Early Enrollees - Who will impact in 2014?

Submitted by Ron Utah on

It's official--we've added seven players to the Michigan family:

  • Drake Harris
  • Wilton Speight
  • Bryan Mone
  • Freddy Canteen
  • Brandon Watson
  • Michael Ferns
  • Mason Cole

I believe all seven of these guys are future starters.  But who will make an impact in 2014?  The guy with the best chance on paper is Bryan Mone, since we don't have any established players at NT.  But I'm going to pick Freddy Canteen, who has freakish quickness and good speed (reported to have run a 4.43 40).  If he's half the technician he appears to be on tape and is a willing blocker, then his EE conditioning might get him into the line-up early.  Drake Harris is another possibility.  

Speight is up against two good QBs with game experience, Watson is on a depth chart with a plethora of quality DBs (that felt good to say), Ferns is one of many talented LBs, and, finally, we should be able to redshirt all of our incoming OL, so Cole should get a year of seasoning,

Welcome to the family, and GO BLUE!

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michael ferns
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Wilton Speight
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Freddy Canteen
Brandon Watson

Blarvey

January 6th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^

In order of most likely to contribute this year:

1. Freddy Canteen

2. Brandon Watson

3. Michael Ferns

4. Brian Mone

5. Drake Harris

6. Wilton Speight

7. Mason Cole

With the bottom 3 or 4 more likely to redshirt.

Joined: 11/21/2011

MGoPoints: 3473

alum96

January 6th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^

Hope Ferns redshirts - but with Morgan and JMFR and Beyer gone in 2015 we will have a very young corps that year so I could see them burning a redshirt.  You'd have Gedeon Ross Bolden and some guys who have not really played much at all behind them in 15.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82558

m1jjb00

January 6th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^

I'm excited to have Drake on the team.  But, the fact that he could use some pounds/training and was out most of his senior season suggests to me that he's a candidate for a redshirt even though he's coming in early.  If that's the case, I don't think it says anything about his potential down the road.

Of the rest, I say Speight and Cole definitely redshirt.  Watson probably redshirts.  Mone does not redshirt.  Canteen likely does not redshirt.  Ferns does not redshirt only if there is attrition among guys like him for special teams.

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8065

Mr. Brownstone

January 6th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^

They all redshirt which would be a good sign of if our depth is any good or not. Big difference between high school superstar and a 4th or 5th year guy in a D1 program.
Canteen may look good in drills or even against HS defense. What can he do against a college defense? I would guess he has LOTS to learn. Running agility drills on film is one thing but can he block a defensive player out on the field??

Joined: 01/27/2011

MGoPoints: 152

Bocheezu

January 6th, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^

I looked at the roster and 2013 was the 2nd year in a row that they burned 12 redshirts, which seems like a hell of a lot to me.   What's a standard low number for burned redshirts?  I keep thinking that eventually the depth will catch up, but Hoke seems to have no problem burning a few shirts for special teams play.  So probably at least 5 shirts burned this year, despite the apparent depth.  So I would guess Peppers, Harris if he heals up, Mone, one of Winovich/Wangler/Furbush will get thrown into special teams, and at least one random dude (or more) that no one would expect ahead of time.

Joined: 02/22/2009

MGoPoints: 2154

Swazi

January 6th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^

I see Harris, Canteen and Mone getting playing time right out of the gate. The WR depth means that at least one of Harris and Canteen will probably play, and Mone is probably better than Ash already.

Joined: 08/13/2010

MGoPoints: 11892

reshp1

January 6th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^

Honestly, I don't think any make significant impacts, at least until late in the season. Mone is probably the most needed right now with Pipkins a question mark, but that position is a tough one for a freshman to jump in at due to s&c required. Our receiver corp could use bolstering but this staff seems pretty averse to playing freshman there due to blocking issues. Cateen probably has the best shot to play at slot, but considering Norfleet and Funchess's moonlighting stint at slot, the need isn't dire, even with Dileo graduating.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

BlueMan80

January 6th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^

It was pretty clear that Clemson's big space eating tackles made a big difference vs. the OSU running game in the Orange bowl.  Those guys ate double teams and kept the linebackers clean.  We need size in the middle and Mone might just be big and strong enough to snaps next year in an area where we are thin.

