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2022 Season Countdown: #97 Jayden Denegal

Name: Jayden Denegal
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Apple Valley (CA) Apple Valley
Position: Quarterback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #16
Last year: Denegal was a senior in high school. He completed 121/175 passes (69.1%) for 1,545 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions; he also ran 47 times for 281 yards and 8 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 61

Michigan seemed to have a tough time gaining footing with quarterbacks in the class of 2022. Perhaps it was because it was on the heels of landing J.J. McCarthy, a star of the 2021 class. Perhaps it was due to Michigan’s poor play on the field in 2020. Regardless, Michigan threw out some offers to guys they really seemed to like and didn’t get much mutual interest. Then at the beginning of summer, they extended an offer to Denegal, which he accepted immediately.

Denegal ended up as a 3-star, the #29 quarterback, and #455 overall in the 247 Composite. Considered by many to be the superior quarterback of the two Michigan landed in 2022, accounts from the spring had Alex Orji as the better thrower – which is saying something, because some people think Orji will end up playing a different position by the time his college career is over. Denegal did not see any action in the spring game, while Orji showed some nice running skills and threw the ball poorly. With that knowledge, I’m expecting Denegal to take a redshirt in 2022 behind Cade McNamara, McCarthy, Davis Warren, and Alan Bowman, if not Orji and others.

Prediction: Redshirt

2022 Season Countdown: #98 Nolan Knight

Name: Nolan Knight
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Northville (MI) Northville
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #32
Last year: I ranked Knight #104 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

As we inch closer to exhausting the list of walk-ons in the countdown, Knight is someone who appears fairly high on the list. Having watched him a little bit from when he was in high school, I think Knight could be one of those players who steps into some playing time late in his career, at least on special teams. He has good length and decent athleticism, and he’s going into his fourth year on the roster. Defensive playing time is going to be hard to come by because of what’s needed from the inside linebacker position and the depth, but Knight is a guy who could find a role on some special teams, such as the kickoff or kickoff return unit.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer

2022 Season Countdown: #99 Connor Jones

Name: Connor Jones
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 285 lbs.
High school: Monument (CO) Palmer Ridge
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #60
Last year: Jones was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: 65

Jones was offered by Michigan in September of 2020 when Ed Warinner was still Michigan’s offensive line coach. Warinner put in a fair amount of work in Colorado, and that paid off with the commitment of Jones in December of 2020. After Warinner left Michigan prior to the 2021 season, I wondered if new offensive line coach Sherrone Moore would still push for Jones, but he held steadfast in his commitment, signed his National Letter of Intent in December 2021, and enrolled early at Michigan in January 2022.

My initial read on Jones from his commitment post (LINK) is still something I stand by. He can be slow to get out of his stance, doesn’t move very well, and isn’t as aggressive as I would like to see. Jones made an appearance in Michigan’s spring game, and he looked overwhelmed and slow to react. That’s not unheard of for a lineman who should be finishing up high school, but it certainly doesn’t look like he’ll be much of a factor early in his career. I think a redshirt is virtually a guarantee in 2022.

Prediction: Redshirt

Visitors: June 3-5, 2022

2023

Daniel Harris – CB – Miami (FL) Gulliver Prep: Harris is a 6’2″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #31 cornerback, and #311 overall. He will be at Michigan on June 4-5 for an official visit. Harris is a teammate of 5-star wide receiver target Jalen Brown.

Jordan Matthews – CB – Baton Rouge (LA) Woodlawn: Matthews is a 6’0″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from LSU, Michigan, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #14 cornerback, and #130 overall. This is an official visit.

Malik Muhammad – CB – Dallas (TX) South Oak Cliff: Muhammad is a 6’0″, 170-pounder with offers from Alabama, Michigan, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #6 cornerback, and #42 overall. UPDATE: Muhammad is no longer visiting this weekend.

Hit the jump for more.

2022 Season Countdown: #100 Jerome Nichols

Name: Jerome Nichols
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 224 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Renaissance
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #50
Last year: I ranked Nichols #98 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Nichols is a walk-on linebacker at a position that is lacking proven depth. While Junior Colson is virtually guaranteed to be a starter this season, the backup inside linebackers will probably be some combination of Nikhai Hill-Green, Mike Barrett, and Kalel Mullings. There appears to be a chance that Mullings will spend some time playing running back this fall, and the coaching staff does not seem to think Barrett is a good fit on the inside unless it comes to an emergency.

So inside linebacker is a thin position, and the backup ranks will have to come from unproven scholarship players like Jimmy Rolder, Jaydon Hood, Tyler McLaurin, and Joey Velazquez; or from walk-ons. I doubt Nichols will burst onto the scene but he could start to work his way onto the field as a special teams player.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer