2023 Season Countdown: #86 Connor Jones

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8Jul 2023
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2023 Season Countdown: #86 Connor Jones

Connor Jones (image via MGoBlue)

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

7Jul 2023
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2023 Season Countdown: #87 Joe Taylor

Joe Taylor (image via MLive)

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

6Jul 2023
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2023 Season Countdown: #88 Karmello English

Karmello English

Name: Karmello English
Height: 
6’0″
Weight: 
185 lbs.
High school: 
Phenix City (AL) Central
Position: 
Wide receiver
Class: 
Freshman
Jersey number: 
N/A
Last year: 
English was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 75 passes for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 2 rushing touchdowns.
TTB Rating:
 82

English was a nice cherry on top for a 2023 class that was generally lacking pizzazz. It was a decent class, if underperforming based on Michigan’s on-field success the past two years. But the lack of playmakers outside of local 4-star running back Cole Cabana was a bit concerning. In stepped English, who was ranked as a 4-star, the #26 wide receiver, and #181 overall. (Fun fact: English’s high school coach was Patrick Nix, the former Auburn quarterback and the father of Auburn/Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.)

English is the highest ranked receiver in Michigan’s class, and he might end up being the best one. But both Semaj Morgan and Fredrick Moore enrolled back in January and had spring practice to start to build a rapport with Michigan’s quarterbacks. English is a summer enrollee who will be playing a little from behind. I think the team will have to use one or two freshman receivers on the field this season because of a little bit of a lack of depth, and English might be the odd man out for now.

Prediction: Redshirt

6Jul 2023
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2023 Season Countdown: #89 Christian Boivin

(image via Ebay)

Name: Christian Boivin
Height: 
6’0″
Weight: 
217 lbs.
High school: 
Traverse City (MI) West
Position: 
Linebacker
Class: 
Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: 
#40
Last year: 
I ranked Boivin #113 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He transitioned to linebacker and played in eleven games on special teams, making 1 tackle.
TTB Rating:
 N/A

Here’s what I had to say about Boivin in last year’s preview:

“When Boivin came into college, I thought for sure he would be headed for the safety position. He runs a bit like a linebacker but doesn’t really have linebacker size.”

Well, he played running back in year one, but last year he moved to linebacker despite being listed at 6’0″ and 204 lbs., which is very light for a linebacker. He was named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week for the week leading up to UConn, and he was a regular special teams contributor all year long.

This year Boivin is listed at 217 lbs., which is a bit more reasonable for a linebacker. His chances of actually playing linebacker are still quite slim, but it’s fair to expect him to maintain a sizable role on special teams.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer

5Jul 2023
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All-Time Single-Game Receiving Touchdown Leaders

Derrick Alexander

I thought I would put together the list of top scoring performances for receivers in Michigan history. Again, if you want to set some passing/receiving records at Michigan, make sure you’re healthy for the Indiana game.

  1. 4 – Derrick Alexander (1992 vs. Minnesota)
  2. 4 – Jehu Chesson (2015 vs. Indiana)
  3. 3 – Ron Kramer (1955 vs. Missouri)
  4. 3 – Greg McMurty (1989 vs. Minnesota)
  5. 3 – Desmond Howard (1991 vs. Boston College)
  6. 3 – Desmond Howard (1991 vs. Indiana)
  7. 3 – Derrick Alexander (1992 vs. Northwestern)
  8. 3 – David Terrell (1999 vs. Alabama)
  9. 3 – David Terrell (2000 vs. Northwestern)
  10. 3 – Braylon Edwards (2004 vs. Michigan State)
  11. 3 – Braylon Edwards (2004 vs. Texas)
  12. 3 – Mario Manningham (2006 vs. Notre Dame)
  13. 3 – Jeremy Gallon (2013 vs. Notre Dame)
  14. 3 – Devin Funchess (2014 vs. Appalachian State)
  15. 3 – Donovan Peoples-Jones (2018 vs. SMU)
  16. 3 – Nico Collins (2019 vs. Indiana)

Over one hundred players have caught 2 touchdowns in a game, so I won’t list them all.

Originally posted on November 26, 2019.