The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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by Michigan. Buffalo (N.Y.) Canisius athlete Tyrone Wheatley Jr. can play defensive line — he's rated as the No. 13 strongside defensive end in the country by Rivals.com — but the 6-6, 245-pounder's upside might be highest on the offensive side of the ball at tight end. The son of the former Michigan running back (and current Buffalo Bills running backs coach) by the same name holds Michigan in high regard, but also sports offers from Alabama and USC, among several others. Hale Hentges picked up his offer more recently than Wheatley, but the product of Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias seems just as interested in the Maize and Blue. The 6-4, 230-pounder is the No. 8 tight end nationally in the early Rivals.com rankings, and his combi- nation of blocking and pass catching makes him a true dual-threat tight end. Offensive Line 2014 Scholarship Players: 14 2015 Commits: 1 2015 Needs: 2 Michigan has a relatively young offensive line, with guard Chris Bry- ant and center Jack Miller the only redshirt juniors for the upcoming season. The redshirt sophomore class includes tackles Erik Magnu- son and Ben Braden and guards Kyle Kalis and Blake Bars. True sopho- more guard Kyle Bosch has passed his classmates in eligibility by play- ing last fall. The redshirt freshmen include tackles Logan Tuley-Tillman, Chris Fox and David Dawson, guard Dan Samuelson and center Patrick Kugler. The Wolverines want to bring in at least one true tackle and a true center, along with a swing lineman who can play guard or tackle. The center position is already locked down thanks to an early com- mitment from legacy prospect Jon Runyan Jr. The 6-4, 250-pounder is the son of Michigan's 1995 All-Amer- ica selection by the same name, and impressed U-M's coaches enough at their 2013 summer camp to earn an early offer, which he wasted no time in accepting. The product of Phila- delphia St. Joseph's Prep will have to put on size to succeed in college, but has the bloodlines to outplay his three-star ranking. Pittsburgh Baldwin offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins has the size at 6-8, 295 pounds to be a true blind- side protector, and holds Michigan Legacy recruit Tyrone Wheatley Jr. of Buffalo (N.Y.) Canisius is rated as the No. 13 strongside defensive end in the land by Rivals.com, but he also has great upside at tight end. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM