2024 Spring Football Preview: Defensive Line

    Kenneth Grant (#78, image via Yahoo!)

    2023 Starters: OLB Jaylen Harrell, DT Mason Graham, DT Kris Jenkins, DE Braiden McGregor
    Losses: Reece Atteberry (transfer), Cam Goode (NFL), Harrell (NFL), McGregor (NFL)
    Returning players: Josaiah Stewart (Sr.), Kechaun Bennett (RS Jr.), Rayshaun Benny (RS Jr.), T.J. Guy (RS Jr.), Ike Iwunnah (RS Jr.), Tyler McLaurin (RS Jr.), Graham (Jr.), Grant (Jr.), Derrick Moore (Jr.), Alessandro Lorenzetti (RS So.), Breeon Ishmail (So.), Cameron Brandt (So.), Roderick Pierce (So.), Brooks Bahr (RS Fr.), Enow Etta (RS Fr.), Aymeric Koumba (RS Fr.)
    Newcomer: DE Dominic Nichols (Fr.)
    Projected starters: OLB Stewart, DT Graham, DT Grant, DE Moore

    Michigan had an excellent defensive line in 2023, and it might have been the best position group on the national championship squad. The biggest differential in the national championship game against Washington was Michigan's defensive line against the offensive line of the Huskies. Washington had a couple potential high draft picks in that group, and the Wolverines tossed them around like rag dolls.

    Whereas Michigan had dynamic edge rushers in 2021 with David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson, the interior of the defensive line has been the strength the past two years. That should be the case once again in 2024, though I'm expecting a little more pass rush from the edge guys this season. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are entrenched as the starters at defensive tackle, and they should be the #1 defensive tackle combo in the nation. Grant is 6'3" and 340 pounds but is fast enough to chase down Penn State running backs from behind. Graham is 6'4", 310 and plays with both explosion and technique.

    Michigan needs someone to emerge from the backup ranks, as starter Kris Jenkins, Jr. and frequently used backup Cam Goode have both moved on. Rayshaun Benny broke his foot late in the season, too, and will probably not be full strength until the fall. This spring look for Roderick Pierce to get some heavy rotation after playing a decent amount as the fourth nose tackle a year ago. Ike Iwunnah is a fourth-year player who has yet to see the field, so it's tough to see him breaking out at this point, and Alessandro Lorenzetti is another player with decent size (6'5", 301) who has yet to see the field. Michigan will either have to play one of those inexperienced older guys or give a shot to some young guys who really needed to bulk up from "strongside defensive end" vibes to playing tackle, such as Cameron Brandt or Brooks Bahr.

    On the edges, Josaiah Stewart - who spent his first two seasons at Coastal Carolina - and Derrick Moore seem like very good bets to start. Stewart should step in capably for Harrell, and Moore should slide in smoothly for McGregor. They both rotated heavily last year and received a ton of playing time, and Stewart in particular showed a lot of growth throughout the year as he adjusted to playing in the Big Ten.

    Once again, the big questions come from the backup ranks. Who will step up to rotate into the game frequently? And will anyone turn into an elite pass rusher? T.J. Guy is a fourth-year player with a good bit of experience, and he could be a solid backup option. He's probably not a game-changer at this point, so the guys fans really want to see are the likes of Breeon Ishmail and Enow Etta. Both had excellent potential coming out of high school, and Etta was a highly valued recruit who was absolutely dominant in high school (20+ sacks in each of his final two seasons) but played against inferior competition.

    Aymeric Koumba is a second-year Frenchman, and Dominic Nichols is an early enrollee freshman. Both have potential but it seems a little early for them to make much of an impact.

    Click here for the full post

    2024 Spring Football Preview: Offensive Line

    Myles Hinton (image via MLive)

    2023 Starters: LT La'Darius Henderson, LG Trevor Keegan, C Drake Nugent, RG Zak Zinter, RT Karsen Barnhart
    Losses: Barnhart (NFL), Henderson (NFL), Trente Jones (NFL), Keegan (NFL), Nugent (NFL), Zinter (NFL)
    Returning players: Myles Hinton (RS Sr.), Jeffrey Persi (RS Sr.), Raheem Anderson (RS Jr.), Tristan Bounds (RS Jr.), Greg Crippen (RS Jr.), Giovanni El-Hadi (RS Jr.), Dominic Giudice (RS Jr.), Andrew Gentry (RS So.), Connor Jones (RS So.), Nathan Efobi (RS Fr.), Amir Herring (RS Fr.), Evan Link (RS Fr.)
    Newcomers: Josh Priebe (RS Sr.), Blake Frazier (Fr.), Jake Guarnera (Fr.)
    Projected starters: LT Hinton, LG El-Hadi, C Crippen, RG Priebe, RT Persi

    Michigan went from having a terrible offensive line under Brady Hoke to a decent offensive line at the beginning of the Harbaugh era to one of the best in the country at the end of Harbaugh's tenure. In two of Harbaugh's final three seasons, Michigan won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line in the country; in the third season, they lost the award but won a national championship. And now most of the key pieces to those awards and accomplishments are either in the NFL or heading there soon.

