Tag: 2021 season countdown

2021 Season Countdown: #16 Donovan Jeter

Name: Donovan Jeter
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 325 lbs.
High school: Beaver Falls (PA) Beaver Falls
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #95
Last year: I ranked Jeter #29 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 11 tackles, 1 pass breakup, and 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown.
TTB Rating: 78

In some ways Jeter has been a much maligned figure over the past four years. He was listed as a strongside defensive end as a recruit, but everybody knew he was headed for defensive tackle. Fans expected him to take a couple years to develop, but that never seemed to happen. As he enters his fifth year on campus, he has not yet registered a single sack or tackle for loss. Far and away, the biggest highlight of his career was last year against Minnesota, when a big hit by a blitzing Michael Barrett popped the ball up into the air, where it happened to land in Jeter’s arms and he ran a few yards into the endzone. Otherwise, the soundtrack of Jeter’s career is filled with crickets.

Here we are in 2021 in Jeter’s last chance (maybe) to make an impact. Jim Harbaugh has said this was Jeter’s best off-season, but big talk from coaches doesn’t always translate onto the field. It’s possible that Jeter could return in 2022 since last season didn’t count for eligibility, but that doesn’t make much sense. If he performs well in 2021, he should probably try to parlay that into an NFL career. If he doesn’t perform well, then why waste another year in Ann Arbor where Shaun Nua obviously hasn’t been able to figure out how to develop your skills?

I think Michigan’s scheme change should benefit Jeter. He’s not athletic enough to play a 5-tech regularly, and he doesn’t stay low enough to play in the interior. Playing a tackle position on the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle should be a good spot. He won’t have to take on endless double-teams, and he won’t have to hold the edge. If he can occupy the B-gap while allowing Michigan’s outside linebackers to get to the quarterback and set the edge, Jeter will have done his job. I’m beyond predicting a breakout for Jeter and expect him to have a pretty ho-hum end to his career in a winged helmet, but this should still be his best year.

Prediction: Starting defensive tackle; 18 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack

2021 Season Countdown: #17 Blake Corum

Name: Blake Corum
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) St. Frances
Position: Running back
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #2
Last year: I ranked Corum #58 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He started one game and had 26 carries for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 5 catches for 73 yards.
TTB Rating: 83

I’ve never seen so much off-season hype for a running back who averaged 2.96 yards per carry the previous season, but that’s where we are as Michigan fans, hoping for players to come out of nowhere and be stars. Corum did show flashes in 2020, bouncing a stuffed run outside for a touchdown against MSU, catching a 24-yard toss (which was officially scored as a pass but should have been a rush) against Minnesota, etc. Michigan’s offensive line and quarterback play were mostly questionable last season, so those things are probably at least partially responsible for Corum’s lack of production. He also showed some impatience at times.

With Chris Evans (Cincinnati Bengals) and Zach Charbonnet (UCLA) now departed, Corum clearly moves up on the depth chart. All accounts have Hassan Haskins as the #1 guy on the depth chart and Corum #2, with freshmen Donovan Edwards and Tavierre Dunlap backing them up. Michigan has typically rotated several backs, but the depth chart gets thin quickly with only four scholarship players on the roster. It will be important for all the backs to stay healthy, especially Haskins and Corum. Corum also has value as a receiver and seems to have more big-play ability than Haskins.

Prediction: Backup running back

2021 Season Countdown: #18 D.J. Turner II

Name: D.J. Turner II
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 181 lbs.
High school: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #5
Last year: I ranked Turner #33 and said he would be a backup cornerback (LINK). He played in four games.
TTB Rating: 82

Turner was thought by some to be in line for more playing time going into 2020, so I am reticent to put him this high. Injuries have been an issue at times, but Sam Webb talked to Turner’s trainer (former NFL cornerback Ray Buchanan) and some of those injury problems had been corrected. So when Michigan rode the duo of Gemon Green and Vincent Gray, the latter of whom struggled mightily week after week, it was surprising that Turner or others didn’t get more of an opportunity. Turner’s only appearance on defense came in the blowout loss to Wisconsin.

