Preview: Michigan vs. Colorado State

 

Jay Norvell (image via FootballScoop)

RUSH OFFENSE vs. COLORADO STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan had a top-15 rushing offense in 2021, and they might not drop off much - if at all - in 2022. The team returns three of five starters, the new center nearly won the Rimington at Virginia last year, and the new right tackle was the sixth lineman last year. All of these players are experienced. The biggest question mark is how well they will replace powerful running back Hassan Haskins. Blake Corum (144 carries, 952 yards, 11 TD) will be the lead back and Donovan Edwards (35 carries, 174 yards, 3 TD) will be the backup, but the #3 guy could be any of three unproven guys in Tavi Dunlap, C.J. Stokes, or Kalel Mullings. Colorado State held a couple top-25 teams to poor rushing efforts in 2021, including Iowa (32 carries for 54 yards) and Utah State (48 carries for 111 yards). The defense is anchored by a couple solid linebackers in Cam'Ron Carter (100 tackles, 7.5 TFLs in 2021) and Dequan Jackson (84 tackles, 8.5 TFLs). Both starting defensive tackles are around 6'1" and 300 pounds, so there's not a ton of size up front. Michigan will definitely have the advantage, but the Rams may not be pushovers.
Advantage: Michigan

Hit the jump for more.

PASS OFFENSE vs. COLORADO STATE PASS DEFENSE
Incumbent Cade McNamara has been named the starting QB for the Colorado State game. A recent graphic came out from @UmichFootball showing that McNamara is #1 in completion percentage and has thrown four of the top ten longest passing plays in Michigan history. That's an impressive resume for a guy that everyone wants to be replaced by J.J. McCarthy. He'll be throwing to an impressive array of receivers, despite the fact that nobody knows who the #1 guy is. Will it be Cornelius Johnson, who was last year's leader? Or will it be Ronnie Bell, who led the team in 2019 and 2020? Or tight end Erick All, who was 1 catch off the team lead last season? Someone else, perhaps? Meanwhile, Michigan allowed the #5 fewest sacks last season. Colorado State was tied for #18 in sacks (39.0) last year, but leading sacker Scott Patchan is gone. The top remaining guy is 6'1", 250 lb. DE/OLB Mohamed Kamara, who had 7.5 last year. Linebacker Cam'Ron Carter also had 6 quarterback takedowns. On the back end, three or four of CSU's defensive backs could be from the transfer ranks, with 6'1", 200 lb. Chigozie Anusiem (Cal) at one corner; 6'0", 195 lb. Greg Laday (Northern Colorado) at another corner; 6'0", 195 lb. Angel King (Nevada) at safety; and possibly 6'0", 210 lb. Ayden Hector (Washington State) at the other safety. The Rams finished #38 in pass defense last year, allowing 23 touchdowns and making 6 interceptions.
Advantage: Michigan

RUSH DEFENSE vs. COLORADO STATE RUSH OFFENSE
Michigan has mostly a brand new front seven, with new starters everywhere except inside linebacker Junior Colson and nose tackle Mazi Smith. Colson has been talked about as a possible future All-American, and Smith was #1 on Bruce Feldman's freaks list. Other major players up front will be freshman DT Mason Graham, as well as veteran DT/DE Kris Jenkins, MLB Nikhai Hill-Green, DE Mike Morris, OLB Taylor Upshaw, and OLB Jaylen Harrell. Colson and Hill-Green are Michigan's top two returning tacklers with 61 and 50, respectively. Colorado State was #62 in rushing yards last season, but probably more importantly, Jay Norvell's Nevada Wolfpack was #128 in rushing attempts and averaged just 2.99 yards per carry. In other words, Norvell likes to throw the ball around. The lead backs are expected to be 5'11", 200 lb. A'Jon Vivens (90 carries, 324 yards, 0 TD) and 5'11", 215 lb. Nevada transfer Avery Morrow, who averaged 6.4 and 11.0 yards per carry the last two seasons, albeit in limited playing time. Up front the Rams are expected to start four transfer linemen plus redshirt sophomore left tackle Brian Crespo-Jaquez. It will probably take time for those guys to gel.
Advantage: Michigan

PASS DEFENSE vs. COLORADO STATE PASS OFFENSE
Michigan's pass defense in 2021 was bolstered by two first round talents at edge rusher in Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. With those guys gone, the defensive backs might have to stay in receivers' hip pockets a little longer. The cornerbacks should both be guys with starting experience in D.J. Turner II and Gemon Green. Turnover comes at safety where Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins both moved on, and that's where Rod Moore and R.J. Moten step in. Pressure will come because Jim Harbaugh's Michigan teams have always been good at getting to the QB, but right now, we don't know who the lead dog will be. As mentioned above, CSU will probably not be up to speed immediately on the offensive line, considering all the transfers. If Michigan doesn't have guys who are elite pass rushers, hopefully they're good enough as a unit to confuse the linemen. From left to right, the linemen played last season at CSU, Tulsa, Nevada, Nevada, and North Carolina A&T. The quarterback is Nevada transfer Clay Millen, the son of former University of Washington and NFL quarterback Hugh Millen. The younger Millen's experience includes completing 1/2 passes for 2 yards last year. His top targets will likely be 6'2", 175 lb. wideout Tory Horton (52 catches, 659 yards, 5 TD last year) and 5'9", 185-pounder Melquan Stovall (56 catches, 643 yards, 1 TD), both of whom transferred from Nevada this off-season, too.
Advantage: Michigan

ROSTER NOTES

• Michigan doesn't cross paths with CSU on the recruiting trail and CSU doesn't really recruit in the state of Michigan, so there's not much in common here.
• Head coach Jay Norvell, who came over from Nevada this off-season, brought 11 transfers with him.

PREDICTION

• Michigan 52, Colorado State 17