If you’ve been reading for long, you know I love to look in the rearview mirror. So this is a reflection on the 2009 class a decade later. (Note: It also serves to condense my “Ex-Wolverine Encyclopedia” page, which helps that one load faster.)
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Redshirt junior defensive end Ron Johnson, Jr. has entered the transfer portal and will not return to Michigan.
Johnson was a member of the 2016 recruiting class and signed with the Wolverines out of Camden (NJ) Camden, along with wide receiver/safety Brad Hawkins (who then took a prep year). He was a Semper Fidelis All-American and I gave Johnson a TTB Rating of 83 (LINK).
However, Johnson has been languishing somewhere in the 70s of the last few season countdowns, and there just hasn’t been much progress. He bulked up to play some 3-technique defensive tackle at one point, but he transitioned back to defensive end without a noticeable move upward on the depth chart at either spot. He played one game as a true freshman and did not see the field in either 2017 or 2018. He was not expected to play a significant role in 2019, so this loss opens up a scholarship for a transfer or a walk-on.
Michigan now has just 83 scholarship players slated to be on the roster in 2019 (LINK). Not counting Hawkins (who signed again in 2017), Michigan is down to just 14 out of 28 players who signed with the Wolverines in that 2016 class.
In keeping up with the NFL Draft, it was impossible to miss when a couple former Michigan commits came off the board. The Wolverines lost two running back commits in the 2015 class, and both of them were drafted – while Michigan’s signees at the position (Karan Higdon, Chris Evans) went undrafted and got suspended, respectively.
Hit the jump for a rundown of former Michigan commits and players who were involved in the draft this past weekend.
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Rising redshirt freshman cornerback Myles Sims has entered the transfer portal, which likely means he will not be returning to the Wolverines.
Sims committed to Michigan in April of 2017 (LINK) and was an Under Armour All-American in the 2018 class (LINK). He ended up as a 4-star, the #17 cornerback, and #170 overall.
Hit the jump for more.
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Columbus (OH) Northland wide receiver Kalil Branham decommitted from Michigan on Saturday. He had been committed to Michigan since last June (LINK). He’s currently ranked as a 247 Composite 4-star, the #64 wide receiver, and #342 overall.
Hit the jump for more.
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