the phonebooks are here!

Previously: Spring. Fall 2021.

See, people asking about HTTV? If we had it done on time you'd have all this incorrect roster data on it! Good news is the phonebooks are here.

======THINGS THAT QUALIFY AS NEWS========

Since time immemorial this is the time we discover graduated guys who slipped out after finishing their careers in spring. This time only DE Gabe Newburg was missing. He was +3/-3 in our charting in four appearances in 2020, and didn't play last year, which was his fourth season.

That means they're two over their 85-man scholarship limit heading into fall camp, which is usual, though with instant transfers it's more relevant now that guys have to sit out 2021 if they leave this close to the season, unless they get a waiver. The portal deadline for Fall 2022 sports was May 1.

======THE ALL WEIGHT GAIN OR LOSS IS GOOD SECTION========

Where all weight gained is musculature, and all weight lost was esters of fatty acids. Weights when they were recruits are from 24/7 and noted in gray italics. If I thought it was interesting I highlighted it.

Michigan released a spring roster update this week. Does it have much information in it? Nope. Are Yellowpages even thick enough for a kid to sit on anymore? Nope. Are we going to do The Jerk anyway? Of course we are. Other sites that cover Michigan checked it for things a casual fan might want to know about. But here at MGoBlog, we (use various Excel functions to) notice everything. Let’s =if(B2=vlookup all the columns!

Here’s my comprehensive roster file, and our updated Depth Chart by Class. Let's rosterize!

Many Former DTs Are Not On It

Consider this the exit post for the following contributors:

DT Donovan Jeter. I held out hope that last year’s top backup would come back for his 6th year, but Jeter hired an agent and is going to try to catch on in the NFL.

DT Jess Speight. Speight could have taken a COVID 6th year but the program is listing him as out of eligibility.

DT Jack Stewart. This one passed unnoticed somehow despite Stewart being a scholarship player. Recruited as an OL, Stewart tried to make the switch to nose tackle last year and never resurfaced. Just last week Stewart made MLive’s list of players returning. He was going into his 4th season but with COVID and a redshirt year he had sophomore eligibility, so there was plenty of time left to transition if it was going to happen. Apparently it is not. I’ll see if his name is in the portal; Stewart enrolled in Fall 2019, so if he took spring/summer classes along the way (most players do) it’s plausible he could have a degree before next season.

DT Joey George. Another walk-on DT who threatened to get significant snaps at times last season. He appeared in 9 games over his career, but only in garbage time. He made UFR exactly once: on the last play of the 2021 season, moving a Georgia OL off the point of attack then missing the tackle to give up a 1st down and run out the clock.

OL Griffin Korican. Korican was a Class of 2018 preferred walk-on who flipped to Michigan from Oregon State late, and occasionally popped up on depth charts, playing in 8 games. With a redshirt and the COVID year he had 2 years of eligibility remaining, but stayed 4 years so I assume he’s graduating.

You’ll note four of these guys are all from the defensive tackle depth chart. Adding Chris Hinton gives us five interior linemen who got on the field last year who left with eligibility remaining. Tack on transfers Jordan Whittley and Elijah Pierre, who both ran out of eligibility, and it brings that number to seven(!) DTs from last year’s depth charts who won’t be on this one.

This is kind of significant, in that it puts a lot of pressure on younger guys to be ready. Mazi Smith is back, fortunately, and Kris Jenkins came on late in the year to look poised for a breakout. However DT/DE Julius Welschof is reportedly gunning (or depending on whom you ask, leading) for one of the open “OLB” jobs, as is Michael Morris. Everybody else on the roster was a freshman last year (Rayshaun Benny, George Rooks, Ike Iwunnah), or arrives this year (Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant). Considering Michigan likes to play up to three of these guys at a time, that is a thin depth chart indeed.

Presumably this means they’re confident Benny is ready to step in, some of the Don Brown anchors (Welschof, Morris, Gabe Newburg, Dom Giudice) can move down, and/or someone else from the list of young DTs is a better option than the departed. It’s not a panic moment yet, but it’s a concern, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they seek help from the transfer portal this spring.

This almost feels normal. Michigan waited until all my Kickstarter backers had their copies of HTTV 2021 (link is only for the backers) and then released the fall rosters.

The only piece of actual news-like substance on it was Sammy Faustin was not listed:

One significant change includes Sammy Faustin not being on the roster.

Per a team spokesman: "Due to medical reasons, Sammy decided to step away from the team and will reevaluate after this year. He will remain on athletic aid."

MORE: https://t.co/id60ehQub3

— Isaiah Hole (@isaiahhole) August 6, 2021

Wishing him the best, and on to the board, with a reminder that all weight gained is twitch-tastic musculature and all weight lost was just getting in the way.

Let’s have a jump (and maybe a cigarette), then discuss.

[After THE JUMP: All of this is good.]