2015 Season Countdown: #50 Drake Johnson

Drake Johnson tore his ACL on this third quarter TD run against Ohio State

Name: Drake Johnson
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 207 lbs.
High school: Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #29
Last year: I ranked Johnson #59 and said he would be a backup running back and special teamer. He made two starts and had 60 carries for 361 yards (6.0 yards/carry) and 4 touchdowns.

Johnson had a bit of a breakout season in 2014. Expected to be a third-stringer or lower, he finished the season as Michigan's top back and had the highest yards per carry average of anyone with double-digit rushing attempts. Over the first eight games, Johnson had a total of 5 carries. His first shot at significant playing time came in game nine, a few weeks after starter Derrick Green broke his collarbone. Johnson ran 16 times for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns against Indiana, came back to Earth against Northwestern, and then played well against Maryland (94 yards) and Ohio State (74 yards, 2 touchdowns) to finish the year. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL for a second time in the season-ending loss to the Buckeyes.

The future was looking bright for Johnson, but now things are a little hazy. He showed good speed and vision over the last few games, but he was clearly not the coaches' first option. He has now torn his ACL in consecutive years (the first time was in the 2013 season opener). He missed the entire spring with the new staff. And Jim Harbaugh has a history of playing running backs who are a little thicker and sturdier than Johnson. I would probably place Johnson higher on the list if he had remained healthy, but the ACL tear means he will probably miss some time this fall, and he will probably not be anywhere close to 100%, at least to begin the year. We might see another late-season push as he regains strength and confidence in his knee, but for now, there will be other backs higher in the pecking order.

Prediction: Backup running back

Welcome to the Weekend!

It's the weekend, so enjoy some pictures of some beautiful women, including a gif of a girl trying to put on sunscreen.

2015 Season Countdown: #51 Dymonte Thomas

Dymonte Thomas (image via MGoBlog)

Name: Dymonte Thomas
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 191 lbs.
High school: Alliance (OH) Marlington
Position: Safety
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #25
Last year: I ranked Thomas #43 and said he would be a backup safety and special teamer. He started three games, making 27 tackles and 1 forced fumble.

Much was expected from Thomas when he came out of high school in 2013, and he took a step toward fulfilling some of that promise as a sophomore. He burned a redshirt that first season for some very spotty playing time, and he worked his way into a part-time starter last year, also playing a role on special teams. A man seemingly without a position (he started off his career playing corner, moved into the slot, and then moved to safety), he put up decent numbers for a guy who should have been a redshirt freshman seeing his first game action.

I still have hopes for Thomas. Michigan had a pretty good safety several years ago who made 27 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 pass breakups as a sophomore. His name was Jamar Adams. The Wolverines seem to be in pretty good shape at the safety position, at least according to practice reports. Senior Jarrod Wilson and redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers are near locks to be starters, and apparently the coaches really like junior Delano Hill as a third option. That might leave Thomas on the outside looking in, but he could once again contribute on special teams and both Peppers and Hill have missed time due to injuries in their short careers. I do not expect Thomas to start, but he will be a key backup and coverage guy.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer

MLive: Michigan denied a chance to play in front of 160,000 people

Jim Hackett doesn't like games at neutral sites (LINK). I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, students, local fans, and alumni should be able to go to games without taking a whole weekend and/or having to buy plane tickets. On the other hand, 160,000 people is a lot of people. I don't like the idea of Michigan playing in Dallas like they did for the opener in 2012 against Alabama, but if you have a chance to set a record like this new opportunity, I think it might be worth it.

Hit the jump for several good looking people of the female variety.

2015 Season Countdown: #52 Logan Tuley-Tillman

Logan Tuley-Tillman (image via Michigan Journal)

Name: Logan Tuley-Tillman
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 309 lbs.
High school: Peoria (IL) Manual
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #72
Last year: I ranked Tuley-Tillman #79 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle. He played in one game.

Tuley-Tillman has had quite an adjustment since high school. He was overweight and somewhat sloppy and reached a peak of approximately 330 lbs. Then he dropped all the way down to 285 lbs. before building himself back up to 290 lbs. last season. Michigan struggled on the offensive line at times, but Tuley-Tillman was passed on the depth chart by a freshman Mason Cole. Tuley-Tillman played in just one game, the season opening blowout of Appalachian State.

Whenever I see Tuley-Tillman in practices, spring games, etc., he still has the same inconsistencies in his technique. Considering the failures of former offensive line coach Darrell Funk, it's understandable. But the excuses are gone, and now he has a quality offensive line coach in the form of Tim Drevno. As the only prototypical backup tackle, he could be called upon if one of the starters gets hurt. His length and size are tantalizing, but I think he would be a liability in a starting role at this point in his career. Michigan has a few options on the interior if someone goes down (Patrick Kugler, David Dawson, Blake Bars), but if Cole were to get hurt, it's either Tuley-Tillman, a major reshuffling (Ben Braden, Graham Glasgow), or throwing out guys who aren't ready (Grant Newsome).

Prediction: Backup offensive tackle

James Light Football: Mike Pettine Trap Coverage - Cover 5 Cougar

James Light Football looks at trap coverage (LINK).

Hit the jump for some pictures of Gabriella Lenzi.

Rivals 250 for 2017 released

Paramus (NJ) Catholic linebacker Drew Singleton

Rivals released its top 250 prospects for 2017 (LINK). The top 100 list was released on Monday (LINK). Here are Michigan's offerees:

107. Bruce Jordan-Swilling - LB - LA
108. Jake Moretti - OT - CO (Ohio State)
109. Jamyest Williams - CB - GA
111. Darnell Ewell - DT - VA
112. Tarik Black - WR - CT
119. Osiris St. Brown - WR - CA
120. Chevin Calloway - CB - TX
128. Tedarrell Slaton - OT - FL
133. Ambry Thomas - CB - MI
135. M.J. Webb - DT - GA
138. Micah Clark - OT - NJ
139. Leonard Warner - LB - GA
140. Jimmy Jaggers - TE - CA
143. Anthony Hines - LB - TX
144. Drew Singleton - LB - NJ
151. Austin Deculus - OT - TX
155. Donovan Johnson - CB - MI*
156. Cesar Ruiz - C - NJ
161. Taariq Johnson - WR - CA
166. Joshua Ross - LB - MI
181. Henry Bainivalu - OT - WA
185. Hunter Rison - WR - MI (Michigan State)*
191. Juan Harris - DT - IA
194. Jaylon Redd - CB - CA
200. Kai-Leon Herbert - OT - FL
201. Jack Coan - QB - NY
208. Jaylen Harris - WR - OH
215. Robert Hainsey - OG - PA
216. Tyrell Ajian - S - OH
223. Corey Malone-Hatcher - DE - MI
234. Andrew Thomas - OT - GA

*Do not hold Michigan offers but are from within the state