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.
QB: J.J. McCarthy (Jr.), Jack Tuttle (6th), Davis Warren (RS So.), Alex Orji (RS Fr.), Jayden Denegal (RS Fr.), Kendrick Bell (Fr.)
RB: Blake Corum (Sr.), Donovan Edwards (Jr.), C.J. Stokes (So.), Tavierre Dunlap (RS So.), Cole Cabana (Fr.), Benjamin Hall (Fr.)
WR1: Cornelius Johnson (RS Sr.), 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.)
TE: Colston Loveland (So.), A.J. Barner (RS Jr.), Matt Hibner (RS Jr.), Max Bredeson (RS So.), Marlin Klein (RS Fr.), Zack Marshall (Fr.), Deakon Tonielli (Fr.)
LT: Karsen Barnhart (RS Sr.), Jeffrey Persi (RS Jr.), Evan Link (Fr.)
LG: Trevor Keegan (RS Sr.), LaDarius Henderson (RS Sr.), Giovanni El-Hadi (RS So.), Alessandro Lorenzetti (RS Fr.), Nathan Efobi (Fr.)
C: Drake Nugent (RS Sr.), Greg Crippen (Jr.), Raheem Anderson II (RS So.), Amir Herring (Fr.)
RG: Zak Zinter (RS Jr.), Reece Atteberry (RS Jr.), Dominick Giudice (RS So.), Connor Jones (RS Fr.)
RT: Myles Hinton (Sr.), Trente Jones (RS Sr.), Andrew Gentry (So.), Tristan Bounds (RS So.)
EDGE: Braiden McGregor (RS Jr.), Derrick Moore (So.), Kechaun Bennett (RS So.), Enow Etta (Fr.)
SDE: Kris Jenkins Jr. (RS Jr.), T.J. Guy (RS So.), Brooks Bahr (Fr.)
DT: Mason Graham (So.), Rayshaun Benny (RS So.), Roderick Pierce (Fr.)
NT: Kenneth Grant (So.), Cam Goode (6th), Ike Iwunnah (RS So.)
Rush LB: Jaylen Harrell (RS Jr.), Josaiah Stewart (Jr.), Tyler McLaurin (RS So.), Aymeric Koumba (Fr.)
MIKE: Michael Barrett (6th), 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.)
CB: Mike Sainristil (RS Sr.), Jalen Perry (RS Sr.), Myles Pollard (RS Fr.), Jyaire Hill (Fr.)
CB: Will Johnson (So.), Ja'Den McBurrows (RS So.), Kody Jones (RS Fr.), Cam Calhoun (Fr.)
FS: Rod Moore (Jr.), Zeke Berry (So.), Damani Dent (RS Fr.), D.J. Waller (Fr.)
SS: R.J. Moten (RS Jr.), Makari Paige (RS Jr.), Quinten Johnson (RS Sr.), Keon Sabb (RS Fr.)
K: Adam Samaha (Fr.)
P: Tommy Doman (RS So.)
I feel bad for some of these players that transferred in the very beginning. All these late announcements of people coming back kinda sucks for them. I thought I read somewhere that the deadline for them to transfer is really soon so they're basically stuck if I understand it correctly.
ReplyDeletePeople can still transfer after spring camp. I think we should expect that given how ol and lb depth charts look. If this was pro sports we'd be looking at trades to balance out the roster.
DeleteI feel worse for the guys who've been around 2,3,4 years waiting for the depth chart to clear out to get their shot.
DeleteYep, same
DeleteFWIW, there was a tweet the other day from La'Darius Henderson where he was encouraging Zinter to come back for another year.
DeleteNFL salary is still higher for OT than OG so Henderson's draft stock could be helped by proving himself at LT. Michigan has many examples of guys who have flexed between positions across the OL.
Delete
ReplyDelete@thunder
Acknowledged that anything right now is a guess, do you have any for Henderson and sainristil? I am assuming Henderson didn't come here to sit behind anyone. Sainristil viable as an outside cb?
There's been some talk that Keegan and/or Henderson could play offensive tackle. Keegan played LT a little bit this year when Hayes was out, and Henderson played there a little bit earlier in his career.
DeleteI think Sainristil has the ability to play cornerback, but I also think Michigan should be trying to find someone - or develop someone - to play there to keep Sainristil inside at the nickel spot. He's such a good tackler that he's a good fit there because he can blitz and support the run.
What a huge loss of experience at TE!
ReplyDeleteI really hope an RB after Corum and Edwards stands out. There's an opportunity just waiting for any of those guys to be the #3 and get good playing time. I'm hoping Corum can get 2000.
You don't think Warren will be the #2 QB? I was hoping he would be knocking on the door of starting.
