Wide Receiver - Tight End Roster Analysis

Wide Reciever
Mario Manningham - JR - 6'0" - 182 lbs - Warren, OH
Adrian Arrington - JR - 6'3" - 190 lbs - Cedar Rapids, IA
Doug Dutch - JR - 5'11" - 201 lbs - Bowie, MD
Lateryal Savoy - SO - 6'2" - 205 lbs - Mamou, LA
Greg Matthews - SO - 6'3" - 195 lbs - Orlando, FL
Antonio Bass - SO - 6'0" - 197 lbs - Jackson, MI
Junior Hemingway - FR - 6'3" - 205 lbs - Conway, SC
Toney Clemons - FR - 6'2" - 205 lbs - New Kensington, PA
Zion Babb - FR - 6'0" - 197 lbs - Alhambra, CA

2007 Season Prospectus: This unit is incredibly deep and talented this year. Last year Mario Manningham established himself as the clear #1 receiver, and Adrian Arrington stated his claim to the #2 spot. The battle for the #3 spot vacated by Steve Breaston will be an interesting one, and I think Matthews will win out over Savoy and Hemingway. Rumors of Dutch and/or Savoy making the switch to DB have circulated, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them did. I'm fairly sure that one or two of the freshman will play, and while I think it will be Hemingway, Clemons is equally possible, and even Babb has a decent shot at some time. Bass is the x-factor, if he's recovered from his catastrophic knee injury, he'll be a dangerous weapon in the arsenal, but that's looking extremely unlikely at the moment, and it's more likely he won't be back until 2008, if at all.

2008 Needs: How many receivers we go after depends heavily on several things. 1) Is Bass' career done? 2) How many, if any, of the above mentioned receivers end up making the switch to DB, and 3) Do Mario and Arrington leave early for the NFL? Right now the plan is to take 1-2 receivers, with hopefully at least one being a super. Likely prospects include Pa's Jonathan Baldwin (also a possible TE prospect), TX's Daryl Stonum (same high school as Troy Woolfolk and Brandon Herron), IN's John Goodman, and Detroit's Fred Smith.

Tight End
Mike Massey - JR - 6'4" - 234 - Brecksville, OH
Carson Butler - SO - 6'4" - 247 lbs - Detroit, MI
Chris McClaurin - SO - 6'3" - 234 lbs - Farmington Hills, MI
Steve Watson - FR - 6'4" - 235 lbs - Denver, CO
Martell Webb - FR - 6'5" 225 lbs - Pontiac, MI

2007 Season Prospectus: With the injury to Tyler Ecker last season, Mike Massey spent most of the season as the #1 tight end, but with an injury to him, Carson Butler also got his fair share of time. These two give Michigan great depth and experience at TE this year. McClaurin will likely get some snaps, but if he doesn't impress in the spring and fall he could be passed up by one of the freshmen. I think one of the freshmen could see some time, my money's on Watson, because Webb needs some time to adapt to blocking and put on size.

2008 Needs: Tight End is one position where we can afford to skimp this year. I think the staff will go for Jonathan Baldwin as a receiver, and if they land him he might end up at tight end, but other than that, unless a big-time TE shows interest, maybe Kyle Rudolph from Ohio, we'll probably pass this year.