A question was posed to me last summer on Twitter about what my team would look like if I were a GM putting together a team of current Wolverines as an NFL roster. I never got around to it. It’s a totally useless idea since Michigan isn’t in the NFL, but this type of stuff is fun in the off-season. It’s probably a little late for 2016, but with the class of 2017 unsigned as of yet, it’s definitely too early for 2017.
So here’s the roster that GM Thunder would put together for the new franchise:
2016 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES NFL ROSTER
- QB John O’Korn
- QB Wilton Speight
- RB Chris Evans
- RB Ty Isaac
- RB De’Veon Smith
- FB Khalid Hill
- WR Jehu Chesson
- WR Kekoa Crawford
- WR Amara Darboh
- WR Drake Harris
- WR Eddie McDoom
- WR Grant Perry
- TE Ian Bunting
- TE Jake Butt
- TE Tyrone Wheatley, Jr.
- OT Ben Braden
- OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty
- OT Erik Magnuson
- OT Grant Newsome
- OG Ben Bredeson
- OG Kyle Kalis
- C Mason Cole
- C Patrick Kugler
- DE Taco Charlton
- DE Rashan Gary
- DE Chase Winovich
- DE Chris Wormley
- DT Graham Glasgow
- DT Matt Godin
- DT Maurice Hurst, Jr.
- LB Devin Bush, Jr.
- LB Noah Furbush
- LB Ben Gedeon
- LB Mike McCray II
- LB Jabrill Peppers
- CB Jeremy Clark
- CB Lavert Hill
- CB Jourdan Lewis
- CB Channing Stribling
- CB Brandon Watson
- S Delano Hill
- S Khaleke Hudson
- S Tyree Kinnel
- S Dymonte Thomas
- LS Scott Sypniewski
- K/P Kenny Allen
- QB Brandon Peters*
- RB Karan Higdon*
- OT Nolan Ulizio*
- OG Michael Onwenu*
- DT Bryan Mone*
- LB Devin Gil*
- S Joshua Metellus*
*Practice squad player
SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS LEFT OFF TEAM AND WHY
- QB Alex Malzone – no upside
- QB Shane Morris – no upside
- RB Kingston Davis – too much depth
- RB Drake Johnson – injured/too much depth
- RB Kareem Walker – too much depth
- FB Henry Poggi – no need for two FBs
- WR Nate Johnson – too much depth
- WR Maurice Ways, Jr. – too much depth
- TE Devin Asiasi – good TE but less effective than Wheatley
- TE Nick Eubanks – too much depth
- TE Zach Gentry – needs to improve
- TE Sean McKeon – too much depth
- OL David Dawson – injured/ineffective
- OL Jon Runyan, Jr. – needs more season
- DE Ron Johnson, Jr. – needs to improve
- DE Shelton Johnson – off-the-field issues
- DE Carlo Kemp – too much depth
- DE Lawrence Marshall – too much depth
- DT Michael Dwumfour – too much depth
- LB Reuben Jones – not versatile enough for special teams usage
- LB Wyatt Shallman – ineffective, not versatile enough for special teams usage
- LB Joshua Uche – too raw
- LB Jared Wangler – ineffective, not versatile enough for special teams usage
- CB David Long – too much depth
- CB Keith Washington – too much depth
- K Quinn Nordin – injured, no need for second kicker
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I would have probably gone with the better blocking TE and taken Asiasi over Bunting, or maybe left off Watson or Metellus in light of Harbaugh being my coach.
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regarding no need for 2 FB……..
Its the Modern NFL – there isn’t even a need for 1!
Also you’re a GM now – you must look at players in terms of $ & draft picks……..
O’Korn is going to cost you to much $ as a backup QB – trade him for a cupl low round piks and put peters as BU – malzone on the practice skwad.
IMHO…………….INTJohn
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Oh! Now I just noticed you’ve got 3! effing Centers on this roster?
I don’t fuking think so! I’m not using a roster spot for a long snapper. Coach! you tell Kugler & Cole that I can find 17 yr old cheerleaders that can snap a football 15 yards and as big as what each of their effing arms are they better learn how to do it quick – or I’ll find somebody who can!
INTJohn
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I’m surprised to see Wheatley over Asiasi. I thought Asiasi got more snaps this year and played as a true freshman. I believe he was also higher ranked by the recruiting sites.
Do you expect Wheatley to play ahead of Asiasi in 2017?
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Ok Ted Thompson….Can you hang on to Coach Wheatley?
Do you think he’ll stay? What are your thoughts on this? There is simply no room for him to move up at UM at this time? Is this it?
Thank you!
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