Posts under: Blog

2019 Season Countdown: #15 Michael Onwenu

Name: Michael Onwenu
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 370 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Onwenu #22 and said he would be the starting right guard (LINK). He started all thirteen games.
TTB Rating: 78

Onwenu has had an up-and-down career at Michigan so far. He has struggled with his weight, for one, and the roster refuses to list him at more than 350 lbs. even though coaches acknowledge that he’s about 370 lbs. right now. And if he’s 370 right now, he has probably been 380 or 390 at times in the past. Onwenu has also struggled with the consistency of his play on the field, sometimes looking like a road-grader and other times looking like a statue. On the plus side, he was named a Third Team All-Big Ten player by the coaches and Honorable Mention by the media.

This year we should see more of the same from Onwenu. Seniors don’t generally take huge leaps, so I don’t expect a major one from him this year. There has been some buzz about him in the off-season. He has the right guard spot locked down, and his experience is even more valuable now that Andrew Stueber is injured and a redshirt freshman (Jalen Mayfield) will be starting next to him at right tackle. Backup options include redshirt junior Stephen Spanellis and redshirt sophomore Chuck Filiaga, not to mention redshirt sophomore Joel Honigford, who has at least temporarily bumped out to tackle to help back up Stueber/Mayfield.

Prediction: Starting right guard

Morning Roundup: August 18, 2019

Ben Bredeson was named to the Sports Illustrated pre-season All-America team (LINK).

Chase Winovich beat former Wisconsin OT Tyler Marz for a sack of the Tennessee Titans backup QB Ryan Tannehill:

#Patriots 3rd round pick Chase Winovich gets another sack in pre-season, he's been in the #Titans backfield on nearly every snap.pic.twitter.com/j6w14GeF1O

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 18, 2019

Hit the jump for more.

2019 Season Countdown: #16 Tru Wilson

Name: Tru Wilson
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Warren (MI) De La Salle
Position: Running back
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #13
Last year: I ranked Wilson #65 and said he would be a backup running back and special teamer (LINK). He ran 62 times for 364 yards (5.9 yards/carry) and 1 touchdown, along with making 6 catches for 34 yards (5.7 yards/catch).
TTB Rating: N/A

Wilson came out of nowhere to become a very effective running back for the Wolverines last year. After being a Semper Fi All-American coming out of high school, he came to Michigan as a walk-on and dabbled at both running back and safety. He had 1 carry for 1 yard in 2016, zero carries in 2017, and then 62 carries for 364 yards in 2018. Those 62 carries ranked third among running backs (fourth if you count Shea Patterson), and his 5.87 yards per carry was the best average on the team.

Hit the jump for more.

2019 Season Countdown: #17 Kwity Paye

Name: Kwity Paye
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 277 lbs.
High school: Providence (RI) Bishop Hendricken
Position: Defensive end
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Paye #33 and said he would be a backup weakside end (LINK). He started four games and made 29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 81

Paye was an under-the-radar recruit in 2017 who ended up as an Under Armour All-American. Last year he started to pay off on that promise. He was slated to be a backup until Rashan Gary hurt his shoulder, when Paye stepped in to become a four-game starter. He also proved himself as perhaps Michigan’s most versatile defensive lineman, a guy who could play anywhere on the line – inside, outside, weakside, strongside – and at least get a pass rush.

I could make an argument to rank Paye much higher on this list, but this is the lowest I can go. Paye has great versatility, but Michigan also has a fair amount of depth, especially at his primary position, defensive end. While I expect Paye to be the starting weakside end, Michigan is also getting a Pro Football Focus All-American in Mike Danna (transfer from CMU) and a top-100 player in Luiji Vilain (back from injury). I like Paye and think he can be an exciting cog in Michigan’s defense.

Prediction: Starting weakside end; 45 tackles, 5 sacks

2019 Recruiting Awards

I know this seems a little bit late, but since I just wrapped up the final TTB Ratings for 2019, I thought it would be time to share “recruiting awards” for the 2019 class. Feel free to pipe in with your own choices, and you can glance back at, say, the 2016 awards (LINK) to see how I did (what’s up, Andrew David?).

Best Overall Recruit: S Daxton Hill
It was a battle to land Hill, who was sought by everyone. Some thought he would go to the home-state Sooners; some thought he would go where his older brother did, Oklahoma State; he was committed to Alabama for a time; and he committed to Michigan twice. He was the #14 overall player to the 247 Composite, and I have him with a 100 as the best safety in the class.

Best Offensive Recruit: RB Zach Charbonnet
Charbonnet has great potential to be a stud running back. He’s fast, strong, catches the ball, and can make people miss.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.