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2023 Season Countdown: #50 Alex Orji

Name: Alex Orji
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Sachse (TX) Sachse
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last year: I ranked Orji #67 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in three games and ran 6 times for 37 yards and 2 touchdowns while completed 1/1 pass for 5 yards.
TTB Rating: 55

Last year I surmised that Orji would run the ball in one or two games, but I was wrong.

He played in three games.

One of those games even resulted in broadcaster Robert Griffin III saying “It’s an Orji in the endzone!” after a running touchdown. I have to imagine the suits at Fox were not too happy with that. But in general, Orji had an okay freshman season for a quarterback. I mean, he scored 2 touchdowns and has a completion percentage of 100%, which is tied for the highest completion percentage in NCAA history.

"It's an orgy in the end zone!"- RG3 after Michigan's Alex Orji runs for a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/i22sw8rrK4

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 3, 2022

This year Cade McNamara and Alan Bowman are no longer around, bumping J.J. McCarthy up to surefire starter status. The backup QB job looks like it will be a battle between Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle and walk-on Davis Warren, but I expect Orji to be used more consistently as a running quarterback. Michigan has done something similar with Dan Villari, and even McCarthy was used more as a running option in 2021 when pocket quarterback McNamara was behind center. Look for the coaching staff to put together special packages and formations to get Orji the ball and keep McCarthy fresh.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

2023 Season Countdown: #51 Benjamin Hall

Name: Benjamin Hall
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Kennesaw (GA) North Cobb
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #28
Last year: Hall was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran 61 times for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns, and he caught 9 passes for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 71

Hall is one of the most interesting recruits in the 2023 class. It’s baffling to me that he played second fiddle to someone else, but that represents the embarrassment of riches North Cobb had at running back this past season. They had a running back going to the Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines on a scholarship, but their primary running back was Clemson commit David Eziomume (4-star, #30 RB, #366 overall in 2024). Hall was a 3-star, the #55 running back, and #787 overall in 2023.

(In case you think I’m jealous as a coach of North Cobb having two FBS players at one position . . . you’re right. I am jealous.)

When Michigan accepted Hall’s commitment, it was a little bit underwhelming and left a lot of people scratching their heads. Why were the Big Ten champions accepting a commitment from a little known player when the Wolverines were on a run of landing Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, among others, and producing the likes of Hassan Haskins?

Well, Hall was one of the stars of Michigan’s spring game and showed some excellent vision and toughness. Despite being 235 pounds, he has quick feet and good lateral agility. Perhaps he won’t ever be a superstar because he lacks great speed, but he can be a productive running back at the FBS level. The only thing holding him back right now is that pesky Corum-Edwards combination. Both of them could be picked in the first couple rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, and both of them could be All-Big Ten in 2023. Hall will likely be battling with sophomore C.J. Stokes for the #3 running back role. I think it’s a toss-up between the two, but Michigan needs to be ready for the 2024 season when Michigan fans could be looking at a competition between Hall, Stokes, and Cole Cabana as the top backs on the roster.

Prediction: Backup running back

2023 Season Countdown: #52 Caden Kolesar

Name: Caden Kolesar
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #35
Last year: I ranked Kolesar #55 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He made 8 tackles and blocked 1 punt.
TTB Rating: N/A

Is Kolesar the most forgotten man on Michigan’s team?

Well, no.

But he’s close.

Kolesar was at one time on Michigan fans’ conscious thoughts, back when he blocked a punt against UConn. And when he was inserted as Michigan’s punt returner following Ronnie Bell’s knee injury in 2021. A Michigan legacy who walked on to the team in 2019, Kolesar quietly earned some practice praise and got some run on Saturdays.

But ever since his ACL injury last fall, nothing much has been heard about him. This ranking is purely a projection, but I would expect him to once again be an important special teams player in 2023. He’s good on coverage units, and he has stepped in as a backup safety. And if the coaching staff trusted him on punt returns at one time, they at least have some faith in him as a trustworthy athlete. (Note: I do not expect Kolesar to be in the running to start at punt returner.) He’s also someone who could return for a sixth year in 2024, so a solid comeback year could put him in the running for more playing time at safety next year.

Prediction: Backup safety and special teamer

Visitors: 2023 BBQ at the Big House

Please consider making your Amazon purchases through TTB links (LINK):

Michigan’s annual BBQ at the Big House will be taking place on July 29-30. With a lot of connections already made for the current 2024 recruiting class, the BBQ is always largely about making inroads with underclassmen. Below is a list of players expected to make it to Ann Arbor for the BBQ:

TRANSFER

Nigel Glover – LB – Northwestern: Glover is a 6’3″, 210 lb. transfer from Northwestern who decided to leave the Wildcats after head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired. He was a 4-star, the #30 linebacker, and #335 overall in the class of 2023 and was the program’s highest rated signee. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pitt, Purdue, Washington, and West Virginia were some of the other Power Five programs after him out of high school, so that’s a decent offer list but not a great one.

2024

Jeremiah Beasley – LB – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Beasley is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jadyn Davis – QB – Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Davis is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Blake Frazier – OT – Austin (TX) Vandegrift: Frazier is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Channing Goodwin – WR – Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Goodwin is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jake Guarnera – C – Ponte Vedra Beach (FL) Ponte Vedra: Guarnera is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Luke Hamilton – OG – Avon (OH) Avon: Hamilton is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Ted Hammond – DE – Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Hammond is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jordan Marshall – RB – Cincinnati (OH) Moeller: Marshall is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jacob Oden – S – Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods: Oden is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Zaquan Patterson – S – Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna: Patterson is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #3 safety, and #76 overall. A teammate of 2025 Michigan commit Chris Ewald (see below), this is Patterson’s second unofficial visit to Ann Arbor.

Brady Prieskorn – TE – Rochester (MI) Adams: Prieskorn is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Ben Roebuck – OT – Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Roebuck is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jaden Smith – LB – Charlotte (NC) West: Smith is committed to Michigan (LINK).

I’Marion Stewart – WR – Chicago (IL) Kenwood: Stewart is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for the younger prospects.

2023 Season Countdown: #53 Keshaun Harris

Name: Keshaun Harris
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Lansing (MI) Waverly
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #18
Last year: I ranked Harris #78 and said he would be a backup cornerback (LINK). He played in eleven games and made 5 tackles and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: N/A

Harris plays one of the toughest positions in college football to make hay as a walk-on, and that’s cornerback. Most guys who are athletic enough to play corner end up with a scholarship somewhere. And the corners at Big Ten and SEC programs are just such outstanding athletes that it’s tough to overcome them. So even though Harris is a walk-on, the fact that he has played cornerback in ten games over the past two seasons is a pretty impressive feat, even if the playing time came mostly in blowouts.

Harris had a couple nice plays in the 2023 spring game and seems closer to significant playing time than at any other point in his career. Will Johnson mans one corner spot, but the other spot is up in the air. Harris is unlikely to start, but he could be part of the rotation. Also, if Mike Sainristil ends up playing outside corner, Harris could potentially play in the slot a little bit. Harris is also a decent tackler and a physical player, so he brings the capability to play special teams. I expect to see him play a little bit more this fall, and hopefully he can make some memorable plays to finish out his career (unless he decides to come back for a sixth year in 2024).

Prediction: Backup cornerback and special teamer