2023 Starter: J.J. McCarthy
Loss: McCarthy
Returning players: Jack Tuttle (7th), Davis Warren (RS Jr.), Jayden Denegal (RS So.), Alex Orji (RS So.)
Newcomer: Jadyn Davis (Fr.)
Projected starter: Tuttle
There are a lot of unknowns going into the 2024 season, but first among all of them is the quarterback position. Michigan got a great performance from McCarthy in 2023, who goes down in history as the program's best college quarterback ever after going 27-1 as a starter and winning a national championship.
But as of right now, Michigan is heading into the season with its cloudiest quarterback situation since perhaps 2009, when freshman Tate Forcier beat out freshman Denard Robinson and 2008 part-time starter Nick Sheridan. Michigan has significantly more experience on its side at the position in 2024, considering Tuttle is a 7th year senior and there are no freshmen - sorry, Jadyn Davis - who truly seem to be in the mix to start.
The first guy to get reps should be Tuttle, who has been named a starter before - albeit at Indiana - and ascended to #2 on the depth chart in 2023, during his first year in Ann Arbor. He completed 15/17 passes for 130 yards and 1 touchdown, a whopping 88.7% completion percentage. And the #1 most impressive thing about him in the spring of 2023 was his willingness and ability to run. He's a former top-100 recruit, even if he was coming out of high school back when Barack Obama was president (don't look that up).
The sexy pick is 6'3", 235 lb. Alex Orji, who was brought in as a quasi single-wing quarterback last year but who didn't attempt a pass. He's capable of throwing lasers, which can be seen on his high school film and from last year's spring game, but it's noteworthy that the coaching staff didn't trust him to throw last year. To go from attempting zero passes to becoming a starter would be . . . well . . . the first time since 2009 that Michigan would entrust a quarterback to start who hadn't attempted a single pass during the previous season.
Offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell says Jayden Denegal (4/5, 50 yards, 1 TD) is the most improved offensive player, but he was a guy who was very raw coming into the program in 2022. Walk-on Davis Warren has looked good at times, but he had a rough go in limited time last season (0/5, 1 INT). Meanwhile, freshman Jadyn Davis is an early enrollee who has a winning pedigree, but his limited size (6'0", 202), lack of an amazing arm, and lack of difference-making athleticism make him more of a threat to start down the road when experience and knowledge of the offense put him a notch above the field. To play as a freshman, you typically need some athletic trait that sets you apart - size, speed, arm strength - and that's not Davis's game.
Orji to my eyes looks like an elite runner at the QB position in the caste as Newton, Tebow, Pryor. IF they can get him to throw just a little bit we got something.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the guys look ok, nothing special. We'll be ok with any of the guys, Ok, meaning a top 10ish finish, a probable playoff appearance where they will lose.
With Oriji you have high risk, high reward guy because of his running ability.
Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteFWIW - Sam Webb said yesterday that Davis was expected to red-shirt, at his request. Given he was enrolled already and worked with the team in January playoff prep, I think it's a solid assumption going forward. Put it in pen.
Different ways to interpret that I guess. I take it as a sign of maturity for a guy who is widely considered to be the type to thrive on his decision-making ahead of any physical attributes. It's probably a complement to the other guys on the roster as well.
I would say the cloudiest QB situation was 2022 when our fanbase was really split between McNamara and McCarthy and referencing back to Brady/Henson era. But in terms of dividing the competition between more than 2 guys I would agree with 2009 reference.
Barring a portal transfer it would be a surprise to me if Tuttle or Orji wasn't the guy. I know Warren was injured and may have fallen purely due to that. I know Denegal is getting some buzz. But right now I think we're greater than 50% chance of seeing Tuttle take snap 1 and Orji sub in regularly to start the season.
Orgies are sexy by definition, but I dunno if I'd use that adjective for Orji who is going to be a run-heavy scheme that, if he's the guy, will result in Sherrone Moore being labeled "boring", "conservative", and worse when the offense struggles.
I'm also not 100% convince the coaching staff didn't trust him to throw. I think they were focused on Orji bringing a change of pace. Similar to the run-heavy-substitutions of guys like McCaffrey, Milton, and McCarthy when they were backups in the past -- all ended up running pretty infrequently later in their careers. Spring game should be interesting on this front. I would guess Orji is throwing a lot more than running. We'll see though.
