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23Jul 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #54 George Rooks

Name: George Rooks
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 270 lbs.
High school: Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #54
Last year: I ranked Rooks #84 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in three games.
TTB Rating: 80

Rooks joined Michigan’s program in 2021 with some questions about what position would he play. Would he remain relatively lean and play on the outside? Or would he bulk up some and play some defensive tackle? With the body of a tweener, it’s natural to assume that he might have to spend a year or two figuring out his physical development.

Apotheke Frankfurt

Rooks looked pretty solid in April’s spring game, and he should see an uptick in playing time this season. Michigan did lose a lot of production from last year’s defensive line – defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, outside linebacker David Ojabo, and defensive tackle Chris Hinton – but there are several experienced veterans returning. Rooks isn’t really in the discussion to be a starter, and while he could break into the two-deep, he’s more likely be a rotational guy around #3 on the depth chart.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

21Jul 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #55 Caden Kolesar

Name: Caden Kolesar
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 196 lbs.
High school: Lakewood (OH) St. Edward
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #35
Last year: I ranked Kolesar #67 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He made 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup, and 3 punt returns for 33 yards.
TTB Rating: N/A

When Kolesar first committed to Michigan, there was confusion about whether he was offered a scholarship or a preferred walk-on spot. (It was the latter.) So he has come pretty far for a walk-on and has done more than some scholarship safeties, including the guy one spot lower than him in the countdown (Quinten Johnson). A clean-up guy, he even made 1 interception in the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa and was the primary backup to Ronnie Bell on punt returns after Bell tore his ACL in the season opener.

I may be proven wrong, but Kolesar seems to be one of those guys who’s good enough to make some people really root for the underdog, but he’s not quite talented enough to maintain a highly valued spot at a place like Michigan. He was the backup punt returner to start, but when the lights came on, he misjudged a couple balls and generally looked uncomfortable, which got him replaced. He’s pretty reliable as a coverage guy on special teams, but his size and speed are lacking for full-time duty. Overall, Kolesar is a good piece to have on the team, but he’s here in the range of special teams contributors rather than a little higher in the range of two-deep contributors.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer

20Jul 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #56 Quinten Johnson

Name: Quinten Johnson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) St. John’s
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #14
Last year: I ranked Johnson #57 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He made 3 tackles.
TTB Rating: 79

Johnson had a tough road to hoe for playing time in 2021. Behind starters Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins, he was clawing for playing time with the likes of R.J. Moten, Makari Paige, and others. Eventually, true freshman Rod Moore moved into the starting lineup, too, and Johnson was still mostly playing special teams.

The year 2022 provides a big opportunity. Gone are Hill and Hawkins, meaning another safety or two need to step into starting roles. I feel very confident that Johnson will not be a starter, but if those new starters are Moore and Moten – which I expect – then Johnson could be alongside Paige to be the next guy in. He will need to fend off a good group of incoming freshman defensive backs, as well as walk-on Caden Kolesar. I think Johnson’s biggest contributions will continue to be on special teams, and if Johnson intends to earn a starting role, he may need to finish his career elsewhere in 2023 and/or 2024.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer

20Jul 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #57 Louis Hansen

Name: Louis Hansen
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Needham (MA) St. Sebastian’s
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #81
Last year: I ranked Hansen #46 and said he would be a backup tight end (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 84

Hansen looked to me like a freshman tight end who might actually be physically ready to play in 2021, and he’s a cautionary tale for the class of 2022 tight ends like Colston Loveland and Marlin Klein. Despite being over 250 pounds as a freshman, Hansen spent all but one game watching from the sideline as Erick All, Luke Schoonmaker, Joel Honigford, Trente Jones, and Carter Selzer gobbled up almost every snap.

This year every single one of those players returns. The one quasi-exception is Trente Jones, who’s moving back to his more natural position of offensive tackle, where he appears to be the favorite to start now that Andrew Stueber is gone. Michigan will probably employ a backup lineman as a “tight end” like they did with Jones, so not even that spot is really up for grabs for Hansen. Snaps are going to be limited, but I do think it’s time to work in some younger backups, because All, Schoonmaker, Honigford, and Selzer are all seniors with expiring eligibility (technically, All, Schoonmaker, and Selzer could use the COVID exemption to return in 2023). If the status quo remains, Michigan could very well enter 2023 with practically zero playing experience from its returning tight ends in Hansen, Matt Hibner, Loveland, and Klein, so I think Hansen might elbow his way into some playing time.

Prediction: Backup tight end

20Jul 2022

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2022 Season Countdown: #58 Giovanni El-Hadi

Name: Giovanni El-Hadi
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 318 lbs.
High school: Sterling Heights (MI) Stevenson
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #58
Last year: I ranked El-Hadi #92 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 84

El-Hadi came into Michigan in 2021 with a need to improve some of his technique and get his body right. He had some bad weight even at last year’s listed weight of 305, and though he’s now listed at 318 pounds, I’m guessing he looks better now. Luckily, Michigan didn’t really need any true freshmen to contribute much on the line last season, so any experience they got – and El-Hadi did play against Northern Illinois – was a chance to get them live reps and experience.

Michigan returns its interior linemen in 2022, except for center Andrew Vastardis – who was replaced by transfer Olu Oluwatimi – and backup guard Nolan Rumler. So there’s not much room to move up the depth chart in 2022, but El-Hadi was a top-100 prospect whom I have high hopes for in the future. Coincidentally, his placement in the countdown coincides with his jersey number. At #58 he won’t be a key piece of this year’s offensive line, but he should see some reps in a few games and may be a guy that can work into the field goal/extra point unit, too.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard