When will we know the status of Victor Oluwatimi and Chip Trayanum?
Question for the board...when will we get a definitive answer on UVA C Victor Oluwatimi and ASU RB DeaMonte "Chip" Trayanum? They both seem integral to repeating our great performance this year.
I know that they were both on campus the weekend of Dec 10. Sam Webb has a crystal ball for Oluwatimi, who will play in UVA's bowl game, but Trayanum is sitting out ASU's.
Do we have to wait until either or both enroll in early January before getting an answer since they don't sign NLIs?
Thanks for any insight.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:54 PM ^
When they announce their decision
December 20th, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
Responding to this so it's at the top.
But apparently Oluwatimi has told the coaches he's coming, he just doesn't want to announce it until after UVA's bowl game.
They play SMU in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 29.
December 20th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
I'd say that's a sign of good character.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:56 PM ^
I don’t know why we’re focusing on these 2 transfers. We should have gone after the Florida DE who transferred to msu. We actually need it way more than OL or RB
December 20th, 2021 at 4:03 PM ^
Do you know that the staff didn't even reach out? Honest question. I have no insight, but maybe they did reach out and were told not interested.
December 20th, 2021 at 6:41 PM ^
I thought we could only go after Freshman and grad transfers because of credits transfering.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:36 PM ^
How upset were you when Michigan finished signing day way better than expected and you didn’t have anything to bitch about? Must have been a really tough day for you.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:38 PM ^
Aww you’re so cute
December 20th, 2021 at 4:40 PM ^
So still upset then, huh?
December 20th, 2021 at 4:42 PM ^
Nope not one bit actually, but I appreciate your concern. I’m not the one downvoting posts..
December 20th, 2021 at 4:45 PM ^
That was me.
December 20th, 2021 at 5:03 PM ^
And me. And several others apparently!
December 20th, 2021 at 5:06 PM ^
Lol man y’all shallow. Like I give a shit. It’s not my fault you guys get offended so easily
December 20th, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
It is your fault you posted such a shitty opinion though…
December 20th, 2021 at 5:55 PM ^
How is it shitty? I think what I said was perfectly reasonable. We have talented lineman/centers who are more than likely ready. Running backs I think we’re beyond good with Edwards and Corum...all I’m saying is it would be better in my opinion to have gone after an edge rusher who was available. Whether we did and he wasn’t interested is another topic. But yes everyone can get their panties in a wad bc God forbid I state something that remotely is not the norm of what this board feels
December 20th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
It has been discussed in various posts before, but Michigan has trouble with the transfer portal on undergraduate credits. It's not like going grocery shopping and seeing something on sale and tossing it in the cart. There are roster and scholarship limits to additionally worry about. Trust the coaches and their player evaluation.
December 21st, 2021 at 8:48 AM ^
It all started because your original post basically makes it sound like we didn’t even try for the DE and that we are basically stupid for going after the players we had on campus. Having a grad transfer rimmington finalist come here and probably start at center next year would be huge. We are losing our center and on an OL it’s the most important part of the line and we could plug in as good of a center as there is in the country next year a huge plus for the team. When it comes to RB it’s great to have depth as injuries happen such as Blake this season. So if you can bring in another too talent there why not do it
December 21st, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
It’s shitty because you assume we didn’t go after an edge rusher without the slightest bit of knowledge on the subject. You have zero insight on who we did, or did not, pursue or our reasons for doing so. Yet you’re complaining about adding a Rimington Award finalist.
December 20th, 2021 at 6:06 PM ^
It reads like you're easily offended.
December 20th, 2021 at 6:08 PM ^
Uh no actually and I’m sorry you can’t read...
December 20th, 2021 at 6:30 PM ^
A one-way ticket to Bolivia and you might give a shit.
December 20th, 2021 at 6:07 PM ^
Maybe because the Florida DE would not be good enough to play at Michigan or a good fit for us? He was a rotation player at Florida with 6 starts over 3 years. I don't think he would be more than a rotation player here as well.
If we are going to pursue a DE, I would much rather Michigan get in the Jared Verse sweepstakes or wait to see if anything better ends up in the portal.
December 20th, 2021 at 6:10 PM ^
I agree with the sentiment on what areas would be ideal for incoming transfers, but
Are you talking about the Florida kid that saw his productivity go down this year and is obviously not seeing a future at UF? The kid who put up HALF of his stats against FAU and USF?
Yes - he was ranked top 100 out of HS but his stats for this year are roughly EQ to Donovan Jeter (or Upshaw and Morris' combined numbers). Perhaps he is an upgrade for MSU (who loses a lot of the little DE talent that had this year iirc) but I do not see anything earth shattering there......
December 20th, 2021 at 11:01 PM ^
Why would you think that the staff can't recruit a center and a DE at the same time. Weirder still, why would you think that they shouldn't make it a priority to get a replacement for the departing Center. Michigan is an OL dependent team and Center is the key. They have a couple guys with good potential but they are young and very inexperienced. An experienced talented center had to have been a priority.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:35 AM ^
So you don't want a Rimington finalist as Center next year?
December 21st, 2021 at 1:34 AM ^
In 2021 Khris Bogle had 1.5 sacks.
Go on...
December 20th, 2021 at 3:59 PM ^
I think I recall the guys at 247 don't expect to hear about Trayanum until next year.
December 20th, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^
Not acceptable. Call those guys and tell them Wolverine91 needs an answer now!
December 20th, 2021 at 4:02 PM ^
Magnus said in the Senda thread that Oluwatimi probably won't announce until after the holidays now.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:04 PM ^
Do we know they would enroll in Jan? If grad transfers, they usually have to graduate first. Seems like most of our grad transfers show up in summer before fall camp.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^
Remember how much the defensive tackle problem that we talked about for 8 months hurt us this year? Like people were literally talking about the weight of our DTs compared to the weight of O-lines we would face.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:13 PM ^
I understand the value of a top-end transfer C, but… am I missing something? Why is a transfer crucial to the success of the team next year at running back? We literally have the best RB depth chart in the country, and a major reason Haskins was such a sure thing to leave is that Corum and Edwards are both likely to be huge performers next year.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:22 PM ^
I hear ya and think the transfer C is more important. But isn't Trayanum supposed to be more of a Haskins style bruiser? That is, keeping a thunder back to go with Corum's lightning and Edward's all around game.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:23 PM ^
Agreed. Both guys seems like "takes if you can get them" types for different reasons, but neither seems mission-critical in my mind.
Center is a position where we have been stacking talent the last few years, and despite Carpenter leaving, last year, we still have several options. And with all of that, in the offseason Vastardis was fighting for job with Zinter. So we have lots of options there. That said, if there's a Rimington finalist who wants to come play for you, you take him. If not, you work with the pieces you have and continue on. Do we have someone who can play at that level at center on the roster already? Maybe, but he'd be a sure thing, so why not.
Running back is a different story. I think we are stacked as you said, and the reason a kid like this would be a take is that he'd add some experienced depth beyond your two main guys (Corum/Edwards) because there's not much in -game experience past that should we experience injuries and he adds a different style of running to the equation that gives you good short yardage options. Could other guys on the roster currently do some of that too? Maybe but less likely.
With all of the extra hurdles Michigan has for portal transfers in general, if there's guys we can get that add experience and depth at key positions, you have to give them serious consideration. Neither of these guys will make or break an offense next year that is loaded with talent.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:39 PM ^
It's not crucial, but it's probably helpful. I think the thought would be yes, we have Corum and Edwards, but behind them it's Tavierre Dunlap, who I'd say is still a relative unknown, and then...