There is history of starting guys who didn't throw much in the Harbaugh era. Milton had all of 11 pass attempts when he started in 2020 as a junior. Peters had 15 pass attempts before his first start (albeit forced by injury) as a sophomore. Speight had 25 headed in 2016 - his junior year. Those are all bigger numbers than zero but not meaningfully differences in level of experience considering Orji is a junior who was getting meaningful snaps in the playoffs. Given that, I'd consider Orji to have a substantial edge in experience over those 3 even if the pass attempts are technically at zero. Looks at the snaps and the level of importance and remember he had the option to throw.
If someone was to argue Orji was the favorite I would not argue too strongly with them. I personally think it's Tuttle, at least to start the year. Not to rule out Warren or Denegal if they step up in the spring, but they are well behind in my eyes at the moment.
I don't know if peters & milton are great examples here, considering how badly they performed when they were trusted to start ... even if you believe either or both were 'setup for failure, ' there's a concession that thinks didn't work out
Delete*things
DeleteI'm not making any sort of prediction of success, only noting it's happened multiple times. it wouldn't be too much surprise
DeleteCJ Stroud had no pass attempts before stepping into the starting role at OSU in 2021. FWIW. Orji has a year on him and a chunk of playoff snaps.
Deleteoof
DeleteI'd compare him to Milton & peters WAAAY before CJ
Eyeroll. The comparison did not extend beyond the number of pass attempts before starting. Nobody was saying Orji = Stroud or Orji = Peters or anything of the kind.
Delete"To go from attempting zero passes to becoming a starter would be . . . well . . . the first time since 2009 that Michigan would entrust a quarterback to start who hadn't attempted a single pass during the previous season."
Thunder stated a fact. My response is to note that several other starters have come in with similarly low (albeit non zero) pass attempts. The bar hasn't been that high, so Orji (low pass attempts, some meaningful snaps) starting wouldn't really be that unusual or surprising.
None of the players named were stellar, agreed, but that's an ancillary point at best. It's a small pool of guys at Michigan in the Harbaugh era when transfers started 4/9 seasons and JJ soaked up 2 more. None of handful of the non-JJ recruits-to-starters got much seasoning before being thrown in. Neither did our immediate rival's QB who represents and example that WAS stellar -- not only did he have zero pass attempts, he played just 8 snaps.
com·pare
Delete/kəmˈper/
verb
1.
estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between.
e·quate
/əˈkwāt/
verb
gerund or present participle: equating
consider (one thing) to be the same as or equivalent to another.
Cool. Now do "false equivalency" or "misleading statement"
Delete*eyewink emoji
just one quote...
DeleteWhile I realize this is outside the realm of talking about having zero pass attempts, Stroud was a borderline 5-star (#2 QB, #42 overall) and Orji was a ho-hum recruit (#30 QB, #493 overall). It's kind of like arguing against the "stars matter" people by saying "Mike Hart was a 3-star."
DeleteYes, a Heisman finalist who also led the NFL in pass yards per game as a rookie was successful his first year without having thrown a pass prior to starting at OSU...
@Thunder
DeleteYep stars are a different topic. Nobody is arguing -- these are very different players. I started with the 3 recent low-attempt starters at Michigan under Harbaugh and responded to JE's point (about them not being good) with Stroud (who was good). It's not a prediction of Orji's success or equating him to Stroud in ability.
Just an observation that it would not so earth-shattering to see a very inexperienced player step into a starting spot. It would be better if Orji had more experience, but I don't think it's prohibitive.
The advantage he has it will be his 3rd year in the program (and 3rd spring since he was an early enrollee). That's true for Denegal as well, so that's an advantage for them that they know Moore and Campbell (and vice versa) better than the others. What Orji has over Denegal is playing some meaningful snaps against OSU, Alabama, and Washington.
Soooo ... false equivalency. Saying crap just to say something, anything. Classic
DeleteThe only equivalency is in your imagination JE. Even putting the definitions in front of your face doesn't work LOL.
DeleteI don't think Orji can throw the ball with the consistent accuracy you need to run anything approaching a traditional D1passing attack. Having said that, I think it would be pretty big fun to run an offense with Orji at QB that combines a combination of our current blocking schemes with some of the bait and switch stuff Rich Rod put in place for Denard.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of speed and power at the RB position. Orji looks to be a guy that no safety in his right mind is gonna want to take on with a head of steam. We are pretty good at coaching blocking from our Receivers. All of that enables the development of some scheming that not only puts Linebackers in Hell, but damns Safeties as well.
