Wolverine247 Board

With Mich on the Pipkins call. I'll go with Bolden as the other. He's in the 2 deep and should be a great one for years to come.

I think Strobel could step in and contribute right away. He brings a certain explosiveness off the edge that Michigan didn't have last year, IMO.

Safe call would be Pipkins...but I also think that Chesson or Darboh may surprise some, not going to break out but they could put in some solid contributions.

Pipkins, Funchess, and Wilson

A lot is being expected of Pipkins, and that's gonna be hard to step in there in the trenches against guys 4-5 years older than him. I think he'll contribute this year, but i'm not sure he's going to have that immediate impact that others do.

I'm going to go w/ Bolden on defense, I see him taking Morgan's spot at some point in the year.

On offense I think it's going to be hard for consistent playing time for most signees. So i'd go w/ Norfleet, I think he's going to contribute on special teams immediately and have a few big catches/runs throughout the year.

I think we desperately need help at TE so my guess would be AJ. Darboh should get ample opportunity to earn a spot in the WR 2-deep.

I think Pipkins, Bolden, and one of the WRs are a safe bet. So i am going to go out on a limb and say Norfleet will get some opportunities in the return game, and if he makes a splash he will be able to find a niche on this team for at least a little while.

I also think some of the 2012 DL and LB will get some special teams work early in the season to see if any of them has what it takes to break the rotation. I look for RJS and Wormley to be the best out of those groups, besides the usual suspects of course.

Drake Johnson - RS. He's got the size, but he needs to get stronger. My biggest criticism of him is that he goes down so easily. If he fixes that, he could see the field in a year or two.

Dennis Norfleet - probably redshirt, but he could impress the coaches in the return game and see the field there. We're very weak and need someone to step up. Probably sticks at returner for his career and sees some snaps as a third down back.

Sione Houma - RS to build size and then beat out Kerridge when Hopkins leaves.

AJ Williams - get into the two deep as soon as he steps on campus. Starts by the middle/end of the year when he gets more comfortable in the passing game. Three and a half year starter here.

Devin Funchess - Ideally he would redshirt because he's not big enough to be a Big Ten tight end, but our depth chart is so insanely bad that he'll probably be forced on the field. He won't be able to do much in the blocking game, but should be a great target for Denard from the H-back-ish position.

Amara Darboh - Like Funchess, he would ideally redshirt but will most likely be forced on the field due to our lack of WRs. I think he sees some PT but not much this year.

Jehu Chesson - Pretty much the same as Darboh, except I think Chesson will see the field more.

Kyle Kalis - in the two deep as soon as he walks on campus. I don't think he starts unless someone gets hurt. I don't see him beating out Omameh or Mealer/Burzynski/Bryant, but it's definitely possible. He'll be in the rotation for sure and see some serious PT. If someone gets hurt (could be RT or OG), I'm more than comfortable with him out there. Best guard prospect we've gotten since Hutchinson.

Ben Braden - he has the size to play, but not the technique IMO. He'll redshirt and build that up and could be a great LT or RT replacement for Lewan (assuming he stays) and Schofield in 2013 after a RS year in 2012.

Erik Magnuson - he has the technique, but not the strength to start right away. He'll redshirt as well and could take over for Lewan as a RS FR if Lewan declares. Regardless, he's our future LT.

Blake Bars - redshirt to build size and technique. Could be in the two deep the next couple years, but I really don't know where he fits. Probably OG, but he could play RT as well.

Ondre Pipkins - Love this kid. He's another that will be in the two deep as soon as he steps on campus. If BWC screws up even a little, Pipkins will be there to grab the starting spot. He'll see a lot of PT this year with Mattison's rotation of the DL and then start next year.

Chris Wormley - I could easily see him playing this year. I think either him or Strobel will play at SDE. I'm leaning towards Wormley at the moment because of his size. He's got great size, and if he can play with a low enough pad level, he could shift inside to DT and back up Jibreel Black. I think he's in the rotation this year.

Tom Strobel - Again, very possible that he plays, but I think he'll end up RSing. Could easily see the field already, but it'd be nice to have him RS and have 4 more years. Either way, I'm ok with it.

Matt Godin - There's definitely a possibility that he comes in and beasts up the weight room (he's been compared to MM in that certain area) and beats out Wormley and Strobel, but I think he ends up RSing and sliding inside to DT.

Willie Henry - RS. He has so much potential and could be a great player, but not yet. I'm really excited to see what he does with Hoke, Mattison, and Montgomery all working with him.

Mario Ojemudia - One of the guys I'm most excited for, but he'll need a RS year to build up size and muscle. He's way too small now to play WDE (I think he stays there, FTR). Plus, I would rather him RS because our top 2 WDEs are just SO, so it'll be nice to build some distance between them.

Joe Bolden - After a great spring, I think he's already in the two deep behind Demens. If Demens gets hurt, he could see a lot of PT, but honestly I would probably prefer it if he takes a RS. It won't happen, but I would love to be able to have him at MIKE for four years. That being said, I think he plays this year and then starts the next three years.

Kaleb Ringer - He had an impressive spring by all accounts as well and could have cemented himself a role, but IMO he'll see the field on ST and then be a part of the two deep next year.

James Ross - Another that I'm really excited for but he needs a year to get bigger. He can't fix his height so maybe he'll see the field as Morgan's backup, but I think Hawthorne won that spot with his performance in the spring game. Next year, however, I think Ross is at the very least the backup WILL. Easily could beat out Morgan

RJS - He needs a RS year to build up muscle, but could be a serviceable MIKE right now. I think he grows into a SAM or stays at MIKE and gets himself a starting job in a few years.

Terry Richardson - Excellent athlete and needs a year to bulk up, but I think we see him in a similar way that we saw Delonte Hallowell last year. Makes plays at ST and sees garbage time at CB.

Jarrod Wilson - I think he's Kovacs'(s?) backup right now. IMO he should be ahead of Furman. If Furman can play, then it'd be nice to RS him in the same sense as Bolden, so that we can have four years of Wilson at FS. But I think he sees significant time this year and grows into his own towards the end of the year.

Allen Gant - Needs a year to get into everything, but he could see some ST time. One of the things holding him back is the question of whether he's too big for S but too small for LB, so we'll see.

Jeremy Clark - Takes a RS year so that he can get stronger. He's got the size already and again, could see ST time, but I think he RSs. Unless he gets a look at WR, in which case I think he gets a lot of PT.

Wow, very similar, good stuff!

Do you think Norfleet gets ahead of Smith as our third down back?

I have noticed us with a similar opinion quite a bit when it comes to Michigan on tBB.

I don't expect Norfleet to pass Smith, but I see him getting reps there when the coaches feel comfortable with him.

Not to mention replace Roh which you have to figure Strobel and Wormley would be the top guys for that. Then replace JT Floyd at Corner so Richardson should have a real shot there. I figure all 4 OL guys will be in the 2 deep next year and all 4 LB guys will have shots to make the 2 deep as well.

And let's be honest.. No one can block like Smith. Vincent Smith is easily one of my favorite Michigan players ever. So tough and overcame so much and always handles himself so well. Also, the organization that he made (Hope for Pahokee, IIRC) is very inspiring.