Posts by: Thunder

The 2020 Countdown is Coming!

If you’re a regular here at Touch the Banner, you probably know what begins in the month of May. Every year since 2009, I have counted down from the least important player on that year’s roster to the most important player, including starters, scholarship players, preferred walk-ons, special teams players, student body walk-ons, and everyone in between. That’s right, this is the eleventh (12th!) annual season countdown.

In case you want a look back at last year’s countdown, here it is (LINK).

YEARLY DISCLAIMER: The countdown is by the player’s importance to the team, not his overall talent. A talented player at a deep position won’t necessarily be missed a lot if he gets injured, but an injury to a moderately talented player at a thin position could be devastating. For example, I had Donovan Jeter ranked at #1B in 2019 because of the dearth of defensive tackle talent; and while Jeter turned out not to be a key player when healthy, the position itself was so lacking that Michigan struggled up front, which affected the usage of the defensive ends and Josh Uche, not to mention perhaps also creating the Jordan Glasgow-as-DT meme to bash defensive coordinator Don Brown. Joshua Ross is a better player than Jeter, but Ross wasn’t missed as much because there was depth at inside linebacker.

I know times are tough, but now is a good time to suggest a Paypal donation if you appreciate the content here at TTB:

Be ready for the countdown to begin tomorrow, May 4.

Senior Highlights: S Makari Paige

Myles Rowser, Ex-Wolverine

Two commitments into the 2022 class, 50% of them have already dipped.

Belleville Detroit King Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy safety Myles Rowser decommitted from Michigan recently. His social media account originally showed less, uh, Michigan flavor, and then word came out that he had officially decommitted. He originally committed to the Wolverines on the day of the national championship game back in January (LINK).

I tend not to get too worked up about players so far ahead of their signing – whether positive or negative – so almost two years in advance of National Signing Day, I don’t have much of an emotional reaction to this story.

Rowser is a solid prospect and his older brother is Michigan freshman cornerback Andre Seldon, Jr. That means there’s still a good chance that he ends up back in Michigan’s class. But for now, Essexville (MI) Garber defensive lineman Alex Van Sumeren (the younger brother of Ben) is the only committed player in the 2022 class.

What I’ve Been Reading/Watching

It’s time to catch you up on what I’ve been consuming during quarantine times, because I know you’ve been dying to find out.

READING

Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life by Michael Lewis. This tells the story of Michael Lewis (of Moneyball and The Blind Side fame) and his high school baseball coach.

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz. I haven’t finished this yet, but it’s supposedly along the lines of Gone Girl. The plot is progressing pretty quickly so far, and I’m enjoying it. The female protagonist is on the run – from the law, from someone – and we don’t exactly know why through five chapters.

Hit the jump for more.

Markus Allen, Wolverine

Clayton (OH) Northmont wide receiver Markus Allen committed to Michigan on Tuesday, and he is not to be confused with former USC Heisman winner and NFL running back Marcus Allen, nor former Penn State safety Marcus Allen. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Indiana, Pitt, Purdue, and West Virginia, among others.

Allen is listed at 6’2″ and 190 lbs. He made 51 receptions for 1,099 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior in 2019.

RANKINGS
ESPN: N/A
Rivals: 3-star WR, 5.7 grade
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #113 WR

Hit the jump for more on Allen’s commitment.