The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
commitment profile "I did a lot of lifting, and I put on a lot of weight this year," said McGrath, who is unrated by Rivals.com. "I lifted every day this summer and put on 20-30 pounds of muscle. I hit the ball so much farther now. It's great in high school to get that big field goal out of the way. "In college, you just want to make everything: how far it is doesn't matter. But in high school, the longer the field goal the more people look at you." Now that he has his college future set, McGrath isn't worried about drawing more attention. He knows that kicker is far from a glamour position, and a preferred walk-on isn't the type of player who should set foot on campus with any sort of ego. His real goal is to earn a scholarship during his time at Michigan. Fortunately, U-M special teams coach Dan Ferrigno let him know that the opportunity will be there to not only contribute on the gridiron, but he could parlay those contributions into a full ride. That recognition could even come early in his career. "Coach Ferrigno said 'I want to make this clear: You can walk on, and you can earn your scholarship,'" McGrath explained. "'When Gibbons is done with his scholarship, and you've shown us that you have the ability to replace him, that's when you'll get it.' As long as I come in and do my job, then I will receive a scholarship as soon as [starting kicker Brendan] Gibbons is off, which I believe is right after the season. "That's not that bad. Paying for basically a semester and a half of Michigan, that's not that bad a deal." ❑ Film Evaluation Strengths: A 57-yard field goal speaks for itself. McGrath has a big leg, he strikes the ball cleanly and he can send it very far. He is a big, physical kicker and won't be afraid to make special teams tackles if called upon. He also has the ability to kick field goals, punt the ball and kick off. That versatility is coveted in kickers, who can specialize in one aspect when they get to the college level, or stick with all three phases of the kicking game. Areas of Improvement: Like every high school kicker, McGrath needs to strive to develop complete consistency with his stroke. While miss-hits happen from time to time, they are a way of life in high school, but not in college. He also kicks off a tee in high school (as do most high school kickers) and will have to get used to kicking off the ground. It can be a big adjustment for some and come easily to others. Michigan Player Comparison: A big, long-legged lefty with excellent power calls Zoltan Mesko (2006-09) immediately to mind. Though Mesko exclusively punted at Michigan, McGrath has a versatility that should provide him more options to get on the field. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com