Preview: February 2023 National Signing Day

 

Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll TE Nyckoles Harbor

The second National Signing Day for the class of 2023 is tomorrow, February 1. While most recruits signed back in mid-December, there are always some high-profile players still lingering in February, along with kids who were just unsure or who were fielding late offers. Below are a few of the big story lines for Michigan fans, along with the uncommitted offerees:

Cameron Brandt - DL - Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Brandt is "committed" to Stanford, but he committed last summer when David Shaw was still at the helm. Now that Shaw has been replaced by Troy Taylor, all bets are off. He's a 3-star, the #51 defensive lineman, and #453 overall. Brandt took an official visit to Michigan this month, and the Wolverines now hold a 2-to-1 advantage in crystal ball picks. It appears likely that he will end up sending in his National Letter of Intent to the Wolverines on Wednesday.

Hit the jump for more.

Ted Hammond, Wolverine

 

Ted Hammond and Jim Harbaugh (image via Twitter)

Cincinnati (OH) Saint Xavier defensive lineman Ted Hammond, a 2024 prospect, committed to Michigan on January 25. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, Oklahoma, Pitt, and others.

Hammond is listed at 6'5" and 265 lbs. He claims a 30" vertical, a 320 lb. bench press, a 565 lb. squat, and a 625 lb. deadlift.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star DT
On3: 3-star, 89 grade, #32 DL
Rivals: 4-star SDE, 5.8 grade
247 Sports: 3-star, 89 grade, #23 DL

Hit the jump for more.

2025 Recruiting Update: January 30, 2023

 

New Orleans (LA) Edna Karr WR TaRon Francis (image via Twitter)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2025

Josiah Abdullah - WR - Atlanta (GA) Woodward: Abdullah is a 5'11", 170 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, among others.

Nick Brooks - OT - Alpharetta (GA) St. Francis: Brooks is a massive 6'8", 330-pounder with offers from Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Penn State, and more.

TaRon Francis - WR - New Orleans (LA) Edna Karr: Francis is a 6'0", 200 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, LSU, and Ole Miss, among others. Edna Karr produced one of the best named players in Michigan recruiting history, the Rich Rod-pursued quarterback Munchie Legaux.

Elijah Griffin - DT - Savannah (GA) Christian: Griffin is a 6'6", 285-pounder with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, and others. He's a 5-star, the #1 defensive lineman, and #2 overall.

Brayden Jacobs - OG - Alpharetta (GA) St. Francis: A teammate of Brooks (see above), Jacobs is the son of former NFL running back Brandon Jacobs. The younger Jacobs is a 6'4", 265 lb. lineman with offers from Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, and Penn State, among others.

2024 Recruiting Update: January 29, 2023

 

Springfield (MO) Glendale defensive end Kellen Lindstrom (image via Twitter)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

Martreece Dillard - DE - Buford (GA) Buford: Dillard is a 6'5", 263 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, and Mississippi State. Also, Charlotte - the new home of former Michigan staffer Bigg Poggi - offered Dillard four days after Michigan did. Coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences!

Kellen Lindstrom - DE - Springfield (MO) Glendale: Lindstrom is a 6'5", 240-pounder with offers from Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and USC, among others. He's a 3-star and the #35 defensive lineman to 247 Sports.

Makai Saina - OG - Arlington (OH) Martin: Saina is a 6'4", 300 lb. guard with offers from Arkansas, Baylor, LSU, Miami, Penn State, and USC, among others. He's a 3-star, the #20 interior offensive lineman, and #382 overall. The last time Michigan landed a player from Martin, it was quarterback Russell Bellomy in the class of 2011.

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: January 27-29, 2023

 

Olney (MD) Good Counsel LB Aaron Chiles (image via Mike Farrell Sports)

2024

Deontae Armstrong - OT - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Armstrong is a 6'7", 280 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He's a 3-star, the #34 offensive tackle, and #436 overall.

Devontae Armstrong - OT - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Armstrong is a 6'5", 288-pounder with offers from the same schools as his twin brother, Deontae. He's a 3-star, the #27 offensive tackle, and #357 overall.

Caleb Brewer - OT - Reading (PA) Wyomissing: Brewer is a 6'7", 290 lb. tackle with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State, among others.

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: January 20-22, 2023

 

Cameron Brandt (image via Twitter)

2023

Cameron Brandt - DT - Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon: Brandt is a 6'4", 260 lb. prospect who has been committed to Stanford since July of 2022. He's a 3-star, the #50 defensive lineman, and #448 overall. Despite remaining verbally committed to Stanford after head coach David Shaw stepped down and was replaced by Sacramento State's Troy Taylor, it seems like he is likely to flip to the Wolverines. This official visit is the only visit Brandt is taking before National Signing Day in February.

2024

Hevin Brown-Shuler - DT - Atlanta (GA) Pace: Brown-Shuler is a 6'4", 290-pounder with offers from Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 4-star, the #10 defensive lineman, and #72 overall.

Waltclaire Flynn, Jr. - C - Loganville (GA) Grayson: Flynn is a 6'1", 304 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 4-star, the #7 interior offensive lineman, and #113 overall.

Hit the jump for more.

2025 Recruiting Update: January 18, 2023

 

Murrieta (CA) Vista Murrieta QB Akili Smith, Jr. (image via Twitter)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2025

Demetrius Brisbon - QB - Tyler (TX) Chapel Hill: Brisbon is a 6'1", 175 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas Tech, among others. As a sophomore in 2022, he completed 134/225 passes for 2,209 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions; he also ran 140 times for 1,403 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's a teammate of Kamran Williams (see below).

Noah Flores - TE - Graham (WA) Graham-Kapowsin: Flores is a 6'4", 230-pounder with one other offer from Louisville.

Tucker Kattus - OT - Cincinnati (OH) Saint Xavier: Kattus is a 6'5", 260 lb. Michigan legacy as the son of former Wolverine and NFL tight end Eric Kattus. He has offers from Boston College, Kentucky, and Miami-OH. His older brother Josh is a tight end signee for Kentucky.

Hit the jump for more.

2024 Recruiting Update: January 17, 2023

 

Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier defensive lineman Ted Hammond (image via Hudl)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

Tayshawn Banks - CB - Cincinnati (OH) Taft: Banks is a 6'0", 170 lb. prospect with offers from Kentucky, Penn State, Pitt, and Purdue, among others.

Jay'Quan Bostic - WR - Cincinnati (OH) Taft: Bostic is a 6'3", 180-pounder with offers from Kentucky, Pitt, West Virginia, and more.

Darrion Dupree - RB - Chicago (IL) Mount Carmel: Dupree is a 5'10", 190 lb. back with offers from Iowa, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, among others. He's a 3-star, the #32 running back, and #405 overall. He has so-so speed and explosiveness, but his contact balance is outstanding.

Hit the jump for more.

Way Too Early 2023 Depth Chart: January 2023

 

Colston Loveland (image via MLive)

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the depth chart due to various reasons, even though some could return with a fifth year or COVID year exception:

• QB Alan Bowman (transfer to Oklahoma State)
• QB Cade McNamara (transfer to Iowa)
• WR Andrel Anthony, Jr. (transfer to Oklahoma)
• WR Ronnie Bell (graduation)
• TE Erick All (transfer to Iowa)
• TE Louis Hansen (transfer to UConn)
• TE Joel Honigford (graduation)
• TE Luke Schoonmaker (graduation)
• OL Ryan Hayes (graduation)
• OL Olu Oluwatimi (graduation)
• DE Mike Morris (NFL)
• DE Taylor Upshaw (transfer to Colorado)
• DE Julius Welschof (transfer)
• DT George Rooks (transfer to Boston College)
• DT Mazi Smith (NFL)
• LB Deuce Spurlock (transfer to Florida)
• CB Gemon Green (graduation)
• CB D.J. Turner II (NFL)
• S German Green (graduation)
• P Brad Robbins (graduation)

It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in 2023, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

All-Time Season Passing Yardage Leaders

 

John Navarre (image via TwinCities.com)

Previously I posted all the single-game passing yardage leaders (LINK). Today we look at the season passing yardage leaders.

Hit the jump for the list.

Visitors: January 13-15, 2023

 

Jordan Marshall

2024

Jordan Marshall - RB - Cincinnati (OH) Archbishop Moeller: Marshall is a 5'11", 195 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others. He's a 4-star, the #12 running back, and #168 overall. Marshall was Gatorade's Ohio Football Player of the Year after rushing for 1,961 yards and scoring 30 touchdowns on the ground, plus adding 19 catches for 364 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. Marshall has visited Michigan several times.

Jacob Oden - S - Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods: Oden is a 6'1", 188-pounder with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Penn State, among others. He's a 4-star, the #23 athlete, and #191 overall. He's the son of Harper Woods head coach Rod Oden, who was a walk-on fullback at Michigan in the 1990s.

