Rashan Gary, defensive end, Michigan
Rashan Gary looks ready to play a prominent defensive role for Michigan
All-Spring Practice Team https://t.co/LX65WgtyWa pic.twitter.com/X2w4OpPi3X
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 6, 2017
Despite being the top-ranked prospect from 2016, Gary struggled to stand out much last season. However, given the fact he was competing with the likes of Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley and Maurice Hurst Jr. (21.5 sacks between them), we’ll cut him some slack.
Now that all three of those stars are no longer at Michigan, Gary has no excuse not to explode. The 6-foot-5, 287-pound behemoth is already well ahead of where Charlton was as a second-year player from a physical standpoint. Now it’s up to Gary to take his natural talents to the next level while exhibiting the mental toughness it takes to dominate on the defensive line.
This is something Gary recognizes already as his biggest challenge.
“I’m doing all I can to make strides and get better day-by-day and, I think, so far I have,” Gary said in April, via Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com. “I’m coming along. I still need to challenge myself to be more vocal, be more assertive. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
This kid was the consensus No. 1 overall prospect last year for a reason. We expect to see big things from this big man in 2017.