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.
I'm always impressed with the gracious words many -- not all, but many -- of these players offer as they leave. I hope he finds a good football home and enjoys many productive games as a player.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. It's interesting that this kid - a semester away from high school - has the maturity and intelligence to leave on good terms while some seniors do not.
DeleteNot many expected much from Spurlock. The reality of the portal, Colson's emergence, and the possibility of Barret returning make it likely that Spurlock will not be the last LB to go.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Colson's emergence has anything to do with it. He was expected to step up after last season, which he did. At this rate he might be gone to the NFL after 2023. If you're a young guy (basically anyone except Velazquez), you pretty much had to know after 2021 that Colson had one spot locked down. And really, some people probably thought Hill-Green would have the other spot solidified.
DeleteWhen Spurlock committed Colson was an unproven freshman backup - Michigan was playing young guys out of need (NHG and Mullings) and trying to move guys like Barrett around. There was always going to be competition of course, but how Colson looked back then vs how Colson looks now (like a potential all american) is very different.
DeleteIt's true that Spurlock could have decommitted before signing day after Colson started emerging towards the second half of last year, but even then he wasn't the entrenched player he is now. He was still an optimistic projection, not a lock. Now he is clearly a guy who is going to rarely leave the field.
Between Colson, Hausmann, Barrett, Rolder, there's almost no chance Spurlock is going to be in the 2-deep let alone a starter. That wasn't true when he committed. And it was a lot less true after 2021 than it is after 2022.
Michigan's LB position is way stronger than it was in the offseason and Colson is the biggest reason for that.
Best of luck to this young man - GO BLUE!
ReplyDelete