Bryce West - S - Cleveland (OH) Glenville: West is a 5'11", 177 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He's a 4-star, the #6 cornerback, and #61 overall. He made 4 interceptions as a junior.

Eyabi Okie, Ex-Wolverine

 

Eyabi Okie (image via On3)

Michigan outside linebacker Eyabi Okie is entering the transfer portal. He has one more year of eligibility remaining and has also spent time at Alabama, Houston, and UT-Martin.

Okie was a 5-star recruit to Alabama in the class of 2018. But off-the-field issues led to him transferring multiple times. He seemed to sort things out at UT-Martin in 2021, and he was a late addition to Michigan's program in August, even after camp began.

Early in the 2022 season, Okie was a situational pass rusher, but he earned more playing time as the season went along, especially once Mike Morris got hurt a couple weeks before the end of the season. Okie made 18 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 4 quarterback hurries during his one year in Ann Arbor.

I would not be surprised to see Okie follow his high school coach, former Michigan staffer Biff Poggi, to Charlotte, where Poggi is now the head coach.

Here's a look at what's remaining at the EDGE positions for 2023:

EDGE: Braiden McGregor (RS Jr.), Derrick Moore (So.), Kechaun Bennett (RS So.), Enow Etta (Fr.)
Rush LB: Jaylen Harrell (RS Jr.), Josaiah Stewart (Jr.), Tyler McLaurin (RS So.), Aymeric Koumba (Fr.)

You can also view the 2023 scholarship count (LINK).

2025 Recruiting Update: January 11, 2023

 

Avery Gach (image via Detroit Jewish News)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2025

Justin Baker - RB - Buford (GA) Buford: Baker is a 5'9", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Penn State, and USC, among others. Buford is a powerhouse program in the Peach State, but Michigan has not signed anyone from the program since 2018 when running back Christian Turner signed with the Wolverines.

Avery Gach - OT - Franklin (MI) Groves: Gach is a 6'5", 275-pounder with offers from Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin. Despite his high profile - and the tendency for Michigan to dominate those in-state recruitments - both of Gach's parents graduated from Michigan State, so he's a Spartan legacy. He did, however, travel to Columbus to watch Michigan beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe.

Justin Hill - DE - Cincinnati (OH) Winton Woods: Hill is a 6'4", 205 lb. edge prospect who has offers from Kentucky and Michigan State. His high school teammate, cornerback Cameron Calhoun, recently signed with Michigan in the 2023 class.

Peyton Joseph - OG - Fort Valley (GA) Peach County: Joseph is a 6'4", 280-pounder with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and Notre Dame, among others.

Christian Pierce - LB - Oak Lawn (IL) Brother Rice: Pierce is a 6'0", 210 lb. inside linebacker who's the brother of Michigan signee Roderick Pierce. The younger brother has offers from Akron, Illinois, and Texas.

2024 Recruiting Update: January 9, 2022

 

Ainsworth (NE) Ainsworth TE Carter Nelson (image via Irish Sports Daily)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

T.J. Lindsey - DT - Bryant (AR) Bryant: Lindsey is a 6'6", 260 lb. prospect with offers from Arkansas, Arkansas State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, among others. He's a 3-star, the #27 edge, and #402 overall, but I think he will end up playing defensive tackle at the next level.

L.J. McCray - DT - Daytona Beach (FL) Mainland: McCray is a 6'5", 255-pounder with offers from Auburn, Florida, and Florida State, among others. He's a 3-star, the #39 defensive lineman, and #432 overall.

Carter Nelson - TE - Ainsworth (NE) Ainsworth: Nelson is a 6'4", 205 lb. tight end target with offers from Auburn, Iowa, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Penn State, among others. He's a 4-star, the #9 tight end, and #187 overall. Michigan doesn't send out many offers to kids playing eight-man football, so here's a special treat:

Xavier Porter - DT - Tampa (FL) Catholic: Porter is a 6'2", 265-pounder with offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, UCF, and UCF, among others. He's a 3-star, the #36 defensive lineman, and #392 overall.

OFF THE BOARD

T.J. Capers - LB - Miami (FL) Northwestern: Capers committed to Louisville. He's a 5-star, the #2 edge, and #7 overall in 2024.

Peyton Woodyard - S - Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco: Woodyard committed to Georgia. He's a 4-star, the #2 safety, and #29 overall.

All-Time Career Receiving Yardage Leaders

 

Braylon Edwards (image via Crave the Auto)

Here's another entry in the all-time leaders list. Enjoy a look back at the top career receiving yardage leaders in the history of mighty Michigan.

