Name: Michael Dwumfour
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 282 lbs.
High school: Wayne (NJ) De Paul Catholic
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Dwumfour #16 and said he would be a starting defensive tackle (LINK). He made 21 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 1 interception.
TTB Rating: 69
Dwumfour created some buzz over the past couple years, and we’ve all heard the comparisons by now: he’s another Maurice Hurst, Jr. If you’re another Hurst, you’re going to be a starter and make a bunch of plays, right? Well, Dwumfour played in every game (starting just two) and made 21 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Maybe the Hurst comparison makes sense because of the comparative lack of size (Dwumfour is 6’2″, 282; Hurst was 6’2″, 280 on the roster as a senior). As a redshirt sophomore, Hurst made 35 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks, so the numbers are somewhat similar, too, when you account for the fact that Hurst played more.
The 2019 season presents a huge opportunity for Dwumfour. Bryan Mone, Lawrence Marshall, and Aubrey Solomon are out of the way, and Dwumfour is the elder statesman of the defensive line. Ideally, I would like to rank Michigan’s starting defensive tackle higher in the countdown, but I can’t quite convince myself to do that. He hasn’t flashed in the way I would expect for a future star, and he has been very inconsistent. Injuries have also been a problem, especially in the off-season, and I think it’s hard to reach your potential when you’re always having setbacks. I acknowledge the possibility that Dwumfour could be a stud and explosively slice into opposing backfields regularly, but with him I’ll have to see it before I believe it.
Prediction: Starting defensive tackle
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I get what you’re saying, but DT is vital to the success of our D this year. We NEED Dwumfor to come around …
On a separate note, shouldn’t he be a Senior? I remember him playing against Hawaii in 2016, so that couldn’t have been a RS year
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I agree … #21 seems a bit low for so critical a position. I understood this ranking to be no “who’s the best” but “who’s the best *relative* to the overall need of the team.” Is this ranking because the DT position is typically rotational, and one guy is not as important as the aggregate all guys?
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That was back when players could play in the first few games and then claim a medical redshirt due to a hangnail, so I’m sure that’s what Michigan documented. He should have a fifth year in 2020 if he wants one.
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First ranking I really disagree with. If Dwumfour goes down, we’re basically dependent on either Jeter or one of the freshmen to be average (and that assumes we’re only playing 2 DTs, which hasn’t historically been the case). Certainly understand that Dwumfour hasn’t been a start, but he’s proven to be a solid big ten player. Has Jeter really proven anything at this point? Also, is Sainristil really going to be such an upgrade over Bell that he deserves to be above our starting DT?
Looking forward to hearing further rationale (which i’m sure will be well-reasoned) but this one is slightly puzzling upon an initial read.
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Basically, I don’t think he’s that good. And Michigan has also had a lot of opportunities to develop the other guys around him since Dwumfour is hurt all the time.
To run this style of offense, I think you need a slot guy like Sainristil who can run bubbles, run slants, and take the top off the defense. I do like Bell, but running an Air Raid offense without a couple good slot guys is tough, and I’m not sold on McKeon being a breakout player. Meanwhile, Don Brown has shown that he can run a three-man front, he can move guys like Paye down to DT in certain situations, etc. I’m not even certain that Dwumfour will be a starter; it could very well be Kemp and Jeter.
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Even if he meets the “Average Big Ten Starter” expectation, I’d put more emphasis at this position than say, WR, where I think we have 3 studs, a reliable/sort of experienced sophomore, a pair of freshmen ideal for the position, and CJohnson around for depth
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You said recently this wouldn’t be an Air Raid – have you changed your mind?
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I don’t think this will be an Air Raid in the traditional sense (Hal Mumme, Mike Leach, etc.), but I do think it will be influenced by the Air Raid. The Air Raid is not traditionally an RPO style of offense, and there will certainly be lots of RPOs.
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If I’m tracking the countdown correctly, neither Kemp nor Jeter have been ranked yet. If that’s the true this is more about doubting Dwumfour than a statement about the lack of importance of DT. Skepticism noted.
Still – the “I’ll have to see it logic certainly applies for some of the players ahead of this list, Jeter included. Sometimes when you play your warts are exposed and when you don’t they are hidden. In general I think the coaches have good reason for playing who they play.
I think the 3 top DTs all belong in the top 20 and Dwumfour somewhere near the top 5. Ben Mason in the two deep still should be deeply concerning if it’s legitimate. If Dwumfour pops as a pass-rusher who can stay on the field in any situation — it’s season-changing for Michigan.
The comparison to Hurst, to me, is more about the skillset and career arc than overall ability. Hurst wasn’t an everydown player until he was a senior forced into that kind of role.
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You are correct that Jeter and Kemp have not been ranked yet.
To clarify: Hurst was a redshirt junior when he became a full-time starter. He started 4 games as a redshirt sophomore.
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Hurst was a junior in 2015. He started 4 games – all near the end of the year when DT was decimated by injury (Mone, Glasgow, Godin). Everybody blamed Durkin but Hurst getting blown up by Indiana and OSU had a lot to do with the season’s end. Elliot and Howard ran for over 200 yards each. Hurst wowed people at times when he was the 4th guy behind Glasgow/Henry/Godin but struggled when he was tasked with being an every-down starter.
2016 – Hurst was a senior but backed up Godin all year. Although the distinction was pretty nominal, they basically split snaps evenly and Hurst was considered the better player by most. His run defense issues were behind him but his strength was still in pass rush situations which is probably why he was the backup. It was the greatest DL in Michigan history, so this was not a big problem.
2017 – Hurst was a 5th year. He started every game and was an all american.
At this moment Dwumfour is between Hurst’s 2015 and 2016. The context is different but they have showed some of the same limitations and garnered similar hype about quick first steps at the same points in their careers.
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