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2018 Season Countdown: #89 Hassan Haskins

Hassan Haskins (image via Land of 10)

Name: Hassan Haskins
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 207 lbs.
High school: Eureka (MO) Eureka
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Haskins was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran 255 times for 2,197 yards and 31 touchdowns; he also caught 12 passes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he added 1 punt return touchdown. On defense, he had 25 tackles, 9 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries.

Haskins is perhaps the least heralded of the running backs Michigan brought in with the 2018 class. That’s to be expected when a guy’s next best offers are from the likes of Eastern Michigan, Memphis, and New Mexico. Regardless, he was still a First Team All-State running back in Missouri, and he rushed for almost 2,200 yards with 30+ touchdowns. That was good enough to earn him an invitation to the International Bowl, where he played well but was second fiddle to Michigan commit Christian Turner, who was on the same team (LINK).

I like a lot of what Haskins brings to the table. He doesn’t have great top-end speed, but he has toughness, vision, the ability to run behind his pads, etc. I think he runs similarly to Saquon Barkley (but slower), and the best comparison I have for him as a Michigan running back is Brandon Minor. If he’s anywhere between Minor and Barkley, I think Michigan fans would be happy with that. He still looked thin to me at the International Bowl, and if he was already 205-207 lbs., then I think he needs to get up to about 215 lbs. or so. The departure of Kareem Walker moves Haskins a little closer to seeing the field, but I think he’ll be slightly behind Turner and Michael Barrett going into the season.

Prediction: Redshirt

2018 Season Countdown: #90 Carl Myers

Carl Myers

Name: Carl Myers
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 268 lbs.
High school: Grand Rapids (MI) West Catholic
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #54
Last year: I ranked Myers #60 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He did not see game action.

Myers is the type of guy I would have liked to have seen in spring game action, but alas, there was no spring game in 2018. He’s a bit of a strange case, because he played defensive line as a true freshman walk-on in 2016, which is almost unheard of. Like, he actually stepped on the field. In a game.

And then nothing in 2017.

Is he still 268 lbs.? I dunno. Was he injured in 2017? I dunno. Is he still on the roster? Yes.

Michigan was just fine in 2017 without him, and almost everyone returns in 2018 except for nose tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr. So I’m dropping Myers down 30 spots, and we’ll see what happens this year. Lawrence Marshall has been playing better at 3-tech defensive tackle, and that’s a spot where Myers would possibly have been able to step in if there was a need.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

2018 Season Countdown: #91 Taylor Upshaw

Taylor Upshaw

Name: Taylor Upshaw
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 240 lbs.
High school: Bradenton (FL) Braden River
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #91
Last year: Upshaw was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 33 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 1 interception for a touchdown.

Upshaw is the son of a former NFL defensive lineman in Regan Upshaw. The younger Upshaw was originally committed to Florida, but the uncertain coaching situation (which resulted in Florida head coach Jim McElwain getting fired and, ultimately, becoming a Michigan assistant) led to his decommitment. He flipped to the Wolverines and enrolled early in January.

In light of the early enrollment, it seems that buzz would have started already this spring if Upshaw showed signs of being an early contributor. I have heard zero buzz about Upshaw, which is frankly what I expected when I gave him a TTB Rating of 62. That’s not to say the 62 will be his ceiling throughout his career, but his high school film shows a guy who seems very raw. It would take a huge leap for him to see the field much this season, if at all. He plays like a strongside end or even a guy who might be a 3-tech defensive tackle, and being 240 lbs. isn’t a great sign, either. Next year might be a different story, but for now, he looks like a non-factor for 2018.

Prediction: Redshirt

Recruiting Update: June 11, 2018

Jalen Wydermyer (image via Galveston Daily News)

DECOMMITMENT

Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna cornerback Te’Cory Couch decommitted from Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2019

Apopka (FL) Wekiva linebacker Rian Davis was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 227 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Miami, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #11 outside linebacker, and #170 overall. As a junior in 2017, he filled up the stat sheet with 93 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries (both returned for touchdowns), and 6 pass breakups. All six crystal ball picks so far are in favor of Georgia.

Dickinson (TX) Dickinson tight end Jalen Wydermyer was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 235-pounder with offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, and Texas A&M, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #17 tight end, and #435 overall. As a junior in 2017, he caught 30 passes for 518 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Hit the jump for more happenings from this past week.

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2018 Season Countdown: #92 Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson

Name: Andrew Robinson
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 221 lbs.
High school: Troy (MI) Athens
Position: Long snapper
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #49
Last year: I ranked Robinson #32 and said he would be the starting long snapper (LINK). He snapped for punts, field goals, and PATs in two games.

Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to long snappers. Scott Sypniewski got hurt two years ago, and Robinson stepped in flawlessly. I expected him to be the starter in 2017, and Camaron Cheeseman took those duties. Robinson stepped in for a couple games and once again did a good job, but Cheeseman returns in 2018. I assume Cheeseman will keep the starting job as the incumbent, but who knows? At least Michigan appears to have at least two good options at long snapper, since both of them have played significant time without more than a slight hiccup.

Prediction: Backup long snapper