The TE's Webb and Watson

Martell Webb - 6'5" - 225 lbs - 4.63 - Pontiac, MI

Analysis: Martell Webb is the latest in the new wave of Michigan tight ends. Over the last few years the staff has seemed to every year pick up a "big athlete" who's tall, has doubts about what position he'll end up at, and is extremely raw. These people all seem to end up at tight end. Webb is the latest of these, following in the footsteps of Tim Massaquoi, Carson Butler, and Quintin Woods. Webb is big, has good hands, and is far faster than anyone of his size has any right to be. There is still some uncertainty about where he'll end up in the end, as he is adamant about getting a shot at wide receiver, but it seems inevitable that he'll grow out of that position. Coach Carr and the staff seem to have a policy of letting players try their position of choice for a year or so, and then if it doesn't work out, the staff asks them to move. You see a lot of WR to TE, LB to DE, and SS to LB. Whether Webb plays WR or TE at first, I feel he will redshirt either way, as neither position has a particularly favorable depth chart. He'll take a year, bulk up a bit, work on his blocking, and then work his way into the tight end rotation.

Steve Watson - 6'4" - 235 lbs - 4.70 - Denver, CO

Analysis: Steve Watson is prety much the exact opposite of Webb. He fits the mold of the traditional Michigan tight end. Big, smart, a good blocker, reliable, but not an athletic freak. He definately will fill the role of guys like Tyler Ecker and Mike Massey. The son of former NFL receiver and current Denver Broncos WR coach Steve Watson Sr., Watson is, like many coaches sons, a smart kid who's well trained and has great football smarts. He doesn't seem like he'll ever be an explosive playmaker, but he's a tenacious blocker with good hands, and will be a reliable red zone target. On e of the things that impressed me most about Steve Watson, was that he proved that he was a man of integrity late in his recriting process. After committing to Michigan fairly early on, in July, he never swayed in his certainty until January, when Tim Brewster was hired to coach at Minnesota. Brewster and Watson's father coached together in the NFL, and Brewster's son Clint is Steve's high school QB and best friend. When Clint and another high school teamate committed to Minnesota, Steve agreed to take a visit there. This scared many avid followers of Michigan recruiting, seeing as we'd just been burned by Jerimy Finch, who decided to go play with his high school friends at Indiana (And we all see how that worked out). But unlike Finch, Watson deliberately decided to make his visit separate from his friends, saying "I didn't want them to be the reason I made my decision.". After his visit, Watson decided to stick with his word, and that Michigan was the right place for him. Watson seems like a class individual, and regardless of how his on-field career turns out, I think in 4-5 years we'll all be proud that such a quality young man donned the Maize and Blue. I think that Watson might stand a better chance of seeing the field early than Webb, as he is the much more polished tight end prospect, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him redshirt as well, seeing as we have solid depth there.