If I Had My Druthers . . . 2020 Transfers

Michigan is rumored to have some interest in various potential transfers. I will address some of those rumored players here. I cannot claim to have watched all of these players play – especially in college – but I will do my best to evaluate how they would fit on Michigan’s roster.

NOTE: I am only looking at players that Michigan has been tied to in one way or another, because otherwise, obviously this would be way too overwhelming.

Hit the jump for the list.

1. Jovan Swann (RS Sr.) – DE/DT – Stanford: Swann was not recruited by Michigan out of the state of Indiana in 2016. He made 31 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks starting as a 4-tech or 4i in Stanford’s three-man front. I like Swann’s motor and quickness off the ball. He may be a little undersized to play 3-tech in a four-man front, but I think he would jump into Michigan’s rotation pretty easily if they go with four down linemen. Some combination of Carlo Kemp, Chris Hinton, and Swann would be Michigan’s best trio on the interior, in my opinion.
2. Michael Thompson (RS So.) – OL/DT – Oklahoma: Thompson is a former 4-star and top-100 player from the class of 2018. A one-time Army All-American, he tore his ACL before starting his career at Oklahoma and has not played a college game yet. He came in as a defensive tackle and was moved to the offensive line. Watching his high school film (LINK), I think he would be doing a disservice to himself if he tried to play defensive line. He has potential galore on the offensive line, though his technique was lacking. Listed at 6’5″ and 336 lbs., he’s a mammoth human who can move well. He would be somewhat of a boom-or-bust transfer target, but I think Michigan has room for someone like that.
3. Michael Williams (RS Sr.) – NT – Stanford: Williams is a little undersized at 6’2″ and 290 lbs. He was recruited by Michigan out of high school but picked the Cardinal instead. A 25-game starter, he had 24 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 2 quarterback hurries in 2019. I think Williams is a good player, but he’s not a difference-maker; he’s a place-holder. If everyone returns for Michigan (Carlo Kemp, Michael Dwumfour, Mazi Smith, Chris Hinton), I don’t know that Williams is much of an upgrade.
4. Almosse Titi – DT – Iowa Western Community College: Titi is a 6’3″, 310 lb. defensive tackle who’s coming from the JUCO level. He’s considered to be a 3-star and the #142 JUCO player. Michigan doesn’t take many JUCO players, so the Wolverines have to be selective. Titi is originally from France, so the distance from “home” is going to be basically the same anywhere he goes: an Atlantic Ocean away. I like Titi’s quickness off the ball; he’s more explosive than Williams (see above) or Walker (see below), but he’s not as ready to play as Swann (see above) or Williams. (Watch his film here.)
5. K.J. Costello (RS Sr.) – QB – Stanford: Costello only played in five games in 2019 due to injury, but he completed 61.1% of his passes for 1,038 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. (His numbers were much better in 2018 when he completed 65% of his passes for 3500 yards, 27 TD, and 11 INT.) Michigan recruited Costello out of high school. Costello lacks the athleticism to run Josh Gattis’s offense to its full potential (18 carries for 24 yards in 2019), and he also has some issues with his mechanics. He would also cause upheaval to Michigan’s quarterback depth chart. If you bring him in, you probably intend for him to start – which would probably ensure that Dylan McCaffrey and/or Joe Milton transfer.
6. Devery Hamilton (RS Sr.) – OT – Stanford: Hamilton was committed to Michigan during the class of 2016 and will be a grad transfer with immediate eligibility. He started at left guard for Stanford to begin this season. I went back and watched some film of Hamilton this year (prior to an injury that cost him a large chunk of the season), and I was not impressed. He’s less physical than I expected from a redshirt junior Stanford offensive lineman. Maybe that’s coaching – Stanford did struggle this year – but his performance doesn’t scream that he would be an immediate upgrade. I think Michigan has two good offensive tackles in Jalen Mayfield and Ryan Hayes, but Hamilton could step in at one of the guard positions and help bridge the gap for the departing Ben Bredeson and Michael Onwenu.
7. Issaac “Ike” Walker (RS Fr.) – DT – UCF: Walker is listed at 6’4″ and 350 lbs. He was not recruited by Michigan in the 2019 class. Since he redshirted at UCF this season, there’s no college film of him. Based on some high school clips (LINK), he would be a huge project. There’s potential there, but I’m not sure it’s worth it unless you’re desperate for big bodies.
8. Coy Cronk (RS Sr.) – OT – Indiana: Cronk is listed as a 6’5″, 325 lb. player on Indiana’s roster. He has started 40 games in his career, but an injury in 2019 caused him to miss all but four games. Cronk was a 3-star, the #41 offensive tackle, and #393 coming out of high school in 2016, but he is playing well below that ranking. When coaches say “Pass blocking isn’t passive,” that must be a dig at Cronk. He does not take good angles, he does not move his feet well, and he lacks aggression. On top of that, he looks shorter than his listed height. Not only does he not seem to be on par with Michigan’s starters from 2019, he does not even seem to be on the same level as the key backups.

If there are any other potential transfers connected to Michigan that you want me to add to the list, please mention them in the comments.

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