Ricky Johnson, Wolverine

 

Ricky Johnson (image via UNLV Athletics)

UNLV transfer Ricky Johnson has committed to Michigan after a midweek visit. He was previously committed to Washington State.

Johnson is a 6'1", 180 lb. player who is entering his fifth year of college football. Originally out of Houston (TX) Cypress Falls in the class of 2020, he played in four games that first year that didn't count against his eligibility. He also suffered an injury in 2022 that limited him to three games, meaning he would get an injury redshirt for that season. So he has only used up two years of eligibility and should have two remaining for the 2024 and 2025 seasons if he wishes to use both.

Johnson was ranked as a 3-star, the #151 safety, and #1951 overall in 2020 and has been a starter for UNLV since his second year on campus, but injuries have limited his time on the field. Altogether, he has played in 27 games, making 78 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, and 10 pass breakups. He did not play in the 2023 game against Michigan due to injury.

Johnson and fellow transfer portal commitment Aamir Hall give Michigan a couple good options to fight for playing time across from Will Johnson. Johnson has a ton of impressive plays on his highlight reel, but his PFF grades are mediocre; he grades out better as a run defender and tackler than in pass coverage. He appears to be more of a third or fourth corner, and I would not expect him to start this fall.

Here are some clips of his time at UNLV:

Here are some highlights from his high school days:

Wesley Walker, Wolverine

 

Wesley Walker (image via Emma Corona/Tennessee Athletics)

Former Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Louisville safety Wesley Walker has committed to Michigan. He picked Michigan over LSU and USC.

Walker has started 25 games in his career, which started in 2019 at Georgia Tech, where he played for three seasons. He then transferred to Tennessee for the 2022-2023 seasons, hit the transfer portal in December, committed to Louisville, spent the spring at Louisville, and then re-entered the portal. Altogether, he has made 184 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and 12 pass breakups while playing in 45 career contests.

Walker was listed at 6'1" and 200 pounds at Tennessee last season. He started ten games for the Volunteers last year and finished #4 on the team with 53 tackles.

It will be interesting to see where Walker fits into the rotation at safety. Makari Paige returns and is guaranteed a starting spot, while Zeke Berry looks like the top nickel and Quinten Johnson returns, too. Those were the top three safeties prior to Walker's commitment, so can he unseat any of them? My guess is that Berry will stay at nickel, with Paige, Walker, and Johnson being a three-man rotation at safety, much like Paige, Rod Moore, and Keon Sabb did in 2023.

Overall, Michigan has now landed seven transfer portal players for the 2024 season, including offensive guard Josh Priebe (Northwestern), linebacker Jaishawn Barham (Maryland), kicker Dominic Zvada (Arkansas State), cornerback Aamir Hall (Albany), wide receiver C.J. Charleston (Youngstown State), and wide receiver Amorion Walker (Ole Miss), and now Wesley Walker. It seems like Michigan will still look to add at least one more defensive back, perhaps in the form of Michigan State's Jaden Mangham. Mangham has two years of eligibility remaining, whereas both Hall and Wesley Walker will be in their final year.

Wesley Walker's time at Tennessee coincided with current linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, and Walker is also from Nashville (TN) Ensworth originally, which is the home of 2024 signee Mason Curtis.

Aamir Hall, Wolverine

 

Aamir Hall

Albany transfer cornerback Aamir Hall committed to Michigan this evening after taking a visit to Ann Arbor on Wednesday.

Hall is a 6'1", 201 lb. corner with one year of eligibility remaining. Originally a signee for FCS Richmond, he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons playing for the Spiders. He then transferred to Albany in 2023, where he was an FCS All-American, totaling 63 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 15 total passes defended.

After watching some highlights of him playing at Albany this past fall, I think Hall may have a better shot at playing corner than I originally believed. I mentioned in an earlier article that he might be more of a nickel - which was based on going back to watch his high school highlights - but there has been some development since then. He's a good-sized, physical corner who's not afraid to come up and support the run, and he has some nice instincts and ball skills. He plays through the hands of receivers, and he makes some nice adjustments to go up and get the ball, get low to dig out short throws, etc.

