Posts by: Thunder

Cesar Ruiz is off to the NFL

Junior center Cesar Ruiz has declared for the NFL. He spent the past two seasons as Michigan’s starting center after playing a backup role mostly at guard as a freshman in 2017. He was ranked as the nation’s #1 center in that 2017 class and was the #47 player overall.

The Draft Network has Ruiz ranked as the #198 overall player, but I have also seen him projected as a 2nd- or 3rd-rounder. It’s too early to say which team(s) might be interested.

Personally, I thought Ruiz was a weakness in 2018, and then he had some slip-ups early this season. But then he started playing pretty darn well. If you’re not blowing protections and/or getting worked by nose tackles, you’re probably pretty good and it might be time to leave if you’re eligible.

Michigan now has 88 guys slated to be on scholarship in 2020, so three more guys still have to disappear between now and August (LINK).

Related:

• Change is Coming: Offense in which I discuss how the center position looks going into next year.
• A History of #1 Rated Center Recruits, in which I discuss top-ranked centers throughout the modern recruiting era.

Chris Partridge, Ex-Wolverine

You probably know this already, but Michigan safeties coach and special teams coordinator Chris Partridge has signed on to coach at Ole Miss in some capacity under Lane Kiffin. Judging from recent developments and coaching staffs at Ole Miss – and with Kiffin himself – I expect this to be a very entertaining coaching tenure for Kiffin and crew. (He also hired former Michigan defensive coordinator and Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin, who was fired because Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair died.)

Hit the jump for more.

Change is Coming: Offense

Every year the new season brings changes big and small. It seems that the 2020 season will bring some pretty significant changes to what we see on the field at Michigan, from players to coaches. Here’s a look at the expected changes and what we might see in 2020.

The impact is rated as being positive (+), negative (-), or neutral (=).

Out: QB Shea Patterson
In: Dylan McCaffrey/Joe Milton
Patterson was just the third quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, but many weren’t happy with his performance. Redshirt junior McCaffrey and redshirt sophomore Joe Milton will battle it out, and the belief (on my end) is that the loser of that battle will not finish out his career at Michigan. McCaffrey is the better overall player – both passing and running – but a concussion and a collarbone injury have ended his previous two seasons.
Impact: =

Hit the jump for more.

Stephen Spanellis, Ex-Wolverine

Interior offensive lineman Stephen Spanellis announced after the Citrus Bowl that he would be transferring. He just finished his fourth year at Michigan, so he will have just one year remaining.

Hit the jump for more.

2020 Under Armour All-American Game Preview

The Under Armour All-American Game will be played on January 2 at 6:00 p.m. EST and broadcast on ESPN.

Michigan commits selected for the game are:

• RB Blake Corum
• OT Micah Mazzccua
• DE Braiden McGregor (not participating due to injury)
• CB Andre Seldon, Jr.

Mazzccua did not sign with Michigan in the early signing period – and may not in February, either – but he is still verbally committed to the Wolverines.

Hit the jump for more.