The possibilities are pretty close to endless. But right near the top are a series of patterns where a receiver comes out and makes contact with a DB only to release. If you're a Safety looking at Orji looking to run and you have a guy trying to get into your body, you will by instinct seek to shed him, but shedding the guy might be pushing him into a route. On the other hand, stepping with the guy takes you away from the LOS with Orji bearing down on you with a blocker between the two of you. All your choices are potentially real damn ugly.
I also fully endorse whoever it is over at the other site promoting the notion of going out and getting some real whizbang single wing guys from the high schools and give them an analyst position ... or two. Imagine the despair in defensive staffs across the league/country, after having considered our offensive line, real big and real fast Running Backs and then Orji, when they remember that they have to defend a system that they have never really looked at before as anything other than a novelty act. We could be the wizards again on offense ... only meaner.
I'm really liking this entire idea.
Roanman
I hope not. This scenario puts us one injury from scrapping a year's worth of offensive development
DeleteWhy not Orji? I just don't think he'll make the leap we will need to be playoff level. Not in HS, not in year1 or year2. And it's not just in the pass game, but watch his carries and it appears he doesn't even consider giving to the RB. A playoff team needs a QB capable of pre & post snap reads, and Orji hasn't shown either, despite being in the program for two years (29 games)
My hope is we get a transfer that is not yet in the portal ... meddle away; get onboard with tampering ... If that can't happen, my guess is either Tuttle or Denegal is QB1, with more of Orji being a change of pace guy
Edwards and Loveland unlock a lot of options.
DeleteI agree with je3 that the best QB option for Michigan currently starts for another team. The QB currently enrolled at UM are probably OK if our target is a 8-4 or 9-3 season (not bad given our schedule). But if we want to beat Ohio, make noise in the playoff, I believe we need a QB from the portal.
DeleteIf Harbaugh was around I'd feel pretty confident we'd be portal shopping for a QB. I don't know that Moore has the interest or the relationships to be setting this up. I hope so - his OL has thrived off it.
DeleteWould be a great idea because there are definitely better options than Tuttle out there.
Tuttle can run it. Besides, you're mostly always one QB injury away from doom.
ReplyDeleteHe can run, I don't disagree. But how much & how effectively? I'd guess 1-3x per game ... the rest of the plays would be similar to what we ran last year & 2o22 ... that's not what Orji would be doing
DeleteWith Orji starting, an injury changes everything. A Denegal or Tuttle injury would result in a downgrade, but not an overhaul
Anon is 100% correct. Mobility is a strength for Tuttle. Framing Orji as just a runner who won't throw much and Tuttle as just a thrower who won't run is false.
DeleteTuttle can definitely run it more than 1-3 times a game, just as he can definitely pass it more than 5-6 times a game. That's just all he's done at Michigan.
Tuttle has 54 carries to 199 pass attempts in his career. His final start at Indiana was 10 carries and 12 pass attempts, in less than a half. He has shown he can run effectively at Michigan and at Indiana. He's not Cade McNamara or Wilton Speight.
Nor is Orji just a runner even if that's how he was used in games so far. Joe Milton's first 2 seasons at Michigan featured more run attempts than passes. JJ McCarthy's first season was 27 carries to 59 pass attempts. In their final college seasons they had similar rush/pass splits of 78/354 and 68/332. Even Denard went from running twice as much as he passed as a freshman to passing more than he ran after he was elevated to starter.
Young guys who run a lot (like Orji) tend to develop and evolve into more balanced QBs as they mature. Defenses have to adapt and that opens up passing opportunities.
Both Tuttle and Orji are dual threat QBs. If either is named starter they will pass and run. Spring game showed the similarity -- Tuttle passed 12 times and ran 9. Orji had 6 and 5. We're not talking different playbooks.
Michigan has been ~60% run for each year that Sherrone Moore has been OC. I'd be surprised if that changed much, even with a much a harder schedule in 2024, regardless of who is starter at QB.
Orji and Tuttle aren't identical but it absolutely does not "change everything". If Orji is the starter and the offense is modified to be more oriented around QB runs, Tuttle is a very solid fit as a backup. In that scenario Michigan will not need to change what they do significantly more than they usually would when a starter goes out. Play calling is (almost always) adjusted to some degree when a starter is replaced - but rarely do you light the playbook on fire. You just modify your selections.