Overall, Michigan has found themselves a good addition to the cornerback room to compete with Jyaire Hill for that second corner spot, or perhaps help at nickel with Zeke Berry or Ja'Den McBurrows. Hall doesn't have the greatest speed, but if he did . . . he probably wouldn't be available at this point, and he wouldn't be coming from Albany. Hill probably has higher upside in the long run because he's a better athlete, but Hall is probably a good approximation of Josh Wallace - someone who's capable in pass coverage and who won't be taken advantage of physically.

Albany somewhat famously produced defensive end Jared Verse, who turned out to be a standout player for Florida State before becoming a 1st round draft pick last month. However, Albany has only produced one NFL draft pick, and that was 6th round safety Rashad Barksdale back in 2007.

Michigan is still looking at trying to land more defensive backs from the portal, including Michigan State safety Jaden Mangham, Sacramento State safety Cameron Broussard, and Louisville safety Wesley Walker, among others.

2024 Season Countdown: #113 Stone Anderson

 

Stone Anderson

Name: Stone Anderson
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Deerfield (MA) Deerfield Academy
Position: Kicker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #92
Last year: I did not rank Anderson. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

At one time Michigan had a pretty great defense led by guys with awesome names - like Sam Sword and Glen Steele and Rob Swett. Even names like Ian Gold and Andrew Weathers lent a feeling that these were men. And they were doing manly things. Like winning a national championship and stuff.

And now were have more manly men doing manly things with manly names, such as Shomari Stone and Stone Anderson. Surely, it's not a coincidence that they are a part of the program that is coming off a national championship and will likely be contending for a playoff spot in 2024.

As for Stone Anderson himself . . . his chance to play probably dropped off significantly when Michigan landed Arkansas State transfer kicker Dominic Zvada. Otherwise, it seemed like a wide-open kicking job with redshirt freshman Adam Samaha looking like the primary competition for place kicking duties. But now with Zvada in the fold, along with potential kickoff specialist Hudson Hollenbeck, Anderson might once again have to watch from the sideline in 2024.

Prediction: Backup kicker

Visitors: May 17-19, 2024

 

Jaden Mangham (image via Michigan State)

TRANSFER PORTAL

Aamir Hall - CB - Albany: Hall is a product of Baltimore (MD) Mount Saint Joseph's who originally went to Richmond out of high school, where he played two seasons, making 88 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 16 pass breakups. After transferring to Albany in 2023, he notched 63 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 15 total pass breakups. At 6'1" and 201 pounds, he's probably more of a nickel than a true cornerback.

Jaden Mangham - S - Michigan State: Mangham was a 4-star, the #13 athlete, and #311 overall in the class of 2022. Trying to escape the dysfunction in East Lansing, he's visiting Michigan this weekend to potentially fill the hole(s) left by Rod Moore's injury and the departure of Keon Sabb to Alabama. Listed at 6'2" and 185 pounds, he has started twelve games during his two seasons wearing green and white. He has 73 tackles and 4 interceptions during his college career and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2022. Michigan did offer him coming out of Franklin (MI) Groves - also the home of recent Michigan commit Avery Gach for the class of 2025 - but both sides cooled a little bit throughout the recruiting process.

Wesley Walker - S - Louisville: Walker actually visited last week, but I did not include him in last week's visitor list. He started his college career at Georgia Tech, transferred to Tennessee, entered the transfer portal in December, committed to Ole Miss, flipped to Louisville, and spent spring ball with Louisville. Then he entered the portal again. Originally, he was a 3-star, the #58 cornerback, and #572 overall in the class of 2019. Overall, he started 25 games and made 184 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and 12 pass breakups throughout his career.

2024 Season Countdown: #114 Luke Hamilton

 

Luke Hamilton

Name: Luke Hamilton
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 290 lbs.
High school: Avon (OH) Avon
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hamilton was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 49

Hamilton committed to Michigan back in November of 2022, right around when Michigan beat Ohio State for the second time in a row. His pledge came the day after the victory over the Buckeyes, which was probably a little extra special for him since his home state team did not offer, but the rivals Wolverines did. He finished the cycle ranked as a 3-star, the #26 interior offensive lineman, and #406 overall.

As a freshman offensive lineman, it's difficult to get on the field, anyway. And even though Michigan is replacing its top six linemen, there are a lot of guys in the stable. Additionally, Hamilton was not an early enrollee . . . and furthermore, I'm not convinced that Hamilton has the requisite athleticism to play for what has turned out to be a very solid offensive line-producing program. He plays somewhat high with a narrow base, and those guys tend to struggle. I expect him to redshirt a freshman and maybe we'll see in the 2025 spring game how much he has come along.

Prediction: Redshirt

2026 Recruiting Update: May 10, 2024

 

Thomas Davis, Jr. (image via 247 Sports)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2026

Suwanee (GA) Peachtree Ridge cornerback Dorian Barney was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'1", 170-pounder with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oregon, among others. He's a 4-star, the #5 cornerback, and #42 overall in the class.

Frisco (TX) Heritage wide receiver Tatum Bell, Jr. was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'0", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, and TCU, among others. Ranked as a 3-star, the #56 wide receiver, and #378 overall, he's the son of former Oklahoma State and NFL running back Tatum Bell, a 2nd round pick back in 2004 who played for the Broncos and Lions. He was another in a long line of "Literally Any Shanahan Running Back Can Run for 1,000 Yards," a list that includes Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, and Mike Anderson.

Panama City (FL) Bay tight end Javar Bowden was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'5", 185-pounder who may or may not eventually be a tight end; perhaps he'll just be a jumbo receiver in college. He's a 3-star, the #16 tight end, and #330 overall with offers from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Mississippi State, among others.

Hit the jump for more.

Way Too Early 2024 Depth Chart: May 2024

 

Colston Loveland (image via MLive)

The following depth chart has removed these listed players from the depth chart:

• WR Cristian Dixon (transfer)
• WR Karmello English (transfer)
• C Amir Herring (transfer to Kansas)
• LB Jeremiah Beasley (transfer to Missouri)
• LB Semaj Bridgeman (transfer)
• LB Hayden Moore (transfer)
• CB D.J. Waller (transfer to Kentucky)

I have also added WR C.J. Charleston (transfer from Youngstown State), WR Amorion Walker (transfer from Ole Miss), and K Dominic Zvada (transfer from Arkansas State).

It also assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in the fall of 2024, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

2025 Recruiting Update: May 8, 2024

 

Avery Gach

COMMITMENT

Franklin (MI) Groves offensive tackle Avery Gach committed to Michigan (LINK).

Oak Park (IL) Fenwick defensive lineman Nate Marshall committed to Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2025

Fishers (IN) Fishers wide receiver JonAnthony Hall was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'1", 170 lb. prospect with offers from Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, and Stanford, among others. He's a 3-star, the #72 wide receiver, and #460 overall.

Valdosta (GA) Valdosta running back Todd Robinson was offered by Michigan. He stands 5'11" and weighs 195 pounds. The 3-star, #37 running back, and #448 overall player also has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, and Tennessee, among others. He runs a 10.93 in the 100 meters and he both ran and passed for 1,000+ yards as a junior in 2023.

Folsom (CA) Folsom defensive tackle Josiah Sharma was offered by Michigan. He's 6'5", 295 lbs. and has offers from Alabama, Miami, Texas, and Washington, among others. He's a 4-star, the #38 defensive lineman, and #360 overall. Coincidentally, Michigan also recently offered - and is hosting - Folsom product Cameron Broussard, a transfer portal safety target from Sacramento State.

OFF THE BOARD

Buford (GA) Buford tight end Hayden Bradley (3-star, #40 TE, #795 overall) committed to Ole Miss.

Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha running back Bud Coombs (3-star, #58 RB, #738 overall) committed to Maryland.

Cleveland (OH) Cleveland Heights running back Marquise Davis (4-star, #11 RB, #165 overall) committed to Kentucky. He had two crystal balls for Michigan, so this was a swing and a miss so far, though Michigan is expected to continue recruiting him.

Chester (VA) Thomas Dale cornerback Shamari Earls (4-star, #15 CB, #118 overall) committed to South Carolina.

Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep safety Dallas Golden (4-star, #11 S, #94 overall) committed to Notre Dame.

Lee's Summit (MO) North wide receiver Isaiah Mozee (4-star, #27 WR, #234 overall) committed to Oregon.

Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei linebacker Nasir Wyatt (4-star, #8 edge, #70 overall) committed to Oregon.

