✅ 6 receptions
— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) August 3, 2020
✅ 165 yards
✅ 3 TDs
Start your week with Nico Collins’ career day in last year’s win at Indiana.@lbg_nico7 | @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/ITwe74jFjc
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Thanks to Joe for the generous Paypal contribution over the weekend! It was much appreciated. After getting paid by Amazon, AdSense, etc. for the month of June, that was actually the roughest financial month since I started keeping track in August 2012 . . . and the second worst month in that span was April 2020. That’s fitting, of course, since we’re in the middle of a pandemic and a recession and everything. Anyway, if you would like to contribute, here’s the link:
I like to take a look back at the careers of Michigan’s recent coaches and see which players had the best seasons. After five years at Michigan’s helm, it’s time for a look at Jim Harbaugh’s tenure in Ann Arbor.
QUARTERBACK: 2015 Jake Rudock
Rudock, a former starter at Iowa, decided to grad transfer to Michigan for his final year of eligibility. Unlike some grad transfers who spend the spring at their new school, Rudock did not practice with Michigan until fall camp. Through seven weeks of the season, Rudock threw for 5 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. But when he heated up toward the end of the season, he really heated up. Over the final six contests, he threw 15 touchdowns and just 3 picks on his way to a 10-3 overall record in Harbaugh’s first year. His final stats included 249/389 (64.0%) on completions, 3017 yards, 20 touchdowns, 9 interceptions; he also ran for 166 yards and 4 touchdowns.
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Name: Charles Thomas
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 233 lbs.
High school: Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #13
Last year: I ranked Thomas #96 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 69
When Thomas entered last year, it seemed inevitable that he would redshirt. Linebacker is not an easy position to learn, and Michigan generally leans on three inside linebackers. With Josh Ross, Devin Gil, Cameron McGrone, and Jordan Glasgow available, Thomas was at best the #5 inside ‘backer. Thus the redshirt.
I have heard varying reports about Thomas. Some reports have him playing a key backup role as the only veteran inside linebacker. Others have him behind freshmen. My guess is that he will factor in as a backup, based largely on his having a year in the system. (Keep in mind that guys like Drew Singleton, Devin Gil, and Jordan Anthony have all transferred in the past couple seasons.)
Prediction: Backup linebacker
Name: Ben VanSumeren
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 244 lbs.
High school: Essexville (MI) Garber
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #40
Last year: I ranked VanSumeren #48 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He played in five games and ran the ball 6 times for 20 yards.
TTB Rating: 78
Michigan’s transition to the Josh Gattis offense was a positive for a lot of people, but probably not someone like VanSumeren. Brought in as more of a traditional fullback, he was left without a real position on offense. At 6’2″ and 236 pounds, his speed and quickness were lacking as a runner. Though he spent the spring of 2019 getting a lot of reps due to injuries, the season itself saw him finish as the #5 tailback.
The outlook has not changed much going into 2020, and VanSumeren has reportedly made another position switch, this time to linebacker. It’s not clear exactly what role he would fill on defense, but he was rumored to potentially become a pass rusher off the edge, a role that Josh Uche previously inhabited. I do not see VanSumeren having a lot of success in that type of role, but like fellow fullback/linebacker recruit Ben Mason (who has also spent time at defensive tackle), it appears the coaching staff will try to shoehorn him into a role. I would not be surprised to see him line up at linebacker, defensive end, fullback, and/or tailback in 2020, but I would be surprised to see him become a standout at any one of those spots.
Prediction: Backup linebacker
Name: Jess Speight
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 288 lbs.
High school: Richmond (VA) Collegiate
Position: Center
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #67
Last year: I ranked Speight #90 and said he would be a backup center (LINK). He played in seven games and made 7 tackles.
TTB Rating: N/A
Speight has slowly climbed the ranks of Michigan football over the past few years. He came in as a preferred walk-on and the brother of quarterback Wilton Speight, who transferred from Michigan to UCLA. I liked him as a recruit and thought he might be able to work his way onto the field on the offensive line. After spending his first couple seasons on campus playing center, he switched to defensive tackle last fall when there was a need for depth. By the end of the season, he was playing some key minutes.
While Speight is not expected to start in 2020, there is once again an opportunity for him to play. Part-time starter Michael Dwumfour transferred to Rutgers, but sophomore Chris Hinton is expected to step into the starting lineup alongside nose tackle Carlo Kemp. Other players involved in the competition include Speight, Donovan Jeter, and Mazi Smith, among others. Hinton’s parents have been pretty vocal about being opposed to playing due to COVID-19, so there’s a chance that he will opt out of the season. That could elevate Speight’s importance for 2020, but I’m operating under the assumption that Hinton will play (NOTE: No Michigan players have opted out for 2020 as of this writing). I don’t think Speight will be a difference maker, but he’s an okay role player.
Prediction: Backup defensive tackle