Posts by: Thunder

2024 Season Countdown: #129 Liam Groulx

Name: Liam Groulx
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 227 lbs.
High school: Charlotte (NC) Providence Day
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #53
Last year: I did not rank Groulx. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Groulx attended the same high school as freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis and freshman wide receiver Channing Goodwin. He played some outside linebacker in high school, but he lacks the quickness to play in space and currently lacks adequate size to play his current position of inside linebacker. If he wants to see the field in the future, he will likely have to continue bulking up for another year or two. On top of that, Michigan currently has ten scholarship inside linebackers on the roster, and that doesn’t include special teams demon Christian Boivin, who has been earning a little bit of praise so far this spring. This will likely be another “redshirt” year for Groulx.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

2024 Season Countdown: #130 Grayson Dee

Name: Grayson Dee
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 228 lbs.
High school: Pittsburgh (PA) Mt. Lebanon
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #38
Last year: I did not rank Dee. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Dee was a high school defensive end and tight end who has the body of an old-school Michigan fullback. I get Kevin Dudley vibes when watching his high school Hudl film, and he’s now listed at 6’1″, 228 lbs. (Dudley was 6’0″, 238).

There are too many talented inside linebackers on the roster for Dee to get much playing time consideration, but perhaps some special teams time or – if the coaches want to know what’s good for them – a move to fullback could pay off down the line.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

The 2024 Season Countdown is Coming!

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.

In case you want a look back at last year’s list, here it is (LINK). Michigan was very lucky to keep its top players healthy, including #1 overall J.J. McCarthy, who is poised to be a top-10 draft pick here in a few weeks.

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 cornerback Ambry Thomas ranked at #2 in 2020 because he was the team’s only proven cornerback. Naturally, he opted out of the season and the team as a whole was an unmitigated disaster. Meanwhile, first round pick Kwity Paye was #6 because more talent was returning on the defensive line.

Another thing to note is the transfer portal, which causes players to jump in and out with more frequency than in the past. So despite my having a list already put together, there are going to be guys who enter and leave the program in the interceding months between now and August.

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Visitors: April 5-7, 2024

2025

Hayden Bradley – TE – Buford (GA) Buford: Bradley is a 6’5″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State, among others. He’s currently unranked in the 247 Composite.

Avery Gach – OT – Franklin (MI) Groves: Gach is a 6’5″, 275-pounder with offers from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #13 interior offensive lineman, and #226 overall. Despite being a Michigan State legacy, his lone crystal ball so far is for Michigan.

Quincy Porter – WR – Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic: Porter is a 6’3″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Washington, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #7 wide receiver, and #52 overall in the class.

Hit the jump for more.

All-Time Season Rushing Touchdown Leaders

I posted the top career rushing touchdowns leaders (LINK).

Here are the season leaders: