The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OL now he's starting to play with more confidence. get bigger and stronger. He has a great attitude and will get a ton of "He went from a guy kind of like the other ones early in spring reps this fall." to a guy I quit worrying about," Funk said. "He just became pretty On the other incoming freshmen: steady and solid. He didn't do everything perfectly and had bad plays • David Dawson (6-4, 282) of Detroit Cass Tech will start out at at times, like they all did. tackle. "He had a lot of reps like the player we know he can be. He wasn't "He's a good pass protector," Funk said. "With two guys leaving, ready last year, even though we knew he was we're going to need him out there. We'll going to be a terrific player. Most linemen probably put him on the right side because should redshirt, and most do. Right now he is Logan is on the left. He's been working hard where he needs to be with all of his goals in this spring. His mind is set on coming in and front of him. He got a lot more consistent as competing to be part of it right away. I like spring went on, and we saw glimpses of what that mindset." we know he can do." • Center Pat Kugler (6-5, 280) of Wexford He got rid of some of his bad pass block(Pa.) North Allegheny is recovering from ing habits midway through spring, too, to shoulder surgery, but is lifting and running. become a well-rounded lineman. "If he can play earlier at guard … maybe Kalis doesn't have a hold on the position we'll start him there," Funk said. "He's the just yet. Redshirt junior Chris Bryant (6-4, son of a coach and a great center prospect. 325) would have started games last year had He's got a great future here." he not suffered a season-ending lower leg • Dan Samuelson (6-5, 275) of Plymouth, injury in camp, Funk noted, and he's working Ind., was a later addition. back into game shape. He might be the most "We'll probably start him at right guard," powerful run blocker on the team, saying Funk said. "That's where he played. He's something given the talent on the line. had a great spring and is working hard. He's "He hasn't missed a beat. Like any ina tough kid that can run and move around." jury, there will be soreness you have to work • Chris Fox (6-6, 297) of Parker (Colo.) through, but he's been solid so far, getting Ponderosa had knee surgery after his season, himself down to the weight he was at," Funk and is working out and running. said. "We'll see where he's at as far as fall "He's a big, powerful man. We want to camp. He may not be full go," Funk said. move people up front, not just get on people. Redshirt freshman Ben Braden showed improve- "He's a big man. He's a road grader, a nasty We're trying to knock people off the line of ment throughout the spring and looks to have an competitor that could play on the edge or early edge in landing the left guard spot. scrimmage. Chris can do that. inside." Photo by per kjeldsen "He's not where we need him to be techSome — perhaps most — won't be ready nique and production wise, but we saw flashes. He needs to get his to play immediately, but the luxury of it is they won't need to be. confidence back, get polished up and ready to go. He will be a big "We need seven or eight guys. That's always the case where I've factor in this whole thing." been," Funk said. "We'll get that core group ready for game time, Finally, redshirt freshman Blake Bars (6-5, 284) will also have an and the ninth, 10th and 11th we'll continue to develop if we need to." opportunity. He's improved greatly through fall and spring, and he's That's the new model, he said, and one with which they expect to adding strength. He's battling at both guard positions but could also have great success. ❑ move outside if they need him there, Funk said. "He's probably a little more comfortable on the right side," he said. preseason analysis: offensive line "He's got to work on fundamental things like a lot of guys, but he's Starter ✪✪✪½ tough, plays with good pad level and is learning all the time. He's There's plenty of star power and experience at tackle in Taylor Lewan and Michael going to be a really good player here. Schofield, but the interior line — while loaded with potential — has very limited experi"Blake does whatever we ask him to, which is why he played some ence. There's no proven depth at tackle behind the starters, either. The days of limited scholarship linemen are long gone and there are capable bodies, but the proof comes out on the edge last year. He's really versatile, and I'm excited to see on Saturdays against some very good defensive lines. in fall camp what he can do." The New Guys Several freshmen will join the team this season, including two who arrived this spring in guard Kyle Bosch (6-5, 307) and tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman (6-7, 285). Bosch played on the left side in high school and started there in the spring. "He did a nice job of learning for a kid that still could be in high school. He took his lumps like freshmen do," Funk said. "He's a stout, powerful guy. "He got better daily, and he's a tough guy. He's got a knock-youoff-the-ball, nasty demeanor to him. He's going to feel like a veteran in fall camp because he went through spring. "Logan lost some weight, and now he's putting good weight on. He's really athletic. He's got great feet, and can run around and move. He found out a little what it's like to play against the big boys coming off the corner, but he's going to be terrific. He just needs to 124 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview ✪✪✪½ Depth Line coach Darrell Funk estimates he'll have 20 linemen battling this fall — a far cry from the eight he inherited when he first arrived at Michigan in 2011. Three guys could legitimately win the center position, potentially four if freshman Pat Kugler comes physically ready to play, while there are plenty of options at guard, veteran and young guys alike. X-Factor Redshirt junior Chris Bryant would have played, and perhaps started, last year had he not suffered a season-ending injury in camp, and he's rounding back into shape. Former Michigan defensive linemen have said Bryant was as powerful as any lineman in the conference when he was healthy, and it appears he will be heading into the fall. ✪✪✪½ Overall The offensive line has the potential to be a strength, but the center position is key. Should someone emerge there, the group could be as good as any in the conference by the middle of the season. Losing Lewan or Schofield would be costly, but this is a talented mix of veterans and youngsters. Note: Star rankings are made on a scale of 1-5 stars.