Visitors: May 10-12, 2024

 

Cameron Broussard (image via Sacramento State)

TRANSFER PORTAL

Cameron Broussard - S - Sacramento State: Broussard is a 6'3", 200 lb. safety from Sacramento State, an FCS program in California. Originally out of Folsom (CA) Folsom, Broussard was a 247 Sports 3-star and the #137 athlete in the class of 2020. His first season was canceled due to COVID but he has played the past three seasons, so he has one year of eligibility remaining. As a starting free safety in 2023, he made 73 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 5 pass breakups while being named First Team All-Big Sky.

Jay'viar Suggs - DT - Grand Valley State: Suggs is a 6'3", 282-pounder from in-state GVSU. He attended Clarkston (MI) Clarkston and did not have any FBS offers coming out of high school in 2019. He made 21 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks this past season. He has named a top six of Arkansas, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, USC, and Wisconsin.

Avery Gach, Wolverine

 

Avery Gach

Franklin (MI) Groves offensive tackle Avery Gach committed to Michigan on Friday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others.

Gach is a 6'5", 290 lb. prospect.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #34 OT, #296 overall
On3: 3-star, 89 grade, #32 IOL
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #14 OT, #145 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #13 IOL, #196 overall

Hit the jump for more.

C.J. Charleston, Wolverine

 

C.J. Charleston (image via Tribune Chronicle)

Former Youngstown State University wide receiver C.J. Charleston has committed to Michigan out of the transfer portal.

Charleston was an unranked 2019 recruit who committed to the Penguins out of Gates Mills (OH) Gilmour Academy. He redshirted as a freshman and then played in five games during the COVID season, making 7 catches for 112 yards. Then in 2021 he made 16 catches for 147 yards before tearing his Achilles prior to the 2022 season, which caused him to miss the entire year. The 6'0", 190-pounder returned to play in 2023 and made 33 catches for 467 yards and 4 touchdowns while starting all thirteen games. He has two years of eligibility remaining, so he could be on Michigan's roster through 2025.

Here you can see him catching a 72-yard touchdown pass on a broken play against Illinois State last year:

Charleston does not have great speed or size, so he looks to be more of an intermediate possession guy. I'm not sure he offers much in the way of skills that Michigan does not already have. But he is another body to add to the room, and I would hope that his experience and time in a college strength and conditioning program will help him play a role as a leader and blocker.

Below are some highlights of the Charleston, who was a high school running back. As a senior in 2018, he ran for 198 yards, 2585 yards, and 49 touchdowns, albeit against some pretty weak competition. You can see his body type and running style lend themselves to the receiver position more, so that may explain why it took him some time to make an impact at YSU.

Dominic Zvada, Wolverine

 

Dominic Zvada (image via Northwest Arkansas Gazette)

For the second year in a row, Michigan has looked to the transfer portal to help shore up its kicking position. Last year Michigan landed James Turner from Louisville. This year they have possibly found their answer with Arkansas State transfer Dominic Zvada, who committed to the Wolverines.

Zvada is a 6'3", 174 lb. junior who had started for the Red Wolves for the past two seasons. He was 17/18 on field goals (the lone miss was from 51 yards) as a freshman in 2022 and 30/31 on extra points (the lone miss was blocked). Then in 2023 he was 17/22 on field goals and 41/41 on extra points. His career long came as a freshman when he hit a 56-yarder.

Zvada was a Lou Groza Award finalist in 2022 (the year Michigan's Jake Moody won the award) and was on the Lou Groza Award Watch List in 2023.

Arkansas State was Zvada's only scholarship offer coming out of Chandler (AZ) Valley Christian in 2022.

The head coach of Arkansas State is former Central Michigan head coach Butch Jones.

2024 NFL Draft Results: Michigan

 

Mike Sainristil

Here are the results of the 2024 NFL Draft for Michigan players:

2024
1st round: J.J. McCarthy - QB - Minnesota Vikings (#10 overall)
2nd round: Kris Jenkins, Jr. - DT - Cincinnati Bengals (#49)
2nd round: Mike Sainristil - CB - Washington Commanders (#50)
3rd round: Junior Colson - LB - Los Angeles Chargers (#69)
3rd round: Blake Corum - RB - Los Angeles Rams (#83)
3rd round: Roman Wilson - WR - Pittsburgh Steelers (#84)
3rd round: Zak Zinter - OG - Cleveland Browns (#85)
4th round: A.J. Barner - TE - Seattle Seahawks (#121)
5th round: Trevor Keegan - OG - Philadelphia Eagles (#172)
7th round: Michael Barrett - LB - Carolina Panthers (#240)
7th round: La'Darius Henderson - OG - Houston Texans (#249)
7th round: Jaylen Harrell - DE - Tennessee Titans (#252)
7th round: Cornelius Johnson - WR - Los Angeles Chargers (#253)

Jenkins joins a Michigan-heavy defense with the Bengals, who spent a first round pick on S Daxton Hill a couple years ago and a second round pick on CB D.J. Turner II in 2023.