So adding a known quantity can only be a good thing, particularly if Dunlap doesn't pan out, or isn't ready yet. First, my understanding is that this ASU RB is much more in the Haskins mold (thunderback), whereas Edwards is similar to Corum (lightning), so it fits a position that would really only be potentially filled by Dunlap (again, an unknown). Second, both Corum and Edwards were hurt at times this year; Corum obviously missed a couple games, and I believe Edwards did too (there were two straight games against MSU and Indiana where he didn't record a carry). So again, if Dunlap isn't ready, and Corum or Edwards goes down, now your RB room is suddenly pretty thin.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:47 PM ^
December 20th, 2021 at 6:37 PM ^
Uh, remember back like 4 games when Corum and Edwards were both on the shelf and Haskins had to play basically 3 whole games with virtually no relief? Shit happens, and having another quality back can never hurt.
December 20th, 2021 at 5:04 PM ^
I've heard it's because Mike Hart would prefer to have five RB's on scholarship.
December 20th, 2021 at 5:04 PM ^
Trayanum is a quasi fullback, he's 2 inches shorter than Haskins and 15 lbs heavier. He's built like Sione Houma. Haskins leaving vacates 260 carries, of which Trayanum will probably get 50 or less, mostly on short yardage I'd assume.
December 20th, 2021 at 5:11 PM ^
Yes. You are missing something. A Haskins type back is needed. Especially in the Big Ten.
December 20th, 2021 at 8:26 PM ^
The more good backs you have the better off you are. Running backs take a beating and are always one play, one injury away from being sidelined. The NFL also puts value on backs that aren’t overused on their college teams so it does protect the players as well.
December 20th, 2021 at 11:28 PM ^
Need a lot of depth at RB. Also, who knows how long those guys will be at UM, Chip is young.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:19 PM ^
I don't think either of these players are integral to repeating this year's performance. Either one would be a great get but I think we have the guys in house that can get the job done if neither of them commit to Michigan
December 20th, 2021 at 4:54 PM ^
You don't think getting this years runner up for the Rimington Award is important for next years success when we're losing Vastardis after the season is over?
Oluwatimi seems like a pretty big get, Rimington runner ups don't walk into your program all that often.
December 20th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^
Would it be great? Obviously
Is it INTEGRAL to the team's success next year? No I don't think so
Crippen was talked about a lot this year by the coaches & Zinter was working at C in spring so if we don't get the transfer I think we'll be just fine with so much experience coming back on OL
***Edit*** LOL at getting downvoted for believing in the players that helped Michigan go 12-1 & get to the CFP
December 20th, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
I think both would be welcome additions but I don’t think either is crucial. I would rather have Oluwatmi if I had to choose because hes a proven commodity at a position where will have a new starter. Treynaum would be great but I think Corum and Edwards are going to have at least 300 carries between the two of them.
As for going after the Florida transfer that MSU got, at some point it’s going to hurt recruiting for a school that has 20 guys transfer out and in every year. I’m sure he’s a decent player but it’s also very possible our staff believes guys like Jaylen Harrell are better anyway.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
I appreciate and understand your answer way better TK, thank you
December 20th, 2021 at 10:30 PM ^
Harrell is gonna be really good. Every time he was on the field he jumped out. Then later I'd see he only had a handful of snaps, and I wouldn't believe it, because of the impression he made
December 20th, 2021 at 11:46 PM ^
This kid screams “breakout player” for next year. Really took advantage of his opportunities and made his presence felt.
December 20th, 2021 at 5:16 PM ^
I'm not sure where people are coming from regarding Oluwatimi. He would be a *huge* addition to our team. We don't know that Zinter would be all that effective at center. There's a good chance he is much better at guard. And Crippen is a redshirt freshman that isn't named Cesar Ruiz. I'm sure Crippen would be passable as a starter next season. Maybe even a little better than passable. But Oluwatimi sounds like a surefire All-American.
As for edge, we certainly don't have anyone we can bank on but there are a ton of intriguing options and Michigan might be better off letting those options sort themselves out rather than triggering 1-2 early transfers who may turn into something great for another team down the road.