The big difference to my eyes is if Orji is the starter he is the STARTER, you're not going to situational substitutions bringing in another runner like we've seen time and time again from Harbaugh (and Moore). If Tuttle is the starter, there's going to be a heavy dose of Orji time and it will be a rotation by design.
Given certain track records of projecting what certain QBs would be doing in the future, could do in the future, and need to do in the future I'll side firmly with Anon's take.
We're entering the arena of misleading claims again. Sure, jack Tuttle has one game with 1o carries (8yds) ... 4 were Sacks. Besides that, in six years, he has one game with five carries (Oyds) ... 3 were Sacks. He also has a game with six carries (11yds) ... 1 Sack. Then there's six years of injury history; assuming he is a Running Threat is hopeful at best
DeleteI wouldn't call Orji Dual Threat either. His 29 games at M include ONE pass, and ONE other play called as a pass, where he ate an unnecessary Sack vice throwing it away. HS stats & recruiting profile don't offer much more promise.
Until we see otherwise, he's a run threat only
Watch the games. Or at least the spring game.
DeleteOr if that doesn't work, you can take Mgoblog's take:
"Projection: Tuttle has a shot to be the starter this season, but it's notable that nobody declared him the starter when the NCAA declared him eligible. "Tuttle Time" last year came down to a good zone read against UNLV and a couple of good drives against Minnesota that mostly showcased his mobility, a trait Michigan underutilizes in its offense. The fact that Sam's telling us Alex Orji is the prohibitive favorite and Jayden Denegal is the most improved tells us they're not expecting Tuttle to be the bridge to Jadyn Davis."
Key point: "mostly showed off his mobility". Kind of like the spring game.
Words mean different things to different people but I would expect Tuttle to run quite a bit if/when he plays, since that's what we've seen in his time at Michigan.
Again, this "this is what I've seen early in career so this is how it is" approach only goes so far. Like concluding Joe Milton being an INT machine based on 3 years at Michigan (5TDs to 6INTs) and then anything but at Tennessee (32 TDs to 5 INTs). I know I know it was all the system... if that's your logic maybe consider whose system Orji is the "prohibitive favorite" to start in.
But hey, at least we agree the Portal is an option worth exploring further. I see Orji's limitations too. I agree Tuttle is probably a stronger passer at this point. I just think guys get better 7 days a week, not just 1, and Tuttle has a 4 year experience advantage that Orji could potentially overcome.
Watching games is how a football fan can easily sniff out misleading statements like "His final start at Indiana was 10 carries ... "
DeleteOh wait, not that quote ... I prefer "cAsE cLosEd"
LOL I don't even think most Indiana fans watched the 2022 Indiana/PSU blowout all the way through. I certainly did not. Sacks aren't differentiated in the stats (and never have been). Nice gotcha except - why would anyone assume otherwise?
DeleteI DID watch parts of the Michigan spring game where Tuttle passed 12 times and ran 9. Orji had 6 and 5. That balance for each makes me think we are talking about dual threat QBs.
But maybe you're right and we should assume the prohibitive favorite to start at Michigan is going to lead an offense that runs the ball 90% of the time and, if it's Jack Tuttle, he won't be able to run more than a couple times a game. Maybe the world is this black and white and simplistic. If so you can brag about it at the suburban Sacramento rec center.
You mean the spring game where the QBs are non contact?
DeleteReally showing that you're either full of it, or just don't know stuff
L. Again
Did anybody say otherwise or are you just arguing with yourself? L indeed.
DeleteNope, pretty obvious you don't know sh:t ... nobody is saying otherwise
DeleteA non-sequitur for fun:
ReplyDelete“Joe’s an unbelievable guy," said Wilson (via The Detroit News). "Great arm talent, like everybody knows, a great leader. I wish he could have stayed; I wish it could have worked out. I feel like if it would have worked out, it would have been incredible; it would have been unreal...He’s still a Michigan man, at heart.”
