2019 Scholarship Count

2019 Scholarship Count


May 6, 2019

Shea Patterson (image via WXYZ)

Players are listed in order of remaining eligibility. With 80 scholarships allotted, Michigan is currently under its scholarship limit. Meanwhile, 13 seniors are scheduled to graduate, so the 2020 class should have at least 18 players.

TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOTTED FOR 2019 = 80

Hit the jump for the breakdown by class.

RECENT ADJUSTMENTS

  • Removed S J’Marick Woods, who is transferring.
  • Removed TE Mustapha Muhammad, who is transferring.
  • Added Duquesne walk-on transfer Trey Harper.
  • Removed WR Oliver Martin, who transferred to Iowa.
  • Removed DE Ron Johnson, who transferred.
  • Removed QB Brandon Peters, who transferred to Illinois.
  • Removed CB Myles Sims, who transferred to Georgia Tech.
  • Removed CB Benjamin St-Juste, who transferred to Minnesota.
  • Added Central Michigan transfer DE Mike Danna.
  • Removed LB Amauri Pesek-Hickson, who decommitted.
  • Removed DE Reuben Jones, who is transferring.
  • Removed OT Nolan Ulizio, who is transferring to Pitt.

REDSHIRT SENIORS = 2 (Final season 2019)
OL Jon Runyan, Jr.
DE Mike Danna
WR Jacob West
WR Brendan White
TE Joseph Files
LB Jordan Glasgow
LB Jameson Offerdahl
S Louis Grodman
LS Trey Harper

SENIORS = 10 (Final season 2019)
QB Shea Patterson
RB Chris Evans

TE Sean McKeon
OL Ben Bredeson
OL Michael Onwenu

DT Carlo Kemp
LB Khaleke Hudson
LB Joshua Uche
CB Lavert Hill

S Josh Metellus

REDSHIRT JUNIORS = 5 (Final season 2020)
OL Stephen Spanellis
TE Nick Eubanks

DT Michael Dwumfour
LB Devin Gil

K Quinn Nordin
QB Michael Sessa
RB Tru Wilson
FB Peter Bush
FB Jared Char
WR Tyler Grosz
WR Jake Martin
WR Nate Schoenle
OL Dan Jokisch
OL Greg Robinson
OL Andrew Vastardis
DE Dane Drobocky
DT Carl Myers
LB Geoffrey Reeves
S Tyler Cochran
LS Camaron Cheeseman
K Alan Selzer
P Will Hart

JUNIORS = 10 (Final season 2020)
FB Ben Mason
WR Tarik Black
WR Nico Collins

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
OL Cesar Ruiz

DE Kwity Paye
LB Joshua Ross
CB Ambry Thomas
S Brad Hawkins, Jr.

S Jaylen Kelly-Powell

REDSHIRT SOPHOMORES = 9 (Final season 2021)
QB Dylan McCaffrey
OL Chuck Filiaga
OL Joel Honigford
OL Phillip Paea

OL Andrew Stueber
DE Luiji Vilain
DT Donovan Jeter
LB Jordan Anthony
P Brad Robbins

FB Matt Brown
FB Tyler Plocki
WR Jake McCurry
WR Nate Schoenle
WR Jack Young
OL Jess Speight
TE Carter Selzer
LB Adam Fakih
LB Ryan Nelson
LB Adam Shibley
S Jared Davis
S Hunter Reynolds
LS Matt Baldeck

SOPHOMORES = 3 (Final season 2021)
WR Ronnie Bell
DE Aidan Hutchinson
K Jake Moody

REDSHIRT FRESHMEN = 15 (Final season 2022)
QB Joe Milton
RB Michael Barrett
RB Hassan Haskins
RB Christian Turner
FB Ben VanSumeren
TE Luke Schoonmaker
OL Ryan Hayes
OL Jalen Mayfield
DE Taylor Upshaw
DE Julius Welschof
LB Cameron McGrone
CB Vincent Gray
CB Gemon Green
S Sammy Faustin
S German Green

RB Lucas Andrighetto
QB Kyle Grady
QB Max Wittwer
RB Julian Garrett
TE Ramsey Baty
TE Luke Buckman
OL Kraig Correll
OL Griffin Korican
DL Joey George
DB Quinn Rothman
K Adam Culp
P George Caratan