    Much like the quarterback position, nobody really has a great idea of how the position group will shake out. Will it be as good as it was in 2021-2023? That's unlikely. Could it still be a solid conglomeration? Sure. Four of the starters above (Hinton, El-Hadi, Crippen, and Persi) were 4-star prospects or better, and the only 3-star (Priebe) is a multi-year starter coming from Northwestern. Furthermore, they are all veteran players in at least their fourth year of college.

    At offensive tackle, Hinton started one-third of the season before ceding his spot to Barnhart in 2023, so he seems like the most likely to start. On the right side, it could be a battle between Persi and Gentry. Both have looked somewhat rough in limited time, but Persi has two years of experience on Gentry, whose footwork still looked pretty sloppy in 2023.

    At the guard positions, El-Hadi is another player who has some starting experience a couple seasons ago as an injury fill-in, so he seems likely to slide right in this season. Priebe is a veteran starting presence who should be able to fend off most contenders, if not all of them.

    Word coming out of Ann Arbor about Crippen has been that he's a potential All-American, but he's just been blocked by two really good players in Olu Oluwatimi and Nugent over the past couple years. I have some doubts because I'm not sure why the coaching staff would recruit over him if he was that good, but he's also two years older now than he was when Oluwatimi swooped in, so perhaps his improvement in that time has been significant.

    Despite losing six offensive linemen to the draft, Michigan goes into spring with 15 other scholarship linemen on the roster. That's somewhat mind-boggling to consider, since a team might have carried just 13 linemen a few years ago. In that bygone era of like 2019, we would be looking at 7 returning players and 6 true freshmen arriving sporadically in January and then June. Instead, there are 12 returning players, a transfer, and 2 early enrollee freshmen available for the spring, not to mention further reinforcements arriving this summer.

    Some projected backups to keep an eye on are Raheem Anderson, who was reportedly ahead of Crippen early in their careers but has since appeared to be more of a factor at guard; Gentry, who could potentially start at tackle over Persi; and Herring, who's a powerful offensive guard option that looked good in the spring game in 2023. Aside from Gentry possibly starting, Anderson and Herring are almost certainly backups for this season. Another players I'll also be watching closely is Tristan Bounds, a behemoth of a player whose balance has been questionable in limited field time.

    Click here for the full post

    Visitors: March 15-17, 2024

    Shawnee (KS) Mill Valley DE Jayden Woods (image via SI)

    2025

    Luke Metz - LB - Hoschton (GA) Mill Creek: Metz is a 6'3", 220-pounder who was recently offered by Michigan. New linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary offered Metz at Tennessee, and now he extended an offer for the Wolverines. Metz is a 4-star, the #48 linebacker, and #420 overall. Metz plans to make an unofficial visit this weekend, and the hope is to get him back on campus for an official visit, since he plans to make a college commitment later this spring. Metz also has offers

    Jayden Woods - DE - Shawnee (KS) Mill Valley: Woods is a 6'3", 240 lb. edge prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Kansas State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and others. I mention Kansas State because his father played for KSU back in the 2000s. He's a 4-star, the #19 EDGE, and #212 overall. He took an official visit to Ann Arbor on March 14.

    Click here for the full post

    Mike Hart, Ex-Wolverine

    Mike Hart (image via Yahoo! Sports)

    This seems like old-ish news considering it happened a few days ago and Michigan has already found a replacement, but former star running back Mike Hart will not return as Michigan's running backs coach in 2024. He had been with the program since 2021. Michigan has since replaced him with Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford (more on that in another post).

    Hart is Michigan's all-time leading rusher after playing for the Wolverines from 2004-2007. After a brief NFL career, he then went on to coach for Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, and Indiana before returning to Ann Arbor from 2021-2023. While at Michigan, he won three Big Ten championships and a national championship. He also seemed to have a very positive effect on Michigan's running backs, fostering the development of Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards, among others. Haskins (2021) and Corum (2022, 2023) each had 1,000-yard rushing seasons under his tutelage, and he nearly had a second 1,000-yard rusher in 2021 (Corum had 952 yards) and 2022 (Edwards had 991).