" I'd be shocked if anyone could find someone in college football that's willing to say something bad about Milton. Criticism about Milton's game is one thing, but there's no way you can criticize Milton the person -- he's a player that every kid should look up to. "
https://atozsports.com/nashville/former-michigan-vols-tennessee-qb-joe-milton/
Milton continues to be projected as a drafted player as he predictably impressed at the NFL combine.
https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/03/02/nfl-combine-2024-qb-winners-
Drawing COMPARISONS to Josh Allen:
https://heavy.com/sports/buffalo-bills/joe-milton-iii-josh-allen-backup-qb-draft/
"Brady Quinn, former NFL quarterback turned CBS Sports analyst, believes Milton will turn some heads ahead of the NFL Combine “[NFL scouts will] look at it and say, ‘We feel like we can work with this guy, we feel like we can mold this guy into something special,'” Quinn said of the 23-year-old prospect, per SI. “And that’s really where I think Joe Milton can improve himself over everyone else. Because his arm strength alone will separate him from the rest of the quarterback class.”"
Here's some different quotes:
"I stand by the assessment that Milton needs starter reps in practice, and live game PT. Not just garbage time, but actual games. I don't think he's good enough to do that in the G5 either, at least not right away. FCS makes more sense, if he really wants to get to the league."
"If he goes to a mediocre G5, he could be overwhelmed by some of the better competition, further damaging his mental grasp at the game (which took a beating in 2020). I don't consider the offer list coming out of HS. At that time, Milton was all potential. Three years later, he is what he is"
IYKYK
Now include the draft profile, that lines up with everything I've ever written
DeletecAsE cLoSed
@ Lank
DeleteI'm not really sure what your point is . . . that is, if you have one beyond riling up old arguments with je93.
Nothing coming out of the Combine is anything new. Milton threw the ball really far/hard, which we've known he could do since he was recruited. His footwork, timing, and accuracy were all questionable at the Combine, especially his drops from "under center" since he spent the last few years at Tennessee, where he was in shotgun the entire time.
Milton is a physical specimen who leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to accuracy, touch, etc. The Combine shouldn't change anyone's opinion of Milton one way or the other (outside of any medical/interview stuff, which is outside our knowledge). This isn't anything new.
I've seen him ranked around QB #10 in the draft. There were 14 quarterbacks taken last year, 9 the year before, 10 before that, 13 before that, and 11 the year before that. So if he's QB #10, he might end up as the last QB taken.
@Thunder
DeleteI agree with you that the combine doesn't change any narratives substantially. It only advances and further confirms that Joe Milton is considered a draftable QB based on what he showed in college. That article called him a combine winner but I think you are right -- like Xavier Worthy's 40 time -- we already expected that to be a strength. Stock neutral seems more likely, but who knows.
I don't agree that there is "a lot to be desired" after a successful college career, but I do agree that, like every NFL prospect, there are a lot of holes and further areas for development necessary to succeed at the next level.
Look at this draft evaluation:
"While he flashes a strong for an arm, he battles inconsistencies with ball placement, often forcing his pass-catchers to adjust mid-route, inhibiting YAC potential.
When airing it out, he struggles with touch and loft, rather than just relying on his arm strength. This sometimes gives DBs (defensive backs) a window to make a play on the ball.
On tape, he's shown a glaring deficiency in throws to the boundary on the right side, hinting at a potential mechanical flaw in his release or footwork.
His dropbacks sometimes lack the crispness and rhythm, causing him to telegraph throws, especially on out routes, giving corners a jump on the ball.
His pocket presence needs refinement;
he tends to bail from clean pockets rather than stepping up and navigating the pocket with poise.
His football IQ, while promising, showcases a rawness in reading complex defensive schemes and disguises, a red flag when projecting against NFL defenses.
Ball velocity is a strength, but he often lasers passes when a softer touch is needed, particularly against layered zone coverages or when dropping it in the bucket over linebackers and in front of safeties.
As he heads to the pro level, diversifying his route tree and demonstrating a consistent ability to progress through reads will be paramount.
His pre-snap diagnostics show room for growth; recognizing blitz packages, adjusting protections, and hot-routing will be crucial in the faster-paced, more intricate NFL defensive schemes.
That's a pretty solid list of some of the criticisms voiced about Milton but the draft profile is JJ's and I don't think these sort of things are unique. You'll see a range of questions of the top consensus QB prospect in the draft - Caleb Williams. Like almost any prospect he will be picked apart, riddled with critiques and questions. Go back and look at a draft profile of someone like Josh Allen - who Milton is getting compared to - same thing. Until a prospect proves he can play at the NFL level, that's the name of the game. The bar is elevated at the next level and everybody has "a lot to be desired".
