charles thomas

Thomas left before we got a photo of him in MGoFlickr [Brian Dohn/247]

According to a report from Maize n Brew with confirmation from the program, redshirt freshman inside linebacker Charles Thomas has entered the transfer portal:

Michigan Wolverines redshirt freshman linebacker Charles Thomas has officially entered the transfer portal and is no longer with the team, program spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed to Maize n Brew on Monday morning.

Thomas was a three-star prospect out of IMG Academy and Michigan's only inside linebacker signed in the 2019 class. He was expected to compete for snaps behind starters Cam McGrone and Josh Ross this season. He hasn't been the subject of much practice buzz, however, while a trio of freshmen have received praise at linebacker: Nikhai Hill-Green, Kalel Mullings, and Cornell Wheeler. A fourth freshman linebacker, Osman Savage, also chose to enter the transfer portal.

Michigan also has a big linebacker haul coming in the 2021 class, including two players in or very near top-100 status in Branden Jennings and Junior Colson. Jaydon Hood is also a four-star, while three-star Tyler McLaurin may be the best fit on the interior.

If Thomas was already getting passed by true freshmen, his transfer shouldn't have a significant impact on the 2020 team, and there are reinforcements coming. This is a position group that had so many young players coming in—not to mention two locked-in starters—that some attrition was to be expected. If the defense needs extra inside linebacker depth aside from the players above, VIPER Michael Barrett has worked at ILB and looks like the potential backup at both spots.

There is no content after the jump.

[Patrick Barron]

Previously: Podcast 11.0A, Podcast 11.0B, Podcast 11.0C. The Story. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End. Offensive Tackle. Interior OL. Defensive End. Defensive Tackle.

Depth Chart
VIPER! Yr.

MIDDLE LB

Yr. WEAKSIDE LB Yr. SAM LB Yr.
Khaleke Hudson Sr. Josh Ross Jr. Devin Gil Jr.* Josh Uche Jr.*
Jordan Glasgow Sr.* Jordan Anthony So.* Cam McGrone Fr.* Michael Barrett Fr.*
Michael Barrett Fr.* Charles Thomas Fr. Jordan Glasgow Sr.* --  

You don't replace Devin Bush. Not with one guy, anyway. Maybe you can replace him if your budding star steps up and your knife-man resumes his knifery and your other knife-man gets to play more than 20% of the time and maybe a fourth knife man emerges from the two deep.

It is in this way you might replace Devin Bush: with many knives.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

RATING: 4

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big Charles Matthews energy [Patrick Barron]

One of the most baffling subplots of last season was "why is the WLB battle a thing?" JOSH ROSS and Devin Gil split snaps almost down the middle for much of the season; by the end of the year Ross had maybe a 60/40 advantage. This resulted in a season-long carnival of complaints in UFR, because Ross kept doing things worthy of exclamation points…

LB #12 to top

…and kept splitting snaps with a guy who did not keep pace.

[After THE JUMP: "cry havoc and quit dropping me into coverage" –everyone]

All in. Get it? Get it? Do you get it[Bryan Fuller]