It would be great of the rest of the class could redshirt and help us build those very desirable 5th year seniors that lead successful teams.   Canteen or Harris might be able to get some snaps since WR is one of the positions where youth and inexperience isn't as great a handicap.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 13097

no joke its hoke

January 6th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^

I'm going out on a limb and say that none of them have much of a impact next year. most play a position that usually get redshirted anyways and very few freshman NT make much of an impact. Freshman WR usually only catch 10-15 balls.

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 3453

I dumped the Dope

January 6th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^

Mone has mass, but does he have the strength to hold up against seasoned OL?  I can't say for sure but I'd say probabilities against it.  I think he'd command a lot more hype if he had hercules strength right out of high school.  That said I really want him to do well and be a terror on the field.

Harris looks a little light as well.  He may have focused harder on weight training during his senior season since he couldn't play...and not that I want to have him built like a LB...but again the whole blocking thing...

Ferns could see the field.  Mattison likes to get these guys hammering people with their grilles early.  Ferns seems solidly built from what my eye sees.  He'd be a little understrengthened at first...but watch out.  If Morgan got another concussion...it could be time for other guys to fill in.

I think Watson and Canteen also need a year in the weight room.  Speight is a no brainer for me just to be coached and adjust to college speed.

Not knocking any of these players.  I believe they all will develop into a special group.  And as such, an extra year in the program benefits us all down the line a few years.

Edit: forgot Cole...redshirt for sure.  OL development takes time.

Joined: 09/22/2013

MGoPoints: 2342

Yeezus

January 6th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^

  • Drake Harris

- Best case: Better than everyone but Funchess and starts at our other outside WR spot.  

- Worst case: Stuck behind Funchess, Darboh, and Chesson for sure.  Also stuck behind 1 or more of the RS freshmen WRs.  Doesn't see the field.  Redshirts.

- Likely case: Tough to say with his injury.  Was supposed to be the next guy to wear #1.  I don't see him starting, to be honest.  Probably burns his redshirt for 15 catches or so as our #4 outside WR (behind Funchess, Darboh, and Chesson - in that order)

  • Wilton Speight

- Best case: redshirt

- Worst case: redshirt

  • Bryan Mone

- Best case: a better version of what Pipkins was as a freshman

- Worst case: the new freshman Will Campbell

- Likely case: Pipkins as a freshman

  • Freddy Canteen

- Best case: Norfleet isn't a slot guy.  Canteen gets a lot of work.

- Worst case: Norfleet is the slot guy 

- Likely case: Redshirt or Special Teams

  • Brandon Watson

- I can't predict what this staff will do with CBs after they threw Stribling out there first among freshman this season.  I predict he redshirts, even though a transfer or two among CBs is likely.

  • Michael Ferns

- He's Ben Gedeon, the 2014 version.  Lots of special teams.  Some LB play.  Great potential.

  • Mason Cole

- Redshirt

Joined: 01/02/2014

MGoPoints: 2437

AA2Denver

January 6th, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^

  • Drake Harris, Freddy Canteen- Most likely one will play and one will not. 
  • Wilton Speight - RS
  • Bryan Mone - Burned out of necesity. 
  • Brandon Watson - RS
  • Michael Ferns - Burned.
  • Mason Cole - RS

Joined: 02/01/2011

MGoPoints: 2257

turtleboy

January 6th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^

I'd be surprised if Watson and Peppers aren't in the DB 2 deep by September, at one position or another. Canteen and Harris have a good shot at WR playing time as well, but everywhere else there's enough established depth for true freshman to realistically see the field next year, imho.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 35130

WolverineInTexas

January 6th, 2014 at 10:43 PM ^

I would be completely blown away in shock if Peppers doesn't crack the 2-deep. It will be interesting to see how Watson fares as he competes with the young DB's that are already on the roster. The staff seemed to rotate lots of young guys in, so he definatly has the oppurtunity to prove himself on the field. But he'll have to battle Lewis, Stribbling and others to get there. -Please note I'm note trying to say Peppers will not have to battle and compete his way up the depth chart. I'm also not trying to slight Watson in any way. I'm excited about both of these guys.

Joined: 01/21/2012

MGoPoints: 413

BayWolves

January 6th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^

Redshirts be burning for another year due to heavy rotations and increasing talent. I think:

 

  • Drake Harris         PLAYS
  • Wilton Speight      RS
  • Bryan Mone           PLAYS
  • Freddy Canteen   PLAYS
  • Brandon Watson  RS
  • Michael Ferns       PLAYS
  • Mason Cole           RS

Joined: 06/21/2011

MGoPoints: 11056