    Hart had recently been on a "leave of absence" attending to a personal matter, but the writing seemed to be on the wall that he would not return to Michigan's staff under new head coach Sherrone Moore. It appears Hart has - or at least had - hopes of being Michigan's head coach someday, but he was passed up for offensive coordinator (by Moore), interim head coach in 2023 (Moore again), and eventually head coach (Moore once more). I'm not saying that had anything to do with Hart's departure, but from Hart's perspective, that probably caused some hurt feelings; and from Moore's perspective, he may feel some concern about whether Hart can buy into the new regime.

    On a personal level, I have never been a huge fan of Hart. While yes, I do recognize him as a Michigan great - and he was a lot of fun to watch as a pinball running back - his personality rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't appreciate his "Little Brother" comments toward Michigan State near the end of his playing career. I didn't appreciate when he said Jim Harbaugh wasn't a Michigan Man back in the day when Harbaugh was challenging Michigan to raise its standards, even before Harbaugh was head coach. And I also participated in a coaching clinic where I was not impressed by Hart's attitude and participation.

    Overall, I think Hart is a very good developer of talent. I think he understands ball security, pass protection, mental and physical toughness, reading defenses, etc. But my belief is - and this is, let's say, educated speculation - that Hart is not exactly the easiest guy to get along with behind closed doors. So when it comes to putting together a staff, I'm not too awfully surprised that Hart and the new coaching regime are going in separate directions.

    Click here for the full post

    2024 Spring Football Preview: Tight End

    Colston Loveland

    2023 Starters: Colston Loveland, A.J. Barner
    Losses: Barner (NFL), Matt Hibner (transfer)
    Returning players: Max Bredeson (RS Jr.), Loveland (Jr.), Marlin Klein (RS So.), Zack Marshall (RS Fr.), Deakon Tonielli (RS Fr.)
    Newcomer: Brady Prieskorn (Fr.)
    Projected starters: Klein, Loveland

    The tight end position is the one that has perhaps separated Michigan from so many other teams over the past several years. Not only has Michigan had some quality players in the role, but the number, usage, and motion of the tight ends have become staples of Michigan's offensive approach.

    Probably the best tight end to come along during Jim Harbaugh's tenure was Colston Loveland (45 catches, 649 yards, 4 touchdowns), a rising junior who has the athleticism of some of the elite tight ends playing in the NFL. He's good enough that this is probably his last season in Ann Arbor before getting drafted in 2025.

    One-time Indiana transfer A.J. Barner (22 catches, 249 yards, 1 touchdown) was an excellent blocker and underrated pass catcher, but he's headed to the NFL in next month's draft. It appears the next guy in line to play a bunch of snaps in Barner's place is Marlin Klein, a 6'6", 250-pounder who had just 1 catch for 8 yards last fall. He needed to put on some weight early in his career, but he seems to finally be reaching a good playing weight to handle some of the blocking duties.

    It's also important to mention quasi-starting tight end Max Bredeson, who plays more of a fullback position but nonetheless started four games last season. He caught 2 passes for 19 yards altogether, but he's a bruising blocker. At 6'2" and 240 lbs., he's unlikely to move into a true tight end role and will probably carry on as a fullback.

    Redshirt freshman Zack Marshall (6'4", 232) played in two games last year while redshirting, and classmate Deakon Tonielli (6'5", 251) has some decent size already but did not get any experience. The most likely returning player to step into Klein's role as the #3 tight end seems to be Marshall, who should be a little bigger this spring (and fall).

    One of the most intriguing names, though, is freshman early enrollee Brady Prieskorn (6'6", 220), who was a 4-star and the #129 overall player in the class of 2024. He's an all-around tight end somewhat in the mold of Loveland in that he's a good athlete who's not afraid of contact. His physical development is going to be key in determining how ready he is to step on the field this fall. But if he's even borderline ready from a physical standpoint, we could see him begin to emerge this spring as someone who could jump over Marshall and Tonielli to become that #3 tight end.

    Click here for the full post

    2024 Spring Football Preview: Wide Receiver

    Semaj Morgan (image via MGoBlue)

    2023 Starters: Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson
    Losses: Darrius Clemons (Oregon State), Johnson (NFL), Wilson (NFL)
    Returning players: Eamonn Dennis (RS Sr.), Peyton O'Leary (RS Jr.), Tyler Morris (RS So.), Karmello English (So.), Frederick Moore (So.), Semaj Morgan (So.), Kendrick Bell (RS Fr.)
    Newcomer: Channing Goodwin (Fr.)
    Projected starters: Morris, Morgan

    For some teams who play three and four wide receivers on every down, losing two senior wide receivers might not seem like a huge deal. So in the context of college football, the departures of Cornelius Johnson (47 catches, 604 yards, 1 touchdown) and Roman Wilson (48, 789, 12) might not seem like a huge deal. Johnson was the large-ish possession receiver, and Wilson was the speedy deep and intermediate threat. And then there were usually a couple tight ends roaming all over the place. Altogether, Michigan got just 47 other receptions from receivers not named Johnson or Wilson, and 3 of those came from Clemons, who is now plying his trade for the Beavers.

