Posts under: homepage

Nightly Roundup: July 18, 2020

Who’s more deserving of wearing the #1 jersey?

• 48 catches, 759 yards, 1 touchdown
• 37 catches, 729 yards, 7 touchdowns

As you might have guessed, the first guy is Ronnie Bell. The second is Nico Collins. I’m not sure it totally makes sense to give the #1 jersey to the guy with 11 fewer catches, but I don’t really care too deeply. I like them both.

Award watch list notes:

• WR Nico Collins was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list for best WR
• TE Nick Eubanks was named to the Mackey Award watch list for best TE
• DE Kwity Paye was named to the Bednarik Award watch list for best defensive player

Hit the jump for more news bits and such.

2020 Season Countdown: #59 David Ojabo

Name: David Ojabo
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 245 lbs.
High school: Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #71
Last year: I ranked Ojabo #71 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted
TTB Rating: 85

Ojabo, from New Jersey via Scotland via Nigeria, spent 2019 tearing it up on scout team, apparently; he was named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year while redshirting. With outside linebacker/defensive end Josh Uche moving on to the New England Patriots, there was some scuttlebutt this off-season that Ojabo might take over that pass rushing specialist role.

I’m not sure how realistic that might be anymore. Ojabo is stuck at home in Scotland due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s not clear if he will be able to return to the United States before the season begins (or maybe “if it begins). And when he does return, what kind of condition will he be in without being able to participate in workouts with his teammates and Michigan’s S&C staff?

I don’t think Ojabo can do all the things Uche did, but he is kind of a freak athlete who has some pass rushing ability. Perhaps he can replicate Uche’s second year, when he made 3 tackles and 1 sack.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

Aaron Lewis, Ex-Wolverine

True freshman defensive lineman Aaron Lewis is reportedly entering the transfer portal. Lewis enrolled at Michigan in January, but he went home along with everyone else during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Hit the jump for more.

2020 Season Countdown: #60 Gabe Newburg

Name: Gabe Newburg
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 250 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Newburg #88 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 72

Newburg had the season that most people expected in 2019, redshirting after some injury issues as a senior in high school. Michigan did not have a ton of depth on the defensive line, but there were some snaps for young guys and Newburg did not see any game action.

Though he’s listed at 250 pounds on the official roster, word is that Newburg is now closer to 270-275 pounds. Ahead of him on the depth chart, backup defensive end Michael Danna is gone to the NFL and Michigan has a couple starters who might be joining him in the league by 2021 (senior Kwity Paye, junior Aidan Hutchinson). Not only does the team need someone to enter the rotation, but they need to groom someone for a starting role in two seasons. I don’t expect Newburg to start in 2021, but he should start to see the field this season in a backup role.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2020 Recruiting Awards

You can contribute to the blog by using Amazon links (LINK):

You can take a look back at the awards for the 2019 class if you want (LINK).

Best Overall Recruit: DE Braiden McGregor
McGregor lost a little bit of steam in the recruiting world when his senior season ended in a fizzle after a knee injury. That doesn’t put a damper on my excitement for him, though. Michigan does a good job of developing defensive talent – particularly defensive ends – and I expect that to continue with McGregor.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.