Tag: Ryan Hayes

Michigan’s Top Seven 2023 NFL Draft Prospects

The following players (listed in alphabetical order) are Michigan’s best bets, in my opinion, to be drafted in 2023. Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan teams have produced 6.3 NFL draft picks per class during his tenure, so it’s a good bet that Michigan gets around this number of players to be selected.

TE Erick All
Senior Erick All was reportedly considering leaving the NFL after the 2021 season, but he decided to return. After a 2020 season in which he struggled with drops, he turned into a reliable target with 38 catches (second on the team) for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a game-winning catch-and-run against Penn State. All is a solid blocker with good speed and run-after-catch ability, and he has a lithe 6’4″, 245 lb. frame. He probably won’t be first round material, but he could be a day two or three pick.

Hit the jump for more.

2021 Season Countdown: #11 Ryan Hayes

Please consider using the Amazon links here at TTB (LINK):

Name: Ryan Hayes
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 307 lbs.
High school: Traverse City (MI) West
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #76
Last year: I ranked Hayes #18 and said he would be the starting left tackle (LINK). He started two games.
TTB Rating: 84

Hayes played quite a bit as a redshirt freshman in 2019, making him one of the more experienced offensive linemen. Unfortunately, one of the many reasons for Michigan’s poor season in 2020 was injury, and Hayes was not spared. Along with right tackle Jalen Mayfield and center Andrew Vastardis, Hayes’s season ended early. In Hayes’s case, he did not play after Michigan’s loss to Michigan State, leaving the Wolverines to start redshirt freshman Karsen Barnhart in his place.

The left tackle position appears to be locked down by Hayes; every off-season projection has him back to starting on the blind side. He has always had tantalizing size and athleticism, but the technique and strength have been a little lacking. He still could probably add some more bulk as his career progresses, but he is up from 302 lbs. to 307 this year. Hopefully by 2022 he can be in the 315 range. Considering his experience and athleticism, Hayes should be one of the more consistent pieces on the line this season. If Michigan has a good season, I think Hayes will be named an all-conference player.

Prediction: Starting left tackle

2020 Season Countdown: #18 Ryan Hayes

Name: Ryan Hayes
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 302 lbs.
High school: Traverse City (MI) West
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #76
Last year: I ranked Hayes #77 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He started two games and played in twelve games.
TTB Rating: 84

Hayes was forced into action a little early last year. He was expected to be the #4 tackle going into the season, with Jon Runyan, Jr. entrenched on the left side and Jalen Mayfield/Andrew Stueber battling for a starting gig on the right side. Then Stueber tore his ACL, giving Mayfield the right tackle job by default. And then Runyan was working through an injury to begin the year.

So Hayes went from the #4 tackle to starting the opener in pretty short order. He did about as well as expected, showing some nice athleticism while also looking lost at times. It was good for him to get his feet wet, but it was also nice when Runyan returned to take over the role for the remainder of the year.

This year with Runyan gone and Stueber looking like a starter at guard, Hayes seems pretty solidly locked in to the left tackle position. Mayfield is further along in his development, but offensive line coach Ed Warinner said there were no plans to move Mayfield over to protect the blind side. That indicates that there’s confidence in Hayes’s ability, and he’s also put on some weight, jumping up to 302 pounds on the fall roster. I expect some growing pains as a first-year full-time starter, but overall, I think Hayes should be a pretty good player by the time the season wraps.

Prediction: Starting left tackle

The Fence the Mitten Project: Offensive Line

Continuing the project of what the team would have looked like in 2019 if the Wolverines kept every in-state top-25 kid in the maize and blue. I have already covered QB (LINK), RB (LINK), WR (LINK), and TE (LINK).

Change is Coming: Offense

Every year the new season brings changes big and small. It seems that the 2020 season will bring some pretty significant changes to what we see on the field at Michigan, from players to coaches. Here’s a look at the expected changes and what we might see in 2020.

The impact is rated as being positive (+), negative (-), or neutral (=).

Out: QB Shea Patterson
In: Dylan McCaffrey/Joe Milton
Patterson was just the third quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, but many weren’t happy with his performance. Redshirt junior McCaffrey and redshirt sophomore Joe Milton will battle it out, and the belief (on my end) is that the loser of that battle will not finish out his career at Michigan. McCaffrey is the better overall player – both passing and running – but a concussion and a collarbone injury have ended his previous two seasons.
Impact: =

Hit the jump for more.