Tag: Tom Strobel

Tom Strobel, Ex-Wolverine

Tom Strobel

Tom Strobel, who finished his redshirt junior year at Michigan, will not return to the Wolverines in the fall. It was announced on National Signing Day that he would be transferring to Ohio University to become a Bobcat.

Strobel was a class of 2012 prospect who was highly ranked at the time. He was a 6’6″, 240-pounder who was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #10 weakside end, and #178 overall. He picked Michigan over offers from Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. I gave him a TTB Rating of 84.

Hit the jump for more on Strobel’s departure.

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Michigan vs. Indiana Awards

Jake Rudock had a record-setting day on Saturday

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Joe Kerridge at H-back. Kerridge, a virtual starter on offense at fullback, has been splitting time with Sione Houma. Kerridge, however, is the superior blocker, and that’s pretty much all H-back Henry Poggi does on offense. With Michigan’s defensive line depth depleted, it might be a good idea to get Kerridge some snaps at H-back and let Poggi concentrate on defense. Meanwhile, Houma can handle the fullback duties.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.

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2015 Season Countdown: #77 Tom Strobel

Tom Strobel (image via MGoBlog)

Name: Tom Strobel
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 270 lbs.
High school: Mentor (OH) Mentor
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Strobel #67 and said he would be a backup strongside end. He played in five games and made 1 tackle.

Strobel has been a difficult player to project throughout his career. He came in as a guy who looked like he could stay at weakside end, but then he became a strongside end. Then he was a severely undersized defensive tackle. Then he moved back to strongside end. He appears to be too slow to play on the edge, and he can’t or won’t add the bulk necessary to play tackle.

A new coaching staff has been hired, and they look no closer to figuring out where he can actually play. He is listed at defensive end still, but he again appears to be a bench player. With the Wolverines looking like a bit more of a 3-4 team, that would seem to indicate a better chance for him to play because of his size, but it also constricts the pathway to playing time a little bit. Strobel hasn’t shown anything yet that resembles a breakout, so he remains in the lower third of the countdown.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2014 Season Countdown: #67 Tom Strobel

Tom Strobel (image via Scout)

Name: Tom Strobel
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 268 lbs.
High school: Mentor (OH) Mentor
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Strobel #64 and said he would be a backup strongside end. He played in one game and made 2 tackles.

Strobel came into the 2013 season as a combo strongside end/defensive tackle, but he has always seemed like a guy who would struggle to put on the weight necessary to play defensive tackle. Last year he played at 262 lbs., and this year he’s up to 268. That’s still a little bit light for the 5-tech defensive end spot that Michigan employed when their base defense was an Under. He played in one game as a redshirt freshman but made 2 tackles against the Chippewas of Central Michigan, so he acquitted himself fairly well.

Strobel is once again listed as a defensive end going into 2014, and I think that’s the position that fits him best. The strongside end in Michigan’s new base defense, the 4-3 Over, is more of an edge player who doesn’t require as much bulk. Senior Brennen Beyer is entrenched as the starter, and sophomore Taco Charlton looks to be the first man off the bench. Strobel would likely be the third guy in, although redshirt freshman Henry Poggi (who also has bounced between defensive tackle and strongside end) might have something to say about that. Poggi is more of a natural defensive tackle, though, so Strobel will probably see a solid amount of playing time to spell players or play some garbage time minutes.

Prediction: Backup strongside end

2013 Season Countdown: #64 Tom Strobel

Tom Strobel (image via Hokeamaniac)

Name: Tom Strobel
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 262 lbs.
High school: Mentor (OH) Mentor
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Strobel #82 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

It’s hard to say much new about a redshirt freshman that hasn’t played meaningful football in two years, but here we are. Strobel has stayed pretty steady with his weight, but he will probably add a few more pounds before the fall. The coaching staff wanted Craig Roh up around 280 lbs. to play the 5-tech position, so Strobel still seems like he’ll be a little light for their liking. However, he did earn some practice buzz this past season and in the spring. The coaches seem to like his potential.

As for this coming fall, Strobel could find himself in the rotation, but he probably won’t be a heavily used player. Redshirt sophomore Keith Heitzman appears to be the leader for the strongside end position, and redshirt freshman Matt Godin got a lot of run in the spring game. Furthermore, Strobel’s classmate Chris Wormley was talked about as a guy who would have played last year if not for his torn ACL, although Wormley might end up as a defensive tackle. I don’t think Strobel will be any higher than third on the depth chart, but the he does have potential down the road.

Prediction: Backup 5-tech defensive end