But I’m putting my faith on insiders this year who say Turner has claimed one of the two cornerback spots, opposite Green. Gray has reportedly been demoted but will still play. Turner is a better athlete than Gray but a little shorter and obviously not as experienced. Things almost literally can’t get worse than 2020, because that was Michigan’s second-worst scoring defense in school history. The corners should benefit from an improved pass rush, and new cornerbacks coach Steve Clinkscale has a solid track record of developing players.

Prediction: Starting cornerback; 20 tackles, 1 interception

2021 Season Countdown: #19 Erick All

Name: Erick All
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 245 lbs.
High school: Fairfield (OH) Fairfield
Position: Tight end
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #83
Last year: I ranked All #31 and said he would be a backup tight end (LINK). He started two games and caught 12 passes for 82 yards.
TTB Rating: 75

I want to apologize for my comment on All from last year’s countdown piece: “[All] reportedly has some of the best hands on the team, regardless of position.”

There’s no getting around the fact that All was pretty bad in 2020, perhaps the offense’s biggest disappointment. I believe he dropped 4 passes while catching just 12, which is a terrible ratio. To top it off, even when he caught the ball, he averaged just 6.83 yards per catch. That is the lowest average per catch for a wide receiver or tight end at Michigan since the 2017 version of Maurice Ways averaged 2.33 yards on 3 catches. Furthermore, no WR/TE has caught double-digit passes and averaged fewer yards since Brian Thompson in 2003 (13 catches, 82 yards).

This is not meant to castigate All as much as it is to point out the ineffectiveness of Michigan’s play-calling and quarterback play.

This is a very controversial coaching philosophy of mine, but I’ll stand by it:

Don’t call plays that don’t work.

That’s obviously tongue-in-cheek, but All would have been removed from my game plan after the Wisconsin game. He just wasn’t getting it done, and neither was Josh Gattis’s crappy play calling. But he caught 4 passes for 27 yards against Rutgers and then 1 for 8 yards against Penn State to finish out the season.

I do believe All has the potential to be better this season. His TTB Rating of 75 is still well within reach of being accurate, and I have him here at #19 in the countdown for reasons. He is fast and blocks well. His poor display of catching skills in 2020 could very well just have been a string of bad luck. Maybe new tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh – who coached 2016 Mackey Award winner Jake Butt – can help All out a little bit. The door isn’t shut on All being a quality player. But if his struggles continue, there are good prospects waiting in the wings in the form of Luke Schoonmaker, Matt Hibner, and Louis Hansen.

Prediction: Starting tight end; 25 catches, 250 yards, 3 touchdowns

2021 Season Countdown: #20 Michael Barrett

Name: Michael Barrett
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 227 lbs.
High school: Valdosta (GA) Lowndes
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #23
Last year: I ranked Barrett #22 and said he would be the starting Viper (LINK). He made 44 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 quarterback hurry.
TTB Rating: 82

Barrett has made quite a transition, going from high school quarterback to Viper (outside linebacker) for the past couple seasons at Michigan. Generally considered to be an athlete coming out of high school (he spent time at RB, slot receiver, and LB to start his college career), he eventually settled in where most people expected him, playing Viper. After watching Khaleke Hudson man the position for a couple seasons, Barrett stepped in and had a decent campaign. His Minnesota game was outstanding, including a strip sack that resulted in a Donovan Jeter touchdown and a 64-yard kickoff return. Unfortunately, his impact was somewhat negated afterward, notching just 0.5 tackles for loss for the final five games of the year. He did pile up some tackles in a couple games – making 11 twice – but those tackles were downfield for a struggling defense.

Barrett’s role in 2021 is very intriguing. Most insiders have him starting at one of the inside linebacker spots (early reports said MIKE linebacker, but more recently I have seen talk that he’s playing WILL). At the same time, there’s more buzz surrounding Nikhai Hill-Green, a second-year player. Barrett is a bit of an odd fit at inside linebacker with his (lack of) size, and the fear is that the former safety/linebacker hybrid might get run over. I have Barrett penciled in as a starter because of his experience, leadership, and athleticism, but the coaches might give Hill-Green a shot if Barrett struggles early.

Prediction: Starting inside linebacker