FRESHMEN = 26 (Final season 2022)
QB Cade McNamara
RB Zach Charbonnet
WR Giles Jackson
WR Cornelius Johnson

WR George Johnson III
WR Quintel Kent
TE Erick All
OL Karsen Barnhart
OL Zach Carpenter
OL Trente Jones
OL Trevor Keegan

OL Nolan Rumler
OL Jack Stewart
DE Chris Hinton, Jr.
DE Gabe Newburg
DE David Ojabo
DT Michael Morris
DT Mazi Smith
LB Anthony Solomon

LB Charles Thomas
LB Joey Velazquez
DB Daxton Hill

DB Quinten Johnson
DB Jalen Perry
DB Mike Sainristil
DB D.J. Turner II
QB Tommy Friberg
QB Matthew Harrison
QB Andy Maddox
RB Jordan Castleberry
RB Abraham Jaafar
TE Nolan Knight
OL Evan Brunning
LB Samih Beydoun
DB Matt Bills
DB Caden Kolesar
LS William Wagner
K Karl Kerska

59 comments

  1. Comments: 313
    Joined: 8/17/2015
    JC
    Jan 02, 2019 at 3:28 PM

    With James Hudson moving to OT, then transfering, and Solomon leaving, my biggest concern from 2 years ago is now front and center again. I feel pretty good about everything except interior DL depth.

    Senior DT Carlo Kemp (Who started as a LB/DE tweener)
    Junior DT Michael Dwumfor
    RS Sophomore DT/NT Donovan Jeter
    Freshman DT Michael Morris
    Freshman NT Mazi Smith

    That’s 3 non-freshmen defensive lineman. An injury to any of those three and running more 3-4 doesn’t seem like the worst idea.

    If there are any big name DT grad transfers, I hope the immediate playing time coupled with getting coached by GMat is enough to land them.

    I know you mentioned switching Onwenu, but I wonder if he’d be receptive to that idea heading into his senior year.

    Philip Paea seems like a decent candidate to move back over.

    I don’t think we have any DT sized DEs to move inside.

    • Comments: 1863
      Joined: 1/19/2016
      je93
      Jan 02, 2019 at 3:38 PM

      And we’ve all seen our D get abused with poor DT play

      Getting a transfer with open scholly’s should be among the top priorities for Defensive recruiters

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Jan 02, 2019 at 6:34 PM

      Kemp and Dwumfour were probably the 2 most productive DTs this season. Marshall and Mone were significant contributors but you can argue there will be improvement just from Kemp and Dwumfour getting better (and probably bigger) as they enter their 4th year (RS) seasons.

      The recruiting profiles of those guys don’t matter anymore. Dwumour was a RS Soph who is following along a very similar career arc to Mo Hurst. Right now he can pass rush but not run defend. He’s excellent as a backup specialist but limited as an every down player – just like Hurst was in 2015. He probably won’t be as good in the end but he’s on track to be an excellent player. Kemp looked like he was playing well against Florida and got DL of the week award against Wisconsin and PSU. He stepped up big time in Solomon’s place this year. Might even be captain material.

      The real issue is that these 2 are a bit undersized to be starting next to each other. Brown can manage this scenario (perhaps better than he can manage a sturdy but unexplosive player like Mone), but this is where developing Jeter, Smith (EE), and Hinton becomes critical. We need a couple of those guys to be able to rotate in and at least hold up against the run while Kemp & Dwumfour get some rest.

      That depth issue is a big spot to worry about for sure. No guarantees that any of them will be even functional as a backup, though with Jeter the recent buzz is positive. Carl Meyers will probably be an insurance policy here and he’s at least played meaningful snaps before. Mattison’s produced with less talent before.

      The options for shifting a DE over are somewhat limited. Paye played a ton of DT in pass-rush situations but will be needed at DE on standard downs. Expect some significant weight gains from a few guys. Upshaw reportedly has a big frame and could enter the conversation. Welshoff is a big guy too, though he would seem pegged for SDE. I’d bet Hutchinson is north of 280 by September. What would help here is if Hutchinson, Uche and Villain get to be every-down rotation options. Then you can play with DEs helping at DT.