    Based on playing time and targets last season, the two front-runners for starting roles in 2024 should be Morris and Morgan. Morris started four games - so he's kind of a returning starter, I guess - and made 13 catches for 197 yards and 1 touchdown. But that one touchdown was a huge, key play when he got matched up against a linebacker against Alabama in the Rose Bowl and caught a crossing route for a 38-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, Morgan caught 22 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he also had an 87-yard punt return against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game. He showed some downfield receiving chops in high school, but so far he's been more of a catch-and-run guy with jitterbug moves - witness his screen catch for a TD against Washington - and adding in 4 carries for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns.

    Last year's spring game star was walk-on Peyton O'Leary (2 catches, 13 yards, 1 touchdown), who could factor in more this season if Michigan needs a big possession guy at 6'4" and 190 lbs. Frederick Moore (4 catches, 32 yards) and Karmello English (1 catch, 6 yards, 1 touchdown) will also factor in somehow. Some people think Moore could be the fastest player on the team.

    Players with less of a chance to make an impact include fifth year senior Eamonn Dennis (who has yet to make a catch in his career but plays a lot of special teams), Kendrick Bell (who was a high school quarterback until making the position switch last year), and early enrollee freshman Channing Goodwin. Bell's brother Ronnie is now a wide receiver in the NFL with the 49ers, and Goodwin has some good bloodlines, as his father was a lineman for Michigan and in the NFL. But it's unlikely that any of them play a huge role in 2024.

    Click here for the full post

    All-Time Interception Leaders

    Tom Curtis (image via Pinterest)

    Not long ago, I posted a list of the players with the most interception returns for touchdowns in Michigan history (LINK). Here I present the all-time interception leaders for the Wolverines.

    1. 25 - Tom Curtis (1967-1969)
    2. 18 - Charles Woodson (1995-1997)
    3. 13 - Wally Teninga (1945-1949)
    4. 12 - Gene Derricotte (1944-1948)
    5. 12 - Leon Hall (2003-2006)
    6. 11 - Brad Cochran (1983-1985)
    7. 11 - Vada Murray (1988-1990)
    8. 11 - DeWayne Patmon (1997-2000)
    9. 10 - Charlie Lentz (1948-1949)
    10. 10 - Keith Bostic (1980-1982)
    11. 10 - Evan Cooper (1981-1983)
    12. 10 - Lance Dottin (1988-1991)
    13. 10 - Marcus Ray (1995-1998)
    14. 9 - David Brown (1972-1974)
    15. 9 - Mike Jolly (1977-1979)
    16. 9 - Marlin Jackson (2001-2004)
    17. 8 - Dwight Hicks (1975-1977)
    18. 8 - Tony Jackson (1980-1981)
    19. 8 - Tripp Welborne (1988-1990)
    20. 8 - Ty Law (1993-1994)
    21. 8 - Todd Howard (2000-2001)
    22. 7 - Thomas Darden (1969-1971)
    23. 7 - Marion Body (1980-1982)
    24. 7 - Shonte Peoples (1991-1993)
    25. 7 - Steve Morrison (1991-1994)
    26. 7 - Markus Curry (2002-2004)
    27. 7 - Morgan Trent (2005-2008)
    28. 7 - Mike Sainristil (2020-2023)
    29. 7 - Will Johnson (2022-2023)
    30. 6 - Brian Healy (1967-1969)
    31. 6 - Tom Drake (1973-1974)
    32. 6 - Jerry Zuyer (1976)
    33. 6 - Jim Pickens (1975-1977)
    34. 6 - Michael Harden (1976-1979)
    35. 6 - Andy Cannavino (1978-1980)
    36. 6 - Brian Carpenter (1980-1981)
    37. 6 - Mike Mallory (1983-1984)
    38. 6 - Ivan Hicks (1984-1986)
    39. 6 - Doug Mallory (1984-1987)
    40. 6 - Clarence Thompson (1993-1995)
    41. 6 - James Whitley (1998-2000)
    42. 6 - Garland Rivers (2004-2006)
    43. 6 - Donovan Warren (2007-2009)
    44. 6 - Thomas Gordon (2011-2013)
    45. 6 - Raymon Taylor (2012-2013)
    46. 6 - Blake Countess (2011-2013)
    47. 6 - Jourdan Lewis (2013-2016)
    48. 6 - Channing Stribling (2013-2016)
    49. 6 - Lavert Hill (2016-2019)
    50. 6 - Rod Moore (2021-2023)

    This was originally posted on February 15, 2019.

    Click here for the full post

Page 1 of 512345