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2023 Season Countdown: #59 Cole Cabana

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Name: Cole Cabana
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Dexter (MI) Dexter
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #24
Last year: Cabana was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran for 1,518 yards and 27 touchdowns, caught passes for 472 yards and 6 touchdowns, and had 444 return yards and 3 return touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 73

Cabana was Michigan’s highest rated recruit for much of the cycle. One of the fastest players in the recruiting cycle, he was explosive with the ball in his hands for the past few years. Whether it was running the ball, catching the ball, or returning kicks, he had a chance to take it to the house every time. He ended up ranked as a 4-star, the #10 running back, and #172 overall in the 247 Composite ranking.

Cabana’s best chance to play in 2023, in my opinion, is on kickoff returns. Michigan has the best backfield duo in the country in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, and I think the coaching staff will focus on getting those guys the ball as often as necessary to win games comfortable and impressive the College Football Playoff selection committee. Fellow freshman Benjamin Hall made a case in the spring to be the third-string running back, but sophomore C.J. Stokes may also be a factor. The point is that Cabana isn’t really needed on offense; this backfield is the same as 2022 when Michigan ran roughshod over almost everyone.

What Michigan lost, however, is punt returner and part-time kickoff returner A.J. Henning. And as part-time kickoff returner Roman Wilson becomes more important on offense after the departure of Ronnie Bell, I’m not sure if the coaching staff will want Wilson returning kicks anymore. So if Cabana wants to see the field in 2023 and doesn’t mind burning his redshirt, I think Michigan should give him a shot to handle kickoffs.

Prediction: Backup running back and part-time kickoff returner

2023 Season Countdown: #60 T.J. Guy

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Name: T.J. Guy
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 246 lbs.
High school: Mansfield (MA) Mansfield
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #42
Last year: I ranked Guy #50 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He made 4 tackles.
TTB Rating: 65

Guy seems to be steadily progressing in his career. After playing in two games as a freshman, he played in ten total contests last fall, including six on defense. He came into college with some questions about where he should play – end or tackle – but he’s been hovering in the 240s for his entire career so far.

The outlook for 2023 is perhaps a little brighter than it was in 2022. Mike Morris, Taylor Upshaw, and Eyabi Okie have all moved on from his position group. Josaiah Stewart, Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor, and Derrick Moore are probably going to make up the top four edges, so Guy will be battling Kechaun Bennett, Tyler McLaurin, and freshman to get the other snaps available. While Bennett flashed a little bit in the spring, Guy has been more trusted by the coaches when it comes to live games over the past couple years, so I’m giving Guy the nod in the race for playing time.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2024 Recruiting Update: July 24, 2023

OFF THE BOARD

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2023 Season Countdown: #61 Joey Velazquez

Name: Joey Velazquez
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 225 lbs.
High school: Columbus (OH) St. Frances DeSales
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #29
Last year: I ranked Velazquez #49 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He made 6 tackles.
TTB Rating: 82

Velazquez has spent the last four years pulling double duty as a football player and baseball player. During the football season last fall, he played linebacker in five blowout games, but was mostly a special teams player. This happened despite the fact that Nikhai Hill-Green was injured and Kalel Mullings was spending time at running back. Former linebackers coach George Helow inserted freshman Jimmy Rolder over Velazquez, which shows where the baseballer fits in the pecking order.

Baseball has been a little more promising as far as playing time goes. Velazquez started 38 games this spring and hit .245 with 4 homeruns and 22 runs batted in.

I’m expecting more of the same on the gridiron this fall, though. Velazquez continues to lag behind others in the hunt for playing time, and things didn’t get much easier with the transfer in of Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann. Velazquez will likely continue to be behind Junior Colson, Rolder, and Michael Barrett, along with newcomer Hausmann. So at best he’s the fifth inside linebacker on the roster. But he is a solid special teams player, so we should see him on the field pretty regularly from week to week.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer

2023 Season Countdown: #62 Adam Samaha

Name: Adam Samaha
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170 lbs.
High school: Ann Arbor (MI) Huron
Position: Kicker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Samaha was a senior in high school. He made 11/14 field goals, was perfect on extra points, and kicked touchbacks on 50/56 kickoffs.
TTB Rating: N/A

I regularly shrug my shoulders when it comes to evaluating kickers on film. The kicks they put on film look good, and the kicks that aren’t good don’t end up on film. Unlike, say, wide receiver where a poor release can still end up in an acrobatic catch, or where a 315-pound offensive lineman with poor technique can still pancake a poor 220-pound high school defensive tackle . . . consistency is key in kicking, and I just find that hard to evaluate on film.

So how much will Samaha factor into the 2023 season? Your guess is as good as mine. He could end up being the kickoff guy or the field goal guy. He could totally miss out on playing a single play in 2023. Michigan brought in Louisville transfer James Turner as a place kicker and Mississippi State transfer Hudson Hollenbeck to help with kickoffs. Throw in punter/kicker Tommy Doman, and Michigan has at least four guys capable of kicking balls in some way, shape, or form. If Samaha doesn’t win one of the jobs, I think he will at least provide good competition to keep Turner and/or Hollenbeck on their toes.

Prediction: Backup kicker