Tag: 2023 season countdown

2023 Season Countdown: #115 Josh Beetham

Name: Josh Beetham
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 242 lbs.
High school: Yorkville (IL) Yorkville
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #40
Last year: I ranked Beetham #115 and said he would be a backup tight end (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

Beetham, a former high school quarterback, played in one game last season. It seems like walk-ons had a choice last year: either play against Hawaii or UConn. Beetham went with Hawaii, and that was that. Of course, Michigan had a glut of tight ends, and even some scholarship guys didn’t get much run, so it makes sense that Beetham didn’t play much.

The 2023 season likely won’t see much of a change for Beetham. While he has added three pounds to his frame, Michigan brought in transfer A.J. Barner, who will probably be a co-starter with Colston Loveland. Meanwhile, Matt Hibner and Max Bredeson should both play quite a bit, with some other young up-and-comers also battling for playing time. Beetham will probably just play in one or two games again this season.

Prediction: Backup tight end

2023 Season Countdown: #116 Evan Link

Name: Evan Link
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) Gonzaga
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Link was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 72

Link committed to Michigan on August 1, 2022, and signed with the Wolverines in December. His recruiting profiles listed him at about 290 pounds, although MGoBlue’s website puts him at 305. Anyway, usually those listings are overshot – just look at all the sophomores and redshirt freshmen who lose an inch and a chunk of weight between years one and two – and it takes a couple years for linemen to develop their bodies.

Link also seems to have very few highlights of pass protection, which probably means he either played in a run-heavy offense . . . or he just doesn’t have much good to show off in pass pro. While I’m not questioning his athleticism – he’s a pretty good athlete – pass protection issues can get people hurt. Furthermore, Michigan has a ton of depth on the offensive line and shouldn’t need true freshmen to play.

Prediction: Redshirt

2023 Season Countdown: #117 Henry Donohue

Name: Henry Donohue
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 202 lbs.
High school: Bronxville (NY) Bronxville
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #49
Last year: I did not rank Donohue. He had 2 carries for 6 yards while playing in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

Donohue appeared on the scene in 2022 after being a student body walk-on. As a high school senior in the class of 2021, he averaged over 12.0 yards per carry while playing a bit of running back and wildcat QB. He also had 943 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns. The first clip you see below is of him throwing a peace sign at a defender on a touchdown run, which is funny to me for various reasons.

But anyhow, he’s now a walk-on at Michigan who managed to get a couple carries in last year’s blowout of UConn. I would expect roughly the same situation in 2023, as he’s now likely behind the same people as last season, plus Benjamin Hall and Cole Cabana. Maybe – hopefully – we’ll see him in some mop-up duty in 2023.

Prediction: Backup running back and special teamer

2023 Season Countdown: #118 Christian Bartholomew

Name: Christian Bartholomew
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 187 lbs.
High school: Galesburg (MI) Kalamazoo United
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #27
Last year: I ranked Bartholomew #108 and and said he would be a backup wide receiver (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A

After redshirting in 2020, Bartholomew has played in one game in each of the past two seasons. Michigan often seems to have a walk-on receiver ascend to the fringe of playing time , and a few years ago, Bartholomew would have been my pick. But with the recruitment of the bigger, perhaps more skilled Peyton O’Leary, Bartholomew seems less likely to get there. For now it seems like Bartholomew is going to be a backup who might get a chance on special teams or in blowouts.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver and special teamer

2023 Season Countdown: #119 Joey Klunder

Name: Joey Klunder
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 253 lbs.
High school: Grosse Pointe (MI) South
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #93
Last year: I ranked Klunder #130 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Klunder had some military academy and FCS offers coming out of high school, but he decided to become a preferred walk-on at Michigan. After being listed at 6’4″ and 230 pounds as a freshman, he’s now down to 6’3″ . . . and up to 253. While MGoBlue.com’s website lists him as an EDGE, Klunder’s own Twitter profile says he’s a “DT.”

I don’t know where Klunder will end up, and it appears I’m not alone. But either way, 253 pounds is probably too light to play defensive tackle . . . and he’s not quick enough to be an edge pass rusher . . . and he’s probably still too light to play a 5-tech defensive end role. So for now, I think it will be another year watching from the sideline for Klunder.

Prediction: Backup defensive end