Under Armour All-American Game Participants: Michigan

  

Karmello English

The 2024 Under Armour All-American Game will be played in January of 2024.  The following participants have committed to or signed a Letter of Intent to play for Michigan:

2023
Karmello English, WR - Phenix City, AL
Amir Herring, C - West Bloomfield, MI

2022
Will Johnson, CB - Grosse Pointe, MI
Derrick Moore, DE - Baltimore, MD
Keon Sabb, S - Bradenton, FL
Amorion Walker, WR - Ponchatoula, LA

2021
Giovanni El-Hadi, OT - Sterling Heights, MI
Jaydon Hood, LB - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

2020
Blake Corum, RB - Baltimore, MD
Micah Mazzccua, OT - Baltimore, MD
Braiden McGregor, DE - Port Huron, MI#
Andre Seldon, Jr., CB - Belleville, MI

2019
Zach Charbonnet, RB - Thousand Oaks, CA
Quinten Johnson, S - Washington, DC
Trente Jones, OT - Loganville, GA
Nolan Rumler, OG - Akron, OH
Mazi Smith, DT - East Kentwood, MI
Anthony Solomon, LB - Fort Lauderdale, FL

2018
Mustapha Muhammad, TE - Missouri City, TX
Myles Sims, CB - Atlanta, GA

2017
Jaylen Kelly-Powell, S - Detroit, MI
Kwity Paye, DE - Warwick, RI
Cesar Ruiz, C - Bradenton, FL
Luiji Vilain, DE - Alexandria, VA

Hit the jump for more.

U.S. Army/Adidas All-American Bowl Participants: Michigan

 [caption id="attachment_20838" align="aligncenter" width="461"] 

Donovan Peoples-Jones

For your viewing pleasure, here's a comprehensive list of Michigan's commitments who were selected for the All-American Bowl (formerly the U.S. Army All-American Bowl). The next All-American Bowl will be on January 7, 2023 in San Antonio, TX.

2023
Semaj Bridgeman, LB - Philadelphia, PA

2022
Zeke Berry, S - Concord, CA#
Darrius Clemons, WR - Portland, OR#
Jayden Denegal, QB - Apple Valley, CA
Tyler Morris, WR - La Grange Park, IL#

2021
Junior Colson, LB - Brentwood, TN**
Tommy Doman, Jr., P - Orchard Lake, MI**
J.J. McCarthy, QB - La Grange Park, IL**

2020
Darion Green-Warren - Harbor City, CA
A.J. Henning - Frankfort, IL
Jordan Morant, S - Oradell, NJ
R.J. Moten, S - Delran, NJ
Kalel Mullings, LB - Milton, MA

2019
Daxton Hill, S - Tulsa, OK
Chris Hinton, DT - Norcross, GA
Cornelius Johnson, WR - Greenwich, CT

Hit the jump for the rest of the U.S. Army Bowl participants to play for Michigan since 2001.

Ex-Wolverine Player Updates: Post-Season 2022

 

Zach Charbonnet

FORMER PLAYERS

P George Caratan (UConn): Caratan punted 5 times for 201 yards in a 28-14 loss to Marshall in the bowl game. Caratan finished the season with 67 attempts for 2,704 yards (40.36 yards per attempt). He also kicked off 1 time for 65 yards. UConn went 6-7.

C Zach Carpenter (Indiana): Carpenter started eight games, mostly at left guard due to a hand injury that prevented him from playing center. Indiana went 4-8.

RB Zach Charbonnet (UCLA): Charbonnet ran 195 times for 1,359 yards (6.97 yards/carry) and 14 touchdowns, and also caught 37 passes for 321 yards.

S Sammy Faustin (UMass): Faustin made 3 tackles while playing in eleven games this season. UMass went 1-11.

OG Chuck Filiaga (Minnesota): Filiaga is leaving Minnesota after being a 3rd Team All-Big Ten offensive guard in 2022.

CB Darion Green-Warren (Nevada): Green-Warren made 5 tackles and 1 pass breakup this season. Nevada went 2-10.

Hit the jump for more.

Andrel Anthony, Ex-Wolverine

 

Andrel Anthony

Rising junior wide receiver Andrel Anthony has decided to take his talents elsewhere, announcing an entrance into the transfer portal on Wednesday.

