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Way Too Early 2017 Depth Chart: August 2016

Let’s hope this guy can stick around for two more seasons (image via Today’s U)

With Michigan about to embark on fall practice for the 2016 season, it seems to be the perfect time to jump past this season and think about a year from now.

Below is a look at how the roster could shape up in 2017. There will certainly be departures, injuries, reshuffling of positions, etc., but those things are pretty difficult to project a year ahead of time. What we do know is that the 2017 version of Michigan’s team will be vastly different than 2016. The lineup below projects there to be at least 8 new starters on offense and 8 on defense, not to mention a new punter and kicker. Those six returning starters in 2017 should be the winner of the QB battle (O’Korn/Speight), the nominal fullback (Poggi/Hill), Grant Newsome, Rashan Gary, Jabrill Peppers, and Mike McCray. And yeah, that includes Jabrill Peppers, who could very well leave for the NFL. Particularly of note would be the lack of depth and experience on the offensive and defensive lines.

Hit the jump for an early look at 2017.

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Brady Pallante, Ex-Wolverine

Brady Pallante

Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Brady Pallante is not listed on the just-released fall roster. The 6’1″, 280-pounder was recruited by Brady Hoke in the 2014 class and was expected to be an undersized nose tackle. Jim Harbaugh moved him to fullback in spring 2015, but he played defensive tackle when injuries took their toll on Michigan’s defensive line. I thought he might develop as an upperclassman, but the position switch probably didn’t help him gain the necessary size and strength to be a Big Ten nose tackle. Michigan has also done a great job of recruiting and developing nose tackles, so he would have been no higher than fourth on the depth chart going into this season. I ranked him at #67 in the 2016 Season Countdown (LINK).

Michigan is down to 84 allotted scholarships for 2016 (LINK), and that includes walk-ons Kenny Allen and Ryan Glasgow. So one more lucky, hardworking walk-on will be rewarded with a scholarship this year.

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2016 Season Countdown: #35 Tyree Kinnel

Tyree Kinnel (image via Rivals)

Name: Tyree Kinnel
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: Huber Heights (OH) Wayne
Position: Safety
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #23
Last year: I ranked Kinnel #71 and said he would redshirt if possible (LINK). He played in eight games on special teams.

Kinnel came to Michigan last year as one of those fairly highly ranked but boring safeties. The Wolverines didn’t have a ton of depth at safety, but they made the position work by only playing their top three guys with any regularity. Jarrod Wilson, Delano Hill, and Dymonte Thomas took the bulk of the snaps. Kinnel forced his way onto the field one-third of the way through the season, but only on special teams. When he burned his redshirt, Jim Harbaugh talked him up, saying that he earned his spot on the kickoff team. Other than running downfield a few times a game, though, nothing much happened.

Now with Wilson graduated and playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hill and Thomas return as the front-runners for the safety positions. Thomas took some major strides forward during the second half of 2015, and Hill has been playing decently for a couple seasons. By default Kinnel would probably be the next man in, anyway, but he looked solid in the spring. The biggest flash I saw was when he jumped a route at the Ford Field open practice and returned it for a touchdown. Otherwise, he was boring and that’s okay for a safety. He’s solidly built at 5’11”, 206 lbs. and seems to have a good head on his shoulders, so I wouldn’t worry too much if he were to enter a game on defense. Beyond him, though, options become limited to moving Jeremy Clark back from cornerback, playing a walk-on like A.J. Pearson, or inserting a freshman like Khaleke Hudson or Josh Metellus. It’s tough to put someone this high on the list who hasn’t done much on the field yet, but it’s a very shallow position group.

Prediction: Backup safety

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2016 Season Countdown: #36 Scott Sypniewski

Scott Sypniewski (image via Michigan Daily)

Name: Scott Sypniewski
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 231 lbs.
High school: Ottawa (IL) Marquette
Position: Long snapper
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #31
Last year: I ranked Sypniewski #26 and said he would be the starting long snapper (LINK). He started twelves games at long snapper.

A lot of people probably don’t know the name of their favorite team’s long snapper, and it’s usually best that way. A lot of Michigan fans probably still don’t know Sypniewski’s name . . . but they know his most famous play. Most of his 2016 season went off without a hitch, but late in the game against Michigan State, an errant punt snap turned Michigan’s world upside down. The Wolverines had led for the entire game, and with 10 seconds remaining and a one-score lead, Sypniewski’s snap to punter Blake O’Neill sailed low and to the right. O’Neill dropped the snap, still tried to punt it despite twirling in a circle, and watched the Spartans score the game-winning touchdown with no time left on the clock. Sypniewski may have been the victim of a personal foul when an MSU rusher rammed into him, and he ended up hurting his thumb on the play. (If you want to watch the play, here’s the LINK but I won’t torture everyone.)

Related or not, Rivals reported this off-season that Sypniewski might be looking to transfer and could play elsewhere this season. It appears he will continue his career at Michigan, and that story seemed a little far-fetched since I can’t remember a single case where a long snapper transferred schools. Michigan does have a decent backup snapper in Andrew Robinson (whom I did not bother profiling in this year’s countdown), but Sypniewski will presumably continue in his starting role this season. Let’s hope he got his mulligan out of the way and has a forgettable future career at the University of Michigan.

Prediction: Starting long snapper

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2016 BBQ at the Big House visitors

Antioch (CA) Antioch RB Najee Harris

The BBQ at the Big House, founded by Rich Rodriguez, has continued through Brady Hoke and now Jim Harbaugh. It has always been a big recruiting weekend with a lot of visitors, although Harbaugh has switched it up a little bit. Instead of having it near the end of July when players are still able to take visits freely, putting it in early August makes it a bit tougher for players to make lengthy travel plans, since a lot of states start practice at the beginning of August. This year’s BBQ at the Big House will supposedly be split up into two events, one on August 6 and one on August 8.

2017

Jordan Anthony – LB – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Anthony is a 6’0″, 220 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 outside linebacker, and #113 overall. A Maryland native, he transferred to IMG prior to his junior year. UPDATE: Anthony is no longer planning to visit.

Henry Bainivalu – OT – Sammamish (WA) Skyline: Bainivalu is a 6’6″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington, and Washington State, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #23 offensive tackle, and #182 overall.

Aaron Banks – OT – El Cerrito (CA) El Cerrito: Banks is a 6’7″, 344 lb. prospect with offers from Cal, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #21 offensive tackle, and #167 overall.

Hit the jump for a ton more players who are attending the BBQ.

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