What's indisputable is that those takes from 2021 have been thoroughly disproven. Not only did Milton start at P5 team instead of G5 or FCS, but he went to one of the very best programs and led them to a top 25 season that has him considered a likely NFL draft choice. He didn't need to go to FCS "if he really wants to get to the league" and he isn't who he was made out to be after 2020, at all. That was a horrendously incorrect prediction.
Which is fine -- I thought Mike Sainristil was a problem as a DB (not in a good way). I thought Wilton Speight was NFL-caliber QB. I was wrong and moved on. I'm not going to sit here years later and claim I was right because Sainristil has holes in his draft profile or insist that Speight made a practice squad and battled injuries otherwise I was right LOL.
I said it was a non-sequitur LOL. Milton is a player of note to Michigan fans and the blog and he's in the news because the QBs are doing things at the combine.
DeleteThat backflip though ... GMs will take a gamble, not unlike the Mike Cox draft pick
Delete@ Lank 11:49 p.m.
DeleteWell, there's a lot to be desire when it comes to the NFL. That's what we're talking about right now. Like I said, I generally see him listed as somewhere around QB #10.
There's a reason that despite being 6'5" and 240 lbs. with a cannon for an arm, he's not considered to be one of the top few guys in the draft. You keep arguing that he's basically not terrible, and I agree that he's not.
A different way of looking at it:
The guy is 6'5" and 240 lbs. He can run. He can throw hard and far. He played at two big schools. He has basically every physical advantage known to man. If you created a QB in EA Sports, you would make him look like Joe Milton. And yet...he's borderline to get drafted (if he's the #10 guy off the board).
Yes we are measuring Milton by NFL standards. That kind of says it all doesn't it? Because guys who suck in college don't go onto the NFL.
DeleteThe argument here on TTB has been he was a good college player -- which he proved to be. By team success, by individual stats, by accolades and awards. He was a very good college QB. That's a lot different than the narrative here (and many other places) after 2020. That's necessary (but not sufficient) to be a successful NFL QB.
But now it's 2024 and I'm asking if we are still talking about a guy who has to go to FCS to get a job or are we talking about a guy who is expected to get drafted in the top rounds of the NFL. That's a BIG difference in expectations. We're glossing over an enormous move of the goal posts in 3 years time.
Most Michigan QBs in the last 20 years have NOT been high NFL draft picks - few have been drafted at all. So it can't be because of that.
Most HS recruits outside of the top 200 aren't draft either. So it can't be because of residual "talent' evaluation.
If you're evaluating him as "top few guys in the draft" well let's pause and acknowledge that for a minute. Let's acknowledge a massive shift in our goalposts from "can he start at a G5 college program" to "he isn't quite a first or second day NFL choice". The argument if he's a top NFL prospect is a very different conversation.
---------------------------------------------
But OK - agree he exceeded those expectations from 3 years ago and now let's talk about his NFL prospects.
DeleteI haven't seen a single person on this blog argue Milton is going to be an NFL starter or should be a top draft pick. I've only seen it argued at a few fringe places at the top end of his potential range. Here? I've only seen people argue that he sucks too much to even be a good starter in college. Even I, his most vocal defender in this space, don't expect him to be NFL starter and don't consider him to be a wise use of a draft choice.
So I guess the question is who is saying he should be a top pick in the NFL draft? Not the vast majority of draft pundits. Not the the people here. Who is setting the bar at those heights?
Maybe you are saying Joe Milton's arm is doing the talking. To which I say -- this isn't Madden. This is the NFL where the top pick in last year's draft was 5'10 with an unexceptional arm. Accuracy, feel, instincts, scheme understanding are prized above cannon arms in the NFL.
So who is elevating Joe Milton to these heights of expectations? Who is taking a guy who wasn't a top 200 recruit, lost his starting job at Michigan, lost it again at Tennessee and then emerged for one final solid season at age 24 in college and saying "this guy needs to go in the top 3 rounds?"
I will give you my guess. I suspect the only people doing this are the ones who want to paint him as a failure or disappointment for some other reason.
Shhhh ... case closed
DeleteFirst correct thing you've said. Case closed!
DeleteQuotes. Facts to disprove them.
Hold it up high.