Posts under: Blog

2023 Season Countdown: #139 James Kavouklis

Name: James Kavouklis
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 272 lbs.
High school: Tampa (FL) Berkeley
Position: Offensive lineman/Long snapper
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #64
Last year: I ranked Kavouklis #132 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

Kavouklis is another player who is listed lighter (in this case, by three pounds) than he was as a true freshman in 2022. He played in the blowout win over UConn, but otherwise, he was able to maintain his redshirt. He is now listed as an offensive lineman with “long snapper” attached on the roster, so that might be a developing skill that lets him get on the field sometime down the road. It’s rare that a school like Michigan would have a 272 lb. punt snapper, because those guys have to get down the field and make tackles, but you do occasionally see larger short snappers (for field goals and extra points) since they usually don’t have to make tackles in space. Regardless, it looks like Kavouklis will once again be a deep bench backup in 2023.

Prediction: Backup lineman/long snapper

2023 Season Countdown: #140 Shomari Stone II

Name: Shomari Stone II
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 175 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) St. John’s
Position: Defensive back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #37
Last year: I did not rank Stone. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Stone’s claim to fame, in a sense, is that he’s the son of Shomari Stone, a CNBC correspondent based in Washington, D.C. The elder Stone is a Michigan alum – though not a former football player – and a big proponent of the Wolverines. The younger Shomari was a solid player at St. John’s, though not a standout, and he came to Michigan in 2022 as a preferred walk-on.

As most preferred walk-ons experience, Stone watched his entire freshman season from the sideline. I do not expect much to change in 2023, as Michigan recruited a large and talented defensive back class in 2022. Players from that class – such as Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry – will probably be taking a step forward in 2023, leaving little room for walk-ons to play.

Prediction: Backup defensive back

Way Too Early 2024 Depth Chart: April 2023

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the depth chart due to various reasons, even though some could return with a fifth year or COVID year exception:

• QB Jack Tuttle (graduation)
• RB Blake Corum (graduation)
• WR A.J. Henning (graduation)
• WR Cornelius Johnson (graduation)
• WR Roman Wilson (graduation)
• OL Karsen Barnhart (graduation)
• OL LaDarius Henderson (graduation)
• OL Myles Hinton (graduation)
• OL Trente Jones (graduation)
• OL Trevor Keegan (graduation)
• OL Drake Nugent (graduation)
• DT Cam Goode (graduation)
• LB Michael Barrett (graduation)
• LB Kalel Mullings (graduation)
• LB Joey Velazquez (graduation)
• CB Mike Sainristil (graduation)
• S Quinten Johnson (graduation)

It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in 2024, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

2023 Season Countdown: #141 Declan Byle

Name: Declan Byle
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 169 lbs.
High school: Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #24 #20
Last year: I ranked Byle #128 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Byle is almost certainly headed for another “redshirt” season after not playing at all in 2022. He did get a run-out-the-clock snap or two in the spring game, so there’s that. But he’s actually lighter in 2023 (169 lbs.) than he was in 2022 (175 lbs.), so he needs to buy into that Ben Herbert plan and be on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List by 2025. Anything less will be a total disappointment.

And Ben Herbert better start earning his $1,000,000+ and get this kid up over 180 lbs. by next season.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

2024 Recruiting Update: April 3, 2023

COMMITMENT

Charlotte (NC) Providence Day quarterback Jadyn Davis committed to Michigan on Friday (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

Dejuan Lane – S – Baltimore (MD) Gilman: Lane is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and others. He’s a 4-star, the #29 safety, and #292 overall. Gilman sent the likes of Henry Poggi and Stephen Spanellis to Michigan, but that was back when Biff Poggi was the head coach there, before he moved on to Michigan and Baltimore (MD) St. Frances. As for Lane himself, I think he might be headed for the linebacker position at the next level.

Hit the jump for more.