      I think there’s opportunity for a grad transfer to come in and contribute, but I also think there’s a decent chance that whoever arrives isn’t anything more than an insurance policy. I don’t know who is out there but I’m skeptical they are going to be anything better than Jeter. 300 pound dudes with experience and talent tend to be playing significant roles.

      That all said, there are expected to be scholarship available and the position has questions. A grad transfer with some talent would be welcome. Maybe Michigan can find it’s version of a disgruntled Aubrey Solomon type or maybe someone who has connections to Mattison or Brown and is looking to polish up an NFL resume. Cross your fingers.

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Jan 02, 2019 at 6:50 PM

      On the bright side: Kemp and Dwumfour were arguably the 2 best DTs on this team and will likely get better. Dwumfour’s 2018 looked a whole lot like Mo Hurst’s 2015. Kemp looks like potential captain material and was voted best DL against Wisc and PSU. That says something IMO and I thought he was a bright spot against Florida, or at least made a handful of good plays. They’ll be bigger and better as they enter their senior seasons (RS JR if you prefer).

      Depth is the question and so is the ability of 2 undersized players to hold up against the run. Jeter buzz is encouraging. Meyers has already contributed. Mattison has done well with less. But worrying is legitimate.

      Can a grad-transfer help? I’m not sure who is available but I’m skeptical Michigan is going to find anyone better than Jeter. Scholarships should be available though, so I think the staff should look into options.

    • Comments: 1364
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      WindyCityBlue
      Jan 03, 2019 at 7:00 AM

      Harbaugh and his staff have not put the necessary emphasis on recruiting true DTs, just as they have fallen short on OTs. Not sure why they would rather recruit OGs and DEs and try to shoehorn them into positions they’re not suited for. Yeah, guys bulk up after they get here, but as pointed out, we are badly undersized in the middle against a big, strong run-blocking line. Not too optimistic about grad transfers. So far, they have been a bust. Anyone hear from Casey Hughes this year?

      • Comments: 3844
        Joined: 7/13/2015
        Jan 03, 2019 at 8:04 AM

        “Not too optimistic about grad transfers. So far, they have been a bust. Anyone hear from Casey Hughes this year?”

        This is a classic comment from WindyCityBlue. Bring up backup DB Casey Hughes, forget about starting QB Jake Rudock.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Jan 03, 2019 at 11:36 AM

        I think Michigan has recruited enough DTs in recent years. The issue is keeping them around. I think the staff would say this is a cost of developing the culture they want. But in the end, the departures of Gary, Solomon, Hudson, Irving-Bey, etc. have left the DL thin.

        For now I’d be far more concerned with stopping passing attacks than worrying about getting overpowered by runs up the middle. Focus should be on stopping OSU (who just hired OK State’s OC) not Wisconsin.

        • Comments: 1863
          Joined: 1/19/2016
          je93
          Jan 03, 2019 at 11:48 AM

          Disagree on DT recruiting. For how DB & Mattison rotate, we’re not taking enough Tackles. We have though, taken a a few tweeners like Kemp & Jeter, but then you’re stuck waiting on development & even buy in. In contrast, we’ve taken FBs at a disproportionate rate

          We need that inside push for the pass rush (see ND & ohio), every bit as against the run

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Jan 03, 2019 at 1:08 PM

            I’d say the DL play under Harbaugh’s 4-year tenure has been absolutely elite. Right up there with Clemson, Alabama, OSU. Continuity with Mattison has certainly helped. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it?

            It’s probably overly anecdotal but I have seen Michigan have a lot more success with players who come in at 250-280 pounds (like Glasgow and Charlton) than 300+ (like Mone and Pipkins).

            I think the approach of grabbing smaller players and expecting them to add weight and strength works. It’s harder to develop the pass rush burst of Hurst/Dwumfour in a guy like Mone than to teach smaller/quicker players technique. Uche is looking like another Winovich. Charlton and Wormley obviously reached their potential by their senior seasons. Marshall turned into a serviceable DT after being recruited as a WDE. Paye and Kemp are making an impact a position (or 2) down from what they were listed at as recruits.

            Given this precedent I think there’s a pretty excellent chance some good tackles will emerge from the 6 or 7 DE recruits in the ’18 and ’19 classes.