Warren and Tuttle will be an interesting battle. Tuttle has the edge when it comes to experience, but Warren might be the starter in 2024 if McCarthy leaves (Tuttle will be out of eligibility). If it's neck-and-neck, the coaches will probably go with Warren at the #2 spot. I just gave the edge here to Tuttle because he's played more.
Deletemy best guess at OL:
ReplyDeleteHenderson
Keegan
Nugent
Zinter
Barnhart
Probably lose 2-3 of Crippen, Persi, Hinton(!) O
or ElHadi
I've read through a few different versions of these online and while there are a lot of obvious bits there seems to be a handful of disagreement hot spots.
ReplyDeleteOFFENSE
WR3: Henning vs Clemons vs Edwards(?) I've seen a ton of different configurations to fill in beside Wilson and Johnson. Surprising considering the only departing starter is Bell. Henning is the obvious bet but also hasn't shown much as a receiver. The answer seems to hinge on if people think Wilson is a outside WR or a slot WR. I think he's both and the question is moot -- they'll take the 3rd best guy. I'm with Thunder on this one. I think Clemons will get starts and a plurality of snaps. However, there should be plenty of rotation so we may not have a clear top 3 like we did in 2022. I disagree strongly with Brian Cook's take that Edwards will step in for a majority of Bell's snaps and think. Agree that Morris is another one to watch, though probably more for WR4.
Backup QB: Nobody knows where Tuttle will fit in exactly, but fans are in favor of the current backup (shocker!). I usually go with veteran experience but I think Davis will be the backup and Tuttle will step into Alan Bowman's role as a quasi-coach/insurance policy. Also think we'll see more from Orji in 2023.
LT: Barnhart vs Hinton vs Henderson. I agree with JE and others that tab Henderson as LT and think he came here to take on a starting gig. Obviously competition will be robust in spring camp. They may let LT come down to Henderson vs Persi vs Hinton and let Jones and Barnhart fight it out again at RT. There'll likely be a departure or two from the OT group but it should still be a massive strength area.
RB3: Stokes vs Mullings. I don't think this one matters very much but Stokes seems like a high character kid that will work hard and improve so that's my guess. I disagree with Thunder listing Mullings at LB. I can't see him moving back there.
This is just offense but it's probably the most accurate-seeming depth chart I've seen:
https://247sports.com/college/michigan/LongFormArticle/Projecting-Michigan-footballs-2023-offensive-depth-chart-Jan-17-post-NFL-Draft-declaration-deadline-203143577/
DT3: Grant vs Benny. Mostly everyone has Graham elevating into Mazi Smith's starting spot next to Jenkins. So someone has to step into Graham's nominal "starting" spot for 5-man fronts (I believe Graham started 2 games this year). I think it will be Grant who is the first guy in off the bench and Graham and Jenkins will slide down when that happens.
DeleteEDGE x 2: Moore vs Stewart vs Harrell vs McGregor. Surprisingly to me, there isn't consensus on these 2 spots. Seems like people are overthinking it IMO. I consider Harrell a lock unless Stewart is an absolute rock star. (Mgoblog's Seth Fisher continues to undervalue Harrell's abilities IMO). Stewart is a likely upgrade over Okie and a natural complement. He can take Upshaw's snaps too. McGregor vs Moore seems like more of a toss up that could change by the end of the year. Expect heavy rotation again, probably even more than last year. The backups may pass the incumbents at some point but I think the clear leaders going into fall will be the seniors and experienced starters: Harrell and McGregor. This coaching staff likes reliability.
LB3: Mullings vs NHG vs Hausmann vs Rolder. Another group where there's a lot of questions and plenty of competition and probably some attrition coming. Kind of like OT except the starting spots (Colson and Barrett) are locked in. Maybe a bit more rotation than 2022 but my money is on Hausmann and Rolder being drawn in more often to prepare for 2024. I don't see Mullings returning to LB or NHG being able to hold off the sophomores.
DB5: Moten vs McBurrows vs Portal. Moore and Sainristil are versatile players that can move around so we could put in Moten as a starter at safety and slide them down to CB or just keep it simple and find a new CB opposite Johnson. My guess is that McBurrows ends up starting games in 2023. Sainristil's best fit and value is at nickel so move outside should be a last resort - even though Moten is another quality veteran safety to throw into the secondary I think they'll let McBurrows get first crack at replacing Turner. They'll still need to replace Green also - so that's where I think the Portal will come in and/or Moten can play an even bigger role if he sticks around. His sudden lack of role against TCU was a huge surprise given he started against OSU and Illinois. Something going on there. Regardless the secondary is the biggest question on the team behind the excellent core (Moore, Johnson, Sainristil, Paige). They'll need 3 or 4 more to step up.