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5 Quick Hitter Spring Game Thoughts

I have about 10 minutes before I have to go somewhere, so here are a few quick thoughts:

1. DT Mason Graham looks college ready. I was late to really evaluate Graham because he committed during football season. (Here’s my commitment post link.) But I really liked what I saw from him on Saturday. He already looks physically ready to play, and he has some heavy hands for a freshman.
2. OT Trente Jones looks like the guy at right tackle. There were times where Jones made it look easy at right tackle. Maybe that was just a matter of who he was facing off against, but he anchors really well and uses his leverage. He also has quick feet, which is probably why he was used as an extra TE last season.
3. Most improved from last year: DE Braiden McGregor. Braiden McGregor looks more physically ready to go this spring than he did in the fall. Last year he had a brace on his leg as he recovered from a nasty knee injury, and maybe these extra few months have helped him rehab it more and get more comfortable. He had a better get-off in the spring game than I’ve seen from him since he got to Michigan.
4. WR Darrius Clemons looks like a future star. This has been a big takeaway from a lot of people, so I couldn’t avoid it. He still needs to get better at some of the nuances of route running and releases, but he’s big and fast and knows how to track the ball in the air. Route running often comes with age and experience. I think he’s going to be better than Nico Collins.
5. QB Alex Orji might not have a future at QB. I hate to judge an early enrollee freshman in his first spring game, but his passes were all over the place and somewhat wobbly. I think he completed 1/9 passes. He does have some running ability, but he’s not a truly dynamic runner because he lacks breakaway speed. Maybe he could be a RB and get some Wildcat-type snaps down the road (like Hassan Haskins did a lot in 2019-2020), or perhaps he should move to H-back or linebacker.
6. Bonus because I have one minute: QB Davis Warren. I mentioned in the 2021 season countdown (LINK) that I thought Michigan got a steal in walk-on quarterback Davis Warren. He looked good and was the second-best QB to play on Saturday. I would put him in before Alan Bowman, who has a weak arm and makes some questionable decisions.

2022 Season Countdown: #131 Chibi Anwunah

Name: Chibi Anwunah
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: Westland (MI) Lutheran
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Anwunah was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: N/A

Anwunah has a very unorthodox back story. The son of Nigerian immigrants, he even spent some time living in Nigeria before moving back to the United States. He was also a cross country runner when he was younger (LINK). So he’s just growing into his body and is very raw right now, but Michigan has had success with some of these types of players in the past.

Anwunah bounced around a little bit in the front seven and doesn’t have much in his repertoire besides see ball, get ball. So he’s almost guaranteed to redshirt. He’s almost the type of guy who I could see running down on special teams in a few years like German mogul skier Julius Welschof. Of course, that might be a couple years down the road when he’s added another 30+ pounds of muscle. Overall, this is a nice preferred walk-on pickup for the Wolverines.

Prediction: Redshirt

2022 Season Countdown: #132 James Kavouklis

Name: James Kavouklis
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 275 lbs.
High school: Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep
Position: Center
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Kavouklis was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating: N/A

Kavouklis is a true freshman preferred walk-on. Listed at 6’2″ and 275 lbs., he is very undersized to play at Michigan right now. Even if he adds mass, the height thing is likely to always be an issue. If you watch his high school film, you will see a nice motor and leg drive. He plays with a little too narrow of a base and will really need to figure out leverage in order to handle bigger defensive tackles at the college level. Overall, he has some decent skills and could be a program guy who earns some playing time several years down the road, but he’s probably a career backup.

Prediction: Redshirt

What to Watch in the Spring Game

The spring game will be shown on the Big Ten Network on Saturday, April 2, at 12:00 p.m.

Here are a few things I’ll be curious to watch:

WHO TAKES OVER FOR HASSAN HASKINS?
Michigan needs to replace its leading rusher and toughest back in Hassan Haskins, a 6’1″, 220-pounder who is off to the NFL after rushing for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021. The Wolverines have two very talented running backs left, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, but neither one has proven to be a bruiser or short yardage back. They have home run speed but were listed at 200 and 202 pounds, respectively, last season. Redshirt freshman Tavierre Dunlap (6’0″, 222) might be able to step into the role as a big back, but does he have the instincts and power that Haskins showed? Michigan doesn’t need a leading rusher – that will be Corum or Edwards – but they need someone who can pound the ball inside.

Hit the jump for more.

Benjamin Hall, Wolverine

Thank you for the continuing Paypal donations! We are now just under $200 away from reaching the goal of $3,400.

Kennesaw (GA) North Cobb running back Benjamin Hall committed to Michigan on Tuesday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Purdue, and South Carolina, among others.

Hall is listed at 5’10” and 225 lbs. As a junior in 2021, he rushed for 543 yards and 8 touchdowns.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
On3: Unranked
Rivals: Unranked
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #48 RB

Hit the jump for more.