            • Comments: 1863
              Joined: 1/19/2016
              je93
              Jan 03, 2019 at 1:42 PM

              2015-17 DL was great, even elite if you excuse the Nov15 injuries. 2018 our DTs were good against avg/below avg OL. Ineffective against good OL

              • Comments: 3844
                Joined: 7/13/2015
                Jan 03, 2019 at 1:45 PM

                Our defensive tackles were not productive in 2018, period. I’m not joking when I say that our most productive defensive tackle this year was probably Kwity Paye, who would move in to play 3-tech on some passing downs. Mone, Dwumfour, Kemp, etc. didn’t do anything.

                • Comments: 1863
                  Joined: 1/19/2016
                  je93
                  Jan 03, 2019 at 7:51 PM

                  If anyone says our DTs were “terrible,” you should probably consider the source. “Not good enough,” and “not productive” is fair
                  When you’ve got DTs who aren’t producing, and a 5* DE who was really good but not nearly as productive as expected (injury understood), you’ve got a DBrown D without the dominant line. That’s how you get handled in all three tough games*

                  *at least, that’s my hope. Otherwise, it’s a scheme issue that we’ll see over & over again, with an Offense that isn’t capable of carrying the team

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Jan 04, 2019 at 12:57 PM

                  Depends on your definition of ‘production’. Not all about counting stats IMO. If you’re doing your job without screwing up, that’s a kind of production. [The kind you might get from a grad transfer incidentally.]

                  “Making plays” and highlights matters but in a team context so does executing your assignment without screwing up. This is philosophical point where I’ve disagreed with Thunder and others in the past (e.g., RB YPC, WR counting stats, interior DL stats).

                  In this case, it’s splitting hairs (or arguing semantics) since I think we all agree the DTs weren’t as good as they could have been, had the talent to be, were expected to be, or have been in recent years.

                  The DTs were a relative “weak link” compared to the all-conference future NFL players around them.

                  We can argue about how much of the Top 3 D turning into a Top 10 D is on DTs vs scheme vs circumstance/opposition but the season is behind us now. I’m more interested in a conversation about 2019. Besides the starting OTs, the DT rotation is the biggest personnel questions on the roster. Things are solid elsewhere though we do need some playmakers to emerge on D.

                • Comments: 3844
                  Joined: 7/13/2015
                  Jan 04, 2019 at 7:21 PM

                  Lack of counting stats was a problem, but so was forcing action in the backfield. The defensive tackles rarely got production, and while they weren’t getting blown off the ball every play, they also weren’t getting penetration and screwing things up in the backfield. Those types of plays were noticeably absent during the final three games of the year.

              • Comments: 6285
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                Lanknows
                Jan 03, 2019 at 2:45 PM

                You don’t end up with a top 10 defense if your DTs terrible but I think they were too one-dimensional to be impactful this year. Clearly the collective performance was a big step down from the Henry/Glasgow/Godin/Hurst peak of early 2015.

                They had some good run stuffers who couldn’t rush (Mone, Kemp, Marshall) and some good pass rushers who could get run over (Paye, Dwumfour). The only guy who did both well on the interior was hurt and/or unhappy (Solomon).

                Most offenses aren’t good enough at both running and passing to exploit the one-dimensional personnel, not when Gary/Winovich/Bush/Hudson are flying around anyway.

                Michigan faced 4 Top 30 offenses this year. The 2 balanced one’s worked them (Florida & OSU) while the one-dimensional ones (ND & Wisconsin) were held in check.*

                *Yeah OSU wasn’t a great rushing team but #54 in s&p is at least respectable, certainly better than ND’s #68 rushing attack or Wisconsin’s #93 pass offense. OSU’s RBs were good enough to run for nearly 6ypc against M.

                Kemp stepped up with major improvement and looks to be a more balanced player but he’s still learning the position and wasn’t an impact guy either way. That he got so much time speaks to the limitations of the others.

                Solomon was always a critical player for Michigan and that went totally sideways. It’s a significantly better defense if he’s healthy and playing up to the potential he showed in 2017.

                • Comments: 1863
                  Joined: 1/19/2016
                  je93
                  Jan 03, 2019 at 3:04 PM

                  Agree we’re better with Solomon

                  But ND was missing their #1RB, and still dominated – with a benched QB. I firmly believe that game goes worse if 1) Kelly respected our 0, and 2) if Book was there starting QB

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Jan 03, 2019 at 1:08 PM

            That said, if you’re going to rely on development and patience, you probably need to work a little harder as a staff to keep guys happy. There’s a lot of rumbling about guys being disenchanted with Michigan’s approach to managing injuries. With Durkin’s debacle in Maryland and the spate of departures along the lines, maybe the staff should dial it back a bit.

  2. Comments: 1364
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    WindyCityBlue
    Jan 03, 2019 at 10:24 AM

    Do you even remember the name of the DB grad transfer from Stanford without checking? Ruddock was fine, but we have had generally very poor success with transfers of any kind under Harbaugh.

    • Comments: 1863
      Joined: 1/19/2016
      je93
      Jan 03, 2019 at 10:41 AM

      I’ll take a 33% success rate over going into 2019 without depth, and scholarships in pocket

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Jan 03, 2019 at 10:51 AM

      Yeah, I remember Wayne Lyons. I remember when Michigan recruited him out of high school.

      Nothing is going to be 100%. You can name a few bad transfers, and I can name a few good ones. Ultimately, the hit rate on transfers is probably about the same as high school recruits. A bunch of recruits are going to flop/transfer/get injured, and some of them are going to be successful. Rudock and Patterson have both been good, and Ty Isaac was a pretty good transfer; Lyons, O’Korn, and Hughes didn’t do a whole lot, but at the same time, O’Korn might have won Michigan a couple games they would have lost with whoever the #3 quarterback would have been (Purdue in 2017, Indiana in 2016). You win some, you lose some.

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Jan 03, 2019 at 11:39 AM

      The need for a grad transfer (perceived or real) is a symptom of some other failing. And you’re not likely to get an all-conference performance. Nonetheless, they can be useful stop-gaps. Sometimes you need that. Rudock may be wildly overrated as a player but he helped Michigan at a time when the other options were not very good.

  3. Comments: 18
    Joined: 1/16/2019
    Blue83
    Mar 28, 2019 at 9:12 AM

    Chris Evans is not enrolled at UM and not on the team — does he still count against the scholarships? If not, that gets it to 85.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Mar 28, 2019 at 9:17 AM

      Good point. I…uhhhh…dunno.

      I mean, no, he wouldn’t count against the scholarships if he remains out of school. I just don’t know what will happen with him.

      • Comments: 276
        Joined: 2/6/2018
        17years
        Mar 28, 2019 at 10:16 AM

        I’m hoping he is granted the suspension reduction. He was hit pretty hard with that penalty. It seems they hit too hard. I believe him when he says anything like what he did will never happen again. But I’m not on the board that will make the decisions. I’m hoping there’s room for mercy. A year away would affect his skills, and in turn, his chances of going to the pros. It seems the possibility of him going to the pros would be a factor in making the decision to reduce the penalty. But again, I’m not on that board. Have to just sit and wait, see what they do.

        • Comments: 1364
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          WindyCityBlue
          Mar 28, 2019 at 12:18 PM

          If nothing else, he will learn the valuable lesson that there is no reset button on life, and that some acts have permanent consequences, no matter how much you whine about the unfairness of it.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Mar 28, 2019 at 3:50 PM

            It’s always sunny in Chicago.

            • Comments: 1364
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              WindyCityBlue
              Mar 28, 2019 at 8:26 PM

              If you don’t think that’s a more valuable life lesson than what he’ll learn running between the tackles, that’s totally your prerogative.

      • Comments: 1364
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        WindyCityBlue
        Mar 28, 2019 at 12:15 PM

        Regardless, he should have to earn his scholarship back, and even then, only get it if one’s available. No one else should be shunted aside to make room for him. And if the coaches decided that he should be gone for good, I’d have no problem with that. We won’t miss him in 2020, and probably not in 2019.

        • Comments: 276
          Joined: 2/6/2018
          17years
          Mar 28, 2019 at 6:34 PM

          The coaches wanted him to stay on the team. Do you know who Chris Evans is? Have you seen him play?

          • Comments: 1364
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            WindyCityBlue
            Mar 28, 2019 at 7:28 PM

            He’s a backup running back who hasn’t improved a bit since he was a freshman. He is an entirely replaceable piece.