Anthony was a 3-star, the #81 wide receiver, and #526 in the recruiting class in 2021, according to the 247 Composite. Here's what I said about Anthony during his recruitment, before I gave him a TTB Rating of 67 (LINK):

Overall, Anthony is a so-so prospect. When I watch him, I see Ronnie Bell minus the YAC. I like Bell as a player, but if you took away his ability to run through tackles and maintain his balance, whatever remained would be nothing special. With the talent Michigan is bringing in at receiver, I picture Anthony getting lost in the shuffle.

I did bump him up to a 73 after his senior film.

Anthony played in all fourteen games in 2022, but he made just 7 catches for 80 yards and 1 touchdown. That was a significant drop-off from his freshman year, when he made 12 catches for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 6-catch, 155-yard, 2-touchdown effort against Michigan State in 2021. That one game appeared to be a breakout, but the 2021 season was played without leading receiver Ronnie Bell, so other players had to step up. With the return of Bell - and every other significant receiving target - in 2022, Anthony was pushed down a rung in the pecking order.

Here's a look at the potential depth chart for 2023, assuming Bell and Cornelius Johnson are both going to move on to the NFL:

WR1: Darrius Clemons (So.), Cristian Dixon (RS So.), Karmello English (Fr.)
WR2: Roman Wilson (Sr.), Amorion Walker (So.), Fredrick Moore (Fr.)
WR3: A.J. Henning (Sr.), Tyler Morris (So.), Eamonn Dennis (RS Jr.), Semaj Morgan (Fr.)

I had projected Anthony as a starter in 2023 with Bell and Johnson gone, so this depth chart pushes unproven receivers like Clemons and Henning into starters' roles. I would not be surprised to see Michigan scope out the transfer portal for a receiver to help out with depth.

Anthony is the third player from the 2021 class to enter the transfer portal, joining defensive lineman George Rooks III (Boston College) and tight end Louis Hansen (UConn).

Taylor Upshaw, Ex-Wolverine

 

Taylor Upshaw

Fifth year senior Taylor Upshaw announced yesterday that he would be entering the transfer portal. He joins classmate and position mate Julius Welschof, announcing one day after the latter.

Upshaw was a member of the class of 2018. A 247 Composite 3-star, the #25 strongside end, and #561 overall, Upshaw is the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Regan Upshaw. I gave him a TTB Rating of 62 (LINK) with this to say about him:

Otherwise, I expected more from an NFLer’s son. Upshaw is a little slow and tentative out of his stance. He stands up too high and is a little stiff-legged. He does not play with a sense of urgency and seems to be a split second slow to react. He also does not run through tackles, instead leaving his feet to swing ball carriers to the ground. He’s somewhat of a finesse player when he should be dominant with his size and relative athleticism.

Overall, I’m somewhat indifferent on Upshaw’s commitment. He will get top-notch coaching at Michigan from Don Brown and Greg Mattison, who have turned non-scholarship players like Ryan Glasgow into quality players. But of all the scholarship guys currently on the roster, Upshaw probably has the least impressive film. He reminds me of former Michigan defensive end/defensive tackle Greg Banks. Banks was a 2005 signee who started 9 games (all as a fifth year senior in 2009), making 56 tackles, 8.5 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 pass breakups throughout his career.

After redshirting in 2018, Upshaw made 2 tackles in 2019 in limited playing time. Over the next three seasons, he became a rotational player, making just two starts from 2020-2022. However, he was fairly productive given his backup role, making 44 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in his career. He also notched a memorable interception of C.J. Stroud in the 2022 Ohio State game, a play that took place right before Donovan Edwards cinched the game with a long touchdown run to make it 45-23.

Michigan has Braiden McGregor and Eyabi Okie coming back next year, along with incoming transfer Josaiah Stewart. Even though Mike Morris is expected to move on to the NFL, I think Upshaw would have been a backup piece in 2023. Even with some decent productivity as a backup, I don't see much of a reason to stick around for year six of coming off the bench. 

Julius Welschof, Ex-Wolverine

 

Julius Welschof

Fifth year senior Julius Welschof announced on Tuesday that he is entering the transfer portal. Welschof was a part of the class of 2018 and has the opportunity to use the 2020 COVID exemption to get a sixth year of eligibility, which he will presumably use in 2023 if he can find a new home.

Welschof was a member of the class of 2018 and I gave him a TTB Rating of 78 at the time (LINK). He was 6'6", 248 lbs. as a recruit and earned some extra hype because he was an excellent mogul skier in Germany as a youth. He was a 247 Composite 3-star, the #28 strongside end, and #645 overall in that 2018 class.

