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2022 Season Countdown: #59 Kechaun Bennett

Name: Kechaun Bennett
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 241 lbs.
High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #52
Last year: I ranked Bennett #90 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 78

Bennett missed out on his senior season of football due to COVID, so last year was his first season of football since 2019. I expected him to be behind because of that, and whether his trajectory was changed much or not, he only played in one game last season.

Michigan needs some young guys to step up at the edge positions. We know that Jaylen Harrell, Mike Morris, and Taylor Upshaw are going to play, but those guys got time last year even with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo on the roster. Now that Morris and Harrell are likely to step up in big ways, who will be the 2022 versions? I have Bennett below the likes of Julius Welschof, Braiden McGregor, and T.J. Guy, but he could start to get some more snaps this season.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

Way Too Early 2023 Depth Chart: July 2022

Following the decommitment of Raylen Wilson and the commitment of several prospects, I think it’s time for an updated look at the potential depth chart for 2023.

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the 2022 depth chart due to expiring eligibility, even though some could return with a fifth year or COVID year exception:

• QB Alan Bowman (graduation)
• WR Ronnie Bell (graduation)
• WR Cornelius Johnson (graduation)
• WR Mike Sainristil (graduation)
• TE Erick All (graduation)
• TE Luke Schoonmaker (graduation)
• OL Ryan Hayes (graduation)
• OL Olu Oluwatimi (graduation)
• DE Taylor Upshaw (graduation)
• DT Julius Welschof (graduation)
• LB Michael Barrett (graduation)
• CB Gemon Green (graduation)
• S German Green (graduation)
• P Brad Robbins (graduation)

It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in 2023, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

2022 Season Countdown: #60 Tyler McLaurin

Name: Tyler McLaurin
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 237 lbs.
High school: Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #27
Last year: I ranked McLaurin #74 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 75

McLaurin is a big linebacker at 6’3″ and 237 pounds. He might have been a prototypical inside linebacker in the 1990s or even the early 2000s, but most linebackers these days are smaller and quicker than they used to be. It seemed to be pretty obvious that he would redshirt – most freshman linebackers do unless they’re likely to start the following year – and he did. Michigan had plenty of depth at outside linebacker, and they had three solid guys on the inside.

As for the 2022 season, we can be fairly confident that the two starters will be Junior Colson and Nikhai Hill-Green. After that things are up in the air. Kalel Mullings might be playing running back, Joey Velazquez plays baseball all winter/spring, Jaydon Hood got some snaps last year, and there are two solidly built freshmen in Jimmy Rolder and Deuce Spurlock. And that’s not to mention Michael Barrett, who is likely to fit in somewhere, but we just don’t know where. Someone has to call “Next!” I don’t think it will be McLaurin because I think his upside is capped, but he should start to get some special teams action this year.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer

2022 Season Countdown: #61 Raheem Anderson II

Name: Raheem Anderson II
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 302 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Center/offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #62
Last year: I ranked Anderson #62 and said he would be a backup center/guard (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 83

I ranked Anderson #62 last year and said he would be a backup. I guess that was technically true, but he just played in one game and was able to maintain his redshirt. I think it’s always a good thing to keep redshirts on linemen if possible, because they’re usually not good as freshmen and they seem to be more likely to stick around for a fourth or fifth year than many other positions.

It appears that fellow class of 2021 signee Greg Crippen moved ahead of Anderson in the race for center, and Anderson has been repping quite a bit at guard. The expectation going into 2022 is that after starter Olu Oluwatimi, Crippen would be the next guy in. Anderson might be #3, or that could go to starting guard Zak Zinter or backup lineman Reece Atteberry. Either way, Anderson is probably a few injuries away from playing major time, but he will probably get more season in anticipation of another increased role in 2023.

Prediction: Backup center/offensive guard

2022 Season Countdown: #62 Gabe Newburg

Name: Gabe Newburg
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 251 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Newburg #38 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). Newburg did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: 72

Newburg has had a very quiet career in Ann Arbor for the past three years. After redshirting in 2019, he played in four games in 2020 and then had injury issues, causing him to miss the 2021 season. (Odd side note: Because of the 2020 COVID exemption, Newburg could practically count any of his seasons on campus as a redshirt.)

With just 3 tackles to his name, I have a hard time putting too much stock in Newburg’s future in a winged helmet. Practice buzz about him has been almost non-existent, and when I said last year that other guys would have to leapfrog him, well . . . it appears they have. Newburg could still be a decent rotational piece, and maybe 2023 will be a better outlook for him once a couple guys move on, but I’m not expecting a breakout season. In fact, if you’re looking for guys who could potentially finish their careers elsewhere, Newburg seems to be a prime candidate, considering his lack of playing time and practice buzz.

Prediction: Backup defensive end