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Preview: Michigan at Rutgers

RUSHING OFFENSE vs. RUTGERS RUSHING DEFENSE

Michigan has worked its way up to #30 in rushing offense (218 yards/game), and they’re tied for #29 at 5.04 yards/carry. The running back group is led by Karan Higdon, who has dominated the carries in the backfield; he has 173 carries for 963 yards (5.57 YPC) and 7 touchdowns. Quarterback Shea Patterson (51 carries, 187 yards, 2 TD) is second on the team in carries, just one ahead of backup running back Chris Evans (50/251/3). Despite talk about a vastly improved offensive line, Michigan is just #64 in Line Yards and #67 in Standard Down Line Yards. It’s still a slog at times, but the threat of the QB run has opened up a few things. Rutgers is #120 in rushing defense (234 yards allowed/game), and they’re allowing 5.64 YPC (#122). Wisconsin and Illinois both ran for 300+ yards on the Scarlet Knights, and Kansas was up over 400. Senior weakside linebacker Trevor Morris (6’1″, 228 lbs.) leads the team with 81 tackles, while senior middle linebacker Deonte Roberts (6’1″, 235) is second with 71. They’re #90 in tackles for loss, led by sophomore defensive end Elorm Lumor (6’3″, 246) with 6.0. None of Rutgers’ top four defensive tackles is above 300 lbs. This should be a good matchup for Michigan.
Advantage: Michigan

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Michigan vs. Penn State Awards

Shea Patterson (image via Bleacher Report)

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Christian Turner. Why Christian Turner? Toward the end of last week’s blowout win against Penn State, Michigan was still running zone read options with quarterbacks Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey. I was afraid it would get one of them injured, and it turns out McCaffrey broke his right collarbone and will be out for the year. If Michigan gets in another blowout situation – which is a strong possibility this week against Rutgers – then I would prefer to see the quarterbacks hand off to Turner (or other backup running backs).

Hit the jump for more thoughts on the game.

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Kurt Taylor, Ex-Wolverine

Redshirt freshman running back Kurt Taylor has decided to transfer from Michigan.

Listed at 5’8″, 195 lbs., Taylor had played some on special teams but had not played running back yet in his career. He had been passed by the obvious upperclassmen, but he had also been passed by walk-on Tru Wilson and true freshman Christian Turner. I gave Taylor a TTB Rating of 57 (LINK), so this development is on par with what I expected all along. The pathway to playing time at Michigan was going to be long and arduous. This should not affect Michigan on the field at all.

Taylor played at Covington (GA) Newton for most of his high school career, but he played his senior year at Loganville (GA) Grayson, a powerhouse program that has raised some eyebrows for its, er, alleged recruiting practices. Michigan currently has a commitment from 2019 Grayson product Trente Jones, an offensive tackle, so it may be something to watch to see if any bad blood might sour the relationship between Michigan and Grayson.

Taylor is the fifth player from the 2017 class to transfer (joining OT James Hudson, OG Ja’Raymond Hall, DT Deron Irving-Bey, LB Drew Singleton), and the sixth total to leave (DE Corey Malone-Hatcher took a medical scholarship).

Tim Baldwin Jr., Wolverine

Ashburn (VA) Broad Run RB Tim Baldwin, Jr. (image via LoCoSports)

Ashburn (VA) Broad Run running back Tim Baldwin, a 2020 prospect, committed to Michigan over the weekend. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Boston College, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, among others.

Baldwin is listed at 5’11”, 187 lbs. by 247 Sports. He claims a 4.58 forty, 4.52 shuttle, 315 lb. bench, and a 540 lb. squat.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 3-star, 5.7 grade, #36 RB
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #26 RB, #247 overall

Hit the jump for more on Baldwin’s commitment.

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Denver Warren, Ex-Wolverine

Aurora (IL) West defensive tackle Denver Warren, a 2020 prospect, decommitted from Michigan on Monday morning. Warren has offers from much of the Big Ten (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin, etc.) and 14 offers total, so he will find a landing spot. He’s a 4-star, the #24 defensive tackle, and #257 overall.

Warren committed to Michigan back in July (LINK), but he tweeted out on Monday morning that Michigan doesn’t have enough scholarship spots for defensive linemen in the 2020 class. I find that statement to be somewhat questionable, because I doubt the coaching staff knows with 100% certainty who will be playing defensive line for them in 2020. Players get hurt, players transfer, players get in trouble, players leave early for the NFL, etc. It will be interesting to see whether Michigan adds any defensive linemen (particularly defensive tackles) to the 2020 class between now and February of 2020.

Michigan is down to five commitments in the 2020 class: RB Tim Baldwin, WR Kalil Branham, TE Nick Patterson, LB Cornell Wheeler, and CB Andre Seldon.