Ryan Glasgow (6’4″, 299 lbs.)
  • WDE: Senior Taco Charlton (6’6″, 272 lbs.)

Football Outsiders has Michigan’s defensive line at #4 in Adjusted Line Yards, and that reinforces the idea that Michigan has one of the top few defensive lines in the country. That’s good because they are huge (three guys who are 6’6″!) and experienced. The top NFL prospect is probably Charlton (37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks), who has been dominant at times. Next is Wormley (38 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks), who will play strongside end and defensive tackle at times. Glasgow (40 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 4 sacks) has turned from being excellent at holding up to double-teams to now getting penetration throughout his career. Godin (26 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack) plays less than the other three and isn’t as effective, but he’s a solid-level starting player. The unit is #2 in Standard Down Line Yards and #1 in Adjusted Sack Rate. Of course, Michigan has other players who rotate in and play well, but there aren’t many weaknesses among these top four guys.

Key backups: Backups at all four spots are worth mentioning here. Number one overall recruit from 2016 Rashan Gary (6’5″, 287 lbs.) rotates in at strongside end and has 24 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 1 sack on the year. He hasn’t been a terror off the edge as a pass rusher, but he’s very consistent and does his job well. Redshirt junior Maurice Hurst, Jr. (6’2″, 282 lbs.) is a viable NFL prospect and is Michigan’s quickest interior defensive lineman. He’s made 30 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks this season. Redshirt sophomore nose tackle Bryan Mone (6’4″, 310 lbs.) played the best game of his career against Ohio State in the regular season finale and has 9 tackles and 1 TFL. Redshirt sophomore Chase Winovich (6’3″, 245 lbs.) came out of nowhere to turn into an effective pass rusher, and he now has 33 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. A couple of these guys can rotate in at a time and Michigan won’t really skip a beat.

Hit the jump for a look at FSU’s offensive line.

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18Aug 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #24 Maurice Hurst, Jr.

Maurice Hurst, Jr.

Name: Maurice Hurst, Jr.
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 282 lbs.
High school: Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #73
Last year: I ranked Hurst #39 and said he would be a backup nose tackle (LINK). He made four starts, 35 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.

Hurst was maybe a bit of a pleasant surprise in 2015. He made just 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in 2014, and while he got some practice hype, he hadn’t shown a ton on the field. He also seemed to be pretty undersized for a nose tackle at a shade over 280 lbs. After Bryan Mone broke his leg in the pre-season and Ryan Glasgow tore his pec in the middle of the season, Hurst became The Man at nose tackle. He responded by making 35 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Those numbers are comparable or favorable with the senior seasons of Terrance Taylor (35 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks), Alan Branch (25 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 2 sacks) and Gabe Watson (40 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2 sacks). It should be noted that he achieved those numbers while starting only four games and beginning the season at #3 on the depth chart.

Pro Football Focus ranks Hurst as the #27 overall player in the country for 2016 (LINK), but I don’t quite buy that hype, and I also think Michigan has the horses to cover up for his absence if necessary. It’s unclear exactly how the rotation will go down, but Michigan can play Hurst, Matt Godin, and Chris Wormley at 3-tech defensive tackle this year. Hurst may be a backup nose tackle in some packages or if Michigan suffers injuries there again this year, but otherwise, I think Michigan could probably stand to lose one defensive tackle (Hurst or someone else) without suffering too much. Hurst will play plenty, he will be productive, and I think his quickness will give offensive guards some problems. However, Michigan is pretty deep on the defensive line, lessening the importance of any one guy.

Prediction: Part-time starting defensive tackle

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28Mar 2016
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Ford Field Open Practice: Defense, Special Teams

Noah Furbush 793x

Noah Furbush

Yesterday, I posted my thoughts on Saturday’s practice regarding injuries, offense, and a few walk-ons to watch (LINK). Today I’ll address what I saw from the defense.

DEFENSIVE END
Depth: Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton, Chase Winovich, Lawrence Marshall, Reuben Jones, Carlo Kemp
Scoop: Wormley spent some time both outside and inside, and we already know what to expect from him. In fact, a lot of the starters seemed to be going about 90%, because going 100% would just be unfair. The defensive line was handling the offensive front pretty well. Charlton is a physical freak, and it looked like he spent some time at both Anchor (strongside end) and weakside end. Winovich was my surprise of the day, because he definitely looked like he belonged on the field. In fact, he was working so hard coming off the edge that a bit of a brawl started when Kyle Kalis chucked him to the ground after a play. Winovich uses good leverage and can bend well, and I think he’s going to see some time. Marshall didn’t do anything special, and I think he needs to add weight and become a strongside end; he just doesn’t have the quickness or instincts to be an edge rusher, in my opinion. Jones looked decent and competitive, but I think he’s probably another year or two away. Kemp has moved from linebacker – where he was a poor fit, in my opinion – to defensive end. In fact, both Jones and Kemp were working at linebacker in Florida, but neither one worked with the linebackers on Saturday. Shelton Johnson is nursing an injury and did not practice. Maurice Hurst, Jr. had an ankle injury that was making him gimpy, and he was playing some Anchor at times but was ineffective (more due to injury than a lack of ability).

Hit the jump for the rest of the defense.

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