2022 Season Countdown: #1 Mazi Smith

Tag: 2022 season countdown

8Sep 2022
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2022 Season Countdown: #1 Mazi Smith

Mazi Smith (image via USA Today Sports)

Name: Mazi Smith
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 337 lbs.
High school: Grand Rapids (MI) East Kentwood
Position: Nose tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #58
Last year: I ranked Smith #5 and said he would be a start nose tackle with 15 tackles and 3 tackles for loss (LINK). He made 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups, and 4 quarterback hurries.
TTB Rating: 86

2022 season prediction: Starting nose tackle; 45 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks

8Sep 2022
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2022 Season Countdown: #2 Junior Colson

Junior Colson (image via 247 Sports)

Name: Junior Colson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 235 lbs.
High school: Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood
Position: Linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #25
Last year: I ranked Colson #42 and said he would be a backup linebacker (LINK). He made 61 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 89

2022 season prediction: Starting middle linebacker; 110 tackles, 4 sacks

8Sep 2022
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2022 Season Countdown: #3 Blake Corum

Blake Corum

Name: Blake Corum
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) St. Frances
Position: Running back
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #2
Last year: I ranked Corum #17 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He ran 143 times for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns; caught 24 passes for 141 yards and 1 touchdown; and returned 12 kickoffs for 304 yards.
TTB Rating: 83

2022 season prediction: Starting running back; 200 carries for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns

8Sep 2022
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2022 Season Countdown: #4 Olu Oluwatimi

Olu Oluwatimi (image via Twitter)

Name: Olu Oluwatimi
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 307 lbs.
High school: Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha
Position: Center
Class: Sixth year senior
Jersey number: #55
Last year: I did not rank Oluwatimi. He started twelve games at center for Virginia and was a finalist for the Rimington Award.
TTB Rating: N/A

2022 season prediction: Starting center

8Sep 2022
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2022 Season Countdown: #5 D.J. Turner II

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 #18 and said he would be a starting cornerback with 20 tackles and 1 interception (LINK). He started eight games and made 33 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, and 9 pass breakups, and he was named Honrable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches, media).
TTB Rating: 82

2022 season prediction: Starting cornerback; 35 tackles, 3 interceptions