Posts under: homepage

2024 Season Countdown: #24 Greg Crippen

Name: Greg Crippen
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 309 lbs.
High school: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Position: Center
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #51
Last year: I ranked Crippen #56 and said he would be a backup center (LINK). He played in nine games.
TTB Rating: 65

Depending on how you look at it, Crippen has had one of the more frustrating careers imaginable in a Michigan uniform. After redshirting in 2021, he would have had a chance to start in 2022 . . . except Michigan brought in Olu Oluwatimi from Virginia, who won the Rimington Trophy for being the nation’s best center.

So then Crippen had a chance to start in 2023 . . . except Michigan brought in Stanford transfer Drake Nugent, who was named First Team All-Big Ten and a Rimington Trophy finalist.

Now Crippen has a chance to start in 2024 . . . except Michigan brought in former 3-star defensive tackle Dominick Giudice?

Okay, so earlier today, head coach Sherrone Moore was asked about the battles on the offensive line, and Moore said the center position was coming down to Crippen and Giudice. It’s surprising that Raheem Anderson wasn’t mentioned (perhaps there’s an injury?), and it’s even more surprising that Giudice is the primary competition after taking just 25 total snaps over the past two years.

Regardless, I’m sticking with the front-runner for the starting center job, and that’s Crippen. The former 4-star recruit has waited around for three years, and there have been positive comments coming from the coaches for the past two years. If Giudice is truly neck-and-neck with Crippen – and better than Anderson – then that likely means positive things for the depth of the line and not necessarily something negative about Crippen.

Prediction: Starting center

2024 Season Countdown: #25 William Wagner

Name: William Wagner
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 245 lbs.
High school: Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta
Position: Long snapper
Class: Sixth year senior
Jersey number: #49
Last year: I ranked Wagner #3 5and said he would be the starting long snapper (LINK). He started all fifteen games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Wagner missed a chunk of the 2022 season due to a torn ACL and the Wolverines lost to Georgia in the College Football Playoff.

Last year Wagner was healthy, and Michigan won a national championship.

Coincidence? I think not.

You could make the argument that a long snapper shouldn’t be in the top 25, but most Michigan fans probably remember Scott Sypniewski’s errant snap with a bad thumb that led to an embarrassing loss to Michigan State. Luckily, Michigan does have a quality backup in Greg Tarr (who also filled in after Wagner was hurt in 2022), but special teams are going to be key in 2024. Michigan is likely to be in tighter games and has a tougher schedule than 2023, so field position and field goal kicking are going to be important.

Prediction: Starting long snapper

2024 Season Countdown: #26 Fredrick Moore

Name: Fredrick Moore
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 181 lbs.
High school: Saint Louis (MO) Cardinal Ritter
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #3
Last year: I ranked Moore #73 and said he would be a backup wide receiver and special teamer (LINK). He made 4 catches for 32 yards while playing in thirteen games.
TTB Rating: 68

Moore was a high school speedster who wasn’t needed much in 2023. With the fleet-footed Roman Wilson on the roster, the Wolverines didn’t really need someone else who could stretch the field. Moore rotated in at receiver but was never much of a factor, especially in big games. The place where I thought he might help most was in the return game, but that didn’t work out, either.

Based on what I saw of Moore in the spring game, though, I think he has a chance to break out this fall. Working to get open on a scramble drill, he shook loose from defensive end Aymeric Koumba in the flat (not a difficult feat in itself) and then reversed field to outrun the entire defense for a touchdown. Granted, there were a couple walk-ons and backups on the field, but Moore showed his acceleration and top-end speed. Michigan doesn’t have any proven, go-to receivers on the roster, but Moore could be the guy most likely to break an 80-yard touchdown. And again, he will probably be competing for kickoff return and/or punt return duties.

Fredrick Moore showcases the WHEELS in Michigan's spring game 🏃‍♂️💨pic.twitter.com/IEnV5OBy4q

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) April 20, 2024

Prediction: Backup wide receiver and special teamer

2024 Season Countdown: #27a T.J. Guy

Name: T.J. Guy
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 250 lbs.
High school: Mansfield (MA) Mansfield
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #42
Last year: I ranked Guy #60 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He made 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.
TTB Rating: 65

Michigan had a strong group of edge players in 2023, which kept Guy’s playing time in check. Behind starters Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell, the Wolverines had Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart. So Guy was the fifth-best edge defender on a team stacked with edge defenders. Overall, he had a solid season for being a third-stringer and managed to put together a 75.8 overall grade from PFF. Going just by PFF grades, he’s the sixth best returning player from Michigan’s defense behind Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Will Johnson . . .

. . . and Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart.

So there’s an argument to be made that Michigan’s sixth best defender is going to be a backup, because #3 and #4 play the same position he does.

Guy has shown flashes over his first few years, notching a couple sacks and then having a solid spring game back in April. But at least in the spring game, he was beating up on backups and freshmen. The jury is still out on whether he can do it against other teams’ top-notch players, but every fall practice report has been mentioning Guy as an up-and-comer. I’m buying into the hype that he’s going to turn into a solid player for 2024 and could place himself in a good spot to take over as a starter in 2025 after Stewart leaves.

Prediction: Backup defensive end; 20 tackles, 3 sacks

2024 Season Countdown: #27b Rayshaun Benny

Name: Rayshaun Benny
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 296 lbs.
High school: Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #26
Last year: I ranked Benny #25 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 27 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 81

Benny had a relatively stealthy first couple years on campus. But last year he seemed to take a leap forward and became a force on the interior defensive line. Not only did his production increase (from 13 tackles to 27), but he was pushing around offensive linemen and forced a key fumble against Penn State. So it was unfortunate when he broke his ankle against Alabama and couldn’t be on the field for the national championship game.

This year Benny is going to play a bigger role as the #3 defensive tackle behind Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham. Gone are Kris Jenkins, Jr. and Cam Goode. Michigan tried to snag one or two nose tackles in the transfer portal, but they were unsuccessful. So there’s a fair amount of pressure on Benny and he could be a focal point of the defensive line in 2025 if Graham and Grant decide to go to the NFL after their third year. Reports indicate Benny is back to full strength, and if he’s indeed back to pre-injury form, we should see a very good performance this year.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle