Posts under: homepage

2024 Season Countdown: #75 Jason Hewlett

Name: Jason Hewlett
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 224 lbs.
High school: Youngstown (OH) Chaney
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Hewlett #96 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 81

Hewlett, as expected, didn’t see any game action in 2023. He was a freshman listed at 6’3″ and 215 pounds, and that’s not a recipe for playing time. Even this year his 224 pound listing is a little too light to be a major factor for playing time. The thing that bumps Hewlett up the list for me is his athleticism. He has the profile to be a potential contributor on special teams, where the speed and aggression he showed on his high school film can start to show through. He’s blocked at linebacker by Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann, not to mention Jimmy Rolder and Jaydon Hood; the rest of the linebacker depth chart is in question, but Hewlett will be in a battle for scraps of defensive playing time. If he wants to see the field this fall, it will almost certainly come on special teams.

Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer

2024 Season Countdown: #76 Joey Klunder

Name: Joey Klunder
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 276 lbs.
High school: Grosse Pointe (MI) South
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #93
Last year: I ranked Klunder #119 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

Klunder was a preferred walk-on from South a couple seasons ago and has yet to make a big impact in the football program. This is projecting a pretty big jump for Klunder, all the way from #119 last year to #76 this season. Michigan has some questionable depth on the defensive line; there are bodies but not a ton of experience, and Michigan tried to find a defensive tackle or two in the portal, unsuccessfully.

A starting job is out of reach for Klunder at this point, but he’s put on a considerable amount of weight during his time in college – up 23 pounds since last year – and may be able to absorb some snaps that might otherwise go to freshmen trying to retain their redshirts, such as Ted Hammond. It’s possible that Klunder might be ahead of some second-year players, too, such as Brooks Bahr. Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Klunder get on the field for a few games this season.

Prediction: Backup defensive lineman

2024 Season Countdown: #77 Jayden Denegal

Name: Jayden Denegal
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Apple Valley (CA) Apple Valley
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #4
Last year: I ranked Denegal #104 and said he would be a backup quarterback (LINK). He completed 4/5 passes for 1 touchdown and ran 4 times for 10 yards.
TTB Rating: 61

Denegal entered Michigan’s program in the class of 2022, one year behind J.J. McCarthy and alongside Alex Orji. In the head-to-head battle with Orji, it might seem to be neck-and-neck. Last year Denegal was the only one of the two to attempt a pass (completing 4 out of 5 passes, in fact), but Orji was the complementary run threat down the stretch (15 carries for 86 yards and 1 touchdown in 2023). Denegal’s lone touchdown was a mop-up throw to Peyton O’Leary as the final score in a 45-7 victory.

While quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell said Denegal has improved a bunch since arriving on campus, he appears to be running at least fourth in the race for the quarterback job. Orji is in the lead pack, along with Jack Tuttle and Davis Warren. With an eye toward the future, maybe the coaching staff even views Jadyn Davis as the “next man up” after those first three. Denegal clearly has the size advantage at 6’5″ and 235 pounds (compared to Davis’s 6’1″, 202) and poses a bigger running threat than Davis, but his ability to process defenses and deliver accurate passes will determine his future. This season will probably be another mop-up year for Denegal, but it’s also a season that might not provide many mop-up opportunities.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

2024 Season Countdown: #78 Jo’Ziah Edmond

Name: Jo’Ziah Edmond
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Indianapolis (IN) Northwood
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Edmond was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 64 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble; he caught 65 passes for 505 yards and 7 touchdowns; and he ran 26 times for 204 yards and 4 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 82

Michigan really needed cornerbacks in the 2024 class. When they were recruiting for 2024, they probably didn’t even realize how badly they needed corners. Because at one time D.J. Waller and Cam Calhoun looked like they might be Michigan’s cornerbacks of the future, as long as they could hold off classmate Jyaire Hill. But now that Waller and Calhoun will be suiting up for Kentucky and Utah, respectively, in the fall of 2024, the future at the position is very murky.

Luckily, Purdue is no match for Michigan on the recruiting trail, so the Wolverines were able to flip Edmond. He could be “next” after Will Johnson graduates, but Michigan also brought in transfers Aamir Hall (Albany) and Ricky Johnson (UNLV) to help at the position. At one time it seemed like Edmond might be forced into early action – just like Jacob Oden at safety – but now Michigan has options at the position. With Will Johnson locking down one side, the other corner probably comes down to Hill or Hall; then comes the battle for the #4 spot, and Edmond could be that guy. If Michigan envisions Edmond as the heir apparent for Johnson’s spot, then I would expect him to get some snaps this year. Luckily, Michigan does have other potential contributors at that spot, such as Kody Jones and Myles Pollard.

Prediction: Backup cornerback

2024 Season Countdown: #79 Andrew Sprague

Name: Andrew Sprague
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 295 lbs.
High school: Kansas City (MO) Rockhurst
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Sprague was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass breakup on defense.
TTB Rating: 89

I wrote a scouting report on Sprague (LINK) that probably has more relevant information than the commitment post linked above, but Sprague is a high-level tackle prospect whom the Michigan coaches seem particularly excited to get on the field. A giant human at 6’8″, he still has to put on some weight, but it’s probably a good thing he hasn’t been carrying around 320 pounds his entire high school career; being lighter helped him play basketball and probably added some time to his career if he develops into an NFL-level type of player. In that scouting report, I mentioned that Sprague had a lot of technical work to do based on his junior film . . . and I think he got noticeably better as a senior.

The sheer depth of Michigan’s offensive line should prevent Sprague from being needed immediately in 2024, and with three guys – Myles Hinton, Jeff Persi, Andrew Gentry – having a legitimate shot at starting, the Wolverines shouldn’t need him to make an immediate impact like Brady Hoke needed Mason Cole to do back in 2014. It may be a good idea to get Sprague some snaps to prepare him for 2025, because both Hinton and Persi won’t be returning next year. I think Sprague will be starting for Michigan by year three at least, but this should be a developmental season.