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14Jan 2024
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What should Michigan do at QB in 2024?

Alex Orji (image via WFAA)

It was a very understandable move, but Michigan suffered a big blow on Sunday when incumbent starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he would be entering the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy is a two-year starter who went 27-1 in that role and won a national championship. According to draft projections I’ve seen, he’s considered to be a potential 1st round pick and is thought to be anywhere from the #3 to the #6 quarterback in the class. He could come back in 2024 and potentially be the #1 quarterback on the board for the 2025 draft, but it looks like that won’t happen.

So where should Michigan turn for a quarterback in 2024?

JADYN DAVIS (6’0″, 202 lb. freshman)
2023 season stats (high school): 204/288, 3370 yards, 43 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
The argument: Davis, from Charlotte (NC) Providence Day, is a 4-star recruit, the #7 quarterback, and #93 overall in the class of 2024. Michigan recruited Davis hard and put most of their eggs in his basket during the cycle, so the coaching staff really likes him. While he’s ranked anywhere from #61 to #116 overall by three of the four main recruiting sites, the fourth – On3 – has him all the way down at #218. One thing that really helps true freshman quarterbacks be successful is some kind of physical advantage – speed, size, and/or a cannon for an arm – but Davis has none of the above. He’s more of a game manager in the mold of Cade McNamara, and while McNamara did eventually captain his team to a very successful season, it wasn’t until his third year on campus.

Hit the jump for more.

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13Jan 2024
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Way Too Early 2024 Depth Chart: January 2024

Colston Loveland (image via MLive)

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the depth chart, even though some could return with a fifth year or COVID year exception:

  • QB Jack Tuttle (graduation)
  • RB Blake Corum (graduation)
  • RB C.J. Stokes (transfer)
  • WR Darrius Clemons (transfer)
  • WR Cornelius Johnson (graduation)
  • WR Roman Wilson (graduation)
  • TE A.J. Barner (graduation)
  • OL Karsen Barnhart (NFL)
  • OL LaDarius Henderson (graduation)
  • OL Trevor Keegan (NFL)
  • OL Drake Nugent (NFL)
  • OL Zak Zinter (NFL)
  • DE Braiden McGregor (NFL)
  • DT Cam Goode (graduation)
  • DT Kris Jenkins, Jr. (NFL)
  • LB Michael Barrett (graduation)
  • LB Junior Colson (NFL)
  • LB Joey Velazquez (transfer)
  • CB Cam Calhoun (transfer)
  • CB Mike Sainristil (graduation)
  • CB Amorion Walker (transfer)
  • CB Josh Wallace (graduation)
  • S Quinten Johnson (graduation)
  • K James Turner (graduation)

It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in 2024, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

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13Jan 2024
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2024 Scholarship Count

Kalel Mullings

Players are listed in order of remaining eligibility. With 90 scholarships allotted, Michigan is currently beyond its scholarship limit by 5. Meanwhile, 10 seniors are scheduled to graduate, so the 2025 class should have at least 10 players.

TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOTTED FOR 2023 = 90

Adjustments:

  • Removed WR Karmello English, who is transferring
  • Removed WR Eamonn Dennis, who is transferring
  • Re-added DB Quinten Johnson, who is returning for a sixth year
  • Re-added QB Jack Tuttle, who got an extra year of eligibility
  • Removed DB Keon Sabb, who is transferring to Alabama
  • Removed LB Jaden Smith, who backed out of his NLI and committed to Kentucky.
  • Removed DL Reece Atteberry, who is transferring.
  • Removed TE Matt Hibner, who is transferring
  • Removed QB J.J. McCarthy, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed DB Amorion Walker, who is transferring to Ole Miss
  • Removed LB Junior Colson, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed DT Kris Jenkins, Jr., who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed OL Zak Zinter, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed EDGE Jaylen Harrell, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed WR Darrius Clemons, who is transferring to Oregon State
  • Removed DE Braiden McGregor, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed TE A.J. Barner, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed WR Roman Wilson, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed RB Blake Corum, who is entering the NFL Draft
  • Removed DB Cameron Calhoun, who is transferring to Utah
  • Removed RB C.J. Stokes, who is transferring to Charlotte
  • Added OL Josh Priebe, who is transferring in from Northwestern
  • Added LB Jaishawn Barham, who is transferring in from Maryland

Hit the jump for the breakdown by class.

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12Jan 2024
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Darrius Clemons, Ex-Wolverine

Darrius Clemons

Michigan receiver Darrius Clemons has entered the transfer portal following Michigan’s national championship win on Monday night.

Clemons was a member of Michigan’s 2022 class out of Portland (OR) Westview. He was a 4-star, the #24 wide receiver, and #144 overall in the 247 Composite rankings. I gave him a TTB Rating of 88 based on his 6’4″, 205 lb. frame (he was most recently listed at 6’3″, 212 lbs. by MGoBlue.com) and sub-4.4 speed.

Unfortunately, things didn’t really work out at Michigan. Maybe they could have, but they didn’t. He played in eleven games as a freshman and nine this past season, but he made just 3 catches for 33 yards in 2023 and 4 catches for 40 yards altogether. His biggest career highlight – aside from winning a natty – was a diving touchdown reception in the 2022 spring game.

For better or worse, Michigan’s style of play is not wide receiver-friendly. They play slow and run the ball a lot, which works. I mean, who can argue with the team results? But Michigan’s top receivers this season were Roman Wilson (48 catches, 789 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Cornelius Johnson (47 catches, 604 yards, 1 touchdown). There aren’t a ton of targets to go around, even when Michigan has the best quarterback in school history in J.J. McCarthy.

On top of that, Clemons was passed up in playing time by classmate Tyler Morris (13 catches, 197 yards,1 touchdown) and freshman Semaj Morgan (22 catches, 204 yards, 2 touchdowns).

The bright side for Clemons may have been that both Wilson and Johnson are out of eligibility, and there’s no clear-cut #1 receiver for next season. Michigan will need to look toward the transfer portal to try to find some contributors for 2024 and beyond. At the wide receiver position, the Wolverines will return just 40 catches and 4 touchdowns next season from the likes of Morris, Morgan, Fredrick Moore, Karmello English, and walk-on Peyton O’Leary.

Clemons was the fourth member of the 2022 class to enter the portal, following LB Deuce Spurlock (Florida), S Damani Dent (Charlotte), and RB C.J. Stokes (Charlotte).