Tag: 2020 season countdown

2020 Season Countdown: #59 David Ojabo

Name: David Ojabo
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 245 lbs.
High school: Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #71
Last year: I ranked Ojabo #71 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted
TTB Rating: 85

Ojabo, from New Jersey via Scotland via Nigeria, spent 2019 tearing it up on scout team, apparently; he was named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year while redshirting. With outside linebacker/defensive end Josh Uche moving on to the New England Patriots, there was some scuttlebutt this off-season that Ojabo might take over that pass rushing specialist role.

I’m not sure how realistic that might be anymore. Ojabo is stuck at home in Scotland due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s not clear if he will be able to return to the United States before the season begins (or maybe “if it begins). And when he does return, what kind of condition will he be in without being able to participate in workouts with his teammates and Michigan’s S&C staff?

I don’t think Ojabo can do all the things Uche did, but he is kind of a freak athlete who has some pass rushing ability. Perhaps he can replicate Uche’s second year, when he made 3 tackles and 1 sack.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2020 Season Countdown: #60 Gabe Newburg

Name: Gabe Newburg
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 250 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #99
Last year: I ranked Newburg #88 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 72

Newburg had the season that most people expected in 2019, redshirting after some injury issues as a senior in high school. Michigan did not have a ton of depth on the defensive line, but there were some snaps for young guys and Newburg did not see any game action.

Though he’s listed at 250 pounds on the official roster, word is that Newburg is now closer to 270-275 pounds. Ahead of him on the depth chart, backup defensive end Michael Danna is gone to the NFL and Michigan has a couple starters who might be joining him in the league by 2021 (senior Kwity Paye, junior Aidan Hutchinson). Not only does the team need someone to enter the rotation, but they need to groom someone for a starting role in two seasons. I don’t expect Newburg to start in 2021, but he should start to see the field this season in a backup role.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2020 Season Countdown: #61 Kalel Mullings

Name: Kalel Mullings
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: West Roxbury (MA) Milton Academy
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Mullings was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran for 371 yards and 22 touchdowns, and he had 289 yards receiving with 4 touchdowns; he also had 2 interceptions and 2 sacks.
TTB Rating: 78

Mullings had what I deem to be a very odd career at Milton Academy. He was a very highly touted recruit before falling back to the pack a little bit; even though he ended up as the #151 overall player and played in the All-American Bowl, it seemed at one point that he would be deemed a guy who would be in the top 75 or so. And maybe his stats are off, but I don’t know how he only ended up with 371 rushing yards and 289 receiving yards.

But I digress.

What’s he going to do at Michigan?

Well, I said in his commitment post that he reminded me of Jordan Anthony, and I’m going to stick with that. Anthony, who spent three years at Michigan before entering the transfer portal, was also a running back/linebacker in high school who looked too stiff to play running back. Anthony always seemed a step slow to read plays on defense, and I see some of that with Mullings, too. I do think Mullings is starting off with a little more aggression and size, and since Anthony – who was in the rotation – left along with Devin Gil (USF), the staff needs a freshman inside linebacker. I think Mullings will be that guy in 2020, even though I just expect him to get his feet wet a little bit without being an immediate standout.

Prediction: Backup inside linebacker

2020 Season Countdown: #62 German Green

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Name: German Green
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: DeSoto (TX) DeSoto
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #13
Last year: I ranked Green #59 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 59

Entering year three at Michigan, Green has been named Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week twice and Special Teams Scout Player of the Week once. He played in one game in 2019, against Rutgers. At a listed 6’2″ and 180 lbs., he does not appear to be physically ready yet to take on the rigors of big-time college football, where a safety with his height should be around 200 lbs. or more.

I have Green here at #62, one spot ahead of true freshman Makari Paige (LINK). I do not expect much production from either player in 2020, but I lean toward experience when it comes to a few positions, and that includes safety. Sometimes mental maturity is more important than physical prowess at the safety spots. That being said, it’s not often that a guy goes into year three with no hype and then develops into a high-level contributor.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer

2020 Season Countdown: #63 Makari Paige

Name: Makari Paige
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 192 lbs.
High school: West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Paige was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 94 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and 7 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 79

Paige was a pretty big question mark at one point, and his recruitment as an in-stater was somewhat similar to his 2021 teammate, Donovan Edwards. We knew Michigan was in the top group, but it seemed at one point that Paige was leaning elsewhere. It seemed like his recruitment dragged out a little longer than it did, but he ended up committing to the Wolverines in July of 2019. He ended up as a 4-star, the #25 safety, and #243 overall.

This year should be a learning year for Paige, but Michigan will probably need someone to step up in this freshman class to get some snaps. Paige has the size and some athleticism to play in the box, but I would not trust any of the freshman safeties in this class to manage a deep half or deep middle of the field. Someone will have to be prepped to take over for Brad Hawkins in 2021. I think Jordan Morant is a better overall prospect, but my concerns about his injury situation put Paige ahead in the race for 2020.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer

Hit the jump for Paige’s senior highlights.