The Chargers are coached by former Michigan head man Jim Harbaugh, who drafted Colson and Johnson, both of whom play positions of need for the team. The Seahawks are led by Mike Macdonald, whose lone pick from Michigan (A.J. Barner at #121 overall) didn't overlap with Macdonald's one season at defensive coordinator in 2021. Barner transferred from Indiana for the 2023 season. However, former Michigan assistant coach Jay Harbaugh is on Seattle's staff.

The following players signed undrafted free agent contracts with NFL teams:

Karsen Barnhart - OG - Los Angeles Chargers
Trente Jones - OT - Green Bay Packers
Braiden McGregor - DE - New York Jets
Drake Nugent - C - San Francisco 49ers
James Turner - K - Detroit Lions
Josh Wallace - CB - Los Angeles Rams

McGregor is the biggest draft snub of these players, in my opinion. At 6'5" and 257 pounds, I thought he showed adequate enough production and athleticism to get taken somewhere prior to the end of the draft. He was injured as a senior in high school and took a few years just to get back on track. I always thought he should have stayed in college one more year to continue ascending since 2023 was his first year as a starter; perhaps with that previous injury, he thought this might be the best time to try to make a jump for the NFL rather than risking another year in college.

Additionally, three former Wolverine signees were taken in the draft:

1st round: Xavier Worthy - WR - Kansas City Chiefs (#28)
4th round: Erick All - TE - Cincinnati Bengals (#115)
6th round: Joe Milton - QB - New England Patriots (#193)

Worthy signed with Michigan but was unable to enroll, so he transferred to Texas. All played at Michigan for three seasons (2020-2022) before transferring to Iowa in 2023. Milton spent three years in Ann Arbor (2018-2020) and then spent the next three seasons (2021-2023) at Tennessee.

J.J. McCarthy taken in 1st Round of 2024 NFL Draft

 

J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings traded up one spot in the 2024 NFL Draft to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He was taken #10 overall after the Vikings swapped picks with the New York Jets, who moved down to #11 and took Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu.

McCarthy is the highest drafted quarterback to ever come out of Michigan, topping his head coach in college, Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was taken #26 overall in the 1987 draft by the Chicago Bears. McCarthy is also the first Michigan quarterback to be selected since Jake Rudock (6th round, #191 overall by the Detroit Lions) in 2016.

McCarthy went 27-1 as a starter at Michigan over 2022 and 2023, with the lone loss coming to TCU in the 2023 College Football Playoff. He threw for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions from 2021-2023. He set Michigan records for completion percentage in a season (72.3% in 2023) and in a career (67.6%) and won a national championship in 2023.

Of the quarterback-needy teams in the 2024 draft, I felt like Minnesota was the best fit for McCarthy. McCarthy's main competition to start will be journeyman Sam Darnold, but they have a good cast of weapons that includes standout wide receivers (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison), an upper-echelon tight end (T.J. Hockenson), and a productive running back (Aaron Jones). I would like to see the Vikings beef up their running game with a complementary running back and/or some offensive line help, but they may address those issues in the draft or in subsequent years. 

2024 Mock NFL Draft

 

Two of these guys will be involved in the first round, and hopefully a third will get drafted on day two.

It's that time of the year for another mock NFL Draft. Here are my guesses for how the draft shakes out. If I guess wrong, oh well. And if I guess right? I'm a genius. That's just how it works.

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams - QB - USC
Why? He seems to be the consensus choice here. This one seems obvious.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels - QB - LSU
Why? A few months ago, I never would have believed that Daniels would hop ahead of Maye to be QB#2, but again, it seems to be the case.

3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye - QB - North Carolina
Why? Some people are running the angle of taking J.J. McCarthy as "another Michigan Man" to fill the shoes of Tom Brady, but when I've tried to make those connections in the past, it just rarely seems to work out that way. Maye is a bigger prospect, too, and I think some are concerned about McCarthy's sturdiness.

