Incoming Freshman Profiles: TE Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Name: Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Position: Tight End

Height/Weight: 6-6, 260

Location: Manlius, NY

The Story

A 4-star athlete, Tyrone "T.J" Wheatley Jr. is the 12th-ranked tight end in the nation and the number 1 prospect in the state of New York, according to the 247 Composite. The son of current running backs coach and former Michigan star Tyrone Wheatley, Wheatley Jr. also held offers from Alabama, Florida, UCLA, and USC, some of which recruited him as a defensive end.

During his senior season at Canisius HS in Buffalo, NY, Wheatley Jr. had 11 receptions for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a defensive end, he recorded 10 sacks along with 68 total tackles, 24 of which were for a loss.

According to the scouting reports, Wheatley Jr. is an outstanding rush blocker with an ability to dominate defensive ends at the line of scrimmage.

While he has good hands and a proven ability to make tough catches, Wheatley Jr. has been known to fight the ball on occasion and does not always look completely comfortable catching passes. However, with a little work on his agility, he could potentially develop into a nice addition for the team.

Wheatley Jr. may see a significant amount of playing time with the Wolverines early on this season, with Jim Harbaugh's offensive style relying heavily on tight ends. He is poised to serve as a nice complement to the quickness of Jake Butt.

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