Rising second-year linebacker William Mohan has entered the transfer portal. Mohan made 1 tackle on special teams last season.
I gave Mohan a TTB Rating of 88 when he committed (LINK). He was a whirling dervish coming off the edge. At 6'1" and 205 lbs., he still had some filling out to do but I thought he could be a terror. He was a 3-star, the #23 athlete, and #461 overall coming out of high school in 2020.
Recruited for the Viper position that is now obsolete with the departure of defensive coordinator Don Brown, obviously he did not see a fit with the new defensive staff. I expect Macdonald to use more of a safety-like presence as a nickel player rather than running out a quasi-linebacker on almost every down. As I've mentioned previously, it's much easier to move safeties up into the box than to teach a linebacker to play safety.
Michigan now has 86 scholarship players on the roster (LINK), so at least one more player needs to depart before Michigan is under its limit for 2021.
Mohan was drawing a good bit of hype and excitement. I would guess he is successful wherever he ends up and wonder if he follows Don Brown to Arizona.
ReplyDeleteThough obviously Mohan hasn't played like Giles Jackson has, I see it as similar situation where it feels like a missed opportunity to utilize a modern hybrid skillset to inject a speed advantage on the field.
-Lank
If Michigan is heading the way of Alabama with a 3-4 defense, then LBs are going to be big. Alabama has huge LBs. Hey don't have Jabrill Peppers types. As you were saying, Mohan needs to fill out. Not a 3 -4 size LB.
ReplyDeleteMichigan still needs a couple of 300+ NTs.
I get it but you still want to make use of the talent you have. Barret was a viper LB and is moving inside. There is always a debate about this when you change over scheme, do you do it in phases to maximize personnel (e.g., Denard/Borges) or do you rip off the bandaid and rebuild (e.g., Mallet/Rodriguez). I don't think Harbaugh can afford a rebuild.
ReplyDeleteMohan isnt Denard of course but I'm sure there are ways to make a fast but light LB work. We'll run into the same issue with Solomon too.
Furthermore - if Big LBs is the way we are going why did BVS run away?
Finally - Michigan doesn't have the athletes Alabama has, so should really find another team to model on schematically IMO.
-Lank
Maybe he'll go to Arizona to be with Don Brown?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say alabama 3-4 ... but probably closer to Wisconsin
ReplyDelete