Hit the jump for more.

Nathaniel Marshall, Wolverine

 

Oak Park (MI) Fenwick defensive tackle Nate Marshall

Oak Park (MI) Fenwick defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall committed to Michigan on Monday morning. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, and USC, among others.

Marshall is listed at 6'4" and 265 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #4 DT, #78 overall
On3: 4-star, 93 grade, #6 DL, #71 overall
Rivals: 4-star, #1 SDE, #21 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, #11 DL, #73 overall

Hit the jump for more.

2024 Season Countdown: #120 Anthony Arnou

 

Anthony Arnou (image via Twitter)

Name: Anthony Arnou
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 226 lbs.
High school: Santa Monica (CA) Santa Monica
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #15
Last year: Arnou was at Pasadena City College and completed 58/98 passes for 620 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He also ran 20 times for 101 yards and 2 touchdown.
TTB Rating: N/A

Arnou is in his first year at Michigan after transferring in as a walk-on. The fall of 2024 will be his third season of college football after walking on at Fresno State in 2021, where he redshirted behind Jake Haener . . . and played for Kalen DeBoer, who went on to be Washington's head coach in 2022-2023 and whom Michigan beat for the national championship back in January.

Arnou then went on to play for Pasadena City College in 2022, where he played a fair amount. Watching his highlights from that season, he looks like a fine lower level college prospect. He looks like a Division II potential starter to me. But he's a little heavy-footed even at that level, and his arm strength and throwing mechanics leave something to be desired.

It's nice to have a player like Arnou on the roster for the scout team, but Michigan already has depth - not proven depth, but depth - at the quarterback position. There are about three guys vying for the starting quarterback job, and another couple with higher upside, including freshman Jadyn Davis. Other than the outstanding education, the awesome city that is Ann Arbor, and a chance to have some team success, I'm not really sure why a player like Arnou would transfer to Michigan if he's looking for playing time.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

Spring Game 2024: 5 Things to Watch

 

Alex Orji

Here are five things I'll be watching in the 2024 spring game:

1. How does Alex Orji throw the ball? Third-year quarterback Alex Orji seems to be the most likely [currently rostered and healthy] guy to start behind center this fall. At 6'3" and 236 lbs., we know he can run. We saw him do it at various times during the championship run in 2023. What we didn't see at all in 2023 is Orji passing the ball. Footwork, accuracy, and touch are all in question. I don't expect to see him run the ball a whole lot, because running a QB when they can't be tackled is kind of unfair and boring. If/when he has time to throw, how does he look? Can he feather the ball or does he just throw it on a line? Does he get his feet lined up properly to throw, or are they all over the place? What we see might indicate whether Michigan needs to dip into the portal for a potential starter in the fall.

2. Who's the "other" corner? We know Will Johnson has one cornerback spot locked down for this fall. If a currently rostered player wins the job across from him, it will likely be either Jyaire Hill or D.J. Waller. Waller got more playing time in the fall, but when Hill enrolled early last spring and was flying around, I thought he looked like a potential future star. Michigan still might look to the transfer portal to help out at a fairly thin position, but it would still be nice to see progress from Hill and Waller.

Hit the jump for more.

2024 Season Countdown: #121 Jack MacKinnon

 

Jack MacKinnon

Name: Jack MacKinnon
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 244 lbs.
High school: Sarasota (FL) Cardinal Moooney
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #39
Last year: I did not rank MacKinnon. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

MacKinnon was a preferred walk-on in the class of 2023. A high school defensive end (he had 58 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks as a senior in 2022), he was originally committed to play baseball at USF. But according to this article (LINK), Jack Harbaugh saw him play football and recommended him to the Michigan coaching staff as a PWO.

I like MacKinnon's high school film, but he's now listed as a linebacker. Can he be a true linebacker at 6'4" and 244 pounds? Or would he potentially be better off trying to grow into a stand-up edge player like Jaylen Harrell? Either way, he's unlikely to play this early in his career at Michigan. I could potentially see him playing in Ann Arbor down the road, but he also seems like a prime candidate to transfer at some point for a clearer path to playing time. Regardless, he's on Michigan's roster for now and should be a solid scout team player for the time being.

Prediction: Backup linebacker

2025 Recruiting Update: April 16, 2024

 

Howell (MI) Howell DT Bobby Kanka

OFF THE BOARD

Dallas (TX) Skyline linebacker Elijah Barnes (4-star, #13 LB, #98 overall) committed to Texas.

Denton (TX) Ryan offensive tackle Marcus Garcia (4-star, #29 OT, #308 overall) committed to Texas A&M. Garcia visited Michigan earlier this spring.

Rome (GA) Rome linebacker Jaedon Harmon (4-star, #23 LB, #177 overall) committed to Alabama.

Rabun Gap (GA) Nacoochee offensive guard Justin Hasenhuetl (4-star, #10 IOL, #196 overall) committed to Georgia Tech. He's a teammate of 2025 tight end Marshall Pritchett, who recently picked North Carolina over Michigan, and both attend the alma mater of Michigan tight end Marlin Klein.

Corona (CA) Centennial quarterback Husan Longstreet (4-star, #5 QB, #44 overall) committed to Texas A&M.

Washington (OK) Washington tight end Nate Roberts (4-star, #5 TE, #118 overall) committed to Ohio State.

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright (4-star, #43 WR, #318 overall) committed to Washington.

MISCELLANEY

Here's a list of visitors from this past weekend (LINK).

Howell (MI) Howell defensive tackle Bobby Kanka (4-star, #41 DL, #361 overall), a Michigan commit, has set two other official visits to Michigan State and Tennessee. He remains committed to Michigan but is exploring his options.

Transfer Portal Shopping List

Alex Orji

The transfer portal opens up on Tuesday, April 16, and lots of schools are going to be shopping. With spring games out of the way for many programs - and Michigan's coming up this Saturday - we're enough of the way through spring ball to be aware of some roster deficiencies going into the fall.

Here are the top three positions Michigan should be looking for in the transfer portal prior to August camp:

1. QUARTERBACK
I know there are some big Alex Orji fans out there, but . . . I'm not one of them. At least not yet. Orji was a project coming out of high school, and in his second season in a Michigan uniform, he did not attempt a single pass. Yes, he can run at 6'3" and 236 pounds (15 carries, 86 yards, 1 touchdown in 2023), but I'm on the record as a Passing QB Enthusiast. While I'm not a proponent of statuesque quarterbacks, championship teams have good passers and decision-makers, not run-first quarterbacks. I don't think Michigan has the roster to win an FBS championship in 2024, anyway, but I don't think they're going to hit their ceiling without finding a quarterback who can pass the ball efficiently. Some of the big names have already found a new home, but perhaps the Wolverines can find the 2024 version of Jake Rudock, a solid passing quarterback who led Michigan to ten wins back in 2015. Others in the running are seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle and redshirt sophomore Jayden Denegal, but Tuttle had shoulder surgery and Denegal needs some polish since he's not quite as dangerous as a runner as Orji.

Hit the jump for more.

2024 Season Countdown: #122 Shomari Stone II

 

Shomari Stone II (image via Twitter)

Name: Shomari Stone II
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 198 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) St. John's
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #37
Last year: I ranked Stone #140 and said he would be a backup defensive back (LINK). He was not on the roster during the season.
TTB Rating: N/A

One of the problems with counting down such a deep dive into the roster for any season is we have no idea what the roster will look like in the fall. Sometimes there are roster casualties of some sort, and Stone was one of those. A member of the team in 2022, he left the program for the 2023 season and missed the national championship run. Now he's back for a team that probably won't win the natty.

Stone was a solid high school player who's probably more known for being the son of D.C.-area media personality Shomari Stone. At 5'8" and at a position where it's tough to get on the field to play defense, he's unlikely to play much of a role this fall. Perhaps some special teams might be in order, but it will be an uphill battle for Stone to see the field much this fall.

Prediction: Backup defensive back

2024 Season Countdown: #123 James Kavouklis

 

James Kavouklis (image via MGoBlue)

Name: James Kavouklis
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 279 lbs.
High school: Tampa (FL) Berkley Prep
Position: Center/Long snapper
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #64
Last year: I ranked Kavouklis #139 and said he would be a backup center (LINK). He did not see game action.
TTB Rating: N/A

NOTE: I skipped a couple spots in the countdown since running back Danny Hughes and tight end Josh Beetham are both in the transfer portal and were originally in the countdown.

