Michigan running back C.J. Stokes has entered the transfer portal. This past season was his second season in the program, and he redshirted, so he will have three seasons to play three seasons. He was a 3-star, the #63 running back, and #797 overall in the 2022 recruiting class out of Columbia (SC) Hammond. I initially gave him a TTB Rating of 59 before bumping him up to a 71 at the end of the cycle.
Stokes got a lot of playing time as a freshman. He ran 55 times for 273 yards and 1 touchdown, and he also caught 1 pass for 15 yards, while playing in eleven games. But toward the end of the season, Kalel Mullings switched from linebacker to running back and started to take some snaps. That carried over into the 2023 campaign.
During the current 2023 season, Stokes played in just two games and ran 2 times for 6 yards. He did have injury issues that caused him to miss a chunk of time. Either way, though, he appeared to have lost ground to Mullings.
I liked what I saw from Stokes during his time at Michigan, but he needed to continue getting stronger and working on some fundamental things, such as getting his shoulders square to defenders. I think he can go somewhere and still have a productive career.
Looking ahead to 2024, Blake Corum could technically return (if he uses the COVID year exemption) but will almost certainly be heading to the NFL. Donovan Edwards expressed before the season that he planned to jump to the NFL, but his season did not go according to plan. And Mullings played a good-sized role with 32 carries for 195 yards and 1 touchdown, possibly earning him the chance to be a starter next season. Edwards and Mullings could make a nice 1-2 punch in 2024 if both decide to return.
Potential depth chart for 2024 (according to seniority):
- Kalel Mullings (RS Sr.)
- Donovan Edwards (Sr.)
- Tavierre Dunlap (RS Jr.)
- Cole Cabana (RS Fr.)
- Ben Hall (RS Fr.)
- Micah Ka'apana (Fr.)
- Jordan Marshall (Fr.)
Stokes did not earn much playing time in 2022 despite Edwards or Corum being unavailable for nearly half the season. He failed to seize the opportunity. Instead he split backup duties with a walk-on and then got benched for the bowl game. To me that's a red flag, but you can forgive freshman for not making an impact sometimes.
ReplyDelete2023 saw Michigan move Mullings back to RB full time, not a great sign for Stokes, but then Ben Hall also looked like the more promising player. If it wasn't already in January, the writing was on the wall by October.
In the the Portal era that means he moves on for greener pastures. I wish him nothing but the best. I think he could have been a feature back here eventually, or at least a rotation partner (a.k.a. "starter'). I also think he can do that elsewhere but ultimately, I don't think he's a difference maker and is a replacement level player for MIchigan (either via High School or the portal).
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I'd quibble with above depth chart and drop Dunlap below everyone else. He'll be a senior and it would be an unprecedented rise for someone who has had plenty of opportunity in 3 seasons but has continually remained as the 5th or 6th option.
As for the starters - Mullings and Edwards have decisions to make. Getting both back could be a nice Thunder/Lightening combo and constitute some fan-friendly continuity, plus big hopes given what Edwards produced as a starter before. Best guess - we get one not two.
If they both go Michigan will be just fine. A vacancy like Michigan's will draw heavy attention in the portal. There was Braelen Allen smoke last year before Blake decided to come back. This year there has been Trevor Ettiene smoke (though I doubt the timing works out). If it's open in January there will be some new names popping into the Portal.
I would be surprised if Michigan didn't add 1 RB via the portal. I wouldn't even be surprised if they added 2 if Edwards and Mullings both go.
Thee guess here is 1 contributor back, 1 addition via the portal, and some combo of Hall, Cabana, and the freshman filling in behind them.
Stokes didn't earn much playing time? He had 55 carries as a freshman, which is actually the exact same number of touches that Donovan Edwards has as a true freshman in 2021 (Edwards had 35 carries and 20 catches).
DeleteAs stated above, the depth chart is according to seniority.
I think the more pertinent point is that he didn’t really see meaningful snaps - mostly garbage time - whereas Edwards was receiving carries against OSU, Iowa, Georgia, etc. his freshman year. Stokes received a couple of carries against OSU out of necessity and was immediately benched.
DeleteTo clarify - I agree he had a meaningful role last year, but I don't think we can say he EARNED it given the options ahead of him to be RB2 were walk-ons or walk-on caliber. Edwards and Corum each missed 3.5 games so for about half the season there was essentially 1 scholarship RB.
DeleteTurns out that wasn't a problem but this is a completely different scenario from more typical depth charts at Michigan in the past (and seemingly now). For example, Stokes' oft-cited comparison Karan Higdon had 11 carries as a freshman but that was was behind 5 other RBs in 2015. He earned those 11 more than Stokes earned his 55.
Stokes spent almost half the season as the de facto RB2 and the other half the de facto RB3.
I wouldn't say Edwards earned much playing time in 2021 either. Most of his came when Corum was out and he was elevated to RB2 for a couple games. Like Stokes, the only real backup behind the 2 starters was Dunlap who is a deep depth player.
I missed the note about seniority. Depth chart rarely works out that way of course.
DeleteEh, not a meaningful snap type of player
ReplyDeleteI think Stokes is a real good back, that he couldn't break through the gang of RBs we have presently is hardly damning. Just testament to the talent we are enjoying in our RB room. Good luck to the kid. I think he'll be of value anywhere he goes, as he was here.
ReplyDeleteRoanman
Plenty of NFL backs (most recently Charbonnet) have gotten lost in the depth chart at Michigan. Stokes will get an opportunity elsewhere.
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