Tag: Mike McCray

5 Defensive Players to Watch in Michigan’s Spring Game

LB Mike McCray II

Michigan held some open practices in Florida and another at Ford Field last Saturday, but for many, the spring game will be the first opportunity to see the Wolverines in person or at least in action. I posted some notes on the defense earlier this week (LINK), and here are the top five defensive players I’ll be watching at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night:

LB/S Jabrill Peppers
It’s no surprise that Peppers would be first on my list. He might not be Michigan’s best

defensive player, but his athletic abilities outstrip those of everyone else on the team. Peppers spent most of his time doing drills at SAM linebacker last Saturday at Ford Field, but when the Wolverines lined up for scrimmage action, he also played safety. The 6’1″, 208-pounder will line up at the line of scrimmage in a 9-technique, over slot receivers, or back deep in coverage. There’s reason to believe he will be a big-time playmaker, so prepare to be impressed when things go live.

Hit the jump for four more players to watch.

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Video: Chris Partridge, Mike McCray interviews

Hit the jump for the Mike McCray interview.

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Spring Football Preview: Linebackers

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Ben Gedeon (#42) and Mike McCray II (#9)

Projected LB starters: SAM Jabrill Peppers (RS So.), MIKE Ben Gedeon (Sr.), WILL Mike McCray II (RS Jr.). It’s sad to say that this might be the last time we have a chance to see Jabrill Peppers in a Michigan uniform. A defensive back prospect coming out of high school, Don Brown seems to want him to play outside linebacker like Steve Brown did back in 2009. Gedeon is the only true, experienced linebacker returning from last year; he started one game last season and has 70 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 2 sacks in his career. McCray is more of a question mark. Listed at 6’4″ and 242 lbs. last year, he missed the whole season with a shoulder injury. In three years on campus – including a freshman season when he was injured and took a redshirt – he has 2 tackles and 1 blocked punt to his name. However, when the team took the field on Monday morning, he was reportedly the first WILL linebacker on the field.

Hit the jump for more on the linebacker position.

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2014 Season Countdown: #64 Mike McCray II

Mike McCray II (image via Go Blue Wolverine)

Name: Mike McCray II
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 242 lbs.
High school: Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #9
Last year: I ranked McCray #58 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer. He redshirted.

I thought McCray could have filled a role as a special teams player last year, but he spent the year on the bench. It was probably a good thing, because Michigan has played a lot of freshman linebackers in recent years; the only player on the linebacker two-deep to redshirt was Jake Ryan back in 2010. Last year Ben Gedeon burned his redshirt for a fairly small amount of playing time late in the season, though he performed well for a freshman once he got on the field.

McCray is ranked lower this year but will probably see some playing time. The Wolverines have considerable depth at middle linebacker, where Jake Ryan will start and probably be backed up by sophomore Gedeon. That leaves McCray to fend off freshmen Michael Ferns III and Noah Furbush for the third MIKE linebacker spot. I would expect to see McCray on the field for stretches of time early in the year and possibly on special teams, but the likelihood is small that he will be a significant contributor just yet.

Prediction: Backup middle linebacker, special teams contributor

2013 Season Countdown: #58 Mike McCray II

Mike McCray II

Name: Mike McCray II
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison
Position:

 Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #9
Last year: McCray was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 74.

McCray committed to Michigan in March 2012 and stuck by the Wolverines even when Ohio State eventually came calling with an offer. He was invited to The Opening last summer and also selected to the Under Armour All-America Game, but he didn’t particularly stand out at either event. In between the two, he had a solid but unspectacular season that pretty much confirmed what the prognosticators had seen earlier.

One large determining factor for McCray’s future might be his height. At the Rivals 5-star Challenge last summer, he measured in at 6’1″ despite being listed in other places at 6’4″. My 6’2″ up there is just a guesstimate, as he’s likely somewhere in between. If he’s taller than that, he might fit best at SAM linebacker. If he’s 6’2″ or shorter, he will probably end up at MIKE in the long-term. After starter Jake Ryan’s ACL injury in the spring, McCray was mentioned as a possible backup, along with Cam Gordon and Mark Lawson; however, it was shortly revealed that Brennen Beyer was moving from weakside end to SAM to shore up the position, so that potentially shoves McCray farther down the depth chart. I would like to see McCray redshirt, but for some reason, I think the coaches are going to burn it to prepare him for the stretch run or for next year.

Prediction: Backup SAM linebacker, special teams coverage