            And are you saying that the coaches would have given him a pass over something serious enough to get him suspended by the university? When was the last time a Michigan player got kicked out of school completely?

            • Comments: 3844
              Joined: 7/13/2015
              Mar 28, 2019 at 7:32 PM

              From a football standpoint, I think it’s somewhat absurd that anyone would want him gone. Even if he’s not great, he’s solid. We really don’t know what we have in Turner, Charbonnet, Haskins, etc.

              Whether you think he deserves to be on the team or not due to the educational issues is an entirely different issue.

              • Comments: 1364
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                WindyCityBlue
                Mar 28, 2019 at 8:22 PM

                Well, we have it on expert authority that “running backs don’t matter”, so Evans won’t be any different than any of the others. Right, Lank?

              • Comments: 1364
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                WindyCityBlue
                Mar 28, 2019 at 8:24 PM

                And btw…nowhere did I say I wanted him gone. You made that up. I said we won’t miss him in 2020, and probably not in 2019. Not remotely the same.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Mar 28, 2019 at 7:42 PM

              Always sunny in Chicago!

              The statement above may not be but it is a fact that Chris Evans averages 5.7 ypc while Mike Hart averaged 5.0.

              • Comments: 1364
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                WindyCityBlue
                Mar 28, 2019 at 8:30 PM

                Tru Wilson averaged 5.9 last year and Evans averaged 5.2.

                What was your point again?

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Mar 29, 2019 at 2:48 PM

                  Mike Hart is overrated.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Mar 29, 2019 at 2:43 PM

              I disagree that Evans is an entirely replaceable piece given Michigan’s current roster. I’d say he’s potentially replaceable at best.

              Under normal conditions, a decent back like Evans, on a similar level to Higdon, Smith, and Toussaint, could be replaced easily, but Michigan’s options for a primary RB are limited right now.

              Christian Turner might end up on Evan’s level but is still mostly unproven and could get hurt.

              Wilson is fine as a rotation guy but a notch below talent-wise and not a big pass-catching threat.

              Charbonnet is a total wildcard, particularly since he has atypical size and is already injured.

              Other guys are converted from other positions and better fits for backup/situational use.

              • Comments: 1364
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                WindyCityBlue
                Mar 29, 2019 at 3:20 PM

                You’re talking about “talent” and “level” as if some running backs were demonstrably better than others. But that can’t be, since which running back you use doesn’t matter, according to you.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Mar 29, 2019 at 2:44 PM

              I think Michigan CAN replace Evans, but I don’t think it’s a given. Maybe he’s not the play-maker we wanted but he’s a proven and reliable player with good talent.

              Moreover, the OL/QB situation seems finally settled – setting the stage for a guy with playmaking skills to take advantage.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Mar 29, 2019 at 2:45 PM

              While RB is probably 22nd out of 22 in positional importance, it does matter to lose the most talented and most proven primary or all-purpose or every-down back you have.

              It’s probably not a season altering issue but it would be a lot better to have him than not given the other attrition that has occurred.

              Some of the attrition is normal Walker and Samuels leaving but MIchigan also allocated scholarships to fullbacks Davis, Mason, BVS and took a bit of a risk by focusing on multi-position athletes Haskins, Barrett, and the 2019 WRs and grabbing a risky 2019 RB recruit -despite his high ranking- rather than a more conventional prospect.

              All of the above is just fine if Evans is around. Without him the season isn’t short-circuited but things look significantly better with Evans at the top of the depth chart than not.

              • Comments: 1364
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                WindyCityBlue
                Mar 29, 2019 at 3:15 PM

                So in other words “running backs don’t matter” (a direct quote from you, btw), until it suits you to argue that they do, sorta, kinda.

                Got it.

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Mar 29, 2019 at 3:31 PM

                  That’s correct. Nuance & context.

                • Comments: 1364
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  WindyCityBlue
                  Mar 29, 2019 at 4:03 PM

                  Oh yes..was expecting the “out of context” dodge.

                  So let’s clarify…did you or did you not say that “running backs don’t matter”? And if so, what was the “nuanced” meaning of that statement, other than “running backs do matter sometimes”.

