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Video: Wilton Speight in 2017 spring game

The 2017 Season Countdown is Coming

It has been a yearly tradition ’round these parts to count down to the season with a full accounting of every scholarship player and several walk-ons. This year will be no different. In the coming weeks, you will see a countdown of roughly 100 Michigan football players, from least important to most important for 2017 team success. Here’s a link to last year’s countdown, if you’re interested (LINK).

This is my annual caveat: The countdown looks at players from a perspective of value, so a good player at a deep position may not be ranked as high as high as an equally good player in a shallow position. Michigan doesn’t have many options at safety this year, so that bumps up the importance of the top few guys. On the other hand, there are a bunch of wide receivers available – none of whom have really separated themselves – so their value dips a bit.

Feel free to make your case for your guy(s) here.

The countdown begins on May 1, 2017.

Visitors: April 17-23, 2017

Shayne Simon (image via NJ.com)

UPDATE: Posting has been light over the past couple days due to unforeseen difficulties. Thanks to Michael for his spring optimism post yesterday (LINK). Also, we’re up to 43 avatars uploaded, so once 7 more of you attach a picture, I’ll be doing a $50 Amazon gift card drawing. Also also, you might want to keep an eye on the message board, as umbig11 is posting tidbits there about the MSU troubles (LINK) and other developments.

2018

Gemon Green – CB – DeSoto (TX) DeSoto: Green is a 6’2″, 165 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and TCU, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #32 cornerback, and #341 overall. UPDATE: Green committed (LINK).

German Green – CB – DeSoto (TX) DeSoto: This Green is a 6’2″, 168 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado, Houston, Michigan, and Oklahoma State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #84 cornerback, and #932 overall. He has six predictions in right now, all for Michigan. Gemon and German Green are twins, and Brandon Brown of The Wolverine has been warning of the potential for both of them to commit to Michigan soon. UPDATE: This Green committed, too (LINK).

Shayne Simon – S – Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep: Simon is a 6’3″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and Stanford, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #9 outside linebacker, and #179 overall. He has just two picks in right now, both for Michigan.

2019

Steele Chambers – LB – Roswell (GA) Blessed Trinity: Chambers is a 6’0″, 210 lb. running back/linebacker with offers from Michigan, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt.

This was originally posted on April 18, 2017.

Gemon and German Green, Wolverines

Gemon and German Green (image via 247 Sports)

DeSoto (TX) DeSoto cornerbacks Gemon and German Green committed to Michigan on Thursday. They are twins. I thought about making separate commitment posts, but they’re used to sharing.

First up for a review, though? Gemon, because that’s how the alphabet works.

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Spring Breeds Optimism

Chris Perry (image via Mike DeSimone)

Chris Evans (image via TheWolverine.com)

Something a little different from me this week.  I decided to combine some of my thoughts about the spring game with some recent Michigan Football history.  Hopefully you enjoy.  

Spring training in Major League Baseball breeds optimism.  It doesn’t matter if you root for a team like the Mariners, who haven’t been to the playoffs since their brutal 2001 ALCS loss to the Yankees or the Cubs, fresh off their heroic World Series championship.  The day when pitchers and catchers report to camp is a sacred day on the American sports calendar.  Spring training in baseball breeds optimism because all the teams have the same record, and the stories of the season have yet to be written.  All of the role players from last year could potentially blossom into stars, and the team could take the next step and take control of its division.  

College football is quickly catching up to Major League Baseball in terms of spring-time optimism.  In the vast expanse of months between the last bowl games and the opening of fall camp, college football fans have precious few events to mark on our calendars.  There is so little going on during these months that National Signing Day has grown into a 12-hour extravaganza on the various ESPN networks.  

More importantly, however, each team’s spring game has become appointment television for the devoted fan.  Taking after the idea of spring optimism, I’ve created a short list of my more optimistic thoughts after watching the spring game.

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