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Review of 2018 Season Predictions

Nico Collins (image via MGoBlue)

I always like to look back at my predictions for the previous season to see how well I judged the year beforehand. Here’s the link to my 2018 Season Predictions (and the comments): LINK.

LEADING RUSHER
Prediction: Karan Higdon, 1100 yards
Actual: Higdon, 1178 yards
Thoughts: Higdon was about as effective as I thought he would be, although he would have ended up with more yardage if he didn’t miss one regular season game (due to injury) and then the bowl game (due to selfishness). I was surprised he was named First Team All-Big Ten, but there were some other backs in the conference who were not as effective as I thought they would be.

LEADING RECEIVER
Prediction: Donovan Peoples-Jones, 750 yards
Actual: Nico Collins, 632 yards
Thoughts: Collins had a breakout season, going from 3 catches for 27 yards in 2017 to leading the team in receiving yardage (and being #2 in receptions) in 2018. Peoples-Jones was just behind Collins by a mere 20 yards and led the team in receptions (47), but Collins was the big downfield target.

LEADING TACKLER
Prediction: Devin Bush, Jr., 95 tackles
Actual: Bush, 79 tackles
Thoughts: As the middle linebacker, Bush was an obvious choice, but his instincts and sideline-to-sideline speed ensured that he would make plays all over the field. Safety Tyree Kinnel was not far behind with 74 tackles in one more game, since Bush missed the bowl game.

Hit the jump for the rest of the review.

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Nightly Roundup: January 9, 2019

Former Michigan running back Kurt Taylor is headed to a JUCO in Iowa (LINK).

MLive’s Aaron McMann grades Michigan’s 2018 season (LINK).

Bleacher Report’s Mike Tanier says Tom Brady is getting old (LINK).

Oklahoma offensive tackle Bobby Evans declared for the NFL Draft, meaning Oklahoma lost everyone on the offensive line except their center (LINK). Will former Michigan commit Erik Swenson become a starter at Oklahoma in 2019?

Zach Shaw looks at the assistant coach departures during Jim Harbaugh’s tenure (LINK).

Whom might Michigan hire to fill the defensive assistant spots?

Roy Manning

A lot of rumors have been floating around over the past couple days about potential replacements for defensive line coach Greg Mattison (now Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator) and Viper/outside linebacker coach Al Washington (now Ohio State’s linebackers coach). Here are some of the names I’ve heard and a few thoughts on each:

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Greg Mattison and Al Washington, Ex-Wolverines

Greg Mattison

Defensive line coach Greg Mattison and linebackers coach Al Washington have both fled to Columbus, Ohio. Mattison had been Michigan’s defensive coordinator under Brady Hoke from 2011-2014, and he was demoted to defensive line since 2015, working under defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin that first year and then Don Brown the past three seasons.

Hit the jump for more.

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2021 Recruiting Update: January 8, 2019

Avon (IN) Avon OT Blake Fisher (image via Irish Sports Daily)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2021

Ethan Calvert – LB – Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian: Calvert is a 6’1″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Utah and Washington. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star and a former teammate of Michigan running back signee Zach Charbonnet.

Liam Clifford – QB – Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Clifford is a 6’2″, 190-pounder with offers from Cincinnati and Pitt, though Michigan was his first offer. He claims a 4.4 forty. Clifford was not the starter at QB this past season and played a lot of wide receiver, but he will likely take over the starting QB position in the next year or two.

Blake Fisher – OT – Avon (IN) Avon: Fisher is a 6’6″, 300 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #10 offensive tackle, and #88 overall. He attends the alma mater of Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters.

Hit the jump for a few more newly offered players.

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