The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/201975
prep profiles Legacy Recruit Could Follow In His Father's Footsteps The name Tyrone Wheatley rings job as the Buffalo Bills' running backs many bells with Michigan fans. From coach after serving in the same capac‑ 1991‑94, the Wolverines saw a running ity at Syracuse for the previous three back by that name rack up 4,178 rush‑ years. Despite the move, several col‑ ing yards — still second in program leges have been able to keep in touch, history — and 47 touchdowns on the including dad's alma mater. ground. Now, the former U‑M stand‑ Alabama, Florida, Penn State, Syra‑ out has a son with the same name, but cuse, Washington and Wisconsin are maybe not a famil‑ just a few of the Tyrone Wheatley Jr. iar game. dozen schools Whereas dad ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ that have already measured in at 6-0 Canisius High School issued him schol‑ and 235 pounds in Buffalo, N.Y. arship offers. How‑ his playing days, Class: 2015 ever, the family Tyrone Wheatley Position: Tight End/ wants to control Jr. already towers Defensive End the recruiting pro‑ over his predeces‑ Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 245 cess so TJ can en‑ sor at 6-6 and 245 Rivals.com Rankings: Rivals 250 to joy life as a high pounds. "TJ" has watch list school student. the same athletic "What we've re‑ ability, however, simply applying it to ally done is tried to keep it narrow," a different position. He plays tight end Wheatley Sr. said. "We're going to try and defensive end in high school, and to limit it to about 10 and go on visits could excel at either in college. His for‑ from there." mer coach at Fayetteville (N.Y.) Manlius Although he's not putting up huge High School likes him on defense. numbers during his junior year — 10 "The choice is going to be his," head receptions for 116 yards (11.6 yards per coach Damien Rhodes said. "I think catch) and two touchdowns on offense, that he will have phenomenal success and 21 total stops and seven tackles for at defensive end. I just can't speak to loss on the other side of the ball — his anybody being able to block him. The potential is exciting for college coaches. explosion that he has, the length of his Wheatley has already visited Michigan arms to keep linemen on the inside of and Alabama multiple times, and plans him, and the variety of moves that he to see others as his father's coaching has to get to the quarterback as well as schedule allows. While his family isn't play the run is a great fit." pushing him in any particular direction Wheatley moved from the Syracuse for the next level, it's clear where the area to Buffalo between his sophomore allegiances lie: Ann Arbor. and junior years when his father took a — Tim Sullivan