Unfortunately, things did not play out that well at Michigan. He played some defensive end and defensive tackle, but he often played high. The one thing he did most consistently was run downfield on kickoff coverage, using the athletic skills that put him on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List." After playing in the 280s for a couple seasons, Welschof slimmed down to 266 pounds to play the edge rusher position under Jesse Minter, but that wasn't enough to get him on the field defensively with any regularity. He was passed up by younger players like Derrick Moore and Braiden McGregor, as well as a transfer in Eyabi Okie.

Altogether, Welschof made just 6 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup during his five seasons at Michigan. It will be interesting to see if perhaps Welschof rejoins Don Brown at UMass, who was Michigan's defensive coordinator from 2016-2020.

Now five years removed from their 2018 high school recruiting class, the only players remaining on the roster (for now) are linebacker Michael Barrett, defensive end Taylor Upshaw, and defensive back brothers Gemon and German Green. Other fifth year players who are entering the NFL draft include offensive tackle Ryan Hayes, kicker Jake Moody, , wide receiver Ronnie Bell, and tight end Luke Schoonmaker

2024 Recruiting Update: January 3, 2022

 

Tulsa (OK) NOAH Homeschool defensive end Danny Okoye (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

Caleb Brewer - OT - Reading (PA) Wyomissing: Brewer is a 6'6", 290 lb. prospect with offers from Notre Dame, Pitt, and Tennessee, among others. He's an On3 3-star and the #38 interior offensive lineman.

Danny Okoye - DE - Tulsa (OK) NOAH Homeschool: Okoye is a 6'5", 233-pounder with offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State, among others. He's currently unranked.

Taylor Tatum - RB - Longview (TX) Longview: Tatum is a 5'10", 195 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. He's a 4-star, the #3 running back, and #39 overall. As a junior, he ran 227 times for 1,889 yards and 33 touchdowns.

OFF THE BOARD

Deuce Spurlock, Ex-Wolverine

 

Deuce Spurlock (image via Twitter)

Freshman linebacker Deuce Spurlock has decided to enter the transfer portal. Spurlock played in two games this season and made 3 tackles against Hawaii.

Spurlock came to Michigan from Madison (AL) Madison Academy and was a standout receiver and linebacker in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 78 (LINK) and ranked him #82 in the season countdown (LINK).

The writing appeared to be on the wall for some of these backup linebackers once Michigan played freshman Jimmy Rolder over some other young guys and then recruited Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann out of the transfer portal. With Junior Colson returning next year and possibly Michael Barrett, along with Rolder, there just isn't going to be much room for playing time in 2023. The Wolverines have so many roster spots devoted to linebackers that it's just not really tenable to keep all of them around.

Here's a look at a possible depth chart for next season, which does not include Barrett, who could return for a sixth year:

MIKE: Nikhai Hill-Green (RS Jr.), Jimmy Rolder (So.), Ernest Hausmann (So.), Joey Velazquez (RS Sr.), Micah Pollard (RS Fr.), Jason Hewlett (Fr.)
WILL: Junior Colson (Jr.), Kalel Mullings (Sr.), Jaydon Hood (RS So.), Semaj Bridgeman (Fr.), Breeon Ishmail (Fr.)

Spurlock is the first signee from the 2022 class to hit the portal.

TCU 51, Michigan 45

 

Ronnie Bell had 6 catches for 135 yards and 1 touchdown (image via On3)

Well, that sucked. A friend texted me at halftime of last night's game and said, "It looks like TCU is playing its best game of the year and Michigan is playing its worst." And that's about right. Michigan went away from what got it to the College Football Playoff by trying to be cute rather than tough. They played better when they stopped trying to be cute, but it was too late. I tweeted during the game:

Michigan had too much time to prepare. They’re trying to be cute instead of just playing football.

— Touch the Banner 〽️ (@TouchTheBanner) December 31, 2022

Philly Wasn't Special. Jim Harbaugh took credit (blame) after the game for calling the Philly Special that failed spectacularly. Leave it to Michigan in a playoff game to be one of the few teams that can't execute something that seems to have about an 80% success rate. The whole play was off from the beginning, from the timeout prior to the weirdly timed motion to the awkward lateral to Colston Loveland. It was a bad time for the call, and it was poorly designed and executed. The motion was too deep, the lateral was too deep, and TCU wasn't in man coverage despite being on the goal line, so the cornerback was sitting in the flat where J.J. McCarthy was trying to sneak. Just line up in a heavy formation and run the damn ball.

Hit the jump for more.