Name: William Wagner Height: 6’2″ Weight: 255 lbs. High school: Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta Position: Long snapper Class: Redshirt senior Jersey number: #49 Last year: I ranked Wagner #30 and said he would be the starting long snapper (LINK). He started five games. TTB Rating: N/A
Wagner was the starting long snapper for Michigan in 2021 and carried the job into 2022. Unfortunately, he and backup safety Caden Kolesar tore their ACLs on the same play, ending their seasons on October 1 against Iowa. Fortunately for Michigan, they had a solid backup in Greg Tarr, who stepped in seamlessly.
And the presence of Tarr is why Wagner drops a few spots this year, from #30 to #35. If there’s a backup who’s basically just as capable as the starter, then the starter isn’t quite so irreplaceable. I’d like to assume that Wagner is back to full strength and perhaps with a solid 2023, he can follow in Camaron Cheeseman’s footsteps and get drafted in 2024.
Name: Quinten Johnson Height: 5’11” Weight: 200 lbs. High school: Washington (DC) St. John’s Position: Safety Class: Redshirt senior Jersey number: #28 Last year: I ranked Johnson #56 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He made 11 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. TTB Rating: 79
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Johnson was ranked #57 and #56 in the past two years, so he’s been a fringe player for a while. He suffered a nasty leg injury a couple years ago that slowed his progress, but I had given him a TTB Rating of 79 when he came out of high school, so I thought he would be a solid player. Unfortunately, that hasn’t really come to fruition so far in his career, during which he’s been a little used backup and special teamer. His playing time did pick up last season and he played quite a bit in the CFP semifinal against TCU.
During this past off-season, safety R.J. Moten transferred to Florida once he realized Makari Paige had moved past him on the depth chart. Now there’s a top two of Paige and Rod Moore, but the third safety spot is up for grabs. From what I’ve gathered so far, it looks like Johnson is the front-runner, but there are numerous other guys battling for playing time, including solid second-year prospects in Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry. Experience is a valuable asset at the safety position, so I’m giving Johnson the nod here.
Name: Matthew Hibner Height: 6’5″ Weight: 254 lbs. High school: Burke (VA) Lake Braddock Position: Tight end Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #88 Last year: I did not rank Hibner. He made 2 catches for 15 yards, 3 tackles, and 1 fumble recovery. TTB Rating: 72
How did you guys let me get away without ranking Hibner?!?!?! What in God’s name is wrong with you people?!?!?!
I legitimately don’t understand how I have not ranked Hibner in the countdown since his freshman year in 2020.
Okay, so let me recap his career so far since I haven’t discussed him since prior to his freshman year:
Hibner redshirted in 2020 and then has seen steady playing time increases over the past couple years. He played in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2021, including five at tight end. I started to pick up some buzz about him prior to 2022, when there were suggestions that he was one of the freakiest all-around athletes on the team. He played in thirteen games last year, including eight at tight end, and started to make a bit of an impact with 2 receptions for 15 yards, 3 tackles, and 1 fumble recovery on special teams.
This past spring he had one of the more exciting offensive plays of the spring game with a long catch and run from Davis Warren, albeit finishing the play with a pretty embarrassing stumble:
Up until he got tripped up by the turf monster, though, he showed some nice acceleration and speed, and he was maybe on his way to outrunning the secondary for a touchdown.
This season the depth chart has cleared out for him. Erick All (Iowa), Joel Honigford (NFL), Luke Schoonmaker (NFL), Carter Selzer (graduation), and Louis Hansen (UConn) have all departed, and the only transfer replacement has been Indiana’s A.J. Barner. While Barner and Colston Loveland will probably get the majority of snaps, the #3 tight end spot is open and looks to be Hibner’s. Redshirt freshman Marlin Klein and redshirt sophomore Max Bredeson will also get snaps, but I’m guessing Hibner will be the third most used guy.
Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations by Admiral William H. McRaven. My dad was in the military, and I have tremendous respect for anyone who served or serves our country. So even though I have no idea what it’s like to be halfway around the world with my life on the line, I still feel like I can connect with the story. And I feel a little closer to my dad (and grandfather), who served in Vietnam (and World War II, respectively). McRaven is a Navy SEAL who finished out his career as the commander of all Special Forces and worked closely with a couple presidents, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama. This book goes all the way back to his childhood, growing up in a military family, and then through various points in his career. It climaxes with details about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, but what I found way more entertaining was the story of catching and interrogating Saddam Hussein. Overall, it’s an interesting and fairly easy read if you’re at all interested in the military.
Name: Kalel Mullings Height: 6’2″ Weight: 239 lbs. High school: West Roxbury (MA) Milton Academy Position: Running back Class: Senior Jersey number: #20 Last year: I ranked Mullings #39 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He made 12 tackles, ran the ball 14 times for 31 yards and 3 touchdowns, and completed 1/1 pass for 15 yards. TTB Rating: 78
It’s not often that Michigan running backs average 2-point-something yards per carry, but when they do, it’s because they’re scoring touchdowns. Yes, Jim Harbaugh hearkened back to the old, old, old days of . . .
. . . 2016.
He made Khalid Hill the “Hammering Panda” by giving him the ball 25 times for 39 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hill scored 3 the next year and then left, only to be replaced by Ben Mason, who averaged 2.4 yards/carry on his way to scoring 7 touchdowns.
Those are unfair comparisons, because Mullings is speedier and more athletic than both of those guys. Mullings could probably be a starting tailback at a number of FBS schools, but at Michigan, he’s maybe the third-best guy.
The only reason Mullings got a chance to play running back last year is because Blake Corum hurt his knee and Donovan Edwards hurt his hand. Mullings didn’t notch any carries until the final three games, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that a 15th rushing opportunity was botched on the goal line against TCU, resulting in a fumble and then a 99-yard drive by the Horned Frogs that resulted in a touchdown. Michigan tried to surprise TCU with a handoff to Mullings, who was lined up at fullback with Edwards behind him, but Michigan surprised itself. Ouch.
To end last year’s recap on a high note, Mullings also lined up in a short yardage situation and then threw a halfback pass to Colston Loveland in the win against Ohio State, which was a little bit fun.
This year I have Mullings ranked here at #38 because I think Jim Harbaugh will be loyal to a guy who has stuck around for four years without any guarantees of a starting role. Whether it’s as a short yardage back or as a legitimate backup option, I think Mullings will play. There’s less need for a goal line back when the tough, slippery Corum is available, but Michigan may try to keep Corum healthy for the stretch run by taking some of the load off of him.
