Michigan Football: Why Da'Mario Jones Is Hidden Gem of Wolverines' 2013 Class

When Brady Hoke took over the Michigan program, one of the first orders of business was to dump the Rich Rodriguez spread and bring in a pro-style offense. With the change came the death of the passing attack for the Wolverines over the past few years. 

This program has lacked a strong passing quarterback, but there has also been a drop-off at receiver. 

The Wolverines landed a future star at receiver in this class when Da’Mario Jones signed, and despite his 3-star ranking (per 247Sports.com), he will be the gem of this 2013 recruiting cycle. 

The Wolverines will head into 2013 with a host of seniors taking over starting receiver spots. Guys like Jeremy Gallon, Drew Dileo and Jeremy Jackson are rising seniors. 

This is also a group that lost Devin Gardner to quarterback, further thinning out the depth at the position. 

Amara Darboh is one of the underclassmen in the group, but he hasn’t shown much flash if any in the limited snaps he has received. This year could bring a change, but expect Jones to receive just as many looks for playing time as Darboh. 

The lineup at WR is thin after this season and Da’Mario Jones is the future for the Wolverines. 

He will arrive on campus to little fanfare, but will be the leader on the outside in the coming years for the Wolverines. 

Jones is a raw talent that plays the game with reckless abandon. He will go across the middle without hesitation and gives up his body to make catches. When facing defenders, he is not afraid to lower his shoulder and try to create extra yards with his grit. Jones almost seems to attack defenders at times after making the catch. 

He is also a solid blocker, which is a huge need for the Michigan offense on the outside. 

Jones has shown the ability to find holes in zone coverage and lose defenders in man schemes. He makes choppy cuts on routes, but as he grows into his 6’2” frame, he will become more fluid. 

He is not a top-end speed guy, but he will be a great fit for the pro-style system employed by Hoke. 

There isn’t a lot of talented depth in Ann Arbor at receiver and it is the weakest link on offense heading into the 2013 season. As a result, Jones may see early playing time.

This was a solid pickup for Michigan in the 2013 class, as it should pay dividends well into the future for this offense. 

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