What player (that no one is talking about) are you most excited to see?
Simple question and hopefully fun thread to help feed the anticipation for the season now that we are officially just 2 weeks from kickoff.
What player, or players are you most excited to see that very few are talking about in the media or this forum for that matter?
I will start with some of my own:
1. Rod Moore: who came in and played great against PSU and OSU as a true freshmen 3 star prospect, seemed to be mentally all there and physically could stay with some great receivers and could lay out some guys too, even with his smaller size. Could see an All BiG10 kind of season for him if he progresses this year.
2. Luke Schoonmaker: for sure gets a little more attention than Moore, but is certainly still in the overall shadow of Eric All and the rest of the incredible receiving corp…but this guy was making some ridiculous catches at the end of the year and had 2 beautiful TD’s in the Iowa game. He would probably be a #1 receiver target on many of the teams of the last 10 years of Michigan football, but he just happens to be one amongst many with this amazing group. Will be exciting to see how they use him and All on the field along with the wide receivers in space. He and All should be open in the middle all game, every game.
I could see Schoony being a second day NFL draft pick with his natural ability as a pass catcher, kind of how Zach Gentry was.
3. A big sleeper for me is Tavier Dunlap. I know he’s nowhere near the level of Corum or Edwards, but maybe he has rounded himself out to be that short yardage back that Harbaugh loves so much. I know we missed on some transfer portal guys there to fill that spot, but maybe Dunlap is that guy, or maybe I’m just stupid to think so, haha.
4. An unknown fullback who will come up out of nowhere and become everyone’s favorite player instantly.
What guys are you excited to see that no one is really talking about?
August 20th, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^
Kenneth Grant
August 20th, 2022 at 11:04 AM ^
Julius Welschof. I think he finishes with 7 + sacks and makes several other plays in the back field.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
Moore and Schoonmaker are great picks. Moore didn't just look good for a freshman to me, he straight up looked special. Very excited for him.
Schoonmaker is even underrated on here, a front page post saying we HOPE he becomes Zach Gentry was crazy to me- he was already better than Gentry ever was last year IMO.
August 20th, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^
Yes, Moore has a certain “it” factor like his football IQ was just higher than the average freshmen, plenty of speed, and absolutely not afraid of contact like many young DB’s can be…he showed up biggest, as a 3 star frosh, against the best receivers we played all year with Dotson and the OSU trio.
Schoonmaker is a far more polished tight end than Gentry ever was I believe. I think having the great competition with Eric All has helped. Gentry was just the best option once Butt was gone and Mckeon never really lived up to the hype.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:34 AM ^
So many names... Braiden McGregor comes to mind. Hoping he's a Hutch doppleganger on the field. Rod Moore is one I'm watching to see if he continues to elevate. Trente Jones, for obvious reasons. Hoping Tavierre Dunlap is Haskins-esque. Also lookong forward to seeing freshmen Darrius Clemons and Tyler Morris. But I'm also looking forward to seeing some blowouts so I can get a look at Keon Sabb, Derrick Moore, Mason Graham, Zeke Berry and Micah Pollard. Every year it's like this for me. "Next man up" as coach always says and I'm always intrigued with players who may take the next step, players who are becoming starters, or players we are getting our first look at.
Edit* Don't know how I forgot Jaylen Harrell
August 20th, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
Love how people automatically twin Braiden McGregor with Hutch just because they both play DL and are white guys with Irish names.
August 20th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
Yes. I'd put Braiden McGregor as perhaps least likely to break out this year. He had more hype than Harrell and other contenders coming in, but the others have played more with better results. I'm wishing them all the best and if McGregor does well this year I'll be thrilled to be wrong.
August 20th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
That’s exactly what I’ve thought ever since the first McGregor/Hutch comparison.
August 20th, 2022 at 4:56 PM ^
Love how people love to assume bullshit and completely forget their recruiting profiles were damn near identical.
August 20th, 2022 at 5:30 PM ^
What does that have to do with anything?
Guys like Morris, Upshaw and Harrell have actually shown flashes.
McGregor often feels like Shane Morris (highly rated, local, great white hype who was propped up before doing anything)...let the kid do SOMETHING before you start comparing him to the best DE in the history of the school.
Aidan had to earn his accolades. Braiden will have to do the same.
He's only played a handful of meaningful snaps in his entire career.
August 20th, 2022 at 5:40 PM ^
Hence the word "hoping". Try to keep up.
August 21st, 2022 at 2:29 AM ^
I agree that McGregor has a lot of qualities that prime him to be a fanbase hero (except for actual on-field production). But rather than Shane Morris (I get your point, and agree) the person I think of as a comparison is James Whitley. The entire fan base wanted him to be Woodson, and he just wasn’t, because no one is. It was unreasonable for us to expect him to play just like one of the best players in school history. But we still hoped he could. He still managed to become a fringe NFL guy.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
I have five and it’s not because nobody is talking about them. Mine are Ronnie Bell, Blake Corum, JJ McCarthy, Andrel Anthony and Mike Morris. Those are the ones who stayed for a little while after the game watching Georgia celebrate last year so it would burn into their memories, to try and make sure that doesn’t happen again. Those are the five I really want to see win and win big. A few of those would come off big wins last year and come back home and practice themselves. That’s the desire I like to see rewarded.
August 20th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
I’m excited for all them too, but I would say Jaylen Harrell is the only one who really fits the criteria of the thread
August 20th, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
Julius Welschof. Not counting on him finally putting it together as a dedicated edge player, but if he does, he could be a major contributor. The physical gifts have always been there
August 20th, 2022 at 12:02 PM ^
Darrius Clemons! I feel like he is going to be special.
August 20th, 2022 at 9:14 PM ^
Yeah, talk about someone under the radar!!
August 20th, 2022 at 12:27 PM ^
For how good he is, I've hardly heard anything about Edwards this off-season. Guy has some Deebo Samuel in him, could have a monster year.
August 20th, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
How about Cornelius Johnson who quietly lead the team in receiving last season. 6-4 215 4.45 40 not many mention him this season. Also what Roman Wilson was doing last year with one good hand was remarkable that guys uncoverable if healthy he’s got that Alabama WR capability.
August 20th, 2022 at 1:27 PM ^
Best and smoothest WR I've seen in years was obviously D. Smith of Alabama, first WR to win the Heisman since our very own Desmond Howard.
Wilson is a dynamic slot but not a D. Smith all around WR, but we also have a ton of talent on the outside - Anthony, Bell, Johnson. Will be interesting to see how they spread it around.
Scariest WR in the country this year, imo, is OSU's JSN. He was ridiculous against us last year and was better than Wilson and Olave imo, who were first round talents.
August 20th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
I’m interested in seeing what Cade can do if the shackles are loosened a bit. I think he’s been unfairly tagged with the game manager label mostly because he was doing what was asked of him.
August 20th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
Yes. In watching highlights from last year, I've been impressed with Cade's ability to pick up 3rd down long yardage completions, and also his deep balls to Johnson, Wilson, Bell, etc.
August 20th, 2022 at 12:50 PM ^
Andrel Anthony, if we can can still consider him under-hyped. I think he will be the best outside WR in the B1G this year. Saw flashes of Braylon talent from him last year.
OSU getting a ton of hype - deservedly so - for their receiving corps. The Ninja JSN, is the scariest play maker in the B1G imo - He was absolutely ridiculous against us last year, and we've long been hurt by slot burners.
That said, if Bell is healthy, I think we have the two best outside WR in the conference in Anthony and Bell. Love Wilson and Henning in the slot as well. Add in Edwards (probably the best receiving back in the country) and All and Schoonmaker at TE, and I think we actually have the best and deepest receiving corps in the conference. OSU is obviously right there with us.
And I didn't even mention C. Johnson - another dynamic playmaker. It's a really deep room of receivers in Ann Arbor these days - reminds me of the days of David Terrell and Walker then Braylon, Avant, Breaston. Talent in abundance.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:30 PM ^
JSN is a stud, but playing in the slot alongside Olave and Wilson was very fortunate for 1-1 vs nickels/LBs. We will see how he can do without those two. He will have Marvin Harrison Jr. and other young blue chippers, but it won’t be two top 20 picks. I find it hard to believe OSU will be as good offensively this year even with an improved Stroud and Henderson. That to say, not sure they will be what they were on D last year which was pretty average.
August 21st, 2022 at 12:46 AM ^
Hope you’re right…I think they may still be crap on defense, tbh, as they’re built for nickel and dime coverages but can get run over and through. Their d-line and lb’s were soft all last year and Oregon, UM, and even Utah who they beat exploited the weakness. This is not an Urban Meyer defensive line.
I also think they are hurt by practicing every day against a spread passing offense. They look a lot like a Big 12 team tbh.
Regarding JSN, good point on the one v one coverage, but he’s still really scary given what we saw last year.
August 21st, 2022 at 2:39 AM ^
In the Rose Bowl, JSN emphatically showed that he does not need Olave and Wilson to give him favorable 1-1 matchups. He had 347 receiving yards, and neither Olave nor Wilson played.
August 20th, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
Cade McNamara, CBK.
B10 Title winning QB and Certifie Buckeye Killer, (TM)
Dude is a Sr but with 2 JR elig and lots of starting experience. Could have a very good jump in performance this year. Of course, so could the other guy
August 20th, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
Yup. I think JJ could be better in the long run o even this year, but we may have beaten MSU last year if JJ and Blake don't fumble a handoff. Cade was really good in that game and that gives the season a bit of a Brady-Henson feeling. JJ seems to have a great attitude for someone with his reputation and skillset, so I'm hopeful about them both.
August 20th, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
Justin Feagin
August 20th, 2022 at 5:03 PM ^
CJ Stokes. Of course! Everybody's talking about somebody on Michigan. But I think he could be in line to be about as good as Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. I know it's early to put a lot of pressure on him but I've heard things.
August 20th, 2022 at 7:53 PM ^
Roman Wilson is a big one. Dude is quick.
I'm hoping we get a freshman/young WR that rises up. Tyler Morris is an interesting name to watch but I know he was injured in high school. Still waiting on Dixon to shine too.
George Rooks is another name to watch
August 20th, 2022 at 9:12 PM ^
I hope to see Dominick Giudice have some impact here or there this year I don't know if anyone trains as hard as him. He's the type of player that MAKES a place for himself.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:13 PM ^
Mason Graham.
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:25 AM ^
This is a strange answer...but Cade. I think there is a chance he makes a leap this year. His ceiling will limit him compared to JJ's ceiling but is it high enough + his football IQ with one of the best wr groups and OL's in the country to be a bit more dynamic? I'm not sure, but I'm looking forward to finding out.
I know this didn't line up exactly with your question but I think most are talking about the QB battle and JJ and Cade is kind of like "yeah whatever he is what he is I don't need to see him again" attitude.