85. CB Tevis Metcalf (So.): Metcalf is listed at 5'10", 192 lbs. after transferring from Arkansas this off-season with his brother T.J. He played in twelve games last season with the Razorbacks, all of them on special teams and two of them on defense. I think the defensive adjustment may be significant and there's a good amount of competition to get on the field at cornerback, but he's a good addition for the coming years.
84. WR Jamar Browder (Fr.): Browder (3-star, #82 WR, #540 overall) is a 6'5", 208 lb. freshman receiver who enrolled early over the winter. The coaching staff has mentioned wanting to add size at the receiver position, and Browder brings that element, along with Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley. I think hands and route running are going to be an issue early for Browder, but the coaches seem to like him and his size maybe advantageous enough in certain situations or games to put him out on the field.
83. S Max Reyes (RS Jr.): Reyes is a redshirt junior that many fans might not know, but he's a "sleeper" pick of mine to be a key special teams contributor. He was a solid high school baseball player and a backup quarterback to Quinn Ewers in high school, a football powerhouse at Southlake Carroll. Split squad caveats apply, but he has played quite a bit in his spring game opportunities and seems like a solid tackler. I think he might end up playing quite a bit on coverage units this fall. Last year's rank: #99.
82. RB Bryson Kuzdzal (RS So.): Kuzdzal is a third-year player who had a good spring game and burst on to the scene, making his name known for the first time to many fans. He ran for 1,378 yards and scored 26 total touchdowns as a senior in the class of 2023, and he set personal record times of 10.99 in the 100 meters and 22.20 in the 200 meters during the spring of his senior year. With Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes virtually cemented in as the top two backs for this season, it will be a battle for the third spot between Kuzdzal, Princeton transfer John Volker, UMass transfer C.J. Hester, and redshirt freshman Micah Ka'apana. Last year's rank: #127.
81. DE Chibi Anwunah (RS Jr.): Anwunah is a former walk-on who is now listed at 6'5" and 278 pounds after bouncing around a little bit between tight end and defensive end. He played in two games last season and presumably moves up the ranks a little bit after Michigan lost Josaiah Stewart to the NFL and didn't bring in any transfers. He's still behind several guys and perhaps some young players like Devon Baxter, Lugard Edokpayi, and Nate Marshall will pass him up, but Anwunah's 278 pounds might give him a leg up over some of the lighter, more athletic options. Last year's rank: #95.
Browder could surprise, and could bust/transfer
ReplyDeleteIf he can learn to block, then he has a path early, which will help his confidence
Yep I gotta say I'm surprised by Tevis being this low. He was already a special teamer and depth chart relevant as an undersized, young, true freshman at Arkansas. Credit to him for that. Next is the bigger thing that makes me say he should be higher - the depth chart is open with so many DB departures and he was a big time performer in the Spring Game. The other thing is that Rod Moore seems to not be ready for full time action yet so the DB depth chart may need to rotate a little extra this year.
ReplyDeleteSeems like the younger Metcalf might be in the mix to have a spot in the DB rotation already to me. Here is mgoblog Seth's take:
" overall impression of Tevis Metcalf, once I realized #24 was the younger, was he's got some juice. If they have to put him on the field as a dimeback this year he seems physically capable of handling it, and didn't make any errors that would suggest he's struggling to pick up the Sainristil position."
caveat about playing against Michigan's WRs applies, but Michigan is going to need to have 8 or 9 DBs play meaningful snaps again this season.
Last years rotation (in order of snaps)
1. Q Johnson -- gone
2. Barry
3. Paige -- gone
4. Hill
5. Hall -- gone
6. Walker -- gone
7. W. Johnson -- gone
8. Hillman
9. Mason
I'm not including McBurrows (who saw meaningful snaps in previous seasons) or Edmond (who saw meaningful snaps against Alabama) in the above. I think those guys might be Metcalf's floor.
Anway point here is that's 5 guys you gotta replace in the rotation. Let's give one to Moore, one to Manningham, one to TJ Metcalf and one to Caleb Anderson. For that last spot I think you've got Tevin Metcalf in a battle with Edmond and maybe a freshman CB. Metcalf might be the leader in the house given what he did this spring.
Just my 2 cents, I'd have him higher.