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Mar 29, 2019 at 4:27 PM

                  I’m not going to write out an entire thesis every time. “Running backs don’t matter” is a general statement reflecting my general view.

                  Running back is a position on the football field. It matters in the same way that nickel-DB, full-back and long-snapper and all the other positions matter, but it rarely makes a difference when one guy goes out and another comes in. The same is not true at QB or LT for example.

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Mar 29, 2019 at 4:28 PM

                  The statement is relative to the attention they get and the importance ascribed to them. This also relative to other positions. I’ve repeatedly clarified that are exceptional outliers (e.g., Barry Sanders, Darren Sproles), though they are rare.

                  The team context can matter too when you get a rare skillset that happens to fit a team need (e.g., a player who can make his own yards on a bad OL). It also matters if your backups are significantly worse, which is not very common in the NFL or power conference football but does happen occasionally.

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Mar 29, 2019 at 4:29 PM

                  So you can argue with the most extreme and literal interpretation possible (that a team could throw a 70 year old grandmother at RB and be fine) or acknowledge that somebody who writes a bunch of long-ass posts on an obscure message board might sorta kinda have more reasonable and nuanced view.

                • Comments: 1863
                  Joined: 1/19/2016
                  je93
                  Mar 29, 2019 at 7:41 PM

                  “I’m not going to write a thesis… ”
                  “But let me reply three times… ”

                  Can’t make this stuff up ?

                • Comments: 1364
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  WindyCityBlue
                  Mar 30, 2019 at 8:42 AM

                  So let’s clarify again, for purposes of going forward. Your actual, nuanced, in-context position is “Running backs DO matter, but only when I say so”.

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Mar 31, 2019 at 6:40 PM

                  Running backs don’t matter.

                  *

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Mar 31, 2019 at 6:44 PM

                  Thank you frequent reader JE.

                  You missed the “every time” part of the sentence. I know you claim not to like comments that require any thought but this is lazy even by your feeble standards.

  4. Comments: 276
    Joined: 2/6/2018
    17years
    Mar 28, 2019 at 10:02 AM

    I didn’t know Brandon Peters had 2 years left. Seems like it’s 1. He is able to have 2 good years wherever he transfers to. Maybe he will still make the pros. He sure does throw a pretty pass. He has that part down.

    As far as DT production, I am wondering if Greg Mattison had checked out in his mind before he even left, making D Line production drop off.

  5. Comments: 313
    Joined: 8/17/2015
    JC
    Mar 28, 2019 at 2:53 PM

    All my worries about DT are squashed, we have Ben Mason practicing at 3 tech.

    • Comments: 1863
      Joined: 1/19/2016
      je93
      Mar 28, 2019 at 3:29 PM

      He’s wreaking havok on our phenomenal interior OL…

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Mar 28, 2019 at 4:17 PM

        It’s a good thing these spring comments aren’t being taken too seriously.

        • Comments: 1863
          Joined: 1/19/2016
          je93
          Mar 28, 2019 at 5:58 PM

          You’ve got multiple paragraph rants relaying spring hype on the OL, but sure, it’s everyone else overreacting

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Mar 28, 2019 at 7:36 PM

          Thank you, frequent reader. I think reactions are fine. Good even!

  6. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Mar 28, 2019 at 7:46 PM

    The current poll lists a walk-on, a freshman, and someone who isn’t on the team but not the 2nd leading returning ball-carrier.

    Free Ben Mason!

    • Comments: 359
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      GKblue
      Apr 19, 2019 at 9:11 AM

      Sometimes it is fun to go back and skim some older threads.

      Realistically I don’t think Thunder (or anyone else) thinks of Mason as an every down ball carrying back, hence not on the poll. As far as Mason playing on the defense in the spring, no biggie to me. In short yardage situations if no other back gives the coaches greater confidence in success Mason gets the ball. Which leads me to say, we experiment every spring and RBs do matter.

      I am always concerned about quality DT depth. We have lost a lot of experience and a couple of seriously disruptive men the last couple of years so we better recruit the hell for the DL. Also, Mattison was known as a teacher but he’s gone.

      Does anyone remember that Lyons transfer may have been somewhat greased by the fact his mother Gwendolyn Bush was a part of the program? A gamble anyway.

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