Tag: Quinten Johnson

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.

2023 Season Countdown: #36 Quinten Johnson

Name: Quinten Johnson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) St. John’s
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #28
Last year: I ranked Johnson #56 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He made 11 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.
TTB Rating: 79

Johnson was ranked #57 and #56 in the past two years, so he’s been a fringe player for a while. He suffered a nasty leg injury a couple years ago that slowed his progress, but I had given him a TTB Rating of 79 when he came out of high school, so I thought he would be a solid player. Unfortunately, that hasn’t really come to fruition so far in his career, during which he’s been a little used backup and special teamer. His playing time did pick up last season and he played quite a bit in the CFP semifinal against TCU.

During this past off-season, safety R.J. Moten transferred to Florida once he realized Makari Paige had moved past him on the depth chart. Now there’s a top two of Paige and Rod Moore, but the third safety spot is up for grabs. From what I’ve gathered so far, it looks like Johnson is the front-runner, but there are numerous other guys battling for playing time, including solid second-year prospects in Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry. Experience is a valuable asset at the safety position, so I’m giving Johnson the nod here.

Prediction: Backup safety and special teamer

Potential Early Departures: Defense

With the onslaught of transfer portal entries in college football, it’s inevitable that Michigan will face some more departures this off-season. Four players have already announced their intentions to transfer, and two (Cade McNamara and Erick All to Iowa) have already found a landing spot. Quarterback Alan Bowman and tight end Louis Hansen are both headed for, ahem, greener pastures.

McNamara and All are both somewhat unique cases of players who played a lot but felt slighted in some way, but Bowman and Hansen are more typical cases of players buried on the depth chart who want to see some light at the end of the tunnel. This post explores several players in similar situations who may find better situations elsewhere.

You can find the version for the offensive side of the ball here (LINK).

DISCLAIMER: This post is speculative in nature and not intended to encourage/discourage any player from leaving Michigan’s program. The reality is that college football is now a lot like unrestricted free agency from year to year.

LB JOEY VELAZQUEZ
Why he should stay: Velazquez is a solid two-sport athlete who’s having a decent impact on the baseball field with Michigan’s baseball team. His playing time on the field has increased yearly from one game in 2020 to seven games in 2021 to eleven games so far in the 2022 season. He is a steady contributor on special teams and has made a career-high 6 tackles.
Why he might leave: Playing time has been difficult to find on defense, and he has never risen above third string on defense. He was immediately passed by freshman Jimmy Rolder this fall, and the commitment of Ernest Hausmann probably does not bode well for the staff’s faith in Velazquez contributing on defense in 2023. Velazquez only has one season of eligibility remaining, and he may want to go somewhere he can compete for a starting job, which is extremely unlikely in Ann Arbor.

Hit the jump for more.

2022 Season Countdown: #56 Quinten Johnson

Name: Quinten Johnson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) St. John’s
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #14
Last year: I ranked Johnson #57 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer (LINK). He made 3 tackles.
TTB Rating: 79

Johnson had a tough road to hoe for playing time in 2021. Behind starters Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins, he was clawing for playing time with the likes of R.J. Moten, Makari Paige, and others. Eventually, true freshman Rod Moore moved into the starting lineup, too, and Johnson was still mostly playing special teams.

The year 2022 provides a big opportunity. Gone are Hill and Hawkins, meaning another safety or two need to step into starting roles. I feel very confident that Johnson will not be a starter, but if those new starters are Moore and Moten – which I expect – then Johnson could be alongside Paige to be the next guy in. He will need to fend off a good group of incoming freshman defensive backs, as well as walk-on Caden Kolesar. I think Johnson’s biggest contributions will continue to be on special teams, and if Johnson intends to earn a starting role, he may need to finish his career elsewhere in 2023 and/or 2024.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer

2021 Season Countdown: #57 Quinten Johnson

Name: Quinten Johnson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) St. John’s
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #14
Last year: I ranked Johnson #52 and said he would be a backup safety (LINK). He played in two games on special teams.
TTB Rating: 79

Johnson is a player who has had a fair amount of adversity in his career, especially for someone who has only played in two games for his career. He suffered a knee injury as a freshman, causing him to miss the entire year. Brought in to be a Viper in Don Brown’s defense, he bounced back and forth between Viper and safety. And now with an entirely new defensive staff that doesn’t employ a Viper-type player, he has to re-invent himself as a safety only.

The outlook for 2021 doesn’t look great for Johnson, although the transfer of frequently used backup Hunter Reynolds (Utah State) does open up a small window. Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins return as starters at safety, but the primary backup in 2020 was Makari Paige, who also returns. Add in Sammy Faustin, Jalen Perry, R.J. Moten, Jordan Morant, and others, and there’s a lot of competition to get on the field. Johnson will have a tough time getting on the field on defense, but I do believe he has the skill set to be used on special teams a fair amount.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer