Posts by: Thunder

2023 Season Countdown: #84 Leon Franklin

Name: Leon Franklin
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Southfield (MI) A&T
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #40
Last year: I ranked Franklin #70 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He ran 4 times for 9 yards and caught 1 pass for a 20-yard touchdown.
TTB Rating: N/A

Franklin, a walk-on back, got a few opportunities again in 2022 during blowout situations to touch the ball, along with playing special teams in several games. His season was highlighted by the UConn game, where he caught a dump-off from a scrambling Alan Bowman and toted it in for a 20-yard touchdown. But his touches came behind other backups, like C.J. Stokes and Tavierre Dunlap.

I expect Franklin to move down the depth chart in 2023 with the arrival of Benjamin Hall and Cole Cabana. Michigan did not lose any running backs in the off-season to the NFL, graduation, or transfer, and both Hall and Cabana arrive fresh out of high school. Hall had an impressive spring game, and Cabana is a speedster who enrolled early but missed time in the spring due to injury. The coaching staff needs to develop one or two guys for 2024 after Blake Corum and possibly Donovan Edwards have left for the NFL, and the fifth-year senior Franklin won’t be in the mix. So while Franklin should still play on special teams and maybe get a couple touches, I think Hall and/or Cabana will make more meaningful contributions.

Prediction: Backup running back and special teamer

2024 Offensive Recruiting Update: July 9, 2023

The month of July is apparently a terrible time to miss a week of recruiting updates for the current class, because over 40 Michigan targets pledged to schools over the past two weeks. To break it up a little bit, I parceled the news into two separate posts: today’s offensive recruiting update and a defensive update coming tomorrow morning.

OFF THE BOARD

Hit the jump for more.

2023 Season Countdown: #85 Semaj Bridgeman

Name: Semaj Bridgeman
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Bridgeman was a senior in high school. He made 27 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 3 recovered fumbles (1 returned for a TD).
TTB Rating: N/A

Bridgeman is a thumping middle linebacker prospect who committed to Michigan just over a year ago, on July 1, 2022. He ended up ranked as a 4-star, the #26 linebacker, and #301 overall in the 247 Composite rankings. In many years we might be talking about him as an early contributor, but with the way things have played out at linebacker, he might be in line for a redshirt.

Bridgeman was not entirely happy when linebackers coach George Helow was replaced by Chris Partridge, and perhaps for good reason. Not only was Helow the guy who recruited Bridgeman, but Partridge has seemed to show in the 2024 class that he likes guys who can run, and Bridgeman doesn’t really fit that profile. Though he’s not slow, speed and quickness are not his strong suits. Elsewhere on the team, Michigan returns Junior Colson and Michael Barrett – both of whom have a lot of starting experience – and have added Nebraska’s Ernest Hausmann, not to mention the up-and-coming Jimmy Rolder, who played quite a bit as a freshman last season. That’s a pretty solid group of four linebackers to take most of the snaps this season, so breaking into any kind of meaningful rotation would require a couple of injuries. Bridgeman is probably headed for a redshirt, but 2024 could be a big year with Barrett gone and possibly Colson off to the NFL after his junior year.

Prediction: Redshirt

2023 Season Countdown: #86 Connor Jones

Name: Connor Jones
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 298 lbs.
High school: Monument (CO) Palmer Ridge
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #60 #76
Last year: I ranked Jones #99 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in two games.
TTB Rating: 65

Jones was an early enrollee in 2022 and earned playing time during the non-conference portion of the season. As most linemen should do, he was able to maintain his redshirt by playing in four games or fewer. Now going into his second year in the program, he has put on a little weight and changed jerseys from #60 to #76. Michigan is so deep on the offensive line that I don’t think Jones will see much playing time this season.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

2023 Season Countdown: #87 Joe Taylor

Name: Joe Taylor
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Chelsea (MI) Chelsea
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #39
Last year: I did not rank Taylor. He returned 2 kickoffs for 34 yards and made 6 tackles.
TTB Rating: N/A

Taylor came out of nowhere in 2022 to earn a steady role on special teams. After playing in just one game at running back as a true freshman in 2021, he moved to wide receiver. Then he managed to win a role as a deep guy on kickoffs, the guy who might just catch the ball if the other team manages to pooch kick or directional kick the ball to the right (most right-footed kickers pull the ball to their left). Reportedly one of the faster guys on the team, Taylor returned 2 kicks for 34 yards while also working on coverage units.

I don’t mean to diminish that accomplishment, but Taylor’s role(s) can probably be filled by several other receivers, running backs, and perhaps defensive backs. It also seems like those special teams roles can swing wildly from season to season. Maybe Taylor will reprise his role on special teams, and maybe he will be usurped by Cole Cabana or Fredrick Moore or Tyler Morris or someone we’re not even considering right now.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver and special teamer