The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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78 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW TIGHT ENDS "That's really exciting. I anticipate him being a big contributor for us, if he continues to approach things the way he has in the last three months." Redshirt freshman Zach Gentry (6-7, 244) moves extremely well for someone his size, and possesses good hands. He moved from quarterback to tight end over the course of his first year, and poses a potential threat for those trying to cover him. Gentry remains in process, just like Wheatley, Harbaugh stressed. "Fans don't appreciate how dif- ficult it is to change positions," he said. "It's not as simple as being tall or being fast. There are drastically different skills involved from playing quarterback to playing tight end. "Sometimes that gets lost, and peo- ple get too caught up projecting what someone is going to do, how quickly this is going to happen." The coach wants Gentry to take it one meeting and one drill at a time, building a foundation to then use his skills. "He has a dominant trait, in his range and speed," Harbaugh said. "If he continues to do things the way he is, he'll emerge for us in certain roles this year." Sean McKeon (6-5, 230) came in January, as an early entry fresh- man. He'll have a head start on his class, which certainly didn't get ignored in the tight end buildup for the future. "This is a huge winter and spring for him," Harbaugh said. "He gets to come here when he's supposed to be in high school and get a measuring stick of where he's at physically and skill set-wise. He goes into the offseason knowing exactly what he needs to work on. "He's a work in progress, like we all are. He had a good spring ball. We threw a lot of stuff at him and he handled it pretty well. He's also in the mix to be a contributor this fall." He'll be joined this summer by two other true freshman tight ends, including Devin Asiasi (6-4, 265) out of Concord, Calif., whom was ranked as the No. 2 prep tight end in the nation by Rivals.com. "He's just a ballplayer," Harbaugh said. "He's very big — he's darned near 275, and he's extraordinarily well rounded. There's not a thing he doesn't do well. "His biggest strength is a very violent nature as a player. He enjoys blocking, and takes great pride in playing through the echo of the whistle and putting guys on their back. He's remarkably unselfish, coming from the program he came from. He's a winner." Nick Eubanks (6-6, 230) out of Plantation, Fla., runs a 4.69 40- yard dash, featuring some good quickness for his size. Harbaugh likes his speed and length, with the matchup issues they present for those defending him. "Nick is a lot like Gentry," Harbaugh said. "He's very long, fairly lean. He'll need to get stronger and heavier, but he runs like a deer. He's so smooth, explosive and he plays fast. It's exciting to have a guy like that, who you know makes safeties and linebackers very uncomfortable, just due to the speed at which he's able to get down the middle of the field. "He's a smart kid, who is a very hard worker. He's so excited to get here and get things started. I just talked to him, and he was going on about thrilled he is. He's a guy who has the right makeup, in work ethic and intelligence, to carve out a niche for himself. "That could be this year, too. He gives us something only him and Zach have — that outstanding speed and length that really is a mis- match." The trio of true freshmen, Harbaugh insisted, can't be matched any- where across the land. "I don't think there's a better group of three in the country that are all freshmen," Harbaugh said. "I'm certain there is not, as long as those guys get here and work the way I think they will." At the other end of the age spectrum, fifth-year senior Michael Jocz (6-4, 241) has Harbaugh excited. The two-year letterman played in six games last season, earned the Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award as the top U-M student-athlete and brings plenty of intangibles to the mix. "He's our oldest guy, the father figure of the group," Harbaugh said. "He's engaged now, and remarkably intelligent. He's our hardest worker of the group, the smartest guy on the team. "He's really well rounded as a player. He's versatile, and he knows all of the positions our type of bodies play on the offense. He and Jake are the only ones like that. That provides us tremendous depth. "To have somebody who works so hard and is so intelligent, he can fill in, in a pinch, at any spot. He's like another coach on the field, he and Jake together. They know the system inside and out — he's been a huge asset for the group. He communicates very well, and can take younger guys under his wing and give them tips and corrections." This much is certain — the tight ends are once again a major offen- sive threat for Michigan, and that's not going away any time soon. ❏ "I don't think there's a better group of three in the country that are all freshmen. I'm certain there is not, as long as those guys get here and work the way I think they will." TIGHT ENDS COACH JAY HARBAUGH ON HIS THREE INCOMING ROOKIES Redshirt freshman Zach Gentry (6-7, 244) made the move from quar- terback to tight end during the 2015 campaign and is still learning the nuances of his new position. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PRESEASON ANALYSIS: TIGHT ENDS Starter ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Jake Butt is an All-American who snagged 51 passes a year ago. He's the best tight end in the Big Ten and one of the best in the nation, combining length, good hands and the ability to get open. Paired with two effective fifth-year senior wide receivers, Butt can't be taken away without opponents paying somewhere else. Depth ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ The experienced depth took a hit when A.J. Williams graduated and Khalid Hill moved to fullback. But the latter move wouldn't have taken place if the Wolverines weren't loaded with young talent, and they are, paced by redshirt freshmen Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Zach Gentry, and supplemented by a strong rookie class. X-Factor Who rises up as a breakout tight end beyond Butt? Ian Bunting has shown some signs, but Wheatley or Gentry could quickly become a huge and inviting target for the eventual winner of Michigan's QB derby. Overall ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Harbaugh likes his tight ends and has worked to ensure this position is strong, now and in the future. If Butt stays healthy and the others come along as expected, this position could be among the Wolverines' top three, both sides of the football included. Note: Star rankings are made on a scale of 1-5 stars.