Hello: Kicker JJ McGrath
Steve Wiltfong@SWiltfong247
In-state kicker J.J. McGrath to #Michigan per @ToddWorly247 http://michigan.247sports.com/Article/In-State-Kicker-JJ-McGrath-To-Walk-On-At-Michigan-112014 … via @247Sports #Wolverines
Likely a greyshirt who will be on scholarship once one the current scholarship K/P's depart.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:10 AM ^
You can't have too much insurance in the kicking game, IMO.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^
When kicking goes fine, no one says a damn thing (usually) and when it goes wrong, people lose their collective minds.
I'll temper that with Gibbons because there were a few years where Michigan had a poor kicking game then Brendan really developed and had some good boots and we realized that it wasn't anything to take for granted.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^
of the first video, is that RDT on the front porch of the house? I cant tell but I think it is.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
This kid is the real deal. Kicked a 57-yard FG this year.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^
i believe off the ground in a game: http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/8240314985761138207/jj-mcgrath-strives-to-become-best-high-school-kicker-in-state-history-with-video/
EDIT: More info. was during a game: http://www.usatodayhss.com/detroit/article/macomb-lutheran-kicker-j-j-mcgraths-long-fgs-have-dotted-state-record-book--2012309140079
January 18th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
Can high schoolers even use tees anymore? I thought kickers at all levels had to kick off the ground now.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
, the wildest leg in town, this kid may get his scholarship any day now....if he has a punting resume. One thing I've learned is a Hagerup is gonna Hager.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
By the way, I think he was just told he'd have the opportunity to earn a scholarship once Gibbons leaves. Which, to me, sounds like a battle with Wile.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
Aren't all three of the current kickers on scholarship? If that is the case, sounds like he could get one as soon as Hagerup is gone. I'd like to think Hoke places a lot of importance on kickers and wants to have at least two on scholarship if possible at all times.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
I meant competing with Wile for the primary kicking position. Which would then decide whether or not he's put on scholarship. And if Hagerup gets the boot, I would imagine Kenny Allen gets a scholly before McGrath. And I think Hoke is more concerned with having them on the roster, the schollies would just be an added bonus. Doubt Allen/McGrath decides to transfer because they don't have scholarships.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
I don't think any coach wants to allot three scholarships to kickers. If Gibbons or anyone else on the roster looked like a viable option for 2011 I doubt we would have offered Wile.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
Assuming he redshirts this season, with Gibbons still on the roster, he'll only compete with Wile for playing time for one year.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
Yeah for competent Kicking! We all know what a few years ago was like with bad kicking. Hopefully we don't experience it again anytime soon.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
Welcome to Michigan JJ...you will love it
January 18th, 2013 at 10:25 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^
If he starts as a walk-on and then is offered a scholarship later, it will only count against the 85 max scholarship limit. It won't be part of a class year limit.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
With these locks, McGrath looks like he's ready to be a Michigan kicker.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
Or an Alabama quarterback.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
or he is ready to follow in his brothers Mark Mcgrath footsteps and be a singer slash host of Entertainment tonite.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
Greyshirting means he won't be enrolling fulltime next year. Is that the case? I'm thinking you meant he'll be a walkon until a scholarship opens up.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
This is correct. He was offered a preferred walkon spot - not a greyshirt
January 18th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^
Hagerup is or would be a senior next season. Assuming McGrath is going to redshirt, Hagerup will be gone one way or another before McGrath plays.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
Courtesy of the Kohl's Kicking site, some of his high school stats:
Field Goals | Extra Points | Punts | Kickoffs | |||||
Season | FGM | FGA | XPM | XPA | # | AVG | # | TBs |
2012-2013 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 32 | 42 | 34 | 29 |
2011-2012 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 36 | 44.9 | 27 | 22 |
2010-2011 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 20 | 40 | 29 | 24 |
2009-2010 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 23 | 30 | 26 |
I couldn't find organized information on yardages on kickoffs, but MaxPreps had mentioned some 60-70 yard kicks as longs in the seasons I could find data for. I like the sound of that.
Welcome to Michigan, J.J.!
January 18th, 2013 at 10:33 AM ^
Good deal. We are going to be kicking balls hard for years to come!!
January 18th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
Welcome to Michigan, J.J.! Gibbons will teach you well.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
I was actually wondering over the summer if they'd consider offering him a scholarship. Glad to have him as a walk-on until that scholarship spot opens up.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
After this coming season, I think McGrath and Allen will compete for a scholarship. However, if WIle assumes both kicking and punting duties then I think then I think neither gets a scholly till Wile graduates. We'll see what the coaches do.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^
Pretty sure McGrath grew up a Sparty fan, nice to have him see the light. Go Blue!
January 18th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
Good kickers are a must.. Not a high profile position, but is really important.. Remember when we could make anything and had to hold breath on xtra pts
January 18th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
Dare we call him Bloodbath McGrath?
January 18th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
/s
January 18th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 12:15 PM ^
Ivy's, service academies, D3, ect., I'd guess recruited athlete. The kicker (LOL) being that Hoke probably wants as close to zero academic risk as possible from his preferred walkons, so I'd imagine he meets whatever formula the staff/admissions like to see academically.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:59 AM ^
Nice to have you aboard!
January 18th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
Welcome aboard J.J. So with his greyshirt, that leaves two open spot for this class is that right? Also I'd like to add that Cool Blue has the "nicest" avatar around.
January 18th, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^