Kavouklis played in one game as a true freshman back in 2022, but he did not see any action in 2023. If you want some positive fluff about new strength and conditioning coach Justin Tress, Kavouklis was a scrawny 272 pounds last season but is now up to a whopping 279 this spring.

On the plus side, Kavouklis doubles as a long snapper, so he could play center or long snap, so that might open some opportunities if there's an injury or two. He's not going to elevate to starter in either spot, but sometimes when there's a blowout, the coaches start emptying the bench. The path to long snapper is typically a little shorter, but Kavouklis is probably #4 there behind William Wagner, Greg Tarr, and Evan Boutorwick.

Prediction: Backup center and long snapper

2024 Season Countdown: #126 Bryson Kuzdzal

 

Bryson Kuzdzal

Name: Bryson Kuzdzal
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Ada (MI) Forest Hills Eastern
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #41
Last year: I did not rank Kuzdzal. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Kuzdzal was a preferred walk-on for Michigan in the class of 2023, and he'll be getting a national championship ring for his good taste of choosing the Wolverines over MSU as his walk-on destination. As a high school senior in the fall of 2022, he ran for 1,379 yards and 22 touchdowns, caught 1 touchdown pass, and returned 3 kicks (2 kickoffs, 1 punt) for touchdowns while averaging 10.4 yards per carry. But with a loaded backfield, he was unlikely to play in 2023, and he didn't.

This fall the depth chart doesn't look much better for his chances. Despite the graduation of Blake Corum and the transfer of C.J. Stokes to Charlotte, Michigan returns Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings - the #2 and #3 backs from last season - and they added freshmen Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka'apana in the 2024 class. Throw in Tavierre Dunlap, Ben Hall, and Cole Cabana, and it's a pretty full running back room. Kuzdzal could potentially get some garbage time snaps, but Michigan has invested more scholarship spots at running back than a couple seasons ago when a guy like Leon Franklin was getting a fair number of snaps.

Prediction: Redshirt

Visitors: April 12-14, 2024

 

Kissimmee (FL) Osceola linebacker Elijah Melendez (image via 247 Sports)

2025

Mariyon Dye - DE - Elkhart (IN) Elkhart: Dye is a 6'5", 235 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 4-star, the #16 EDGE, and #107 overall. This was a midweek visit.

Elijah Melendez - LB - Kissimmee (FL) Osceola: Melendez is a 6'2", 215-pounder with offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and Ohio State, but he chose the least successful program of his top group - the Miami Hurricanes - to commit to back in December 2023. He's a 4-star, the #16 linebacker, and #138 overall in the class of 2025. On the plus side, he is going against Mario Cristobal's wishes in order to take a three-day visit to Ann Arbor, so there is some hope for Michigan here as linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary tries to get him to flip.

D.J. Sanders - DT - Bellville (TX) Bellville: Sanders is a 6'4", 290 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others. He's a 4-star, the #11 defensive lineman, and #111 overall.

Kainoa Winston - S - Washington (DC) Gonzaga: Winston is a 5'11", 185-pounder with offers from Georgia, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Penn State, and others. He's a 4-star, the #9 safety, and #88 overall. He has already set officials for UNC, Oregon, and PSU, and Michigan is trying to get on that list.

2024 Season Countdown: #127 Manuel Beigel

 

Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall DT Manuel Beigel

Name: Manuel Beigel
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 280 lbs.
High school: Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Beigel was a senior in high school. He made 10 tackles and 4 sacks.
TTB Rating: 79

Beigel is a transplant from Germany who is a blank slate. Jim Harbaugh tried to go heavy on international prospects over the past several years, recruiting Beigel, fellow German Julius Welschof, Frenchman Aymeric Koumba, Canadian Luiji Vilain, Canadian Benjamin St-Juste, and several other foreign players who did not end up signing with the Wolverines.

I'm not sure what to think of Beigel so far because his film is so limited, but athletically, he looks to be top-notch when it comes to movement for his size. A soccer player when he was younger, he maintains foot quickness and change-of-direction skills rarely seen in players his size. The real questions are about his technique and strength, both of which seem to have a way to go. Already at 6'5" and 280 pounds, he is likely to end up as a 3-tech defensive tackle, but he looks like a guy who might get pushed around and washed out of the play in the Big Ten. My guess is that he redshirts this season while learning some nuances of big-time college football.

Prediction: Redshirt