DonAZ

January 3rd, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^

Two things:

(1) I'm surprised he has any eligibility left ... he seems like he's been here a long time; and

(2) He's one of those players I was intrigued with early on and have had an eye on since then.

I'm not good enough at player evaluations to know precisely why he didn't quite work out.  He was a serviceable special teams player, I guess.  But as a productive member of the defensive line, not so much. 

Joined: 12/05/2011

MGoPoints: 16763

bronxblue

January 3rd, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^

I think one of his big issues was he came in under Don Brown as a tweener and just sort stayed there.  I remember this year's phonebook showing just how much his weight fluctuated year-to-year.  He came into UM at 253, went up 25 pounds in 2019, 8 more pounds in 2020, 2 more pounds in 2021...and then dropped 22 to start this year.  Seemed like they maybe saw him as a tackle or a heavy anchor but then didn't totally commit (or he couldn't quite handle it), and then they pivoted back to more of an end.  That's gotta mess with your development especially with multiple coaching changes, and he likely got lost in the shuffle.  I think he's probably best at the 260-270 range given his athleticism so maybe he'll find a home somewhere else.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171814

1VaBlue1

January 3rd, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^

He never played football growing and has zero natural knowledge of the game.  All he had was physical gifts and hope to learn - and that wasn't enough to get on the field at Michigan.  I'm sure some smaller school is going to get a worthy player, but not one that can get on the field at Michigan.

Not much different from putting Donovan Edwards on a soccer field.  He has all the physical gifts to be special, but zero natural knowledge of the game from a lifelong obsession with playing it.  Mbappe would run circles around him...

(Is this where I'm informed that DE also played high level soccer in HS?)

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127316

bronxblue

January 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^

Not a shock given how the depth chart has shaken out.  Wish him luck - he's got the athleticism to play at the P5 level so hopefully he'll find a place where he can see the field more.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171814

Angry-Dad

January 3rd, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^

Hope he finds a landing spot that can get him reps.  Depth chart was too high a mountain to climb at Michigan, but have to think with that level of athleticisim he could be productive with more snaps. 

Joined: 01/27/2021

MGoPoints: 11616

BuddhaBlue

January 3rd, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^

Dude came to the US for four years, presumably got a Michigan degree, was on the team for two playoff runs and is a two time big ten champ. Not a bad career... best of luck next year Juice! 

Joined: 01/06/2017

MGoPoints: 7324