Tag: Jyaire Hill

Transfer Portal Shopping List

The transfer portal opens up on Tuesday, April 16, and lots of schools are going to be shopping. With spring games out of the way for many programs – and Michigan’s coming up this Saturday – we’re enough of the way through spring ball to be aware of some roster deficiencies going into the fall.

Here are the top three positions Michigan should be looking for in the transfer portal prior to August camp:

1. QUARTERBACK
I know there are some big Alex Orji fans out there, but . . . I’m not one of them. At least not yet. Orji was a project coming out of high school, and in his second season in a Michigan uniform, he did not attempt a single pass. Yes, he can run at 6’3″ and 236 pounds (15 carries, 86 yards, 1 touchdown in 2023), but I’m on the record as a Passing QB Enthusiast. While I’m not a proponent of statuesque quarterbacks, championship teams have good passers and decision-makers, not run-first quarterbacks. I don’t think Michigan has the roster to win an FBS championship in 2024, anyway, but I don’t think they’re going to hit their ceiling without finding a quarterback who can pass the ball efficiently. Some of the big names have already found a new home, but perhaps the Wolverines can find the 2024 version of Jake Rudock, a solid passing quarterback who led Michigan to ten wins back in 2015. Others in the running are seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle and redshirt sophomore Jayden Denegal, but Tuttle had shoulder surgery and Denegal needs some polish since he’s not quite as dangerous as a runner as Orji.

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan vs. East Carolina Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Trente Jones. I really like the way Trente Jones plays football. On Saturday he was used mostly as an extra lineman or a tight end, reprising his primary role from 2021. But he just bullies people in the run game and does a great job with his body positioning. I think his pass protection might be a little questionable at tackle, but I think he deserves to be on the field more.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . Myles Hinton. Hinton earned the start in game one even though Jim Harbaugh suggested that he would start a different set of tackles in week two, presumably La’Darius Henderson at left tackle and Jones on the right side. Hinton is a mammoth at 6’6″ and 340 lbs., but he appeared to make several mental mistakes on Saturday, especially in the run game. He said in the post-game that he did not play well. I do still think he can be a good player, but perhaps he needs a little more time to adjust to Michigan’s scheme.

Hit the jump for more.

2023 Season Countdown: #55 Jyaire Hill

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Name: Jyaire Hill
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 171 lbs.
High school: Kankakee (IL) Kankakee
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #20
Last year: Hill was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 42 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.
TTB Rating: 88

Hill swooped in late during the 2023 recruiting class and quickly became one of the most exciting players in the group. Michigan needed help at cornerback and had struggled to land a big-time player at the position despite on-field success and a good chance of playing time if D.J. Turner II and Gemon Green decided to leave, which they did. (To be fair, Turner and Green did not announce their decisions until after the December signing day.) Hill had been one of Michigan’s top priorities at the position, but he was considering Illinois and Auburn, two programs whose success on the field in the past few years has paled in comparison to Michigan’s. So it seemed like an obvious choice, but Michigan had to sweat it out, anyway.

This season will be an interesting year for Hill and the cornerback position in general. Sophomore Will Johnson is a lock to start on one side, but the other side still seems up in the air. Amorion Walker was talked up in the spring, but he didn’t look good in the spring game. UMass transfer Josh Wallace is a multi-year starter who has the experience edge over everyone. And it’s also possible that nickel corner Mike Sainristil could play on the outside.

It would be a surprise if Hill leaps over those other guys for a starting role. I think he needs to wait until at least 2024 before he’s ready for that responsibility. But as a talented player at a position that’s going to need a new face next year – both Wallace and Sainristil will probably be gone – it would be good for Hill to get some experience in 2023.

Prediction: Backup cornerback

Jyaire Hill, Wolverine

Kankakee (IL) Kankakee cornerback Jyaire Hill committed to Michigan on National Signing Day. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Notre Dame, Oregon, Purdue, Tennessee, and UCLA, among others.

Hill is listed at 6’1″ and 170 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #34 CB, #239 overall
On3: 4-star, 93 grade, #15 CB, #112 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #51 CB
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #22 CB, #212 overall

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Visitors: Michigan vs. Illinois

2023

Cameron Calhoun – CB – Cincinnati (OH) Winton Woods: Calhoun, a recent Cincinnati decommit, is a 6’0″, 170-pounder with offers from Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia. He’s a 3-star, the #48 cornerback, and #483 overall. Calhoun – who was also committed to WVU at one point – decommitted during an official visit to Kentucky last weekend, so that’s the most likely landing spot going into this official visit.

Arion Carter – LB – Smyrna (TN) Smyrna: Carter is a 6’1″, 210 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Memphis, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee; he has been committed to Memphis since July. Carter is a 4-star, the #24 linebacker, and #317 overall. Carter has backed out of a couple other official visit dates to Michigan, so my confidence is not very high that he strongly considers the Wolverines, and many people think he will end up at Alabama.

Amir Herring – OG – West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield: Herring is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jyaire Hill – CB – Kankakee (IL) Kankakee: Hill is a 6’1″, 170-pounder with offers from a bunch of schools, but Illinois and Michigan are the two primary ones on which to focus. He’s a 4-star, the #26 cornerback, and #203 overall. He took officials to Illinois and Michigan over the summer and seems to be going back and forth between the two schools, with Michigan having the lone 247 Sports crystal ball.

Hit the jump for more.