Tag: Tyler McLaurin

2023 Season Countdown: #78 Tyler McLaurin

Name: Tyler McLaurin
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 231 lbs.
High school: Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Position: Edge
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #27
Last year: I ranked McLaurin #60 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He played in four games.
TTB Rating: 75

Much like Ike Iwunnah (LINK), it’s starting to get a bit late for Tyler McLaurin to look like a contributor. He started off as a linebacker in 2021, but last year he got thrown in with the “edge” players, presumably the Jaylen Harrell outside linebacker spot. Listed at 237 lbs. last season, I thought he would continue to bulk up. He played in four games in 2022, mostly on special teams.

Now McLaurin is still listed at “edge” in 2023, but he’s down to 231 pounds, which is probably not a feasible weight for a 6’3″ edge defender in the Big Ten unless you have some excellent quickness/athleticism, which is not necessarily McLaurin’s forte based on his high school scouting. I expect McLaurin to be a special teams player, but I don’t foresee him playing much defense in 2023.

Prediction: Backup outside linebacker and special teamer

2022 Season Countdown: #60 Tyler McLaurin

Name: Tyler McLaurin
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 237 lbs.
High school: Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #27
Last year: I ranked McLaurin #74 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 75

McLaurin is a big linebacker at 6’3″ and 237 pounds. He might have been a prototypical inside linebacker in the 1990s or even the early 2000s, but most linebackers these days are smaller and quicker than they used to be. It seemed to be pretty obvious that he would redshirt – most freshman linebackers do unless they’re likely to start the following year – and he did. Michigan had plenty of depth at outside linebacker, and they had three solid guys on the inside.

As for the 2022 season, we can be fairly confident that the two starters will be Junior Colson and Nikhai Hill-Green. After that things are up in the air. Kalel Mullings might be playing running back, Joey Velazquez plays baseball all winter/spring, Jaydon Hood got some snaps last year, and there are two solidly built freshmen in Jimmy Rolder and Deuce Spurlock. And that’s not to mention Michael Barrett, who is likely to fit in somewhere, but we just don’t know where. Someone has to call “Next!” I don’t think it will be McLaurin because I think his upside is capped, but he should start to get some special teams action this year.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer

2021 Season Countdown: #74 Tyler McLaurin

Name: Tyler McLaurin
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #27
Last year: McLaurin was a senior in high school (LINK). His senior year was canceled due to COVID.
TTB Rating: 75

McLaurin had the unfortunate luck of seeing his senior season canceled due to the pandemic, and he was one of the players in the class I was most looking forward to seeing. I was not a big fan of his game when he committed because he pledged to the Wolverines’ Don Brown-led defense, a scheme that didn’t seem to match McLaurin’s skills.

Fast forward to 2021, and I think McLaurin is in a better place. I always thought he was pegged for SAM in Brown’s 4-3 packages, but now I think McLaurin can play inside linebacker in Mike Macdonald’s 3-4 look. The 3-4 tends to prioritize bigger linebackers, and at 6’2″ – with a frame to get significantly heavier than 220 – this suddenly looks like a better personnel match. McLaurin could still end up at outside linebacker because of his length, but I believe he should start out inside due to a relative lack of depth there. Either way, he will probably redshirt this year unless injuries deplete the depth chart.

Prediction: Redshirt

Class of 2021: Historical Recruiting Comparisons

In case you’re not aware, I have a list of every Michigan recruit going back 20+ years and their rankings (LINK).

Below you will find each 2021 recruit and his closest ranked comparison by position in Michigan history. This might help boost – or temper – some expectations for what we will see from the class.

Hit the jump for the comparisons.

Visitors: Michigan vs. Wisconsin

I haven’t posted a visitors list in a long time, because visitors haven’t been allowed to visit Michigan since last winter. And they’re still not allowed to visit campus, at least not while having any contact with the coaching staff.

But there is a group of recruits who plan to come to Ann Arbor and hang out together on their own.

2021

Raheem Anderson II – C – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Anderson is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Andrel Anthony – WR – East Lansing (MI) East Lansing: Anthony is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Tristan Bounds – OT – Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall: Bounds is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for more.