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2020 Season Countdown: #71 Eamonn Dennis

Name: Eamonn Dennis
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 173 lbs.
High school: Worcester (MA) St. John’s
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Dennis was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran 39 times for 448 yards and 9 touchdowns and also caught 30 passes for 751 yards and 7 touchdowns, while returning 3 kickoffs for touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 72 79

As I look at Dennis’s stats for his senior season, my first thought is this . . . how did this guy get only 69 offensive touches during his senior year?

Anyway, Dennis blew away the competition while playing running back, receiver, special teams, and defensive back. He runs away from people, makes people miss, and shows great vision with the ball in his hands.

There were rumors that Dennis would play cornerback at Michigan, and at one point, he seemed to shoot those down, saying he wanted to play wide receiver. Based on the latest intel, he is indeed headed for corner to start his career.

Dennis is in No Man’s Land here at #71 because of positional uncertainty, a lack of experience at the position, and a healthy dose of tantalizing athleticism. Michigan does not have great depth at cornerback, and at least one guy ahead of him, senior Ambry Thomas, will be gone after 2020. The other corner spot probably belongs to Vincent Gray for the next couple seasons, but Dennis might have a shot in 2021 while battling Darion Green-Warren, Jalen Perry, Andre Seldon, and others. I think the coaching staff should try to get Dennis’s feet wet this fall, even if he plays four or fewer games to preserve his redshirt.

Prediction: Redshirt

2020 Season Countdown: #72 Trente Jones

Name: Trente Jones
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 294 lbs.
High school: Loganville (GA) Grayson
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #53
Last year: I ranked Jones #95 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 88

Jones had a great season for a freshman offensive lineman: he redshirted.

Just a few seasons ago, Michigan had a dearth of offensive tackles, and any halfway decent lineman was in danger of having to play early. Now they seemingly have a plethora. Is Jones one of them? We’ll see. He plays like an offensive tackle, but he’s a little on the short side at 6’4″.

The 2020 season should be another developmental one for Jones. Michigan’s two tackles are pretty set in Jalen Mayfield and Ryan Hayes, and there are a few seasoned backups, such as Andrew Stueber (who could start at guard) and Joel Honigford. I have heard more practice hype about Jones’s classmate Trevor Keegan, who came in with a little more college-ready body. So Jones is probably on the outside looking in for now.

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle

2020 Season Countdown: #73 Jaylen Harrell

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Name: Jaylen Harrell
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Harrell was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 58 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.
TTB Rating: 84

Harrell was a big pickup for Michigan late in the recruiting cycle. He was an early big-time recruit who seemed to slide in the rankings, and other teams seemed to fall off in their recruitment of him. But Michigan kept plugging away and finally reeled him in.

There’s a legitimate opportunity for a talented pass rusher to step in and play this fall. Outside linebacker Josh Uche went to the Patriots, and hybrid linebacker Khaleke Hudson went to the Redskins; they combined for 28 sacks in their careers. I have a hard time believing a true freshman will take over that role full-time, but Harrell could contribute if he’s talented enough. Other players vying for that pass rusher role are rumored to include David Ojabo and Michael Barrett, though I don’t see Barrett being too much of a threat as a pass rusher. Harrell could also play weakside end, but that might be a year or two away.

Prediction: Backup outside linebacker

2020 Season Countdown: #74 Christian Turner

Name: Christian Turner
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Buford (GA) Buford
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #32
Last year: I ranked Turner #34 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He ran the ball 44 times for 171 yards (3.9 yards/carry) and 1 touchdown.
TTB Rating: 78

Turner showed a couple flashes of excitement in 2018 and then had a very ho-hum second year on campus. Despite a much improved offensive line over recent years, he finished two games with negative rushing yards, and his best days were 49 and 48 yards against Middle Tennessee and Rutgers, respectively, each on 11 carries.

This season there aren’t many carries up for grabs, as sophomore Zach Charbonnet and redshirt sophomore Hassan Haskins return. Oh, and so does fifth year senior Chris Evans (5.7 career yards/carry) after a one-year suspension for some academic issues. That’s not to mention Under Armour All-American freshman Blake Corum. Whether Turner is ahead of Corum on the depth chart or not, neither one appears likely to be higher than #4 on the depth chart. While the #3/#4 guys tied with 44 carries each in 2019 (Turner and Tru Wilson), the next highest total for a running back was Ben Van Sumeren with 9 attempts.

Prediction: Backup running back

2020 Season Countdown: #75 Matthew Hibner

Name: Matthew Hibner
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Burke (VA) Lake Braddock
Position: Tight end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hibner was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 42 passes for 940 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with making 96 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 8 pass breakups on defense.
TTB Rating: 72

I guess I must have gone crazy for a while, because I don’t think I realized that Matthew Hibner – a little known recruit before committing to Michigan – finished up as the #12 tight end and #396 overall player in the 2020 class. It doesn’t surprise me so much from a talent standpoint, but it does represent a giant leap in the rankings.

Josh Gattis has mentioned that he likes guys with athleticism and basketball-type skills at tight end, and Hibner seems to have some of those talents. Lake Braddock split him out wide quite a bit, had him running deep routes, and even threw some quick screens to him. To average over 20 yards per reception on 42 catches is pretty impressive. Hibner is a natural athlete who can do a lot of different things. That doesn’t mean he will get on the field much in 2020, but he does have future potential. I think Michigan will be a little more spread-heavy in 2020 and de-emphasize the tight ends a little bit. Hibner should be the fourth tight end, but the #4 tight end isn’t critical.

Prediction: Backup tight end

Hit the jump for his senior highlights.