Tag: Ex-Wolverines

Will Hart, Ex-Wolverine

Punter Will Hart posted on Twitter that he’s pursuing a grad transfer opportunity elsewhere in 2021. This is very interesting, because Hart was a fifth year senior in 2020, so he’s the first “senior” of any sort for Michigan to indicate that he plans to play college football again in 2021. Of course, because of COVID and the NCAA’s exception for collegiate athletes this year, every player still has eligibility in 2021, including seniors, fifth year seniors, and even sixth year seniors.

Hart had a very weird career at Michigan. A walk-on player, he was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist and first team all-conference player in 2018 after averaging 46.98 yards per punt. He followed that up by averaging 44.24 yards per punt in 2019 and . . . a very disappointing 37.75 yards in 2020. So he steadily regressed, and Brad Robbins took his punting job during the 2020 season. I’m unaware if that was because of injury, a loss of confidence, etc., but regardless, Hart looks to be headed out the door.

This does not really affect Michigan’s roster or scholarship numbers, considering Hart was a walk-on who had lost his starting job. But it does remove a punting option, and Robbins himself has had injury issues. It’s also worth noting that Michigan signed one of the top punters in the 2020 class in Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s specialist Tommy Doman.

Branden Jennings, Ex-Wolverine

Jacksonville (FL) Sandalwood outside linebacker/defensive end Branden Jennings signed with Maryland on Wednesday morning after being committed to Michigan. Jennings had also previously been committed to Florida State.

Jackson is a 4-star, the #7 outside linebacker, and #109 overall. I’ve seen him projected all over the place, and sometimes I have wondered what other people see in him that I don’t see. I think he’s a good prospect – as a weakside end or outside linebacker – but some have intimated that he’s an inside linebacker, and I just don’t get that.

Anyway, Michigan loses some star power from its 2021 class since he’s just outside the top-100. They also lose a potential pass rusher.

Jennings is one of four decommits from the 2021 class, joining WR Markus Allen, LB Casey Phinney, and DE Quinton Somerville (Somerville picked UCLA shortly after Jennings picked Maryland).

Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 14

Head on over to touchthebanner.blogspot.com to discuss this post if you want, since the comments here aren’t working.

FORMER PLAYERS

WR Tarik Black (Texas): Texas’s regular season is over. Black had 10 catches for 240 yards and 1 touchdown.

WR Kekoa Crawford (Cal): Cal (1-3) had a bye.

DT Michael Dwumfour (Rutgers): Dwumfour made 1 pass breakup in a 27-24 win over Maryland.

Hit the jump for more.

Zach Carpenter, Ex-Wolverine

Redshirt freshman center Zach Carpenter announced on Twitter that he is entering the transfer portal.

I initially gave Carpenter a TTB Rating of 73 (LINK) before bumping him up to 83 (LINK). Carpenter redshirted in 2019 and was expected by some (including me) to be the starter in 2020, but an injury led to him being a backup to Andrew Vastardis for the first several games of the year. After Vastardis got hurt, Carpenter started the final two games of the regular season against Rutgers and Penn State. I thought he performed fairly well and was more stout and athletic than Vastardis, though he did miss some stunts in pass protection that looked like standard mistakes for a young center.

Michigan is in a bit of a precarious position going into 2021. Vastardis is a fifth year senior who could presumably return in 2021, since the 2020 season is essentially null and void. Otherwise, Michigan might be reliant on Nolan Rumler (who has mostly practiced at guard), freshman Reece Atteberry, and class of 2021 commits Raheem Anderson II and Greg Crippen.

This is one of the stranger transfers over the years, right up there with tight end Devin Asiasi. Carpenter waited until the end of his second year, while Asiasi only spent one year in Ann Arbor, but both played quite a bit and were on the verge of starting the next season.

Then poof, they were gone.

Carpenter is the second class of 2019 signee to depart, joining linebacker Charles Thomas. Here’s a link to the scholarship count (LINK).

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Donovan Peoples-Jones

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones had the best day of his young career with a 3-catch, 92-yard, 1-touchdown performance in a 41-35 win over the Tennessee Titans. That one touchdown was on a beautiful double move that got him loose for a 75-yarder.

Baker Mayfield continues his big day with a 75-yard TD strike to Donovan Peoples-Jones. pic.twitter.com/IOheSZIPWy

— USA TODAY NFL (@usatodaynfl) December 6, 2020

Hit the jump for more.