Tag: 2019 season countdown

2019 Season Countdown: #90 Jess Speight

Name: Jess Speight
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 302 lbs.
High school: Richmond (VA) Collegiate
Position: Center
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #67
Last year: I ranked Speight # (LINK). He played in one game and was named Co-Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year.
TTB Rating: N/A

Jess Speight is best known for being the younger brother of former Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight. But Michigan fans should start to get to know the younger Speight, because I think he might be a contributor later in his career. I liked his film coming out of high school, and being named Co-Scout Team Player of the Year on offense is confirmation that the kid can play. Michigan has Cesar Ruiz for at least one more year, and Stephen Spanellis for two, but Speight could be in line to play if there are injuries or unexpected departures. I wouldn’t expect him to play much this year, but 2020 or 2021 could be breakout campaigns for him.

Prediction: Backup center

2019 Season Countdown: #91 Karsen Barnhart

Name: Karsen Barnhart
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 277 lbs.
High school: Paw Paw (MI) Paw Paw
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Barnhart was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 5 passes for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 79

Barnhart, a high school tight end, has impressed the Michigan coaches with his off-season preparation. He has reportedly put on a healthy chunk of weight and grown stronger. That’s a positive for his potential to play earlier than previously expected, because he was lacking bulk during his senior year of high school. His athleticism should translate well to the college game, but adding weight is often a more difficult proposition. I still don’t expect Barnhart to play during the 2019 season, but he could potentially be a blocking tight end early in his career, if needed.

Prediction: Redshirt

2019 Season Countdown: #92 Trevor Keegan

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Name: Trevor Keegan
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 301 lbs.
High school: Crystal Lake (IL) South
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Keegan was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 81

Keegan was a big-time prospect for Michigan to land, and it happened fairly late in the process. He committed in mid-December and then signed early. He ended up as a 247 Composite 4-star, the #16 offensive tackle, and #176 overall. Despite his high ranking, I see him as a prospect who probably needs a few years to develop. Many people thought Chuck Filiaga was going to come in and play immediately, but now he’s entering his third season and expected to be a backup once again, so it takes time, even for elite prospects. Michigan has enough depth on the offensive line to let Keegan redshirt this season.

Prediction: Redshirt

2019 Season Countdown: #93 Julian Garrett

Name: Julian Garrett
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Centreville (VA) Centreville
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #34
Last year: I did not rank Garrett. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Garrett had a solid prep career before coming to Michigan as a walk-on last fall. He was named Scout Team Player of the Week a couple times during his true freshman year, once for offense and once for special teams. This spring when a bunch of injuries hit the running back position, he was getting a lot of time with the first team.

Despite getting time in the spring, he has reportedly entered the transfer portal and is looking to transfer closer to home. Coincidentally, I had him ranked at #93, so here’s kind of a dead spot in the countdown since he won’t be on the roster in the fall.

Prediction: Transfer

2019 Season Countdown: #94 George Johnson III

Name: George Johnson III
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 181 lbs.
High school: Stuart (FL) Martin
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Johnson was a senior in high school (LINK). He passes for 1,174 yards and 10 touchdowns, ran for 442 yards and 9 touchdowns, and caught 5 passes for 102 yards and 1 touchdown.
TTB Rating: 73

Johnson committed to Michigan as a wide receiver despite having just a little bit of experience playing the position. For most of his high school career, he was a quarterback running a spread offense. Perhaps partly because of that inexperience playing the position, he finished the 2019 recruiting class as a 247 Composite 3-star, the #60 athlete, and #877 overall.

There’s virtually no chance of playing quarterback at Michigan, so Johnson is going to make the position switch, and those don’t generally happen overnight. On top of that, the Wolverines already have a pretty solid wide receiver crew, and an early enrollee freshman who was making waves in the spring (Mike Sainristil). Johnson is almost certainly headed for a redshirt this fall.

Prediction: Redshirt