attrition

[Patrick Barron]

Michigan wasn't going to be immune to the portal as thick depth charts calcify and paths to reps and playing time close. That seems to be the case for CJ Stokes, who looked like a promising Karan Higdon type as a true freshman when Corum and Edwards were hurt, with 55 carries, 273 yards (5 YPC) and 1 TD. His best game was an 8-carry/68-yard slow blowout of Nebraska in '22, but his signature moment in a Michigan uniform was the moment that wasn't, when he tripped on a cutback that would have added to the 2022 blowout of Ohio State.

Stokes makes the cut, but he stumbles — tripped up by the turf monster or by Colston Loveland’s legs. He falls forward for a gain of two and pops back up to his feet with a gesture of frustration in recognition of the squandered opportunity.

“That run against Ohio State was the biggest disappointment for me,” CJ Stokes told The Michigan Insider. “If I would’ve broke that run, I would’ve been a household name. Because there was nobody there! After the D-line, the linebackers weren’t there.

“It was the perfect play. I just slipped in the backfield and didn’t make the play. … I’ve watched that run so many times.”

Same.

Stokes only got one more carry against OSU as one-handed Edwards took over, and Mullings moved over for the bowl. Stokes then struggled to find ways to contribute in a crowded 2023 backfield, finding a couple of carries that went nowhere late against ECU and UNLV.

Technically he began the season behind Donovan Edwards for the "Donovan Edwards" position, but redshirting Cole Cabana seemed to move ahead when he got healthy later this year. If Edwards were to leave for the NFL, Stokes was going to have to Cabana for that shrinking role, and was going to have a tough time battling Mullings, super-promising Benjamin Hall, 2021 RB Tavierre Dunlap, and two well-regarded recruits in Jordan Marshall and Micah Kaapana next year. It was time to move on, possibly back to hometown South Carolina. 

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[Patrick Barron]

Michigan probably wasn't going to be able to keep all three of their fantastic safety class last year, and it was no secret which was trending out, but I still hate to see this.

Dent was one half of my 2022 Sleeper of the Year pick (with Amorion Walker) when doing last year's writeups, a great athlete that Courtney Morgan got Michigan out in front for who drew close comparisons to Josh Metellus. Unfortunately Dent never got to show it in Ann Arbor. An injury (and rumored off-field issue) caused Dent to not be with the team for parts of 2022. He did travel for the Fiesta Bowl, and was back wearing #36 on the sideline of the spring game, barely playing, and still reportedly "in the doghouse."

Perhaps he was considering sticking that out, but with classmates Zeke Berry and Keon Sabb already starting to challenge the two-deep, the path to playing time was going to be long indeed.

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We knew this day might come. [Patrick Barron]

Now you're making me mad, Attrition Monday, as yet another important 2021 piece from the 2020 class who played less in 2022 is now in the portal. This time it's a guy Michigan *REALLY* could have used in 2022, however. Best I can tell, Alejandro Zuniga was the first to have it:

Losing Hill-Green is frustrating, totally understandable, not unexpected, and totally frustrating anyways, plus argggh and grrrrr and aahh maaaaan. He was, in my mind, one of the diamonds in the rough that helped to characterize the resurgence of the last two years.

[After THE JUMP: I may get a little misty-eyed at this one]

An excellent safety play, dodging and weaving through blockers like a linebacker, remembered mostly for the way he got leveled at the end.

Sam Webb needs to stop making the face.

Need a CB.

Not quite Peppers.

Job is done. Hail to you, Vincent. 

Worked out for us.

Would have won.

This one is out of the blue.

Glad we winged your helmet. 

We didn't even get a shot of you in blue.